Eleventh Transmutation | [video] Home again, home again...?

[armoredsoul]

[Hello, Johto. Here's a face that hasn't been around for a while! Al frowns and scratches his neck, looking more than a little awkward.]

Um, I know it might not be the best time with the whole 'natural disasters everywhere' thing going on, but...I just wanted to let anyone who remembers me know I'm apparently back to stay? At least for a little while.

[A long, awkward pause, before Al chuckles nervously.]

So, uh, what'd I miss?

Comments

[video]

[paladinlost]

At the very least, you've missed a visit to the moon, and also quite possibly the land going mad. Madder than usual. That would depend on when you were last in this world.

[A beat.]

...Welcome back, and may you not be trampled by an angry Donphan on your way out of town.

[video]

[armoredsoul]

Oh, I came back in time for the moon party! That was quite a thing, ehe. Last I was here before that was, um...January, I think? It wasn't the same months after I went home, so It's kind of hard to remember.

[He can't help a small snort of laughter there.] Yeah, I heard about that! I'm trying to figure out how to calm the poor thing down, but Eddie's an electric type, so I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here...

[video]

[paladinlost]

Ah, I'm glad to hear that. It was such a wonderful gift to us, and the host was so delightful, that it would have been a shame to miss it.

[That beautiful fluffy kitty would have made any visit worth it.]

Do you happen to know where it is at the moment? My team and I are on our way, but with all those panicking Pokémon it's difficult to find it from up here.

[video]

[armoredsoul]

Yeah! It was really nice, I'm glad I was able to be here for it.

[That cat is Al's new favorite legendary, let's be real here.]

It's about half-way down the route right now...I don't know the exact distance. If you see me and my Luxray we can guide you on foot, I'm trying to keep an eye on it for now.

[video]

[paladinlost]

About halfway, you say? We'll be able to see it soon, then. Expect an Altaria on your position within the next twenty minutes or so.

[Offscreen, the Altaria in question trills in agreement.]

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[--AND AL'S BACK TOO HOLY SHIT. Maybe, just maybe, the others'll... nah, she's not gonna get her hopes up. But she will touch base, at least.]}

Al!

Hey, where are you?

_{[She seems to be outdoors somewhere.]}

[Video]

[armoredsoul]

[Alphonse laughs and grins--he saw her at prom, sure, but it's still a relief to see her!]

Back at Mom's house, where else? Well, Route 29, technically, but you know. Looks like we've got a bit of cleanup to do around here, though!

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[Prom or NOT, she's used to all the familiar old faces she gets to see on those strange weekends being a temporary treat-- it had been great to see Al but she hadn't been expecting to see him again. At least not until another one of those weekends rolled around again, anyway.]}

--Mom's house?

You got stuck all the way back there?!

_{[... well, she shouldn't sound TOO surprised. She, Envy, and Henry are god knows where at the moment, too.]}

[Video]

[armoredsoul]

Yeah, and apparently I got switched over to being a trainer. So even if I did have Clara with me, I wouldn't be flying anywhere.

[He doesn't mind the hiking so much, but he just wants to be home right now, damnit.]

Where are you at?

[islandshore]

Oh boy. Where do we even start?

[Folding his arms, Riku cocks his head slightly to the side, while his brow creases.]

Well, first we had a whole mess of glitches. Then people started changing ages and swapping bodies. There was that party on the moon...

Basically, it's been a wild ride.

[armoredsoul]

Glitches--swapping bodies? Jeez, and I thought that whole fusions business around October was weird!

[islandshore]

Ha, try waking up in the body of a Charizard.

One guy wound up inside a girl's body, and I'm sure there were even weirder switches going on in the background.

[Shrugging, he adds--]

You're lucky you missed out.

[armoredsoul]

Eh, I can think of worse things...

[Living in a suit of armor for a few years for example. Cough, cough.]

Yeah, let's just hope Johto doesn't kick it up another notch of weirdness now that I'm back again, huh?

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

[As much of a surprise as it had been to see Al up on the moon, it hadn't really been unexpected. People come back for those weekends all the time, then vanish again until maybe the next time one rolled around.]

[They don't usually come right back, not for real.]

[And Envy has no idea what to think about this. He's angry that Al is here, but it's not the same sort as it was the first time his half-brother had arrived. No, he's angry because he's not nearly angry enough. He's even sort of relieved to see him, which doesn't make any sense and clearly he can probably write that off as relief that Wrath and Heather will be happy about the return. But he shouldn't be relieved himself. He hadn't even wanted to miss Al being around in the first place!]

[He's so angry.]

You dumped Pokemon on me when you vanished, you know that?

[HE'LL BE...HUFFY ABOUT THAT, HE GUESSES.]

[video]

[armoredsoul]

[Oh, gross.]

[Envy isn't the only one struggling with that strange anger/relief/frustration combo pack right now. Being away from Envy for so long and back with Edward had put some distance from the...whatever their relationship had started to become, but for all he wants to just hang up in Envy's face Al just can't bring himself to.]

Well, that's not my fault! Like I would have chosen you in the first place!

[He probably didn't even let them out of the PC, the asshole.]

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

[No you're gross!!]

[At least there's an argument to be had, that makes this all much easier. Envy rolls his eyes, pointedly.]

Well apparently something decided that I needed to get stuck babysitting your animals for months, and now your dinosaur hangs around Juliet even more. Thanks for that.

[Clearly it's Al's fault! And apparently he did let them out of the box after all how about that.]

[video]

[armoredsoul]

[Well you're double gross! (Boys, please.)]

[Arguments are so, so much easier than feelings. Al huffs and wrinkles his nose, glaring at the camera.]

Her name is Trisha! And I didn't make them become friends, jeez! What, are you gonna blame me for the earthquakes next?

[awesmazings]

Al!!

[Sorry Al, he may have...shouted that a little, but can you blame him? First Jack shows up, and now you. This is honestly making Jimmy's week, on top of getting to go to the moon and everything.]

I can't believe you're back! I missed you, yaknow?

[armoredsoul]

[The crackling from the speakers only takes Al off-guard for a few moments, and he laughs when he sees who it is.]

Jimmy! Oh man, I missed you too, how have you been?

[awesmazings]

I've been great! Same old, pretty much.

What about you? Have things been going okay back home?

[armoredsoul]

So everything's crazy and nothing makes sense, right? [He can't help a bit of a laugh at his own joke.]

Nothing too horrible! It was nice to be with my brother again, though I definitely missed all the modern amenities.

[Video]

[callbacks]

Dude, you're back!

[Yay!]

I dunno that you missed all that much, TBH--[Oh my god Dave don't LIE, the past month was insane]--but you know who missed you?

[And here come Clara and Huggybear, the Musharna clinging to the Pidgeot's head, staring into the screen like it's the Second Coming.]

[Video]

[armoredsoul]

I am! It's so good to see you--oh!!

[Oh no Al is really excited to see Dave again too, but THOSE ARE HIS BABIES.]

Clara, Huggy! You two haven't given Dave any trouble, have you?

[Video]

[callbacks]

Naw, they're angels. Angels who regularly eat me out of house and home, and me a poor minimum-wage part-timer.

[Huggybear in particular has...well, he's evolved, so surely that accounts for his increase in bulk...?]

If I trade them back to you by PC, is there anywhere in New Bark you can pick them up, or do you have to wait until you hit Cherrygrove? Things are a little...completely shitbasket right now, travel-wise. You are in New Bark, right?

[Video]

[armoredsoul]

[Alphonse eyes Huggybear with an amused, if somewhat concerned, look. Yeah, there has been a LOT of fluff added onto that little frame of his.]

Yeah, they go through a lot more food than you'd think they do! I try and pay you back once I can. And...I don't think there's any PCs here in New Bark, no. I'll message you once I reach Cherrygrove--you two be good until then, okay?

[Huggybear squeaks and waves his trunk in response, and Clara lets out a long, sleepy-sounding coo.]