victory_road | ANOMALY DETECTED

[Lucius takes a deep breath, and then lets out a tired sigh.]

So I've found my way to another land then? I swear...

[He puts his Pokégear back into his bag, resigning himself to the fact that it would be useless in his current setting.]

...I can't leave a town in this place without something bizarre or ill-fated happening.

".... No one told you about the weird weekends, huh?"

Apparently Geddoe's going to get to explain it, then.

[Lucius stands silent for a moment, racking his brain.]

What's a weekend?

Oh boy, this lack of understanding goes deeper than he'd thought.

"Certain days of the week here are designated for most people to have off work. The shops might still be open and close on another day, but other kinds of work aren't done. Those days are called the weekend."

It hadn't really been much of a concept in his world, either, but it had been easy enough to pick up.

Huh. Rather... literally named isn't it. We have special days called Feriae dedicated to special occasions and holidays for the Gods. Each of those are days celebrated in particular ways and honoring particular things, so they serve to give people time days of rest much like these weekends. It seems they've rather commercialized the concept though, but I admit having so many free days does sound appetizing.

Geddoe shrugs a bit.

"They have holidays too--special days at certain times of year to celebrate various things--but I guess they figure it's important that everyone gets a regular break."

Or something.

"Anyway, a couple times of year there's a weekend where things get... weirder than usual. People who had magic in their own worlds can use it again, unusual things happen, and so on. Looks like this time it's having places from other worlds show up."

That is most... odd. I knew the people of this land were accustomed to visitors coming in from other times and places, but the notion that they're simply resigned to regular periods of time where bizarre occurrences is something else entirely. What manner of land sees people blow-in from across space and time without batting an eye, let alone entire locations?

[Lucius sighs.]

So, then, are you from one of these places that has arrived in this land?

"I'm not from here, but this place is from the same world I came from."

Hence why he's so familiar with its history.

Most interesting. Did you come into this world together, then, or did one of you follow the other into this place? Regardless, I seem to have neglected my manners.

[He extends his hand.]

My name is Lucius Modestus. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.

"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?

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