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Week 8.
WEEK 8 Snowpoint City remains as cold and unforgiving as ever, through no fault of its residents. The city itself doesn't seem to see much change in the passing days; there's something you'll all become rather aware of on Sunday as the day goes on, and after so long with no incidents along those lines it's likely an unpleasant thing to deal with. There's also the fact that the changes to the world seem to be slowing; though the one alteration that's immediately obvious is a major one, it seems that things may be beginning to stagnate again. Will there be a slip back into apathy again, if this continues? Or will the changes you've affected already continue to hold? Only time will tell, really. That doesn't mean that nothing has changed, however - thankfully enough, the slugs seem to be settling. Or...well, more accurately, once in a while they stop huffing at each other long enough to drive up piles of snow with their heads and stare at them like they're trying to work out what they're attempting to create, but at least it's a collaborative effort. Are they attempting diplomacy? It's difficult to tell; after all, they are just slugs. But at least there seems to be a little less open hostility. Improvement...? Perhaps. The local ghost Pokémon also seem to have taken an interest in you lately, though precisely...how is a little mixed. They don't seem overly mischievous or malicious - they seem about as odd as the rest of the wild Pokémon in the region - but they do seem more inherently trusting of you and your traveling group. They've taken to following you from time to time, and taking a general vague interest in what you're doing. So that's...new. POKEMON AVAILABLE: WITHIN CITIES SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY [OOC: Welcome to week eight 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.] |
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Are the ghosts following all of you now?
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[He sweats nervously as he brings up a memory.] A bunch of them were watching us train earlier - some of them even battled against Nin and Vee when Monta was a little too strong for them...
[That guy...he's growing leaps and bounds compared to his other Pokemon. Sena just can't figure out why.]
I-I mean, I gave them berries and stuff since they helped! But it's kinda weird that they're starting to get so interested now, when the other Pokemon like Shellos don't care, right?
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[He frowns, forgetting about the money for the moment.]
I specifically told them to come to me if they needed anything. They can all follow orders, so it made sense to me that they did it. Not sure what they're interested in you for. Though if you don't like it, the berries were probably a mistake.
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[Sena's style of training is...surprisingly intense for such a little guy, admittedly.]
I mean, other wild Pokemon were battling each other too, before this. I didn't even have to ask them to fight, they just kinda joined in.
[That still doesn't explain why they're following people other than Michael.]
Maybe 'cause since they think we're friends, we can also help? Or something?
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[That's...interesting.]
Or even just our group. I should see if they're doing that to the locals, too.
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[He wants to think that's a good thing, anyway. It's scary, though!]
Like...it means the Pokemon are doing new things, and stuff?
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[Michael's brow furrows a little; he's picking up on Sena's hesitation, but doesn't really see a downside to this himself. Aside from the finances, which he's now working on.]
Do you not like the whole ghost thing, either?
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[He looks nervous, but his eyes are steady. Somehow.]
I mean, it's kinda creepy getting stalked by ghosts...but they're Pokemon too, right? So, uh, it's fine. Just weird.
[And scary.
Really scary.]
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[You'd be fine with getting stalked by them if they were just gas creatures, right?]
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Oh. Right. Uh...
[He'd...forgotten about that. why did you remind him.]
That is creepy. But uh-? [He laughs hesitantly.] I mean, uh, they're happy, I guess, so it's fine? Or uh, I guess they might not be able to feel happy now, but they would have been if it wasn't for Cyrus, and I guess it's really weird giving commands to something that used to be human but if we think of ourselves as trainer trainers then we're just helping them get stronger and they just choose to listen to us so it's not really commanding? I guess?
[What.]
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[Mostly?]
Humans give each other commands all the time, though, don't they? I didn’t even think that part was a problem.
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[Giving commands to pets is different than giving commands to humans, okay?]
But at the same time they're not? They're partners, too...I don't really know how to say it.
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[Michael mulls over his next words for a moment.]
You have to understand, I'm only recently coming to see humans as anything approaching equals. Throwing in some sapient cats at this point - [He spreads his hands.] - it's like, you might as well.
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he's not building a good case here, is he.
the fact of the matter is that Sena's pretty sure that Hiruma cares on some level. That he's started to regard them as actual teammates and equals. Someone who doesn't regard humanity as cattle or something like that can't possibly see things that way.
So Sena idly doodles on his posterboard, trying to find the words.]
Maybe that's why you get along with the ghosts so well, I guess? They can tell that you're trying. I mean, that you don't instinctively think of them as something...creepy, or like a pet, or a lesser being. Or at the very least, you don't have that...um. Bias.
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[He props his chin on a fist, looking at Jane Doe.]
I really have to wonder what it's like normally. How normal people treat them, knowing all that. Jupiter's not a good example, she's obviously awful.
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[Sena can't even begin to wonder what you've seen. Or if you, the real you under all that skin and flesh, is far far more terrifying than any ghost type will ever be.
He's not sure if he wants to find out.]
Um...If we keep working towards going home, and helping everyone here...I think we'll find out, right?
[Vee hops up onto the table to sniff at his small collection of markers, and he can't help but grin at her before he decides on his answer.]
I think it'll be a lot like home, though.
[Why?]
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Yeah? What happens at home?
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Well, at home, it's not so simple either, right? There's good people and bad people everywhere, and we all do our best to reach our goals...some of us fail, and give up, or they keep trying and succeed eventually, some succeed at the first time, some of us find new dreams and succeed there...and we're all connected by that, right? 'Cause we're either working together to reach them, or taking down whomever's in our way to get there...
[Sena stops for a second, sticking his tongue out to draw out a particular line on the posterboard. Vee paws at it.]
Us working together with our Pokemon and each other is the same thing, right?
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I suppose. [.....] You know, you get a bit cut-throat when you talk about competition. It's unexpected.
[Just like, making an observation.]
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[Sena turns red to the tips of his hair, clearly flustered.]
R-really? I mean, I don't think...I mean...
[He glances over at Michael hesitantly.] Shouldn't I be...?
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[Demon and all. Cut-throat is the name of the game - but humans don't do it like that.]
You just don't really seem the type, that's all. Lots of humans don't like to talk about crushing others underfoot in pursuit of their goals.
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[He scratches his cheek sheepishly.]
But you are right about that. I mean, even in Japan back home, it's better to do things in a way that we can all cooperate, right? So, I mean...if someone asks for help, it's not like I can say no, or anything like that...
[Except he totally could, but he doesn't, because he's that nice. Too nice. He gets taken advantage of very easily.]
American Football, though...that's different. I learned this way of thinking from playing...I don't think it's wrong, either. It's just different. It's own type of...sportsmanship, I guess? That's not the right word...
[Yes. It's different. We get it.]
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[His personal cash pile is actually comparatively small, in the end. Michael ferrets it away, in a separate pocket of his bag from the rest.]
Back home for me, no demon would ever think of asking anyone else for help. That's just a fancy way of telling them "hey, I'm down, this would be a great time to stab me in the back!" So I get it.
[That's probably not the impression of the American football ethos you meant to give.]
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Uh, kinda?
[He laughs nervously.]
I mean in other sports...there's usually a second and third place, right? Consolation medals...you tell yourself that it's okay that you didn't win, that you did your very best...you'll try harder next time. But American Football...there isn't anything like that. The only truth is winning. There's no consolation or thought given to the losers. Every game, every play...You have to tell yourself you can do it, that you will win. If you settle for anything else...you've already lost.
[He looks a little nervous saying all of this, but he hasn't stuttered.]
I've...never had to think like that before I started playing. It's...I'm not sure how to describe it. But it feels right, somehow.
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[It's something Michael's not quite sure how to name. Crushing other people with no regard, that he gets just fine, but the other thing? He folds his hands together, then unfolds them and clasps one fist in the other.]
I mean, obviously they're worthless. Idiots like Jason are the only people who give a damn. So...I guess that doesn't make a lot of sense.
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