azume | Week 2.

Week 2.

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh.

[She laughs at herself, going to brush a lock of her hair behind her ear before realizing it's kind of covered in Lickitung slobber. She wipes them off on her shorts instead.]

It just sounded like you were speaking from experience— [Rin cuts herself off with a shake of her head.] But that's too nosy of me.

Anyways, Saber didn't go through anything like that. She's a Heroic Spirit.

[ She almost comments on the question Rin leaves hanging, but then the slobber happens and then more importantly, a - ]

-- She is - a spirit of an ancient king?

Sounds crazy, huh? But I'm not lying. I live—

[She's distracted by a series of taps at her elbow, feather-light but insistent. Blinking, she looks over her shoulder to see Monkey there.

When he sees he has her attention, he... He hesitates, but points to his mouth. Then to the spot in her pack where he knows Rin keeps her berries, and back to his mouth again. The message is clear: can he have some berries too?

Rin's eyes widen, but she reaches for her pack nonetheless, speaking as she fetches the berries.]

I live in an island nation called Japan, but hundreds of years ago, Saber ruled over the land of Britain. These days, it's better known as England; it's a country on the other side of the world.

Edited 2018-06-17 04:05 (UTC)

What rendered her so unable to rest for so long...? [ She says but then oops - ] ... no, that is me being nosy.

[ She doesn't seem to treat Rin as lying, but she shakes her head and - oh! ... Monkey - that thing is reacting too? She blinks and crouches a little to watch that, her Beldum and her having mostly eaten now.

... And shooing the Lickitung from going for more food. ]

[Pfffft.]

We both seem to be tripping over ourselves.

[With the nosiness, she means. Both Rin and Zelda have caught themselves at least twice now, maybe more, thinking their questions are too nosy when the other either doesn't mind. Or maybe only mind a little.

Rin smiles fondly as Monkey takes one of the berries and then, after a brief pause, a second one. Then he pulls himself up to sit on the log beside her. There's not much change in his expression, but it's the first time he's ever asked her of anything.]

Yes... I - ... Well, it did not seem proper to ask why a spirit lingers, especially to a - close companion.

[ she finishes lamely and you know what. You know what.

... You get to go back into the Pokeball Lickitung. You keep looking like your tongue is going to shoot out and scoop up Monkey and/or its food ]

[Well it would be the second time in one day if she did, that's for sure. Speaking of the little gremlin—Rin lets Abbey out of her pokeball as well. She instructed the little gremlin that other pokemon at the camp are off limits, but that just means as her trainer, Rin is responsible for finding food for her.]

It's not as sad a story as you would think, actually. Or at least not anymore.

[Rin shrugs her shoulders, fingers deftly unzipping another pocket of her pack. For Abbey, it's the jerky life.]

We asked her to stay. For her own happiness, she accepted. She wants to watch over us, and... Well, saying any more than that probably would be impolite to Saber, but basically there's some baggage she hopes to make peace with too.

[There's also the fact that Saber isn't exactly dead yet, but it's probably best not to overcomplicate things.]

[ for her own happiness, she denied herself her rest? Zelda tries to process that, because it sounds so... alien. To be able to live in defiance of the gods and the natural order of things for one's own happiness?

She tilts her head a little bit. ]

I am glad to hear that, honestly.

[ Even if it's so unbelievable. Still uh. ... Wow, that is a neat Pokemon? She blinks at it, crouching down to get a better look. ]

I hope... or rather, your happiness will be maintained when you return.

[That... Makes Rin pause, just for a moment. She looks away, towards the dark, and the crashing sound of the ocean's waves. Is Saber even still alive?]

Yes. I do as well.

[Holding a hand over her heart, Rin ponders her thoughts for only a moment longer before sitting a little straighter.]

In other news, I learned something important today. I think some of the others have already started to turn in, so I'll announce it in the morning.

-Did you?

[ It's said with some interest, now finally taking a seat proper. Near too but not next to Rin per se, to better give her undivided attention, not distracted by her Lickitung or the Abbey which was sent out. ]

Yes. [She nods, pointing in some direction.] A little ways north of the beach, there's a resort. Team Galactic is already there, though.

[She drops her hand back to her side.] They know we're here, too. That Commander Saturn left a letter with the receptionist to give to us. It's an invitation.

[ That gets a slight gasp from her actually. Had he known that - no, he must've been confident they would explore there, hadn't he? Still, another meeting so quickly? ]

... To what, a meeting?

[Another nod.]

A dinner at the resort, on Saturday night.

[ A dinner...?

Weird? ]

... How odd. I - no, to think it a trap seems silly, when he already has overwhelming force.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the possibility, but I don't think that's what this is either.

[Which if anything, gives her more questions.]

It's a good idea to go, I'd day. I'm less sure the others will go for it.

[Tomorrow morning is going to be a surprise for her then.]

You right, I should not be so quick to dismiss it. The Yiga might use such circuitous tactics, I shouldn't exclude it from Galactic as well.

[ She frowns, and she - ]

... Do you have the letter, may I see it?

[Oh, it's no problem. Rin nods, and pulls a letter from a vest pocket. She kept the stationary it came in, but the elegant seal is broken from where she opened it earlier.

She hands the letter over to Zelda.]

Here.

Thank you.

[ and she... reads it.

This is a thing she reads through, and once done, she nods to herself and ... ah, wait. ]

... We can ill afford not to go. [ . . . ] If they could predict out movements enough to place the letter, forgoing a peaceful solution would be reckless.

They know this world better than us. [She agrees simply.] It's only simple math to puzzle out how many places we can go. They have the manpower besides to cover their bases.

[Holding her hands out, she lets her fingertips soak in more warmth from the fire.]

Despite everything, this is a good chance to learn more about our situation too. It's not something we can pass up.

Yes.

... He said I had been assigned to work under him, in the period I do not remember. I must ask more about that.

...it's weird they would recruit us for something like that. It's not like they're short on potential workers; just think of all the people we've come across in their homes, living day-to-day lives.

What's the purpose? Draining of us of our emotions doesn't give us more knowledge of this world. Most of our expertises barely apply here, if they do at all.

I do not know. My curiosity ... no, I suppose my need to know that is what drives my need to question it, and him.

[ Why her? For how long? Why does she have a gap in her memory? ]

[...

After a moment, Rin leans sideways in her position on the log, towards Zelda but still an inch shy from touching.]

In the grand scope of things, getting an answer to that question is easier than the other tasks we've set our sights on it. We'll figure it out.

... I must come across as so silly, to focus so much on memories, both here and with Cynthia.

[ She exhales, shaking her head as she does. She is at least self aware of that much. ]

I disagree.

[The look on Rin's face is plainly serious, as she regards her night watch partner with large, blue eyes.]

Memories are filled with every part of who we are, and every feeling. Right now, that's what this world needs more than anything.

(no subject)

hyruglyphics - 2018-06-24 19:12 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

heritrix - 2018-06-24 19:46 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only