Open log!

[lightningbearer]

Who: Sion/Shrike/Geddoe and YOU
Where: Hisui!
When: Throughout the event
Summary: Catch-all for assorted event threads
Rating: PG (probably)
Log:
Sion
I. New Arrivals

To say that Sion in any way expected to find himself somehow transported to the past (of another region, to boot!) would be a lie. However, he's been in Johto long enough now that very little succeeds in surprising him, and he'd always been fairly adaptable to begin with. Which is why in short order he's already acquired a new outfit and is approaching anyone who looks a little lost... Or a little upset. "Is anything the matter?"

II. Around Camp

Are you sitting around camp with nothing to do and looking bored? Are you staring at the quest board wondering what you should do next? Fear not! Sion will gladly step in to help you out. "If you're looking for something to do, I'd recommend..." Well, whatever seems most prudent or in need of doing at the moment, really. Something something you can take the gym leader out of his gym...

III. Gathering Missions/Exploring

Of course, Sion's not spending all his time hanging around the base camp. There's those supplies to be gathered, after all, and who wouldn't want to go out exploring a bit? So, you may happen to run into him and his Hisuian Sneasel either setting out from camp, or out and about beyond it. If so, he'll certainly stop to chat and trade information as to what he's found so far. Or, perhaps, suggest teaming up, if it looks like there's particularly high-level wild Pokémon in the area.

Shrike
I. Not the hood!

Broadly speaking, Shrike isn't very particular about his clothes. He'll just take what he can get without complaint. On the other hand, he still treasures being able to have nice clothes (or, what he considers nice)... and more importantly, still steadfastly refuses to go out in public without a hood that obscures much of his face. Which might explain why he's currently clutching a very definitely worse for the wear hooded cloak around his head while looking at the outfits offer by the Ginkgo Guild. "Isn't there something with a hood...?" He frankly sounds more concerned or upset about that than anything else at the moment, really.

II. Hanging Around

For better or worse, Shrike is still very shy around people, and being thrust into yet another strange land isn't helping matters. So, while he's definitely doing what he can to pitch in and help, he's also... Well, keeping to himself as much as possible. Except when someone approaches him (or he runs into them) anyway, in which case there's an awkward "um, hi?"

Geddoe

I. New Friends

While not, perhaps, as deeply attached to his Pokémon partners as many, Geddoe still found it more than a little annoying to suddenly be without them in a place that still required them. All that time and effort, only to be handed the ball of some brand new, unfamiliar 'mon. Not that he had any intention of turning the offer down, of course, he's still pragmatic about these things, and once he's stepped aside to let everyone else in need of a new partner have some room, he promptly checks to see what he's got to work with. Cue a tiny bundle of yellow and black, crackling with barely-contained electricity, appearing with an inquisitive pichu? on the grass before him. "..." Geddoe has no words for this, but the look on his face pretty clearly and eloquently says you have GOT to be kidding me...

II. Out and About

Regardless of what Geddoe may think about this world's apparent sense of humor when it relates to him, he is perfectly willing to help out. In fact, being a mercenary, picking up tasks for a payout is exactly up his alley, so you can regularly find him checking out the board for any new and interesting (or lucrative) postings. That said, he's not big on the socializing thing, either, so you're just as likely to spot him off away from camp, taking advantage of missions that require him to go further afield if he can. His new partner, probably to te surprise of no one who's come to know him in Johto, can often be spotted riding on his shoulder, or sometimes even his head, a fact which Geddoe seems to just stoically endure. Care to approach the grouchy old man?

III. Matters of Importance

Still, there's one thing the camp is lacking, as far as Geddoe's aware. And given that the locals apparently don't want the newcomers traipsing about the nearby village, that severely limits one's options. So, he'll just have to ask around, instead, meaning early on you might find yourself approached by the stoic mercenary (with an electric mouse on his shoulder) and asked a simple question: "Know anywhere to get a drink around here?"

OOC note: This is a catch-all for all three of mine! I may add prompts or top levels as needed as the event progresses. Feel free to tag using an existing prompt (make sure to specify which character you're tagging!) or wildcard me. I can also be reached for plotting via PM or Discord (AC#7235).

Comments

[dreamsofahero]

"I cannot speak for the Lonesome Demon," though Ryner possibly could, "but the Mad Hero's intent and goal is to slay the goddesses. I doubt it has occurred to him to wish to do anything else, besides whatever it takes to achieve that goal."

Sion might be selling the fallen god a bit short; some of his prior mortal incarnations had certainly seen his will waver on that point, otherwise the world would have ended long ago. But Sion isn't exactly inclined to give him any more credit or benefit of the doubt than strictly necessary.

And while Sion certainly has a few thoughts of his own about death and the release it grants, that last question is unexpected enough to take him by surprise.

"I... do not know." The idea has never occurred to him, and what's more, now that it's been suggested, he's not sure he likes that idea. Ancestors he never knew are one thing, but even if his father...

No, he probably shouldn't think about that right now.

"However... If you had done countless terrible things, whether in your right mind or not, that ended only with your death--or perhaps that only death could begin to absolve you of them--would you truly be happy to be given both life and clarity of mind again?"

It's possible some of that may be somewhat less hypothetical musings. There's a reason Sion struggles with living in such a pleasant, peaceful world, after all.

[paladinlost]

"Ah, a proactive would-be god-slayer. They always have very... intense personalities."

It's not that Cecil has an issue will killing gods by itself. He's not that much of a hypocrite. But he's also spent months stuck in a world with plenty of people who shared that goal, and frankly having something in common with Kefka is no endorsement.

Goodness, he truly hopes Arceus knows better than to ever bring someone like Kefka over here, even if it someday decides to summon the dead vessels of a mad god.

"Happy? No, certainly not. But I'd certainly not feel absolved in the first place, if I'd simply died without attempting to make amends. Thus, I'd appreciate the opportunity to help others, even if I could only offer a single drop of kindness against the ocean of pain I'd caused."

No matter how much of a relief it is, death is no absolution. That much he's certain of. It may end a threat, become a necessity, but it does not bring back the dead, nor does it rebuild what has been destroyed. Allowing the people of Mysidia to kill wouldn't have helped them.

Playing along with Golbez's suicidal wish wouldn't have helped him, either.

[dreamsofahero]

"Well, I suppose this place acting as some manner of--" what was that word again? Something he'd heard of in his time here, since he'd never paid much mind to such concepts in his own world... "--purgatory, that would be understandable.

"But being brought back from the dead, or even being kept alive longer than one should... It may not be particularly desirable for the one experiencing it."

It's very possible Sion is no longer speaking strictly hypothetically here.

[paladinlost]

"Many cherish the additional time they've been given. Others would rather move on properly as soon as possible. Whether or not they were aware that such a thing is possible and if they remembered their deaths the whole time also influences their reaction."

Cecil is most certainly not speaking hypothetically.

"The reason why people are brought back also matters, of course. Some may feel that raising adorable creatures is not a cause worth living again for."

[dreamsofahero]

Sion doesn't have an immediate response for that. Partly just due to, well, not being good at talking about these things, for all he's been trying lately for Ryner's sake. Then again... it does occur to Sion that the older members of his team, the ones he wouldn't want to unduly worry, aren't actually here right now.

So, what better opportunity to speak freely?

"And some might feel that they've done nothing to deserve living in such a peaceful land."

Where by 'some' he means 'himself'.

"To say nothing of having to endure far longer than one ever expected to."

He's tired of all this, of keeping up the pleasant facade, of all the endless trying. It just also isn't in his nature to simply give up, for better or worse.

[paladinlost]

"This world does not give a damn about our feelings, be they positive or negative. Nor does it care about what we deserve."

Cecil has seen thoroughly unpleasant people thrive for years on end, while dead children lost their second chance far too quickly. He's been here, far from home, for nearly twelve years. Feelings and worth don't matter, he knows that all too well.

Not that these thoughts help much, even in their current situation.

"...It can be difficult to keep going after so long, I know, and forcing people to do so is truly unfair. But the other options are far worse."

[dreamsofahero]

"Are they?"

Sion can't help fixing Cecil with an intense stare. His expression is deadly calm, but the pain in his own eyes not nearly as deeply buried as he usually keeps it.

"Doubtless it's different for others, but I could do without all this waiting. The longer I'm here, the longer it will be before I can finally finish matters once and for all in Roland. Until then, I can do nothing but wait, and endure."

And continue to live, if that wasn't implied heavily enough. He'd already long given up living for himself long before he first set foot in Johto, instead settling for enduring until he could achieve his goals or die trying.

"... I simply wish to be done."