DECEMBER LOG PT2

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 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

Uh-huuuuh. Suuuuure.

[ That's such bullshit, Fai. You know it!! Hien can't help but to snicker while grinning. ]

There's really nothing else?

[ He takes it all back. Hien is not his friend. ]

You really want me to say something specific, don't you?

[ Rude!! Take what you dish out!! ]

Yeah. I know you already know what I want you to say.

[ WOW.

Fine.

Fai lets out a sigh, looking down at the scarf in his lap for a little while before finally looking up at Hien. ]

I was relieved when I got here and didn't see Kuro-rin, because I was afraid that if I wasn't careful, I would fall for him. I don't feel that way anymore, but those feelings did linger with me for a while. I wasn't ready to admit to myself that I felt that way until those feelings were gone.

[ He smiles a little wryly. Happy, Hien? ]

[ Yeah, he's pretty happy. In comparison to Fai's wry smile, Hien has a gentle one on his face. At least he's not going to make fun of him for it. ]

From how you talked about him, you two already sounded like a married couple. Kinda like when Hythlodaeus talked about Hades and Azem when we went stargazing that night.

[ The two old men and their crushes... Hien doesn't count himself in that group. ]

But now you have Itaru.

[ A married couple, huh... Yeah, that was Fai's fault for pushing that kind of narrative onto their little travel group, even if it was a joke. Sometimes jokes turn into something serious.

At the mention of Itaru, his smile turns soft and he laughs a little. ]

I do. I'm really lucky. Actually, I should thank you for helping me with all of that... I don't think I would have acknowledged the way I felt if it weren't for you.

[ Fai is cagey, even with himself. ]

[ Seeing his soft smile warms his heart. Happy people really do make him feel better... but he didn't expect to be thanked for it to his face. He looks a little surprised. ]

... You should live out your life to the fullest while you still can.

[ And here he is, talking like an old man again. ]

So, of course I would help out with that. You're just as deserving as everyone else.

[ Fai shakes his head. He really doesn't think he is, but that's not something he's going to get into. ]

You still deserve to be thanked for everything you've done for me. I wish I could repay you somehow.

Then repay me by eventually wholeheartedly believing that you're just as deserving.

[ Fai won't escape from this. ]

[ Hien will never let him escape...

Fai looks down at his scarf again, playing with it a little. ]

I'll try. I can't guarantee I will ever actually feel that way, but... Trying is enough, right?

[ Hien reaches over to grab Fai's face with both hands to tilt his head up. ]

My eyes are up here.

[ Look at him!! ]

[ That actually does get him to look at Hien, and he lets out a small sigh. ]

I'll try. I promise. It's... hard to not feel that way, but I'll try to stop thinking that I don't deserve anything.

[ It's hard to undo the damage caused by the things the king of Valeria said to him all those years ago. ]

... I know.

[ He withdraws his hands and gently pats his head. ]

But I also know that you're always trying your hardest anyway, despite everything. Nothing has to be immediate, but as long as you're working towards it, that's all I can ask for.

[ Fai smiles, warm and sincere. ]

Thank you. You do make me want to try even harder.

[ It's nice, having people care about him like this. It's scary too, but the warmth he feels in his chest from all of it helps chase away some of that fear. ]

If you ever need anything from me, don't hesitate to ask. I'm serious. I'll do whatever I can to help you.

Thanks.

[ He ruffles Fai's hair and then pulls his hand back. ]

I'll be counting on you.

[ Mimi paws at Fai's leg. ]

... Mimi too, I guess.

[ He reaches out to ruffle Hien's hair back. And since Mimi pawed at him, he gets a little hair ruffle too. ]

I hope I live up to your expectations!

[ Hien shakes his head quickly and that... only helps a little. Oh well. It's whatever. Mimi really enjoys the ruffling though. Hien doesn't. He had to brush his fur again!! ]

You will. Don't worry.

[ Hm... ]

So, how was your Christmas date at Mango?

[ Sorry, Hien. He just can't resist ruffling Mimi's fur when he's so cute...

Fai lights up a little at the mention of the date. ]

It was great! We walked around quite a bit, just enjoying the city. [ The busy atmosphere was nice after Melona and now Hami. ] I've never celebrated Christmas before, so I had a lot of fun.

[ Hien picks up the brush and starts brushing Mimi's fur again. It's fine, it's fine... though Fai's first Christmas celebration... he's glad that he had fun. ]

Did you see a really big Christmas tree? I imagine the city would at least have one after restoration.

We did! It was huge!

[ And there were tons of Pokemon ornaments on it, the whole works. ]

We even took a... what is it called? Selfie? We took one in front of it.

[ Hien looks like he knows what it is. ]

Oh, with Itaru's phone? Must have been a nice picture.

[ He doesn't doubt Itaru's selfie abilities for some reason. ]

It was. I wish I could frame it.

[ Itaru's kissing his cheek in it and there's a tiny smile on Fai's face. It's sickeningly cute. ]

How was your Christmas Eve? You didn't miss me too much, did you?

I saw a fluffy bird passing out presents and some of them exploded. Had to do a lot of damage control.

[ Yeah. That was his Christmas Eve. ]

Sounds... eventful?

[ Well. He feels kind of bad that Hien didn't do much else. ]

You got it under control at least?

Yeah. Thankfully, no one really got hurt.

[ This includes him!! His arm is still in recovery, but much better than it was before. ]

Sure, I missed you, but I'm glad you were having a good time instead of stressing out. You really needed it.

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ DESPITE EVERYTHING, YOU'RE STILL ALIVE

→ IT'S TIME TO REBUILD

→ HO HO HO-LY SHIT

→ MOD NOTES

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject