victory_road | [Closed Log]

Entry tags:

[Closed Log]

Who: Shrike, Sandalphon, Dimitri, and Ryner
Where: Resort Gorgeous
When: Last week of August
Summary: Jirachi gave Shrike some very nice resort vouchers to share with his friends!
Rating: G, probably?
Log:

The whole wishing thing had been a neat idea, but Shrike hadn't expected anything to come of it, and definitely not what actually did. Still, he's not the type to waste a gift, so after some coordination (probably not without a bit of help) here he is, and here are Sandalphon, Dimitri, and Ryner.

The only person who knows everyone else well is, well, Shrike. Hopefully this won't be too awkward?

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At least Shrike is able to offer up something, honestly. Dimitri has to say that's pretty good, all things considering. Especially with how withdrawn that Shrike is.

"Well, if someone such as Ryner says it, then I am inclined to believe it," Dimitri says, before beaming. "I never quite took to magics, you know! That you could do it at all is very incredible in my eyes."

It helps that Shrike not only helped give suggestions to take on a powerful Alpha Pokémon while they were all stuck in Hisui, but people actually listened to them. And it worked. So he has to admit he has some knowhow, at least.

"Really? It's just following the instructions right though?"

He doesn't have any clue how difficult that kind of fine precision can focus can be for people, clearly. Let alone the fact that improvising spells as he's done is a whole other level entirely...

What a wonderfully simple view of things, and yet perfect for someone so good at it. Dimitri shakes his head, although he's still smiling.

"There are a great many things which could be described as just following instructions, and yet life is not as often simple as that. For example..." Dimitri curls his fingers thoughtfully at his chin. "If I only gave you the instructions on how to wield a lance, or do complicated maneuvers with them... Do you think you would be able to do that?"

"Um, I don't know. Isn't that a weapon?"

He's never tried, and given his aversion to violence he isn't especially inclined to.

A nod of his head. "Yes - a lance is a type of polearm, meaning it is a blade of some sort on the end of a long stick.

"Excellent for cavalry riders... Or those wanting to force riders off their mounts."

Don't mind him, he just... knows so much about combat.

Had Shrike been brought to Johto just a few scant weeks earlier, many of those terms would probably go right over his head. As it is, however, he has at least some vague idea.

"I see..."

Not that it really helps much, considering his (lack of) enthusiasm for the subject.

Well... Let it be said that Dimitri can't recognize when the conversation at hand just isn't hitting the right notes. That's fine; he can always talk with Felix when he wants someone who is as enthusiastic about weaponry as he is.

For now, that merely lends to his point, he thinks. "So, even though I have described what a polearm is to you, and the kind of posture one would take... There is no guarantee that you would be able to follow such instructions correctly, yes?"

"Um, I don't really want to use a weapon though..."

It's very possible that he's entirely missing the point of all this.

Shrike.... Shrike no.

"I was only using it as an example," Dimitri explains. "Since polearms are what I am familiar with."

"Oh."

He sounds like he still doesn't fully Get It.

Luckily, though, before this can get anymore awkward, is that Scurrier scrambling back over the rocks towards them...?

Well.... They can always try again. For now, even as Dimitri is trying to figure out a way to explain it...

"Ah! Your companion has returned."

Sometimes, for all Shrike's intelligence and actual age, the combination of his... lack of upbringing and the physical state of his body really works against him. It's a lot harder to develop perspective when your brain still technically is developmentally no more than twelve years old!

In any case though, Shrike promptly turns his attention to the Golisopod.

"Did you find anything?"

There's an excited chittering, which means probably yes.

"Can you show us?"

More chittering, and then Scurrier is off again! But this time he pauses so that the slow humans can follow before scurrying onward once more.

It's a good thing that Dimitri has long legs and never gives up on leg day. It's a simple enough thing for him to start following after Scurrier.

He also never gives up on conversations, and he speaks over to Shrike once more.

"What I meant to say, in the end... Is that while it may seem simple to you, to follow directions, that in itself is a skill, and one you should not take for granted, Shrike."

Shrike's legs are considerably shorter, but he's also very used to traversing mountainous terrain, making scrambling over boulders or whatnot a breeze.

"Oh..."

He's not really sure what to say to that. Or even what to think of it. He's never felt like he has any particular special skill. Generally the opposite, really, with an exception for his unnatural strength. But that's also been a problem as often as a boon.

"But... Other people do everything so easily?"

Like, you know, normal things. Like reading and writing. And stuff like that.

"Not everything," Dimitri corrects. "And they were given advantages in what they do seem to accomplish so easily. For example, many of the people in Johto send their children to schools where they are taught how to read and do math from a very young age. That was not common for an entire populace back in my own homeland."

If a commoner was fortunate, there would be a church where they could learn the basics, and not get in the way of their family... and even then, they might not learn even all of those, depending on how many hands the family needed on the farm, or in the smithy, or anything else.

"And sometimes, people find different talents from one another. I was always more talented with a lance rather than with magic, myself."

Well, it's true that some people get access to tutors or other such fancy things, but... Shrike fidgets a bit. It's hard not to see all the ways in which he doesn't compare to others.

"I just learned magecraft from doing what my book said to do, though."

He's really having a hard time understanding what's so special about that. It's a book made for people who aren't exactly skilled to begin with, after all. Simple, basic spells, with a few slightly more 'advanced' ones thrown in for those who like a challenge.

"And you have demonstrated an excellent understanding of what those books sought to teach you," Dimitri insists. "I would not understand it half as well, I can promise you that, even though I had access to tutors who surely were knowledgeable in the subject themselves. And if you already possess a fine base for further magic... Think of all else that you could do!"

"... Um."

Is Shrike a bit speechless at that? He might be. He's still very much not used to praise or compliments, after all.

Yes, Dimitri is becoming quite aware of that.

Well, all the more reason to give him compliments when he's earned it - which is more than Shrike likely thinks, if Dimitri had to guess. Regardless... "Perhaps it would be worth it, even if it cannot work in this place, to talk with others about such things," he suggests. "But for now... It seems that your companion really has found a more secluded place, hasn't he?"

"About magecraft...?"

He's not entirely sure what Dimitri means by that suggestion, but definitely finds talking about his Pokémon a much easier topic.

"Yeah! He was really good at finding hiding places when he was smaller." Maybe a little too good, sometimes. Though speaking of, the Golisopod in question is waiting for them just on the next ridge, beyond which... is indeed a very nice, secluded little alcove, complete with a small sandy beach.

"Indeed... He seems like a fine match for you, with how clever you both are."

And Dimitri feels this is extremely true once they ascend past the next ridge, and he smiles brightly. "What a magnificent little area! So there are still untouched things even here in a place so visited." Or, at least, it is rarely touched, and thus it is unlikely they will be bothered.

"And a fine place to play our games, as well. Has there ever been a game you were interested in playing, Shrike?"

Is that Shrike looking awkward and maybe a little bashful at the compliment? It might be.

Luckily, there's soon a distraction. Even if that's another hard question to answer.

"Oh, umm..." Boy that's a harder question than it ought to be. It's just been so long since Shrike really even let himself think about something like that. "I guess just something that I wouldn't break things?"

Or people. It's not just others ostracizing him that's contributed to Shrike's reclusiveness, that whole unnatural strength thing was just as traumatizing to him as anyone else when something went wrong.

Oh boy, does Dimitri understand that struggle more than well enough. But then, that's exactly why he perks up with a bright smile.

"Then you have no need to worry about that! This place locks away such feats of strength. So if there was ever a game that you wish you could have played, but were unable to.. We can do that here! Truth be told, that is something I am also excited to do as well."

Learning that they had that common ground during the last weird weekend had certainly been a point in favor of Shrike's trust in Dimitri, yes. Still, it doesn't help narrow down the options much since it's been litteral years since Shrike even attempted to play games with other people, and even back then never truly got enough experience to learn all the rules anyway.

That last remark, however, definitely has his attention.

"What is it?"

"Well, any game, really... Although, there was one with sticks and balls which I always thought would be fun." He never played it, of course. Assuming he didn't break the stick, there was a chance he'd break someone's skull with the ball instead.

That has him tilting his head to the side. "I suppose this one might be too late to play such a game with it, but... Perhaps we could try regardless."

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