victory_road | [02] ACTION / VIDEO - VIOLET CITY

Entry tags:

[02] ACTION / VIDEO - VIOLET CITY - prompts within

Who: Marian Hawke, Anders, and YOU!

Where: Violet City, Route 31, Route 32, Ruins of Alph

When: Oct 13 - ???

Summary: Catch-all for the dream team in and around Violet while Anders gets a damn job to pay for those cat pictures he wasted all his money on.

Rating: PG-13 between Hawke’s innuendos and Anders’ issues

Log:

Hawke and Anders arrive in Violet the evening of Oct 13 and get a room at the local inn for an indeterminate amount of time.

Starting Friday, Anders will be working at the Pokemon Center for around 6-8 hours daily, exact schedule varying. At other times, he can be found pretty much anywhere in the city or just outside on the Routes.

Hawke’s full-time job is training up her Pokemon, and she can be found training during the day on Routes 31 or 32, or in the Ruins of Alph.

Either or both of them can be found at the local bar in the evening.

More specific prompts in the comments! New ones may be posted as time goes on; feel free to make your own addressing one or both of these losers. Actionspam or log starters are fine.

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I...Uh, I don't know actually? I know if you fly, it's actually pretty fast. Way faster than walking. I'm not sure about teleportation though. But...that'd be cool. And I mean, you look a hell of a lot more capable than me at defending anything. I barely weigh a hundred pounds, so you can guess why after being cut off from any sort of magic I'd be a little tense about a giant squid that is practically my same height and weight.

[In any case how useless he'd be or not, the offer makes him happy. Even if it does or doesn't happen.] What kind of magic did you use? I only really knew my teacher who could do it. No one else.

I'm sorely lacking in the wing department, unfortunately. [What does he look like to this guy, a dragon?]

You'd be surprised what you can do when your life depends on it.

[He's very interested to hear more about Hanna's involvement with magic, though.] I used any sort I practiced in, really. It's fairly uncommon in my world, though not rare by any means.

Most people would rather mages didn't exist at all, however.

If Amelia was bigger and knew fly I'd be totally covered myself, but. I think we've got a little way's to go before that happens.

And...I suppose? I just usually have magic to help me along when my life depends on it. [Usually his life is actually dependent on magic, which is told by the scar tissue on his chest that isn't an open fucking wound any more, but he doesn't need to go there.]

That's cool though, like...mine isn't the usual sort of magic. No wiggle your fingers and shit, but it was all runes and diagrams. A little less easy in practice and a pain if you were in a huge ass hurry but better than nothing.

[The idea of people completely disliking magic makes him frown though. That fucking sucks.] Well that's rude...like, the fuck did they do to them? I figure there's shit in every group, like no one is perfect, but it's like 'not all mages', you know?

[Anders... can't really imagine only being able to use magic through runes. He probably would've been dead a hundred times over if not for a well-timed fireball. It sounds like a nightmare.

Almost as bad as being here, without any magic.]

It sounds like it. I can't even begin to express how uncomfortable I am here, much as I try not to think about it.

As far as the common people are concerned, any and every mage is a demonic possession waiting to happen. Even though those of us they hunt down and lock up for life are subjected to a rite that proves we can resist temptation.

[Hanna doesn't possess any sort of healing magic either. The closest he'd had was sort of drug-like mind altering runes that were mostly used for recreational purposes and paying his doctor. They did help with pain, but by no means did they fix the problem.]

You've got your pokemon to protect you though...that's kind of my saving grace, though it makes me feel guilty. They're so much smaller than I am, and that's like. Hard to do. I'm a small dude. But Amelia does it happily, and I suppose...I should let her. But that doesn't really help?

[at his talk of LOCKING UP mages and shit though, his expression turns more sour, unsure what to say.] What the fuck? I'm sorry but that's like- no. That's fucked up shit.

I understand. I can't help but feel utterly useless with my usual defenses gone, and my tiny pink cat fighting my battles for me. Even if she volunteers herself for the job. [Pinsy may seem lazy, but really, she just doesn't waste her energy on things that aren't worth it. Beating the shit out of things is worth it.

A wry smile spreads across Anders' lips .] You're preaching to the converted, as it were.

Like if I really needed to I could punch a guy in the face, but after the element of surprise is gone, I've got nothing. Maybe they sell mace at the pokemart...

[If anything that would at least make him feel more safe, even if this is supposed to be a nice, happy kid-friendly world.] I honestly don't even know what to say about that other than I am sorry. God. Like, if I could? I'd offer you a free pass to my world. Much less magic but, no specifically oppressive shit against mages.

[Sure Earth wasn't perfect, there was a lot of shit going on, but magic wasn't a cause for rally at the very least.]

What is mace, exactly?

[He may be a bit flattered at the offer, but still only shows a sardonic grin.] I appreciate it, though it isn't necessary. As much disdain as I have for ignorant people, and as much desire for freedom, my magic is as much a part of me as my flesh, and I would never give it up willingly. [Even if it was similar in another world, it wouldn't be the same.]

I'm sorry if I come off as... grouchy. I hadn't intended to get so into this.

Oh. Uh, it's a compressed gas? Liquid? I'm not sure. You spray it at someones eyes and it causes them to burn. Self defense stuff. It's got a lock and stuff on it so it doesn't accidentally get set off. Kind of only use in a serious situation sort of thing? But I mean, it works. So.

[Just getting done explaining pepper spray, Hanna was about to say something else when Anders apologizes. His mouth makes a flat line, eyebrow raising.] You're apologizing to me. For being upset about being persecuted.

That is the most ass-backwards thing I have ever heard. Like, get angry about it. I don't blame you. That's shitty. I'm not judging you cause you're upset. Continue to be. So many shitty things have happened in my world as well. whole groups of people just, killed because of a label or definition. Like, that's fucked up shit. I don't think you ever have to apologize for being 'grouchy'. At least not to me.

Is it fire? [It sounds like fire. It burns, right?] Why does it only burn eyes? That seems... Well, I don't want to say "harsh," necessarily, considering I've burned my fair share of entire faces, but...

[An expression of confusion and something akin to guilt forms on his face. He isn't used to people taking his criticisms seriously, whether or not they themselves are magic users in some form or another. But Hanna's words are true, awfully similar to things he's said, even.] It's just that... Well, getting angry about it never did me any good. It harmed more in the end, really. [His eyes shift down for a moment before he takes a breath and looks back up.] Thank you for caring. I'm sorry your home has seen the same.

Well its a chemical. When it hits the eyes it causes them to burn. Like i said thats only used for serious situations, but its a security to have. Lots of people use it against wild animals like bears and shit.

But...in any case, like i dont know your situation just...i suppose even if that anger didn't do you any good maybe try and turn it into something positive? [He swallows, thinking about his own life, his experiences.] Can i get real with you for a second, like. Real talk?

Ah. It does sound useful for someone without other defenses. [Bears, though? That's pretty impressive, still.]

That's what I hope to do while I am here, at least. I doubt I can fix things back home, but... there are things to be done here and now.

[He blinks.] Ah... Yes, all right. "Real talk."

Real talk. [Hanna might be a huge dork but he's seen some shit himself.] I'm just gonna preface this with like, no need for sympathy. Take what you will out of it, but i dont really need it.

Anyways, when i was sixteen my parents died. And thats hard enough until they come back as ghosts, yanno, like. They got one track minds. They're kind of bound to the world with emotion and it gets twisted in all that confusion. But they didn't want to leave me behind, like parents do. So they attempted to take me with them.

[If it was still an open wound he wouldn't have considered, but Hanna pulls at his shirt, the collar now low enough to show the start of a nasty scar.] Magic helped me there. I practically reanimated myself, and had to use quite a bit to keep me alive. If i wasnt here I'd still be using it to keep my heart beating. But the point is...with all that shit, those years you gotta take that anger, that unfairness and you have to turn it into kindness. I was angry for a while. I lost friends. I was mad that something like that could happen to me. But then i thought if it wasnt me, then who else?

You do what you can for people on borrowed time...and anyone can do that. To protect people from the shit thats out there, the stuff they cant imagine. And it helps with all that anger. I promise... i was so mad. And maybe it wont work for you, but no matter who it is, what it is...if they're hurting im sure they'd benefit from a bit of kindness and thats what you can turn your anger into. And...maybe you can heal that hurt inside you too, while you do it.

[Hanna runs his hand through his hair, sighing. Its not often he gets to give advice, but if it's one thing he knows, its that holding onto anger only hurts you more.] So...be mad, let it out and then change that and maybe it'll heal you while you try and help everyone around you.

[He laughs, shaking his head, trying to break up the atmosphere he created.] A-anyways...thats my speal, hopefully it can help you. It sure as hell helped me these past eight years.

[Anders listens intently, keeping in mind how Hanna said magic worked in his world. Of course he feels sympathy in spite of the reassurance that it's unnecessary, but really, when it comes down to it...

He takes a moment to compose his thoughts, doing his best not to worry Hanna too much with a longer silence.]

I understand, more than you may think. [The older man isn't ready to bore or depress Hanna with his miserable life story, seeing as he's complained more than enough about things he can't change, as usual. But he may find the right words to explain himself yet.]

I was angry for most of my life because of that persecution, and it made me selfish. Mind you, I like to brag about tossing around fireballs and lightning bolts, but my true "calling," if you will, was healing. Though it was still rather self-serving in its own way. I never would have used my skills to help others selflessly if not for the... influence of a close friend.

[He quiets again for a moment, already dragging on, but further words catch in his throat, and his chest throbs with the emptiness that has become typical here when he dwells on it.]

Needless to say, that friend did not accompany me to this place. And I am not the same man without him, nor am I the man I was before I met him. Even with his help in directing my energies into a positive channel, I still hurt him greatly with my anger, worse than anyone else ever could have. [There's a point in here somewhere, he swears; he's just trying to find it.]

I don't know how to let it go, I suppose, even after all this time spent trying to be a good man. I know it only hurts those around me, and I want to change, but... I feel lost.

[Hanna isnt sure what he makes of Anders friend, of him hurting people he knows quite a bit but he can tell its different. Here wherr there was so much positivity, so much love everywhere. A world made for babies as someone else had so eloquently put it, maybe it was pure enough to get rid of that and help a lost soul.

Well i figure maybe thats why you're here in the first place. This world is a journey so...why not rediscover yourself? Find new ways to change all that negstive energy. You werent who you were before so find out who you are now.

It'd be like a fresh start...

I came to a conclusion like that at some point... [It isn't so simple as losing a friend, and he could never explain it well enough.] Though I feel either that I don't deserve a second chance, or that being here could be punishment in some way. There is so much that I lost, things I felt to be integral parts of me.

I have no idea where to start.

Well, i hate to tell you this, but even a punishment is a second chance and you've got one even if you dont think you deserve it.

I might not be able to fix those holes left but maybe your pokemon can? They're all kind of like therapy animals. Love them enough and maybe that'll take its place.

You can't give up till you've actually tried or you'll never start.

[Anders doesn't know if Pokemon will help him, not really, given that he's been trying to do the right thing and help the injured ones at the Pokemon Center, but he can't deny all of Hanna's words.]

You're right.

I admit I was inclined towards giving up when I first arrived, but... There are things I should tend to here, wounds to mend, and not just my own.

Thank you, Hanna. Your words mean more to me than I can say.

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[02] ACTION / VIDEO - VIOLET CITY - prompts within

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