victory_road | ANOMALY DETECTED

"No, I've been here almost a year. This is new."

Like, just today new, as far as he can tell. And sadly lacking in the other people who normally could be found here.

"Geddoe."

No surname here, though he does take that handshake.

Good to meet you Geddoe.

[Lucius smiles as he shakes his hand.]

What a strange coincidence it must be for a place from your own land to appear here seemingly out of the blue. Do you know if places from other people's homes have appeared here as well?

"Dunno, but probably. Don't see why I'd be the only one."

He's pretty sure he's not that special.

"You might as well look around if you want, since you're here. Some of it's pretty run down though."

Well, seeing as how I seem to have ended up at this castle instead of my intended destination it's likely best if I camp here tonight.

[Lucius looks around at the various buildings in an effort to figure out what would be the best choice for a temporary lodging.]

Though it would seem I have my choice of the buildings here I'd imagine it's best to stay modest in my selection. Luxury may be welcome, but night comes with a wicked chill in this land and smaller spaces heat better.

[He looks back over towards Geddoe.]

Are you staying here tonight as well? You're welcome to share in what accommodations and provisions I can prepare.

While certainly a... pragmatic approach, Geddoe can clearly see this guy hasn't been around here long. Not to mention that last bit is, well, downright funny, considering that he's actually stayed here before in his own world.

"Assuming you don't wind up somewhere else before then," he points out, then tilts his head in the direction of part of the main castle building. "The kitchen's that way, by the way."

In case he's forgotten Geddoe's already familiar with this place.

Wait, are you saying that all the items and supplies from this place are still here?!

[Lucius assumed the place must have been abandoned, but if there's still supplies ready-for-use that's infinitely preferable.]

I would have thought everything would have bene cleaned-out when the residents left, so I was prepared to just pitch camp in one of the buildings. Is it really ok for us to help ourselves to what they've left?

"It's just like it was when I last saw it."

Geddoe just shrugs. He mentioned the castle has a master, didn't he? It's certainly not abandoned as of the time he found himself in Johto, even if it's strangely devoid of its usual occupants now.

"If it's a problem I'm sure I'll just hear about it whenever I'm back in my world again."

Worst case scenario he owes Thomas for some food and drink. Though given how much the place had been stocked up recently, and how with the war ending it's suddenly hosting a lot fewer people, Geddoe rather doubts it'd really be missed. Probably chalked up to one of the residents getting a midnight snack or something.

[[My apologies for the delay in tags. I've been working to get the Journal Pages for Lucius and Joey actually presentable and that's been far more demanding than I expected. For Lucius at least, the end is in sight though so his Journal is finally looking good.]]

Well that's certainly preferable to what I had envisioned. After having to scramble around in the woods last month I was not looking forward to the idea of roughing-it again. Cold as it's gotten the past few weeks a warm hearth and a hot meal sound like quite a welcome notion.

[Lucius reaches into his Tunica and produces a pouch.]

I can provide reimbursement for any provisions we use should it be needed.

((It's fine! I expect tags to get erratic around the holidays even when there's NOT a new pokemon game release...))

"Unless you've got potch in there, it might not make much difference."

Especially if it's the Pokémon world's currency. That would definitely have no value here. Assuming that 'here' is really in Geddoe's world which, well, let's just say he has some doubts about.

In any case, rather than just stand around talking about it, he's going to start heading over to the main 'castle', if it can be called such, and towards the side building that contains the tavern. And the kitchen, but you have to pass through the tavern to get there.

"Besides, something's... off about this. Could be that this is just some kind of illusion."

It really is exactly how he remembers it, except without any people. Which is odd for a whole number of reasons.

[As Lucius follows behind Geddoe he considers what he's saying.]

An... illusion? Is that kind of thing really possible here? Would that mean that any food or lodgings we make use of could just up and... vanish on us?

Geddoe just shrugs at that.

"No idea. People call these 'weird weekends' for a reason though, since you can never be sure what's going to happen." He honestly doesn't sound too bothered by it though. Well, no more than his general exasperation with the whole weekend as a whole. At least this time he isn't being mobbed by electric types? "But if this is really Budehuc... Everything's just like I last saw it. Even things that probably shouldn't be."

After all, a lot of people had been staying here, and while he was definitely familiar with the layout and all that, it's not like he went and poked his head in each and every room right before he left.

Still, that doesn't stop him from opening the door to the small tavern along the side of the main castle building and striding right up to the bar.

"What kind of drink do you like?"

[This land seems to have a never-ending stream of frustrating realities in it, and the fact that its residents just seem completely unbothered by the revolving door of insanity that they're subjected to only serves to drive to Lucius to distraction.]

Weird weekends... what a bizarre and exasperating concept...

[He shakes head slowly in frustration.]

Living in this land seems like it would be a nonstop series of bizarre events. I rue the future that lies in store for me here. But I digress, a red wine if they have it please.

It's less that Geddoe's unbothered, and more that he's just naturally of a very stoic disposition. That he's remarked on it being strange at all is quite telling, really.

"Most everything here's weird, but I'd bet the locals would say the same thing about the worlds we're from."

And that's the other reason Geddoe takes it in stride; the concept of other worlds operating on different rules isn't entirely unknown to him.

In any case though, he clearly is well-acquainted with this place, as after walking into the small tavern it takes him only a moment to locate a bottle of wine, open it, and plop it down along with a glass on the counter. For himself, he's grabbed a beer... and isn't bothering with a glass himself as he continues on to the kitchen tucked in the back corner.

The locals seem rather... bland... in their views on things in my experience. I talked to some of the people in New Bark town upon my arrival and they all seemed to be reciting off a script. It was frustrating but, then again, so is everything in this place.

[Lucius follows him into the kitchen.]

I feel like there's a lot of things in this place that anyone from far enough into the past would be constantly alarmed by. It would be quite nice to build a place more removed from the crazier aspects of this land, but that still takes advantage of the conveniences they have. I'd imagine that would require considerable capitol though...

The kitchen isn't fancy, but it's still decently large and nice. It's clearly from a pre-industrial world, though, to judge by the old-fashioned brick ovens and utter lack of appliances and so on.

It's also, conveniently, still stocked, precisely as Geddoe last remembers it. Fresh vegetables, bread, all the basics, really.

"You mean like all those fancy gadgets and stuff?"

Yes indeed. Many of the advancements I've seen in this land have been quite convenient, but plenty of the things I've seen since coming here are certainly more burden than boon. Being able to pick-and-choose what advancements I implement into my living space and which I leave to the side would be very nice.

[Lucius watches as Geddoe looks through the kitchen.]

Seems like there's a good amount of choice. Would you like assistance in preparing anything?

"Even if something's there, that doesn't mean you have to use it."

Ask him how long he's gone failing to really comprehend and thus use microwaves. Or maybe not.

That that offer though, Geddoe pauses and glances back with a raised eyebrow.

"If you're offering to cook, you can. I was just looking for something that wouldn't take much work."

Over a hundred years old and he's still no good at cooking...

[Lucius draws closer and begins looking through the cupboards. After a moment he nods to himself and turns back towars Gedooe.]

I should be able to cook us up some acceptable dishes. It will take some time though, so it might be a good idea to sate your hunger with some bread or other quick food until the dishes are completed. I don't see meats or cheeses here, so that would restrict what I can make, but if they're located elsewhere I can prepare a proper feast if we wanted.

[He looks around the kitchen satisiedly.]

I'm nowhere near as good as my mother was but I still know my way around a kitchen like this, and it would honestly be nice to use a range of the sort i'm familiar with. I've seen some genuinely lovely kitchens in this land, don't get me wrong, but it's just not what I know to cook with.

That last bit earns an amused sound out of Geddoe. Boy does he know about not being familiar with all this fancy tech!

"The fridges are nice for keeping stuff from spoiling, but I got no idea what some stuff they have even does."

Seriously, what even is an 'air fryer'? But all that aside, the mention of being limited in the available ingredients catches his attention.

"There's a storeroom down in the basement."

Well, there's a couple, but one in particular the food supplies are kept in. He's pretty sure he remembers it having some cured meats and the like.

[[Sorry about the spelling errors in the previous post. I'm using a pocket keyboard at work, so a lot more can slip through than when I'm on my old faithful at home. Means a lot better turnaround for tags though!]]

Oh!

[Lucius claps his hands in exclamation.]

That would be excellent. That would be likely to have the meats then. Let's dig-in to what they have and I can prepare some dishes based on whatever we find. Provided there's the usual suspects in terms of selection, though, what are you in the mood for?

"Hmm..."

Geddoe gives that some thought as he heads out of the kitchen. Rather than taking the door they used to come in to the tavern, though, he heads through the one that leads into the main building of the castle.

"Maybe something spicy."

It's not that spicy food doesn't exist in Johto, but it's just not the same as the Karayan fare he's had on occasion back in his world. That, and seeing Budehuc again might be making him a bit nostalgic.

As he heads through the castle though, he doesn't even spare a glance around. Not even at the couple of clear gaping holes where parts of the wall have collapsed. The building's still sound enough, and he knows where he's headed, anyway.

Spicy eh?

[Lucius rubs his chin.]

I'll have to see what they've got in regards to spices and herbs then but, provided they've got a good supply, that shouldn't be an issue. If they've got cheese and honey as well, I could cook up some Globi for dessert.

[He smilesa, licking his lips at the thought of the tasting an old favorite again.]

Nothing like some warm and sweet treats to see us off to a restful sleep eh?

"There should be some Karayan stuff left."

Their route takes them through the large entrance hall and to a small staircase tucked away in the corner. Geddoe heads down to the basement, then promptly heads around the corner to another staircase to a second basement level. A glance around passing through the first would make it clear there are some things on that floor, just not the particular storeroom Geddoe's after.

Down in the second basement is their destination, a goodly-sized room piled with crates and boxes and barrels of supplies, shelves of even more, and indeed even some racks of meat. It's not the best organized though, even if it looks like someone may have made an effort at some point.

"Globi?"

Geddoe's never heard of that.

[Dutifully following after Geddoe, Lucius enjoys seeing more of the structure as they proceed into the basement and sub-basement. As they reach the meat locker he gets a satisfied expression on his face.]

Looks to be some fine cuts of meat here. I should be able to prepare a feast and a half should we want it. If there are good selections of spices and cheese available, too, I think I may have the perfect dish to match your hunger for spices. As for Globi, they're a sort of fried cheesecake ball glazed in honey that's just delectable. Perfect little sweet treat to send you off to a restful slumber.

Edited 2022-12-21 15:24 (UTC)

"Just grab whatever you need. There's probably more than can be used since the army disbanded anyway."

There's definitely a variety of stuff here, from a variety of places and cultures, to boot. It might not be quite the same as what Lucius is used to working with, but hopefully close enough to improvise.

Though really as long as it tastes decent Geddoe's not complaining.

Whenever they're done picking up supplies, it's just a simple matter of heading back up the way they came. Though of not ise that down a further hall from the storeroom, in the opposite direction from the stairs, are a few cells. They don't seem to have been used recently though, except for one where the bars are all bent out of place. That one someone's apparently set up an office in.

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