victory_road | FOURTH WALL MINGLE LOG

He did what?

[Jean isn't sure if this is better or worse, and the shock of the announcement almost makes him drop Blitz. The other Jean is getting such a side-eye right now.]

So he was... one of those guys?

[OOC: aw yeah, he'll have a good home in the line-up.]

He was always one of those guys... Kinda. [He shrugged.] Told me along time ago when we were cadets that he liked guys and girls. I just didn't think it was me he was hoping for...

[Okay, he's embarrassed now, but that's better than being sad.]

So wait, you kissed him back?

[Yes, shocking revelations about an alternate version of yourself is much better than being sad and missing Marco. Although, if Jean thinks about it too much, this is just going to make him more sad.]

Not the first time! I had to... leave for a bit. [Yep, he ran away like a frightened little girl, afraid for his precious masculinity. Jean blushed.] But I couldn't avoid him forever, so we talked some and... Yeah. I decided to give ti a shot. It took awhile to get used to, but we bunk together now. H-he needs someone to help him sometimes anyways!

So then you're... which means I'm...

[There it is, right out in the open.]

What the fuck...

[Jean would obviously bunk with Marco to help him, if he needed it. Jean would do just about anything for Marco, if he was still alive to need his help. But... kissing him back? Being in what sounds like a relationship with him? Jean puts Blitz down and then plops on the ground next to him.]

Does anyone else know?

Armin? Definitely Armin. Maybe Reiner? And I think Mikasa heard, but she just doesn't care...

[Come on past-Jean, it's not that bad. He crossed his arms in irritation.]

Don't act like it's a tragedy! It's Marco! We couldn't be separated either way!

[Hearing that Armin knows settles Jean down a little. If Armin knows and it doesn't bother him, then that's... it's not okay, exactly, but it's less upsetting. He and Armin have become pretty good friends here in Pokemon land, so the idea doesn't bother Jean as much as it once would.]

[He processes for a minute, then nods at what other-Jean says. He wishes he couldn't be separated from his Marco, wishes he had the chance to get all weird and emotional over this. He wishes it could have happened any other way than how it did.]

Yeah. You can. I got separated from mine.

[So stop being bitchy, other-Jean!]

[Well, that shut Jean up pretty fast. His mouth twisted as though he had just eaten something incredibly sour. Again, even just a taste of losing Marco...]

[Terre barked up at his trainer. Come on, snap out of it! Your Freckles is just fine, you don't have anything to worry about! Jean shook his head.]

...I'm just saying, it's not so bad, being like this. You know you would have if you got the chance.

[Jean nods again. That, he can't deny.]

I'd do anything to have him back.

[It's okay to admit that, right? He's basically talking to himself here, so he's not saying anything the other Jean doesn't already know.]

So we agree. It's not that hard of an idea to swallow.

[Yeah, there was definitely a weird echo going on here. This Jean really wasn't any different from him, details aside.]

You better be having fun here. These guys make for some neat friends.

[Fuzzbat snuck up behind Terre, and used Hyper Voice to muss up his mane. He took to the air while a royally pissed Lyranroc gave immediate chase, chittering to himself in laughter as Terre howled up a storm.]

[Yeah, they took after their trainer alright.]

Yeah.

[This is going to leave Jean with a lot to think about, once the weekend is over. It may require a conference over chocolate with ~~uncle~~ Anders.]

Here is great! [Jean perks up; yes, let's talk about Pokemon land, that's a much easier topic of discussion!] We've been earning badges and leveling up and learning all kinds of stuff. There's an ocean here--Armin wasn't lying about that being a thing--and we lived on the beach for a couple of months in the winter.

[Oh, time for games! Fat Ice Dog rolls away, bouncing after Fuzzbat and Terre and barking joyously. Blitz rolls his eyes and retreats snootily to Jean's side, far too dignified for such nonsense.]

So you've just got these three? No Voltorbs?

Really? His big salt water thing? [Jean sat, more comfortable now that they were talking about something else, and Wildfire folded her legs to lay next to him.] I bet this is his kind of world, since you can explore where-ever you want.

[Terre was lobbing rocks up at Fuzzbat, who was deftly avoiding them in graceful sways and loops. Without looking properly, he picked up Fat Ice Dog from behind him, and threw him with two paws over his head-- both Pokemon yelp in surprise as the little Spheal flew in an arc, and... bounced off of Fuzzbat's face with the most perfect squeak.]

[Fuzzbat crumpled up and fell out of the sky, and cradled his sensitive nose all the way down. Terre caught Fat Ice Dog before he hit the ground, and then held him triumphantly over his head while he ran in circles barking his praises. All hail the Spheal! Nature's perfect dodgeball!]

Just these guys... You got a thing for Voltorbs?

Yeah, that thing is real. It's pretty great.

[The whole experience of being suddenly airborne and used as a weapon is a little much for Fat Ice Dog, and he barks loudly and squirms until Terre puts him down. Once he's safely on the ground again, the Spheal rolls over towards Fuzzbat, making apologetic noises and wanting to make sure he's okay. Are you hurt, friend? He didn't mean to hurt you!]

Blitz was my starter. [Blitz crackles proudly beside Jean. He was the best starter!] It's funny how few other people have them, and then the first one I got was a Voltorb. I'm trying to convince other people they're not as bad as everyone thinks.

Who was your starter?

Wildfire here. [She laid her head in his lap, and he stroked the back of her neck as though there weren't any flames there at all.] She was just a Ponyta when I got her, but she's always been really calm and gentle. Unlike those knuckleheads.

[He motioned over his shoulder at Terre and Fuzzbat. Terre pulled down an eyelid and blew a raspberry at Fuzzbat, who sat up on his haunches and put Fat Ice Dog in his lap. No, he wasn't hurt. This was just big fully-evolved boy playtime. Said the undersized Noivern.]

They've been at each other's throats since they were just Rockruff and Noibat. I let 'em do what they want, as long as they don't kill each other.

[Fat Ice Dog settles onto Fuzzbat's lap right away and starts cuddling. Yes, this is much better than getting thrown around like a ball. Just because he's ball-shaped doesn't mean he enjoys being thrown around like one! He barks reproachfully at Terre; let him know if you're going to do that again, please!]

It seems more playful than actively violent, at least. It must be how they get their energy out.

[Much like a pair of humans he could think of but won't.]

[Jean looks down at Blitz and thinks for a minute, wondering if he wants to ask this question. He decides that he does, because any stories about a Marco who is alive and well, while they hurt, are good stories.]

Does your Marco have any of these guys?

[Fuzzbat happily skritch-skritched his foreclaws on top of Fat Ice Dog's head. So soft and smooshy... Terre crossed his long arms and tossed his head with another bark. So what! He caught you, that's what matters!]

Um... Yeah. [He shouldn't remember this. Why would he remember this? Whatever, just going with it.] He's got a Dartrix that just won't evolve, an Azumarill, and a Lycanroc too-- just the daylight kind. He's chums with Terre back there. He'd be in a better mood if he were around.

[That's true, Terre did catch him, and Fat Ice Dog acknowledges that with a little nod before rolling over onto his back. Belly scratches, please and thank you?]

[The descriptions of Marco's Pokemon make Jean smile, and it doesn't hurt as much as he thought it would. He's desperately wanted Marco here, ever since he realized what this place was, but hearing about him being somewhere else, alive and happy with another Jean, is good too. It's good just knowing that he still exists out there somewhere, even if he's still in a place where Jean can't reach him.]

Those sound like his kind of Pokemon. [Jean is weirdly disappointed that Marco doesn't have a Spheal, for some reason, but he pushes that thought aside.] And matching Lycanrocs, huh? Sun and moon. Seems fitting.

[He's not even going to pretend that Marco isn't sunshine and light while he's a lot moodier and darker.]

And... he's happy? You're making sure he's happy?

[An Azumarill is pretty close to a Spheal! Round, has spots...]

[Fuzzbat chittered happily as he complied, giving the soooo soft belly a good rubbin'. Even though he had an irritable streak, who could be ornery with a Fat Ice Dog to pet? Terre grumbled at the both of them, then ambled his way back to his trainer. Wildfire lifted her head in anticipation, and just as she did, Terre flopped onto Jean's lap.]

[Sigh. Jean began to pick any bits of dirt out of his mane, and the Lycanroc closed his eyes.]

You better fucking believe I am. He deserves to be happy every last day of his god-damned life. Anyone who tries to ruin it has to deal with me.

[No one can be cranky when Fat Ice Dog is around. It's scientifically impossible.]

[The sight of Terre flopping over to get his mane groomed makes Jean smile a little, and the other Jean's response does even more. It's tinged with sadness, but it's still a smile. Somewhere, Marco still exists, and Jean is making him happy. Maybe the world isn't as horrible as it could be.]

Good. I'm glad.

If you... if you remember any of this [since Jean is assuming they can't both exist in the same place for too long], would you tell him something for me? It won't be weird, right? He'd think it was you talking to him.

...Sure, why not. [Other Jean is right, it wouldn't make any difference to Marco. They were the same person to him.] What'd'you want to pass on?

[Jean takes a deep breath and gathers his thoughts. There's a lot he'd want to say to Marco, but he also doesn't want to freak him out, especially not if his own Jean suddenly started unloading on him. It has to be something that he himself would say without obvious prompting.]

Tell him that he was the best friend I ever had, and that I wish I'd appreciated that more when I had the chance. [He waves one hand in the air.] I mean, changes the verbs and everything, but basically that.

Yeah. I can do that. [Marco would probably find it peculiar that he would say that, even worrying, but Jean could comfort him afterwards. This sad, frightening other life that he may have had was enough of a motivation to tell him.] I'm sure Marco feels the same way.

Thanks.

[It might not be much, but it's a comfort nonetheless. And if Marco ever shows up here, Jean is going to make sure to tell him himself. He heaves a big sigh and gently pets the top of Blitz's round head.]

If there's a world where Marco survives, and a world where the two of you are together, then maybe there's a world where none of it happened at all. Maybe there's a world where everyone is safe and happy.

If a world like this is real? I think it's possible. [Which is probably the most hopeful thing Jean has ever said in his life.] We might be different people there, but I think some things can't be changed either.

[Like people, and how they find each other. Jean didn't think he'd be "Jean" without the people he's crossed paths with in life. They were too much of an influence on him.]

[That is hopeful, especially for himself. Jean glances up, and a faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.]

You sound like him when you say that.

[Which he means as the utmost compliment.]

FOURTH WALL MINGLE LOG

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fun fact: I almost went with a Ponyta for Jean's starter!

i like voltorb, it's a much less obvious choice

angry, explosive, and squinty = perfect for Jean

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/squeezes this in too

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