Who: The Femblemtroika Gang, minus 1 What: Their fresh arrival in Kanto is marred by the loss of one of the group. Time to spend the whole month being emotional disasters about it, plus a new arrival. Where: Cerulean City for the most part When: All of August
Apparently, there's something in this new world called vaccinations, and it's unacceptable that Dedue has not had them yet. He has been given a concise explanation as to what they're for-- preventing illness-- and how they work, though that particular part of the explanation was a bit much for a man who lived in a world that didn't have germ theory yet, nevertheless a decent understanding of how an immune system functioned. However, His Highness had insisted that these substances are, indeed, effective and that it's necessary that Dedue receive them, so he will receive them.
He does not enjoy the experience, though he doubts that many people would enjoy being jabbed in the arm so many times.
Afterwards, he is... fine. There's some soreness, of course, where they injected into both of his arms, but otherwise he's unaffected. Despite this, Dimitri watches him like a hawk, as though expecting him to fall to illness at any moment. No amount of assurances that he feels quite well seems to satisfy him, even up until Dedue retires to his room for the night at a normal hour.
Sometime in the middle of the night, he awakens with a pounding headache. By six in the morning, when he would usually be starting his day, it has escalated to chills and body aches and a vague, unpleasant nausea. The bedclothes stick unpleasantly to his skin. It feels very much like when he had caught grippe his first winter in Fhirdiad all those years ago; it was a much more common illness during the frigid Faerghan winters than it ever was in Duscur, and Dedue had been stricken badly with it. He had been confined to a bed for nearly two weeks, quarantined away from the rest of the palace until he managed to overcome it.
He sincerely hopes that he won't be doing this for another two weeks.
He eventually drops back into a restless slumber; Desta tries to rouse him from it, to no avail. What else, then, is there for her to do but to get help from the man who had been taking care of her for months? Getting the door open is a little tricky considering her size, but she manages it with a combination of determination and stacking a bunch of things up in front of the door to climb on.
And a few minutes later, Dimitri would have the unique experience of being woken up at six in the morning by a very upset little plant.
For Grant - later in the month
Cerulean is a fine enough city-- but not so fine that Dedue is distracted from the errands that need to be run. It's as he's returning from these errands that he finds Grant, which is... not unsual, considering that he's part of their traveling party, but somewhat unusual in that he appears to be waiting for him.
Dedue hasn't had much opportunity to speak with Grant since his arrival, or at least nothing more than standard curtesies, though Dimitri had vouched for his character quite insistently. A good temperament, he'd said, and a kind personality. Someone whom he owes a great deal His Highness wouldn't speak so highly of him if it weren't true, and Dedue should at least attempt to get to know his lord's friends.
He inclines his head towards the other man in greeting.
Dimitri knew this would happen. It was why he hovered around Dedue in such concern, watching for the slightest sign of something amiss. If anyone can spot such subtle things, after all, then Dimitri had confidence that it would be him, at least with Dedue.
Even when his dear friend had retired to his hotel room still looking well, Dimitri had not been entirely convinced. He'd been very much the same, feeling decent up until the effects had hit him at a later time.
So he had told Kent to be sure to wake him up at the slightest sign that something might have gone wrong.
The good news, in a questionable definition of 'good', is that Dimitri occasionally has trouble getting to sleep. Yes, the process might be better now with Kent's help, but getting there is still something of an issue. So, as it turns out, he's relatively recent into his own slumber when Kent starts to lightly shake him with psychic powers, and Desta's cries hit him before he can jerk too harshly in his awakening.
He doesn't even think, or hesitate. Dimitri just stumbles out of bed, leaning down to scoop Desta up into his arms as he goes. Kent stays with him, still firmly attached to his hair, even as they step into the hotel hallway.
Dimitri knows where Dedue's room is, because of course he does, and a part of him feels a painful skip in his heart at the sight of his door open. It's not the same, he reminds himself... Yet, still, it's a relief to see Dedue still tucked there in bed. No emptiness here. It's still all right. "It's all right," he murmurs to Desta, gently putting her down at one end of the bed. "He will be all right. We are here together."
That's what matters. He reminds himself of that, takes comfort in it, even as he gently sinks down besides Dedue's bedside. "Dedue?" he asks softly, pressing the back of his hand against Dedue's forehead. What symptoms is he showing the most of? He'll plan how to deal with this once he can tell, although... "Kent, please go get some of the others from their balls. I will need some assistance."
Slowly, Kent detaches from Dimitri's head, floating off into the air slightly. He still stays a moment longer, just in case more psychic power is needed.
Grant's decision to move toward Pokemon breeding as his actual job is likely to mean spending more time at the rental house, whenever he's not on the road with the others. Which has had him thinking about more he could do to help with maintaining said house, which has led him to thinking about the garden…
And, well, so far that’s where his thoughts have more or less stopped. He doesn’t know if he’s bold enough to actually get involved in looking after it, whether that might be overstepping. But… he’s thinking about it. And at the very least, he might want to start keeping potted plants.
The problem, of course, is that Grant’s gardening knowledge is more or less limited to the few, hardy plants he’s kept in his store in the past, and if he’s going to pick up gardening here, he’d rather make sure he knows what he’s doing. And talking to someone who knows what he’s doing, and who Grant would like to get to know better anyway, sounds like a good step in that direction.
That… that talking part is kind of the problem. Grant feels like he’s done pretty alright, so far, at interacting with Dedue like a normal person, which… could maybe be chalked up to being too sad and tired to be quite so easily bowled over by the existence of Handsome Men In His Area. But the flipside of that state of being is that he literally doesn’t know when his emotions are going to leap out and punch him in the face, even more so than he usually doesn't, and also there’s a difference between the kind of brief, inevitable encounters one has with a new housemate, and… approaching someone to ask a favor.
Dedue addresses him and he almost jumps, despite literally having been waiting to talk to him. “--Hi! Actually, so, if you’re not busy I wanted to… to ask you something. I… heard you know things? About plants, I mean. And… other stuff of course, but, right now I’m asking about... plants.”
Felix didn't know how long he would be gone when he left, and the time has seemed to slip past like sand falling through his fingers. A week passed before he even thought to keep track of the days. He's spent his nights camping out rather than staying at inns; if he didn't have to talk to anyone, he could somewhat detach himself from the overwhelming feelings threatening to drown him at every turn. He could feel a little safer about letting himself cry himself to sleep if it was just him and Inda and Varley, and no one else anywhere closeby. He could read and reread the letter Sylvain wrote him for his birthday without having to try to formulate words or articulate feelings to anyone else.
Once he could start keeping track of time's passage, it felt like a curse. The longer he wandered, the harder it felt to go back; the more it felt like he'd forgotten how to let them care about him, and like there would be no place for him there anymore. He'd struggled to find a purpose for moons after he arrived here; with no battle and no need to protect Dimitri or anyone else, he'd felt useless. Training for gym challenges helped, but in the end even that was nothing but a distraction from the way he was languishing, just like he'd always thought he would in times of peace.
But he'd come to find a purpose in working to make Sylvain happy. In knowing that he had promises--vows--to uphold. He'd come to feel that he could be content with the life that they'd carved for themselves out of the morass of expectations and dismal futures they'd been used to for so long.
Now, though...with every minute that passes by, he's breaking those promises all over again. He can't be a home for Sylvain if he isn't here. They can't live or die together if they're forced to be worlds apart.
And of course he's missed Dimitri and Claude, while he's been away. Of course there have been nights, curled up with Inda and Varley in his tent, when he wished he was back at the house with them. But what good would it do them to have him there when he's such a mess? He'd only make things worse. He's supposed to be their Shield, but he can't protect them from loss, or grief, or the maelstrom inside himself that never seems to abate.
Eventually, his path leads him back there without much conscious effort on his part. There's no moment when he decides to return, no sudden revelation that convinces him he must. He just...ends up there, with Inda's hand in his as they approach. He doesn't know whether he's ready. He doesn't know whether they are, either. He doesn't know what he'll say, or how they'll react.
But he's here now, and he wanders into the garden to sit among the flowers with Inda in his lap and Varley by his side. He distantly notes that someone's been tending the plants, now that Sylvain's not here to do it. He's tired.
A. Garden
Whoever finds Felix first will find him curled up in the grass with Inda, asleep, with Varley keeping watch.
B. Inside
Once he's woken up, whether on his own or by someone else, he goes inside and walks through the house until he runs into someone else.
Honestly, it had taken some times for Dimitri to remember that they had a home here in Johto - that they'd all chosen a place, made it their own for however long. Before, he'd been looking forward to it. The one in Olivine had been wonderful, a home to good memories as much as people. Wouldn't it be nice to make another such thing for themselves?
It's hard to feel that way now, of course. And yet it had been the wiser choice, to return here, where... Where they would not have to spend so much money, yes, that is a practical concern, but also...
Also what?
Dimitri isn't sure.
There is at least some comfort to residing in a home and not a hotel or an inn. Privacy is theirs, here, where they can be as miserable as they like with no prying eyes. And there are things to do as well. Cooking, cleaning, getting groceries and trying to make something that will have Claude smile again...
Since his arrival, Dedue has been the one to take over gardening duties. Dimitri's feelings are - twisted on it, honestly. It feels wrong, in some ways, that something which should have been Sylvain's is no longer. And yet it makes Dedue happy. It will still be a beautiful place if - when - Sylvain returns. Dimitri tries to remember that for himself. Despite that, he cannot help but slip away when he feels certain that Claude has suitable company, and want to go into the garden for some alone time. To pretend, for a little while, that Sylvain could be there again watering the plants with a smile on his face.
Today, he does not find Sylvain.
Instead, there is another apparition. Another soul he wasn't sure would return.
Dimitri freezes in the back door, brow crumpled. "Felix?" he asks softly, almost a whisper.
In the Port of Exquisite Sunsets, the gang manages to find a realtor with decent reviews on Skyrelp despite his mildly unprofessional appearance of sunglasses and a loose shirt, and wavy teal hair with bangs that hang around his face and a ponytail. It's a direct contrast to his Machamp, who insists on wearing a suit jacket, white button up, and tie. There are no trousers.
His Poochyena wears a tie because she doesn't want to be excluded.
After a bit of time considering the group's needs and budget, the realtor eventually contacts them again, and sets up a series of visitations.
The first house the realtor brings them to is a pleasant sort of mid-century modern type, with more space than it looks like it has. With stylishly arranged pale bricks making up the front, it offers a nicely modern but not too out there look. The front lawn has a nice lovely tree out front, with a soft kind of herb-like lawn that isn't the usual lawn grass - perfectly for nice picnics on warm days.
Inside, it's clear that there is a great deal of space in each room that's perfect for such a large group of people living in it. No need to worry about bumping into anyone while going into the living room; plenty of space behind the couch and between it and the television make sure foot traffic is a-okay.
There's even a separate room to comfortably hang in at away from the television, with its own fireplace and some stone benches that make up the white brick wall that makes up a part of it. Their realtor even explains that the stone was specially chosen for a past owner who owned a Bisharp and a Weavile - both Pokemon that need to have their claws taken care of. He points out a small a small slit along one wall, near one of the benches, where claw dust can even fall down into so that it doesn't make a mess.
Of course, the massive amount of shelf space in both those rooms and a few others is perfect for so many people as well. While the realtor can't make promises on anything else, he can guarantee that they'll never have to argue over the room to put all their things - books, knickknacks, badge display cases, all of that.
In contrast, the kitchen, dining room, and bedrooms all seem fairly standard, although they also have plenty of room in them. It's as though the house's construction crew made a peculiar kind of compromise between rooms and a more open floor plan. It makes the house feel fairly large, which is necessary for such a place. The only downside is that some of this room had to be stolen from other places, and so the bathrooms - serviceable, simple, a couple decades dated - are a bit on the small size, especially comparatively.
The backyard also seems a bit plain, especially with the Olivine one that they were all found of. A simple fence, barricaded by various plants and trees, plus a lawn that mostly covers it all. Not much of a patio.
The most noteworthy thing about it would be a large and overgrown tree in one corner of the yard, whose large roots rise up from the ground slightly to curl around what looks like a small sand pit that a child might play in. Part of the rental agreement, the realtor explains, is taking good care of it while not damaging or trying to prune any part, along with not bothering any Pokemon that come to roost or rest in it. He's not shy about explaining it was a deceased Trevenant that once belonged to the owner's mother. Yes, there is a poke-corpse in the back. Yes, they'll have to deal with it if they make this choice.
Of course, it's not the only house on the list. They've just begun.
In contrast to the mid-century look of the last house, the next place their realtor shows them is quite a bit different in a great many ways. Due to its nearness to a construction area, it's quite cheap to make up for the noise level, and that may also explain some aspect of its unique appearance in contrast to some other buildings in the city. After all, when everything else was being used for the construction area, some lesser known materials seemed more appealing instead of going against the competition there. Apparently, the builders and first inhabitants weren't from Kanto, which helped inspire them to think outside this box as well.
Befitting of its warm exterior, the inside of the home seems to match it well. The combination of pale walls, warm colored flooring whether wooden or tiled, and a preference for wooden furniture and embellishing makes it seem like quite a comfortable place. It's not extremely spacious like the last location, but that tightness manages to seem a bit cozy instead of claustrophobic or difficult. There's nothing particularly spectacular in terms of a kitchen, but it's modern enough to not be any sort of problem.
Of particular note are a few things that almost seem as though they are tiny fireplaces dotted throughout the home: near the couch on the other side of the half-wall by the entrance, again by the dining area similarly separated from the kitchen by another half-wall, and in some of the bedrooms. The realtor explains that the owner's grandparents often had various Pokemon that liked to curl up in such places. Mostly they were fire types, such as Littens, but some other Pokemon also used the spaces, like Koffing cuddling in such hidey holes in a way that allowed them to exclude their gas without any ill effects.
Their realtor even gives a demonstration with his own Poochyena, who manages to curl up quite snugly in one such hole. A good place for young or small Pokemon, especially cat-like types, who want to feel a part of the family but also like their own space.
Unsurprisingly, the bedrooms are very much similar in all of these design choices, and most have the benefit of shelving built into the walls and surrounding windows. One, the master, is even considerably larger, to the point that it could have quite its own little sitting room area. Of course, if they have a disinterest in such a thing, then they could additionally fit in another couple of beds, or drawers, in there as well.
An additional point of interest is when the realtor opens the door to a space that looks almost as if it could be some sort of changing room. Besides the beams, much of it has been painted a brilliant white, from the wooden floorboards to the closets whose doors seem to be made from similar planks. The closets don't rise all the way to the ceiling, instead leaving a great deal of space up there as well - either for storage, if they like, or even for Pokemon to lounge on. Apparently, when the Litten of the prior owners fully evolved, that's exactly what they did, or so the realtor explains.
Just across from the closets would be one of the bathrooms of the place, which is decently sized for one, and whose most star attraction is, well, the star-shaped lighting that is up on the ceiling.
The similarities to a changing room vibe, along with the bathroom, may make sense, as the realtor leads them through another door in the area that leads outside. There, they get to admire the backyard, with the exterior part of the doorway embedded with small shiny blue shells - Crabrawler claws, since apparently the grandparent's progeny had more of an interest in water types, and thus kept one here. Befittingly of someone who owned water types, there is thus a small pool there in the backyard, past which there are some rather tropical plants that do well in Vermilion City's harbor climate. Apparently, it's not uncommon for Wingull and even Pom-Pom Oricorios to visit to enjoy the plantlife.
Along with all of this, there's another building on the property that comes as a part of the rental, and which of course includes a couple more bedrooms. Good for a large group like their own.
Still, some don't care for such a departure from the usual architecture they expect to find in Kanto or Vermillion City, and the noise from the nearby construction grounds can be bothersome, so the realtor has another house lined up for their consideration.
Sometimes, old classics are perfect for large groups or families, the realtor explains... and so it's why he's brought them to this particular rental. It has plenty of built ins he thinks will appeal to them, and it is also going for a cheap rent price in consideration of how much has to be redone. The owner has even suggested that they wouldn't mind shifting this from a rental to a property to be sold to whatever renter might be interested. Of course, that's just a possibility, and not something that has to happen.
In the present, just going up to the house's front gates leaves quite an impression. A large path leading from the sidewalk is perfect for any biking or Pokemon riding, and it ends in a small area cleared out for most Flying type Pokemon to take off from. Beautiful flowers have grown over the front fence, leaving a beautiful frontal appearance, and there is plenty of front yard space for both children and playful Pokemon. It's been babyproofed, essentially.... you know, since one of its past owners was indeed a breeder.
Such open outdoor space is also perfect for Grass types, the realtor says, since it allows so much unrestricted access to the sun, or other Pokemon that like to lounge in the sun for energy, like Heliolisks.
Of course, there is some shaded space up against the house itself, including over the front door thanks to a part of the second floor that juts out, courtesy of a small patio up there.
Once they enter that very front door, they're greeted by the first signs of this house's age and character, thanks to some short steps that lead to a slightly raised section of the house along with a proper staircase that goes up to the proper floor, both on the left, while there are some doors and halls that lead to the rest of the house from the right. It is a simple and quiet elegance, showcasing the house's age.
Some of the rooms that they're led to are spacious and marvelous, no doubt exactly as they were back in their day. The dining room is an excellent example of this, with immense windows whose curving wooden frames welcome in the light so that it might sparkle on some of the stained glass which makes its home in the row of cupboards there. From the ceiling, in its own right down in pressed out patterns of circles and straight lines from its white surface, hangs a lovely little chandelier that sparkles in the dark.
Similar is the main living area, with its fireplace dominated by a pair of large windows that have their own built in benches and a pair of large curved wooden doors. There is also a small circular room further towards the back, the stained glass rose patterns in the windows leading to a delicate appearance. It leads to both a sun room, where Pokemon of all sorts can happily lounge about in even during the winter, along with the backdoor that leads into the garden area.
The downside, really, is that the garden area is a bit small, and mostly rectangular in sharp that's half taken up by the small patio back there. Still, what is there is lovely and flourishing, and with a tendency towards flowering plants that are beautiful in the spring and summer months. Apparently, a Bulbasaur was the primary back garden caretaker.
In contrast to such beautiful classic architecture, the kitchen itself is rather in need of updating, and it doesn't help that it's connected to the small laundry space in another room either. Still, while unglamorous, it does its job well enough, and it's connected to another tiled room with a sink in it that could be used for all sorts of cleaning, dirty jobs, or even pokemon washing. Apparently, from what the realtor heard, it used to be used for storing eggs, and cleaning up baby Pokemon.
The restoration efforts seem to get a little mixed once they head up the first floor of stairs. There is still plenty of rooms, of course, both in numbers and space, but the wooden floor could use some sanding here, and there is a small tiled room with windows in it that seems a few eras ahead of the rest of the house with its black and white tiling.
Yet it seems like the least appealing aspects of the house would be its bathrooms. From the floor to the appliances, everything seems an unappealing shade of off-white, and it's all rather plain as well. Certainly everything works, and just fine too, but it's not the kind of pleasant space one would want to lounge in for a bubble bath. Clearly it was put into a sort of temporary existence for whenever the owner could afford the time or money to spruce it up a bit more, and then that just... didn't happen.
The third floor has some plain areas of its own, such as the hallway that connects to the top of the stairs, but quickly reveals some of its own magnificence that is similar to the first floor. Not only does it have a small workshop room of its own that could be adjusted for all manner of crafting hobbies, but it has two enormous areas. One could be used for any number of gatherings, helped by a built in bench against a couple of its walls, while the other is a handy area with plenty of storage and whose triangle-shaped ceiling guides one to a window that looks out onto the front street.
So while clearly not as impressive in some areas, it stuns in others, and all the room would be perfect for such a large group.
It's somewhere to keep in mind, even as the realtor goes to introduce them to the next house.
In certain places, in certain worlds, there are certain classical ideals of what a family house should look like... And it's that kind of house that the realtor brings them to, or at least so it seems like at a glance. It even has a white picket fence in front of the yard, past which lays a split lawn overtaking a lot of that space. Apparently, it was made in mind for the owner couple's Pokemon. On one side is a simple green lawn, nothing complicated, made in mind for their Salamence and other flying types that constantly enjoyed taking to the air. On the other side is just simple dirt, along with a few rocks of varying sizes. That was made in mind for Pokemon who don't do well with greenery, such as Crustle, or Camerupt. It's something of a unique look, the realtor admits, but it does well for adjusting to such different Pokemon.
Up the porch steps - large and reinforced so that Pokemon like Camerupt can easily get up them without any issue - the front door opens up into an area with a few options on where to go. It becomes very clear that this house doesn't have quite the enormous amounts of space the last house did, in terms of its individual rooms, but it still manages to be quite open regardless. Right there before the entrance are the stairs which lead up to a second floor. Immediately towards the left is a living room of sorts with a large welcome fireplace and a trio of big windows that look out onto both the porch and front yard. Another open room - the dining room likely - also holds a fireplace.
Yet in clear contrast to some of the prior houses - most of them, actually - there are parts of this house that are incredibly up to date. No place better demonstrates that than when the group all goes into the kitchen. With clean tile, dark cabinets, white countertops to match the walls, and a shiny fridge, it's quite the modern place to be! The island in the middle of the kitchen gives extra counter space, and the sink inside of it is quite deep to allow cleaning of all sorts of things. It's quite slick.
The bathrooms also match this updated and refreshed look. One mimics the dark cabinet and pale countertop look that the kitchen has, with swirling patterned tile flooring, and its narrow space excludes a feeling of privacy that its treated windows help with - no peepers, just the sunlight. Take a bath comfortably! The other bathroom doesn't have a bathtub, only a shower, and it goes for a slightly different look with a warmer kind of wood for its cabinets and all of its walls exposed brick instead of just the one. However, the shower has not only a sitting spot for those who like to take a rest while cleaning, but also a built in shelf for small Pokemon and cleaning products alike! Either way, they're both stylish and modern.
Leading into the backyard reveals a relatively simple space compared to some of the others in the past. This, too, seems to favor more of a wide open yard. However, the back is lined with various thick bushes, whose flowers are brilliantly colored purple and deep maroon flowers.
It's a nice, solid kind of home, with nothing to complain about except for perhaps being a bit of a tight squeeze for a large group like their own. But there's one more house on the agenda to be viewed.
There's a reason the realtor saved this house for last, and it's because it takes them a bit out of the city proper, almost more on the route between it and the next town. It is in fact an enormous property, containing what is actually a few different buildings on the plot of land, including a barn for even large Pokemon to relax in.
The realtor explains that this is half a rental deal, and half simple housesitting. The actual owners have actually recently decided that they don't want to waste their life in Vermillion City, and have decided they want to See The World!, and so, well, here they are. They've actually just finished a relaxed tour of Kanto as a whole, and are apparently relaxing somewhere in Johto right now. Their hope is to be in time to see whatever is going on in the Hoenn League, and the Elite Four over there.
If this sounds vaguely like a midlife crisis, then, well, listen. Their realtor can't say one way or another and, like, it's rude to say that kind of thing about clients? But listen...
All potential renters/housesitters have to do, besides obviously paying rent to help fund this trip, is to take excellent care of the house and all of its land. That means regular cleaning sessions, not breaking or damaging anything, making sure things that get damaged from time or weather are fixed, taking care of the garden and pond that are near the houses... For anything in the massive amounts of forested paths, including the creek that flows through, it's enough to just make sure the paths and creek are clean and unobstructed.
It's a bit of work. But this is a bit of land and space. There's a tradeoff. Besides... With so much land, and wide open buildings and barns, there's plenty of space for large Pokemon to be right alongside their trainers.
The realtor is glad to tell Dimitri that they too had an Emboar and Obstagoon, both who benefited from larger doorways while the Obstagoon in particular could be as loud as they liked without bothering neighbors. Additionally, they participated in the Type: Null adoption program as well (both Nulls gallivanting with their trainers as they speak), and apparently such open environments is very good for making such massive Pokemon relax. No matter the season, the creek and ponds are perfectly cool, leaving them welcome for Water and Ice types - the creek was apparently a fond lounging spot of an Avalugg, who rested directly under the small bridge that crosses it. All the open space is good for territorial Pokemon, too, leaving them with plenty of space so that they don't feel intruded on. That was the deal with their Sigilyph, after all.
For Johto League champions, and active trainers, it really is a good place to be, and the barn area would no doubt work perfectly for breeders such as Grant and Sylvain.
With that all explained on the walk up the pathway leading to the front door, the realtor is finally able to welcome them into the first and main building of the place.
From the get-go, it's clear that the house is well-lived in and has seen much use while still being kept in good condition. A spiraling sort of staircase connects all the floors, from basement to the top, and is one of the first thing to greet visitors to the house. From there, it's easy to pop into any one of the large rooms on the first floor, each with their own comforting fireplaces - one small, in a room with many shelves along the surrounding wall, and one enormous in what is clearly a larger family den sort of area. The latter even has its own steeper stairs that poke up into the second floor.
The dining room and kitchen are well connected with the kitchen just being an offshoot of the dining room. There lies a large fireplace that's good for either warming or even some old fashioned cooking, if anyone is inclined or more comfortable with such variations. However, modern comforts are present as well, with a new stove, sink, and a couple of other appliances present. Their shininess almost seems at odds with the worn down nature of the rest of the kitchen... but it is clearly a place that has seen much use.
Upstairs sees where most of the bedrooms lie, not particularly fancy with their plain white walls or the exposed but finely carved beams that are a part of the ceiling much like downstairs... Yet there is a rustic quality to it all regardless, and the wall heaters underneath the windows ensure they won't ever catch a chill. Additionally, the attic area also offers a whole lot of room, and could easily be converted into some bedroom areas, or even just places for relaxing and fun.
Just across from the house is a small gardening shed painted a cheery red, fully stocked and ready to be used by anyone. Just past that is the large barn, painted a similar dashing red. It has plenty of stables, for large Pokemon that like being with friends while still wanting their own space, and guarantees protection from the elements. The rafters also offer space for various flying type Pokemon, even large ones that carry passengers.
Once that little tour is done with, the realtor takes them further up alongthe path connecting all the buildings, until they reach a building that's somewhat smaller than the main, while still fairly big with space in it. There, past a patio with some chairs and tables for relaxing, three large double doors lay side by side and open up into an immense room with stone walls and wooden pillars holding up the ceiling. The realtor encourages them to let out some of their larger Pokemon here (just not, you know, Wailord size), and stretch their legs. The stone tiles have been specially treated, so that size is rarely an issue in cracking them, and they don't scratch easy either! No doubt a consideration from the owners' own Emboar, Avalugg, Obstagoon, and Null.
Past that, and a couple of smaller doors, there is a small kitchen and also a cozy little living room area - of course with a fireplace. There's also a set of stairs, tucked away in the back, which leads up into a couple of bedrooms that all connect to another common sitting area.
And that's the last house the realtor has to show them, at least for now. Of course, if none of the houses satisfy them, he's more than glad to do a little more research to see what's available... But he wants them to consider what he's found so far, at least, and point out any pros or cons to the places so that he can better narrow down his search.
While a viewing of the previous five houses didn't result in an actual choice, their realtor doesn't seem particularly discouraged, and neither do his Pokemon. While a deal hadn't been closed, the trip still proved fruitful in terms of a great deal of information and nailing down some of the preferences that such a large group has. The realtor even admits that, honestly, their enormous group is probably simpler than some couples he's had to navigate househunting with.
Out of all the listings, it was clear that the fifth house had the most appeal to the group with its massive amounts of space, distance from the city, good for a variety of Pokemon care, and good heating.
But despite all those positives, there were still a couple of things that didn't click for two of the members. Grant's anxiety being set off by the slightly more demanding request for maintenance and upkeep seemed to be the main problem, but even Claude seemed to be looking for a certain something that none of the houses of that particular tour really give him. A kind of aesthetic, a vibe, a feeling. It's a rather vague request, but the realtor doesn't seem to mind it.
After all, it helps that Claude has let him know that he's invested in what the others like and dislike, and that much was made quite clear during the tour.
Dimitri has been one of the easiest out of the entire group to entertain, almost content to just have a roof over his head more than anything, and leaning towards the will of his company. All he needs is the ability to not smash his head against low beams or doorways, along with space for some of his Pokemon, and he's set.
Felix seemed similarly easy to please, considering that he didn't care if bathrooms looked nice. Anything that pleases his Pokemon - the sharpening stones, little nooks - is a clear favor, and he'd disliked the all white of House 1 and lack of gardening availability with House 4... And, of course, enough space to not feel crowded, or spaces to retreat, had been important to him.
Byleth had been a little difficult to read, but at least honest when asked about things. Lots of shelving seemed to draw their attention the most, lending to a "homey" sensation, and they, much like Felix, seemed drawn to staying away from the chaos of the city.
Dedue had been the hardest to figure out. In the end, the realtor had come to the conclusion that the man probably didn't want to smash his head into low hanging beams living his day to day, and his Poochyena's keen eyes managed to spot the vaguely appreciative looks Dedue had sent towards House 5's plentiful counter space. Thank god for dogs.
Ashe brings to mind something similar that Claude had mentioned with Chip - a fear of too nice a place that one would worry about dirtying, which had come up in House 1. Besides that, he'd been inclined to thinking about the others too, and how much space there was for everyone... although special mention had to be how much he had liked the modern kitchen of House 4, the least popular house amongst the group as a whole.
And finally, besides Claude's slightly more vague desire, he'd expressed an interest in a porch or balcony area that could give the group a wonderful view.
While it sounds like a lot to keep in mind, the realtor himself seems quite satisfied by the end of the day. Everyone seems to be on a similar page for what kind of place they want, which means he won't have to end up guiding them to a place that has some of what they want but not everything... Which happens quite a bit when it comes to more than one person living in the same place.
Their realtor makes a promise to do some research, and get back to them for another tour either tomorrow or the day after. There's plenty of places in Vermillion City, after all! It's just a matter of narrowing down the selection.
When they find the hidden room - because someone may or may not have tripped, by complete accident - Dimitri can't help but contact the others. Finding a hidden room anywhere is exciting, and it distantly reminds him of a few encounters back in Garreg Mach.
And the way this room seems so old, so quiet... It seems like even more of a secret than the temple already is.
Anyone would be fascinated by such a place, Dimitri is sure. And yet one of the Pokemon he has brought with him seems even more captivated than anyone else. While Dimitri, Ashe, and Dedue explore the place, Dimitri's Cubone has gently pried herself out of Dimitri's arms. Anyone who is passingly familiar with her would find this to be unusual all on its own. Hafren - in a similar vein to Desta, the Roselia that Dedue has - is rather shy as a creature, and clings to Dimitri when possible. So it is a bold move, on the little Cubone's part, to detach herself, and slowly walk throughout the room as well. She especially seems fascinated by the fossils that the group pick up: Ashe's sail fossil, Dedue's armor fossil, and, of course, the jaw fossil that Dimitri picks up.
In the end... She stops right in front of the Helix Fossil that has been propped up in the very center of the room, almost illuminated. It's where she is standing when the rest of the group answers Dimitri's excited video call, still staring.
Eventually, she begins to grind the end of her bone club against her little helmet. A patient, steady grind, and then a light tap. Rhythm.
Before Dimitri can pull go to pick her up and fuss, the little Cubone begins to move. To dance, as a matter of fact, sweeping her club through the air and hopping on her feet. The quiet and stillness she normally embodies is gone now, as she sweeps and swirls through the tiny space, there before the altar and its fossilized host. Her bone club taps - against the ground, against her skull - and her movements get even more quick and intense....
Before she sweeps her club against the ground and, in one twist, becomes engulfed in light.
As it fades, one kind of light does not, and it would be a brilliant green fire that burns at the end of her club... held now by not a small Cubone, but a slim Marowak with dark scales, and a peculiar marking right there in the center of her skull helmet. The same spot she'd been grinding her club against, not that long ago.
Hafren continues her dance for a few moments more, the eerie green flickering against the dark stone of the chamber, before she flings her club up into the air, catching it when it spins back down... right as she crouches low before the fossil. Before all the fossils, now held by three people.
A moment of quiet. Hafren straightens up after a moment, and raises her club upwards to gently blow it out.
So much has happened, in such a short amount of time. The loss of Lysithea, Sylvain, Felix leaving for a short while of his own accord, all of them trying to just recover... It's been a blow to them all.
Dimitri would be a liar, of course, if he said he wasn't affected. To think that he might not see Sylvain again - not in this way, with those warm eyes made all the warmer s they look upon him with so much love, that teasing nature of his pulling him along, the feel of them staying close.... It hurts. It hurts enough for him to want to choke. Yet best he can, he indulges in an old habit as he chokes back such feelings, such thoughts.
Because Claude needs him. Grant needs him, although he has been much quieter on the matter than others like Felix. Chip needs him, because they had liked Sylvain so much as well. And that's not even speaking of the others...
But there was only ever so much that he could do. In some ways, he is glad that the world of Johto and Kanto remains every busy, and that some magical and mysterious temple has risen up from the ocean's depths. He is certain that many scholars in the world will be amazed, and everyone will have a wondrous time exploring it, but those are all secondary concerns. Mostly, although he feels somewhat guilty for thinking so, he is glad that the calls of friends roused Claude from his stupor, and that exploring the temple has kept all of them occupied.
Yet... Dimitri knows it will not last forever. So even as all of them have explored various aspects of this mysterious place, with its variety of Pokemon, hidden rooms, and other such secrets, he has been thinking. What can one man do, for this kind of grief?
Dimitri's only solution is to do this: gathering his lovers together for a jaunt into the temple for some more idle exploration, just of the surface level. At least, that is what he tells them, and it will probably be true. It is very hard not to explore such a fascinating place as this, where there always seems to be more and more rooms to discover. And yet what he truly wishes to do is guide them to one room in particular that he has noticed, just one more circular room out of many where sunlight streams in through the windows.
At the doorway, Grindy shifts slightly, his enormous shell scraping against stone. Hafren stays seated on top of him, just watching with eyes that have become so much more pale since her evolution.
Dimitri stops somewhere in the middle of the room, taking a breath as he turns to look at the other three. "I have something I wish to say," he begins.
Deep inside the temple,Dimitri, Claude, Felix and Jinx will find a rather stunning sight. It's unclear if this was by design or simply nature reclaiming this area, but the room they find is absolutely covered in coral -- not the kind that usually grows at the surface and thrives under the sunlight, but the kind that ordinarily lives deep in the ocean, the sort most people will never see in their lives.
Long, pale branches bloom up, illuminated by the faint glow of several bioluminescent coral, almost giving the impression of underwater tree canopies. Most of the corals here are pale in colour but there are splashes of colour here and there too. Galarian Corsola and Cursola can be seen darting between the stony branches.
It's an incredible, if not slightly eerie sight that would make any marine biologist weep to see it.
...Needless to say, a beautiful sight such as this is something that deserves to be shared with everyone in their group, and not just those who found it. So Dimitri goes back with his own group of Dive capable Pokemon to bring back the others - Annette, and Ashe, and Grant, and Chip, and Dedue. What else could one do, when confronted with such a wonderful thing? Dimitri even takes the time to make sure he grabs some food while he's up on the surface, so that they can all eat while in such a stunning place. Perhaps even give the Corsola (and what a curious variant they are!) some food for their trouble.
It's only polite, when they're intruding on such a place.
The sun is already starting to set as Annette returns from a vigorous training session. She didn't mean to keep her Pokemon out so long, but they just seemed full of energy today. Energy that they spent every last drop of, barely saving enough to crawl back into their respective pokeballs for the walk home. Even Tritz is riding on her hip this evening, her absence a rare sight.
Annette herself is both exhausted and energized by the day's efforts, and is mentally debating whether or not to eat something and go right to bed, or to finish reading that book on fossils that she had found, first. She's pretty sure that this one isn't nearly as accurate and factual as she'd like, but she can't be sure until she finishes it, right? There might be something good near the end!
She yawns as she reaches the edge of the forest, and sees the city lights starting to come on under the dusky sky. Almost there. She'll have time for at least a chapter, for sure.
B. For everyone else
Annette is sitting in a cafe, or in a clearing, or on a riverbank, in the library, or even - oh no - in the kitchen. Wherever you happen to find her. She is singing to herself as usual. Smiling cheerfully at everyone as usual. Utterly off key like usual.
Wait what?? Maybe she's sick. But she looks perfectly fine...
C. Also for everyone else
Wherever you happen to find her, Annette has her nose in a book (notedly not about the Lifestyles of the Pink and Gooey), and is utterly unsuspecting and definitely a prime subject for surprise dittos. Just look at her! She wouldn't suspect a thing! She especially wouldn't suspect her closest friends and companions.
It's been a hard time for all of them. Some of them seemingly more than others, such as those who were romantically involved with Sylvain, but Dimitri has no doubt that everyone is hurting to some level. Sylvain was a dear friend, after all. Yes, sometimes troublesome, or silly, but... He was a good man, underneath it all, and marrying Felix only seemed to make him all the better.
Still.... Dimitri appreciates everyone who has been trying to help them through this troubling time. And Annette has been among them, especially when it comes to Felix, he knows.
He really wishes he could help her, but there's just been so much happening, it's been hard for both of them to have free time at the same time. so when he goes into the kitchen of their Vermillion City rental, he's pleased to see her hanging about. And with no smoke or ruined pots and pans!
"Annette! I am glad to see you. I was..." And that's when he pauses, as he takes in the sound of her humming. Is she...? "Are you all right? I did not think that song went like that..." And being in Johto has really made Dimitri aware of how music goes.
Two weeks have passed since Felix returned, and everyone's come back from Sevii now that the temple has been explored to their satisfaction. Since then, Felix has returned to his usual brand of dealing with problems: training constantly and doing little else. Sometimes swordplay, sometimes with his team. And sometimes, both at once.
A. For Grant
It's not hard to find Felix these days; he's usually out in the backyard, in the area set aside for training. Today, when Grant finds him, he and his Bisharp are dueling - Felix wielding Assal by hand, André wielding his own blades. The sounds of clashing steel have been coming from the yard for a while now.
B. For Dimitri
One night, fairly late, Dimitri will come across Felix curled up in some tucked-away space in the house somewhere, wearing something of Sylvain's that's big enough on him to function as a sort of nightgown. He's cradling a cup of tea in his hands and listening to music on Staryutube with his headphones, and doesn't notice Dimitri immediately.
C. For Anyone
Felix is normally an early riser, and has been for most of his life. Lately, though, ever since he came back from his wandering, he's been sleeping in more often - or, at least, coming out of his room later than usual without having bathed or dressed yet. Sylvain's wardrobe has become Felix's sleepwear, so often one can find him sitting in the kitchen or dining room wearing only one of Sylvain's shirts, drinking coffee and eating whatever there is for breakfast, later than he'd normally still be lounging around the house.
Alternatively, one may find him out in the yard training with swords or his Pokemon at basically any time, or in the garden with Inda while she shows him how to do plant things (he's not very good at it, but it makes her happy).
Sometimes, it cannot be helped, that Dimitri does not go to sleep easily. He drinks his tea, and he eats the right things, and Kent is at the ready for his nightly duties... And yet still, he feels restless.
The quiet but not exactly gentle whispering he can hear at the faintest edge of his hearing never helps either.
Not that Dimitri is surprised. It's something he's slowly begun to notice, in the time since he's begun to recover along with his time reading the book Claude got him. Whenever stress hits him, so often it's the same thing: noises that only he can hear. Words, metal grinding, flesh being rend from bone... they haunt him, when he already has so much on his plate.
He'll get to sleep eventually, he knows that. He has to. But in the meanwhile... with Kent clinging to one shoulder, he begins to wander through the house. Until he finds his way to a small nook.
Dimitri pauses when he sees Felix. Somehow... It's not a surprise to see him, in this situation. In this state. He almost wavers, not wanting to interrupt Felix... But he fails at resisting that impulse. At resisting his own selfish desires.
So he steps forward, trying to make it into Felix's line of vision. "Felix," he says, trying not to be too loud in consideration for the rest of the sleeping household.
He had, for as long as he had known him, been nearly as early a riser as Dedue is. These days, he sleeps late, and comes downstairs more dishabille than Dedue had ever seen him, still sometimes in his sleeping clothes while taking his coffee. Odd behavior, but not something that he feels the need to comment on, at least so long as it doesn't progress.
He had gone into the garden earlier that morning to get a start on weeding out the beds; the weather had been good for growing, which also meant that it was good for growing weeds, and they had cropped up like... well, weeds. There is a steadily growing pile of culled dandelions and clover and other such unwanted plants next to him as he goes. When Inda and Felix come out for his lessons in plant things, Dedue is already well into his work and more focused on uprooting botanical pests than he is with whoever comes into the garden.
Grant has run into sort of a conflict since Felix's return. On one hand, there's the immense desire to check in on him, see how he's doing and if there's anything Grant can do for him.
On the other hand, there's... the fact that everything he knows about Felix tells him he would fucking hate that.
So, while he tries to think on how to go about this... Grant follows the sound of Felix's ongoing dueling out to the backyard, and sits down in a garden chair some distance away, breeder's notebook and pencil in hand so he can maybe get something done in the meantime. As if he hasn't been getting enough work done lately; it's been filling most of his free time, taking notes and making plans whenever he's not working directly with his Pokemon. But... well, he'd rather keep his thoughts occupied. Even when he's also thinking about something else.
...He should probably say something, huh. Just so that he doesn't... y'know, accidentally jumpscare Felix with his presence.
Ashe noticed when Felix returned, but he knew how sensitive everything would be at the moment with Sylvain gone along with everything else that's been happening in their home. He knew the best way to go about it would be to give Felix his space. Since he was feeling a little better he started to get up in the morning to start breakfast sometimes he would find Felix in the kitchen or the dining room wearing one of Sylvain's shirts. After the first morning he saw that he started to make more of Felix's favorite foods for him to find. He knew Felix wouldn't want to talk about it, but it would be hard for him to find a subject he could talk about with him. Wait, he knew one thing that he could do with Felix.
One day when Felix was training with his pokemon in the yard Ashe walked over with Ky in his arms.
"Hey Felix, I want to try the pokemon challenge, but I know we need some training. Can we train with you?"
In the time that he had been here, Dedue had noticed that things are... strange, amongst his former classmates. At first it was small things, things that did not surprise him-- Felix obviously married Sylvain before his disappearance, that much was obvious from the photographs and the sheer depths of despair that he fell into after his husband left, and, really, it had seemed like only a matter of time before the two of them became a pair. That they are married is barely a surprise, aside from the fact that it's not a commonality in Faerghus for two noblemen to be wed. But Dedue had also seen Dimitri touch him without repercussions, without even a snap in his direction despite the fact that the Felix he remembered would have been keener on taking His Highness' head off of his shoulders than letting him touch him gently. Claude, as well, had gotten quite close to them, though Dedue didn't remember him being particularly close to anyone in their house.
It's peculiar. It feels as though he's trying to put together a puzzle while missing key pieces.
One evening, while in the kitchen with Ashe, preparing dinner, he decides that it's best to just ask. Ashe does not seem to have fallen into quite the profound depression that the rest of the group had after Sylvain had gone, and thus is the most able to answer.
"If I may," he says. "I would like to ask you a question about the household."
Since Dedue's arrival, Ashe had worked through his own sadness over Lysithea's departure. He hoped that they would meet again when he returned to his timeline and that something could happen. He was grateful that he got to spend that time with her and they had fun. It helped him realize that Lysithea liked being with him for him which helped ease his pain too. Now Ashe focused on taking care of the pokemon Lysithea left behind and getting his team ready for the pokemon challenge. Things in the house still held a sad air over Sylvain's departure. While Ashe missed Sylvain his absence didn't hit him as hard as Felix, Dimitri, and Claude. He worried about Felix since it wasn't too long ago that they had their wedding. He would normally make something for Felix and leave it in the fridge for him now that he wasn't stress cooking anymore.
Being able to cook with Dedue again bought up some nice memories of when they would cook together back home. He got a chance to show him some of the new cooking devices they had in the kitchen too.
"Hmm?" Ashe looked over from giving Ky a plate of his food. "Sure, what would you like to know?"
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nastyboy) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
victory_road2021-08-02 12:50 pm
guess i'm up first here
Apparently, there's something in this new world called vaccinations, and it's unacceptable that Dedue has not had them yet. He has been given a concise explanation as to what they're for-- preventing illness-- and how they work, though that particular part of the explanation was a bit much for a man who lived in a world that didn't have germ theory yet, nevertheless a decent understanding of how an immune system functioned. However, His Highness had insisted that these substances are, indeed, effective and that it's necessary that Dedue receive them, so he will receive them.
He does not enjoy the experience, though he doubts that many people would enjoy being jabbed in the arm so many times.
Afterwards, he is... fine. There's some soreness, of course, where they injected into both of his arms, but otherwise he's unaffected. Despite this, Dimitri watches him like a hawk, as though expecting him to fall to illness at any moment. No amount of assurances that he feels quite well seems to satisfy him, even up until Dedue retires to his room for the night at a normal hour.
Sometime in the middle of the night, he awakens with a pounding headache. By six in the morning, when he would usually be starting his day, it has escalated to chills and body aches and a vague, unpleasant nausea. The bedclothes stick unpleasantly to his skin. It feels very much like when he had caught grippe his first winter in Fhirdiad all those years ago; it was a much more common illness during the frigid Faerghan winters than it ever was in Duscur, and Dedue had been stricken badly with it. He had been confined to a bed for nearly two weeks, quarantined away from the rest of the palace until he managed to overcome it.
He sincerely hopes that he won't be doing this for another two weeks.
He eventually drops back into a restless slumber; Desta tries to rouse him from it, to no avail. What else, then, is there for her to do but to get help from the man who had been taking care of her for months? Getting the door open is a little tricky considering her size, but she manages it with a combination of determination and stacking a bunch of things up in front of the door to climb on.
And a few minutes later, Dimitri would have the unique experience of being woken up at six in the morning by a very upset little plant.
For Grant - later in the month
Cerulean is a fine enough city-- but not so fine that Dedue is distracted from the errands that need to be run. It's as he's returning from these errands that he finds Grant, which is... not unsual, considering that he's part of their traveling party, but somewhat unusual in that he appears to be waiting for him.
Dedue hasn't had much opportunity to speak with Grant since his arrival, or at least nothing more than standard curtesies, though Dimitri had vouched for his character quite insistently. A good temperament, he'd said, and a kind personality. Someone whom he owes a great deal His Highness wouldn't speak so highly of him if it weren't true, and Dedue should at least attempt to get to know his lord's friends.
He inclines his head towards the other man in greeting.
"Hello, Grant."
shoves his way in
Even when his dear friend had retired to his hotel room still looking well, Dimitri had not been entirely convinced. He'd been very much the same, feeling decent up until the effects had hit him at a later time.
So he had told Kent to be sure to wake him up at the slightest sign that something might have gone wrong.
The good news, in a questionable definition of 'good', is that Dimitri occasionally has trouble getting to sleep. Yes, the process might be better now with Kent's help, but getting there is still something of an issue. So, as it turns out, he's relatively recent into his own slumber when Kent starts to lightly shake him with psychic powers, and Desta's cries hit him before he can jerk too harshly in his awakening.
He doesn't even think, or hesitate. Dimitri just stumbles out of bed, leaning down to scoop Desta up into his arms as he goes. Kent stays with him, still firmly attached to his hair, even as they step into the hotel hallway.
Dimitri knows where Dedue's room is, because of course he does, and a part of him feels a painful skip in his heart at the sight of his door open. It's not the same, he reminds himself... Yet, still, it's a relief to see Dedue still tucked there in bed. No emptiness here. It's still all right. "It's all right," he murmurs to Desta, gently putting her down at one end of the bed. "He will be all right. We are here together."
That's what matters. He reminds himself of that, takes comfort in it, even as he gently sinks down besides Dedue's bedside. "Dedue?" he asks softly, pressing the back of his hand against Dedue's forehead. What symptoms is he showing the most of? He'll plan how to deal with this once he can tell, although... "Kent, please go get some of the others from their balls. I will need some assistance."
Slowly, Kent detaches from Dimitri's head, floating off into the air slightly. He still stays a moment longer, just in case more psychic power is needed.
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i am so sorry
And, well, so far that’s where his thoughts have more or less stopped. He doesn’t know if he’s bold enough to actually get involved in looking after it, whether that might be overstepping. But… he’s thinking about it. And at the very least, he might want to start keeping potted plants.
The problem, of course, is that Grant’s gardening knowledge is more or less limited to the few, hardy plants he’s kept in his store in the past, and if he’s going to pick up gardening here, he’d rather make sure he knows what he’s doing. And talking to someone who knows what he’s doing, and who Grant would like to get to know better anyway, sounds like a good step in that direction.
That… that talking part is kind of the problem. Grant feels like he’s done pretty alright, so far, at interacting with Dedue like a normal person, which… could maybe be chalked up to being too sad and tired to be quite so easily bowled over by the existence of Handsome Men In His Area. But the flipside of that state of being is that he literally doesn’t know when his emotions are going to leap out and punch him in the face, even more so than he usually doesn't, and also there’s a difference between the kind of brief, inevitable encounters one has with a new housemate, and… approaching someone to ask a favor.
Dedue addresses him and he almost jumps, despite literally having been waiting to talk to him. “--Hi! Actually, so, if you’re not busy I wanted to… to ask you something. I… heard you know things? About plants, I mean. And… other stuff of course, but, right now I’m asking about... plants.”
Goddammit.
i love grant
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...
...
...
forward-dated to roughly 8/14
Once he could start keeping track of time's passage, it felt like a curse. The longer he wandered, the harder it felt to go back; the more it felt like he'd forgotten how to let them care about him, and like there would be no place for him there anymore. He'd struggled to find a purpose for moons after he arrived here; with no battle and no need to protect Dimitri or anyone else, he'd felt useless. Training for gym challenges helped, but in the end even that was nothing but a distraction from the way he was languishing, just like he'd always thought he would in times of peace.
But he'd come to find a purpose in working to make Sylvain happy. In knowing that he had promises--vows--to uphold. He'd come to feel that he could be content with the life that they'd carved for themselves out of the morass of expectations and dismal futures they'd been used to for so long.
Now, though...with every minute that passes by, he's breaking those promises all over again. He can't be a home for Sylvain if he isn't here. They can't live or die together if they're forced to be worlds apart.
And of course he's missed Dimitri and Claude, while he's been away. Of course there have been nights, curled up with Inda and Varley in his tent, when he wished he was back at the house with them. But what good would it do them to have him there when he's such a mess? He'd only make things worse. He's supposed to be their Shield, but he can't protect them from loss, or grief, or the maelstrom inside himself that never seems to abate.
Eventually, his path leads him back there without much conscious effort on his part. There's no moment when he decides to return, no sudden revelation that convinces him he must. He just...ends up there, with Inda's hand in his as they approach. He doesn't know whether he's ready. He doesn't know whether they are, either. He doesn't know what he'll say, or how they'll react.
But he's here now, and he wanders into the garden to sit among the flowers with Inda in his lap and Varley by his side. He distantly notes that someone's been tending the plants, now that Sylvain's not here to do it. He's tired.
A. Garden
Whoever finds Felix first will find him curled up in the grass with Inda, asleep, with Varley keeping watch.
B. Inside
Once he's woken up, whether on his own or by someone else, he goes inside and walks through the house until he runs into someone else.
A
It's hard to feel that way now, of course. And yet it had been the wiser choice, to return here, where... Where they would not have to spend so much money, yes, that is a practical concern, but also...
Also what?
Dimitri isn't sure.
There is at least some comfort to residing in a home and not a hotel or an inn. Privacy is theirs, here, where they can be as miserable as they like with no prying eyes. And there are things to do as well. Cooking, cleaning, getting groceries and trying to make something that will have Claude smile again...
Since his arrival, Dedue has been the one to take over gardening duties. Dimitri's feelings are - twisted on it, honestly. It feels wrong, in some ways, that something which should have been Sylvain's is no longer. And yet it makes Dedue happy. It will still be a beautiful place if - when - Sylvain returns. Dimitri tries to remember that for himself. Despite that, he cannot help but slip away when he feels certain that Claude has suitable company, and want to go into the garden for some alone time. To pretend, for a little while, that Sylvain could be there again watering the plants with a smile on his face.
Today, he does not find Sylvain.
Instead, there is another apparition. Another soul he wasn't sure would return.
Dimitri freezes in the back door, brow crumpled. "Felix?" he asks softly, almost a whisper.
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Chichouse Hunters - Vermillion City Edition
His Poochyena wears a tie because she doesn't want to be excluded.
After a bit of time considering the group's needs and budget, the realtor eventually contacts them again, and sets up a series of visitations.
Time to go house hopping again!
House 1 - Stone and Trees
Inside, it's clear that there is a great deal of space in each room that's perfect for such a large group of people living in it. No need to worry about bumping into anyone while going into the living room; plenty of space behind the couch and between it and the television make sure foot traffic is a-okay.
There's even a separate room to comfortably hang in at away from the television, with its own fireplace and some stone benches that make up the white brick wall that makes up a part of it. Their realtor even explains that the stone was specially chosen for a past owner who owned a Bisharp and a Weavile - both Pokemon that need to have their claws taken care of. He points out a small a small slit along one wall, near one of the benches, where claw dust can even fall down into so that it doesn't make a mess.
Of course, the massive amount of shelf space in both those rooms and a few others is perfect for so many people as well. While the realtor can't make promises on anything else, he can guarantee that they'll never have to argue over the room to put all their things - books, knickknacks, badge display cases, all of that.
In contrast, the kitchen, dining room, and bedrooms all seem fairly standard, although they also have plenty of room in them. It's as though the house's construction crew made a peculiar kind of compromise between rooms and a more open floor plan. It makes the house feel fairly large, which is necessary for such a place. The only downside is that some of this room had to be stolen from other places, and so the bathrooms - serviceable, simple, a couple decades dated - are a bit on the small size, especially comparatively.
The backyard also seems a bit plain, especially with the Olivine one that they were all found of. A simple fence, barricaded by various plants and trees, plus a lawn that mostly covers it all. Not much of a patio.
The most noteworthy thing about it would be a large and overgrown tree in one corner of the yard, whose large roots rise up from the ground slightly to curl around what looks like a small sand pit that a child might play in. Part of the rental agreement, the realtor explains, is taking good care of it while not damaging or trying to prune any part, along with not bothering any Pokemon that come to roost or rest in it. He's not shy about explaining it was a deceased Trevenant that once belonged to the owner's mother. Yes, there is a poke-corpse in the back. Yes, they'll have to deal with it if they make this choice.
Of course, it's not the only house on the list. They've just begun.
House 2 - Wooden Beams
Befitting of its warm exterior, the inside of the home seems to match it well. The combination of pale walls, warm colored flooring whether wooden or tiled, and a preference for wooden furniture and embellishing makes it seem like quite a comfortable place. It's not extremely spacious like the last location, but that tightness manages to seem a bit cozy instead of claustrophobic or difficult. There's nothing particularly spectacular in terms of a kitchen, but it's modern enough to not be any sort of problem.
Of particular note are a few things that almost seem as though they are tiny fireplaces dotted throughout the home: near the couch on the other side of the half-wall by the entrance, again by the dining area similarly separated from the kitchen by another half-wall, and in some of the bedrooms. The realtor explains that the owner's grandparents often had various Pokemon that liked to curl up in such places. Mostly they were fire types, such as Littens, but some other Pokemon also used the spaces, like Koffing cuddling in such hidey holes in a way that allowed them to exclude their gas without any ill effects.
Their realtor even gives a demonstration with his own Poochyena, who manages to curl up quite snugly in one such hole. A good place for young or small Pokemon, especially cat-like types, who want to feel a part of the family but also like their own space.
Unsurprisingly, the bedrooms are very much similar in all of these design choices, and most have the benefit of shelving built into the walls and surrounding windows. One, the master, is even considerably larger, to the point that it could have quite its own little sitting room area. Of course, if they have a disinterest in such a thing, then they could additionally fit in another couple of beds, or drawers, in there as well.
An additional point of interest is when the realtor opens the door to a space that looks almost as if it could be some sort of changing room. Besides the beams, much of it has been painted a brilliant white, from the wooden floorboards to the closets whose doors seem to be made from similar planks. The closets don't rise all the way to the ceiling, instead leaving a great deal of space up there as well - either for storage, if they like, or even for Pokemon to lounge on. Apparently, when the Litten of the prior owners fully evolved, that's exactly what they did, or so the realtor explains.
Just across from the closets would be one of the bathrooms of the place, which is decently sized for one, and whose most star attraction is, well, the star-shaped lighting that is up on the ceiling.
The similarities to a changing room vibe, along with the bathroom, may make sense, as the realtor leads them through another door in the area that leads outside. There, they get to admire the backyard, with the exterior part of the doorway embedded with small shiny blue shells - Crabrawler claws, since apparently the grandparent's progeny had more of an interest in water types, and thus kept one here. Befittingly of someone who owned water types, there is thus a small pool there in the backyard, past which there are some rather tropical plants that do well in Vermilion City's harbor climate. Apparently, it's not uncommon for Wingull and even Pom-Pom Oricorios to visit to enjoy the plantlife.
Along with all of this, there's another building on the property that comes as a part of the rental, and which of course includes a couple more bedrooms. Good for a large group like their own.
Still, some don't care for such a departure from the usual architecture they expect to find in Kanto or Vermillion City, and the noise from the nearby construction grounds can be bothersome, so the realtor has another house lined up for their consideration.
House 3 - Large and Old
In the present, just going up to the house's front gates leaves quite an impression. A large path leading from the sidewalk is perfect for any biking or Pokemon riding, and it ends in a small area cleared out for most Flying type Pokemon to take off from. Beautiful flowers have grown over the front fence, leaving a beautiful frontal appearance, and there is plenty of front yard space for both children and playful Pokemon. It's been babyproofed, essentially.... you know, since one of its past owners was indeed a breeder.
Such open outdoor space is also perfect for Grass types, the realtor says, since it allows so much unrestricted access to the sun, or other Pokemon that like to lounge in the sun for energy, like Heliolisks.
Of course, there is some shaded space up against the house itself, including over the front door thanks to a part of the second floor that juts out, courtesy of a small patio up there.
Once they enter that very front door, they're greeted by the first signs of this house's age and character, thanks to some short steps that lead to a slightly raised section of the house along with a proper staircase that goes up to the proper floor, both on the left, while there are some doors and halls that lead to the rest of the house from the right. It is a simple and quiet elegance, showcasing the house's age.
Some of the rooms that they're led to are spacious and marvelous, no doubt exactly as they were back in their day. The dining room is an excellent example of this, with immense windows whose curving wooden frames welcome in the light so that it might sparkle on some of the stained glass which makes its home in the row of cupboards there. From the ceiling, in its own right down in pressed out patterns of circles and straight lines from its white surface, hangs a lovely little chandelier that sparkles in the dark.
Similar is the main living area, with its fireplace dominated by a pair of large windows that have their own built in benches and a pair of large curved wooden doors. There is also a small circular room further towards the back, the stained glass rose patterns in the windows leading to a delicate appearance. It leads to both a sun room, where Pokemon of all sorts can happily lounge about in even during the winter, along with the backdoor that leads into the garden area.
The downside, really, is that the garden area is a bit small, and mostly rectangular in sharp that's half taken up by the small patio back there. Still, what is there is lovely and flourishing, and with a tendency towards flowering plants that are beautiful in the spring and summer months. Apparently, a Bulbasaur was the primary back garden caretaker.
In contrast to such beautiful classic architecture, the kitchen itself is rather in need of updating, and it doesn't help that it's connected to the small laundry space in another room either. Still, while unglamorous, it does its job well enough, and it's connected to another tiled room with a sink in it that could be used for all sorts of cleaning, dirty jobs, or even pokemon washing. Apparently, from what the realtor heard, it used to be used for storing eggs, and cleaning up baby Pokemon.
The restoration efforts seem to get a little mixed once they head up the first floor of stairs. There is still plenty of rooms, of course, both in numbers and space, but the wooden floor could use some sanding here, and there is a small tiled room with windows in it that seems a few eras ahead of the rest of the house with its black and white tiling.
Yet it seems like the least appealing aspects of the house would be its bathrooms. From the floor to the appliances, everything seems an unappealing shade of off-white, and it's all rather plain as well. Certainly everything works, and just fine too, but it's not the kind of pleasant space one would want to lounge in for a bubble bath. Clearly it was put into a sort of temporary existence for whenever the owner could afford the time or money to spruce it up a bit more, and then that just... didn't happen.
The third floor has some plain areas of its own, such as the hallway that connects to the top of the stairs, but quickly reveals some of its own magnificence that is similar to the first floor. Not only does it have a small workshop room of its own that could be adjusted for all manner of crafting hobbies, but it has two enormous areas. One could be used for any number of gatherings, helped by a built in bench against a couple of its walls, while the other is a handy area with plenty of storage and whose triangle-shaped ceiling guides one to a window that looks out onto the front street.
So while clearly not as impressive in some areas, it stuns in others, and all the room would be perfect for such a large group.
It's somewhere to keep in mind, even as the realtor goes to introduce them to the next house.
House 4 - Picket Fence
Up the porch steps - large and reinforced so that Pokemon like Camerupt can easily get up them without any issue - the front door opens up into an area with a few options on where to go. It becomes very clear that this house doesn't have quite the enormous amounts of space the last house did, in terms of its individual rooms, but it still manages to be quite open regardless. Right there before the entrance are the stairs which lead up to a second floor. Immediately towards the left is a living room of sorts with a large welcome fireplace and a trio of big windows that look out onto both the porch and front yard. Another open room - the dining room likely - also holds a fireplace.
Yet in clear contrast to some of the prior houses - most of them, actually - there are parts of this house that are incredibly up to date. No place better demonstrates that than when the group all goes into the kitchen. With clean tile, dark cabinets, white countertops to match the walls, and a shiny fridge, it's quite the modern place to be! The island in the middle of the kitchen gives extra counter space, and the sink inside of it is quite deep to allow cleaning of all sorts of things. It's quite slick.
The bathrooms also match this updated and refreshed look. One mimics the dark cabinet and pale countertop look that the kitchen has, with swirling patterned tile flooring, and its narrow space excludes a feeling of privacy that its treated windows help with - no peepers, just the sunlight. Take a bath comfortably! The other bathroom doesn't have a bathtub, only a shower, and it goes for a slightly different look with a warmer kind of wood for its cabinets and all of its walls exposed brick instead of just the one. However, the shower has not only a sitting spot for those who like to take a rest while cleaning, but also a built in shelf for small Pokemon and cleaning products alike! Either way, they're both stylish and modern.
Leading into the backyard reveals a relatively simple space compared to some of the others in the past. This, too, seems to favor more of a wide open yard. However, the back is lined with various thick bushes, whose flowers are brilliantly colored purple and deep maroon flowers.
It's a nice, solid kind of home, with nothing to complain about except for perhaps being a bit of a tight squeeze for a large group like their own. But there's one more house on the agenda to be viewed.
House 5 - City Outskirts
The realtor explains that this is half a rental deal, and half simple housesitting. The actual owners have actually recently decided that they don't want to waste their life in Vermillion City, and have decided they want to See The World!, and so, well, here they are. They've actually just finished a relaxed tour of Kanto as a whole, and are apparently relaxing somewhere in Johto right now. Their hope is to be in time to see whatever is going on in the Hoenn League, and the Elite Four over there.
If this sounds vaguely like a midlife crisis, then, well, listen. Their realtor can't say one way or another and, like, it's rude to say that kind of thing about clients? But listen...
All potential renters/housesitters have to do, besides obviously paying rent to help fund this trip, is to take excellent care of the house and all of its land. That means regular cleaning sessions, not breaking or damaging anything, making sure things that get damaged from time or weather are fixed, taking care of the garden and pond that are near the houses... For anything in the massive amounts of forested paths, including the creek that flows through, it's enough to just make sure the paths and creek are clean and unobstructed.
It's a bit of work. But this is a bit of land and space. There's a tradeoff. Besides... With so much land, and wide open buildings and barns, there's plenty of space for large Pokemon to be right alongside their trainers.
The realtor is glad to tell Dimitri that they too had an Emboar and Obstagoon, both who benefited from larger doorways while the Obstagoon in particular could be as loud as they liked without bothering neighbors. Additionally, they participated in the Type: Null adoption program as well (both Nulls gallivanting with their trainers as they speak), and apparently such open environments is very good for making such massive Pokemon relax. No matter the season, the creek and ponds are perfectly cool, leaving them welcome for Water and Ice types - the creek was apparently a fond lounging spot of an Avalugg, who rested directly under the small bridge that crosses it. All the open space is good for territorial Pokemon, too, leaving them with plenty of space so that they don't feel intruded on. That was the deal with their Sigilyph, after all.
For Johto League champions, and active trainers, it really is a good place to be, and the barn area would no doubt work perfectly for breeders such as Grant
and Sylvain.With that all explained on the walk up the pathway leading to the front door, the realtor is finally able to welcome them into the first and main building of the place.
From the get-go, it's clear that the house is well-lived in and has seen much use while still being kept in good condition. A spiraling sort of staircase connects all the floors, from basement to the top, and is one of the first thing to greet visitors to the house. From there, it's easy to pop into any one of the large rooms on the first floor, each with their own comforting fireplaces - one small, in a room with many shelves along the surrounding wall, and one enormous in what is clearly a larger family den sort of area. The latter even has its own steeper stairs that poke up into the second floor.
The dining room and kitchen are well connected with the kitchen just being an offshoot of the dining room. There lies a large fireplace that's good for either warming or even some old fashioned cooking, if anyone is inclined or more comfortable with such variations. However, modern comforts are present as well, with a new stove, sink, and a couple of other appliances present. Their shininess almost seems at odds with the worn down nature of the rest of the kitchen... but it is clearly a place that has seen much use.
Upstairs sees where most of the bedrooms lie, not particularly fancy with their plain white walls or the exposed but finely carved beams that are a part of the ceiling much like downstairs... Yet there is a rustic quality to it all regardless, and the wall heaters underneath the windows ensure they won't ever catch a chill. Additionally, the attic area also offers a whole lot of room, and could easily be converted into some bedroom areas, or even just places for relaxing and fun.
Just across from the house is a small gardening shed painted a cheery red, fully stocked and ready to be used by anyone. Just past that is the large barn, painted a similar dashing red. It has plenty of stables, for large Pokemon that like being with friends while still wanting their own space, and guarantees protection from the elements. The rafters also offer space for various flying type Pokemon, even large ones that carry passengers.
Once that little tour is done with, the realtor takes them further up alongthe path connecting all the buildings, until they reach a building that's somewhat smaller than the main, while still fairly big with space in it. There, past a patio with some chairs and tables for relaxing, three large double doors lay side by side and open up into an immense room with stone walls and wooden pillars holding up the ceiling. The realtor encourages them to let out some of their larger Pokemon here (just not, you know, Wailord size), and stretch their legs. The stone tiles have been specially treated, so that size is rarely an issue in cracking them, and they don't scratch easy either! No doubt a consideration from the owners' own Emboar, Avalugg, Obstagoon, and Null.
Past that, and a couple of smaller doors, there is a small kitchen and also a cozy little living room area - of course with a fireplace. There's also a set of stairs, tucked away in the back, which leads up into a couple of bedrooms that all connect to another common sitting area.
And that's the last house the realtor has to show them, at least for now. Of course, if none of the houses satisfy them, he's more than glad to do a little more research to see what's available... But he wants them to consider what he's found so far, at least, and point out any pros or cons to the places so that he can better narrow down his search.
House Tour 2, Electric Boogaloo
Out of all the listings, it was clear that the fifth house had the most appeal to the group with its massive amounts of space, distance from the city, good for a variety of Pokemon care, and good heating.
But despite all those positives, there were still a couple of things that didn't click for two of the members. Grant's anxiety being set off by the slightly more demanding request for maintenance and upkeep seemed to be the main problem, but even Claude seemed to be looking for a certain something that none of the houses of that particular tour really give him. A kind of aesthetic, a vibe, a feeling. It's a rather vague request, but the realtor doesn't seem to mind it.
After all, it helps that Claude has let him know that he's invested in what the others like and dislike, and that much was made quite clear during the tour.
Dimitri has been one of the easiest out of the entire group to entertain, almost content to just have a roof over his head more than anything, and leaning towards the will of his company. All he needs is the ability to not smash his head against low beams or doorways, along with space for some of his Pokemon, and he's set.
Felix seemed similarly easy to please, considering that he didn't care if bathrooms looked nice. Anything that pleases his Pokemon - the sharpening stones, little nooks - is a clear favor, and he'd disliked the all white of House 1 and lack of gardening availability with House 4... And, of course, enough space to not feel crowded, or spaces to retreat, had been important to him.
Byleth had been a little difficult to read, but at least honest when asked about things. Lots of shelving seemed to draw their attention the most, lending to a "homey" sensation, and they, much like Felix, seemed drawn to staying away from the chaos of the city.
Dedue had been the hardest to figure out. In the end, the realtor had come to the conclusion that the man probably didn't want to smash his head into low hanging beams living his day to day, and his Poochyena's keen eyes managed to spot the vaguely appreciative looks Dedue had sent towards House 5's plentiful counter space. Thank god for dogs.
Ashe brings to mind something similar that Claude had mentioned with Chip - a fear of too nice a place that one would worry about dirtying, which had come up in House 1. Besides that, he'd been inclined to thinking about the others too, and how much space there was for everyone... although special mention had to be how much he had liked the modern kitchen of House 4, the least popular house amongst the group as a whole.
And finally, besides Claude's slightly more vague desire, he'd expressed an interest in a porch or balcony area that could give the group a wonderful view.
While it sounds like a lot to keep in mind, the realtor himself seems quite satisfied by the end of the day. Everyone seems to be on a similar page for what kind of place they want, which means he won't have to end up guiding them to a place that has some of what they want but not everything... Which happens quite a bit when it comes to more than one person living in the same place.
Their realtor makes a promise to do some research, and get back to them for another tour either tomorrow or the day after. There's plenty of places in Vermillion City, after all! It's just a matter of narrowing down the selection.
House 6 - Aesthetic
House 7 - Window Space
House 8 - Hilltop View
House 9 - Built On Classic
House 10 - Worn with Love
Water Temple
OTA - hafren has an Experience
And the way this room seems so old, so quiet... It seems like even more of a secret than the temple already is.
Anyone would be fascinated by such a place, Dimitri is sure. And yet one of the Pokemon he has brought with him seems even more captivated than anyone else. While Dimitri, Ashe, and Dedue explore the place, Dimitri's Cubone has gently pried herself out of Dimitri's arms. Anyone who is passingly familiar with her would find this to be unusual all on its own. Hafren - in a similar vein to Desta, the Roselia that Dedue has - is rather shy as a creature, and clings to Dimitri when possible. So it is a bold move, on the little Cubone's part, to detach herself, and slowly walk throughout the room as well. She especially seems fascinated by the fossils that the group pick up: Ashe's sail fossil, Dedue's armor fossil, and, of course, the jaw fossil that Dimitri picks up.
In the end... She stops right in front of the Helix Fossil that has been propped up in the very center of the room, almost illuminated. It's where she is standing when the rest of the group answers Dimitri's excited video call, still staring.
Eventually, she begins to grind the end of her bone club against her little helmet. A patient, steady grind, and then a light tap. Rhythm.
Before Dimitri can pull go to pick her up and fuss, the little Cubone begins to move. To dance, as a matter of fact, sweeping her club through the air and hopping on her feet. The quiet and stillness she normally embodies is gone now, as she sweeps and swirls through the tiny space, there before the altar and its fossilized host. Her bone club taps - against the ground, against her skull - and her movements get even more quick and intense....
Before she sweeps her club against the ground and, in one twist, becomes engulfed in light.
As it fades, one kind of light does not, and it would be a brilliant green fire that burns at the end of her club... held now by not a small Cubone, but a slim Marowak with dark scales, and a peculiar marking right there in the center of her skull helmet. The same spot she'd been grinding her club against, not that long ago.
Hafren continues her dance for a few moments more, the eerie green flickering against the dark stone of the chamber, before she flings her club up into the air, catching it when it spins back down... right as she crouches low before the fossil. Before all the fossils, now held by three people.
A moment of quiet. Hafren straightens up after a moment, and raises her club upwards to gently blow it out.
Dimitri doesn't quite seem to know what to say.
Polycule Time
Dimitri would be a liar, of course, if he said he wasn't affected. To think that he might not see Sylvain again - not in this way, with those warm eyes made all the warmer s they look upon him with so much love, that teasing nature of his pulling him along, the feel of them staying close.... It hurts. It hurts enough for him to want to choke. Yet best he can, he indulges in an old habit as he chokes back such feelings, such thoughts.
Because Claude needs him. Grant needs him, although he has been much quieter on the matter than others like Felix. Chip needs him, because they had liked Sylvain so much as well. And that's not even speaking of the others...
But there was only ever so much that he could do. In some ways, he is glad that the world of Johto and Kanto remains every busy, and that some magical and mysterious temple has risen up from the ocean's depths. He is certain that many scholars in the world will be amazed, and everyone will have a wondrous time exploring it, but those are all secondary concerns. Mostly, although he feels somewhat guilty for thinking so, he is glad that the calls of friends roused Claude from his stupor, and that exploring the temple has kept all of them occupied.
Yet... Dimitri knows it will not last forever. So even as all of them have explored various aspects of this mysterious place, with its variety of Pokemon, hidden rooms, and other such secrets, he has been thinking. What can one man do, for this kind of grief?
Dimitri's only solution is to do this: gathering his lovers together for a jaunt into the temple for some more idle exploration, just of the surface level. At least, that is what he tells them, and it will probably be true. It is very hard not to explore such a fascinating place as this, where there always seems to be more and more rooms to discover. And yet what he truly wishes to do is guide them to one room in particular that he has noticed, just one more circular room out of many where sunlight streams in through the windows.
At the doorway, Grindy shifts slightly, his enormous shell scraping against stone. Hafren stays seated on top of him, just watching with eyes that have become so much more pale since her evolution.
Dimitri stops somewhere in the middle of the room, taking a breath as he turns to look at the other three. "I have something I wish to say," he begins.
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Cool Water Coral Paradise - OTA
Long, pale branches bloom up, illuminated by the faint glow of several bioluminescent coral, almost giving the impression of underwater tree canopies. Most of the corals here are pale in colour but there are splashes of colour here and there too. Galarian Corsola and Cursola can be seen darting between the stony branches.
It's an incredible, if not slightly eerie sight that would make any marine biologist weep to see it.
...Needless to say, a beautiful sight such as this is something that deserves to be shared with everyone in their group, and not just those who found it. So Dimitri goes back with his own group of Dive capable Pokemon to bring back the others - Annette, and Ashe, and Grant, and Chip, and Dedue. What else could one do, when confronted with such a wonderful thing? Dimitri even takes the time to make sure he grabs some food while he's up on the surface, so that they can all eat while in such a stunning place. Perhaps even give the Corsola (and what a curious variant they are!) some food for their trouble.
It's only polite, when they're intruding on such a place.
Dimitri
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Ditto Ditty Disco
The sun is already starting to set as Annette returns from a vigorous training session. She didn't mean to keep her Pokemon out so long, but they just seemed full of energy today. Energy that they spent every last drop of, barely saving enough to crawl back into their respective pokeballs for the walk home. Even Tritz is riding on her hip this evening, her absence a rare sight.
Annette herself is both exhausted and energized by the day's efforts, and is mentally debating whether or not to eat something and go right to bed, or to finish reading that book on fossils that she had found, first. She's pretty sure that this one isn't nearly as accurate and factual as she'd like, but she can't be sure until she finishes it, right? There might be something good near the end!
She yawns as she reaches the edge of the forest, and sees the city lights starting to come on under the dusky sky. Almost there. She'll have time for at least a chapter, for sure.
B. For everyone else
Annette is sitting in a cafe, or in a clearing, or on a riverbank, in the library, or even - oh no - in the kitchen. Wherever you happen to find her. She is singing to herself as usual. Smiling cheerfully at everyone as usual. Utterly off key like usual.
Wait what?? Maybe she's sick. But she looks perfectly fine...
C. Also for everyone else
Wherever you happen to find her, Annette has her nose in a book (notedly not about the Lifestyles of the Pink and Gooey), and is utterly unsuspecting and definitely a prime subject for surprise dittos. Just look at her! She wouldn't suspect a thing! She especially wouldn't suspect her closest friends and companions.
B
Still.... Dimitri appreciates everyone who has been trying to help them through this troubling time. And Annette has been among them, especially when it comes to Felix, he knows.
He really wishes he could help her, but there's just been so much happening, it's been hard for both of them to have free time at the same time. so when he goes into the kitchen of their Vermillion City rental, he's pleased to see her hanging about. And with no smoke or ruined pots and pans!
"Annette! I am glad to see you. I was..." And that's when he pauses, as he takes in the sound of her humming. Is she...? "Are you all right? I did not think that song went like that..." And being in Johto has really made Dimitri aware of how music goes.
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so what now?
A. For Grant
It's not hard to find Felix these days; he's usually out in the backyard, in the area set aside for training. Today, when Grant finds him, he and his Bisharp are dueling - Felix wielding Assal by hand, André wielding his own blades. The sounds of clashing steel have been coming from the yard for a while now.
B. For Dimitri
One night, fairly late, Dimitri will come across Felix curled up in some tucked-away space in the house somewhere, wearing something of Sylvain's that's big enough on him to function as a sort of nightgown. He's cradling a cup of tea in his hands and listening to music on Staryutube with his headphones, and doesn't notice Dimitri immediately.
C. For Anyone
Felix is normally an early riser, and has been for most of his life. Lately, though, ever since he came back from his wandering, he's been sleeping in more often - or, at least, coming out of his room later than usual without having bathed or dressed yet. Sylvain's wardrobe has become Felix's sleepwear, so often one can find him sitting in the kitchen or dining room wearing only one of Sylvain's shirts, drinking coffee and eating whatever there is for breakfast, later than he'd normally still be lounging around the house.
Alternatively, one may find him out in the yard training with swords or his Pokemon at basically any time, or in the garden with Inda while she shows him how to do plant things (he's not very good at it, but it makes her happy).
B
The quiet but not exactly gentle whispering he can hear at the faintest edge of his hearing never helps either.
Not that Dimitri is surprised. It's something he's slowly begun to notice, in the time since he's begun to recover along with his time reading the book Claude got him. Whenever stress hits him, so often it's the same thing: noises that only he can hear. Words, metal grinding, flesh being rend from bone... they haunt him, when he already has so much on his plate.
He'll get to sleep eventually, he knows that. He has to. But in the meanwhile... with Kent clinging to one shoulder, he begins to wander through the house. Until he finds his way to a small nook.
Dimitri pauses when he sees Felix. Somehow... It's not a surprise to see him, in this situation. In this state. He almost wavers, not wanting to interrupt Felix... But he fails at resisting that impulse. At resisting his own selfish desires.
So he steps forward, trying to make it into Felix's line of vision. "Felix," he says, trying not to be too loud in consideration for the rest of the sleeping household.
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C
He had, for as long as he had known him, been nearly as early a riser as Dedue is. These days, he sleeps late, and comes downstairs more dishabille than Dedue had ever seen him, still sometimes in his sleeping clothes while taking his coffee. Odd behavior, but not something that he feels the need to comment on, at least so long as it doesn't progress.
He had gone into the garden earlier that morning to get a start on weeding out the beds; the weather had been good for growing, which also meant that it was good for growing weeds, and they had cropped up like... well, weeds. There is a steadily growing pile of culled dandelions and clover and other such unwanted plants next to him as he goes. When Inda and Felix come out for his lessons in plant things, Dedue is already well into his work and more focused on uprooting botanical pests than he is with whoever comes into the garden.
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A
On the other hand, there's... the fact that everything he knows about Felix tells him he would fucking hate that.
So, while he tries to think on how to go about this... Grant follows the sound of Felix's ongoing dueling out to the backyard, and sits down in a garden chair some distance away, breeder's notebook and pencil in hand so he can maybe get something done in the meantime. As if he hasn't been getting enough work done lately; it's been filling most of his free time, taking notes and making plans whenever he's not working directly with his Pokemon. But... well, he'd rather keep his thoughts occupied. Even when he's also thinking about something else.
...He should probably say something, huh. Just so that he doesn't... y'know, accidentally jumpscare Felix with his presence.
"...Mind if I watch?"
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C
One day when Felix was training with his pokemon in the yard Ashe walked over with Ky in his arms.
"Hey Felix, I want to try the pokemon challenge, but I know we need some training. Can we train with you?"
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For Ashe -- Hey What The Fuck Is Up With This House
It's peculiar. It feels as though he's trying to put together a puzzle while missing key pieces.
One evening, while in the kitchen with Ashe, preparing dinner, he decides that it's best to just ask. Ashe does not seem to have fallen into quite the profound depression that the rest of the group had after Sylvain had gone, and thus is the most able to answer.
"If I may," he says. "I would like to ask you a question about the household."
Ashe voice: So here's the tea
Being able to cook with Dedue again bought up some nice memories of when they would cook together back home. He got a chance to show him some of the new cooking devices they had in the kitchen too.
"Hmm?" Ashe looked over from giving Ky a plate of his food. "Sure, what would you like to know?"
serve it up hot and fresh, Ashe
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