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

[selfconcept]

[ this is where I make custom top levels for people. If you want one, let me know! ]

Hythlo

[selfconcept]

[ After viewing fireworks for the new year, Hien slept quietly in the tent. He doesn't move around normally, but he's been occasionally turning. It's around noon when he wakes up, because there's no coffee today to help him wake and get through the AM portion of the day. He doesn't want to get out of his sleeping bag, where it's nice and cozy... he doesn't really have anything to do for the day anyway. He turns his head to see Hythlo in the tent for whatever reason. ]

... morning.

[ It is not morning. ]

[weenwoon]

[The whatever reason is playing with his Espurr! Though what they're playing seems to be a staring contest, because Hythlo doesn't look away from the cat despite smiling at Hien's greeting.]

'Tis almost the afternoon, Hien. You missed breakfast.

[selfconcept]

I always miss breakfast...

[ He yawns and curls up in his sleeping bag. Let him stay here a little longer. Hien watches Hythlo and his Espurr partake in the staring contest though, and it's slightly amusing to see. ]

Good luck, Daeus.

[ With the staring contest. ]

[weenwoon]

One day I shall make you breakfast so good that you will have no choice but to wake up for it.

[He chuckles at the good luck wish. He's going to need it: it's very hard to outstare an Espurr.]

...Say, Hien. Do you think that one's deepest desire is necessarily an unsightly one?

[selfconcept]

No.

[ There's no hesitation in his answer, because it's what Hien really believes. ]

It doesn't have to be. It's just that people are usually restrained by societal rules and stuff, so they tend to keep the more unsavory things out of the public eye, therefore it's a "dark desire" that they can't let out in fear of being ostracized. It's a little like guilty pleasures.

[ Yeah, when he wakes up normally like this, he can give well thought out answers instead of being a sleepy zombie for hours. ]

[weenwoon]

[He smiles, relieved, still keeping eye contact with Espurr.]

I see... Do you have any guilty pleasures, Hien? Apart from cute things, I suppose.

[selfconcept]

I'd like to think I'm pretty open about the things I like, so I don't really think I have any...?

[ Well, at least things that go in the hobby section. He enjoys a good fight here and there, but he doesn't consider that as a guilty pleasure. ]

Did you get some weird dream about it?

[weenwoon]

[He hums and nods.]

Indeed. A voice asking me what my "deepest and darkest" desire was... It made me curious. I doubt I would have worded it like that--the "darkest" qualifier seems both unneccessary and, mm, tricky at best.

For yjh

[selfconcept]

[ Backdated to Christmas Eve, because I'm always late. Hien had been getting presents for people, and they've been rather small. He doesn't have too much money and he's frankly tired. There was also nothing in Hami, so he had to make a trip to Mango to get things.

Wherever Joonghyuk is, Hien will run into him and tries to get his attention while getting a small box out of his cloak. It's too bad there's a Leafeon who lightly bops the box out of Hien's hands and it goes flying right at Joonghyuk's head. ]

[regression]

[ Joonghyuk for the most part has left behind the Hami mountains, but he's generally accessible. Fortunately he has fast reflexes and catches the box. Minji looks up at him, then at Hien with bright curious eyes. What's in it?

Does she get one, too? ]

You didn't need to get me anything.

[ He doesn't even think they're close to warrant gifts. ]

[selfconcept]

[ It's fine. You don't have to be close to give gifts to someone!! Also, Hien doesn't really know Joonghyuk's tastes at all, so inside the box will be a some instant coffee and some holiday themed cookies. He can share them with Minji, which is why there's like... ten cookies in that small box. ]

I wanted to. Happy holidays.

[regression]

[ You're a fool to think he would eat things other people make, but he will at least try the coffee... He doesn't open the box in front of Hien since he has some manners. ]

Why?

[ "I wanted to" isn't much of an answer. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien looks at Joonghyuk, wondering if he needs a better reason than "just because". He thinks about it for a moment before speaking up: ]

... You can think of it as thanks for helping me out.

[regression]

[ He can't say he helped him for his own sake or that Hien being alive is part of his plans. Because he isn't, likewise... He helped him "just because." ]

... There are better people worth your kindness.

[ But he isn't going to give it back. He stores it into his pocket and it seamlessly rests in there, like it never existed. Hammerspace inventory is great. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Big agree on hammerspace. ]

Just because there are doesn't mean you don't get a present too.

[ Silly Joonghyuk. ]

Are you spending your time well with Dokja?

[regression]

[ He guesses he can't argue with that and it's not like he's going to give the gift back. ]

... Yes, though the fool doesn't know how to celebrate holidays.

[ Which can also go for himself, but he seems to keep days of rest in mind. From the same pocket, he tosses a little box over to Hien. While it wasn't intended for him, Joonghyuk can let it go. ]

Here.

hythlo

[selfconcept]

[ It's some time around Christmas and Hien has been resting lately. He's gotten small presents for people he favors like little snacks or scarves. Hythlo is one of them and it's pretty easy to find him... ]

Daeus.

[ He holds out a small box. ]

Here, for you.

wow guess who forgot to hit send!

[weenwoon]

Hien!

[Hythlo is only all too happy to see him! He's still in his Horrible Christmas Sweater Hoodie, to keep in spirit of whatever this holiday is, and on approach wraps a blue tinsel garland around Hien's shoulders.]

Oh... for me?

[He beams, taking the box--and he's going to open it on the spot. What's inside!]

[selfconcept]

[ The garland feels itchy when it brushes against his neck, so he adjusts it so that it's further away and nearly draping off his shoulders.

The small box will have an assortment of holiday themed sweets like cookies and candy, and there's a little stained glass ornament that's shaped like a star.

Also he won't question what Hythlo is wearing. ]

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo's face lights up at the gifts--and particularly at the little star. He picks it out from the box delicately and twirls it in his fingers, a joyful smile on his face.]

...'Tis beautiful. Thank you, Hien.

[Is it small enough to make into an earring... That would be cute.]

Would you like to share the sweets?

[selfconcept]

[ It's probably half the size of a normal person's palm, so that would be a little too big for an earring... Hien also made sure the points are not sharp so Hythlo doesn't accidentally cut himself with it. ]

Sure.

[ If Hythlo says so, he won't mind. It just feels weird to eat something he gave as a present to someone else. ]

[weenwoon]

[He gives Hien a cheeky wink.]

Food is best when shared with friends, after all! Care to sit down for some boba--or coffee, perhaps, in your case? And then I can give you your present, too.

[He looks almost ready to burst with pride at that. He has a Very Good Gift... Or, well, he will have it, once he actually makes it. But that wouldn't take long.]

[selfconcept]

Coffee sounds good.

[ He can decidedly get boba anytime, but coffee? Made by his friends? That's the good shit. And also, wow. How dare you steal his line?? Hien can't help but to laugh a little though. I have no idea where they are, but I assume it's an okay place for them to have their impromptu snack picnic. ]

Should I close my eyes? Or...

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo is essentially a walking konbini that stocks literally everything, so even if there's nowhere around to sit down properly he can make them a quilt. But it's quicker to assume there's a bench nearby.]

You should! 'Tis a present, after all. But first, the drinks! Then you can pretend you are simply savouring the coffee.

[Hythlo plops down on the bench, setting his gift box down in his lap, and briefly brings his hands together, preparing to materialize a cup of coffee. At least you'll never go hungry or thirsty with him around.]

Welcome to the shop! May I take your order?

[Yes, he's going to pretend to be a barista.]