DECEMBER LOG PT2

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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!

Comments

[nyom]

Uh-huh! Pokemon can eat it too! Does Blue want some? I got all sorts of flavors!

[ She pulls out some taffy, candy canes, hard candy... you name it. ]

[scension]

[Blue, huh? Sagi would have just swiped a handful of hard candy to give to all of his Pokemon later, but he supposes the big guy has been putting in work over the past few weeks, helping carry stuff over to the newly formed island.]

As long as there's enough to go around...

[He presses the button on a Pokeball from his belt. The Swampert materialises in front of Efi, burbling curiously.]

Well? Do you want any?

[Swampert regards the candy in Efi's hands for a second before politely pointing to a candy cane with bright red stripes. It seems he has the same favourite colour as his trainer.]

[nyom]

[ Efi thinks Blue is being really cute, despite him being a big Swampert now. It helps that she has Kip, who's also a Swampert, but seeing him being polite makes her really happy. Kip is a lazy pos more than half the time. ]

Here you go!

[ She gives Blue the candy cane he picked out. ]

That one will taste like... pipermint!

[ Peppermint. ]

[scension]

"Pipermint"...

[Blue's big fishy fingers aren't the most dextrous, so he leans in to carefully take the candy cane in his mouth instead - not to chomp on Efi herself, though it sure could look that way out of context.]

Oh, hey, what do we say after that?

["Womp!" says Blue, only slightly muffled by the candy in his giant mudfish mouth.

It's more than close enough for Sagi to be happy with.] There, see? He says thanks.

[And now the Swampert can swallow the candy cane whole, equally happy. Crunch.]

[nyom]

[ Cronch. Efi seems pretty happy though, looking over at Blue and Sagi with a grin. ]

Blue is so nice like you, Sagi!

[scension]

Hehe, well, he was a polite little guy a few months ago. It's a good thing he remembered that after changing shape.

[Once again mostly sidestepping the compliment not because he dislikes it, but because he doesn't think it means very much.

He watches as Blue finishes gulping down the entire candy cane and goes back up to Efi to try and nuzzle affectionately. Come to think, the Swampert's build, beady eyes, big mouth and vein-like orange leg pads all remind him of a certain other unusually polite lake monster... who in turn was a variation on a certain monster Efi saw in Mango, just blue and with fins. Swampert is more photogenic, though. It's just a coincidence.]

One is enough, Blue. We need to leave some for the actual kids and their Pokemon.

[Blue burbles affirmatively, undaunted. He's not hogging more of the candy, he just wants to thank Efi properly. And maybe also a headpat.]

[nyom]

[ Efi, of course, doesn't think too much of it. She happily nuzzles Blue in return and giggles. ]

I wish Kip was like Blue! He usually doesn't wanna do anything unless he thinks it's fun. I have a lot more candy though.

[scension]

Well, it looked like you were having fun up there. What gave you the idea?

[Or is throwing candy at people's heads just another of those traditions? Seems legit. All the others he heard about were strange and haphazard enough.]

[nyom]

That Kip doesn't wanna do anything unless it's fun?

[ She slightly tilts her head to the side. ]

He was like that since he was small though.

[scension]

Oh, I meant the idea to hand out candy.

[So far he's gotten the impression that it's like everyone having a birthday party at once, except there are also trees, and fake snow... He imagines the candy comes under the whole party-related umbrella, but it seems complicated.]

[nyom]

Oh! Um, it looked like they make special candies and stuff during the holeedays, and everyone loves sweets! So I wanted to help pass them out!

[ Even though Efi was just tossing them at people... ]

And the clothes are cute!