DECEMBER LOG PT2

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→ DESPITE EVERYTHING, YOU'RE STILL ALIVE

(click to expand - congratulations! congratulations! congratulations!)

The earthquakes cease and the smog slowly begins to clear. It'll be hours before the sky breaks through and the moon could be seen once more, but the fires of the volcano finally calm down and the screams of terror cease, only to be replaced with concerned shouting. Is everyone all right? Where is so-and-so? Is there a doctor nearby? Both people and Pokemon run back and forth, attending to what and who they can.

Although fatalities seem to be low, injuries are high. Some have fallen during their escape while others have been pelted by falling rocks, but nearly everyone is a victim to high levels of carbon monoxide and the thick scattering of ashes. All types of Pokemon pitch in to help - even wild ones - as they try their best to create a shelter for the remainder of the night and escort the young and elderly to the still-functioning boba shop.

No one will be falling asleep anytime soon, however.

→ IT'S TIME TO REBUILD

(click to expand - can we fix it? yes, we can!!)

Throughout the next few days and weeks, the people of Hami try to rebuild their lives once more. They erect campsites and learn how to survive on their new island. Unlike last time, however, help arrives from different parts of Cassava - Toran, Mango, and Melona. Food and water are passed around while additional medical staff tend to the still-injured. Mari and Konoha have also tagged along, relieved that Tsubomi have made it out all right, but saddened by the state of things. The three gym leaders make themselves available to assist where they can, including being free for gym battles, though they may make a face and, in Tsubomi's case, scowl. A little distraction is good, though, and they will eventually relent to a challenge.

As supplies are passed around, volunteers of the support team mention that the HMs for Fly and Surf have been finally located. There were multiple copies held in each city and town's Pokemon Centre for trainers to use, but they've all gone missing earlier that year. No one understands why, but they've managed to find a single copy of each in an old and forgotten box in Toran. With this, everyone can now travel by Pokemon and shorten each day of a trip to an hour, so for a five-day hike, it'll turn into a five-hour flight. Pretty useful, huh?

The HMs are passed around for Pokemon to learn, but with the large amount of people and long line-ups, you'll only have the chance to learn one of the two moves. Choose wisely as they may not be seen for a while again.

→ HO HO HO-LY SHIT

(click to expand - it's already the end of the year!)

Despite the grim beginning of the month, the latter half of December is filled with cheer and joy - even for Hami Island, whose people are making the best out of their situation. Christmas is near and everyone is excited to end this hectic year with smiles. Bright decorations are hung and although Toran is the only location with natural snowfall, ice-type Pokemon artifically create snow for everyone to enjoy. Some are nicer about it than others, as Spheals use Powder Snow to create beautiful gusts of snowflakes in the air while Sneasels use Icy Wind when people are least expecting it, causing hats to go flying and for tinier Pokemon to tumble away.

Little Delibirds wander through all towns and campsites to spread the joy. They give away presents from their seemingly-endless-void-of-a-bag, chirping happily as they hand over either a gift or a bomb. If you're lucky, it's the former and you'll get whatever material present that you've wanted or needed, even if you didn't know it, but if you're not so fortunate... well, at least it's easy to find doctors in Cassava.

But the Delibirds aren't enough to replace a real Santa Claus. Children beg and yell for one, but in the midst of all the panic and fuss over the volcano and Hami's citizens, every town forgot to hire someone to play the jolly ol' man. Oops. Well, be a dear and sub in, why don't you? It's okay if you don't look the part. They'll just shove you into an itchy costume and use superglue for the fake beard. It's okay if it takes an entire night or two for it to come off. You gotta do it for the children, who are more than insistent on tugging on it for fun.

Christmas eventually comes and goes before it's New Year's Eve. Everyone makes preparations for the fireworks show for their respective town and campsite. By the end of the night, the sky is lit with bright and sparkling colours. It's a beautiful end to the year and everyone peacefully goes to sleep that night. Some dream of a better future while others dream of fulfilling their resolutions, but for each isekai'd traveller, they all share one single dream: an out-of-body experience in darkness with a presence that surrounds them.

"What is your deepest, darkest desire?"

→ MOD NOTES

⬥ Congratulations for surviving the year! Your IC gift is learning either Fly or Surf and one item of your OOC choosing. This item may be a canon regain or simply anything else, but regardless of the choice, please comment underneath the proper top-level to get it approved.
⬥ Happy holidays and an early happy new year!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He feels horrible. It's been so long since Fai has actually gotten sick that he'd forgotten what it was like, and he's sure he's never been this sick before.

The orange smells really good and he spaces out a little, just enjoying the feel of Mimi next to him and that citrusy smell that's filling the tent. He takes the orange, staring down at it in his hand. Honestly, the thought of asking Hien to feed him is tempting because separating the pieces and putting them in his mouth is going to take a lot of energy. For now, he's just going to look at it. ]

You were?

[ Interesting. ]

Something like that, yeah.

[ He starts peeling an apple with a small knife, creating a long, continuous peel that doesn't cut off. ]

Magic isn't my strong suit, but I guess it has a lot of utility, in a sense.

[ Controlling memory, life, and all aspects of the self? Yeah, that sure has a lot of utility, but it's nothing like shooting off blasts of magical energy like Fai can. He's too specialized. ]

[ He finally manages to work up to peeling off one of the slices and popping it into his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he nods. ]

There's all sorts of things you can do with it. Too many to list, in fact.

[ It's just that learning it, at least where Fai is from, is very difficult. ]

Magic has a lot of uses. I guess I...

[ Hm. He thinks back to the time when he died for the first time. The connection was too strong that it killed his body, and he wonders what that meant. Magic affinity? Muse typing? Guess he'll never know now. ]

... am not suited to being a magician, in the end. It was similar to a battle royale setting. People were chosen based on what they were known for, like wielding a specific weapon or if they were known for stealth... I got picked for the magician slot because I arrived late in that world.

[ He starts cutting apples into small slices. ]

Needless to say, I did not fight with magic.

[ Battle royale, huh... He watches as Hien peels the apple, eating another orange slice. ]

Let me guess, you used your fists or something?

[ Or maybe a heavy weapon? Fai remembers how easily Hien was able to twirl his staff. ]

I'm more of a kicking sort of guy.

[ As evidenced with the "kick tall people day". ]

Though I also use wires and a rapier. It really doesn't fit the magician class, does it? My magic isn't usually for combat either, though I could use it that way if I wanted to...

[ Debuffs everywhere. ]

The one I was partnered with didn't seem to mind though.

[ Hien and his love for leg sweeps... Fai will never forget. ]

Hmmm, it doesn't, but I think you could make most weapons work for a magician. I've used darts before. [ A pause. ] But I also didn't use my magic.

[ He was too afraid to because of his curse, but he doesn't have that here, so! Magic for everything.

Another orange slice. ]

You had a partner for the battle royale?

You'd think primarily casting spells would make you a magician... but I guess the definition is different everywhere you go.

[ Hien slightly tilts his head as he tries to recall. ]

That world was pretty complicated in terms of relationships. My partner was my other self's worldhopping boyfriend's other self.

[ Yeah. Yeah............. ]

We didn't have that sort of relationship though. That was also a world where I didn't speak until the end.

[ Anyway. ]

The look on other participants' faces when I started using weapons instead of casting spells was pretty funny though. I don't think I can forget that feeling for as long as I live.

[ He seems extremely amused while thinking back on it, which is probably something Fai isn't used to seeing on Hien's face. They're inside the tent with the entrance closed off, so he has his mask off while he's inside. ]

[ Fai's head feels so foggy from the cold that he has to really think about the relationship Hien had with his partner.

He does notice how amused Hien looks, and it makes him smile a little. ]

They must have had good reactions. Did you enjoy that world?

[ Hm. Did he? He's not so sure. He puts the cut apple slices on the plate. Since he cut the skin already, there aren't any cute rabbit ears on them. Sorry, Fai. ]

I'd say the cons outweighed the pros, but that's the norm. I did get to fight people who actually took effort to fight instead of a one-shot victory, so I guess that was something.

[ No rabbit ears... how is Fai supposed to eat them? He reaches out to grab one off of the plate anyway. ]

It's nice to be challenged sometimes, isn't it?

[ Fai isn't talking about himself, though. He's thinking more of how Kurogane seeks out challenges. ]

It's more like...

[ How should he put this. He thinks about it while putting the plate closer to Fai so that he has an easier time reaching them. ]

... I didn't feel like I was bullying anyone.

[ He laughs a little, much quieter than normal, as he reaches for another apple slice. ]

You're too powerful for most people, aren't you?

[ Because same hat. It's part of why being depowered here hasn't been all that bad for him. He likes being just a little more average. ]

I can't be too weak if I'm going around trying to sustain world balances and stuff when I need to...

[ That's said a lot quieter than his already usual quiet voice. He reflects on his past failures, but shakes the thoughts out of his head pretty quickly. ]

I'm the weakest Overseer out of the three, even though tasks like that are usually relegated to me. It would be easy if the other two took over, but they have conditions that don't allow them to do things like that.

[ Leto is trapped in his world and Renatus is just a douchebag. ]

Edited 2020-12-25 22:31 (UTC)

[ Fai notices the way Hien says that quietly, and decides that maybe he should steer the topic away. ]

There's always conditions that make things harder, aren't there?

[ He takes another apple slice, but holds it out to Hien even though the plate is right next to him. ]

Have some.

Thanks.

[ Hien takes the apple slice from Fai when he holds it out, staring at it with an impassive look on his face before taking a small bite. ]

I was thinking... power doesn't mean a whole lot if you can't do the things you want with them.

[ He lightly tosses the remaining apple slice into the air and tilts his head up to catch it in his mouth. Success! ]

[ He leans back against the pillows, watching Hien catch the apple in his mouth. Normally he would clap, but he's too tired so instead he just smiles a little. ]

It doesn't. My magic is no good most of the time.

[ Hien stays quiet for a moment before picking up an apple slice and then putting it to Fai's lips. He's feeding him, because he feels like there's a certain weight behind those words. ]

Says a magician who can block stuff.

[ He smiles against the apple slice, more than happy to have it fed to him. ]

The shield is one of the only defensive spells I know. I can blow things up, disintegrate them, freeze them, set them on fire... but it only means something to me if I'm protecting someone.

And not for yourself, huh?

[ After Fai eats that apple slice, Hien reaches to lightly pinch his cheek and tug. ]

[ Fai just lets his cheek be tugged on. He deserves it. ]

Ah, you caught me!

[ A pause. ]

I will start looking out for myself more, I promise. Fai gave me this life. I need to protect it.

[ Oh? Hien looks a little wide eyed at Fai, but then lets go and there's a small smile on his face. He won't ask and honestly, my memory sucks in knowing what Hien knows where... but he's glad about hearing Fai's conviction regardless. ]

Good.

[ He ruffles his hair and withdraws his hand. ]

Protect it well, or you're gonna have a lot of people mad on your hands and not even death will protect you from it.

[ Honestly same...

But Fai had been convinced previously that he killed his brother, so Hien would also notice that there seems to no longer be the sheer amount of guilt that was previously there. He laughs. ]

You're right, I am. [ He sighs, leaning his head back again because he feels kind of dizzy. ] I'm lucky, having so many people that would be angry with me.

[ Yeah, he definitely won't ask how Fai got like this, but Hien is just glad that it's like this at all. He feels happier about it, until he remembers--right, Fai's sick right now. ]

Damn right, you are. I'm glad you realized it too.

[ But his voice softens a bit after. ]

... Why don't you lie down? It looks like you're having trouble just sitting up.

[ He practically pouts. ]

I'm fine. Just a little dizzy... it's nothing.

[ Let him sit up!! He doesn't want to sleep. But he gets another dizzy spell and closes his eyes. Ugh... why does being congested come with being dizzy too? ]

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ DESPITE EVERYTHING, YOU'RE STILL ALIVE

→ IT'S TIME TO REBUILD

→ HO HO HO-LY SHIT

→ MOD NOTES

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