victory_road | 120th moon [audio/backdated action?]

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120th moon [audio/backdated action?]

[At dawn on the 25th of August, Cecil is struck by the need to move. It is an old painful friend, one that often visits him at this time of the year. He eats, gets dressed, goes to the Pokémon Center and finds his way to Fuchsia. He spends most of his day looking for young Ryan while trying to not seem shifty, then a non-negligible part of his afternoon trying to mediate an argument between a sparkly Pancham and a Pawniard until he gives up and catches them both. As he picks the pokéballs up, a few pitiful pieces of folded paper hit him in the face. He has to remind himself that he likes children, preferably by spending the evening with fellow adults.

At dawn on the 26th of August, Cecil wakes up regretting that fourth drink when his new team members start arguing loudly. He promptly sends them to the PC, before teleporting to Lavender through Celadon and Saffron. He finds Mrs. Mary by following a Mimikyu who wishes to assist her, repaying its help with three ropes, some spray paint and an offer to join him. When it returns and accepts, he does not ask what it did with the supplies, nor why those Radio Tower employees are screaming. He doesn't want to know.

At dawn on the 27th of August, Cecil moves on to Vermilion. He finds the Conductor without really trying, and spends nearly an hour chatting with the man and admiring his tricks. By lunch time, he's in a good enough mood to to choose to have a picnic on route 6; an Espurr grabbing his sandwich ruins that. Ensues a chase that lasts hours, during which he manages to upset and dodge five different Beedrills and nearly drown in a pond. When he finally grabs the culprit (mostly to soothe his pride, as the sandwich is long gone), he remembers he's supposed to be back at the Gym in little more than an hour. He runs back to Vermilion, warps to Saffron then Celadon, and finally flies back to work. He's still holding the cat. The cat has accepted its fate.

At dawn on the 28th of August, Cecil collapses in bed for three hours. He drags himself out after that, forces himself to go through the Celadon-Saffron-Cerulean-Pewter warps, and almost collapses in Taxidermy Teddy's yard once directed there by a few wary locals. He manages to pass that off as excitement, which he cannot quite keep up when he sees the faux Caterpie collection. Pleading a sudden need to see the real thing, he goes for a short walk in the forest. A Flabébé decides it likes his hair. He needs to get back before dusk, and he's too tired to fight a tiny flower fairy. The fairy goes with him.

At dawn on the 29th of August, Cecil doesn't bother going to sleep. He downs three coffees, goes through the warps until he reaches Viridian, tries not to throw up. His fourth coffee of the day is shared with the old man snoozing on the path, along with the first pastry he found. Kayne is with him; flying to Pallet and back will be a simple matter, but he has no time to lose. He barely slows down when a young Fletchling crashes into them, feeding it potions and bits of his jerky even as they descend. One of those music boxes will make a nice present for everyone back home. By the time he returns to Viridian, he's hungry for dinner. There's no time. The moment he's done warping back to Celadon, he climbs back on a mildly unhappy Kain's back. He's out of it long before they reach the Gym.]

[A few too short hours later, some time after night has fallen but before any potential challenger has shown up, Cecil finally decides to speak to the network. No video this time; he already sounds like he could collapse at any moment, no need to look the part too.]

If I'd known, in those days when I jested about celebrating my fifth anniversary here, that a tenth anniversary would someday become a possibility I must plan for, I would have let some poor hungry Gyarados eat me.

[This is a day for celebrating, technically, but he's celebrated it far too many times for his tastes. Please allow him this moment of regret.]

It's a lovely world, mind you, but it lacks something. Something heavy and sharp like a sword in my hand, or steady and solid like the stones of Baron. No matter what, it cannot truly be home.

[Some of his Pokémon make a few alarmed noises. He continues quickly.]

That said, I'm glad I was brought here. I'm glad I met and seen you all once more, whether we've exchanged a dozen words or a thousand conversations. I'm glad I've had this opportunity to raise so many delightful creatures and try my hand at various hobbies that my tutors considered irrelevant. After all these years, I must say... I...

[He stops himself. Is he being too sappy? He's being too sappy. Time to end this before it becomes embarrassing.]

The Gym is closed to challenges tonight. Should you need a place to rest, our doors are still open. Just... don't expect a human greeting until morning.

[Because he's not getting up any time soon, thank you very much.]

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Wait... ten years? Am I reading that right? You've been here for that long?

[Cecil seems delighted with some of his experiences, but to Hank, it's mortifying. He doesn't really want to shit on someone's good time but good god....]

NO, no, no. Only eight as of today, thank goodness.

[He may be somewhat preparing himself for two more years of this, but the thought is still alarming right now.]

But five years once seemed impossible, yet here I am. Thus, I must accept that I may reach that point.

Jesus Christ, I can't even fucking imagine one year. [To be honest, he definitely didn't even think he'd last more than a couple of years back home, and that's just the way he wanted it.]

Has there been anyone else around for that long?

A single year is a short stay. One that many do not achieve, mind you, but barely sufficient to properly explore the place.

[Well, except that first year. Being unable to access Kanto helped.]

There are still two earlier arrivals left, who came about three months before I did. A few more should reach eight years soon. Everyone else from that time is long gone.

Fuck... That long, though. I honestly can't even imagine.

I mean, the most I have to worry about is my dog back home. And if worse came to worse, I arranged for him to be taken care of. But still...

[Hank's still mostly riding the coattails of Connor's eagerness. He can't imagine stewing up some of his own. But that's the dour piece of shit mood he tends to be unable to shake.]

Your dog will be fine, I promise. Time flows differently between worlds; what lasts years here only takes a second back home. When I fell into a week-long coma a few months ago, I found myself exactly where I'd been before, with no one knowing I'd been gone. It'll be the same for you.

[It's only when he's finished that he realizes some of that may not have been reassuring at all.]

Oh. Right. I forgot about the coma things.

Hooray... surprise comas... like winning the trippy lottery.

So you... Did you feel like you went home for certain? Do people actually wake up different? That-

I think I need whiskey.

I'd offer to send you some, but my Pokémon are likely to drink it on the way.

[The little brats.]

I definitely, certainly returned home during that time, though as my stay lasted mere weeks I looked no different upon waking up. But yes, we've had children and teenagers wake up having slept through a growth spurt or two. If only that had been an option during my youth...

...They'll drink your whiskey?

[He's gonna have to get possessive now. He's grateful for the warning.]

You know what, I have to agree with you there. [Even forever later, he would have prefered sleeping through the acne and the broken voice.]

Growing Pokémon are much like adolescents: they'll eat everything they find and push boundaries whenever they can.

[And he just went and caught a new bunch. He must have hit his head at some point during the last week.]

Of course, waking up after spending years at home does lead to disorientation, the occasional temporary confusion about the strange purple rat on your bed, and possibly having to explain to comrades and roommates why you look so different. Not always the easiest of tasks.

Fuck, some of them do have thumbs don't they. Well, I guess that's more caution I need to do.

I was told people can fuck off completely, too. No comas or nothing.

[That one has him a little worried, if only because he doesn't want to leave Connor alone. Even if that feeling contradicts his general feeling that Connor would be better off forging on ahead without him.]

Some have thumbs, others have tentacles, more can simply teleport a sealed bottle's content directly to their mouth. There is no way to stop them.

[Yet he keeps trying and trying and trying...]

Yes, they do, especially early within the month. It cannot be predicted, controlled or stopped, ever if you happen to be in the same room.

And some people have come back from that too?

It's funny. For a world with a whole lot of particulars and a whole lot of rules and safety buffers, feels like the scariest fuckin' part is just one day just not even existing.

But I guess if someone can last eight full years and just have a couple of naps home....

Certain people come back with memories of their previous stays, others return younger or simply unaware... I suppose it is scary if you're not used to it. Still, I'd take that over another eight years here with a single temporary visit home...

We left our world on the cusp of a giant change. A big huge thing. Android liberation. I'd hated how people treated each other so badly, that it was really something to see the good in people, you know?

Hardly ever any good in people.

Now this place is good and its bright and it's safe and all that. Whatever. It's more like... back home, I got to see people work for that. I got to see people change for the better. And I'm really hating missing out on that.

[Which is about the nicest thing he's said about being alive in a long time.] Hope I don't got to wait eight years to see what happens.

[Honestly, that's longer than he was even a father.]

There is no greater feeling than watching the world change for the better, ridding itself of its ills. I imagine catching a glimpse of such change before being suddenly torn from your world must be frustrating.

[Especially if it's a liberation. That word has a nice ring to it.]

There's a legend about some Pokémon that grants wishes, but to be honest I doubt it can make us go home faster, even if we ever manage to ask.

Yeah. Way too many ills out there.

It's a nice thought, but I don't think I'd spend a wish on myself anyway.

[Well, he might spend it on a fundamentally selfish thing like his son, or something like that. But not to just go home.]

[Motherfucker's probably a bird because that's how his fucking life works.]

Well, since you've been here eight years, is there something I should look forward to seeing? Or I should insist my partner see?

This land's best sights? Hmm.

[Please give him a few moments to think about it.]

While it is also one of the worst roads to visit if you are unprepared, the Ice Cave between Mahogany and Blackthorn is magnificent to behold. If your tastes run more towards the archeological sights, the Ruins of Alph are particularly interesting to explore, while Ecruteak offers lovely historical buildings. Celadon's Gym hold more plants than any other city in either region, while Pewter holds a fascinating museum.

[Picking the best ones is harder than he thought.]

I was also extremely impressed by the size of the buildings in Goldenrod and Saffron, but from what I understand such constructions are common in many worlds. They may not be so interesting to you.

Detroit's got some pretty fuckin' big buildings, so I'd probably fall into the casual category there. But... [There's an unfortunate view of fabric and Growlithe fur because he has to briefly move the PokeGear so he can write out the stuff in his notebook.] Hold on!

[There's a scratching of pen on paper, before he rights everything and the view is normal again.]

Sorry, had to make a note of a few of those. [Because what the hell else is he going to do? He doesn't exactly have a lot of lofty aspirations. But he owes it to his partner (and himself) to try.]

If you decide to write down everything that can be interesting in this world, you'll have to buy multiple notebooks.

[It's still a good idea, though.]

With so many tall buildings, is it not difficult to watch the stars? The ones in Saffron sometimes manage to hide even the moon.

I have this shit half filled up already, so I'm already in it for the long haul. [There are even some pages with sticky notes on them.]

Yeah, it's called 'light pollution'. But uh... Imagine looking at those buildings at night, from a distance. And just knowing under each light there's someone living out their life. A kid's getting read a bedtime story. A businessman's finally shutting off his computer. There's a couple out there teasing each other making each other laugh.

[Looking out at the city had been one of his favorite parts of being on the bridge.]

It's beautiful in its own way. [A beauty that's been more difficult to see in a while, but he had been finding it again.]

Edited 2018-09-08 02:07 (UTC)

That sounds much like watching the torches light city from a castle tower except... more. Too many people to know who they all are, too many lives to count...

[It's a delight thought, watching over a city a hundred times bigger than Baron.]

It must truly be lovely. You'll surely find plenty to like in Goldenrod, then, if not much that's new.

That's the idea, yeah.

[Of course, there's always the idea that there was an infinite number of bad stories out there. But for a long time, Hank was a good cop and thrived off giving everyone else their safety.]

Does it have some good greasy food at least?

[He can happily settle for the less grand things.]

If you visit the right streets, you'll even find grease decorated with morsels of food.

[Not that he ever allows himself to eat in such places, in a world where he has fewer opportunities to train.]

But for the best restaurants, you'll want to visit Olivine.

I wonder how long it would take Connor to drag me kicking and screaming from one of those places.

[He's walking enough, dammit, he will indulge.]

Olivine, huh? Well, I'm sure we'll make it there eventually. I'm not exactly the classiest man but good food is a damn good motivation.

If it's good food you seek, this world will not disappoint you. However, do not be surprised if you hear of turducken or boarig; this world has no normal animals, and its sources of edible meat are currently unidentified.

[Oh geez... Ten years. Riku winces, rubbing his neck as the feed starts. He exhales a small puff of air, cracking a crooked smile.]

Geez. At this rate, we should probably do a headcount on who's left. I know Heather's been around for a while, but I'll be surprised if us old timers have hit the double digits.

[He hesitates before adding:]

You holding up okay?

As far as I know, the two of you are the only ones left who arrived before me, though one or two more arrived later during the same year. I'll be sure to buy you both sympathy drinks when we reach that point.

[He doesn't bother prentending he doesn't expect it.]

...I'm fine. I merely... overexerted myself over the last few days. This yearly reminder of the time I've spent here often demands unusual activity.

Ha. Man, that's... geez. I'll be twenty-five when that happens.

[Sure, it's not that old, but. Wow. Just... kinda hard to comprehend.

Give him a moment.]

So, uh. What kinda activity are we talking? Extreme boxing? Table flipping? Climbing a mountain and screaming your frustrations to the wind?

Ah, to be so young again...

[It is very much not that old, yes.]

I've completed the Kanto part of that scavenger hunt, and caught a team's worth of Pokémon along the way. I'm still not certain if dealing with long warp chains was worse than dealing with so many little ones will be.

Pfff. I don't feel young, but I know I'm way too young for a midlife crisis, at least.

[Even if some days it feels like he's having one.]

Geez. Kudos for going all out on the hunt, but man I feel weird for not expanding my team. It's just... tough, y'know? Sora's gone. So I gotta manage my menagerie all by myself. Adding to it just seems excessive.

Midlife crises are overrated. Watching nobles take mistresses younger than their own daughters, or farmers suddenly decide to become travelling singers and neglect their families, is enough to put you off such thoughts.

[Better to have a brainwashing crisis. Or a falling to darkness crisis.]

...That would make catching new ones an unpleasant prospect, yes. And if I remember correctly, some of yours have... difficult personalities. Introducing new teammates would surely involve extensive monitoring and care...

...Okay, I was about to point out how creepy the former part sounds, but I know nothing about how actual royalty works. Still, that's. Definitely something.

[Random singing urges? Geez, least they could do is take their family with 'em. He pinches the bridge of his nose for a sec. How weird...]

And that's basically the biggest problem. Sure, I could just box 'em all, but that won't really make the problems disappear?

Oh, I've no doubt some commoners would do it if they could afford to both maintain a household and offer the women in question suitable gifts. The more prosperous merchants might even manage it already.

[Far be it from him to mock people's happiness, but come on.]

For a short period, it would, but taking them out once more would only make them angrier. And boxing them forever... No matter what they say about the PC, it sounds cruel to me.

Just... why go for someone so much younger? I don't get it. Is it some kinda status thing?

[He rubs at his forehead. It's... kinda creepy, but if it's mutual feelings and both parties are adults, maybe it's okay? Hm.]

But yeah, that's the other kicker. And releasing them could just make things worse because there'd be no trainer to control 'em.

All I can really do is just... deal.

Being able to attract a younger, better-looking mistress proves their wealth and power, for why else would anyone want them? Such women are also likelier to be fertile than their older, tired wives, which has its own... advantages.

[He has no intention of explaining what those are out loud, thank you very much.]

Is that the only reason you do not release them? Or is there still some form of attachment between you?

Huh. Fair. Maybe it's just 'cause things are so different where I'm from- don't really see those kinda age gaps with couples anymore.

[So what made things change? What led to the shift in social standards?

History's weird.

Still, that last comment... he slumps.]

It's... complicated. I mean, I've had enough experience where they aren't as big of a problem these days, but I'd say that with Terror, it's still not quite an attachment. It's more like tolerance.

I'd like to imagine that more people in your world are simply faithful to spouses they've known since their youth, but I suspect that would be too optimistic of me.

[It's such a nice thought, though. Growing old happily together with someone you've known your own life...]

...Tolerance is as good as some people and Pokémon can get, sad as it is.

Ha. Well, for whatever it's worth, it's not like there's a ton of cheating going on. I think.

[He was fifteen when he left home and the romantic affairs of random adults never really interested him much.]

And... yeah, that's definitely true. Some of it's on me, though. Draco and Quake... I feel like if I hadn't been so obsessed with power at the time, they mighta turned out better.

Expecting youths who've little to no experience with toddlers or babies to raise impressionable young creatures with the power to cause genuine damage is hardly this world's best idea, to be fair. At the time, could you have imagined what effect you would have on them? Would you have had the maturity to chose differently, if you had known?

[Teenagers are hardly the most thoughtful of people, after all.]

Yet you've changed your methods, even if it is too late for some of the eldest. Many would not have the strength to do so even after witnessing the results.

I... guess I'd just. Exercise more restraint?

[He exhales softly, rubbing circles in his brow.]

Not push so hard. Put my foot down when they got too aggressive instead of encouraging it. Just... Actually using my head.

I just don't know what I can do now that they're fully leveled, you know? Do they even have things like Pokemon rehab?

Using your head is difficult, when you are young and feel as though you can do anything.

[Overconfidence can be just as blinding as undeserved loyalty, he knows.]

Many Pokémon are raised to be aggresive, while others are harshly mistreated. Surely they're not blind to such truths and have devised ways to help Pokémon that need more support than most. Having the original trainer available and willing to help might even make the process easier.

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120th moon [audio/backdated action?]

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*comes back late with Starbucks*

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arrrgh. really shouldn't have taken this long to get back to this. been a rough month

Very agreed. Go away, September.

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comes back late with Starbucks