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OCTOBER EVENT PT2

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→ THE BEGINNING

(click to expand - happy early Halloween)

It's on the evening of October 28th when everything quickly descends into madness.

It begins with faint static in the air, gradually becoming louder and louder until it's impossible to ignore, the pattern of cries that was once hidden now audible to everybody as it grows and grows until it culminates in an explosion. The walls of the local bookstore burst outwards, a rampaging Hydreigon within unleashing Hyper Beam after Hyper Beam without any rest in between. Its trainer, an old man, hobbles up to it in a panic in order to ask what's wrong, but the Pokemon knocks him to the ground, ignoring him and continuing to destroy everything in its path while its trainer lies motionless on the ground, blood pouring from his head.

Further down the street, another eruption shakes the city, a group of Galarian Rapidashes slamming themselves against walls and windows until they break through, careening and crashing through buildings with wild abandon. Occupants inside a cafe scream as they attempt to flee, crushed under rubble and trampled by merciless hooves. From the sky, Murkrows and Natus swoop down on residents on the streets, long talons outstretched to claw at any exposed skin and pluck out any staring eyes. All around the city, Pokeballs burst open on their own and the Pokemon rush madly at human and Pokemon alike, disregarding orders or pleads from their trainers and attacking anything within sight in a wild frenzy.

Fires blaze across the city as children wail and adults scream. All the while, the pattern of cries continues...

→ THE RAMPAGE

(click to expand - you're in for a bad time)

Throughout the night, dark, ghost, and psychic-type Pokemon rampage throughout Mango City. Wild Pokemon appear from the outskirts of town and attack anyone and anything on sight, while companion Pokemon force themselves out of their balls and turn upon their trainers. No other types seem to be affected, the other Pokemon just as confused and distraught as the humans as they're forced to run from, defend against, and fight the Pokemon they were once allied with.

While many of the mad Pokemon physically assault those around them, other use innate abilities to wreak havoc. Musharnas emit a dark mist that engulfs entire beings and brings their fears to reality, forcing all those within the fog to face the same delusions. At the same time, Shedinjas steal souls away in their shells and keep them captive in a shared endless nightmare of their worst experiences relived. Similarly, Beheeyems cause those nearby to reexperience their most feared and hated moments, erasing all memory after that moment in order to trap their victims in that vulnerable mindset of the past. Meanwhile, Zoroarks trap their targets within grand illusions that force them to undergo a series of deaths over and over again, causing them excruciating pain and suffering while their physical bodies continue to live. Haunters phase in and out of walls to surprise and lick their victims, sapping years off their life and causing a frigid shivering that won't stop until they wither away, and Gengars loom in the shadows, sapping heat away from its surroundings and causing the small and the weak to slowly freeze to death. Umbreons spray poisonous sweat all over the street, causing people to choke and convulse if they stay too long near the toxic areas, and Cofagriguses drag humans into their coffins and wrap them up as mummies, bound so tightly nobody can hear them scream. No amount of pleading nor bargaining will cause any of them to stop; the only option left is to defeat them in battle, either by killing them or knocking them out.

It'd be kinder to do the latter, but in the heat of the moment, it's difficult to hold back. It's desperate times, after all, as the city streets soon begin to fill with the cold and still bodies of both Pokemon and humans.

→ HELP...?

(click to expand - is anyone even sane enough left to help)

At the outskirts of town bordering the forest, herds of Stantler lead the unaffected and helpless deeper into the forest into an area where the trees are so densely packed that even the shine of the moon can't break through. The only source of light are the small Litwicks that scurry towards the humans, smiling and holding out their little hands. Follow them. They'll keep you safe(?).

Perhaps it's time to abandon the city, where the fires continue to grow and rage throughout the streets, threatening to engulf entire neighborhood blocks. The hospital and Pokemon Center get repurposed to disaster zones as the doctors and nurses struggle to treat their patients while fending off rampaging Pokemon at the same time. Mari's large Steelixes wrap themselves around the buildings to become iron walls keeping the wild Pokemon out, but even their great defense struggles against the never ending attacks.

In the midst of the ongoing disaster, the radio tower remains undamaged and completely abandoned, untouched by the rampaging Pokemon outside. The receptionist has fled long ago, leaving the front doors open but the door to the stairs and the elevator up remaining locked. The tower stands empty and silent, completely free of the static and pattern of cries playing outside, the one place of reprieve from the hell that has descended upon Mango City.

→ MOD NOTES

⬥ Welcome to the Halloween event! Due to the nature of the prompts, please properly warn for any potentially disturbing content in your threads/tags for all players.
⬥ This event is forward dated to the evening and night of the 28th and may last past the 28th if no proper IC measures are taken to stop the rampaging Pokemon. The OOC deadline to solve and fix the disaster will be October 29.
⬥ Please comment to the mod question & investigation thread to report any actions that characters may take to stop the events of the log.
⬥ Have fun! :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Chloe speaks and looks like a normal person, and Hien would hate to drag her into... abnormal things apart from pokemon, because pokemon are normal here. The apocalypse-like scenario isn't though, and Hien figures he has some time to help her feel a little better. A normal conversation would keep him grounded too, a good distraction against the coldness that keeps getting worse as time passes. Luckily, Mimi the Flareon, the blanket, and the hot tea has really been helping. ]

Well... you helped me.

[ That's something? Don't sell yourself short. But also, he almost snorts when Chloe says that she needs to find out if he's hot or not. He thinks he's pretty decent looking, and most of his other selves are too if he needs to change to one of them. But his mental state is pretty tired, which is why he didn't change his voice when he saw Chloe at first, even though he thinks he should have. ]

But haven't you heard of the rumors? My face could be so disfigured with burns that people throw up upon seeing my face.

[ Dodge dodge dodge ]

[Chloe just laughs in response, mixing it with an "ewww!" noise. Gross, Hien!

(She really does act kinda like a... well, your very average young girl).]

Gross!~ But I heard that guy was huge, and was actually maybe, y'know, Death? Or Darkrai! And you're not supposed to look him in the eyes of the mask either, because then you get burns! But I think I already looked at you plenty, and I'm still as cute as ever.

[She looks smug and flips her hair a bit. She seems pretty pleased with that line of reasoning.]

Besides, you've got that whole tall dark mysterious stranger thing going on. I don't think universe would have skimped on the handsome for you, hmm?

[ ohhh god she really is coming onto him and Hien has no idea what to do for a second. Should he... emulate one of his other selves? Should he try to sound suave? Should he sound shy? What does he do. Help.

But also, damn. Poor Hythlo. ]

I dunno... there's a reason why people wear masks, after all.

[ For Hien, it's to hide his identity because he looks too much like someone else that's also supposed to exist here, but now after he's seen the kid who looks just like him, it's probably fine to show another face to some more people. ]

But alright. Close your eyes, count to five, no rushing.

[Chloe is about to open her mouth to apologize when Hien says there's a reason for masks--that sounds like maybe he actually doesn't want anyone to see his face? No, wait, what, he's agreeing to it now. Well, she's not going to complain!]

Fine~

[She closes her eyes and places her hands together, a little like someone praying, and starts counting in a quiet voice. One, two, three, four, five...]

[ Girl, what are you praying for... Hien quietly sighs in an attempt to not laugh instead. There are some gear turning noises, though faint, and he takes off the mask. It's the usual orange/brown/black mix hair kind of look while looking like he's in his early twenties. He puts the mask away into his cloak before Chloe opens her eyes.

Ta-da? ]

[Chloe actually claps her hands a little. Success! Also, theory proven! He is hot after all!]

See! I knew you'd be cute!

[Oh, she's so proud of herself. Detective Chloe, master... hot dude mystery solver.]

Sooo~, I guess the next question is--are you seeing anyone?

[...]

Oh, wait. Aren't you gay?

[She forgot. All she remembers is him not being Toki's boyfriend, but what if like, he's someone else's boyfriend.]

No.

[ To the last question. He says that rather nonchalantly, though he feels like he should have lied anyway. Would he be lying if he said if he was open to dating? Maybe? Sorta? People usually don't come to him in that regard, but...

... ]

I'm seeing someone.

[ Is he?? No, but does he wish he was? Who knows. ]

[Possibly unexpectedly, Chloe does not seem upset about Hien being taken at all. Romance is good either way, whether her own or someone else's!]

Really!? Ohhh, who's the lucky gal? Guy? What are they like?

[ Now the dilemma is... who does he describe? Unfortunately, the person that pops up in his head is one of his Overseer peers, because the other one feels more like that one uncle that everyone likes. He'll really regret not talking about one of his actual exes later.

The expression on his face twists to something like exasperation, but a smile is plastered at the same time. ]

He's a pain in the ass.

[ What a great start. ]

[Oh, so she was right about him being a tsundere.]

Oho?~ How did you meet? Did he like, accidentally insult you or something?

[ Call him tsundere one more time-- ]

No. I guess we're more like coworkers. Always smiles, doesn't mean what he says... sometimes I punch him in the face and we're even.

[ No. ]

[It's fine if it's not out loud!!!

Chloe smiles, folds her arms and nods smugly.]

A-ha. And you help him be more honest, right? I bet he's secretly really sad about something but won't show it!

[She knows her fanfictions, ok.]

No, he's just even more annoying than before. If anything, he has a worse wall about it.

[ How he'd like to take Renatus's head between his hands... and crush it mercilessly. But it's fine, since he won't die. ]

If he's gonna be more honest about it, he needs to do it by himself.

[Chloe pouts. Well that doesn't make much sense, nor does it sound particularly romantic. Way to go Hien.]

... Why are you dating, then? Out of desperation?

It's complicated.

[ Honestly, Chloe probably would have loved talking with his actual past self instead. He'd be sweet with talking about his significant other, a bit shy, and with a lot of love behind his sincere words. Romance is something that Hien got desensitized to after years of dealing with bullshit, so he got downgraded in romance. Sorry, Chloe.

He finally drinks some of the tea. It's warm now... feels good. But then he turns his head and squints over at her. ]

... I hope I don't look desperate.

[Chloe spreads her hands in a gesture of surprise, then pokes at Hien's cheek. Oof, still pretty cold.]

Right? I would've been surprised! I mean like, you're really cute, I bet you could find someone to date really easily!

[Hmmm...]

Though you do kinda have a bit of that "unbearable sadness" vibe. So like, instead of desperate, I guess it's more... y'know, not ready for it? Or like you're afraid, maybe?

[For someone who debated what kind of theme music her and Toki should have while trying to get to the inn, she can be more perceptive than you'd think.]

[ Yeah, Hien knows that if he seriously wanted to, he could find a date with his decent face--a face that's useful for something instead of letting off warning bells to people who have the same exact face for each world he enters. He could probably seduce people if he wanted and a bunch of other things, but does he actually want to? He just stares over at Chloe for a moment when she brings up unbearable sadness vibes, which makes him reevaluate himself.

He doesn't feel anything.

He's long since accepted the fact that relationships are temporary blips in his life. Does he feel sad when he has to part? Does he want to desperately hold onto the relationships he's made, whether romantic or platonic or otherwise in a world that he had to leave? In that case, does it actually matter if he does get to go home one day to meet his friends and family?

The bitter side of him has a powerful resounding answer: no.

Hien actually doesn't say anything as he stares into the cup of tea. I can't believe his true horror is realized because Chloe decided to analyze his dating status. ]

Edited 2020-10-22 03:24 (UTC)

[Chloe at least realizes that she must have said something very wrong for Hien to suddenly look so distant, and her own expression slowly changes to that of fear mixed with worry.]

O-oh, um-- Sorry, I didn't really think...

[She just doesn't think in general.]

... Sorry. Didn't mean to make you feel bad...

[She looks down at her lap, twiddling her thumbs. Well, this is awkward now.]

[ Her voice brings him out of his thoughts, which is for the best. He lightly shakes his head no. ]

It's not your fault. I just realized something.

[ It would be great if he could hide behind one of his other selves right now, but he hasn't unlocked that function just yet. ]

I'm not good at relationships--I'm better off being the support character--enabling people to do things, helping things move along... I wouldn't say I'm not ready for it nor am I afraid of it, but I guess the complicated simplicity of this relationship can be summed up as, "he makes me feel something".

[Wow, that's... deeper that Chloe would have thought, and also sadder, somehow.

But also.]

Did you ever think of going to a therapist? I had a friend who had depression, y'know, and he felt better after they figured out meds and stuff.

[Because, you know, there are therapists for weird masked static-y voice cryptids.]

[ Hien actually doesn't know what to say to that. He doesn't have a witty response, nor what he thinks would be a correct reply. Chloe is just trying to help and he understands that. But the thing is, would going to a therapist actually help him? No. He would just hear the things he knows already, and even cognitive behavioral therapy wouldn't fix him because these treatments were made for humans.

No matter how badly he pretends to be, he is no longer human. ]

There are other people who'll need it more than me right now.

[ Considering the amount of mental trauma people have experienced... ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OCTOBER EVENT PT2

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ THE BEGINNING

→ THE RAMPAGE

→ HELP...?

→ MOD NOTES

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