(no subject)

[paladinlost]

Who: puppet_paladin and usespoonybard (who has no tag, mods)
Where: Cherrygrove
When: Late afternoon, February 10
Summary: Cecil is seventeen years too old. Edward is seventeen years too young. They have a lot to talk about.
Rating: G? I doubt we'll need a PG.
Log:

[Somehow, Cecil has managed to survive the long trek to Cherrygrove without too much trouble. The hail had been a nasty surprise, but he'd not wanted to wait it out. He remembers finding himself lost in a new world, ripped away from his friends and family. Finding Squall, Light, Firion and Zidane had been a relief, one that had kept him from feeling afraid. Now, it is his turn to help Edward settle in, and he does not intend to fail at the task.

He sighs.]

Honestly, bringing newcomers in the middle of winter. What are they thinking?

Comments

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

[Edward, meanwhie, had just finished working at the Pokemon Mart. Yes, he took on a part-time job during his recovery -- those inn rooms aren't free, sadly. For now, however, he's in the entrance area of the inn -- today was the day, wasn't it? On his hat, as per usual, was his Pidgey. And his Diglett was nowhere to be seen -- to be honest, it never came out while indoors.]

[paladinlost]

[And there is Edward, only a few meters away. Cecil takes a deep breath, puts on a smile and waves.]

Edward! I apologize for the time it took to reach Cherrygrove. Are you well?

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

I have been recovering well -- however, I must admit I'm not good with this cold. Were you safe? [Edward smiles, before standing and walking over to Cecil. His walk isn't the best -- but of course it isn't.]

[paladinlost]

I was; no one could harm me, with Flare nearby. And I've brought you some supplies, including some winter clothing and a sweater. It should help with the cold. Would you like to go inside? [Preferably somewhere Edward can sit. It seems every month gives Cecil more reasons to regret the loss of his White Magic.]

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

...Yes. It's quite warm in my rented room, so let's go there. [he said, giving the smallest of frowns.]

[paladinlost]

Please, lead the way. I'm afraid I've forgotten the inn's layout, in the last few months. [He hasn't, not really. But he still doesn't quite know where to start, and he doesn't want Edward to see the uncertainty in his eyes.]

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

...Okay.
[Edward started to lead Cecil to the room, silently pondering what he'll be told. In the back of his mind, he was quite nervous about what he might hear.]

[paladinlost]

[...He should be thinking about what to say, but after seeing the way Edward walks Cecil cannot help himself.]

Have you asked the nurse about your injuries? The local healing methods are quite advanced; she might be able to help speed up your recovery.

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

Ah... I've already spoken with her -- she was quite helpful, if only about my injuries. [Guess who tried asking the nurse about a way home.] It should only be another week until I have recovered, if I don't do anything too stressful to my body.

[paladinlost]

That should not be a problem. As far as cities go, Cherrygrove is quite peaceful and quiet. It's the perfect place to rest, though I suppose Azalea could also suffice. At least they did not put you on bed rest.

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

True... but I suppose they felt I could keep on moving, after the trek from New Bark. [And then they get to his room, and Edward makes his way back to sitting.]

[paladinlost]

[Now that they've reached their destination, Cecil can't distract himself with small talk anymore. He closes his eyes for a few seconds.] What would you like to hear about first? This world... or home?

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

[For a few seconds, Edward paused to think. What would he want to hear first? Though, he had been thinking about it recently.]
...I think I'd rather hear about this world first.
[Why? Because he was a little scared of what may be happening back home.]

[paladinlost]

[Cecil loves you for that answer, Edward. He loves you so very much.]

We call this world Johto, but actually Johto is merely the name of one of its regions. None of us have left its borders, but some of our Pokémon come from beyond them. Pokémon serve as its monsters, its animals and its Eidolons, and they are the only magic allowed here.

As you can already tell, time is not quite stable here. People can come from the same world, but from different times. They can show up, disappear, and come back younger or older, with or without any memories of Johto. Some also fall asleep for weeks, and wake up with additional memories from home.

...Do you have any questions about that?

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

...If Pokemon are the only magical beings, why are they so easy to tame? What of this worlds' armies and warriors?
[Edward pauses, before adding more.]
And has anybody discovered... anything about our return to home?

[paladinlost]

This world has some form of law enforcement, but they are mostly inefficient. They have no armies of warriors that we've seen, and even criminals use Pokémon to commit their crimes. But from what I've seen, Pokémon cannot cause fatal damage to humans. Children as young as ten are expected to travel by themselves and capture them.

As for home, we have rumors at best. They say that we might be able to return by accomplishing certain tasks, such as defeated the eight Gym leaders and obtaining the badges they give out. However, no one has confirmed that.

Also, sorry I've been slow -- School. D:

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

This world... it is rather different to home. I would not trust a child outside of the castle, back in Damcyan... but I suppose there is not any war going on, in this world. Except for those whispered rumours of Team Rocket... do you know what they're about?

Ah... I suppose nobody has trained enough to attempt that method of escape, yet. As for me... I have been looking though my bag, and I am apparently a 'breeder'. I still wish to take on the Gym Challenge, however, if it'll get me home.

It's okay, I'll be slow once my job starts too.

[paladinlost]

I know little of them. Their last crimes happened a few weeks before I arrived. But I've heard people mention recent kidnappings committed by their group. Perhaps they are active once more.

I know a few people who have four badges, but no more than that. I have personally obtained three. Perhaps breeders have different tasks to accomplish. Have you talked to any others?

Ah, good. :3 (i mean for understanding.)

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

...And if they are behind kidnappings, I suppose it is our jobs to stop them, Cecil. Us, and the other 'heroes'. [Edward... is still kind-of in the mindset of going and trying to save the world. Excuse his behaviour.]
And, no, I have not spoken with other breeders. I will be, eventually -- I am curious to how a creature like Minuet can breed -- I have never seen her leave the ground.
[...But, it's obvious Edward is trying to think of the right way to ask about home.]

[paladinlost]

We'll find a lot of those, thankfully. The other warriors of Cosmos would bring our numbers to six, plus Dagger, plus Tifa, plus Lightning and Hope and any other friends they might have...

[Dammit, Edward, it took months to break him out of the world-saving mentality.]

Breeding works strangely in this world. Every creature is born from an egg, and nearly everything can breed with some strange pink flan called Ditto. My own little Lydia managed to make an egg with one of those, in fact.

[...But he sees that, and he'll save him the trouble.]

Do you... have any questions about home, now?

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

I... yes. Did everything turn out... alright? Did we stop them from hurting anybody more?

[paladinlost]

...There were some more losses, but Golbez was stopped. [Completely true.] We managed to break the mind control spell he cast over Kain. [Also true.] We also defeated the true man behind that plan. [Was not quite a man by then, but close enough.] Everyone spent the last seventeen years rebuilding our nations to their former glories. [Omissions are not lies, are they?

As he speaks, Cecil takes out a package from his bag and starts playing with it absent-mindedly.]

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

...
[Processing this, Edward... well, he has a lot more questions.]
There were more losses?! And... was Golbez merely stopped, or killed? [After all... Tellah said he'd kill Golbez. Did that old fool do it?

Edward is a bit too wrapped up in this to notice the package, sadly.]

[paladinlost]

...There were more losses, though they were fewer than we feared. And Golbez... Golbez still lives. There were many attempts on his life, but none of them succeeded.

[But if Edward pays attention to the fingers holding the package, he'll see their grip tighten unconsciouly.]

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

[And Edward did notice that!]
...Is something wrong with that?

[paladinlost]

Hmm? Oh, that's a care package I brought you. Some of those items cannot be bought in Cherrygrove, and I thought they might be useful...

[But there is one important thing Cecil needs to tell Edward. No matter how painful it may be... he deserves to know.]

...After Leviathan attacked, I found myself near Mysidia, and I visited the nearby Mount Ordeals. We found Tellah there; he was hoping to obtain the fabled magic Meteor... and he did. But the spell is difficult to cast. Especially for an old man.

[...Edward has the right to know, but Cecil still hesitates.]

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

...
[Edward fell silent, any sign of a smile disappearing from his face. He's almost certain he knew the answer to his question, but...]
Did he still...?

[paladinlost]

...The spell was enough to weaken Golbez's mind control, and allow us to disable one of his fortresses while rescuing Kain and Rosa. But Tellah...

[His hesitance pretty much says it all.]

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

[And Edward just goes silent, bowing his head. He didn't know what to say, or what to do.]

[paladinlost]

...We visited you, before we left to fight Golbez. He seemed glad to see you were alive, and worried about the extent of your injuries. ...He called you brave.

[usespoonybard.livejournal.com]

He said that? [That voice? That was true shock. Edward raised his haid a tiny bit, looking to Cecil... before lowering it again.] Oh...

[paladinlost]

[He nods.] He did. A Dark Elf had stolen the last crystal, and though you were bedridden, you helped us defeat it, with your harp and a sprig of whisperweed. That's why...