002: Video

[notyourgoddess]

[Well, time to get this over with. Maya appears on the screen. From the background you can tell she's in a pokemon center of some sort. She looks annoyed]

So apparently someone forgot to mention the fact that you can go to sleep for about a week and also be back in your own world at the same time. Somehow? I'd assume it was a really detailed dream if Krieg and I both didn't have the same one. So any information on the sleep, going home thing would be appreciated.

[Hey, can you hear yelling in the background? If you know Krieg, feel free to recognize his voice. What he's yelling....is totally unintelligible. Good sign, yes? Maya just keeps looking at the camera. Apparently she's used to the noise.]

And as it turns out, having a bunch of memories dropped back into your head after forgetting them isn't the best way to wake up. ...or get back to normal in this place.

Thank you though, to whoever dragged Krieg and I to the pokecenter in Violet City after ....whatever the hell that attack was. We're probably not going to stick around here though. I think we need a place to regroup for a while.

[Maya is totally calm. The fact that she's sitting next to what is clearly a smashed clock is nothing to worry about.]

Comments

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[fuelthefire]

[To call the juxtaposition of one (1) giant, screaming, clearly unhinged man, one (1) frazzled but firm Nurse Joy, and one (1) Chansey that is not taking anybody's shit "strange" might be underselling the scene a bit. Because while Krieg yells at the top of his lungs -]

THERE IS NO ME! THERE IS NO YOU! THERE IS ONLY THE NEVER-ENDING SPIT AND BILE OF COMBAT!!

[- Nurse Joy and Chansey are somehow herding him away from the bunk area and toward the exit. "Sir, please, you're disturbing the Pokemon!" - and he's allowing himself to be herded.]

I CAN'T SEE HER ANYMORE! SHE WAS SO CLEAR AND BRIGHT!

["I'm very sorry to hear that, sir, but I don't think she's here anymore..."]

WE WATCHED IT ALL, AND FELT THE KNIFE EDGE SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE!!

[About halfway through the lobby, he catches sight of Maya. His footsteps falter for a moment but he doesn't stop. The grumpy-looking Chansey is very insistent.]

I'LL WAIT FOR YOU OUTSIDE, PRETTY LADY!

[And out the front door he goes. Which is definitely a good thing, considering he's apparently forgotten how to use his inside voice.]

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[notyourgoddess]

[Yup, it's one of those days. Maya will take a moment to get herself together before getting up and having a quick conversation with the Nurse Joy. No, they're fine. It's okay. No really, sometimes he just gets like this but everyone is fine. Well, she's only mostly lying.

Because the part of her mind that is aware of her powers is once again doing that thing where the absence is really ...annoying. She'd probably just smash another clock trying to meditate again, or something bigger. So she gets her stuff and she goes after Krieg.]

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[fuelthefire]

[The tiny, truthful part of Maya's lie was "sometimes he just gets like this." Because things are definitely not fine.

She may or may not notice, she's trailed out of the Pokecenter by Zen Doll and Adorababy. Dolly had been very startled when Krieg had sat up suddenly and begun shouting at the top of his lungs, and had dove under the Pokecenter bed. 'Dora had joined him, less out of startlement of Krieg and more to make sure Dolly was okay.

Now that he's finished being startled, it's very important to Dolly to make sure Krieg is okay, so he waddles at top speed after his big loud friend with an attentive 'Dora in tow.

When Maya joins Krieg outdoors, she'll find him a respectable distance away from the Pokecenter doors - close enough for her to see him (though honestly, even if she couldn't see him she could definitely still hear him), but far enough away his presence shouldn't discourage any innocent members of the public from approaching the Center. Nurse Joy's partner Chansey had made sure of that.

He's toned down the shouting somewhat but his angry ranting has not slowed.]

The blood is in my eyes, and now I can only watch the ocean of blood...Its waves crash against my forehead again and again, AND I JUST NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SURF!!

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[notyourgoddess]

[At least he isn't trying to kill anyone, which would be a sign that everything has gone to hell.

She will notice two pokemon following her however and will try and get their attention before they run over to Krieg.]

Guys, it's....okay it's not fine but I need you to not run directly at Krieg right away. He's....

[She's not sure really.]

Just follow me and we'll all go talk to him. Okay?

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[fuelthefire]

[Nope, no murder attempts here, even though he's still not sure whether he's awake or dreaming. Usually his dreams involve a lot more slag, so there's one point for being awake. But everything here is so green, and Sanctuary was just green too, right before Lilith burned it to the ground, so that seems like an argument for asleep.

He remembers this place. He'd forgotten it, but now he's remembered, and that's one strike against it already. He knows it's a town named after a color but not a shade of green, and he doesn't trust it. Forgotten things should stay forgotten - that's how forgetting works. He's pacing in a small circle, waiting for Maya to catch up. He's pretty sure he saw her, just inside. He hates waiting, but he'll wait for her, and anyway, she never makes him wait long.]

Somebody open me up and put out the fire in my belly...Put it out with knives and BULLETS and STRANGLING!!

[Zen Doll stares up at Maya, his good eye wide, suddenly very unsure. 'Dora, on the other hand, trills in pleasant agreement and reaches out with one ribbon to wrap gently but firmly around one of Dolly's paws. It'll be fine, Dolly, we'll hold hands and check on him together!]

[video]

[paladinlost]

Those comas are... normal, for a very world-specific definition of normal. Depending on the amount of time you've spent home, your body may or may not have aged. Be sure to drink a lot of water over the next few days, and check your body for any signs of a Pokémon's prank.

[What else could be worth mentioning? Let's see...]

It usually lasts a week, but I recall a few longer cases, years ago. However, they were exceptional events, unrelated to the time spent back home. Progressing through days or weeks without remembering our stay here is the common thread, but my own stay also allowed me to recall memories that had previously been sealed.

[video]

[notyourgoddess]

[She nods at that.]

Thanks. It's actually just good to hear it's a thing. What would signs of it being a pokemon prank be, though?

[She's pretty sure she was home, but it never hurts to ask. That last part though is worrying.]

You remembered sealed memories. Do you believe it was a side effect of returning to your world or something that would have happened anyway. ....has anyone else regained lost memories?

[video]

[paladinlost]

Amusing marker drawings on your skin, mostly. Possibly pigtails and hair ribbons, if they have access to such things. Potentially pictures of all those, shared with the network while you slept. What good prankster would waste a perfectly good, unmoving victim?

[He's not saying he doesn't trust some of his own, but.]

...See, that part is tricky, because it involved being repeatedly summoned by gods to battle in their own world, while under the effects of two different layers of memory suppression, both of which were lifted the last time we were called. I'm not sure my experience would apply to less... complicated seals. That said, some of my comrades also recovered part of those memories upon arriving here, while others did not. And I do believe there was another case of recovered memories after a coma.

[video]

[notyourgoddess]

Hmm, we might be in luck then. Although those signs could also just indicate Tiny Tina got to us. ...er, she's a kid from home that got here recently, not a pokemon.

[She would be terrifying pokemon.]

That's.....not great news. Do you know anything else about that other case? It's not common at least, people regaining repressed memories after waking back up here?

[video]

[paladinlost]

Ah, yes, the young lady with the egg. She did seem rather lively.

[And most certainly not likely to inflict trauma upon her own Buneary.]

It's not, thankfully. Recalling old friends is pleasant; dealing with multiple people who've recalled only part of those events and trying to establish a coherent timeline is not. The other case... if I remember correctly, after such a coma one of the Lightnings remembered another instance of that war between gods. One I only recalled last year. But she's been brought twice or thrice, so I've lost track of the details.

[Video]

[agent3]

Aah...happened t'you guys?

[Thida looks concerned. She had no idea! Why did no one tell her this had happened?]

Happened t'me too, one time...really weird...not fun. What d'you wanna know? Can try t'help...

[Video]

[notyourgoddess]

Yeah, we fell asleep after that giant attack at the camp and just recently woke up. Apparently it's been about a week now?

[It's still confusing.]

That would be great. Though just telling me it's happened to other people helps a great deal. It's somewhat hard to believe it wasn't a really long dream now that I'm awake again.

Do you remember how long you were in your own world before you woke up back here?

[Video]

[agent3]

Uh-huh. Two whole years.

[She looks down, something pained prickling behind her eyes.]

Not a good time.

[Video]

[notyourgoddess]

That's a while.

[And that's not a great sign.]

Sorry to hear that. We...had some....less then great times back home as well. It could have been worse though.

[Video]

[agent3]

I don't think...that's how it is for everybody? But 's how it happened.

[Yeah, it is a while. And she barely grew in the meantime. What a load of poop.]

Can't help it, though. If it happens. Just does.

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[shiro2hero]

Oh... Oh good. You guys are all right.

[He was worried. He'd meant to go in and check on the two of them sooner, but with the party planned on the Island, it hadn't happened. He genuinely sounds relieved to hear it.]

Are you guys -- [Wait.] -- Is that... Krieg?

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[notyourgoddess]

Yup. We apparently just went home. While asleep.

[That is still weird to her. Which is strange considering what she went home to.]

Still, no one died so that's good.

And yeah, that's Krieg. I'm going to talk to him again soon, but he hasn't been taking this well. I don't think he likes the whole losing memories and getting them back thing we just did.

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[shiro2hero]

I wondered if that was the case.

[Unfortunately.]

That... that's got to be hard for him. Do you guys need anything? Any help or...?

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[notyourgoddess]

I'm hoping I'll be able to calm him down. I usually can. Even during that mind swap I was able to calm him down.

[Even so this is still serious, and she's a bit worried.]

He has his pokemon here, which should help as well. It's just.... a lot to be uncertain about.

If I think of anything we need, I'll send you an echo- sorry, message on the gear.

[Maya was actually back home for longer, as much as that means anything. But the shorter time here and the long stretch back home means she's slipping back into old habits. Words that don't mean anything here, trying to use her powers. Her head hurts.]

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[shiro2hero]

Good. That's good.

But, seriously, I can be in Violet in a couple hours if you need me. Skarmory's fast enough.

[As much as he's gotten to know Krieg over the past couple years, Maya definitely knows the man better. He trusts her judgment. It just feels wrong not to offer to be there for people.]

I'll stand by. Just in case.

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[schachmeister]

[Maya might be used to the noise, but it still spells Concern to Armin. He's gotten used to Krieg's general noisiness, but right not doesn't seem to be an ordinary situation.]

Are the two of you going to be all right? Is Krieg going to be all right?

[Not that he isn't concerned about Maya either but, well, Krieg not being all right tends to lead to a lot more property damage.]

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[notyourgoddess]

[That makes perfect sense.]

Krieg....

I'm going to go and talk to him again soon. Waking up here, with all our memories back, shook him a lot. He was fine when we were back on Pandora. Well, the same as he'd been before he got here.

[So, probably not fine to the people here. To her, he was acting like himself.]

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[schachmeister]

Will you be able to manage on your own? I could come with Magellan. It might help him to blow off some steam.

[What is more relaxing than going a few rounds with a huge muscle cat?]

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[notyourgoddess]

That's...not a terrible idea.

I'd wait for the moment though. I have a feeling we might be heading back to the islands? I'm not sure, it depends on whether or not I can convince him that remembering things isn't always something to hate.

[Though with him she gets why he'd feel that way.]

He does tend to listen to me more then other people, and his pokemon are here. So hopefully that will be enough.

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[schachmeister]

All right. Please let me know if you need my help at any point.

Though I'm not sure I understand why he is reacting like this. I'd think that his time here is something he'd want to remember.