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DECEMBER LOG PT1

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→ OH THANK GOD

(click to expand - the boba shop survived!!)

Sandstorms quietly continue to blow across Melona's desert, tinged black with ash carried over from the west where the volcano still intermittently sputters and spits, its hiccups and coughs darkening the sky to the west. Occasionally, a clap of thunder can be heard even as far as Melona's dome, and a shadow can be seen within the ash clouds looming above the mountains. Whispered rumors travel throughout the region, carrying warnings that "The storm is alive," remembering the destruction wrought upon Toran and the volcanic eruption two months ago that had devastated Hami, the town to the northwest. For two months, the heat and the ash had choked the skies over the mountains of Hami, but eventually, the lava stops flowing. Eventually, the skies begin to clear. Eventually, the people of Melona become curious enough— concerned enough— aware enough that their life inside their bubble that blinded them to the plights of the world at large— to start sending small groups out to Hami to see what aid, if any, they might require. The gym leader himself wanted to head the expedition, worried about his friend and fellow gym leader in the neighboring town, but he got yelled at enough for leaving his post during the last month that he reluctantly agrees to remain at the gym. Because, apparently, challenging gyms is very very important to some people, never mind the world being in a crisis and the safety of both people and Pokemon being at stake.

Instead, the desert guides are the ones who lead the way to Hami, knowing the desert and the mountains and are able to carve the most direct path towards the town. Self-sufficient as the townspeople of Melona tend to be, they do not ask for volunteers to join them, but they do not turn down help either, whether from bleeding hearts who want to do everything they can to assist people in need, or those who just want to get to the next town for their badges and ribbons. Like the trek from Mango to Melona, travel to Hami also takes several days of camping, of riding upon Numel through the sand, of climbing mountains and scaling unstable cliffs because there is no well-worn path from the ground to the peak. And nestled in the middle of the mountains, where Hami is supposed to be...

Ash and cinders. A field of rubble. Skeletons of buildings jutting up out of the ground where they are half collapsed and half buried in the ground, flames licking what little wood and scraps of cloth remain and hungering to devoid the new souls that have stepped within their domain. Aside from the rescue team from Melona, there is not another soul in sight, no sound of everyday chatter in the distance nor husks of bodies left charred on the ground. In this town laid to ruin, a single building has been left relatively untouched by the flow of lava that had run through its streets and washed away all its people. The sign hanging above the front door, blackened at the edges, reads: "Hami Boba." Inside, a single worker in uniform can be seen slumped over the counter, who is startled so badly when the door opens that she falls off her stool and blanches as if she'd seen a ghost— which is exactly what she thought, because who else would be here in Hami after everything that had happened? The volcano had erupted two months ago, she explains, all of the sudden without warning and most of the townspeople were forced to leave. Others stayed behind, those with rock and ground Pokemon who weren't bothered by the heat, or those with water and ice Pokemon who were willing to tough it out to battle the lava and the flames in an effort to save their town. This war against nature lasted over a month, and nobody ever came to their aid... But eventually, it became clear that their greatest threat came from the sky, from the ash that fell upon the land like a woolen blanket and smothered all the air, driving the last of the resistance fighters out.

In the end, the only person left in the entire town was her. The boba shop was constructed with the nearby volcano in mind, and there is no lack of things to eat inside the shop when there was only herself to ration for, but the funny thing is... even though she was stuck indoors and was horrifyingly lonely, she could feel a cool breeze pass through the shop every once in a while, and the air remained fresh. It felt as if there were something watching over her, she explains shyly, and there must have been, because she held onto that hope all this time and her patience finally paid off. Her first customers in two months!! Would they like some boba? The store's specialty is Shuckle berry juice boba! The stamps are a little dried out, but you get a cute red Slugma stamp for visiting this shop.

→ WELCOME TO THE NEW HAMA

(click to expand - it's free to live out here)

So, there's that. There is no town, not really. No gym, no contest hall. But the Melona guides aren't satisfied with leaving it at that, so they stock up on all the Shuckle berry juice boba they can carry and continue their search for the town's residents. They offer up Abras to teleport anybody who doesn't want to continue back to Melona, and then split into small groups to spread out across the mountainside, winding around smoldering lava lakes and trudging through paths knee high in ash. Here and there, all across the mountain range, small campsites can be seen. Up on a ledge on the cliffside, a group of people can be seen foraging berries alongside some wild Mankey. Out in the open in a valley, another group of people are seen roasting meat and nuts over several wild Torkoals' backs. At the base of one of the mountains, another group of people and Machop are hard at work breaking large boulders into smaller pieces to build shelter. Rather than having relocated to a single area, the people of Hami seem to have scattered to live in the mountains, welcome enough to the Melona guides and those who accompany them but denying that they need any help or expressing any real desire to reform a central town. There is no need, after all. Everything they need to live on is provided by the land and the wild Pokemon who share not only their habitat, but where to find food and water, and keep them warm and safe through the night. The volcano still grumbles from time to time, the seas around them continue to churn with relentless whirlpools, and sandstorms rage in the east towards Melona. But right now, they're just trying to live day by day.

While there is no main town any longer, the people do come together from time to time in the valley to share resources and spread news, and once a week, they sit together under the stars and hold Pokemon Contests on a stage that is nothing more than a large, wide slab of rock. The gym leader, Tsubomi, specializes in both fire and fighting type Pokemon and honors battles wherever she is challenged. Because of the lack of a gym building, she might need to be tracked down, though she is easier to find than Konoha, often making set rounds from group to group, checking up on the townspeople spread across the mountains. Central to all the campsites are natural hot springs, and both people and wild Pokemon come here to submerge themselves in the steaming waters and rejuvenate after a long, hard day. When the first of the rescue team arrives at the hot springs, two familiar faces are seen: a girl with pink hair and a boy with blue hair. Nanami opens her eyes blearily and pats Minato on the face. He looks up at the group and goes, "Hey. What's up?"

→ AW NUTS...

(click to expand - you really should have done something about that volcano)

A couple nights into the month, a shooting star is spotted streaming across the sky and disappearing into the waters to the southwest.

The ground shakes.

In the dead of night, the sky is lit up with a spew of fire that bursts out of the volcano hundreds of meters in the air, black smoke billowing up into the air in thick clouds, the mountains hacking up ash and molten rock. Screams can be heard throughout the mountain range as lava rushes down the slopes, people trying to grab what little they have left for a second time— though many already have nothing left but their lives. Wild Pokemon flee from the mountains in herds, heading for the desert to face the sandstorms rather than being consumed by flame.

The ground shakes. It cracks.

Desert becomes beach as the sand spills into the water, the cusp between mountain and desert becoming a chasm driven deep into the water as the Hami mountains break away and start sinking into the sea.

→ MOD NOTES

⬥ For the sake of timelines, the Melona guides first head for Hami on December 3, the volcano erupts on December 5, and Hami subsequently becomes its own island on December 6. Destruction and evacuation can be played out however you want, but the boba shop remains standing in the end. The building is in impeccable condition. Not even the ash sticks to it.
⬥ Please make note of the new investigation form in the toplevel below, involving investigation style.
⬥ The second event log will go up on December 15.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Fai spots Minato seconds before the Yamask body slams him and he falls into the water.

He runs over, reaching out to grab Minato's hand and pull him out. ]

It's good to see you again.

[ The successive shocks keep Minato frozen, from seeing familiar faces, to being almost murdered by his own Pokemon friend, to hearing— and believing, immediately, and it warms his heart more than the water ever could— that somebody thinks it's good to see him and Nanami again. That warmth is still not enough to keep him from shivering, though, when he's standing and the breeze picks up and chills his sopping wet body.

Just gonna... sink back down into the water, but sat up with his Yamask finally giving him a break to hover over towards Fai, take his hand, and try to drag him over to the water so he can smush his hand against Minato's face too, like she's saying "Look, look! My boy is alive!" ]

[ Fai lets himself be dragged into the water, since he's already changed into his bathing suit anyway. While his one hand is being smooshed against Minato's face, his other goes up to ruffle his hair a little. ]

Maya looks delighted to see you. She must have really missed you.

[ He smiles, and it's one of his real ones—softer and notably different than what Minato has likely seen from him before. ]

I'm really glad that you're alright.

[ Honestly... he thought Minato was dead. ]

[ Fai isn't the only one who was faithless- opening his eyes to the sting of ash rather than that of salt water was also a shock for Minato when he'd first come to again, and it's a moment of time he replays in his mind like a puzzle box he isn't too sure how to approach. It's one he sets off to the side, ducking his head a little, abashed, at having his hair ruffled and made to stand in curled locks rather than flat with water. ]

Looks like it... Sorry to make you worry. Both of you.

[ He pats the Yamask on the head, short strokes. ]

Are... well. I guess you turned out alright. But did it work at all? The attack on the sky.

[ Fai shakes his head. ]

Don't worry about it. What matters is that you're alright.

[ It's true—Fai's just glad that he didn't die. But he tilts his head at that question. ]

Attack on the sky...?

[ Did they talk about it? He tries to sort through all his memories. So much has happened since that first month, the amount of change that's happened partially evident in the way Fai's eyes are a bright, unnatural blue instead of the cool gold they were before. ]

[ Cool. Fai is possessed. Honestly, Minato's not too sure what to make of a change in eye color, except that they remind him of Aigis- of Ryoji- of people who aren't really people, but are still very much people. Just trying to live their lives. He won't question it; he doesn't have a reason to, settling back on the simplicity of how he's always lived his life: answer questions when asked, ask his own when curious. ]

That's, um...

[ They didn't talk about it. He'd mentioned it briefly way waaay back when they were holding a meeting, way back when their group was small and they still did such things. But the idea was shot down and Minato hadn't brought it up since. Just sort of did his own thing without telling anybody, foolishly acting on his own, as he tends to do. ]

"The storm is alive." With the wind and the lightning, I didn't know if we'd be able to make it across the ocean in one piece... so I attacked the sky. To draw its attention. Didn't know if it'd work, but if it meant one less person gets struck by lightning, if it buys everybody a little more time and distance... I thought it'd be worth a shot.

[ But then he was thrown into the water, and can't remember well what happened between then and now. The way the skies cleared, the state of Toran after he left, he doesn't know any of that. ]

[ Minato would be right in that Fai is settled right on the line of human and not. He has the same emotions and reactions of the average person, but he's also seven or eight times older than Minato rather than the half decade older he looks.

Fai had stayed back to make sure everyone got out safely, so he didn't see that Minato was the source of the storm suddenly calming. He knew Minato had fallen overboard, but that was all. ]

That was you? [ He lets out a small breath. ] Is that why you fell overboard?

[ What the fuck happened in Tsubasa Chronicles.

Minato looks a bit sheepish— a bit guilty— a bit apprehensive- a little bit of everything that doesn't really know what to feel or think about the question, searching Fai's too-bright eyes for the reaction he can react off of. Is Fai upset? Worried? Grateful? It's always been so hard for Minato to tell, especially after losing the crutches he'd come to rely on. ]

I... It's what I did.

[ A safe enough, honest enough answer, he thinks, unsure of what "that" Fai specifically means. ]

An attack that completely wipes me out. The strongest that we can muster. But I usually have solid ground to fall back on, and I was standing on a boat, so...

[ sploosh ]

...I probably should've had more faith everybody would make it, huh? It was reckless. [ Maybe he should have stayed his hand. He doesn't regret doing it. But maybe he should have. ]

[ Too much happens... there's a flowchart.

Fai lets out a sigh this time, momentarily closing his eyes. He's not as falsely carefree as he was back in September, and it's probably obvious how much he's changed in personality in just a couple of months. His worry and mild frustration shows on his face now. ]

You're right. It was reckless.

[ He shakes his head, deciding not to chide Minato for this, because... ]

I believe you saved a lot of people by doing that. Do you regret it?

[ It feels all the more serious, like this. No smiles to make him feel better about the situation. A plain, honest answer. Minato gives on in return. ]

I don't regret it at all.

[ He's relieved. So very relieved in hearing that his actions might have saved people, but even if his actions had done nothing at all and he'd lost his life for no reason, he would not have regretted it. ]

There was a chance I could help. If I didn't take that chance... that's what I would have regretted.

[ Fai expected this kind of answer, and he smiles a little despite himself. That's because he gets it. He would've done the same thing, so he really can't be mad.

He ruffles Minato's hair again, messing it up even more. ]

Sacrificing yourself by doing dangerous things like that isn't good, and you should tell someone next time you come up with a plan like that. Come find me, and I'll help you find a solution so that you don't get hurt.

[ Also... ]

You're a good kid.

[ A little more guilt drips into Minato's features at the lecture, his mind drifting to another sacrifice he'd made, one he didn't tell anybody about, one more people would be upset about, one he wouldn't be able to return to and apologize for. He's a good kid, maybe, but he will always be a fool. ]

I try...

[ To be a good kid. Talked to like this, he's struck, not for the first time, with the fact that he's still a kid. ]

I didn't think I'd— [ fall overboard, get sucked under too deep to swim back, fall unconscious and almost drown- or maybe he did drown. All excuses. ] ...No. I just didn't think. I can rely on you, can't I? Like a lot of people here. Gotta remember that.

[ Fai can't help the lecturing—it's in his nature, and he does feel a little bad for it when he sees the guilt on Minato's face.

There's a small pause as Fai thinks about that. Can Minato really rely on him? He's spent so much time trying to keep people from relying on him, especially when it came to his traveling companions. But somewhere between getting close to them and getting close to people here... maybe he can be relied on. ]

Yes, you can. Actually... I want you to rely on me, Minato.

[ It's weird saying this, but he feels like he can confidently do so now.

Huh. He really has changed. ]

[ It makes Minato smile a little, remembering back when they'd first met- it still feels so recent to him, however brief a time he'd spent with everybody months ago. Unconsciousness is great for maintaining familiarity. But it's how Fai and Maya were together, mostly, the way she'd wanted to rely on him to help her find her way home because he'd immediately offered to help when he learned about her troubles, the way Minato had promised to as well. But Minato was the one who disappeared and let her down, and he watches the way Maya hangs around Fai now, shy by default but latching onto those she's comfortable around, like any normal seven-year-old girl. ]

You've always been dependable. Makes me feel like I'm not doing my job when I'm relying on others, but... We're supposed to be a team. ...Team Gay Baby Jail? Is that what we decided on?

[ Scratch that previous thought; it feels like forever ago. ]

Can I rely on you to catch me up on everything since I last saw you guys?

Ah... I don't think we ever decided on a name. I don't know how many of us liked Team Gay Baby Jail in the end.

[ Fai doesn't like the baby jail part, but he doesn't know about everyone else. ]

But of course I can catch you up on everything! A lot has happened, though, so you should get comfortable.

[ In fact, Fai's going to do that right now and sit down, back against one of the walls of the spring. ]

[ So they're just Team Gay, in the end. Minato doesn't care much about the name, just that Nanami though it might help to have one, to give everybody a sense of community and belonging. He has to wonder how much of that has happened, or whether they're all just people doing their own thing with a shared goal.

His time in SEES tells him that it's not a bad thing either, to be teammates with a shared goal. It's not like they have to be friends, even if Minato always wishes it were so. ]

Gotcha.

[ He can get along either way, sinking back into the water where he's at because nothing says comfort like hot water. He will try super extra hard to stay awake the entire time, and Maya sits in his lap and shakes his arm every time his head droops and chin bumps her on the top of the head. ]

[ Fai goes over everything. The camping trip through the woods, how Mango City was really nice for a while until the very end of October when everything went to hell (although he leaves out some of the details, like the memories he was forced to relive and the illusions he saw, but he goes over what the Pokemon did), the recovery effort afterward, the fact that they needed guides to get to Melona, the ruins and finding missing people and the gym leader, and the trip here. He also mentions going back to Toran, and that things have gotten much better there. It does take a while, and even though Fai leaves out details that are more related to him personally, there's still a lot to go over.

It's a good thing Maya is there to shake him awake. ]

...And here we are. That ended up taking longer than I thought.

[ It's a lot. Minato remains quiet as Fai talks, gaze drifting down to the surface of the water and watching Fai's reflection instead. Maya nudges at him, concerned about the dropping eyelids, but it's more that he's... well.

Everybody had such a tough time, and he'd been asleep— unconscious? can't have been either, and still wake up two months later relatively healthy, or as healthy as he was when he'd last remembered. But he had skipped forward in time while towns were flooding and Pokemon were suffering and the world was going to shit- how could he not feel bad? If he had been there, there would have been nothing he could have done. But at least he would have been there.

Month after month of ruin and disaster. And here we are. ]

..."The storm is alive." All anybody can do is weather it, huh? At least for now. It's not like I can attack a sandstorm, or signals in the air.

[ No target. Not like the lightning in the storms that had a general source. He's good at fighting, but with no target, he'll have to think harder on what to do. ]

[ The storm is alive... that's the second time Minato has said it. ]

Yes, that's all we can do for now. However...

[ He frowns a little. This is something he had been thinking about for a while now. ]

I wonder if there's a common factor between everything. All of the events are wildly different, but these disasters and storms happening so close together like this has me wondering if that might be the case.

[ Fai will be hearing it a lot, no matter where he is in the region, when the subject of the unnatural storms come up. ]

A common factor...

[ If the storm is alive, that would be it, wouldn't it? A source— a target, something to confront and to make stop. Something more tangible than mother nature which nothing can be done but let run its course. ]

The tsunami at Toran was 'cause of the volcano erupting here, right? And it erupted 'cause of... the earthquakes in Melona? Maybe. What caused the earthquakes, though? Something about what happened in Mango...?

[ Pokemon losing control of themselves. A scared, injured Golem. It must have gotten that way somehow, but it can't be the only source, he thinks. Maybe there were other Pokemon like that, maybe an earthquake is just an earthquake. Like how sandstorms are just sandstorms... probably. The world itself is alive and is constantly shifting, so it's hard to differentiate from suspicious and hopeful wishing.

Minato rubs the heel of his hand on his temple. ]

I dunno. The timing's hard to put together. People were saying the storms first started when they found Nanami and me in that lake. After that, there was more of...

[ He pulls his left pant let up just enough to show the band wrapped around his left ankle- two patterns intertwined. ]

A chain reaction, almost...

[ One thing after another, happening because of other things.

Fai holds up his wrist—it's the Psychic pattern. ]

Do you think we're the cause of these disasters?

I don't know, [ he says easily, honestly rather than dismissive. ]

It's always tempting to think the world revolves around oneself. Personally... I think we're just another one of those disasters.

[ Something that's not supposed to have happened, another part of the chain. Something had brought them here— continues to bring them here— he doesn't think they're a cause, but more of a consequence.

At the same time, ]

But I really don't know.

We're just one disaster in a whole line of them...

[ Hmmm. It's an apt description, he thinks. ]

You're right, we don't know. But I think that's a good way to think of our presence here. It's possible our arrival is connected, at least in some way.

[ "We're all disasters" sounds about right, yeah. ]

Maybe a branch, rather than a chain? Either way, there's still a root cause. ...How good is your memory, Fai? Do you remember the day you arrived?

My memory is pretty good. I remember a lot about that first day. Why?

[ It was such an unusual way for him to arrive in a new world that Fai doesn't think he could forget it. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

DECEMBER LOG PT1

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ OH THANK GOD

→ WELCOME TO THE NEW HAMA

→ AW NUTS...

→ MOD NOTES

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