1st Page [Video, Route 29]

[gachatia]

[It's very clear that this post to the Network is one of those "accidental" things that a lot of people's accounts end up making during their time here. Usually it's because the user isn't familiar with technology, whether they be a person or a Pokemon, and this isn't too far off the mark from that.

Presumably.

It's "presumably" because the 'gear clicks on mid-run in the evening dim, a small Pokemon's breath coming in excited little puffs as it goes, goes, goes-]

Wait - wait, please - kindly return that! You don't know where you're going!

[Wow, whoever is chasing after this Pokemon sounds awfully distressed! And clumsy, if the footfalls coming from behind are any indicator. But hey, it's dark and cold, and there's still some snow on the ground from Friday, you can't expect things to go smoothly in those conditions. The Pokemon skids, spins, briefly tosses the 'gear into the air and catches it with the distinct mewl of a Skitty before facing down its pursuer - a solidly-built young man with hair and eyes vividly red even in the dark.]

Come along now, that woman said you'd just been born. Surely you'd rather not spend the night in the cold all alone? [He crouches, slowly stretching out his hand.] If you'd just - if you could give me back the device, we can return to town and see if someone won't put us up until the morning. Then we can get a fresh start when it's bright and early-

[The noise he makes when the Skitty turns and runs off is nothing less than pathetic, and there's a good few minutes of shakycam chase before one of the Skitty's teeth manages to hit the switch to turn it off. Geez, hopefully by the time this guy can respond to anyone laughing at his misfortune, he's not stuck in a snowdrift or something else stupid and comedic...]

Comments

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[songofthedawn]

[Oh no. Oh no, their first reaction shouldn't be to laugh but it is nd they feel a little bit horrible for it. Thankfully that's all before they make a response, since their second reaction is...a fair bit of anxiety, honestly!]

Are you alright? Goodness, I do hope you manage to catch up before it gets too cold...

[If he doesn't recognize them this is going to be so fucking awkward, they may actually just perish on the spot. Should they offer to double back? But they don't want to imply he can't handle himself, shit shit shit--]

[Video]

[gachatia]

[See, the response comes late because have you every chased down a tiny cat determined on avoiding you and stealing your fancy wrist tomestone in the snow, in the dark? It's not fun. But the response that does come?

Well, G'raha has clearly slipped in the mud on the route at some point, he's a mess, but that doesn't make his eyes any less wide or bright.]

Wh...G'rhyf? Is that really you?

[It - it sounds like them, looks mostly like them save for certain changes he too has been subjected to, but he could be wrong, I mean, what are the odds that they would both be sent to the same very strange world around a similar time?]

[songofthedawn]

[The relief of hearing their name sweeps the tight anxiety that had been building away in a flash, and they're laughing weakly as they turn their side of the feed back on.]

It is! I arrived here barely a week ago, along with a few others. It's...a bit complicated, but Estinien is here, along with Hythlodaeus and Hermes. And Emet-Selch, though I've yet to speak with him.

You aren't hurt, are you? It's hard to tell past all the-- [They just. Make a gesture in the facial direction.]

[gachatia]

[Wh

That's

Well I mean Estinien, that's interesting, but not impossible. But uh, some of those names are...from what he's heard tell, kind of...not super possible?

Just give him a minute as a puzzled expression sets in for a beat, breaking only at mention of the absolute mess he's gotten himself into.]

Oh! I'm - I'm fine, thank you, I just...hold on, he's right here...

[G'raha turns, scoops something up, and. Oh, oh that Skitty. It looks like G'raha's cleaned him off as best he could, but also still kept him wrapped up in a towel? That lil guy is still muddy in spots but oh gods, did he try.]

There was some...difficulty, catching up to this one.

[songofthedawn]

[Sorry, Raha, there's just no easy way to mention that death and time don't matter for shit around here. After about a day they just shifted into Hildibrand-mode and accepted that logic is out the window.]

[And oh no that poor little Skitty! G'rhyf quickly covers a worried-amused grin behind their hand.] It certainly looks like it! The little one I was given hasn't caused nearly so much trouble. Are you back in town, or heading that way?

[Please don't say you're going to stay out in the cold half-covered in mud...]

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[amaure]

[As if he didn't have enough on his hands already...but ever is this his lot, eh?

He woke up just this morning to a slew of more problems, when he should have been sleeping until the lifestream washed him and Hythlodaeus away, recycling their souls into the new lives they would live, ignorant to the burdens they were saddled with in their previous. But, no. No, of course not, why would it ever be so simple!

And now he has to see that none other than the Exarch is here, or rather, the man that has come to be from the combination of the crystalized memories of the Exarch and the self that would have otherwise became him. At least what he sees is rather humorous, not that it lessens the load on his mind much. Either way, he cannot play his hand so easily, and so—]

That you would undo the Eighth Umbral Calamity, yet fall at the paws of this diminutive cat...ah, the irony.

[The face that G'raha sees isn't that of the Ancient he had seen in Ultima Thule, but that of the Ascian who plagued his tower on the First. Yet, those eyes of his certainly do no match those of Solus zos Galvus, more intense than any mere mortals, that's for certain.]

[Video]

[gachatia]

[...

Okay, fucking. He did not expect to actually get a message from one Emet-Selch, even after the fact that he's here at all is something he's already been made aware of. He still had not expected to see the man ever again after what had happened in Ultima Thule, an act of providence that it was. There's a lot that's going on in that head of G'raha's, turning over all the memories of his old-new soul and bobbing within the turbulent waves of emotions they bring his way.

So a response is a bit of a while in coming, even after he's gotten his 'gear back. At least this time he's back in New Bark Town, having wiped most of the mud from his person, but he's still got that Skitty under one arm wrapped in a towel, the tiny creature so very self-satisfied.]

...You look well, Emet-Selch.

[Video]

[amaure]

[...Is this how this is going to go? Faking niceties for the sake of peace? Please.]

Oh, spare me. Is that all you've to say to me? 'Tis clear your lack of direct animosity means you are likely abreast of the current affairs of our world, but that you would feign friendliness towards me is a touch far, do you not agree?

[For all they were more or less on the same side, with the star and its people's survival being their shared goal, he is not going to pretend that such an alliance would mend the rift betwixt them. He was still Exarch's villain, he was still the Warrior's adversary—even if that was merely a role he had to play to ensure the future of their beautiful star.]

[Video]

[gachatia]

[Hey, he's not lying about what he's saying...he's just obviously uncomfortable and unsure of what to say! Emet should be able to pick up on the various body language bits that G'raha is radiating, almost unconsciously. No wonder he hid under a hood on the First. How much more would he be able to amplify his emotions if this world had left him a proper Miqo'te?]

Ah. Well...'tis rude to begin a conversation with, "how in the seven hells are you alive again", is it not? Your departure was, after all, rather definitive.

[Video]

[amaure]

Indeed it was, wasn't it? This world seems to work in rather mysterious ways, I'm afraid. No respect for the dead, nor the living, thus we are forced to intermingle.

[Truly it's only with those ears and a tail that his body language would be more telling than it already is. It's interesting, to be sure, but Emet-Selch also is pretty used to the Exarch being discomforted with his presence, so it's really not too terribly odd. What is though is the friendliness, or caring one bit about whether or not he's being rude.]

So tell me: which departure are you referring to specifically? Your lack of commentary on mine appearance—beyond your empty compliment—gives me reason to believe you might be from a different time than myself.

[After all, he certainly did not look like Solus zos Galvus when last he saw the Warrior of Light and their little entourage.]

[stardiving]

Oh. It's you.

[Well that's unfortunate, seeing as how their rag tag traveling group has moved on at a pretty decent pace. If he was still allowed to fly by whatever...bizarre logic this place has, that really wouldn't be an issue, but he isn't. He doesn't have Ratatoskr or Temple at hand anyway.]

Have you appropriate clothes for traveling in this weather?

[He's completely unfazed by Skitty antics and not mentioning them and going straight to being a Practical Friend. Not a mom friend, never.]

why don't I have an icon of him doing the eyes at Estinien this is a crime

[gachatia]

[Oh! Oh it's Estinien!]

I believe there is another set of clothes in the pack I was given, but they didn't seem terribly suited to the cold, no. But do not worry on my account! I have weathered worse.

[This idiot is going to catch a cold by the time he's in Cherrygrove]

he is thankful you don't tbh

[stardiving]

Dying in this place is not possible, though losing toes to frostbite might be.

[Bluntly. That's. Nice of you to say, Estinien? Helpful? It's probably not that helpful.]

Layer as much as you can. Try to wrap your head. Use your bedroll as a cloak if you must, it will be more useful that way than trying to sleep on the snow.

[Seriously whatever force decides what goes in their packs has never actually tried surviving in the wilderness and it shows.]

I mean if I was gonna use it, it'd be for a gagtag

[gachatia]

A-Ah...well, you have a point. Though I hadn't considered actually sleeping in the snow, unless there truly are no bare stretches of ground. Still, I will take your words to heart.

[Makes mental note to layer up so he looks like a dweeb when you finally see him again...]

hehe. don't mind him he's just a grumpy gus.

[stardiving]

Even if the ground is bare, it's like to be wet. They ought to include a tarpaulin at the very least.

[Better a dweeb than half blue with cold. He doesn't know that was a normal look for you for a while.]

video. @wild.flower

[hasitsthorns]

[ She shouldn't find this as funny as she does. Shouldn't, but- Rose can be known for taking a bit of enjoyment in the distress of others now and again. ]

Looks like you got a troublemaker on your hands, dude.

[gachatia]

[Her reaction is fair and valid, his life can be a comedy of errors sometimes. He's still a bit muddy but he's got that Skitty wrapped up in a towel and tucked into the front of his shirt, its head popping out right under his chin. It looks so cozy and self-satisfied.]

It certainly seems so! Just my luck, eh?

[hasitsthorns]

Unfortunately! I do love how much personality these little things got though.

[ As if on cue, a Snom crawls its way over the back of Rose's shoulder as she speaks. It peers curiously at the device. There's a flutter of wings from a Pidgey that ends up perching itself atop her head of blond hair. She looks up and huffs ] Ow, Flipflap, we talked about this-

[ A glance back at the camera. ]

And I'm no stranger to troublemakers, as you can see.

[gachatia]

Ah, I do see. [He gives this young woman an apologetic smile - on behalf of her troublemakers, who don't seem like they'd apologize at all.] Still, I'd like to think it means they're fond of us, even when we've only known each other a short time.

[hasitsthorns]

[ They would not. Well, okay. Maybe Gudetama the Togepi. And Little Guy, the Snom. Flipflap though? Never. He'd probably fight her before apologizing, which- Like owner, like pet. Isn't that what they usually said? ]

Yeah, Little Guy is super attached to me. And even Flipflap doesn't go far. [ To prove the point, the bird Pokemon coos before nestling down atop her head to proudly perch. Sigh. This is just her life now, she guesses. ]

Video

[zodiheart]

[The video displays Elidibus reclining against a rather oversized shiny Alolan Ninetails, the creature curled around him and napping. He smiles, nodding in greeting.]

It appears that more and more still of our world have been brought to this place. Would that I understood the reasoning for each choice, but perhaps attempting to chase that logic would be folly.

[He fondly strokes the Ninetales's head.]

They are unruly at times, especially at first. But do show them loyalty, kindness, and strength - they will return it with fervor.

[Video]

[gachatia]

[It...it takes him a hot minute off-screen to realize where he knows that voice from, and then it takes him fifteen minutes to sort of. Calm down? Because how the fuck are Emet-Selch and Elidibus here, at the same time, alive? So, uh, there's a delay in the response, but like. He isn't not going to respond?]

They are much like any being, in that respect.

[He's quiet for a beat.]

You seem to be well, Elidibus.

Re: [Video]

[zodiheart]

[The smile the blooms in response is relaxed, at peace.]

I am. It was an adjustment, awakening here directly after my own death.

[A considering pause.]

That is not an assault upon you, or of the Hero whom performed the deed. It merely is, and I am better for the memories which have returned to me. The peace here, too, is calming.

There is naught to be done about comings and goings - there seems to be no method of telling when or why such things occur.

[Video]

[gachatia]

[He's a touch nervous, in truth. Elidibus had put quite a few things into motion on the First, pushing G'raha to make gambles that he knew would hurt others should they fail. It worked out in the end, yes, but what mortal hasn't stared down the possibility of death and found themselves afraid, deep in their bones? He would do what he must, as he'd always done, but he would not delude himself.

He's nervous, but Elidibus is not actively trying to bring about a second Flood of Light here. He's...just kind of vibing with his large fox friend. And so, G'raha will take him at his word.]

None would blame you should your heart hold misgivings - myself least of all. But...but it is good to hear. That you have found some measure of peace, I mean.

[There's just. Endwalker sure was a lot, Elidibus.]

Re: [Video]

[zodiheart]

You had your duty to drive you, as did I. That they were at odds was no fault of the individual.

[It sure was, G'raha, and Elidibus knows exactly nothing about it. Yet. G'rhyf is working on telling him though.

The Ninetails curls tighter to him as it rests. And he smiles again, holding forgiveness.]

There are those I had loved and lost here, and their return is all I could ask. Even should this place be a temporary reprieve, and not our Star besides, it is one I have learned to enjoy.

[He chuckles.] What we do here does not effect our home, so one could take it to be the respite it truly is, yes? The world would turn without me should I return, regardless.