Week 2.

[azumods]

WEEK 2. The new week begins with new surroundings. The city you've been growing accustomed to over the past week is now well behind you as you set out on your journey proper; the terrain still seems rocky and steep here as you move downhill and to the south, dotted here and there with small ponds to the east and rocky outcroppings that you can climb on to the west. There are also large expanses of tall grass here, and the entire route is flanked with tall trees leading off into the forest a short ways. You're more than welcome to explore; just don't stray too far from the group - you wouldn't want to be left behind out here, for any reason. Wild Pokémon are abundant here, as anyone venturing into the tall grass will discover; they aren't inclined to attack you, however, simply watching with dull, dead eyes as you stumble through the area they've come to call home. The trip is difficult, and it's a lot of walking, but it's not unmanageable; fortunately enough, the route you're on should lead you directly to Valor Lakefront, assuming there are no complications along the way. From Thursday and beyond, the route takes a sharp turn west; in front of you lies what's clearly the ocean, large rocks jutting out just offshore tempering the waves. It's safe to go in the water if you so choose - assuming you can swim, that is - and the forested terrain has given way to a large beach with patches of tall grass here and there. Interestingly, there's a house located on the beach; whether it's inhabited or not is difficult to tell. Of course, exploring slightly north of the beach will reveal a path. Maybe it leads somewhere important... CURRENT LOCATION: ROUTE 213 POKEMON AVAILABLE: NEAR WATER SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY [OOC: Welcome to week two of Azume; feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend. Don't forget that a write-up is due next weekend!]

Comments

[semistableman]

Trying to get past their defenses is suicide; there's more of them than there are of us. And I'm sure as hell not going back to Veilstone.

[Another vote for Pastoria.]

[thunderwolf]

Mm, not to mention their territorial advantage. [So, some agreement from Eustace. And tacking on a personal opinion at the end...] If we're forced into a no-true win situation, I'd like to make it as much of a hassle for them as possible.

[semistableman]

I could teach people how to make a shiv.

[By his expression, this isn’t a joke.]

[thunderwolf]

[This took a turn.

But Eustace is into it. Oh, how he would've loved to have Flamek Thunder back there.]

That's one way of hassling them.

[semistableman]

[Bucky nods, clearly not at all bothered by the idea of teaching people how to improvise weapons.

What Pokemon battles? It's easier just to stab your opponent.]

I'd have to see if there's anything usable around here first.

[hyruglyphics]

We will not be bringing weapons to bare on those members of Team Galactic. It is possible Saturn is an exception to this, but those regular ... [ soldiers, cultists? She needs to find a better word ] people there, in the uniforms and wigs, are simply townspeople sent there in order to have their life "given purpose." They are innocent, and will not be harmed or killed.

[ ... And then realizing belatedly she doesn't have authority, she ends a little weaker, ]

... Or so I would implore you.

[semistableman]

[Bucky's expression falters, just a little.]

I wouldn't go after the brainwashed folks. They can't help it, their bodies are being used against them.

It's the bastards like this Saturn guy who hold the power.

[hyruglyphics]

Even for him, we cannot be certain. ... I do not reject that he operates with much more visible freedom, but just as we cannot be certain that Cynthia is trustworthy, we also cannot be entirely certain that he is not more elaborately [ that as a good word he used- ] brainwashed.

[ She personally doubts it? But she also doesn't really want to encourage people to stab people... ]

[semistableman]

He's not brainwashed.

[That's stated simply, in the tone of someone who has seen a lot.]

The ones who follow doctrine for their own selfish reasons are the threat you can't ignore.

[...and as for Cynthia.]

At the moment, I consider both him and Cynthia our enemies. Until she explains herself, we should assume they're in league.

[hyruglyphics]

You don't know that, on either count, Bucky.

[ It's said sternly, and wow...

Is she really going to need to revoke that he seemed reasonable? ]

[semistableman]

No, I do know it. All you need to do is look at him, and you can tell he's one of the people in charge. You've seen what the brainwashed people look like, hell what the wildlife looks like. He wasn't included in this whatever it was.

I've seen more than my fair share of people joyfully playing the system.

[No comment on Cynthia, though, because his mind is pretty well set on that.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ Her lips turn into a frown, her green eyes not wavering from the pressure, but ... honestly, she cannot doubt anyone else's experience. ]

I have. But if you are implicating Cynthia as an enemy, then I am permitted to say we do not know the extent of the control. He may well have been commanded to be in charge, for all the knowledge we have.

[ . . . ]

Regardless, we will not be stabbing people, for our own safety.

[semistableman]

[He sighs, not out of frustrated or anything like that, he just looks sort of resigned.

Like he's someone who is used to being on the run and might bolt at any moment.]

Just be cautious. It was very convenient for both of them to be in Veilstone at the same time.

[hyruglyphics]

[ they both had reasons to be there...? But no, there is some oddity to it all. As such, she nods a little bit, allowing Bucky his moment of peace.

She just...

Doesn't want to promote stabbing people? So there's that. ]