victory_road | BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!

[Over her...far too long life, Cylva had seen a lot of what various worlds had to offer. Even trapped on the First as she had been for so long, she'd traveled the breadth and width of that land--both before and after it had been drowned in the Flood.

This, however. This was unlike anything she'd seen before. The buildings, the people, the music coming from everywhere and nowhere...

The strangely friendly beast trailing her every step that people said was hers?

She had settled somewhere that at least vaguely made sense--a small park, in the middle of the bustling city, and was watching the people and creatures going about their lives around her, the white-furred creature laying with its head in her lap as she scratched around its horn and ruff.]

[This is only Ardbert's second experience with a strange weekend like this, but he's more or less trying to keep things routine despite the odd happenings and sudden growing and shrinking pokemon problem. He hasn't changed his appearance yet, so it's casual wear Warrior of Light who walks by Cylva with his large Rapidash sized Lamimi trailing behind him on a walk.

And he almost keeps walking. I mean really, Cylva is one of the last people he thought he'd be seeing again, especially not here. What were the chances?? He does a quick double take, brow scrunched in disbelief.]

...Cylva?

[He's afraid he's wrong.]

[She hadn't been looking at him, and even if she had, she wouldn't have expected that voice--that name--from him. The Warrior knew it, of course, but as everyone else did now, he called her Cyella.

Her head jerks up, eyes wide as she stares at--what looks like the Warrior of Light, but the man had always looked strikingly like Ardbert. That voice, though...that she remembers. She couldn't forget if she tried.]

...Ardbert?

[She scrambles to her feet, and a little bit back. Not that she expects him to attack her--even after she'd betrayed them all, revealed herself as the Shadowkeeper, he hadn't tried to hurt her until she'd forced their hand. But still...]

It's...it's really you.

[Despite being the one to call out to her in the first place he's stunned when he gets a reply. It's her. It's really her. Not that he could ever forget her, but the possibility of seeing her here and now was the furthest thing in his mind.

Luckily Lamimi was waiting patiently behind him, not exactly happy with the pause in their walk, but at least understanding. The benefits of being a psychic type. She gave him a nudge to his back to get him started again, pushing him forward a tad.]

Aye, it's... it's really me.

[A bit of an awkward start, said while briefly giving himself a once over. She recognized him obviously, but this body was something he was still getting used to. Gods when was the last time she had even seen him? After their fight? After he spared her? It was the last time he saw her when he was alive, but he knew this place could pull from all times.]

What do you- Where-

[He was getting too ahead of himself. Too many questions he wanted to ask. Over complicating things that didn't need to be complicated. With a shake of his head to clear his mind, he finally finds his footing.]

Good to see you again. Have you been in this world long?

Is it?

[The words escape her mouth before she can think better of them in her shock, just because he'd (foolishly) forgiven her, spared her life, didn't mean that she expected him to be happy to see her again.

The doglike creature whined softly and set to leaning against her leg, the pressure a welcome grounding presence.]

Sorry, I...it's...been a long time. I didn't expect...

[She shakes her head.]

No. I haven't. I was in the Crystarium, then...

[She shrugs, spreading her hands helplessly. After so long on the First and with the Ascians mostly out of the picture, she truly expected her world-hopping days to be over. Waking up under a tree with an odd white animal laying next to her was not in the plan--simple as her life is now.]

[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)

Not exactly a lot of other places left.

[Though if she being in the Crystarium was a surprise, her being in the Crystarium working as a bar wench a hundred years later is probably even more so.

She doesn't protest it happening, even if she does feel a little tense and resistant to it before she just...gives in, heart aching--a good ache, though she doesn't know how long this will last.]

What is this place? I've certainly not seen anything like it.

[It's too quiet, too peaceful. No one is armed--she hasn't even seen so much as a dagger.]

Aye, I saw as much, seemed the best option of what was left really.

[He's more surprised he managed to miss her, though he would be sure to get a few jabs in about her working as a bar wench if he knew. Did the Warrior of Light ever tell her he was around? Hm.

He gives her a friendly one arm squeeze before he pulls her back where he found her as he was passing by. It's just polite to make room for other giant pokemon walking by instead of taking it up with his Ponyta after all.]

You're in Goldenrod City, in a region called Johto. It's....well, nothing like the First in any case. [He gestures to Lamimi, whose snoot was probably way to close to Cylva's face sniffing curiously at her.] The people here battle with these creatures, Pokemon, though its more a sport to them than anything serious. Their whole society practically revolves around them.

Speaking of, meet La- [He stutters slightly, realizing just now who he's been naming his whole team around. A notch softer now:] Lamimi, my Ponyta.

[She had an inkling of their relation after the fact, though now that was all but confirmed. Strange to think of though it was.]

Or the Thirteenth, for what it's worth.

[Of course he'd name these creatures after...she shakes her head slightly, smiling, and holds out her hand to the horse trailing him.]

Hello, Lamimi.

[The ache in her chest is back--but it's not an overly painful one. It's been so long, but she'd done what she could to put their spirits to rest, and now pass on their stories.]

I'd of been surprised if there was. From a certain...acquaintance's comments I'd wager there's nothing quite like this on any of them.

[Emet. He's talking about Emet. Lamimi however sniffs the hand held out to her, staring intently at Cylva as she does. After a moment of judgement she deems this stranger acceptable and presses her face into the hand with a nudge of her nose. This comically large baby horse wants pets!

Ardbert smiles at the display, thankful he wasn't outright called out for his naming choice. It may not be Lamitt's actual name, but he knows Cylva would probably be able to guess something so obvious. Instead he looks down at her Absol.]

This one you got here, everyone shows up with a partner Pokemon so this should be yours. Haven't a clue what type you've got here though.

Hm...

[Not that she knows who that is. Though she's distracted in her thoughts by Lamimi demanding all the attention--and she ends up smiling fondly and acquiescing with plenty of scratches. Her mane feels delightful, like spun sugar without the stickiness.]

Oh, you do have him wrapped around your finger, don't you? Well, that's only to be expected.

[Ardbert is, after all, far softer than his initial armored and massive axe-wielding appearance would imply.

Her companion, for its--her?--part, just looks at him.]

Well, if you don't know, I certainly don't.

[Lamimi leans in to the attention quite literally, nudging for more if Cylva even dares to let up on the scratches. At her comment she also gives a way too well timed of a whinny of agreement to be just a coincidence. She definitely understands what was said.

Ardbert just scoffs at the claim.]

And what's that supposed to mean, hmm? She's young. [As if that excuses it.] She hatched but a few moons ago.

[Back to the matter of Cylva's pokemon though, he tilts his head a moment in thought. Right, of course she wouldn't know what creature she had with her. Well, that's what his Pokegear was for.]

Ah, right. I can pull it up...

[After rummaging it out of his pocket and a quick search...]

Says here you've got yourself an Absol. [He frowns as he reads further.] ...the disaster Pokemon.

Ah yes, that's all it is. Nothing at all about you having a soft spot for cute creatures.

[Though she's happy to give Lamimi more scratches herself as she waits for Ardbert to look up the creature she has been given.

She's visibly taken aback by the answer, looking down at the wolflike creature, then back up at Ardbert, before she breaks into startled (and slightly bitter) laughter.]

Of course.

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!

Cylva | FFXIV | Goldenrod City

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