victory_road | BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!

[Something is off, here. Something is different. Enough to give him pause, cut briefly through the anger at this intrusion. Even Shinx's unnerved squeaks die down, its big ears flattening down.]

Lost?

[There's idle accusation in the word. Pure and simple. He's not going to attack anymore, but whether or not he believes that clearly remains to be seen.]

[Felix is so close to getting up and walking away in an attempt to cool down. The words 'I'm leaving' are on the tip of his tongue. Claude might be wrong. Maybe if he doesn't talk about the important things with Rodrigue right now, he will lose his chance. Maybe this stupid world will send his father back to one where he's already dead after dangling the closure Felix has been desperately seeking all this time in front of his face. There's something akin to mild panic squeezing at his heart at the thought. Why can't Claude see the danger?

And then Claude turns away from him and he feels a bit like a child being told to wait until the adults are finished talking. He knows that's not what Claude meant, but...

These thoughts are why he ends up a little startled to be addressed again so soon, and what his father says gives him pause. Part of him, the part of him that remembers sitting with Dimitri and his Cubone at the wedding; remembers dancing with his oldest friend and letting down his walls enough to tell him that Rodrigue would have been proud of him. Felix has no doubt that he was right.

...but that's the problem. He does not want to sit here and listen to his old man praise Dimitri right now. Not when he's still struggling just to feel like he matters, like his feelings matter, or have ever mattered.

But there's also a part of him that wants to share the victory with Rodrigue that he never got to see. One he worked so hard for, for five long years, only to die on the eve of achieving it. Sylvain was there and remembers it now; Dimitri still has trouble truly believing it; Claude predicted it before it even happened. Felix wants to give someone - to give his father - good news for once; knows how much it will mean.

His eyes flick up briefly to Rodrigue and then somewhere off to the side.]

Not that long after Gronder Field. A little over a month.

[A little over a month since you abandoned me again, for good this time.

It's hard to get the next part out. The words stick on his tongue, tasting like dread. He knows, he knows that what Rodrigue will take from it is that his death was a good thing because it accomplished what all the words in the world could not, it brought Dimitri back to the Kingdom and the people who need him. It's so much more complicated than that. But Rodrigue never liked complicated.]

After...after that, Dimitri finally got his priorities straight. We marched to Fhirdiad.

[Felix does look back at his father now. This is too important to the both of them to mutter his way through it. Despite everything, there's a spark of...triumph, of satisfaction and awe, in his eyes.]

We liberated the city. The people rose up against that rancid witch the moment they saw our banners approaching the walls. She tried to tear Dimitri down with evil words when we caught up with her, but he didn't falter. He killed her and took his rightful place in the palace.

[He has to look away again, slightly overcome once again by the memory. Not a coronation, not yet, but so close it hardly matters. He knows that Rodrigue would have been beaming with pride, just the way he did at Glenn's knighting ceremony. ...the way he's never smiled at anything Felix has ever done. But Dimitri deserved that moment. Needed it, even. And Felix was proud of him, too.]

The people greeted him with open arms. I thought he was going to faint. That night we got a letter from Claude saying that the Empire invaded Leicester while we were on our way to Fhirdiad. He asked for our help. So we prepared to set out for Derdriu, and we celebrated our victory. ...and then I was here.

Felix has no idea what she means with that neighbor comment - isn't inoffensive a good thing? - but she's moving on, and he's running out of patience.

"I don't care. I don't answer to you. Now leave me be."

What I want does not matter. Otherwise, I would not be here.

[Matter of fact. As certain as if she were to say 2 + 2 = 4. A lesson that has been learned repeatedly.]

[Well that sure wiped the smile off his face real quick. He's not mad, hell he can't even blame her immediate reply, but it did sour his mood.]

Cylva-

[He starts with a stern tone, though her new Pokemon seems to be quicker and she goes on. Instead he crosses his arms with a small huff letting his eyes fall away from her for the moment.

It had been a long time, though to hear she was at the Crystarium of all places was a bit of a surprise. He never noticed here there... well, he didn't follow the Warrior of Light everywhere he went he supposed. Not that she'd of been able to see him anyways.]

You hold yourself up in the Crystarium, eh?

[He brought a hand up to ruffle the back of his head with a grumble. He didn't want this to be awkward, he hated this. Cylva was his friend.]

Right...look- it's been a long time for the both of us. We can't change the past so,

[He quickly closed the distance between them and hooked an arm up around her shoulders to drag her down into a friendly grapple. Grin back on his face.]

Let's get on with the now. It is good to see you. I meant what I said.

[Don't make him give you noogie. It's hard enough grappling your tall ass down to his height to begin with!]

Edited 2021-05-30 13:21 (UTC)

[ At the nod to the foxes, Shouto looks down at them, his usual small frown cemented on his face. The Vulpixes look up at him, as if trying to discern how they are meant to feel about this new person based on his reaction.

And what should his reaction be? For the father who has done so much to him, instead of for him? ]

They are interesting. I don't know where they came from.

Just this morning. [ Comes his answer, anticipating the question she is trying to ask. He found himself in this strange place this morning, unsure of how or why.

He looks at the Gible when Ochako talks about it, frowning his usual small frown. It's hard to imagine an analog of what that creature is supposed to be. At least the Vulpixes look like little foxes. And the little creature in Ochako's arms... What is that, anyway? ]

What are you doing out here?

[ On a volcano, of all places. ]

[ All Might smiles down at his kind student, and accepts the handkerchief she offers him, demurely dabbing at the corner of his mouth, the white cloth coming away spotted with blood. He looks at it a little nervously, thinking he had better launder it before he returns it. ]

Thank you, young miss Uraraka. You are generous as ever.

[ He'll just gently avoid any concern shown his way. ]

I have seen young Midoriya, young Bakugou, and young miss Uraraka. There may be others who I haven't seen yet!

[That's definitely the big one. Izuku nods, his expression tightening as he looks down at his own hands.]

That's right. Nobody has any answers as to why. Not why they get taken when we come here...and not why we get them back for a few days, sometimes.

[That's the voice of a kid who has dealt with being Quirkless for some time, now. Even longer than Hawks actually knows.]

Having Pokemon with us helps...but only so much.

[The offered hand is much appreciated, Izuku reaching up to carefully take it to stand.]

What kind of egg did Kirishima-kun give you? Cause they do have some Pokemon that are a little bigger than you might expect, but...not this big.

[And Izuku may have not seen a Swablu until just now, but he's PRETTY SURE they aren't supposed to be this big straight out of their eggs. As for Izuku himself, he's okay! Honestly the worst is probably some grass stains on his knees.

Also, important question for how Izuku will respond next- did Ochako make sure to keep at least one finger off Izuku when she took his hand just then? Or is he about to take a Trip into the sky-]

[And out she comes! She looks a little sleepy, mostly because Izuku had been keeping most of his other Pokemon inside while he trained, but she shakes it off quickly when she sees Fuji, cooing back at him as she waddles over to where he's standing. Now when did you get here, short, round, and handsome?

It's a good test for Izuku, meanwhile. He's able to control the output of his Quirk in a way he never could before, which makes him more confident to fight without holding back too much. There's still a level of caution being taken just in case, though...he'd only feel comfortable really going at 100% against somebody who he knew could withstand it, like Katsuki or Kirishima.

FORTUNATELY...it doesn't seem like any bones are being broken right now, though some bruises are probably inevitable. Especially when Izuku is just a hair too slow to block one of Mirko's punches, taking it directly to the chin. Which, of course, causes the Lopunny to stop immediately and rush over to Izuku with little noises of concern, reaching her paws up towards his face SHE'S SO SORRY SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO oh my god is your nose bleeding-]

M-Mirko, I'm okay! I've taken a lot worse!

[ No, he's sure that Bakugou bristles at not knowing. He knows that the boy always strives his hardest to be the best, move the farthest, soar the highest. Being surrounded by mysteries and unknowns would be torture for him. ]

That's a curiosity, indeed! As is the fact that you've been here for months, and yet I saw you only this morning at U.A.!

[ He's a little concerned by all the unknown elements, but he doesn't want to show it in front of young Bakugou. ]

[SURPRISE KAZUKI Legosi has a thing for small herbivores. But it's fine, Haru is a very special case and he loves her very much. He hasn't actually had to explain that to anyone until now...so Kazuki will be the first one to know that interesting tidbit about him.]

I am sure she will. Being here at all has been a little overwhelming for her...and I think working with a garden would help calm her nerves.

[What's with the wolves that can just turn into humans at will? First Mebh, now Shirou...Legosi would feel a bit left out, but he's not sure he wants to be able to do that. He's gotten mostly used to his human form, sure, but he much prefers just being himself.

He has no idea how to take Shirou in contrast, but it does at least help to have his senses in working order. He can tell from his scent and posture that he isn't looking for a fight. That's just...how he is.]

Being able to change like that would be incredible, but...it's never something I've been able to do. Humans- the way you looked before- don't even exist where I am from.

Fighting...

[It's spoken quietly, more of a confirmation than him asking anything further just yet.]

Does that mean your world is dealing with a war?

[That's what Armin's world is like, though he imagines this situation is a lot different.]

[Oh my gooooooood this child

Legosi nods, his ears flicking forward, then back.]

I don't mind. My fur is probably pretty thick right now...it was around winter back home, so it hasn't been time to trim it yet.

[Never mind the fact he's not had it, so there's been no real opportunity for him to even brush it. But when you're a canine, that's not really something you worry about unless you're super conscious about your appearance, which Legosi is not.]

Really...? I've never heard of something like that.

[He's been told of the existence of werewolves, but not in great enough detail for him to fully understand. As for this, though? This is a completely different idea. Legosi isn't sure he'd like the constant shifting so much, especially if it happens when she sleeps.]

I am used to being a wolf all the time, every day. I was born one.

[Legosi puts a hand to the side of his face, watching Mebh as she hops in place.]

So you...prefer it to being human?

Ah...my name is Legosi.

[His tail is already wagging, Gonta's enthusiasm infectious.]

It is good to meet you, Gonta.

Indeed, I am here! Though, I do not know where "here" is! [ He laughs, keeping a positive outlook in the face of confusion.

All Might's Braviary circles the pair on the ground, coming to land nearby. A smaller than normal Scrafty hops off of his back and waddles over to say hello to Izuku, holding onto his too-big bottoms. ]

The creatures of this world truly are remarkable! Of all shapes and sizes, are they not?

[If it weren't for what his nose is telling him, Legosi might have just let that almost-slip roll off his back. Instead, it gives him a bit more context for something he's already begun to suspect...but he also doesn't want to make Grant tell him something he'd rather not. Ah, what to do...

Legosi taps his claws briefly together, looking elsewhere for a moment.]

I smell another canine. But...I think it may be a Pokemon, and I am just now able to take in its scent where I couldn't before. It must have passed through recently.

[It's honest, but also provides an out where Grant can just feign ignorance.]

Yeah, maybe. That's if he doesn't just decide to wander off somewhere.

[ The old man can be kind of unpredictable. ]

The Furfrou preens a bit, before heading in to get himself a drink of water. Josuke preens as well, excited by the compliment to his Pokémon pal.

"Isn't it great? It reminded me of a friend of mine." It's a little weird to refer to Crazy Diamond as a friend, but he doesn't want to bother having to explain stands to a random stranger.

[ Josuke reaches down and picks up the runaway Pokéball, looking at it, confused, before holding it out to Doppio. ]

Obviously, it's too big! This thing couldn't hold anything bigger than a mouse!

Oh yeah, I can imagine-- Are there even any humans in your world? Or is everyone like you?

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!

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Sorry this is so late...

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