#if this were a question about cats I wouldn't have been able to stop myself. I would've had to reply sincerely

[pangur-and-grim]

I never know how to respond to these emails

[greenunoreversecard]

Hi!! I saw your requests were open and I read your guidelines. I shall request a Cole x ftm!reader soulmate au 😎 in which at first maybe their both hesitant and kind of don’t believe in soulmate till they get to know each other? If that makes sense

A/N: The soulmate AU I went with is; you have the first words your soulmate says to you engraved somewhere random on your 18th birthday. Hope you enjoy, and don't be afraid to lmk what you think!

Just dont get the Hype- Cole x FtM! Reader

I am the most unluckiest bitch in Ninjago City. Wherever I seem to walk, people flaunt their "Soulmates" like it's a show of who can be the most cringe worthy in their displays of affection.

'Oh, my soulmates such a sweetheart! I got his first thoughts of me!'

'Oh, I got the one where you get the first words, they'd been the sweetest'

bleck. it all makes me want to rip my hair out. No one seems to care about doing anything about life after they get their soulmate identifiers; it's like the world's stopped for them at 18. Obsessing over something so innately mundane, everyone's become incorrigible.

Sucks to be them, because in twenty years, they'll be twenty steps behind me on the ladder to success.

My musing ends when another sharp pain stabs me in the rib, but I've grown accustomed to them. I keep my head down as I continue to briskly walk the path to the bakery. I quickly see the entrance in sight, ducking into the heated dining room of Papa's bakery and escaping the harsh nip of the autumn chill. I breathe out a sigh of relief, loosening my hold on my jacket, before getting nearly knocked over from behind by what feels like a boulder.

I yelp a bit, stumbling, and the man grabs me by my biceps to keep me from falling over like a jenga tower, his voice a rumble of smooth concern;

"Almost Knocked you over there, I didn't even see you, I'm so sorry-"

I freeze where he holds me up, probably looking akin to a wet, feral cat, but he manouvers me with ease to being back to fully standing, off to the side of the entrance. I won't even look at him, not as i feel him move me, and definitely not as I feel the tingle of my hip where the words he'd just spoken casual are engraved into me. I just keep my head down, hoping this will all just dissapear-

"Hey, are you ok? I didn't kill you, right?" His hand moves from my bicep to my face, moving it just so, just enough we can see each other, to lock eyes.

I can feel drool forming at the visage of the man in front of me. Long, shoulder-length curls, black as night, with a tall stature and eyes as deep as the fucking Mariana trench. They're glinting in the evening rays, highlighting the chestnut of his eyes perfectly.

"Holy fuck your hot" I breath out, my heart pounding, my palms sweaty, my chest feeling constricted. Hes handsome, deathly so, but I swear to the gods I won't be like the other fucks who-

He sucks in a breath, breaking me out of my inner monologue.

"..What?" He pulls away as if burned but keeps his left hand still firmly planted on my bicep as if I'll still fall over any moment.

I decide to play it dumb.

"..What what? I didnt say anything?" He glares, and i shrink further into myself than i already had been, his left hand removing itself as well.

"You know exactly what you said"

I shrug. His eyes narrow further.

"So your my soulmate." He huffs the question as a fact, clearly perturbed. I tense up further, probably able to put Dracula's arch to shame.

"To be fair if you hadn't run me over, we wouldn't be here"

He scoffs.

"If you hadn't been standing in front of the door-"

"-Mobile order for Cole. For Cole." Both our heads snap to the counter, and the man in front of me, glances back at me.

"Go sit at a booth. I'll be a second."

I scoff, debating running out the door, but one hard glare sends be to the back right corner, in the farthest booth.

He joins me after a few moments, taking time to chat with the cashier like an old friend, before walking back over to me, sighing as he sits down with his mobile order in tow.

"So.... Soulmate?"

I cringe at the name.

"Just call me Y/N. Fuck you sound awkward." I huff, putting my head in my hand. he scoffs and laughs a bit.

"Y/N. Why are you so...." he gestures vaguely at all of me, and I give him an offended look. "About soulmates?"

I roll my eyes, and decide I find the wallpaper next to me much more appealing than the man in front of me.

"Because they're stupid. And I have better things to do." He snorts a bit, but nods in reluctant agreement.

"That's...true. But why so hostile?"

I raise a brow. "I'm not being hostile, you're just an idiot." He scoffs again. High score!

"You know, for a 'idiot' I do have "Holy Fuck your hot" engraved in my hip, so-" He's smirking, and I flush bright red.

"I didn't think before I spoke!" I vehemently defend but to no avail, as he still has the same shit-eating smirk. I sigh, but get back to the topic "Look, it's not you-"

He scoffs an astounding third time, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. I'm really killing it today.

"-It's me. I just don't get the appeal."

"Seconded, but you don't need to be a dick."

"Well, are you worth not being a dick to?" I counter.

He hums and leans forward with that same grin again. "I think so. But you'd have to know me to find out."

I cringe a bit. This is really going to derail my 10-year plan.

"Give me your phone" I say, holding out my hand.

He raises a brow. "Excuse me?"

"You're excused."

He gives me a deadpan look, before I sigh. "So I can 'get to know you' or whatever. I guess."

He snorts. "Why not give me your phone?"

I huff, thinking it over, before reluctantly opening a new contact for him in my phone, and sliding it across the table.

"I don't have time to stay here and chat, I just need to-"

"Order for Y/N, Order for Y/N-" The cashier drawls out.

I cringe a bit.

"-Pick up my mobile order before heading to Chen's to pick up dinner."

He hums, typing in his information, before handing the phone back to me. He gives me a softer look as I take my phone and go to stand.

"Well, Y/N, I hope I can change your mind about... soulmates. or, you know."

I hum and shrug, but let my gaze linger on him a bit.

"Yeah, sure," I say, my voice quieter, matching his tone unintentionally. Before turning on my heel and heading to the counter to grab my bag, taking one last glance at him on my way out to see him furiously typing on his phone, the smallest blush on his cheeks.

...Maybe I'll get the hype. One day.

[getstickbugdlol]

i genuinely need somebody to tell me if im being the asshole here.

i called my mom when i found out about duncan and asked her to come be with me. she got here the day that i broke up with him and she said she'd help me pack his shit and that we would redo the apartment to be my space. i really feel i have to emphasize that redoing the apartment was not my idea nor was it something i asked for. tbh i didnt even ask her to help me pack his shit i just asked her to be here because i needed my mom.

over the past few weeks my mom has made a few comments about how she's spent a lot of money redoing the apartment, and how i should be respectful of things she buys me because she works hard and she sacrifices for this and that everything she's buying me is with money she could have kept for herself but she's choosing to give it to me. i currently am working for her and she and my grandma are covering half my expenses through grad school - which is, again, something that i did not ask for - i had planned to keep working full time and i even said i was going to go back to work after my first semester and she told me no bc i worked through undergrad and i should be able to focus on grad school! and i really do appreciate how much time and energy she's sunk into doing all this, and ngl, she has done most of it by herself bc i was just not in a state to do anything at all for like three weeks.

my mom is a generally clean person but she ALWAYS has comments about my housekeeping skills when she comes to stay. thats a sensitive area for me bc i struggle with it and it is something we've been fighting about since i was a literal child. she went to DC to visit my sister this weekend, and i had a super busy weekend but i really did try to keep things clean and set aside special time for cleaning. i vacuumed, i took out trash and recycling (genuinely hard for me from a sensory standpoint), made sure dishes were put away and everything was picked up and i vacuumed. my mom came back from DC at midnight and literally the first thing she said to me was there was a french fry outside the trash can, and when i said oh i didn't notice, she said well you can enjoy having bugs in your apartment.

so tonight my mom and i were watching severance and my mom paused mid episode to get ice cream. after a second she paused and said "what smells in here?" and determined that it was a mildewy spoon. she then said my sponge was mildewy and said she was concerned that when she left i wouldn't notice things like that and asked me what the solution was. i told her i didn't want to fight and she said we aren't fighting i'm just asking you a question. i said i didn't wash the dishes (bc i didn't - they've been done twice since my mom came back from DC and not by me) and that I hadn't noticed the sponge or spoons were mildewy but I'd replace it. My mom then said that wasn't the point and she needed to know my solution and we had the same conversation we've had literally like 700 times at this point in my life where she asks what the solution is, I say I don't know, what do you think, and she says (in very simplified terms because this always takes at least two hours) I can't give you a solution you have to come up with it, but I say I didn't notice the problem so how can I come up with a solution, she says my brain doesn't work like yours so it has to be you, and I say, I literally don't know because this is not a priority for me like it is for you, and she says, stop victimizing yourself. So we went on and on like that for a while until she once again brought up that I can't get rid of stuff in the apartment because she bought it and she felt that me not noticing it was dirty was being disrespectful to her, and that it's important for me to be hygienic for myself and my cats. She mentioned several times that I'd had somebody in to clean the apartment a few times when Duncan was living here - which was not even something that's on the table for me rn so I'm not sure why she zeroed in on that particular detail. Her exact words were "Two adults living in the apartment and neither one of you will fucking clean it so you have to hire somebody to clean it" and she made the point that I'm about to not have much money and that SHE can't afford that

Ultimately I'm sure I could have handled it better bc I have had this conversation like 700 times and I was really annoyed at having to fight at all and also being mid severance and I have a lot of anxieties about Duncan's deceit being tied to my demands that he do some housework and I will fully and readily admit I am not a good housekeeper and I don't enjoy it but I don't know if I'm like....genuinely being disrespectful bc that's really not what I want to do with my mom but she also has the emotional regulation of a sheet of rice paper so it's hard to tell

[atricksterproblem]

Demon Dreams

Vashti waited.

She seemed to spend a lot of time doing that, these days.

She'd had more than enough time to think over everything that had happened since her return to the Abbey. It made little enough sense that there was really no other choice.

She had to have it out with him. She needed answers.

He finally came home late, as he'd done so often recently. He nodded and made to leave the room.

"Terzo, wait."

He stopped and looked at her, eyebrow raised. She recognized that expression. Half a question, half a warning.

"Sit with me for a moment, will you? Please. We've got to talk about at least a little of this."

He sighed and joined her on the couch.

"Look. I need to know what we're doing here. When we moved back in together, you made a point of claiming me. I agreed. I'm yours. So Terzo, you've got to tell me. If I'm yours, why aren't you mine?"

There was a cold fire in his white eye. "I also told you that I knew I could not bind you."

"And you never had to! What are we doing here, Terzo? Are you in or out?"

He spoke through gritted teeth. "I cannot have this conversation now. We will do this in the morning. I need to sleep."

She sighed. "Fine."

He left for their room. She curled up on the couch. She didn't want to sleep next to him tonight, not in anger.

She was tired too, and soon she slept. And dreamed.

She opened her inward eyes on a familiar landscape.

She was back in the Dreaming. Worse, she was back in the nightmare realms.

Well, if that isn't just my luck lately, she thought.

Everything was dark here. Indistinct, drowning in shadows. Strange chitterings echoed everywhere. It was impossible to tell where they were really coming from.

A figure approached in the distance, emerging from the dark. A man with starlight-edged wings like those of a bat.

He came closer. She recognized the skull paint of the Papacy and the silver half-mask she'd seen here once before.

"Valentine? Is that you?"

He blinked. "I thought we sent you home. You did get home, didn't you?"

"Yes, the letter worked. Thank you again for that."

He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "You're unhappy. Why?"

She smiled a little. He'd been like this before, too. Strangely blunt, but not unkind.

"Things with Terzo and I are...complicated right now, I guess."

He sighed. "I don't know if he's like this in your world, but in mine, he can be a little difficult sometimes. I love him dearly. He's my favorite brother. But he tends to get tied up in knots about some things."

"Any idea how to untie them?"

"I'm not sure. I think we should give it some thought, though. You wouldn't be back here if there weren't a reason for it. But we ought to get you out of Sarkomand. It isn't safe for you here."

"And it's safe for you?"

He smiled wryly. "Safer than for a human dreamer? Yes." The smile faded. "This place knows me. It knows I belong here."

"You don't seem much like a nightmare to me. I was pretty relieved you showed up when I found myself back here."

He shook his head. She wasn't entirely sure what he was saying no to. "It's -- well. A long and unimportant story. I'll show you the way out of here. Have you ever been to Ulthar?"

"I've never even heard of it."

He grinned. "Then I really, really hope you like cats."

She followed him through the darkened, sere fields of Sarkomand, up a vast staircase made of black stone. Valentine remained alert, scanning the landscape, flexing his black claw-tipped gloves. Finally they passed the diorite guardians at the top and returned to the kinder parts of the Dreaming.

They were approaching the outskirts of Ulthar's lands. Valentine relaxed. This was safer ground.

Vashti thought he might be able to talk a bit now that they were out of danger.

"So how is...what was her name? In your world."

He smiled. "Hannah. She's well."

"I'm glad to hear it." He'd mentioned that she was some kind of analogue of herself, if she'd understood him before.

At least somewhere there was a universe where maybe she was happy.

"We're there," he said. "Once we get past the farmland outside the town walls, we'll find a place to rest."

The closer they got to Ulthar proper, the more cats there were.

The cats were everywhere. In the streets. On the roofs of all the buildings. Rolling around in gardens. Bounding through open windows. Cats of every size and coat color, including some never seen in the waking world.

"I want one of those purple tabbies," she laughed. "Do you think I could get one home with me somehow?"

Valentine grinned. "I'll let you know if I ever figure out how. I think some of the cats here are the dreaming souls of cats on Earth, and some of them are native to this place. I've been here many times, and I still have no idea which are which."

They arrived at an innyard near the center of town. He brought them inside and secured a suite of rooms. The people in this part of the dreaming looked fully human. They looked a bit askance at Valentine's demonic appearance, but apparently he didn't cause all that much concern, because they were able to pass through without comment.

Once they'd reached the little sitting room and shut the door, he sighed, relaxing a bit. "It's always a bit nerve-wracking in this part of the Dreaming for me," he explained. "They are all suspicious at first, but I don't have the aura of wrongness that they are looking for, so I'm always able to get by in time. I look a bit too much like some of the creatures of Leng for their comfort. I can't dismiss my wings here."

They settled into a pair of soft chairs. There were several cats in the room, of course. There were very few places in Ulthar that didn't have all manner of free-roaming cats draped over every available surface. As soon as they sat down, a couple of them approached, sniffed, and claimed a lap each.

Vashti spent a few moments in silence, petting the soft, shiny fur of her new companion, a gray tiger tabby. Valentine was scritching behind the ears of an outlandish Bengal with green-furred rosettes.

"Thank you for bringing me here. I like it. It feels peaceful, somehow."

"That's why I brought us. Ulthar is one of the safest parts of the Dreaming. It's a good place to rest and recover."

He paused a moment, lost in thought, and then looked over at her. "I am not sure how to help you, though. I don't know what the version of my brother you know is like, exactly, so I'm not sure what he's playing at. I think there's only so much another person could do in any case. This will be between the two of you."

"I know. I'll just have to go back and talk to him when I wake up. We'll either figure it out or we won't."

He nodded. "I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I've had -- similar troubles, in the past."

He seemed to turn his attention inward for a moment. "It will be time for you to wake soon, I think. Now that you know the way here, it should be easier for you to return. Maybe the energy of this place will help you somehow. I hope it does."

They gently returned their cats to the floor and stood to say goodbye.

Impulsively, Vashti hugged him. "Thanks for helping me again. If I come back this way, I hope I see you."

He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Anytime. Good luck with my brother. Tell him I'll haunt his dreams if he doesn't get his shit in a bag, all right?"

Vashti laughed. As her laughter trailed off, she stirred, feeling stiff.

She was back on the couch. It was morning.

The details of the dream were already growing hazy and indistinct, and though she felt more rested and at peace, the task before her hadn't changed.

Somehow, some way, she was going to have to work things out with Terzo.

[caintooth]

Okay this is a little weird but I have a DID question.

I had a friend in high school who claimed to have DID. I met several alleged alters and she really would change a lot between personalities, even seeming stronger, having a higher body temp, and having different handwriting as certain alters. She also definitely had a real, terrible childhood that I could see causing her to split off an alter for protection. At the time I was about 80% convinced.

It's been years and we're still good friends, but she hasn't mentioned any alters since high school, and she has also not mentioned being able to integrate some or all of her alters, even tho we talk about mental health often. I haven't seen her be (or at least I haven't noticed her being) any of the alters I would recognize from high school. But I also used to spend almost every day with her and now I go weeks or months without hanging out with her so my sample size is smaller.

Starting a few months after I stopped seeing her every day I started to become more skeptical of her claim to have DID, because it felt a bit too much like a movie to me at the time. Sometimes I could request time with a specific alter and they would show up, but sometimes they wouldn't. It didn't seem like she was someone else without willing it, very often if ever. She had like 3 main alters when she told me about it - a protector, a little kid, and one more I can't remember and didn't see often - and she allegedly acquired a cat alter sometime after that.

I'm split about it now. I believed her for the most part at the time, because she really did seem different, but I also knew that was the kind of thing high schoolers sometimes lie about so I was always mildly suspicious. Now looking back I feel bad doubting her because if she was telling the truth, it would probably really hurt her to know I doubted her. But also that is the kind of thing high schoolers sometimes lie about! I had other friends lie about similar shit. And I haven't seen any evidence in so long and it hasn't come up in just as long.

I've always wanted to ask her about it but I don't want to embarrass her or harm our friendship which is still strong despite this question lol. I know you're not a doctor and it can be dangerous to speculate, but I just wondered what your perspective as someone with DID is?

This is such a strange thing to anonymously ask a stranger.

Are you hoping I’ll tell you she was faking? Are you hoping I’ll validate your assumptions about her inner life? What you have described is incredibly textbook for DID.

To help you understand, let me explain that Dissociative Identity Disorder presents in two ways, typically: overtly, or covertly.

An “overt” presentation is as you were describing her high school presentation— the disorder is easier to see as an outside viewer, because an “overt” presenter has (comparatively) more visible switches between alters, with (comparatively) more noticeable differences between their abilities, voices, interests, personalities, mannerisms, etc.

And so, a “covert” presentation is the opposite of this, where the disorder is not very obvious to an outside viewer at all. Switches may seem seamless, or they may seem to not switch at all. Alters do not have as many outwardly visible differences, may have similar or same voices and mannerisms, may not speak openly about their differing opinions or likes/dislikes.

DID is a disorders which forms, as you acknowledge, to protect the haver from trauma. And because the disorder is trying to protect you, it can shift between “overt” to “covert” presentation as needed.

A system may present more overtly, for example, if some alters are better emotionally or physically equipped for a task than others, if some alters are more likely to be treated in the way the system most needs at the time, if some alters have stronger interests and knowledge about a certain subject, etc. And many systems, myself included, find themselves presenting more overtly simply when they are safe and comfortable with the people around them!

In contrast, then, a system may present more covertly when it is not safe to have visible differences, and/or to help disguise the system as one person. Alters may mimic each other to help keep their differences from putting them in danger, and this can happen so discreetly that the system themself may not even be aware of switching when it happens. This being said, systems can also present covertly just because super visible differences are not needed to keep them safe / if being outwardly visibly different from one another doesn’t serve as much of a purpose as being inwardly different.

Systems can also move between these modes for other reasons besides safety and comfort, but as far as I know, those are the main two reasons. And I want to clarify that this move isn’t, most of the time, a conscious choice. The disorder kinda decides for you.

So, if your friend who once presented very overtly around you and spoke of their DID often, is now showing a much more covert presentation and not sharing details of their disorder with you… I have two guesses.

One, your friend may simply be in a different phase of their life, where they don’t feel the need to share many details of their DID with you. People can decide to be more private about things they were once open about, and there’s nothing wrong or suspicious about that.

Two… Your friend is presenting covertly around you for comfort and safety reasons. Maybe they no longer consider you a person they can openly be themselves around.

You might want to reflect on why either of these reasons might be the case. I am not going to tell you your friend is faking. Everything you described is very typical of DID and, again, I think it is very strange you would come into my ask box seeking my opinion on this, as if you assume I, and very good friends of mine, have not presented in similar ways throughout different points in our lives.

Have you considered, I don’t know— just asking about how her headmates have been doing lately? This is indeed a very weird way to handle your feelings about this.

[sunnyanddumb98]

If I were about to die,

I would not struggle with it.

I would not make a big deal,

been keeping up with big deals,

enough for one life.

I would make the objective of my day

to remember what life looks like,

take everything in my daily life

just one more time.

I don't think I would take a big trip or skydive,

I don't think I would bother myself

recording mi though or face for posterity,

no list of lessons, no advice.

I don't think I would spend it with my loved ones,

no lovers, no family, no friends,

too many tears, I have never liked

to console anyone.

I think I could not even change at all,

even go to work,

not tell a soul,

but I would take my time.

For the first time, I would watch

the tea bag infuse over three minutes

and find it fun, entertaining even.

I would take it away and properly squeeze it

before disposing of it,

I would not leave it in the corner of the sink

as I always do in a rush.

I could open the bin and leave it gently there.

In my daily routine, I would question the names

of every cloud, every plant, and

stop in my tracks to look it up,

just to nod and say ahh,

repeated out loud, tasting the sound in my mouth

until full and satisfied.

I would not search for a quick fling,

I think I would bake

those recipes where you have to leaven for hours on end,

several times, those where you measure and sift.

I think it would make me a better person,

a better listener at the very least,

not because I particularly care

or fear the eternal pain,

but I had nothing better to do.

I don't think I would stay still,

even in pain, I wouldn't rest,

there are so many stains on the ceiling,

there's so much self-pity.

I think I would pet every dog I see

and ignore every cat without feeling guilty.

I would remember if not immediately,

I would ask, not a hesitation in my mind,

the name of everyone,

even at night, I would sleep right away,

if day, I would do it anyway,

in the supermarket, in the job, in the street,

in the car anyway anytime.

I would like to think

I would insult way too much,

but I find it doubtful I even care that much.

The most I think about my imminent demise,

recoiling, more activities come to mind,

long tedious and fun,

that I've never been able to do.

The more time it took,

the more overwhelming my death became,

a long list of tasks to be made in a limited time.

The farther away I am,

the less time I have to just wait.

Oh, this again I was not supposed to struggle

this much when I'm about to dead.

February Prompt 10. Why this agony @the-end-society

[starlene]

"Keep them coming"? Ok! 1, 3, 6, 33, 48, 31!

More! More! More! Thanks!

1. How did you first get into musical theatre?

Answered.

3. What is the newest musical you love?

Änglagård (2023). I admit it's a bit of a weird relationship I have with this show – I think there's so much wrong with it, especially when it comes to dramaturgy, and that feels very frustrating to me. But I'm also seeing it for the third time next week, can't wait, and listen to the cast recording all the time.

...though I guess that's more or less my relationship with Jekyll & Hyde too, so maybe it's actually exactly on brand of me to love Änglagård. I can't stop myself from enjoying these problem shows.

6. Who is your favourite musical theatre director?

Answered, but let's talk about a close second.

Tuomas Parkkinen. Of course. When you direct a production of Jekyll & Hyde that worms its way directly into my brain, takes over a large chunk of it for over a decade, and absolutely refuses to leave, you're a forever favourite, no matter what you do afterwards. And that's not to say he hasn't directed other musical productions that I've enjoyed, too – at his best, he has a mischievous (sometimes to the point of bordering chaotic energy) but at the same time extremely well thought out vibe that I really like! Case in point: Evita (2020), gone too soon but never forgotten.

About that Så som i himmelen, though... I've been throwing so much shade on it, I can't not mention it here. Of course, since I refused to actually go and see it based on everything I heard about it, I don't think it'd be quite fair of me to hold it against him. But oh man. Let's just say he apparently sees my favourite musical from a perspective I can't even begin to understand, and probably vice versa.

33. Talk about a performance in a role that you can't forget.

I still think about Morgan Alling as Harold Zidler daily. Just spin him around in my brain. He was perfect in a way I don't really have words for, he just made me like the character so much, I wanted to watch him all the time and lift him from the stage and put him in my pocket so I could put him on my bookshelf back home and always keep him?? Just so enjoyable to watch every second he was onstage. I loved him. I want him back.

48. What's the worst musical you've ever seen? What made it so bad?

The Prince of Egypt was such a thorough downgrade of every aspect of the source material that I doubt... well, I hope no other musical will ever be able to let me down like that.

Maybe, had I seen it without any prior knowledge of the movie and the story of Moses and whatever, it wouldn't be the absolute worst I've seen – it did have some nice choreography, and the original songs will always be bangers, even when butchered like some of them were – but when compared to the movie and my sky-high expectations, and then the fact that we went all the way to Denmark to see it... for me, it really doesn't get any worse than that.

31. Is there a musical that means a lot to you that isn't one of your favourites? What made you feel that way about it?

Cats. I don't think I would be the person I am today without it, really, but I also don't consider myself a fan. I had an intense three-month relationship with it back in the day, and that was it, pretty much.

Ask me some musical theatre questions for old and cynical musical theatre fans

[appleatcha]

Its been very, very rough. I can't bring myself to be open with the one or two people I speak to about how bad it is. If you speak to me regularly and see this, well here's my admission of guilt. I'm doing way worse than I let on.

Almost every day for a week now I write messages and record audio messages of me talking about how im really doing. But then I just delete them. I don't see a point in sending them. I feel like it would just feed into my anxiety and stress more.

I've cried at work every day this week. Over stress of life. My son struggling, myself struggling, the house being messy, the cats, it all. My main concern is my son obviously. I put spending time with him and making sure he's taken care of before anything else. But I just feel so overwhelmed. I'm constantly rushing all day. Except at work. At work I sit with nothing to do most of the time right now, and im left to sit and marinate on everything.

My brain is so stress-logged that I've made dumb mistakes at work, forgot to take the trash out for garbage pickup, left my water on top of the car today and ended up breaking my cup when it was launched off my car when I moved, forgot my sons bookbag at home and was nearly late for work rushing to get it to him.

If I let myself think about it, I crumble. And nobody wants to hear it. My friends who grew up with my husband and me aren't close enough to me to care. My husband's close friend just says "I wish i knew what to say".

The place my husband worked and died is right behind the Walmart where we live now. My son and i stopped and went inside the gas station beside it yesterday. The only time I'd been In there was with my husband. When we got back in the car I started to cry.

I feel like people think I should be angry and hateful and not care about him anymore. And I am angry. I do have days I think "fuck you". But its just not that easy. I loved him and I have no clue what was really going on in his mind. I can guess and have feelings but I just will never know.

In a recent video, Peter Monn was talking about addiction and helping people through it and he said "love isn't enough. If love was enough, there wouldn't be 12 step programs or detox programs or suboxone". And something about it just clicked in my head. And I think of my husband saying "this isn't worth being sober". Maybe what he was meaning to say was "love isn't enough."

I'll never know. I don't know if ill ever be able to open my heart to another relationship ever again. Part of me is desperate for it, part of me is desperate to stay away forever.

But the main thing is that my mental health is not great. It's not even this grand loud, chaotic energetic bad like it usually is. I'm not having full on panic attacks, telling my friends about what I'm feeling. It's a silent, calm drowning. Which I can't say I've ever experienced.

I'm not suicidal or anything like that. I could never do that to my son. I want to keep going. It's just really fucking rough. And I don't think people who are getting upset at me not responding or being active really grasp that. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but its such a hard and treacherous path to that light. In my worst moments, I fear there is no light. That its all just ruined. But right now, I don't think that's true.

Its hard to imagine that January or even May were the same year as today. January, celebrating my one year marriage anniversary, working as a housekeeper. March, a housewife knowing something was up with my husband but not knowing what. August, an unemployed widow unsure of what happened, and December, a working single mom who happens to have been widowed, with more answers but also more questions now than I did the day he died.

Trying to take it moment by moment

[marchleader]

*hands Inno a stack of T2 question cards*

(Never mind that she's busy killing Cat over and over. That can wait.)

In some alternate universe where she never wandered into this world and her Inno's interrogation has finished:

Q1: What are your thoughts on the 1st trial results? A: Warden-sama has been very kind to me! I hope they continue to treat me fairly.

Q2: Do you believe you were loved? A: Why wouldn't I? God is with us right now.

Q3: State the name of your victim. A: There is no victim. Only those who were served punishment.

Q4: Is there a meaning behind your name? It conveys my parents' wish that "our faith will reach every corner of this world".

Q5: Is there a prisoner similar to you? A: I don't believe there to be.

Q6: Is there a prisoner you aren't fond of? A: Kotoko-san has been very destructive lately, and Shidou-san has been polluting this prison with his beliefs. I hope you are able to stop them soon.

Q7: What were your grades in school? A: I had no problems.

Q8: If you had to make one of the prisoners part of your family, who would you choose? A: I believe Mahiru-san's inherent goodness is an admirable trait.

Q9: What does love mean to you? A: What you have done to me.

Q10: What's your father's job? A: After working extremely hard, he became a lecturer. I am very proud of that.

Q11: Did you love the person you killed? A: I used to.

Q12: What do you think of Kajiyama Fuuta? A: I want to help him, but he does not want to listen to me.

Q13: If you could be reborn, would you still choose to be yourself? A: Obviously.

Q14: Do you like animals? A: I'm quite fond of them, do you want to learn more about them?

Q15: What are your thoughts on marriage? A: It's a vow to overcome trials together.

Q16: What are lies to you? A: Sin.

Q17: What do the people you respect think about your sin? A: I believe they'll think the same way you did.

Q18: When did you meet your first love? A: I haven't yet. They must be someone they've chosen for me.

Q19: Is there anything you wish your parents would have done? A: There are many things I wish they did. For one, I wish my mother followed through on her promise to our God.

Q20: How do you feel about you not being like everyone else? A: I'm glad that I was born as myself. Do you think I should feel otherwise?

[echantedtoon]

A Champion Time For The Heart Ch6 The Entrance Ceremony

You had a ...peaceful time helping Mrs. G in the kitchen cooking up some lunch for the guys...but by the time they all came back it might as well have been their dinner instead. Victor looked tired but still smiled, probably still happy to be able to get home and see all his family and friends, and in his possession was a small little pokeball and a new band around his wrist. That must've been the extra starter pokemon from Sonia! When his mother asked him about it, he answered that Victor had in fact received a small eevee to help him on his journey to over come the gym challenge. Well that was a nice thing for Sonia to do. It was also nice to just to listen to him talk about the small adventure he had taking pictures for the online blog he had. And made Gloria squeal with delight upon surprising her with a handful of polaroid pictures for her pokedex book. Next thing you knew it was already night and you were fast asleep....Only to be woken up VERY early in the morning by Silver grabbing at your face demanding food. ..Whelp. You couldn't go back to sleep now even if you wanted too so with a groan you got up and dressed, and went to go fix Silver something to eat. Only to be stopped again when there was a knock at the door. Confused you went to go answer it, but was surprised when you saw none other than Leon there.

"Leon?" You blinked. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey, Y/n!" He greeted giving a smile. "I decided to swing by before I head back."

"Back? You mean you're leaving now?"

To confirm your question he nodded again. " Yeah! But I didn't catch the morning train, got lost in the dark hours of the sun rise and somehow ended up circling my way back in front of my own house." He gave a sheepish chuckle and one hand came up to rub his head. "Not sure if I should consider myself lucky or not, but now I have to wait for the afternoon train at Twelve."

You rolled your eyes but smiled. Yep! That was definitely something Leon would totally do, game canon or not. You shook your head before looking back to him, not minding the Sobble who jumped onto your overalls and started climbing up you like a cat would. "Are you looking for Gloria? Her Mom said she left I think."

"Actually I was looking for you!"

That certainly caught you off guard as you blinked and your Sobble finally managed to flop itself over your shoulder as you blinked and pointed to yourself, "Me? Why?"

He looked over for a moment still rubbing his head nervously before closing his eyes and sighing. "Y/n...Never in a million years did I think Hop or Gloria would think taking off into Slumbering Wield would be a great idea, and honestly..That place is so unexplored and full of dangers I wouldn't be even caught lost in there." He looked back up to you. "Those two could've gotten seriously lost or...well I don't want to think about what could've been worse. I don't know how you figured out how they were in there, but that was some quick thinking on your part. As Champion I should thank you for your efforts, but as a big brother I could never thank you enough. But I'd like to try." He smiled real widely at you with that goofy grin you always saw.

You stood there for a moment brain processing what he said, before asking, "Huh?"

He chuckled at your reaction to him. "You lost all your stuff being chased by those wild corviknight right?" He gestured towards the door. "There's a local market and clothes store just across from the Pokemon Center in town. If you're going to be traveling all over the place with Gloria then you're going to need your own separate stash of clothes and food to sustain yourself. I can help in that department."

You stared......Was...W-Was Leon offering to BUY you new clothes?? Your brain finally clicked back to normal and you instantly shook your head holding up your hands. "N-No! I couldn't ask you to do that!"

"And have you travel around Galar with no supplies at all?"

That made you pause. You didn't really have any supplies did you?.....Literally nothing but the clothes on your back, a back pack, and one pokeball for the sobble on your shoulder. And now that he mentioned traveling with barely anything-.....You were REALLY under prepared and hadn't even thought of that! No food, barely any clothes, and overall no money at all to buy things with. So in much easier terms, you were absolutely hopelessly broke. BUT Leon was offering to pay for anything you needed- NO! You shook your head. You only helped out because you knew someone would be in danger and you knew the things had to progress in game if you wanted to get home. It'd be wrong to accept money just because you helped him out....But then again you still had nothing, and it'd be better not just for you but for Gloria too if you guys needed supplies for two people traveling around a giant region for who knows how long. Plus Leon is THE Galar Region Champion! He's the most popular person in all of Galar with millions of fans. Logically he'd probably have cash to spare for the supplies and not put a dent in any of his paychecks and you DID need the supplies. So technically he'd be helping out Gloria as well as endorsing her too if she insisted on having you come along.

"I mean-.." You started raising a brow. "Are you sure? I really don't mind and you don't have too!"

"If I didn't I wouldn't have offered, Y/n!" He gave a smile and again gestured towards the door. "Plus..I could use someone to help make sure I didn't get lost on the way there again. I wouldn't want to loop in front of my house again."

Well....Considering all the factors and that he was totally willing- "I mean....Sure! Ok!" You nodded and smiled. "I'm gonna need some supplies if I'm going to be traveling I guess. And since you're offering I guess I can't say no. Oof!"

That earned you a friendly pat to the shoulder from Leon as he smiled. "That's the spirit! Mrs. G won't mind if we leave now. She's already busy anyways."

You nodded in understanding and when he gestured for the two of you to leave again, you walked your way over to the door, Leon being the polite gentleman he was opening the door for you as you stepped out back into the world and the two of you were off. Walking down the road and passing all the normal things you all had done previously on your way towards the Center, which was pretty easy to spot as it was bright pink. And again people awed and waved at Leon as he smiled and waved back. At one point stopping and agreeing to take a picture with a young boy who couldn't have been much older than five or six as his presumed mother took his picture, before thanking Leon and allowing the two of you to continue on they're way. The smells of flowers and vegetation was in the air. You didn't see Hop or the twins on your way there though despite being out catching more pokemon. You just hoped they didn't decide on going back into Slumbering Wield again. Once you two got to about the center, Leon turned to you and gestured for you to follow him to the left past as a couple of elderly ladies walked past the both of you, both giving Leon a 'WOW!' kinda look. The building he led you too was a brick building with a green and white striped awning over the doorway and a sign above it reading 'Postwick General Store'. In front of the store was a couple crates of you assumed crops the local farmers produced.

"There it is!," Leon explained to you walking towards it as you two got close to it. "Should have everything one needs if they're going on a journey. It's where I got my supplies for my journey long ago, so it should have everything you all need." He assured as you two finally got near it. Once again reaching out and opening the door for you, a small bell going off above you, to which you thanked him and walked in. The inside was cool, and it ...looked exactly like a regular convenience store with a bunch of shelves with things labeled with prices and a few freezers stuffed with more foods. "See? What'd I tell ya?!"

Before you could say anything a different voice caught your attention. "Well, Well. As I live in breath." Both of you looked over to a counter and a middle aged man with dark brown hair and mustache smiled from behind the register. "If it isn't little Leon the champion, eh? Last time I saw you, you weren't much bigger than a beanpole. Now what pleasure does this old soul have to have you walking in here?"

The purple haired man happily waved to him. "Hey, Mr. Frederick! Long time no see!" He happily patted your shoulder. "My friend here needs some supplies, and being the best store in Galar, I thought you would have just the things we needed!"

The old man laughed and nodded smiling. "Well you ain't wrong! Look 'round and see if there's anything to your liking."

That was enough signal for Leon to grab onto one of those convenience store baskets and nod towards the food on the shelves. "C'mon. We'll want to find non perishable foods that'll last longer for long trips! So they should be in-..." He gave the aisles a look..and rose a brow. "Uh.."

"In the last aisle to the left," the older man corrected him.

Leon pointed to the left. "What he said! I remember now!" You chuckled at him, but he seemed to ignore them as he walked over and you followed. Taking a look at the aisles they seemed to stacked with the regular food you'd find in stores like back where you came from, and the aisle you guys went too could have what could only describe as camping foods. All packed away in plastic wrap and such so well they looked like a hiker's paradise. Especially when Leon hummed at what was available. "I guess a couple trainers already been here. Usually there's a whole lot of this available. But y'know what, that's perfectly fine." You watched curious as he just started grabbing a ...lot more than what you were expecting as he started just grabbing handfulls of packages from the shelves before you. "You can never go wrong with lots of rice and sausages."

"Uh..." You raised a hand.

''There's also plenty of pasta and salad mixes too," he mumbled to himself grabbing more handfuls of plastic wrapped packages of instant foods, "I think you'll like the moomoo cheese here. I used to use these a lot as cheese usually lasted a long time, like these bean tins here. Although steer clear of the pungent root. It's edible but has a strange smell too it. Coconut milk is also good to have on hand, canned moomoo milk is always good-"

"Leon," you interrupted his rambling as he hummed and looked to you. And you pointed to the now almost overflowing basket, "Isn't that uh....a little much for just me?"

He looked confused for a moment, before looking to the basket and seeming to get it. "OH! Nonono. I was grabbing some for the guys as well. ....I...probably should've mentioned that before we got here I guess, but it slipped my mind." He gave an embarrassed smile. "Sorry about that."

"It's alright." You assured him as he turned. "I think that's really nice of you to help us like this anyways."

"Well, a journey is never easy and if I can make it easier for them I will." Well you couldn't argue with that. By the time you two had walked out of there, Leon was holding two bags and you were holding two after helping to separate them between the four of you after paying the man with what must've been this world's version of a credit card, and you once again started following him after he turned to you once out of the store and said, "Follow me!" He nodded ahead of you and there was something you recognized. It was the clothing shop you'd encounter in the beginning of the game. It looked fancy compared to other buildings in town, with mannequins wearing clothes in the window, Sign above reading 'Cothes Mart'. "We can grab you two or three outfits in there and that should be that." He paused...before grunting and turning back over his shoulder. "Oh no."

you stopped and looked at him, before glancing at your sobble, then back to Leon again. "What?"

He stared at the pokemon center. "I forgot to stop by the center for something." He turned back to you. "And I have limited time...Here! How's this? Go inside there-" he nodded to the store. "And ask for Martha, she's the lady that owns the store. She knows my mom since she shops here all the time. Tell her that I sent you and to put it on my mom's tab, I'll digit my mum the money to pay for yours!"

You gave him a deadpanned look. "Leon, no offense, but wouldn't that just look like I'm trying to bum off you? If anyone could do that, then it probably would've happened a lot more with you in a lot of identity theft."

"Oh yeah! Tell her 'I got lost on a barn's roof!' That's the code I set up with her after one of my getting lost sprees. Hehe," he gave a nervous chuckle and you couldn't help but roll your eyes. How could anyone get lost and end up on top of a barn? Only Leon you supposed.

You nodded. "Alright. Won't you get lost? No offense."

"None taken. Ill wait for you outside the Center, just be sure to make it quick. I don't think I'd want to miss my second train of the day."

You nodded before the two of you parted ways, you going towards the building, semi heavy bag of foods in your hands towards the double glass doors. Once you reached the door open, a small bell went off and you stood in aw at the fancier looking store than the previous general store. There was....a LOT more included in here than you remembered in game. Much more clothes racks. Much more shoes on shelves. Much more bags. And MUCH more shelves of clothing.

"Good Afternoon, Young Lady." The lady's voice spooked you enough to make you jump, nearly knocking the chirping sobble off your shoulders as you turned to a middle aged dark brow haired lady who looked about the same age as Gloria's Mom as she smiled at you cheerfully. "Welcome to Clothes Mart. Feel free to ask for help if you need anything."

"Uh...." You blinked before clearing your throat. "Y-Yeah?....Martha?" You asked hesitating before pointing at her and she nodded.

"That's me! How can I provide you excellent service today?"

....You looked around a little bit before walking up to her, a few other ladies and young girls were looking at the clothing, this Martha raising a brow as you approached. Eyeing the others around you before clearing your throat and looking back to the slightly confused lady with uncertainty. "Uh...I got lost on a barn's roof?"

She still looked confused for a moment before her face instantly went from confused to overjoyed like a person had waved a full stack of a million dollars in front of her face. "OH! Of course. Would make sense since the Champion is in town." You sighed relieved as she stood from her place behind the counter with a smile. "Although I wasn't expecting Leon's cute country gal coming in.~ And just in time by the looks of it." She gave a criticizing eye over the overalls and green gum boots you wore.

It took a moment for you to register what she had said, and your Sobble gave this Martha lady a scowl as she looked you over. ...And you instantly held up your hands, red faced. "WHA- OH NO!! DEFINATELY NOT! I'M NOT-..HE'S...W-Were just..Friends." Well...You couldn't say exactly that you guys were friends since you've only know him a total of what...two or three days at most outside of a video game. But it was the only thing you could think of to call this.

She paused to look at you for a moment but shrugged. "Small mistake. Any friend of Leon's is a customer of mine." You lightly scowled at her as she smiled and sat back down. "Do let me know when you're finished, Ma'am. And don't be afraid to ask for assistance!"

"R-Right. Ok." You quickly shuffled away shaking your head from the encounter and looking at the Sobble. "Can you believe that?" The Sobble chirped and nodded in agreement with your statement and you couldnt agree more. "My thoughts exactly."

It didn't take long for you to pick out just a few shirts, two black with a pink pikachu and green eevee, and a blue one with an arcanine, and some plain black sweats to go with them. A pair of really good sneakers, a plain blue dress you thought was nice, and a jacket. Before you realized that it'd be impossible to carry it all with your small old backpack. Probably why Victor didn't want to take it in the first place you thought, but managed to find a rather large grey plaid rucksack, it was perfect with it's multiple pockets and size. You were quick to try and check them all out as this Martha lady wanted to chat but you didn't feel so talkative after the way she seemed to judge you with her eyes and quickly just left as fast as you could after she had apparently finished punching everything into someone's online tab she kept and wishing you a "Champion Time, with your 'Friend'!" and to "Stop by anytime!". Man you couldn't walk out faster and get outside holding the heavy bags of clothes and food you had gotten. Thank goodness because you surely just wanted to get back to Leon and help him back to the train station. Just your luck too as you walked past the Postwick's general store and towards the center, you managed to catch sight of Leon. He was leaning down and signing a small girl's book while her assumed mother watched.

"LEON!!," you called out and he looked up smiling at you waving a hand, one of the bags hanging from your wrist.

He waved a hand back, finished signing whatever the excited young girl was holding out to him before nodding to her and her mom before picking up his two large bags and walking towards you as you continued to walk towards him. "Hey!" He greeted once he was close enough smiling. Glancing at the new backpack on your back and the new bag in your hands. "I see you got some new kicks! Good! Sorry I took so long, but I got a lil caught up as you could see."

You smiled rolling your eyes, "I know. And it's fine....Are you sure about all this stuff tho? It's really no big deal-"

"Exactly!" He stated with a wink. "It's no big deal to me either, and I'm not bothered in the least." He gave that wide champion grin. "I make it a habit to use my position for as much good as possible, especially now with the power crisis." He turned to walk back down the road towards the train station and you followed.

"Power...crisis??" Oh yeah! Wasn't there a plot in the game involving that kind of thing? You tucked away that information just in case.

He nodded as you two walked. "Yeah. Been having it ever since I was about sixteen. The Chairman's been trying his best to help and look into the problem, I think?? But so far there hasn't been much progress unfortunately."

"Oh. I see..." You glanced down to the bags he held. They looked a wee bit fully than you last seen. "What did you get at the Center anyways?"

He seemed to perk back up at the mention. "OH!" He held up the bags. "Some more things that trainers would need for the long trip! Potions, antidotes, one or two revives and awakenings, and a few healers. Trust me. They're going to need them for their pokemon in case there's no pokemon center nearby to help them."

You nodded as the two of you continued to walk all the way to the train station, still no signs of the two children. You remembered someone saying that there was a lot of wild pokemon on Route 2 so maybe that's where they went?? The two of you walked the rest of the way to the train station and he was nice enough to hold the door to the station open for you to walk in, you thanking him. The inside wasn't anything special. A bunch of waiting seats, a man in a small stall like area who seemed to not pay attention to you, what must've been this world's version of an ATM next to a vending machine along side the far right wall, a clock above them, and a pay-to-enter entrance to a grey and yellow train. Well, at least Leon won't miss his evening train. Speaking of Leon he seemed ecstatic.

"Phew! Made it just in time! And not a minute too soon it looks like." He glanced at the clock on the far wall and frowned again. "Ten fifty eight! It's going to leave in two minutes!" He quickly turned back to you and you blinked as he held out the two bags. "Shoot! I'd sworn we had more time! I have to get on before I miss the second train in one day! Could you give these to the kids for me!?"

You took the bags from him as he nudged them towards you Sobble chirping in curiosity at them as you blinked again. "W-W-Wait! You're not saying good bye to them first?"

"Well I kinda don't have a lot of time," he said gesturing between the clock and train, "I can't be late for this one!''

"Oh right!" Your eyes widened at the clock. There was now one more minute before noon, when the train leaves. So you pushed Leon who blinked. "You should get going then! You only have one minute!"

"OH RIGHT!!" He quickly turned and made a run for the pay-to-enter entrance, once again taking out what must've been a pokemon world's credit card and either letting the machine scan it or pushing it into a small slot in the side, you couldn't tell past his cape that swished around with his movements. He managed to get past the bars and stopped at the other side to give you one last smile. "Thanks for helping! Maybe we'll get to see each other again-"

HONK!!

Both of you jumped at the loud train horn going off and you pointed. "LEON!!"

"I KNOW I KNOW!! BYE!!" Grabbing his hat he ran to the double doors that opened and closed behind him with a whoosh noise.

You sighed in relief and the train chose that exact moment to start pulling away with a metal groan. Followed by the click-clacking noises you knew only trains could make and you sighed. You did end up just sitting down in one of the waiting seats arms and feet sore from carrying all the things with yo-

"LEON!!" You and your Sobble jumped, the small pokemon tumbling into your lap as you turned your head and a familiar purple haired boy came running in and you whipped your head around to the blur of Hop rushing in. Sliding to a stop in front of the entrance to the train watching as it continued to go past. "AH MAN!" He deflated with a sigh. "...I'm too late."

"Hop?"

It was his turn to jump and snap to you as you sat there with a brow rose staring at him. And he relaxed. "Y/N! What are you doing here? WAIT! Did Lee come through here already!?"

Your Sobble chirped in annoyance righting itself up at Hop, and you nodded as the last car of the train flew by. "You just missed him actually...Hey. Where's Gloria and Victor?"

He groaned and reached a hand up to rub his head. "Ah man. I really wanted to say good bye...Oh. Glory's battling Victor down the road." He pointed his other hand out the door. "I was kinda hoping I'd get a chance to see him go, y'know..." He looked at you again and seemed surprised at the bags around you...and pointed. "Hey. What's all that you got there?"

You blinked for a moment before looking to the bags, and smiling. Holding out one to the younger boy. "Leon left you guys a fair well present."

You perhaps should've seen it coming when Hop's excitement was reignited when he heard Leon left him a present and you gladly handed over one of the bags to which he opened up in a hurry but looked utterly confused at all the healers and camping food until you explained the reasons why Leon got them all for him. Which he understood with a nod. And after a moment more of resting you decided to walk back with him towards the road, but the two of you ran into another familiar face in the form of the twins. Or more like she almost ran into the two of you as she ran into the train station pulling her brother behind her as you got up from your seat. Your sobble still sore over how many times he already fell from your shoulder and so resorted to gripping your shoulder sleeve harder.

"Geez Glory!," Hop commented raising a brow, "What's gotten you in such a hurry? I thought that was my thing."

"Sorry," she apologized leaning over to look around you and Hop at the station, "Did Leon leave yet? You said somethin' about stopping him so we could say good bye."

He again sighed and slouched a big bag in his hands. "Yeah he's gone back to whatever he was doing. I suppose I can't catch a train after all." ...He gave a small smile though. "But I guess I can't complain! He's the Champion! So of course he's gotta be like SUPER busy! We'll come face to face again soon enough!"

Gloria smiled back and nodded in agreement. "YEAH! Besides, maybe we'll see him at the Opening Ceremony tomorrow!"

You nodded at them. Although you knew he wouldn't be there as in game if the current events kept up, but you didn't want to break their hearts or anything so soon.

"Are you endorsed trainers?," a man's voice asked from behind the three of you turned around to the man in the small store like stand in the train station. His smile widened as he nodded to his side where a stack of books was settled. "Would any of you three be interested in joining in our charity dex events?"

"Charity dex?," you asked obviously confused.

And the man nodded again gesturing to the two different book stacks one smaller than the other. "Yes! For just five dollars you can purchase one of two dex books and enter the dex challenges to win a variety of prizes! All proceeds goes towards the power crisis fund raiser."

There was that mention again about the power crisis. You wondered how dire it was exactly. Gloria seemed to take interest in it though and walked right up to the stand staring at the books. "....What's exactly the challenges?"

"Well there's the Poke-Dex challenge and the Curry-Dex challenge?" He explained holding up one of the small books, it had a picture of a plate of some kind of food etched into it. "The challenge is too take a picture of every labeled curry, or pokemon, on the pages and when your albums are fully completed, you turn in into your local pokemon center to claim your prizes! And there's no time limit. It's all for charity and you get a neat scrap book out of it. We already sold a few to some people on their way on the train. Would you be interested in joining one of the dex challenges?"

"I dunno. Sounds like a scam to me, Glor," Hop commented glancing at the books. "I always thought photography was Victor's gig. And we're already got the gym challenges ahead of us tomorrow.......Glory?"

Dexes?? As in completing the entire pokemon dex for this game?? Was this how it was manifesting in this game? You guessed so. It WOULD be weird if Gloria just discovered her pokedex had a limit of numbers in order to 'complete' it like a game's challenge. but a curry dex?? You faintly remembered there being some kind of food challenge in game but you couldn't remember it too well.

"I can't believe you wasted twenty dollars on two scrape books and camera film." Hop gave a small frown at the rolls of film and books Gloria was carrying along with the bag of goodies provided by Leon from earlier. "You don't even have a polaroid camera for all of that."

"No, but Victor does! I'm sure he won't mind if I take his old one." She gave her brother a look and Victor rolled his eyes. "Besides! It'll be fun and easy! Just fill up a whole book with pictures of pokemon and curries! How hard can it be?"

Hop's face deadpanned. "That's not exactly what I meant."

The four of you had left the train station not longer after that and had taken a small detour to the grocery store you were previously in that morning so Gloria could buy herself a decent amount of film rolls. It was crazy how many rolls of film you could cheaply buy in this world for a mere ten dollars, although you were sure Hop disagreed. So you decided to change the subject by asking them a question.

"So," they both turned to you, "We're leaving for the Entrance Ceremony tomorrow morning right?"

"YEP! Bright and early! The morning train leaves at seven thirty sharp and we have to get our Dynamax bands from Professor Magnolia tomorrow! So we're gonna have to get up real extra early if we don't want to miss it. These train conductors are always on time, whether it's a good or bad thing. But those bands will be worth it to be able to dynamax and complete our Badge Circles!"

"I see. ...What's a badge circle??" You don't remember hearing anything like that from the game even when you played it way back when. "I don't think I know how these gyms and badges work."

They both gave you a confused look and for a moment you thought you goofed up before luckily Gloria unknowingly saved face for you when a look of realization came over her. "OH RIGHT!! You're not from this region so you wouldn't possibly know how the gyms work!" You thanked whatever god was listening for this great save as Gloria happily explained. "You see there's ten gyms each with their own gym leader unique to their own type of pokemon, but in order to compete in the finals at the end of the year you only need eight badges to complete your Badge Circle. A Badge Circle is like a puzzle but instead of carboard puzzle pieces you use badges to make it, then you present it to the official board who helps host the Gym Challenge. They're also the ones who's going to be checking to make sure your endorsements are legit at the Entrance Ceremony," she explained as you listened. Never knew when this info might come in handy later. "That's where four of the gyms are optional. While usually they give you they're own unique piece for the Badge Circle..Both Rock Type and Ice Type Gyms offer the same shaped badge. So does the Fighting and Ghost Type Gyms. So usually you'd pick either one of the two choices, grab it, and then move on. Lots of people don't see the point of battling both gyms for the same piece as it's not required." She smirked before pointing a confident hand forward. "BUT NOT ME!! What's the point of me joining the Gym Challenge if I don't at least try out every gym at least once! We have a full year until the finals anyhow! That should be plenty of time for me to get what I need!!......Plus...m-maybe because I'm also kinda hoping to get some pictures and a few autographs. It's not everyday you get to see such famous people. Hehe."

You rolled your eyes with a smile. Just like a teen meeting a famous person but Hop sighed again. "I just don't see why you're going through all of this trouble. Won't it make more sense to just focus on one thing?"

"Hop you need to broaden your horizons a bit! It's gonna be our first times away from home! It's not just about the Gym Challenge!" She smiled widely at him. "It's about seeing new things! Meeting new people! Getting to see all kinds of new pokemon! It's...." Her smile dropped for a bit as she looked down. "It's actually a bit scary.....but I guess that's what's also making it so exciting." She smiled again. "Plus I know you're also doing the challenge so it's not like I'll be going into it alone right? Ill have my best bud and bro going through it with me!"

Victor looked off to the side and Hop stared at her for a moment before clearing his throat and nodded looking away. "Y-Yeah! You're right. "

"See? Told you! It'll be fun! And I'll have Y/n as a traveling buddy anyways! So it should be fine."

You nodded in agreement as the three of you continued to walk back towards their homes, and both children mentioning the new pokemon they had been able to catch while out on their little adventure today.

"So how many pokemon did you guys catch?," you asked curiously.

And Gloria proudly answered, "NINE! And Hop caught five!"...Before she hummed. "Although Vic seemed to have o' bit of trouble with it."

You did a double take at the two. "Wait. You guys caught fourteen pokemon between the two of you in the few hours I was gone!?"

"Yeah! Hop's really lucky! He's got a shiny butterfree!"

Hop gave a sheepish smile and in a similar fashion to Leon raised a hand to rub the back of his head. "Well I guess I was just lucky to catch it off guard enough to catch it in the farmer's meadows."

Oh yeah. Weren't shiny pokemon a pokemon born with a rare color variety compared to most of their other kind? Wow. Well it sounded like the two of them certainly had a fun time out and about. "Wow. It sure sounds like you guys had a fun time." The three of you were coming up to the roads that split into to directions to both of the children's homes.

Gloria nodded again. "Hey! Hop! Come over to my house so I can practice my camera."

Victor's brow rose again, "Don't you mean my extra camera?"

"Same difference! If I take pictures of all the pokemon we caught then it'll be good practice and give me a head start on the challenge! Plus who else would have a picture of a shiny butterfree?"

He sighed. "I swear you can bounce forward on anything like a ball."

You chuckled as the three of you made it to Gloria's house. Finding her mother in the kitchen cooking food and the first thing you noticed was the delicious smell coming from the kitchen stove, whatever she was cooking smelt of spices and your stomach growled. She looked up for a moment and smiled at the three of you, asking what the bags were for once she noticed, so you explained to her what had happened with you and Leon that morning as the two kids went off towards the door outside. She chuckled when you explained how Leon got lost on his way to the train in the early morning and got lost to only somehow end up back in front of his own home. Calling him 'a sweet young man for helping the kids out like that' and asking how your day went. Overall it was pretty well and you soon found yourself sitting down at the kitchen table resting yourself from all the walking around town you did. It was still fairly early in the day being only twelve something in the afternoon- You jumped when your Sobble all of a sudden chirped curiously and half climbed onto the side of your head to look towards the opposite side of the house as a flash of light came from one of the windows from outside. A minute long pause. And then another went off. A total of fourteen flashes with about a minute pause between them and while you tried to wrangle your sobble from your face without hurting it and it was enough to catch Mrs. G's attention as she stared with a brow rose.

"Gloria, what are you kids doing? I hope you're not practicing electric type moves near the house" her mother demanded. "You already almost caught your bed on fire from teaching your scorbunny Ember inside!"

"It's fine Mum!," Gloria's voice came followed by her head appearing in said window and waved what could only be described as a polaroid camera. "We're taking picture of our pokemon! Can you believe that I already have fourteen pokemon for the dex challenge!"

Her mother gave her a confused look placing a hand on her hip, "Dex challenge? What are you talking about?" She asked just as her Munchlax came toddling him yawning with another green pokemon behind him. He must've smelt the food and woken up you figured.

However Gloria's eyes lit up with a gasp! "Make that soon to be sixteen! You caught a Budew!?"

"Oh?" She glanced at the pokemon at her feet glancing up at her. "Oh yes. It was one of the two that always hangs around the flower beds. I always thought they were rather helpful for planting so I thought-" She paused as Gloria was already gon-

BANG!!

Both of you and the three pokemon jumped and turned to Gloria in the door's entrance camera in hand and scorbunny at her heels as she grinned at the Pokemon at her mother's heels before lifting the camera at them. "SAY CHEESE!!"

"Gloria! What are you-" She was cut off by two flashes that blinded you for a moment and you reached your hand up to cover your face as a white coated your vision. "GLORIA!!"

"Whoops. Sorry Mum!"

"WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING!?"

"Taking pictures of pokemon. Duh."

"I can SEE that! Or I would if you hadn't blind sided me.....Wait. Isn't that Victor's camera? What on earth were you doing playing with it!? You know that's not yours!"

You groaned and rubbed your eyes as they contined to talk. You trying to rub away the white dots that came with the flash as your sobble sat there. And you suddenly felt a small hand pawing at your face, as if your sobble was mimicking the movements you made at the attempt of clearing your vision. It was cute....But it would've cuter if you could see it.

"But Mom," Gloria pleaded, "It's for a good cause I promise. There's this Dex challenge and if you fill up the entire book with pictures when you can win something! Plus it's fun! And he's totally cool with lettin' me borrow it!"

"Only cuz ah now you'd just take it anyways!," Victor called from outside.

"Well watch where you're pointing that thing! The last thing we need is you blinding someone."

"Yes, Mom." "Sorry Ms. G."

You finally opened your eyes still lightly rubbing them as you blinked and your vision was slightly blurry, but it quickly cleared revealing the two teens and their mother standing there as they looked at you. And Mrs. G held out a hand to you.

"Oh dear. Are you alright, Y/n?"

You nodded. "Yeah. I guess. It was just real bright for a moment." You paused as the camera was held out pointed at you by Gloria.

"Hey, Y/n. Can I take a picture of your sobble?"

A picture of your- "Oh. Yeah sure! Just lemme close my eyes for a minute." She nodded as she held the camera up to her face and you slammed your eyes shut as the words left her mouth.

"Hey Sobble!" The pokemon turned to her. "Say cheese!" Another flash of white lit up everywhere and your sobble chirped in surprise as his eyes went wide and it swayed as you reopened your eyes. Gloria smiled as the camera made a whirling noise and a moment later a perfect picture of you with your sobble staring towards the camera came out through a slot in the bottem as she grabbed it. Examining it with a smile. "Yep! That makes seventeen now!"

You gently took the sobble off your shoulder and into your arms as it swayed wide eyed, before shaking it's head and scowling towards the three teenagers, letting out a very loud squeak of annoyance at her before leaning back into your arms like a cat would still glaring at the two of them. You kinda felt bad so you ended up scratching it's back making it give a pleased sound and smile after a moment. What a cute newt thing!

"Hey Glory. Shouldn't we be dropping off some of your pokemon at the center for your rotomi boxes?," Hop asked

Gloria nodded before looking at him. "Hey. Doesn't your grandpa have a purrloin?"

"Yeah he sure does."

"Think he'll let me take a picture of it?"

"I don't see why not! C'mon!"

"Wait! What about lunch?!," Gloria's mother called after them already running out the door. She stood there for a few moments, before sighing and shaking her head. "I swear! If those two were pokemon they'd be rapidashes for how fast they head off to things."

You chuckled at her. The rest of the day went by very quickly. You had ended up helping Mrs. G clean up after she had started cooking and she gave you some curry as a thanks. You never had this kind of dish before. It was some rice with some kind of red sauce with the same spice smell from earlier, but neither of you were complaining as you ate. It was actually pretty good. Nice to have a peaceful meal considering the past couple days with how chaotic they were. Although you did have to keep your sobble from trying to grab food from your plate and to appease it you fed it a few peices of pokemon food after Mrs. G offered. Gloria and Victor didn't return until later that evening where you assumed she had dropped off some of her pokemon with Hop. The camera secured around her neck by a strap and her hands was one of the journals you noticed she had purchased. So you asked about it and her face lit up and she showed the both of you the eighteen pictures she had taken along with a bunch more Victor had given, something about him not needing them anymore anyways. Some of them you had recognized. Gloria's scorbunny. You and your sobble. Mrs. G's two pokemon of course, and a couple of Hop's. Including a yamper like Sonia's. What you didn't recognize was a few new ones which she gladly told you the names of them. But the most surprising one was her phone but it looked as if it was posessed by a rotom. When asked Gloria explained that it was perfectly normal for someone to have a rotom phone with their very own rotom. She probably assumed you didn't have any of that back in 'Kanto'. Time flew by and other than Mrs. G scolding Gloria for snapping a picture of the curry she had saved her for dinner, it was pretty easy for you to follow your routine before once again falling asleep on the couch and dozing off for the night. Until the very next day of course. You were just laying there peacefully snoozing away peacefully until you felt a harsh shake on your shoulder and a light was shown on you. Of course you being asleep ignored it in favor of turning over on the couch and curling into the blanket even more. Again a harsher shake made you groan in protest at whoever was trying to kidnap you from slumberland.

"Y/N!!" A young girl's voice shouted fairly close and loud next to your ear. Startling you awake with a snort, sitting right up and blinking and rubbing your eyes at the harsh light that extended on you. "Time to wake up or we'll miss the train to Motostoke!"

"Uuuuuhhh," you groaned peeking your eyes open and blinking groggily up at the form of Gloria smiling at you. You yawned a bit. "Gloria? Wha-....*yaawwn* What time is it?"

"Six o four in the morning!," she stated happily before leaning back up and it took you a moment to figure out it was still dark in the early hours of the morning and the light was coming from the light bulb above you. "You need to hurry up and get ready before we're late! I still need to pick up my Dynamax band from the Professor too!"

"M' up," you mumbled reaching a hand out to slowly toss off the blanket from your form as Gloria backed away.

She turned as you both heard her mother's tired voice call to her, asking what was up. What you needed to wake you up was a nice hot shower so that's exactly what you did. Dragging yourself out of bed, you trudged into the bathroom and took a deserving hot shower, brushing your teeth, and opting to instead of the overalls lent to you by Mrs. G wore the black shirt with the Eevee print, slacks, and the non rubber shoes you also picked up. By the time you came out, with everything else in the gray plaid bulking back pack of yours, the smell of food was already in the air and it didn't take you too long to find out why when you look over and saw Gloria holding what could've only been described as a plain waffle in one hand obviously in the middle of eating it, and going through her big brown back pack with the other as her mother looked at her.

"Uh huh. And are you sure you got plenty of clothes?," Mrs. G asked raising a brow, "Extra pokeballs? Your region map? How about the revives Leon was nice enough to get you?"

"Yes Ma!," the teen mumbled half way through eating, "I already went through this last night!"

"Well it never hurts to double check! Especially since you can't lose that endorsement letter or else they won't let you register for the challenge at all," she looked up and noticed you before smiling, "Ah! Y/n! Good morning, Dear. I hope you slept well."

You nodded shifting the backpack over your shoulders, "Yeah thanks! ......Hey. Where's that sobble?" You rose a brow while looking on the floor. Strange the little guy wasn't around.

"He was hungry so I gave him some food to tide him over for you. And speaking of which you must be hungry. I'll get you some breakfast. You aren't starting off your trip on an empty stomach."

"But Mom! That's gonna take even longer! Vic's already waiting for me! We still need to grab the dynamax bands before we go and we'll miss the train if we wait-"

"How about you guys go get the..bands and I'll *yaaawwn* meet you at the train station?," you suggested. You weren't really in the mood for any arguing in the morning, and to be honest you were hungry and the idea of starting a long trip on an empty stomach just didn't appeal to you.

You were lightly surprised when Gloria agreed to it and after a few more moments of going through her pack, left with Hop you assumed, as her mother kindly handed you over some food. More waffles but you weren't complaining. Your sobble at some point noticed you were awake and soon enough you felt that familiar feeling of the little guy crawling up your clothes only to plop itself into your shoulders. It really liked being carried around didn't it? Your muddled mind didn't know when but sometime after you finished the pancakes you were out the door bag in your hands, one hand holding it and the other digging through it to make sure all the few belongings you did own for now were secured. Sure enough you found the non perishable food Leon had given you, the few clothes, and of course your Sobble's pokeball tucked somewhere in the bottom of it all. You decided to keep your sobble out for the time being as it seemed to enjoy being out. The early morning light was starting to peek through with the light pinks and yellows of the sunrise. Already as you made your way to the train station, you saw the farmers and their wooloos out in the fields. Early to bed early to rise you guessed. You saw no sign of the teens besides Victor who waved at you and gestured for you to come wait with him, guessed they were still getting the dynamax bands from the professor, even as you walked right into the train station. So you did the only thing your tired self could do. You once again plopped yourself into one of the seats tiredly and waited for the two to arrive. It couldn't have been that long(or maybe it was but you didn't notice) but you perked up at a familiar voice.

"So out with it, Glor! How many did you catch again?"

"I already told you eight! You saw me take pictures of them yesterday remember?"

"Oh right! Sorry that's just the sleep talkin'. " You turned to the door as the young voices got louder. "But look at how many you caught! You're well on your way to building a fine team! I caught myself a special one not to brag."

" I KNOOOWWW!! I'm so jealous you caught a shiny before me!" Gloria walked right into the train station with Hop right behind her.

He shrugged with a proud smile. "Well what can I say? I'll make a difficult rival."

"Where are we heading again?"

"The Gym Challenge will begin Motostoke and our train's waiting so let's go-" He paused finally looking away from her and seeing you two sitting there. Upon catching his eye you smiled and waved mumbling something like 'Good Morning'. And he smiled. "Hey! Y/n you're here!" You stood up to meet them with a light yawn as they approached. "I thought you'd be on the train already.''

You chose not to mention you haven't gotten any money to pay for the ticket entrance and waved. "Nah. I said I'd wait for you guys at the station and I wanted to keep my promise." Looking to Gloria you noticed something around her neck, so you pointed and asked. "Hey. Isn't that your brother's camera?"

"Aye." Victor rose a brow crossing his arms at his sister. "Don't go runnin' 'round crazy with that thing if you value ye life."  He jabbed a thumb to the awaiting train. "Anyways it's nearly seven thirty. We should probably get on before it takes off." He suggested and the lot of you agreed. Walking towards the small gate-

"Not so fast you three!," an older but familiar lady's voice cut through the air and the three of you all turned around as a result.

Hop's golden eyes widened. "Wha-? What're you doing here, Mum?" He asked turning around just as the two mothers of the children walked right in. You were confused at first two, before seeing what they were holding in their hands and you immediately understood why they had followed you here.

"I knew this day was coming since the moment you chose Grookey as a partner, Darling," the older woman smiled fondly at him, a smile you remember your own mother used to have way back when. She held up the small rolled up thing in her hands. "You took off so fast you two didn't take any sleeping bags. Did you forget you probably won't be able to afford hotels most of the time or won't be able to sleep in one every night? You can't expect a free bed around every corner."

Both looked immediately sheepish as Mrs. G spoke. "Professor Magnolia was kind enough call and let us know that you three would be setting out now." She held up a small looking back of her own. "So here. A little last gift to see you well set on your way. All the kit you'll need for camping! And the reason why you should always double check BEFORE you take off like your brother." Gloria made a face and looked away before her mother made her take the small kit, which consisted of a small compact tent you could carry over your shoulder and another sleeping bag, before crossing her arms with a frown. "Honestly! I swear you'd lose your head if it wasn't attached to your neck sometimes."

"HEY! I only forgot this one thing," she protested and her mother hummed.

" Ah yes. Like you forgot to tell me about how the two of you snuck off into the Slumbering Wield." In an instant she froze and you could've sworn a little color drained from Gloria's face in that moment. "And yes, I heard the news from young Leon. I'm glad someone bothered to tell me!" She sighed and her other hand was held out to you. "Here we are! A bit of pocket money for your journey. Buy yourself a little something at the pokemon center. Maybe some potions or something!"

You stopped and blinked at the small twenty bill in her hand before shaking your head. "Oh no! I couldn't possibly take your money! I-"

"Happened to save my child from a dumb idea. It's not much but something tells me you could use it anyways."

Well......It wouldn't hurt to have some money on you in case of emergencies even if it wasn't much. So you reluctantly took it from her. "I....Thank you."

She nodded to you before turning to Gloria and pointing a finger at her with a serious look. "Now. Remember that Scorbunny will battle to the very end for you so don't you go pushing the poor dear too hard! Come home to rest anytime that you need. After all east or west, home is best." She smiled. "No matter what happens out there, if you and your partner are together I know you'll be fine. Take my advice to heart Sweetie. As long as you have your pokemon at your side and the energy to carry onwards, you'll naturally find that you always have a smile on your face."

Gloria stood there for a moment before nodding to her mother and you blinked when she all of a sudden hugged the older woman, seemingly startling her too for a moment before she smiled and hugged the child back tightly like any mother would....Well except maybe yours. She was always seeming to be too busy working or making sure you worked hard to get good grades or worked hard enough to help out with the bills with your after school jobs. You didn't notice the frown come over your face as Hop mimicked his friend in giving his own mother a hug who like the other mother mirrored a smile and hugged back patting his head followed by Victor.

"Remember. No matter what happens out there, if you and your partner are together, I know you'll be fine."

Hop smiling pulled away and gave a big grin. "Thanks Mum! And just think of how lucky you are!" He raised a determined fist. "Mother to the first ever pair of Champion Brothers! Because I'm certain to be the Champion next! You'll see!"

She nodded in agreement but her face was amused. "Of course you will, Darling. Anyway, do have fun and take care of yourselves. And don't be too worried about not winning. You're welcome back home anytime."

Home huh- A loud train horn sounded off startling the five of you into turning to the train, then you happened to glance at the clock hanging upon the wall and noticed that it was seven twenty eight in the morning. Two minutes before seven thirty and the deadline for the train's departure. So you decided to point this out, having the two kids make a worried frown before taking a few steps back.

"We'll be off now!," Gloria explained lifting her hand a moment to give a quick good bye to the two mothers and turning to the train. "C'mon guys! We're off! Don't want to miss the train!"

You nodded in agreement tailing right after her with Hop behind you. "Wish us luck! Not that we'll need it!"

As the mothers waved good bye, the four of you went towards the gate and watched as Gloria slipped a single dollar into the slot of it. It made a ping noise and you guess it unlocked because the four of you easily slipped by and towards the train. The grey and yellow train's doors slid open with a whoosh sound as the three of you entered just as another horn sounded off startling your sobble a bit making it cling to your shoulder harder. Inside was who you assumed to be a train conductor who gestured for you all to exit through another door to the right which lead to the passenger cars and other people who happened to be on the train with you four. There was about fifthteen other people with you so the lot of you had to go to one of the back seats. Yellow painted metal bars were everywhere along with Blue seats with a table between the two of them. Above each pair of seats was a small area to put luggage. You sat down just as the train was starting off. Gloria breathing a sigh of relief from all the weight she was carrying. You assumed she was carrying more than you already along with the camping equipment she was given just a few moments ago. You ended up looking out the window and watching the station and small town of Postwick move away from your view and starting on your way. Beside you Gloria sighed and slumped into the soft cushioned seat.

"Man. We just left and I'm already feeling beat."

"Well look on the bright side," Hop suggested, "We're finally heading out on our journeys! And Lee told me Motostoke is a good place as any to start off an adventure."

"Oh really? How come?," you asked curiously as he explained.

"Well besides the obvious Opening Ceremony going on there. Motostoke is surrounded by a giant piece of land called the Wild Area. It's a real sight! There's all sorts of wild Pokemon just wondering about everywhere you look! Plus you can camp out, do a spot of fishing, and sight seeing! I don't think I could ever get tired of it!," he explained smiling widely, "But I don't think we'll be able to see it. The Entrance Ceremony's in the town not the wild. But on a lighter not! There's loads of brilliant trainers and all kinds of pokemon out there waiting for us! My excitement's running ahead of me faster than this train can go!"

"Yeah? Well it's too bad. Would've loved to take a couple more pictures." Gloria sighed leaning more against the wall of the train. " Im already starting to understand why Victor likes it so much. Like I wouldn't make it a living like he wants to but it's a nice hobby."

You nodded agreeing with her and extended your arm to allow your sobble to crawl along your arm and onto the table, watching as it curiously crawled up to the window and looked out at the world passing by. You all sat there for who knows how long chatting, the kids pulled out their phones and showed you a few pictures of what looked almost like a castle's high walls and beautiful scenery surrounding it. It was quite lovely. At one point someone said it would take at least a few hours to get to the town so all of you had plenty of time to relax but you couldn't help but let your mind wonder. What was happening back at your home? Was your mother worried about you suddenly going missing? What happened when she went to wake you up but found you completely gone? Did she call the police to file a missing person's report yet? Counting today it would've been five days that you had disappeared and that must've been worrying. And if this happened to just be a crazy dream you surely hoped you would wake up sometime soon. You were soon snapped out of any bad thoughts though. How? Simple the train suddenly slowed down out of no where it caught you off guard and you ended up hitting the table in front of you your poor Sobble chirping in shock as it was sent tumbling across said table and into Hop's extended arms as he thankfully caught the poor thing before it could splat onto the floor below. What the world was that!? Your head turned as Gloria nudged your side. you gave her a questioning look about to ask if she was alright but she pointed out the window and you looked. There was.....Nothing but nature?? Which wouldn't be strange since it was the out doors, and you WOULD have chalked it up to just being another stop on the way to Motostoke but then why did the train suddenly stop like that? Granted you never rode on a train before but you were pretty sure they weren't supposed to stop suddenly enough to ram yourself into a table. One of your hands rubbed your sore ribs where they had hit the table, surely leaving a bruise later but no real damaged luckily. So why had you all suddenly stopped in the middle of seemingly no where? Around you other people were also noticing, muttering to themselves, some getting up to peer out the windows or to take a couple steps up the alley way as to walk up to the engine car.

"Attention Passengers!," a man's voice blared from a loud speaker somewhere, "Due to some unfortunate events beyond our control we have decided to take a quick stop at Wild Station. We apologize for any inconvenience and to please wait patiently while we fix the issue. We thank you for your cooperation."

"Wha- Wild Station? That's just outside the town!," Hop exclaimed holding your sobble in one arm while staring at a map on his phone with the other. Confusion on his face. "Why didn't they just stop inside the city?"

"Let's find out!" Gathering her things into her arms Gloria was quick to jump past you.

"WHA- Hey wait!," you called out extending an arm out to her as she darted up the car past other people.

You stared after her for a few seconds before turning to Hop who shrugged and got up to after her which you followed obviously. The three of you hurried after her as Gloria trotted up to the exit and with a whoosh the doors opened with her stepping out and the two of you followed. On the other side was another train station. Only this one had slightly different colored brick walls and there was a whole bunch of leaves and twigs scattered about. Besides the four of you there was a couple looking over a map in one corner of the station looking confused and lost, a map just sitting in the waiting chairs, and someone who looked to be in some kind of uniformed green vest.

You gave a confused look around. "Where the heck are we?"

"Ill check!'' Before you could respond Hop had already turned to the man in the vest and asked, "Hey, Mr. Station Master!" The man hummed and turned to him. "Isnt this the Wild Area? What're we stopped here for?"

The man sighed crossing his arms. "Yes....This is the Wild Area Station makes no mistakes. I'm sorry to tell you that the train is halted due to a flock of wooloo."

"WHAT?!," both you and Gloria said at the same time.

A giant herd of wooloo!? Oh great! Now what were you all supposed to do?

Hop however wasn't the least bit concered. "What's there to be sorry about? This is brilliant!"

Gloria gave him a look that looked like he just did something crazy. "What is?"

He excitedly smiled widely at her. "This Wild Area is massive!" He explained the sobble in his arms giving a noise of annoyance at his sudden movements. "There are loads of pokemon to battle here! You don't get it do you, Glor? This is the best possible place to put together the greatest team!"

"I don't think we should be taking off, "Gloria pointed out and you nodded agreeing. "We have to get to the Entrance Ceremony soon or else we'll be considered forfeiting our sponsorships entirely!"

"That's the smartest thing you said all day," Victor mumbled.

"They take it that seriously?," you asked lightly surprised as she nodded.

"Something about a long time ago a lot of trainers tried to sneak their way into the challenge by claiming they were late to register or something like that. Since then the rules have been pretty strict. Which is why I want to register first and then come back here if I have a chance."

"When is the deadline?"

"Midnight. And as much as I'd love to explore around...Im kinda nervous about securing that spot."

You could totally agree with her on that point Buuut- You pointed behind you. "But the train's going to be backed up for a while by the looks of it. Maybe we can walk? How fair is this Motostoke?''

"Let's step out and see. The map said it shouldn't have been too far away I think."

That wasn't a bad idea and with no objections the four of you stepped out and what you saw made you pause. As soon as you stepped out you were hit with the strong rays of sunlight making you blink but once your (f/c) eyes managed to get a hold of themselves...Well....Breathtaking was a pretty good way to describe it. A giant meadow stretched as much as you could see with a giant lake, a few scattered trees, and A GIANT WALL! A giant wall was set up with a few bridge like structures to the right and you could see a few very tall buildings/structures ahead. You saw what you thought was oil rigs movie, a giant clock which reminded you of Big Ben back in your world, a few sky scrapers, and a few other things you were too far away to make out. Over all it was a very strange but pretty sight as the wind blew through the trees.

"Look at that!," Hop said in awe pointing at the buildings which must've been a decent half mile away. "That's Motostoke way off that way! And between here and there are countless new pokemon waiting to be met!"

Gloria hummed. ".......Well it would be cool to explore somewhere we won't get in trouble I guess."

"EXACTLY!!" He pointed towards the meadow. "Im itching to just see what's out there. It's not too far away and we can probably spare a couple hours. I mean we have until Midnight right? And we left pretty early in the morning."

She hummed again. "Well when you put it that way it does sound like fun!" A smile crossed her face again. "I can take a whole bunch of pictures for my scrapebook! And catch a few more pokemon of course."

You weren't sure that was a good idea- "Well well. You two running off again?"

The three of you turned- You blinked surprised. "Sonia?," you asked. True to your word the orange haired professor's assistant was walking right towards the four of you with a smile. "What are you doing here? I don't remember seeing you get on the train."

"Of course you didn't. I didn't enter the train through the station right side of the station," she smiled. "Besides. I figured it'd be an opportune time for me to travel for my research." Sonia gave a sigh and looked to the ground shaking her head. "My grab gave me a proper earful in her own way. 'Those two young trainers are setting out on a journey, but what are you doing with your life?' Her words not mine."

"Ouch Professor," you commented, "That sounds rough." You didn't mean to be so blunt but you kinda understood how she felt. Your mother had asked you similar things to that while simaltaniously pushing you to study more, go to college, and get a job-

Sonia waved you off. "Ah. Never mind that. Nothing to worry yourselves over. " Her eyes lowered back to the teens next to you. "Besides I've been more curious about that pokemon you two met in the forest. I'd been thinking I should look into it so the timing works out fine! If I discover something really huge then maybe even Gran'll admit I got some talent."

Pokemon- OH RIGHT!! You nearly forgot the legendary pokemon they saw in the fog. Although you were still unsure what it was exactly. A thought suddenly struck you. In the game Sonia would uncover some amazing things important to the plot of the game. If ONLY you could remember what it was!

"Yikes." Hop made a cringe face. "Being an adult got it's own challenges eh?"

You frowned and gave a chuckle and shake of your head which made him look at you. "Oh you have NO idea."

"I said you needn't worry about it," Sonia stated a little more firmly. "I'm glad to be on the road really! It's been ages. It'll be great fun to fish and camp and rough it outside again."

"Uh huh. Well you have fun with that! Meanwhile.." He turned with a smile. "I heard there's natural dynamaxing pokemon in the Wild Area! I'm off to go stick my head in as many of those red dens as I can find!"

"Not. So. FAST! Mr. Impatient!" He yelped when gloria grabbed him by the hoodie and with the same frown as her mother stared at him when she yanked him back. "We only got here and you want to run off again into the wild??"

"Oh c'mon Glory. I promise Ill meet you up back at the Entrance Ceremony."

The young girl hummed. ".....What time is it by the way?"

"Oh." You glanced to sonia as she rolled up her sleeve and glanced at her watch. "According to this it just turned Eleven thirty in the morning."

She hummed and slowly released her friend. "Fine. But let's agree to meet at the Entrance Ceremony at six or seven in the after noon. That should be enough time for the both of us to explore and get to the town before it gets dark." She gave a concerned frown. "I really don't want you hurt or lost."

Hop paused for a moment before looking away coughing his cheeks having a light pink hue. "Um....YEAH! I can totally do that!"

Her smile returned. "Then it's settled! Can't lose my rival before I even join the challenge."

"GREAT!!" He turned again. "I'm going to battle the snot out of a bunch of dynamax pokemon and fill in the tale of my legend!" And he ran off.

"DONT YOU DARE FORGET HOP!!," Gloria hollered after him.

Victor sighed before looking at Gloria and You, "I'd better go with him and make sure he doesn't really forget. I'll see you two later."

Both you and Sonia shared a chuckle at their childish behavior before she looked at you. What cheek. Dynamax pokemon are really on another level you know." She glanced to Gloria. "You'd better dynamax your partner pokemon too if you want to take on opponents that strong." She directed Gloria to the wild. "He's right about red dens. You'll find spots here and there in the Wild Area that emit a red beam of light. If you think you're up to it, check it out. They're usually cave openings with dynamax pokemon inside. But PLEASE be careful. It can be dangerous at times. I wish Hop would've waited for me to warn him before he ran off like that."

Gloria nodded in understanding as you looked down to your sobble climbing up your leg. Hop must've put him down when you weren't looking. "I understand Sonia! You don't have to worry about me!"

Sonia nodded to the two of you. "So with that Ill leave you two off here. The Wild Area is waiting for you. This is the start of your real adventure. Take care now."

You watched as she turned to walk away and....you weren't sure what really compelled you to say it in that moment but you reached your arm out after her. "Ms. Sonia!" She stopped and turned to you with a hum. You paused uncertainly if you should say anything. Would it affect the progress of the game's route? "I just....wanted to let you know that....You really are a great scientist already. And you're going to find a lot of things."

She blinked at you in surprise for a moment not sure what to make of your words, but settled on a smile and nodded. "Thanks. Your kind words mean a lot but we'll have to see what I actually accomplish. I wish you the best sights and experiences of Galar a tourist like you can have!" Before she turned and walked her way towards you assumed Motostoke.

"Wow." You jumped and looked to Gloria who smiled. "That was really nice of you. Even if it was a little out of no where."

You shrugged. "I guess I know how she feels a little bit. Sometimes a few kind words is what someone needs."

"Lee always says something similar, but I think he calls it 'champion encouragement'." She suddenly snapped her head forward and pointed. "Well you heard Sonia! I want to try out my first dynamaxing battle before I take on any gyms! We got about seven to eight hours to get some battling and sight seeing in so I say we give this day all we got!"

-time skip five hours forward-

You lost track of how many times Gloria pulled you along this way and that....but it was an eventful few hours.

You lost count of how many pokemon Gloria tried to battle. Key word being 'tired'. The first pokemon she tried to battle was one you remembered. An Onix. A. GIANT. MASSIVE!! AND CRANKY!! ONIX!! Probably didn't help Gloria snapped a picture of it before trying to battle it. You had to literally grab her and drag her behind you as you ran. Terrified scorbunny at your heels as it charged towards the two of you. Not the greatest start to be honest. But it wasn't as worst as her first dynamax battle. She had found an opening in the cliffside of a cave with red aura around in, one of the dynamax dens and she ran into it without a second thought with you chasing after her. Inside the dark was lit up by a GIGANTIC DIGLETT with the red-black cloud hovering over it's dynamax form. You nearly fainted then and there but when the thing ROARED you felt like you were about to have a heart attack!!! Your sobble poor thing made a small squeal of fright before forcing itself into your backpack to hide immediately. Things just went downhill from there when in the middle of the battle Gloria decided to dynamax scorbunny and all of a sudden you both were having a very hard time standing up from the shaking ground and the debry the attacks caused to the point you literally yelled that you both had to leave then and there but she couldn't hear you past all the noise and therefore barked orders to her gigantic scorbunny from her holding onto the ground. With you clinging onto the cave's wall for dear life hoping it would be over soon. Thankfully it did. It was all a blur really. You vaugly remembered Gloria somehow capturing the diglett and returning scorbunny to it's rightful size. And you two carefully climbed around disheveled cave floor until managing to get out of the cave....where the both of you collapsed onto the ground.

"HOW THE HECK CAN STADIUMS HANDLE THOSE THINGS!?,'' you yelled out dizzily into the soft grass. In the game you didn't have to worry about debry being flung at you or the ground giving away suddenly. BECAUSE IT WAS A GAME!! REAL LIFE POKEMON DYNAMAX BATTLES WERE NOTHING LIKE THE GAME!!"

Gloria raised a weak hand. "T-They were made a long time ago with top professors, contractors, and researchers to build them strong enough even a dynamaxed monchomp with the strength of a thousand earthquakes couldn't shake it. Dunno how but man I'm glad they did."

You could 100% agree with that! It took a minute for the both of you to recover before the two of you got up, dusted yourselves off, and went off again. Gloria managed to resume battling and taking photos of a few pokemon. Although some of the pictures were so blurry from the pokemon moving they would be no use at all and she didn't catch a lot of the pokemon she tried to battle. But she did win a few and even had two other dynamax battles within the dens you guessed the boys didn't come across. Catching one of them but not the other as you struggled to not lose your lunch or have a heart attack both times. You were not a fan of wild dynamax battles after that. At one point you even came across what Gloria explained was a wild berry tree and demonstrated how to get the fruits off them by forcibly shaking it until a couple berries fell off it. They all had a somewhat bitter taste you didn't like when you tried them tho, but your sobble seemed to enjoy up as you handed them right over when they extended their....hands?? Paws??...towards it. You couldn't remember how much time had passed before the two of you finally had a chance to sit down under the shade of a tree and have a break. Gloria took the time to go through all the pictures she took, must've been about thirty, but only twenty one were salvagable. Curious you took a peak at the pictures she showed you. The pokemon she got pictures of were a onix(of course angering it-), roselia, vespiquen, and a few others. Not a lot but certainly a decent haul for her. It was you who eventually asked the question-

"Hey. What time is it?"

Gloria responded by quickly pulling out her phone and checking the time on it. And she blinked. "It's four twenty seven! It's already been about five and a half hours!"

"Wha-" You looked up to the sky. Didn't look like sunset yet, but it was definitely about late after noon. You two hadn't even noticed the time fly by. "We've been out here nearly all day!"

With a hum gloria quickly scrambled to pick up her things. "I think we better head to Motostoke now. I don't really know how long it'll take to walk there and I did promise Hop we'd meet him there."

You nodded scooping the confused sobble into your arms. The walk there was pretty uneventful as you two walked what must've been half a mile, your eyes widening the closer you got, until you finally got there......AND. IT. WAS. NOTHING. LIKE IN GAME!! The entrance to Motostoke was all bricked with a medieval ages meets industrial period kind of look. All the buildings you could see were brick other than the familiar pink pokemon center and there was A LOT MORE people and buildings than in game you remember....makes sense you supposed. This was a real world and so of course there would be a lot more people and buildings. It was so crowded you were certain if Gloria wasn't walking beside you, you were sure you would've easily watched her. The first place you two stopped was the pokemon center where Gloria went inside to heal her pokemon from todays battle and put away any new ones she caught into those Rotomi box things. You were busy marveling at the busy streets and environment around you. You had never been in a city before let alone a town like this so it was quite a shock for you to see. This place even had GIANT WORKING GEARS BUILT INTO IT'S VERY WALLS!! It was like a real steampunk town. But once she came out she.....stopped and stared around her.

"So which way to the ceremony?," you asked her gazing at a few stores lined across the street.

She looked really unsure now fidgeting with the straps of her bag and looking around her. "U-Um...I don't know."

You snapped your head to her. "You don't what?!"

"Im sorry!" She apologized looking around. "I know it's here! I just.....don't know exactly where in town."

You wanted to facepalm but decided not too to avoid hurting her feelings and looked around as well as people and their pokemon passed you two. No signs of Hop or any indication of a ceremony anywhere in sight. No other trainers, no signs, certainly no ceremony!

Gloria suddenly held up her phone. "Maybe I should call him? He might already be there waiting for us-"

"HEY YOU TWO!!" A familiar voice called out and to both of your relief you turned and walking towards you with a shopping bag in one hand, yamper at her feet was your saving grace Sonia waving at you. "Over here!"

"SONIA!" Gloria smiled. "Boy are we glad to see you! We ran into a 'Leon situation' here."

That made her laughed. "Oh really? Real ace of you to make it through the Wild Area. And a Leon situation huh?"

Gloria nodded sighing. "We're kinda lost. Do you know where the ceremony is?"

"You're first time in a city and already lost? But Motostoke is big right?" Gloria nodded and Sonia smiled. "Not to worry. Sonia is here to show you around a bit."

"Thanks, Ms. Sonia." Gloria politely smiled at the older woman. "Could you point out where we gotta go?"

Sonia hummed. "The Entrance ceremony huh? I get a bit worked up when I think how exciting and moving it was to actually stand on a stadium's pitch for the first time." Sonia smiled off thinking of an old memory most likely. She shook her head. "Anyways. Brilliant young trainer who braved the Wild Area! Do you remember what your goal in Motostoke is?"

"I'm here for the Gym Challenge!," Gloria shouted determined smile on her face and Sonia nodded.

She nodded. "Yep! The Gym Challenge Opening Ceremony!" She pointed behind her at the busy street. You Guess since she once too here attending the Gym challenge with leon as kids she would know where it would be. "Use that lift over there to get to it K? OH! By the way the ceremony tomorrow is being held at the Motostoke Stadium ok?"

......You looked at Gloria. "There's a stadium here AND a second ceremony tomorrow??" Gloria shrugged at you.

"Well, laters!" She waved a hand at you two. "I'm going to swing by the shops while I'm here but don't forget to register at the Stadium,k?" Gloria nodded and Sonia went to tur- She stopped. "OH! I forgot. I got you a little something." Reaching into her coat pocket and fishing around, she pulled out what looked like at first glance some kind of training card before holding it out to Gloria who curiously accepted it...And her eyes WIDENED at it.

"NO!! WAY!!" She stared wide eyed between the card and Sonia. "Is this what I think it is!?"

She giggled. "Yep. I know Leon already sent myself and Hop a couple so I figured it would be the perfect start off to your own collection."

Gloria gave off a girly teen squeal and practically shoved it into your face making you blink. "OH MY MAGIKARP!! LOOK!! I GOT A LEAGUE CARD!!" You blinked and true to her word it was a card. And on it was a picture of Leon sitting down looking off somewhere. She smiled widely pulling it from your face. "Thanks so much So-...." She blinked. "Hey where'd she go?"

You shrugged. "I guess she left. Come on. We better get going."

She nodded ad the two of you made off for this lift at the end of the street. Along the way you guys passed a few stores. A flower shop, a cafe, a book store, a record shop, a barber shop, and another clothes shop. Once you two were at and on the lift....you became unsure again.

"Um. Now what?"

"I dunno..." Something caught her eye as she looked over and pointed. "hey what's that?"

"What's what?"

"This panel has a button." She pressed it.

"AH!!" You instantly fell to your bottom and Gloria grabbed onto the small pedestal as the lift suddenly lifted the two of you up and around, until it suddenly stopped again and you groaned. Pushing yourself up...and hearing a snicker. You shot a look to the teenager who was snickering behind her hand. "Nice to see you're still standing." You muttered pushing yourself up to your feet again and looking over, in front of the both of you was a giant building with glass doors, in front of the doors was two men in some kind of uniform and sunglasses like some bodyguard and some man with.....A Pokeball head?? Was waving to a few people passing by. A mascot maybe??.....You pointed at the building. "You think that's it or what?"

She went to answer but someone already beat here to it. "Gloria! Ms. Y/n!" Both of you looked over and the boys was making his way towards the two of you. "You made it too? "

You rubbed your aching back. "Yeah. Where are we?"

"Motostoke Stadium! This is where the Opening Ceremony will be held!" He exclaimed excitedly pointing to the large building behind him. "Everyone'll be watching the Opening Ceremony for the Gym Challenge! My mom, your mom, the whole world!! It's getting me a bit nervous really." He shook his head. "Naw. This isn't nerves. I'm only trembling because I'm so excited!"

"Well I say we go it and get registered before it gets too dark," Gloria suggested. 

"You're right!" He turned back to the stadium still pointing. "Come on, Glory! It's time the world knows our names!"

As the three of you rolled up to the doors one of the two men standing in front of the door held one of their hands out in a clear stop motion in front of you four.

"Can I see your sponsorship letters please?," He asked holding out his hand and Hop didn't hesitate to pull his out of his pocket and have the letter over to the man in the meantime the twins had slung her backpack off her shoulders and went digging through it. You hoped she didn't forget it all the way back in Postwick. The security guard carefully examined the piece of paper in his hands. Running a hand across the red unbroken seal, holding it up to the light, and then taking a small device out of his pocket. A small green light came out and scanned it for a few seconds until there was a small ding from the machine and the man nodded before handing it back to him. "Head on inside and sign in Trainer. Next!" Saying a quick thanks Hop quickly snatched the letter back just as Gloria pulled out her own (thank goodness she still had it) and handed it to the man who repeated the same process from before he too handed them back hers and allowed them to go. But when you made a move to follow them he held another hand up. "Sorry, Ma'am. Only registered trainers, staff, and authorized personal are allowed inside. You'll have to wait out here. It's the rules."

You paused for a moment before looking at Gloria uncertain who smiled. "It's alright Y,n. Just wait for us out here ok? It shouldn't take too long. I mean we're just signing in!"

"Well...Alright if you say so." You gestured to a nearby bench. "I'll just wait for you two over there ok?"

They agreed and left you standing outside the stadium as they went inside. Not that you minded waiting of course. Your feet ached and your shoulders from carrying around your backpack all day, so plopping on the bench you gave your sore body a rest before slinging your pack off your shoulders. Your sobble had decided now would be a good time to fully crawl out of your pack from where its been hiding out this whole time and you let it climb on you when you placed your bag down with a sigh and leaned into the bench. FINALLY allowing yourself to rest for a while. You waited for a little while as people passed you, going up and down the lift and and streets as the body guards still stood there making sure no one entered without permission. A few teens Hop's age excited including" one boy with bright white fluffy hair and a long pink coat and you thought he looked rather grumpy. At one point you thought you heard a happy yell from somewhere but ignored it as it was probably a child playing somewhere. The sky slowly turning to a light pink as it got later in the day. Eventually the two did come back out but with what looked like white work out bands on their wrist that didn't have the dynamax bands on them. You waved at them as they walked right on over to you.

"Hey guys. Did everything go well?"

Victor nodded before smiling, "Although we might have to part ways for a while."

She gave her brother a confused look. "Whatcha mean?"

"I've decided to join Hop on this little adventure If he doesn't mind."

"Really!? That's awesome! Of course!" Hop was quick to agree with a friendly punch to Victor's shoulder. "Why wouldn't I want one of my greatest pals joining me while I write my legend? It'll be grand to have a traveling buddy of my own!"

"NO WAY!!" Gloria's large smile returned! "Oh this is great! We'll be able to see each other for a while more. I haven't been able to see you since you went on a journey last year so this is totally a win win for me in everyway!"

You nodded. "Oh. How'd the registry go?"

She waved a hand. "Oh y'know. We got our Challenger Bands we're apparently supposed to wear all the time so everyone knows we're a part of the registered trainers group. Our own League cards for the challenge. And we got to meet some of the rival trainers in there too! I liked the Sherry girl. She seemed really shy."

"I heard she was sponsored by the Gym Leader Milo but I can't be too sure," Victor replied before looking up at the sky. ".....But in any case I believe we should all head to Budew Drop Inn before the actual ceremony tomorrow." He turned to Gloria. "That way I can show you all the new pictures of pokemon I've gotten. You can use them for that dex challenge thing you told me about."

They turned and you nodded in agreement standing up and grabbing your bag, your sobble grabbing onto your bag as your hoisted it back over your shoulders and followed them guessing they must've known the way.

"By the way how many pictures of pokemon did you add to your collection?," Gloria asked glancing at her twin.

"Um." He made a thoughtful face. "Well let's see. Nessa's Aquarium has at least one of every water type pokemon...and with how many nature preserves I've stayed...and with the hundreds of tourists with different regions pokemon....and trading pictures with fellow photographers from different regions at the International Photographers Expo..........Six hundred thirty four different pokemon!"

There was silence for a moment.

"........WHAT?!"

The four of you made it down the street and over to the six story building that certainly looked like a fancy hotel. Along the way the children explained that the Chairman had not only endorsed as well but apparently paid the hotel in advance to allow all the trainers to stay the night before the actual ceremony took place the next day and the challengers were officially given the go ahead to start their journey. But a small surprise awaited the four of you yet in the hotel when you walked in and you looked around. There was a couple potted plants, two pairs of stairs leading up to another level with furniture, a sign in desk, and an elevator like a regular hotel but the thing your eyes were drawn to was the golden statue. It reminded you of those knights in ancient fairy tales. The golden man stood with his sword held up to the sky, a gleamering shield on his other arm in defense, and his face one of determination to not fail. Quite the craftsman ship. And standing right in front of it with a small yamper at her feet was-

"SONIA!" Gloria loudly greeted startling the poor lady and making her turn around.

Upon seeing who it was she sighed and smiled. "Oh it's just you guys. You gave me quite the jump scare there. But it looks like you both got yourselves registered." She nodded to the arm bands before her gaze drifted to Victor as she blinked. "....Oh. Hiya! I don't think we've met."

"This is my brother, Victor. He's gonna be with Hop for a while. But what are you doing here? I thought you were going out to study."

"Yeah." Hop chimed in. "What are you doing at our hotel?"

"Oh!" She shifted the many shopping bags in her arms. Guess she did go shopping while here after all. "I'm researching the mysterious pokemon that are said to be in the Slumbering Wield. I reckon if I look into some of Galar's lengends I might figure something out. Care to join me?" She gestured to the statue. "You're here already anyways."

"SURE! It'd be fun!" She turned to you."Hey. Y/n new to Galar. I don't think she even knows the legends."

"That's perfect then! While you're doing that, Im gonna go stand in that long like up there and secure a spot for us ok?"

"But I-" You raised a hand as theVictor turned and walked away leaving you with sonia and the other two...and you sighed. "I don't think I was that way when I was fourteen."

Sonia chuckled. "We were all like that at one point or another. But would you like to hear one of the legends? A newbie to Galar like you might enjoy some foreign tales."

"I'd like to hear too!"

You stared at her for a moment before shrugging. "Why not? I was just cast out from the little tribe."

She chuckled even more before she turned towards the statue. "Alright then. I'm sure you've seen the statue then.''

"Yeah." You rose a brow looking back up to the handsome man's golden face. "Who is he anyways?"

"It's a statue of the hero who once saved the Galar Region. I can run through the legend right quite if you fancy?" You nodded and that was all she needed to continue. "Long ago a great black storm covered the Galar Region." She gazed back to the statue. "People called it 'The Darkest Day'. The land was assaulted by gigantic pokemon but they were defeated by a single young hero bearing a sword and shield. This statue here is meant to depict the young hero of that legend. We still don't understand what kind of sword and shield the hero actually had. And what this 'black storm' is supposed to be is just another mystery. Whatever it was, it blotted all the skies across Galar. I suppose that tracks with it being 'the Darkest Day' but still..."

Hop blinked blinking at the golden statue's face and scratching his head. "Huh...I suppose that hero must've been about as strong as Lee then. Looks like you're going to have your hands full with plenty research though, Sonia. Black storms and swords and shields and all..."

"You'll be alright Sonia!"

She chuckled. "Heh. Thanks. I'll muddle through somehow. Don't you worry." She shook her head. "But legends aside. You three are staying at the hotel tonight though, right? Shouldn't you check in?"

"Probably so. Victor's holding our place in line." With a smiled similar to Leon he smiled widely at her. "And we'll look out for you too, Sonia! If we hear anything about any hero or whatnot we'll tell you!" Gloria nodded with a hum.

Sonia bowed her head in thanks to the two. "Thanks so much. Even if you don't find anything the thought's appreciated." As the kids said good byes and walked around her to a stair case you paused as she lifted her head and gazed at you. "I hope you enjoyed my little tale."

You smiled and nodded. "Yes. It was really entertaining. Thanks for telling me."

She nodded. "And thanks for taggin' along with the kids this far. I know we're practically strangers but there's just....I don't know....really good aura about you." You chuckled. You? Really good aura? That certainly was a first. "I'm sure Lee appreciates it too. He's always so worried about Hop. He practically raised him after all-" All of a sudden it was like a switch flipped off in her mind and her happy smile went to a sudden shocked face. "Oh no. I didn't mean to mention that. Please forget I even said that."

Your brow rose confus- "Y/N! C'MON! We got our room key already!"

You looked up to Gloria's call before back to Sonia before waving good bye and leaving. Wondering what the heck that was all about. Oh well. You had bigger things to worry about- Like the the fact that the three kids had gotten into a fight with four punk rockers!! You had just walked up the stairs and instantly was face to face with the three teenagers up in the faces of four people who dressed in black and red from their face paint to their outfits shouting something about they're going to cheer someone on and no one could stop them. You couldn't tell between the seven people shouting at one another and the front desk clerk trying to calm them down. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE YOUNG GIRL WHO STOPPED IT ALL!! She walked up the stairs and stopped next to your shocked state. A look of shock coming over her own face for a moment before she sighed and that snapped you out of your trance long enough for you to look at her. She was a teenager same around the same age as the other children with black hair tied back in two ponytails by red ribbon, a pink dress, with a black leather jacket and boots.

"What are you lot doin' here?" She had asked in what sounded what a brittish accent but you were sure Britain wasn't a thing in this world. Instantly the fighting stopped from the punk rockers as the they looked to her shocked like a couple toddlers caught taking candy. One shouted what you assumed was her name. Marnie you thought? As they stuttered out excuses. "I know you all are terribly curious 'bout the other gym challengers, but you gotta show a bit of restraint." Well it was nice of her to settle them down before she apologized. "Sorry 'bout them. They're just a bunch of my fans. Call themselves Team Yell and follow me around. cheerin' for me. I think they've let it all go to their heads a bit.....Come on you lot. Back home with you now!" She sighed as they guiltily slunk away past you down the stairs. "They're just so caught up with wantin' to support me and all that they tend to get a bit short with other Gym Challengers. Sorry if they caused you any trouble."

With that she simply walked past the lot of you, got her room key, and just walked away like it never even happened. You were still in a bit of shock but shook it off in favor of getting to the room you'd be bunking in with Gloria and have a small break from today. The inner workings weren't too different from the hotels you've been to before and was more than eager to plop yourself down and have a rest. The rest of the afternoon was a blur. At one point all three kids were sitting around the bed helping sort through Victor's collection of photos and helping Gloria glue in quite a lot of them into that small book of theirs. Hop mentioned about calling room service and Gloria suggested the four of you order each a different curry to help her fill in a bit of her curry challenge book as well. Which you had no problem against. It was free room service and you were interested in trying some of this world's curry since it was supposed to be world famous as Sonia told you. You ended up randomly choosing Sweet Curry as someone phoned it to the front desk and waited for it too arrive. It was pretty good. But it wasn't too different from Mrs. G's curry you had tasted other than the sauce on the rice tasted a mildly hot enough to be sweet. Of course that didn't stop Gloria was taking your curry's picture along with Hop's that had a massive egg in what was call a bitter boiled egg curry, Gloria's was a dry smoked tail curry(you hoped that wasn't an actual tail, and you think Victor's was leek curry with some kind of veggies decorating the plate. You ended up letting your sobble finish what food was leftover after you ate and soon you two found yourselves bidding the two boys good night and went to finally rest for the night. After getting a quick shower you decided it was best to go to bed since the actual Ceremony was tomorrow. Gloria had gotten the bed and you borrowed the sleeping bag Mrs. G had given Gloria. As the darkness slowly consumed your vision as your eyelids drooped you vaguely registered your sobble climbing on one of the shelves.

.........

CRASH!!

Both of you were startled away in the dark from a giant crash and a couple panicked chirps before you were tackled by an invisible spooked sobble burrowing under your arm as Gloria turned on the lamp to reveal the pokemon's mess.

"Y/n! Your sobble knocked over the shelf!"

"Uuuuuuhhhhh!!!"

[albedore]

Which pokemon would you have irl :3

NOW THIS IS THE QUESTION OF ALL TIME okay.

there are a couple i would want, and im going to list them and then say which i would choose! (not ranked in any order !!)

every single pokemon on this list is under the impression that i am living my same life with the addition of a pokemon partner!

(divs.)

1. SHINX

shinx are small and social pokemon and arent too violent, which is great! however, they are pretty energetic and i feel as though i will be unable to mentally keep up with a shinx.

"Shinx can create electricity when it rolls around while asleep. On rare occasions, a sleeping Shinx releases discharge sparks." (bulbapedia / sleep)

i allow my cats to sleep either on me or on my bed with me. i worry i might get shocked while i sleep. though, this could be manageable by just not allowing it to sleep with me, but knowing me, i would pick it up (if it's okay with it) and let it sleep with me anyway.

"If it senses danger, its fur can gleam brightly to blind predators so it can flee" (bulbapedia)

if it ever glows around me, whether from me (hopefully not), or a predator, it would be a pretty bad for me. i'm really sensitive to bright light and it would stress me out. i can close or cover my eyes, but it would most likely still be able to shine through. i would be able to handle it most of the time, but it would be bad if i'm having a particularly bad day.

i would love to have one! at the current time though, i don't think it's a good time. maybe in the future when i have a better grip of myself and reality, i'll be able to!

if it were to evolve into a luxray, that would make me so happy!! luxray are one of my favorite pokemon, one of the only ones that can make me happy stim so aggressively.

final rating : 7.5

2. SPRIGATITO

i have SO many thoughts about sprigatito. ever since i first saw the silhouette when scarlet and violet was being teased, i just knew i would love it, and i do!

"Sprigatito is capricious and attention-seeking, and it tends to sulk if ignored by people." (bulbapedia)

i am the same in this regard, honestly! plus, with my in real life cats, i always want to give them attention, so i feel as though i'd be able to give it the attention it wants!

"Sprigatito can rub its paws together to unleash a sweet, therapeutic aroma that mesmerizes anyone near it and causes its foes to stop battling." (bulbapedia)

lots of the time, i am under a great amount of stress, or just not feeling well in general. i feel as though the aroma that a sprigatito can emit would do well for me!

also, sprigatito are just so adorable!!! a small little kitty, and i also enjoy all of its evolutions! if it were to evolve into a meowscarada, i would enjoy that as well! so in conclusion, i would love to have a sprigatito!!

final rating : 9.5

3. ZORUA

while i LOVE zorua, i'm not sure i would be able to realistically handle taking care of one.

"To protect themselves from danger, they hide their true identities by transforming into people and Pokémon." (alpha sapphire)

"This Pokémon has a cowardly disposition, so when it's not around friends, it basically always stays transformed as something else." (ultra sun)

i have a pretty bad memory, and i do not to too well with surprises (for example, seeing something and then its different), so it would very often spook me. surprises tend to scare me and make me anxious and it would take me an unreasonable amount of time to get used to them.

"Zorua sometimes transforms into a person and goes into cities to search for food. When Zorua does this, it usually takes on the form of a child." (shield)

"If a normally talkative child suddenly stops talking, it may have been replaced by Zorua." (ultra moon)

under the assumption that i am unaware this is a zorua, i would try to make sure its okay or safe. if i was a child, i'd probably try to become its friend, since i was also a pretty quiet kid (and i still am quiet).

i think i wouldn't be able to take care of a zorua as it's personal trainer, but if it was a wild pokemon (...or more specifically, a street pokemon), i would do my best to take care of one :)! especially if it trusts me enough to stay in its true form.

final rating : 5

4. SKITTY

"Skitty is known to chase around playfully after its own tail. In the wild, this Pokémon lives in holes in the trees of forests. It is very popular as a pet because of its adorable looks." (alpha sapphire)

"Skitty has the habit of becoming fascinated by moving objects and chasing them around. This Pokémon is known to chase after its own tail and become dizzy." (omega ruby)

as the pokedex says, they are very popular pets, which you can easily assume that they're easier pokemon to take care of.

they are basically just cats, and cats are the only animal i would say im capable to take care of properly. so as long as i make sure it doesn't hit its head after making itself dizzy, i'd say i'd be a pretty good fit to take care of one!

one of my other favorite pokemon!! pink and a kitty!! what more could i ask for, really?

final rating : 8.5

SOME HONORABLE MENTIONS !!

OSHAWOTT

now if you know me, you know that oshawott is my favorite pokemon, so you may be surprised that it's not on the main list. though, i dont think i'd be the best partner for one.

i do not have many reasons besides i do not live near much water, the only lake nearby me is reserved for a small community in my area. i wouldn't be able to bring it to swim, and i'd feel really bad.

ESPURR

i think espurr has a perfect design; simple, yet effective. its small mouth and eyes are just so adorable!!! however,

"Though Espurr's expression never changes, behind that blank stare is an intense struggle to contain its devastating psychic power." (sword)

"It has enough psychic energy to blast everything within 300 feet of itself, but it has no control over its power." (y)

i have a really big fear of unwillingly being in pain, i would live in constant fear that it would lose control of its psychic powers when i'm nearby.

FURRET

WHAT AN AWESOME GUY!!!! LOVE THAT GUY!!!!! i would love to have a furret, but considering the size of my bedroom, it wouldn't be able to fit. if i was a traveling trainer, absolutely, i would have a furret.

TOGEKISS

i LOVE togekiss, however i believe i wouldn't be fit to own one.

"It will never appear where there is strife. Its sightings have become rare recently." (diamond+pearl)

i am not a composed person and i experience very big and negative emotions like a snap of a finger. i do not believe they would enjoy being around me, unless if i raised it from being a togepi.

CERULEDGE

in real life, i would NOT be able to handle a ceruledge, HOWEVER. the reason i am adding it to the honorable mentions, is because if i was a trainer and participated in pokemon battles, i would ABSOLUTELY have a ceruledge. cool as heck design, love this guy.

and to no ones surprise...

SPRIGATITO WINS!! with skitty at a very close second.

what can i say, i'm a cat person.

(extra honorable mentions i couldn't fit in : eevee, sylveon, arcanine, and pawmi)

[anemia-rp]

"I suppose that is true. Chemistry is an important part too." she agreed "Just because they bored you? Wow they must have been really boring people then." She really couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the comment. "I can't say that I have had sex because the other person was boring, but I did have sex one time because the movie we were watching was boring."

"But if I prove it, I might frighten you too much." she nodded while trying to keep a straight face. "I think I'm probably the cold shoulder type. I definitely can't yell at someone, but I can ignore someone like my life depended on it. That is unless it's someone I care for, then it's a bit harder to ignore them."

"What? Really?" she looked at him curiously as she took the shirt he offered her. "Okay, but I really can't promise that you will get it back. Especially if it's extra comfortable." she playfully warned as she pulled on the shirt, as it came to stop just above her knees. "Oh I bet I could even hide in here!"

She dramatically grabbed at her heart and gave a cheeky smile. "Cuddles are my weakness! That would for sure help me feel better!" Cuddles really could make Reno melt in an instant and make her feel better from almost anything. "It would be even better if you petted my hair too!"

"Well maybe you will get better at sharing your thoughts and feelings the more we spend time together. It is said that people's personalities rub off on each other the longer they are around each other." She smiled sweetly. "You definitely seem more softer with me, so that's a start right?"

It took a little while for the question to sink in as the fuzziness took a little while to leave Reno's mind. "I... maybe... kind of." she bit her lip some, thinking about it for a moment. "Maybe a lot of things, but maybe not anything you wanted." Even though she said this, it probably wouldn't take a lot of convincing to get her to go along with most things he wanted. He was able to make her speechless after all. She could feel a tingle run down her back at the way he touched along her collar bone. There was no denying that he could easily make her melt at the gentlest of touches.

"Sometimes it's just really hard to make me feel entertained 'cause the inner void gapes open more on some days", he shrugged. "And then I look for something that could possibly stimulate me." Now it was him who laughed. "No worries, the movies I'll pick will never be boring. Just scary probably."

He inhaled sharply. "Okay, getting ignored is probably one of the worst punishments, and isn't that feline as well? Guess cats are good at silent pouting just as well." A faux-sob erupted him. "I don't wanna get the silent treatment, I hope you've got some mercy on me?"

"That would be theft, hope you're aware of that", he mentioned but still with a smile, even more so when he could see how it fit onto her, his thumb rubbing his lower lip in a thoughtful manner. "Well, I could contemplate on gifting it to you indeed. If you wanna use it for sleeping and it helps you to sleep better especially. Then it would be for a good purpose anyway." He chuckled. "Cute, really."

"Guess I'm more cuddly myself than it seems to be", he approved. "But I could need a well versed teacher for cuddles." The smile that spread on his face now was a mixture between surprisingly innocent and cheeky, while he reached out to let a strand of her hair run through his fingers. "It's so soft, it's for sure a pleasure to touch."

"So guess that means I'm gonna turn into a lil' bunny one day, too. A black bunny. But to be true, it's mostly 'cause I feel my softer side is in good hands with you so I can embrace it. Since it's been here already before." He put his hand onto his own chest, too, right where his heart was.

He in fact liked this response. "That's good. I'm probably one to talk here, but it's definitely important you don't sacrifice everything for another person. Like your boundaries." He chuckled and pecked the tip of her nose. "It's good. I'm not into people who don't have an own will after all."

[bananana-boat]

Giants

You see, the existence of giants has been quite the debated topic for what seems to be the history of all time (source- that's what I imagine at least). Where I live, in the Appalachian region, there's talk of the mountainous beasts that live in the woods that no ones ever been able to get a good enough look at and live to tell the tale. Big Foot, Sasquatch, the W word (which I won't even give the credence of typing bc im not trying to mess w that). Other kinds of folktale describe larger than life humans, seen at a glimpse walking between the trees on trail cams, or as a live testimony from your uncle who's known to be heavy handed with the PBRs.

Mainly, disbelief understandably arises from the fact that there seems to be no substantial evidence of the existence of these beings. Maybe you can find an old story in a newspaper about an abnormally large footprint found just on the outskirts of town, the origins of which were probably just some middle school kids with little better to do. But I recently made some connections as I was driving back from my parents house in northern Kentucky, just a couple months back.

The moon was full and high the night before, illuminating a thick layer of fog that settled between the hills outside my bedroom window. Something woke me in the middle of the night, probably the screech of some cats out in the barn or something. As I sat very still in my bed and listened, I became aware of a whole other kind of life that thrives in the darkness out in the country. Come late morning, I had hit the road, and I couldn't help but notice the huge amount of roadkill I was passing. Like, much more than normal. Deer, possums, raccoons, all speckled just on the side of the road, before the metal barrier, on the white line.

I got thinking to myself, as one naturally does on a drive, what could be the cause of this? In an effort to indulge my artsy side, I've been attempting to creatively question the things I observe around me that I assume to be true. The answer I immediately jump to, of course, is night drivers. You can't see well at night, and sometimes animals just decide to jump into the road right when you happen to be driving past. Or, what if its something else?

Have you ever looked up at the moon, like, really looked up at it? Sometimes I'll stick my head out the car window when my friends are driving and stare at the moon like its a staring contest. Who'll blink first! (its always me). There's just something so captivating about it. I embrace my inner moth and just stare, stare until my eyes are wet from the wind and I have to retreat back into the car. I find myself drawn towards it, like I could be content here forever, never looking away. What if the giants are the same way? Think about it- science teaches us that there are some animals that sleep during the day and are active during the night-nocturnal animals (sorry to get remedial there). I think the thing that's always terrified me about the ocean is that we have No idea what's down there, and perhaps something similar can be said about the mountains.

...

Deep in the mountains, where the peaks reach great heights and the valleys dip low, where the trees are packed so dense you wouldn't know the time of day if you were plucked from your living room and found yourself stuck there- that's where the giants live. They're not active very often, if they were, I'm sure more people would have seen them by now. But just about every month, during the full moon, the local giant wakes. An instinctual yearning shakes them from their deep sleep, as if something with great power pulled them from the ground.

The moon.

When she shines to her fullest, not even the dense canopy can stop her light from peaking right into the eyes of the giant, causing them to slowly but decisively untangle themselves from the roots and the rocks and the moss.

Perhaps, in the olden days when things weren't developed, the giants would have followed a more natural path. Maybe they walked alongside a stream or a river, knocking down trees as they went, picking huckle berries for a snack, deepening the riverbed with every step. Nowadays, however, human development has got them all confused, and when they get to wondering, they seem to always find themselves on the highway.

Deep in the middle of the night, when no cars are on the road, the giants are known to stroll. They follow the white line, heading in the direction of the moon. And, you see, just like me when I'm looking out the car window, they have no choice but to stare deep into her eye, transfixed by the light. Of course, that's why they don't see the animals on the road before them. Their giant gate (pun intended) and huge feet are no match for the well-meaning but small-minded deer, which explains why all the roadkill seems to be gathered right there on the white line. They wander until the moon kisses the horizon, when they become quite sleepy and find another valley to lay themselves down in to sleep for another month.

If you live in the country, or if you're from out of town and just visiting, you'll be sure to know when there's giants around. With each deer or possum there on the white line, taking part in our deepest known form of rest, the giants must have been passing through just the night before, in pursuit of the moon.

[desolatedpigeon]

CW: descriptive suicidal thoughts, slight mention of drug abuse

As I sit in my room, covered in blankets that I should wash again, a thought occurs to me. I look up from my laptop and look over at my soccer scarves. The air is stuffy in here. A few rays of sunlight come in through the curtains. Thanks to them, I can see the smoke in my room. I should smoke less. But then a thought occurs to me: why am I still alive? It's not as if I've never tried. So to end it. Or to live. Every now and then I feel like I'm missing someone. Or something. There are many things I miss. My ex-fiancé, my first cat, my first dog, the special musician, my third dog, that guy whose name is the name of my favorite beer. I miss things, moments, a future that won't exist. Not because there is no future. But because this future doesn't exist. Much more the different futures that I would have liked to have. I also realize that I currently have no reason to believe in a future at all.

But what I miss most is myself. Basically, I don't even exist. Well, I do exist, I breathe, I go to the toilet like any other person. I eat, I have feelings, I think. My skin flakes come off and turn to dust. But something is missing. Something has been taken from me. You can't really say who took it. Maybe the people who abused me. Maybe myself. Maybe the people who have been insulting me for years and spreading lies about me. Most likely all of the above. If something is broken, you should fix it.

But can I even be repaired? I don't think so. I don't think I'll ever be able to cope with anything. Maybe with really good therapy. But no one promises that it will work. There's no cure for borderline (as far as I know). Some people are missing an arm, I'm missing me. There's no prosthesis for me.

My gaze glides around the room I'm sitting in. I see fan merchandise from clubs, a Ukrainian flag, posters and flags from bands, a TV, a Playstation 4 and all kinds of other stuff. And garbage, lots of garbage. A thought comes into my head. I don't think I can do it all anymore. I plan how I can stop myself from calling for help if I pop pills again. I think about it like it's the most normal thing in the world.

I could lock me in from the inside and put the key somewhere I can't reach it. Or throw it out of the window.

Or put my phone up somewhere so I can't reach it. The battery should also be empty so that I have to charge it for a few minutes before I can switch it on. In that time, I might pass out.

Besides, what if I wake up again?

The last time was in hospital and I was actually relatively well. But is it the same when you wake up at home after a high dose of the drug in question? That must be terrible. I'm not afraid of death. Only of dying and the danger of waking up again and pretending that nothing has happened.

I briefly imagine what it would be like if I simply didn't wake up. And my heart suddenly becomes very light and everything feels good. As if someone had lifted all the weight off me. I even smile for a brief moment. I am carefree. Everything would finally be over.

Then I realize that I have probably just decided to give up again. That I'm going to get some more pills and leave this life. My gaze goes to my fan scarves, then to the flag and finally to my favorite player's jersey. I'm going to miss these things. Well, actually I won't, as I wouldn't be here anymore. But I don't want them to end up in the trash either. I could give them away before I die, but what if I do survive? Again, it's a difficult thought. But actually, giving them away is out of the question anyway. If I were to do that, the people I'm even considering, would immediately know what's going on. I won't let them stop me again, because all this pain must finally be over.

Sometimes I just feel like writing, like now or the entries before. Surely I could continue working on one of my books instead of somehow shitting down this mishmash of thoughts and experiences. But often I can't concentrate on my books and their stories. Something simple will have to do. If anyone ever reads this, my condolences. It must be terrible to read.

[corviiids]

spoilers for a specific scene in season 2 episode 3. of severance. which i made about akeshu.

--

To be honest, Goro had expected more.

The man shifts. He has his hands in his pockets, visibly in fists. If he carries on like that, he's going to stretch out the fabric and the seams will pop or the sides will bulge. Goro glances at the security camera on the ceiling.

Are they sure this is his partner? Surely Goro--this man's version of Goro--would have told him to stop doing that.

The man seems to follow Goro's eyeline. He glances down at his pockets and, slowly and deliberately, removes his hands. Then he smooths the pockets down.

Well. Maybe that settled that, then.

There's a little smirk on the man's face, but it's gone in moments.

Goro bows. "Thank you for coming," he says warmly. "I'm sorry, I know it must be odd for you to hear that it's nice to meet you, but it is, you know. I appreciate you agreeing to see me like this."

The man hesitates for a second before bowing back.

"Ren," he says. "A."

"Hello, Ren A.," Goro says. He doesn't introduce himself.

Ren A. is watching him with a look in his eyes that a lesser man might not have noticed. It's an expression Goro can only categorise as apprehensively expectant.

Goro bites his lip. "I apologise," he says. "Of course, you'd expected that I would recognise you. Or hoped, perhaps."

Ren A. shifts again. "No," he says. He's very quiet. Does Goro do all the talking in this relationship? "They told me."

That expectant look flickers away, but so do Ren A.'s eyes from his face, which tells Goro that Ren A. is lying.

Goro inclines his head.

"Still, it's a romantic notion," he says. "I hope I didn't disappoint you. My other self is a lucky man, though."

Is it tacky to flirt with his outie's fiancé?

Ren A. hasn't said more than ten words. They still have fourteen minutes. Goro tries not to visibly twist his lip, but he is a little impatient. Even his charm will wear thin given this little to work with.

"Will you tell me about yourself?" he asks. "About us, perhaps?"

Ren A.'s eyes flicker back up again. He nods. "We met at school," he says. "You live in the city. I stay with you most days. We have a cat."

Interesting.

"High school sweethearts," Goro muses. "I didn't think myself the type. But, Ren, you've dodged my question." He drops his voice to a purr. "I wanted to know about you."

Ren A. looks uncomfortable. "Not much to tell."

"But you're my partner," Goro coos. "At least tell me why I fell for you. It can't just have been your good looks. I'll be disappointed if I'm that shallow, although I wouldn't be able to blame myself."

"He never told me," says Ren A. "Sorry."

Goro tuts. "Looks like I have a quarrel with myself, then," he says. How irritating. "Well, is there anything you'd like to ask me? You must have had some reason for coming to see me, Ren."

"I wanted to know what you were like," says Ren A.

"Well, ask away."

Ren A. shakes his head. "I don't need to ask anything," he says.

Before Goro can unpack that infuriating little statement, Ren A. reaches into his bag. "I wanted to bring you coffee," he says. "They wouldn't let me."

"What a pity," says Goro. "Do I have a favourite café?"

"Mine," says Ren A. He takes out a pen and spins it once on his knuckles before handing it to Goro. "This is his."

Goro takes it, weighs it in his hands. It's nice. "Did I tell you to bring it here?"

Ren A. shakes his head. "Stole it off his desk." That little smirk is back.

"So my partner is a thief," Goro says thoughtfully. "That doesn't bother me?"

"He likes that about me."

Perfectly poker-faced. Well, well.

Goro spins the pen too. It flips easily once, but slips on the second rotation.

Before it can topple, Ren A.'s quick fingers are there, pinning it to Goro's knuckles. Goro startles. He stares at Ren's hand.

Ren A. says, "Sorry." He starts to withdraw, but Goro flips his wrist and laces his fingers with Ren A.'s before he can pull away, trapping the pen between them.

Ren A. glances up at him.

Goro places his other hand on Ren's, clasping it between both of his own. He gives Ren a bright smile.

"I should be the one apologising," he says. "I'm not used to this, of course. But... it feels right, Ren."

Ren A. keeps watching him. "We're engaged," he says tonelessly.

"Yes," says Goro, simply bubbling with joy.

"I know when you're full of shit," says Ren.

Goro gapes at him. Ren withdraws his hand. He leaves Goro the pen.

"Do I let you speak to me this way?" Goro manages.

"You encourage it," says Ren.

He looks away again. There's a conflicted look on his face. "I didn't think you would still end up like this."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"I assumed," says Ren. Hesitates. "We assumed," he amends, "it was because of his history. But you're divorced from that. And you're just as much of a liar."

Ren's words land dull and clear. He would make a good marksman, Goro muses, reeling. He casts his gaze aside, but all the damned walls are only showing a photograph of Ren.

"It doesn't sound," he says. His own voice sounds distant. "Well, it doesn't sound like you even like me at all."

He looks back up at Ren. For the second time, he startles like he's been zapped. Ren is smiling. Fully smiling. Gone is the little smirk, gone are the shifty eyes. If anything, Ren looks like he's about to laugh.

"What is it?" Goro asks.

Ren shakes his head. "You," he says. "He knows me better than that."

--

lore. im not doing any more of this au

ren and goro are not actually engaged. they are not even together. they haven't spoken in months.

don't ask me how ren convinced lumon-equivalent that they were together. don't worry about it

this would be like post p5(r) canon where ren has discovered goro is alive but they have not reconnected and goro is avoiding him so ren is doing an insane investigation about his weird ex like a normal guy

ren DID steal the pen

goro got the severed job as part of some investigation he's doing

there's no more lore. i am not doing more of this au. because it's stupid.

will yuo guys throw rocks at me if i confess i started watching severance only to immediately make it about akeshu

[nei-ning]

No matter do I sleep during the night (those few hours I actually can) or do I take a nap; My dreams are weird! I honestly have been seeing weird dreams ever since Verti died soon 2 months ago. Most dreams, recently, have been having cats.

In one dream I adopted 2 kittens by accident (they just came into my life) and then I started to worry and regret this adoption, thinking I said I wouldn't take any cats and now I had them.

Last night I had similar dream but I only remember having this calm but grumpy looking orange boy cat, big one, under my table. I was able to pet his head but otherwise I had no idea why I had him there, where he had com from, again worrying about it I had "adopted" a cat even that I had promised myself I wouldn't take one.

I don't know are these messages from the Universe that I actually SHOULD adopt a cat NOW, since there's cats who would need me, wanting to come to me, or is it my wishful thinking to have new cat to keep me company? I want cat(s) in the future, adopt old ones who none wants, but not now.

Another thing about my recent dreams are that I always dream about my old home or the area near it. As much as there were issues to live there, I miss that isolated life, being able to take care of horses, grow my own flowers, play on the grass etc. "farm life".

In last night's dream I was heading away from home, sitting in a car with sis when I realized I'm on my second day during periods (heck bad day for me!) so I told about this to my sis, saying I can't come with her and the others. She said I can leave and go back home so I rolled out of the car, instantly starting to run towards my home while the car stopped and I heard my ex-neighbor's son yelling something. I knew he, with others, tried to capture me and take me with them so I ran even faster. Some kind of cartoon-ish dog tried to cats me but I managed to beat it via running. However, there suddenly appeared these middle aged and fat Russian men. Maybe some kind of mafia or ex-soldiers etc. Fat, dressed more or less good / bad, tall, not shaved face, they smelled bad, looked dirty a bit etc.

One of them sat down on this piece of tree trunk which stood in the middle of the road, another lifting me to stand on it since I was small. The one, who sat, opened his mouth and GOD, his teeth! They were so fucking dirty, wobbly and having dried blood on them! I was given this tiny dentist's "hook" to use. Now, I don't speak Russian or understand it but in the dream I did. This other man behind me told me to clean his pal's teeth so I started to rub them carefully with the hook. This man kept his piercing and angry eyes on me as I rubbed his teeth, realizing something.

In that moment I was thinking how I've done this before and this must be a past life memory. I felt a bit angry and confused. After all, what little bit I know, Finnish people have ALWAYS hate Russian people because of our history. They are, like, our worst enemies (not to me personally, tho. I don't hate people because of their country or what they have done in the past).

I also thought could these men be German but no. I know Finland fought by Nazi-German's side during continuation War. So Nazis were "friends" to us. Swedish people were out of the question as well.

So these 2 people were Russian. After I realized this, I woke up.