#gogogobarry

[iruludavare]

"...I'm fine. Seriously. All good--" Barry hastily reassures, still tangled in his sleeping bag while brushing disheveled blond hair out of his eyes. He only manages a glance towards Serena before looking down a bit guiltily. (Out of all his friends, Serena is probably the hardest one to lie to...it's like she can see right through him sometimes.)

"...Thinking about Acuity again. That battle with Jupiter. Galactic. Stupid, yeah...that was eons ago, but still--" His voice catches, and Twinleaf's resident lightning-bolt shakes his head with a wistful grin.

❛  ...sometimes, i wish i could control my dreams just so i could make them all happy ones. that'd be pretty cool, eh...? ❜

Dreams and nightmares sentence starters || Accepting

          "It would be,"

     It is rare, to catch a falter in his usually upbeat demeanour— or, at the very least, one both noticeable and long enough for him to try and backpedal on. A hand rests idle atop her own sleeping bag, having long sat up when the all-too-familiar sounds of restlessness and a mind refusing to stop trudging up unpleasant thoughts hit her ears. She is no stranger to nightmares, no unknown figure in amongst those whose dreams have taken on the role of combing through every possibility, good or bad, of memories irreversibly seared into their hearts. So to hear even the slightest hint of Barry perhaps being the same, regardless of the degree, Serena finds it near impossible to not simply let the conversation die there.

          "It would be nice, to be able to control your dreams. Find a way out when they're... not so good. Take control of a narrative you're tired of being dragged back to re-experience."

     He was there. She knows not of the full extent, save for fragments of stories told and filtered through Barry, but it is not difficult to imagine. The close, childhood friend of the hero that took on Team Galactic— if it was anything like Team Flare, anything like her own group of friends during that journey, he had to have been an active threat against them. Focus shifts away from his features. To gather her thoughts, to offer him some ease in not having to look her in the eyes or feel her stare. Goodness knows how horrible that either could feel.

          "...I don't think it's stupid, though. For what it's worth... I'm grateful that you tried. You risked your life to protect Uxie. You didn't have to... but you did it anyway."

     Serena pauses. Perhaps it means little. Perhaps it means more than she thinks. To say that it is easy to know what he wants to hear and what he should would be a gross lie, even if she teeters along that fine line with a lean towards the latter.

          "It doesn't matter how that battle went, or what happened afterwards. Your heart was in the right place, and I imagine you fought tooth and nail at Lake Acuity. None of us would be here today if it wasn't for everything you two did. Wins or not."

[soardived]

@gogogobarry

"Will, you KNOW I appreciate ya--but if it turns out that wheel is weighted or anything fishy, you'll be receiving Barry's first cross-regional fine!"

(He's grinning, still just teasing--the backpack /is/ pretty high-quality, after all...not even he can complain about that!!)

❝ how DARE YOU insinuate that !!! I SHOULD FINE YOU JUST FOR EVEN THINKING I'D SCAM MY CUSTOMERS !! AFTER ALL THIS YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICES !! ❞

❝ I SHOULD'A PUT STINKBOMBS IN YOUR SADDLE LAST TIME YOU WENT FOR REPAIRS !!! ❞

[dawnedon]

🐾 + "Does Dawn seem...different to you at all? Like, ever since she came back from the Distortion World, I mean."

"I've been wanting to talk to her about it, but, um...I never know the right time to bring it up. Y'know?"

Send 🐾 + a question about my muse, and my muses Pokémon will answer it! | accepting

Emperor casts a look down at Barry, the Empoleon standing rigid. It was a loaded question, and one he knew the answer to better than anyone. After all... the Distortion World changed him, too. The scar that marred the front of his body was proof enough. Though he was luckier than Dawn had been, not quite dying as she, such an injury was not without its consequences on the dual-type.

"Of course she does, Barry. One does not enter the Distortion World and then leave unscathed. Believe it or not, the effects of it would have been much worse upon her if the Lake Trio wasn't there. They protected her, in a way that we can't quite understand. Protected her mind." Emperor was grateful for that, even if they were unable to physically protect her from harm in the end.

"Her story is not ours to tell. You seem to be aware of that; very conscientious of you, Barry. All we will say is that... that realm was the purest terror we'd ever felt. The topic at hand you wish for her to speak of may be heavy. We would recommend doing so in private, away from any prying ears or eyes. It will make her more comfortable. And... there really is no 'right time' to ask. It is a matter of ripping the band-aid off. You are her best friend, Barry, and you know her just as well as we do. If we had to guess, she has been wanting to speak to you about it for a long while. It is simply a subject that is easier for her to talk about if she isn't the one bringing it up."

[rockheadcd]

V-VOLKY...................VOLKY....................

[electrivolt]

@gogogobarry​ asked : "Well, I've finally decided it," Barry declares, pacing restless circles around Volkner with his finger raised proudly in the air. "This took me days, but I've finally cracked the code. I have..." He whirls around, pointing the finger directly in Volkner's face, "...the perfect nickname for you. Pause."

And he does, halting for dramatic effect before saying, with 100% seriousness... "Volky."

Barry takes a proud bow. "Perfect, don'tcha think? Really had to nyoom into the ol' mind palace for that one, but it paid off in the end...!"

Honestly, Volkner is not really sure what to expect the moment Barry finally decides to speak up. He’s not even sure if he wants to hear him speaking any words at all, really, a little too prepared for nothing but the worst at any given time. It’s not pessimism, really— at this point it’s realism with the people he’s met over the years. Oh boy, the bar is low on this one, isn’t it. And somehow he still has the patience and tolerance for it.

... The more Barry speaks the less reassuring this is. ( what did he get himself into by allowing him to stick around so often? )

Ah. Mh. Well. Can’t say Volkner isn’t speechless with this one.

“...” He blinks, once, twice, staring at Barry, making sure he processed this right and that what he thinks he just heard is in fact correct. Well, seems so, huh. Mh. There seems to have been some sort of effort here, at least. Well, he gotta say something now, right? C’mon Volkner, deep breaths, it’s fine, this is fine— “... I... think I’ll be sticking with Volk.” His voice is as deadpan as it gets. Hey, points for not overreacting and keeping his cool, at least, right? Right??? 

You did try there, Barry, he’ll give you that one. Sort of.

[distortsverity]

 gogogobarry replied : (Barry is no longer allowed in the cockpit)

❝ Barry. They’re responsible for the lives of hundreds of people and Pokemon. You don’t try chatting with ‘em. Did you do that. Or did you touch things you weren’t supposed to. ❞

[draconscious]

hey!! apologies for the somewhat silence here--this year's picking up, and I feel my mind and life moving ten thousand miles per minute. thought it might be useful to post my current BLOGROLL, if only to be helpful for myself. you can still find me zipping around here and a lot of places! While I still prefer RPing on Tumblr, I'm slowly getting used to Discord--so stay tuned!! 😊

ACTIVE MUSES* (*FOCUS/TIME PENDING)

Cynthia - @avacynthia

Clair - @draconscious

Jupiter/Eris - @pridepoisoned

Barry - @gogogobarry

Pike Queen Lucy - @coiledqueen (sideblog to Cynthia)

Bruno - @brunomove (sideblog to Cynthia)

SEMI-ACTIVE MUSES

Marlon - @seazethemoment

Dendra - @dendrahrah

[avacynthia]

I'm dying to know — are your portrayals of Cynthia and Barry connected in anyway? If so, what is their relationship like? Do you have any headcanons regarding Cynthia's connection with Dawn, Lucas and or Barry that you'd like to share? What does she think of them?

First off, THANK YOU for the wonderful question ashford!! I really appreciate it. Shoutouts to you, @gogogobarry (me, hee hee), @distortsverity, @timebranded, @dawnedon and ALL the lovely DPPT protags that I've gotten to write with over time.😊

And the short answer is: yes!! Cynthia's relationship with Barry and the other protagonists is something that I've been mulling over since the beginning of time (move over, Dialga)...so I have a few major thoughts on how Cynthia views all of them.

Most importantly, Cynthia views the protagonists' entanglement with Galactic--and the Galactic arc in sum--as her biggest, most shameful failure. She allowed Cyrus to pull the wool over her eyes regarding Galactic's schemes, and almost lost everything as a result, too busy/preoccupied to notice what was happening right under her nose. If she had been more present, could she have prevented the Lake Valor bombing? The creation of the Red Chain? Perhaps. However, Dawn/Hikari, Lucas, and Barry should have never carried any of that burden, or dealt with any of those problems, to begin with. They were just kids.

The guilt--god, that overwhelming guilt--despite her sessions with Fumiko, Riley, and a few scattered (ultimately unhelpful) therapists, those memories (Galactic's scars) still keep her up deep into the night, cursing her shortsightedness. She had been so obsessed with Sinnoh's rise, that she'd lost sight of those--with good intentions and bad--still on the ground.

Though portrayals view them differently, the Spear Pillar/Distortion World events undoubtedly left the young protags with damage. Trauma. Cynthia (champion or not, depending on timeline) now views their collective well-being as her responsibility. If they need to talk, she'll listen, even if she has to rearrange her entire schedule to do so. She's not a hoverer, but she'll make sure to check in on all of them with comfortable regularity, just ensuring that everything's okay. Cynthia owes them that much, at the very least.

Barry's can-do attitude and sunshiny personality are always appreciated, but Cynthia is there to support him all the same, even if that means hearing out some truly wild business pitches or throwing down for an exhilarating rematch. Or ten.

For the player characters, Cynthia remembers feeling truly useless atop the Pillar, bombarded by confusing visions of past, present and future. Within the Distortion, an overwhelmed Cynthia had relied on Dawn/Hikari/Lucas once again, and they triumphed over Cyrus, one last time. (She had asked too much of them then, and she is still haunted by it. She'll never forget the frustrating helplessness that she had felt in that void...)

Nowadays, Cynthia is making up for lost time. Whenever the protagonists (or really anyone) needs her, they'll find a reliable pillar of strength. Attentive, thoughtful, and--though her eyes still wander skyward on occasion--grounded in the moment. A shining inspirational beacon for all of Sinnoh to look up to.

To become stronger, Cynthia has steeled a part of herself, becoming more private and guarded, trying her best to ignore the tantalizing memory of the divine spark that had shocked her atop the Pillar back then. She maintains a selfless vigil over the protagonists and all of Sinnoh, because it is her duty. Because it is her penance.

Cynthia cannot afford to fail again. The weight of a region rests on her shoulders, and she wouldn't have it any other way. She can take this.

She will keep watch.

[dendrahrah]

UPDATED BLOGROLL.

(I think that I've gotten to the point where a blogroll post might be useful for me and others, so here 'tis in case people want to find me elsewhere!! My muses tend to come and go, but I get too invested to desert them completely! They're never really gone...)

(As an added wrinkle I also included a link to writing that I'm proud of on each blog. A bit more introduction to the muses, and a little nostalgia for me. 😊)

@dendrahrah (Instructor Dendra) - "pinkie promise."

@pridepoisoned (heavily canon-divergent Commander Jupiter) - "NOBODY LOVED YOU."

@draconscious (Gym Leader Clair) - "SHATTERED HEIGHTS"

@gogogobarry (Rival Barry, the OG) - "HOME. (adult au)"

@seazethemoment (Gym Leader Marlon) - "FATHER TIME."

@conflictedconduit (OC Channeler Bridgette) - "MERCY."

[volot]

“well now, i suppose there is no harm! best to elude the mystery for too long, don’t you think? there’s no better feeling than long-awaited curiosity sated! that said...”

pspspsps, barry. come here. he has coffee for you.

[iruludavare]

     She is here to give a massive round of applause for that very accurate, very loud imitation of a Kricketune call. Hands held high and clapped just so as though to stand well enough on its own with or without an audience.

          "Excellent. Magnificent. If I close my eyes, I would've thought I was back in Eterna Forest!"

[soardived]

He seems to materialize out of nowhere, 1500 clutched excitedly in his hand. Without hesitation, Barry slams the needed funds down on the counter!

"Hey Will, sign me up for one winning spin!" he declares with all the confidence in the world. "I, uh, need to win a new bike anyways--the last one I got from you guys in Eterna ran into, umm...another incident."

"...Just don't tell your dad, 'kay? It's not my fault that Sinnohan roads aren't built for my blazing speed!"

RAD RICKSHAW RAFFLE. // 500 TO PARTICIPATE ! ↪ accepting.

❝ BARRY ! hi !! first thorton, then dawn, then YOU ! is PALDEA popular to travel to, these days ?? ❞ she's not about to complain; traveling was nice, but SEEING HER FRIENDS was even better.

❝ HAHAHA, you BROKE IT AGAIN, huh ? you can bring it here, i'll do the repairs at a DISCOUNT ! ❞ willow laughs as she turns around, giving a sign to LASAGNA to spin.

❝ hey, yer gettin' a NEW BACKPACK though ! nice ! it's one of our last ones ! ❞

[dawnedon]

RESTRICTED :  for both muses to sneak into someplace they’re not supposed to be. (some twinleaf shenans perhaps......)

a comprehensive list of scenarios | accepting!

Ugh. This place brought back some memories alright. Dawn peered around in the dark building, looking back after a moment to make sure Barry was still with her.

"This place sucks. I can't believe they just left all their machinery here." The Galactic HQ in Veilstone was long defunct, but was still left standing in the city for whatever reason. A monolith, and a reminder, of what they did to the Lake Trio. What they did to Sinnoh as a whole.

"I've been wanting to petition to get this place torn down for a while. The League Admins aren't making it easy though. Of course. 'Well, we don't want to do that in case someone is still occupying it'. Okay. Let me go look then. 'Oh no, that building is strictly off-limits!' You can't win with those people." Dawn wasn't sure what would be built in its place - maybe that was something the people of Veilstone could decide. She knew they hated this building just as much as she did.

Pieces of machinery were strewn haphazardly, the duo having to step over metal here and there on the floor. Papers and other documents were scattered about, and old laptops collecting dust still rest on some of the desks. It was clear the place was left in a hurry.

"I don't see how anyone would still be here, unless this place is haunted somehow." They pass by one of the teleporter pads, still glowing eerily in the dark. It looked like they were still running somehow.

"Do you trust the teleporters? I want to go further in."

[rockheadcd]

@gogogobarry said: For once, Barry isn't saying a word. He's locked into STEALTH MODE, tongue stuck out and hazel eyes narrowed with determined concentration. He's on a MISSION today. While all the other scientists are on their lunch breaks, he's about to slip a frozen pizza into Oreburgh Museum's fossil reader. Hey, he's hungry! And um, science. Yes. Yum... / inbox call!

Although by no means any less secure, it was safe to say the Oreburgh Museum's staff was rather lax about the presence of others. After all, anyone willing to bypass the reflexes of ancient 'mons had already signed every mental waiver possible in terms of injury or worse.

Orrr, maybe, the museum was unaware entirely that Barry was both hungry and mostly curious.

However.

He wasn't on the payroll, but he did enjoy his pizza ( or mostly, the mozzarella on the pizza ). Strange that he could smell all of the staff's food in one direction, but there was that distinct smell coming from the research hub... maybe it was Roark? Either he was skipping his lunch break or he was preparing to share. But... there wasn't an oven in there, was there? Well... there were plenty of metal boxes but food was never put in there unless it was fossilized. Hm!

And so, Tybalt stomps his way down into the research hub, equally curious but more demandingly hungry, ready to demand Roark for the cheese tax and then—

That's not Roark. That's also not Volkner. Volkner-adjacent, maybe? He squints, looking more hangry than hungry, quietly standing in the doorway. Eventually, however, he moves. Tybalt waddles next to Barry, leaning over some to also inspect the pizza about to be fried into oblivion by whatever concoction of radio waves that a Tyranitar would never be scholarly enough to understand.

...

There's not enough cheese on this thing.

He's going to get his trainer with a very loud complaint if he doesn't get to taste test. Good luck, Barry!

[timebranded]

📜! (You KNEW I had to this!! El clasico!)

Arden Does Incorrect Quotes // Accepting

Lucas: This is such a bad idea. Barry: Then why are you coming along? Lucas: One of us need to be able to talk the cops out of arresting us when this inevitably goes wrong.

~~

Lucas: Hey, you want some leftovers? Barry: What's that? Lucas: You've never had leftovers??? Barry: No, because I'm not a quitter.

[distortsverity]

@gogogobarry​ whispered : "Um, Hika...I think I lost you! Hello? Can you hear me? Can anyone hear me? Where did everyone go...go...go..." Barry's brave front is breaking, his voice echoing bizarrely in this nightmarish realm, nervous tones twisted by the hellish ambiance. The blond walks, floats just ahead of Hikari, yet he seems completely unaware of her presence. Suddenly, he whirls abruptly to stare daggers at his friend with eyes of glazed hazel (as if just noticing her), and the angry, warped voice that hisses from between clenched teeth is not his own. "You. Your fault. Why did you leave me here? Why did you leave me behind?!" Despite his accusatory tone, Barry doesn't move after snarling his queries, as if frozen in place with an unnatural scowl fixed on his lips. Why? Because none of this is real--it's just another one of Hikari's nightmares, courtesy of the Distortion World. And--thank Arceus--it's almost time to wake up.

                      "Um, Hika...I think I lost you!“

❝ C’mon Barry, I’m literally standing right here! ❞ Lost her? Lost his eyes and ears, more like it.

Besides . . . where exactly is “ here ”? And how did they end up “ here ”?

There are so many telltale signs of a world that isn’t quite right --- how both teens move across sheer black nothingness, how this alien space distorts the boy’s tone and pitch into something half-recognizable at best, how the atmosphere feels dreadfully sterile, how insidious vibrations ripple around Hikari’s body with every stride she takes --- yet there are no blaring sirens in her head to jolt her awake. She never realizes she is dreaming, never even pauses to gauge her surroundings.

After all, she’s too busy running, straining to catch up to him. Her legs are getting tired. Barry’s getting anxious --- frightened, even. 

                      “Hello? Can you hear me? Can anyone hear me?“ 

❝ Yes I can hear you, I’m right here!! ❞ 

Why is he always just a couple arm’s lengths in front of her?

Has he always been this fast? She’s running and she’s pretty sure he is not so why can’t she overtake him? 

                      “Where did everyone go...go...go...”

❝ OH FOR ARCEUS’S SAKE, ❞ Hikari snaps with a scream, ❝ BEHIND YOU, IDIOT!!! JUST TURN AROUND!!! TURN --- ❞ 

And turn he does, as if on command, taking her aback ( surprise quickly morphs into fear great uneasiness, for his face --- that condemning glare --- is not the face she’d grown so fond of after more than a decade of knowing him ).  

How odd. He never looked at her like that. Where’s Barry’s brand of zestful joy? Shouldn’t he be happy to see her? Wasn’t he scared just now, frantically calling out --- 

                      "You. Your fault.” 

. . . . . . What? 

❝ . . . What? Barry, what in the hell are you --- ❞ 

                      “Why did you leave me here? Why did you leave me behind?!"

If he were just about anyone else, Hikari would already be scrambling to defend herself. Hah, she’d probably even send herself into a swiftly-climbing rage in the process ( oh the nerves it must take to attack her out of goddamn nowhere ). 

But he is Barry. She knows for a fact that Barry wouldn’t glare such sharp daggers at anyone --- not like this, not without solid justification. Although his accusations are terribly vague and curt, Hikari foolishly reads into them, perceives meanings where there ought to be none, pronounces herself guilty for crimes the real Barry never confronted her about until now.

. . . So whatever she’s done, she did end up leaving her lifelong best friend behind. How dare she. 

❝ I . . . . . . I’m sorry, Barry. ❞ If only she’d stopped there and let him go ( who knows why she thought it was a good idea to continue ). 

The first apology slips out a feeble whisper, but with each iteration, her voice crescendos until she is borderline shouting at him ( shut your mouth, Hikari! saying it over and over again means nothing, proves nothing, changes nothing so can’t you accept there’s no returning to “ Before ”? ).

❝ I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’m sorry please forgive me you know I didn’t mean to --- !!! ❞ Didn’t mean to leave him behind ( not your fault, it is the Heavens’ Will ). Didn’t mean to soar past the clouds and into the stars while he was still earthbound ( millions want and need you up there, embrace it ). Didn’t mean to accept a pedestal that’d prompt a hasty metamorphosis, a kind of withdrawal, closing parts of herself off from even those who’d known her for a lifetime ( that is for the best, you are not just a girl anymore ). On and on and on she rambles and pleads in a woeful attempt to salvage their friendship, but in its futility, all it accomplishes is to humiliate and degrade --- ❝ I’ll make it up to you just tell me how I can make it up I won’t leave you again I promise --- ❞ Poor Barry. He must be tuning her out at this point ( as he should ). Pay no mind to this overly emotional display, lest you succumb to fatal second-hand embarrassment.

Hikari moves her hands to conceal her face, as much of it as physically possible, childishly praying that if she can’t see him he can’t see her. No use. He isn’t moving away, he’s still glaring at her like she had stabbed him in the back and she still feels the full brunt of a hatred that she never ever thought would be crushing her of all people. To her dismay, the first drops of water start trailing down her cheeks. One after the other after the other, they build into a cascade she can’t screw her eyes tight enough to stop ( oh for Arceus’s sake why is there a flood, who turned on the waterworks, where has the dam gone, how were so few words capable of ruining her composure? ). 

Don’t look at her, oh please don’t look at her when her dignity has scattered with the ( nonexistent ) winds! Cast those damning eyes elsewhere, they’re burning her alive! ❛ Hold strong! ❜ her mind demands of the rest of her body. ❛ Hold strong! ❜ . . . yet in defiance, her knees choose to give out from beneath her ( she is sent falling falling falling to the cold dead invisible earth ).

Those hateful, hazel eyes follow. Nowhere to run.

Stupid pathetic child, why do you demean yourself by groveling on your knees? Why do you avert that stone-hearted gaze by turning your face to the emptiness below? Why do you grieve so violently that your sobs wrack your body and reduce every sentence you try stringing together into incoherent blubbering? Shame shame shame on you. Get a grip! Stand back up! Look your old friend right in the eyes and bid him a solemn farewell!

Because where you’re headed, there should not be a single person whose support and company are a necessity.

. . .  . . .  . . . 

She ultimately accomplishes none of that --- doesn’t even begin to try --- because she stays right where she is, doubled over on the ground, hands muffling her cries, writhing in agony like some accursed disgrace ( a meek, final ❝ I’m sorry ❞, but this one is not so much for Barry as it is for some unseen, unknown audience ).

. . . 

All is growing deathly still. If she wasn’t so deep in mourning, she’d realize just how reminiscent it is of an unearthly domain. 

. . .  

. . . Thank Arceus, it’s almost time to wake up. 

She fails to notice how her former BFF’s neither made a peep nor budged a millimeter this entire time. She fails to notice that the scowl he wears is half his own and half that of □ □ □ □ □ ( this nightmare, this place wouldn’t be complete without □ □ □ □ □ , and coming from □ □ □ □ □ , those claims of “ leaving me behind ” are suddenly very true ). She fails to notice when Barry’s figure begins to dissipate into the blackness that engulfs them both, as though he is being steadily consumed, piece by piece, head to toe --- 

And when he leaves, so too does Hikari. 

. . .  . . .  . . . 

Reality is kind in how it welcomes her back. 

Her eyes flutter open to the picturesque scene of a winter night, familiar and comforting like home. Gentle snowfall. The sprawling, starry canvas of the Milky Way. Twisting, snow-laden branches overhead that bend under the mounting weight. So beautiful, so quiet, so serene --- but for perhaps the first time in her life, she finds little solace in the Sinnohan winter environment.  Her distress follows her here, lingering even long after the nightmare’s end ( through her body trembling with heart-aching repentance for a betrayal she had only imagined, through her hands reaching up and clawing deep into her hair in a frankly baffling effort to either recompose or punish herself ). A strange sight it must be, the breakdown of the unbreakable. She knows that too. She hates it so much.

❝ What’s WRONG WITH ME!! WHY WHY WHY WHYWHYWHYWHY --- !!! ❞

There’s the unexpected click and flashing white light of a Pokeball opening by itself, then another, and another, and another --- until her entire team is wide-awake and surrounding her on all sides. She’s barely registered the sheer panic and concern on their faces when she is suddenly enveloped by a Togekiss’s wings, her cries now melting into his chest feathers rather than ringing out across the otherwise silent landscape. 

Had to go ruin their nights too, huh? Get a hold of yourself. 

There, in the safety and comfort of Bubosca’s hug, the world stops, spacetime freezes, and Hikari, Savior of Sinnoh, is just a girl again.