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[hythlodaeus]

[After waking up in a bed three times too small and experiencing an absolutely baffling exchange, Hythlodaeus finds himself in the company of a Tropius that manages to be taller than he is. Which is quite the feat at eight feet tall. He looks through his things and finds what is clearly a communicator. A face, obscured by a white mask and black hood comes onto the feed. His voice is alien to himself as he speaks; a rich mid-alto spoken slowly.]

Good... evening, everyone. [He both hopes that there is and is not an "everyone".] This is an effort, I suppose, to see if I am alone in this... simulation. Which, by the by, seems to have been given little oversight by my measure. Though on further examination, I doubt that an authentic experience was the goal.

[He's rambling, but he doesn't seem self-conscious about this.]

Well... There's only one direction to go, so I may as well start walking, hm?

[He shakes his head a little.]

Oh, my apologies. The oddity of this situation seems to have robbed me of my manners. My name is Hythlodaeus.

Comments

[amaure]

Yes.

[Well, maybe not the very original, but he certainly made it when he was on the First. He tries not to pay Hythlodaeus' compliment to his robe much mind...knowing the man, it could be as much of a statement of endearment as it is a jab.]

Mm, these creatures typically are named after their cries, though not all are. Some are better at enunciating than others. But give me just a moment, I will make contact with Estinien and ascertain his rough whereabouts.

[He does not fully disconnect from Hythlodaeus, but rather puts him on hold while he messages Estinien, not really giving Hythlodaeus a chance to respond. this also gives himself a moment to...let out some of these bottled emotions. It's not too long before his camera clicks back on, his eyes slightly more misty than they were before.]

He shall head out towards your location in the morning. There is some few days ere you will encounter one another, but should you make for Cherrygrove, 'tis possible you may rendezvous there with him.

[hythlodaeus]

[He gives him a soft smile. He notes the mistiness in his eyes. His dear friend. His very dearest friend...]

My sauropod companion here seems to be able to flutter and fly a bit. Against all familiar laws of physics, its leaves seem to act as effective wings. I may be able to teach it with some effort. [Or go find the HMs and TMs. He doesn't know about all that yet.]

[amaure]

[It's raining directly into his eyes, ok! Raining in his little apartment that Hythlodaeus will barely fit in...]

Ah, there is a bit more to it than that. This world operates, well, strangely as you can tell. While the beast may yet hover in all unlikeliness as it is, it will not fly without what is called a hidden machine. These can be acquired from establishments called gyms, where you must contend with the leaders and defeat them to prove your worthiness.

Or some silly nonsense like that. Some here do have such machines, and you might find them willing to let you use it. However, there is the matter of obtaining a proper license for it.

[Which is one of the few things he can respect about this world. There's some measure of bureaucracy here, just...set up in the strangest way.]

[hythlodaeus]

Ah, very well... I suppose I'll get my hands on these machines. How cruel for a flying creature to be unable to fly properly on its own!

...It does always seem to come back to some sort of battling. In my conversations with others, it always seems to be prominent facet. If there really that much war and strife here? What are people preparing for?

[He looks up at Tropius and gives him a pat.]

You have always been an incredible warrior. Are your creatures worthy as well?

[amaure]

Nay, 'tis all for sport from what I have gathered. Otherwise this world is relatively peaceful. These creatures—Pokémon—seem to thrive in battle.

[But at the compliment and question, he shrugs.]

They are decent—I have been taken more with my research of this world, than the battling aspects of it. Though, I have felt an insistent urging to better prepare them for such.

[That being...Lydia's annoying Liepard that seems fit to hassle him whenever it gets the chance, and while his Drapion can combat it a little...not quite enough to truly send the feline packing.]

[hythlodaeus]

Ah, I can understand battle for sport, but... These creatures seem designed for their cuteness primarily, wouldn't you say? They're all so simple and large-eyed.

[He looks up at Tropius and rests a hand on his neck]

It seems as if I've been given the tools to create better and better Pokémon... [He digs a book out of his comically small children's backpack and holds the book up to the camera]

Interesting, no?

[amaure]

Perhaps their creator loves violence as much as they do cute creatures. I know not their tastes.

[His eyebrows raise as he holds up the book.]

A breeder, then. Interesting and fitting both, I suppose. Seems more and more are showing up as of late.

[Considering Entrapta and whoever it was she was traveling with.]

I had looked into researching the prospect a little in my spare time, but little did I find it a path worth pursuing—for myself, that is.

[Besides, he wants to look into cloning possibilities. Much more efficient.]

[hythlodaeus]

I said it once and I'll say it again, there was a tragic lack of eyes and hands on this project. It shows as truly as aught else, hmm? [The lack of oversight does make him a little grouchy]

Ah, You have ever been a more hands-on Creator, after all. [Letting the little animals make themselves sounded like a lovely compromise]

What of your current projects, then?

[He was a little afraid to ask. He'd known what his last project was.]

[amaure]

Not fitting your standards, hm? Ever a stickler for quality, despite everything else about you.

[It's said with a lighter tone than almost everything else he's said thus far. Feeling the pull of familiarity the more he talks with him. Falling into the more habitual way they would trade barbs and teases, though ever was he more of a grouchy sort than he presents himself now.]

Currently I am working on observing what this reality limits us on in terms of technology. I had heard that there's some sort of hurdle when it comes to attempting to make anything beyond a certain level of technological sophistication. As such, I am pursuing that limit, to see if I may yet find some sort of oversight or error I might exploit that these mortals were too shortsighted to find.

Should I be able to find enough loopholes in this world's laws of reality, I might be able to puzzle out a way to escape back to our reality.

[Or...he might destroy this reality and everyone in it, but he's confident he'll likely survive. He...always seems to.]

[hythlodaeus]

[Hythlodaeus gives only a thoughtful sound. Escaping back... Would it work out this time? Was this a separate time? There were too many questions, and the answers were just out of reach.]

Well, if I may be of assistance... I am your senior in these matters, lest you forget.

[And hopefully he would also be able to position himself to sabotage his efforts gently while finding a new plan. Being flesh and blood again gave him... permission, perhaps, to influence.]

[amaure]

[Emet-Selch has to stop himself from making a comment about Hythlodaeus being his senior. About how he's far more practiced than he remembers, far more skilled and powerful. The knowledge he now possesses over eons since that day...

Instead, his features grow a little hard, but he smiles, an upward draw to the left corner.]

Worry not, I shall seek your counsel should I find need of it.

[hythlodaeus]

[Hythlodaeus smiles back with good cheer.]

Stubborn man, will you?

[And then covers his mouth slightly to laugh.]

So... Have you made other friends besides this Estinien fellow? Any handsome men that you might have spent some time with?

[amaure]

[That first question gets a roll of his eyes, but the second catches him. It shouldn't, this is just like Hythlodaeus to go prying into his personal life like this, but perhaps the fact it's such a familiar trait of his, the nostalgia of it painfully stabs him in the heart.]

I've my share of allies, yes. [Allies, not bedfellows.] None you need to worry yourself over.

[hythlodaeus]

[That earns him a giggle.]

Oh, did I imply jealousy? I'm not worried about anyone you might spend your time with.

[Well. He will once he meets them. He feels greedy for the light hearted conversation now. And the teasing. He wants to watch Hades get playfully irrate with him.] I did look at my map and noticed a hot springs. That might be just the thing after a few weary days of walking.

[amaure]

Nay, I know you are far from the jealous sort, to your detriment.

[More so he meant he didn't need to go nosing around in his personal affairs! But at the mention of the hot spring, his eyebrow raises a fraction.]

Ready to pamper yourself already, are you? Is the mere thought of travel proving itself taxing?

[hythlodaeus]

To my detriment, hmm? Perhaps I should reconsider my approach.

[He gives him another grin.]

Why not enjoy the journey? I haven't known relaxation in quite some time. You remember how busy they kept me, or you would if they hadn't kept you even busier!

[amaure]

I'm hard pressed to believe you could change aught about your nature, even if you tried.

[He waves him on. It's passing strange to act so natural like this, like his heart isn't thrumming like a painful tempest in his bosom, but he's not about to let that show at the moment.]

Yet here you are thinking more of the destination than the journey itself! Mayhap I would have traveled and relaxed more if I did not have to take up the position you turned down.

[Mayhap a lot...would have been different had he not taken the position he turned down. Not that he holds Hythlodaeus accountable or anything that came after taking up the role of Emet-Selch, but...one does wonder.]

[hythlodaeus]

[He frowns a little sadly at that. He had burdened his dearest friend with an awful lot, hadn't he?]

I still beleive that you are and were the better candidate. Surely the other convocation members were buoyed and reassured to have you by their sides.

[Tropius comes back into frame to lick Hythlodaeus' cheek.]

Oh, I'm alright, Banania. Don't you fret.

[He turns back to the camera, wishing he could make true eye contact in this moment.]

I cannot make it up to you, nor can I try to help what fate has wrought... But I hope you will allow me to try.

[amaure]

[Augh, he hadn't meant to lash out at him or make him feel guilty with that comment, but...well, too late now.

At least he has some strange beast or comfort, though he's certain it pales in comparison to that of what he might offer were they not separated by weeks of travel...]

Yes, yes. Well do I know you have convinced yourself you were unfit for the role—but I do not need you making aught up to me. 'Twas not you who brought about our doom. 'Twas not you who dissented, who summoned Her.

I need not your guilt ladened concessions. All I need is for you to get to Goldenrod as swiftly as you can. Aught more would be selfish.

[hythlodaeus]

Oh, my dearest Hades... Ever the stalwart servant. [It is said with as much reverance as it is a tease.] Don't worry, I'm hardly one to burden myself with that which I did not cause. [Unlike some people.]

I'm on my way even now! I've barely been here for an hour. ... I won't get too distracted, I promise. But... Is there some reason you cannot meet me in the middle? I can barely wait to see you.

[amaure]

[He lets out an annoyed sigh at the first part of that, dismissing it utterly. But he's glad to hear that Hythlodaeus seems fit to not take on blame that is not his to carry. There's a lot of emotions that Hades carries in regard to Hythlodaeus, but resentment is not one of them.

Never will be.

As for his question, however, he hesitates. Then is quick to make up for that all too telling pause.]

I am currently nursing an injury—naught to be overly concerned with, but I fear if I were to travel in this state, I would only worsen my hurts. If not for that, I would not have sent Estinien in my stead.

[That much is true, the other part is that he can't just ditch his work so easily. And if he's to make headway in his projects, he cannot just take a couple weeks off for a personal matter.]

[hythlodaeus]

[He said not to worry and yet, and yet. ]

Injured! How did that happen?

[This reality really... was so much worse than Amaurot, wasn’t it? Even the sundered world had magic.]

I’d wondered if I’d be permanently left without my magics...but it seems that you, too, are unable to act within your full power.

[He can’t help but fret.] Do you have someone to care for you while you’re in such a state?

[amaure]

[Hasn't he dealt with Elidibus' worrying enough?? He does not need Hythlodaeus's!]

I had a fall.

[After a push, but that's a needless detail.]

I was still adjusting to this body, being without my senses, my power. 'Twas a bit of carelessness on my end, that's all. I have faired much better since, so you need not worry.

But you are right to presume we may yet be without our powers somewhat indefinitely--save for one weekend where there's some manner of blip in this world's laws. From what I hear, all are returned to their natural state, but only for that weekend.

[Pointedly he ignores the question about whether or not he has someone taking care of him...]

[hythlodaeus]

Oh dear... I’ll be sure to catch you next time then, hmm?

[Hythlodaeus understands that avoidance as a “no”. But this news of being temporarily restored fills him with... terror, maybe. Will he become himself or simply the simulacrum? What will Hades be capable of then? His goals may be fulfilled so much sooner than later. ]

And do we know when this weekend might be?

[amaure]

I will not make such a fall again, so that will not be necessary.

[The terror that fills his friend's heart goes unnoticed, something that might not otherwise if not or...the slew of reasons disconnecting them from one another.]

Nay, 'tis entirely random. It could be the next, could be a summer from now. There really is no telling.