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]

[Bucky shakes his head at the question, before catching himself and speaking aloud.]

No. To tell you the truth, I don't sleep much at all. Usually I don't leave the tent, but after what happened today, well... I thought keeping watch would be a good thing.

People tend not to hear me coming unless I want them to.

[discutio]

I thought much the same. Usually I tend to hear things most others miss; even were they staying hidden, I would imagine I'd know if someone was tracking us.

[semistableman]

[Not that he has much reason to, but it's good to know he likely wouldn't be able to sneak up on Ignis.]

I don't trust that man, Saturn. He wouldn't sneak up on us himself, but he certainly could send people after us.

[discutio]

I suspected he might do just that. So far, I'm surprised we've not been confronted by anything of the sort. I've heard no one following us, so either we register as that minor of a threat or he's biding is time.

[semistableman]

I'm surprised too. I wouldn't expect someone like him to just leave us be.

If twenty-four people going missing doesn't matter much to them, we might have a bigger problem on our hands than I first thought.

[discutio]

We don't know how far-reaching Team Galactic actually is. It's likely our numbers truly are basically nothing next to theirs, and I expect those numbers alone to give him a sense of superiority.

[semistableman]

If they've done this to the whole world, their numbers could be in the tens of thousands. You're right.

Subterfuge is a much better strategy than trying to brute force through their numbers. In other words, we sneak in.

[discutio]

Speaking as someone that's taken that option with several military bases, stealth doesn't necessarily mitigate the need for strength. If we were to be caught in such an operation, we would have to fight our way out. Which is exactly as difficult as it sounds.

[semistableman]

I don't like talking about it too much, but I'm a sniper.

I could be a spotter. We'd just need a better way to communicate long-distance than birds.

[discutio]

[Ignis answered with a slight nod at first, not pushing for details but instead raising a hand to his mouth in thought.]

I just...don't think it a wise choice at this specific juncture. It isn't a lack of trust in your expertise by any means. We're still barely acclimated to this world, we're without any weaponry or abilities from the sound of things, and even those of us with combat ability are simply ill-equipped to handle a situation with this many unknown factors.

...There is a place and time to strike against one's enemy, and both will come soon enough. But though I regret to acknowledge the fact myself, it isn't here or now.

[semistableman]

Sometimes the only reliable weapon is one's own wits, but I see your point.

[He shrugs, sometime that easily translates verbally.]

But there are enough civilians among us to make things difficulty.

[discutio]

I agree, but usually I'm working with 'my wits, knives, and magic'. It rather tilts the scales more safely in my favor.

Not to mention you're right about the civilians. I can't picture someone like Emmeryn or Michael faring well in an infiltration, much less open combat. That's a risk I'm not all that comfortable taking yet.

[semistableman]

[Bucky snorts a laugh.]

Michael sticks out like a broken thumb. He might be fine in his own situation, but here? I guess we should be grateful Galactic isn't the sort of cult that gives its leaders guns.

[A beat:]

But I do like him.

[discutio]

...I think they're a pretty good group of people, overall.

[semistableman]

Yeah. We've got a good group here.

I'm not the optimistic sort, but I think we'll be all right.

[discutio]

I've done far more with far fewer. All in all, I'm optimistic about our chances so long as we're cautious.

[semistableman]

Yeah.

We've got plenty of differing opinions among us. It might make things chaotic, but we're better off together.

[discutio]

That's often how these things work--even my friends came to vicious argument on occasion. I'd expect no small amount of conflicts, but we'll have to pull together for our own benefit and survival.

[semistableman]

[Bucky chuckles.]

Yeah. I know a lot about that.

[discutio]

Let me guess. Your friends argue constantly and infuriate you to no end.

[semistableman]

Kind of.

When I first met a friend of mine, he tried to kill me.

[discutio]

...You know, that's one I've not heard before.

[semistableman]

[Bucky laughs.]

It's kind of a long story.

[But oddly it doesn't sound like the subject is off-limits.]

[discutio]

I've little else but time, if it's one you feel like sharing.

[semistableman]

I was accused of a terrorist attack that killed his father. I didn't do it; I wasn't even in that part of the world, but it's not like he knew that. Can't blame the guy.

So when Steve came to find me [has he talked about Steve with Ignis before? oh well] he followed us. Came pretty close to killing me more than once; he's a hell of a fighter.

He protected me once he learned who really did it, gave me a home when I was wanted in dozens of countries. I owe him a lot.