ohmyarceus | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

[Usually, when Gremlin starts squealing at him, Dimitri knows it means something important. More important than his Rattata's usual dramatics as he flails over some video game, or makes demands in battle.]

[So of course he comes over, latest little woodworking project abandoned. Of course he looks around at the Gear, to see the latest video playing.]

[Of course his heart freezes in his chest, and drops down into some terrible abyss.]

[Sylvain wouldn't make a post on the network like this. Sylvain would come home to them - find them in Olivine, in Vermillion, call up Felix's Gear.]

[Sylvain would know what a ponyta is.]

[Dimitri has always been an open book in a lot of cases, with anything else carefully smothered when it's needed to be. But for the things that truly strike at his core? It's impossible for him to hide. It's impossible for him to hide anything here as he starts up his own video feed, one good eye wide and pained.]

I.... Sylvain.

[There were things, questions, plans he had thought he would ask... but in the end, that's all he can say.]

[Felix's weirdly floored reaction was bad enough. It compounds when Sylvain sees the video from Dimitri, making that strange cold dread in his stomach worse. Who died? Why are both of them here?

Probably even worse for Dimitri than the obvious amnesia or whatever it is, is the fact that Sylvain seems to regress years in the way he treats his king.]

Boss. [Not "Dimitri". At least it isn't "Your Majesty", but the old pseudo nickname does nearly stutter on his lips.] Are... you okay? Where are we?

[Boss... Dimitri feels unmoored, unsteady, like the ground rolling beneath him. How long has it been since Sylvain used such casual little nicknames for him? It feels like forever. It's probably just been as long as he's been in this place, this land.]

[It's Dedue, all over again... and how much had Dimitri had to tell him, before the two of them could just lay there together, in the shade of the garden? With Sylvain...]

[Dimitri takes in a deep breath, and it rattles all the way down to his lungs. Calm. He has to be... the king he should have given Sylvain a long time ago. Even before he was his lover. Which... They may not necessarily be anymore.]

I... I am fine. I apologize. [For everything, really, but, for the right now and immediate present, his own reaction.] This is a land called Johto. I promise it is a good land, peaceful. There is no war here. You.... You will like it.

[And it's the start of fall... Good weather. Dimitri tries to find such positives.]

It will take some time for us to go back and reach you - we are in another land, as of current, but it is Johto's neighbor, and we have fast fliers. Until then.... I will endeavor to answer whatever questions you have.

I... It must be overwhelming.

[Do they tell him? Dimitri feels sick to his stomach. He doesn't know what to say, here. How to explain. He thinks of the wedding, and....]

[Traveling in such a state is a terrible idea, but the camera clearly shows Dimitri already pushing himself up, a little unsteadily.]

[He is very clearly not fine, and Sylvain is buying none of what Dimitri is selling in that regard. His eyebrows are pulled in, slightly, and while he doesn't frown exactly, his usual smile isn't there either.]

Hey... slow down. It's okay. Claude... Claude sent me a message that sort of explains things. I have been here before, or was here already, but now I don't remember I guess. And how sometimes weird stuff with time and where we come from happens. I don't really get it entirely but...

[He does frown properly, wishing he could reach out and touch Dimitri on the arm or something.]

I get that I disappeared on you all and now I'm back with no memories. That has to be hard. And kind of creepy, probably.

[It explains why Dimitri looked at him like he'd seen a ghost at first, but Sylvain won't say that out loud.]

I admit I'm pretty confused but I'm sure it'll sink in eventually. I'm... more worried about all of you. I can't imagine how much of a mess I'd be if you or Felix suddenly didn't remember a bunch of stuff that happened.

Claude... Of course.

[Because of course it would be Claude. Claude is often and always on top of such things, and... Dimitri's gaze seems to grow distant for a moment. Was it not Claude, who fell apart so, inconsolable, at Sylavin's disappearance? Dimitri can still recall the way they'd clung to one another, been clinging to one another, for days, weeks...]

[...He should go check on Claude before he leaves. Should leave someone with him, someone like - ]

[There's a squeak, a weight on his leg, and Dimitri looks down - away from the Gear's camera, away from the things he's trying to pack up. There's Gremlin, staring at him intently, and surrounded by the Raticate mischief. And Jackie Mary Ann, of course.]

[Right. Right. He has to stay in the present.]

...I will be fine, Sylvain. [Because that's definitely what he demonstrated just now, as he went off into his head.] I... I have much to make up for you, so I cannot be selfish once again...

[He can't get distracted by himself, by his own feelings. He can't do that to them all again. So he has to take care of Claude, and Sylvain, and...]

...Since Claude has mentioned you were here before, then, I could bring back a companion you knew here. Tarasque. Perhaps she and your companion, the Ponyta colt, may get on well.

[Bad news for you, Dimitri, you're doing nothing but making Sylvain more worried about you.]

It's pretty lucky all of us Fódlanders have him around, huh?

[His head tilts to the side, and he tries desperately to read in between the lines. To guess what might be on his king's mind. There's clearly links in the thought chain that he's missing, and he hates that. Reading Dimitri used to be so easy!]

What are you talking about? I'm the one who disappeared for two months and then reappeared with no memories! What could you possibly have to make up for?

[Did he have some sort of fight with Dimitri, before he left? Or, more likely, Dimitri did something that he now construes as selfish, and made into a mountain of a sin in Sylvain's absence.]

Maybe this Ponyta would like her better than me. [He shakes his head. He's not... wild, about the thought of meeting an animal like creature that remembers him that he doesn't know. Another living thing to disappoint, and one that might not understand his explanations as well as a human, but he won't tell Dimitri no.]

Yes... Incredibly lucky.

[More lucky than Dimitri thinks he could ever truly put into words. Maybe one day, he'll be able to show such feelings to Claude properly.]

[For now - his pack, unused for quite some time now, possibly ever since they first set down in Kanto. Once they got the rental property there, in Vermillion, well... Sylvain disappeared shortly after that. And since then, well... None of them have really felt in the mood for extensive traveling.]

[That will have to change now, of course, and the Gear is placed upon a small bedside table for the moment while he starts gathering things about a warm looking room. Lots of rugs, wooden knicknacks, a small painting hung up of a purple rat with a sunflower.]

[Dimitri speaks as he works, quick and efficient, on the move.]

I imagine you will bond with her well enough, Sylvain. She is still with you... So that must mean something. As for myself...

...I have everything to make up for.

[The homeyness of where Dimitri is is some comfort, but it can't distract him from the dark cloud that seems to hang around the king. So much like how haunted he looked when the reunion... oh.

[He's from before the battle at Gronder... Claude's message... it explains so much, and it makes Sylvain's heart ache in his chest like a fresh bruise. There's basically no way he's going to convince Dimitri to stop blaming himself for everything over this strange long distance scrying thing. He wishes he could reach through the 'gear and gently shake those impossibly wide shoulders.]

Dimitri...

[The name tastes strange on his tongue. It brings back memories of a time when he freely used the prince's name. When things were simpler and the expectations placed on them weren't so heavy yet. He closes his eyes for a moment.]

How long will it take to get here? I have the desire to move around, but I don't want to wander off and miss you.

[His name... Dimitri pauses for a moment - not long, but certainly long enough to be noticeable. Just hearing his name makes his heart clench, and lodge itself soundly in his throat as though it can escape. Do something foolish.]

[Focus. Pack. Prepare. He has to keep moving.]

It will... take some time, I think, even with Felix and I rushing as fast as we can. [He starts to murmur to himself as he packs, thinking it over.] The train will take some six hours, and from there, Goldenrod...

[If they push their fliers to go as fast as they can, go along the coast instead of following overhead along the routes...]

[Dimitri's mind skips some steps, or at least it's missing some things when the thoughts go down to his vocal chords, to his lips.]

The nights are getting cooler. The widow in New Bark, whom you met, she should have given you a good enough sleeping bag, so Elshot will bring you one of my tents. He is quick, especially without my weight, so he may reach you long before we do.

[It feels as if Sylvain's heart lifts upward, lightening, only to go falling back down into his stomach like a rock.]

Felix tried to tell me to just sit right here and not move. If it's going to be that long, though, I'd rather move around. Apparently the next town isn't too far. I'd like to start wandering down the path... would you be able to find me?

[On the one hand he doesn't want to leave them waiting for him!! On the other, a day or two to process everything in the quiet of nature sounds. Nice.]

Muh? Who? How far away are you anyway? I think there was a map around here somewhere...

[What? That has Dimitri jerk his head up, brow furrowed bit as he looks over to the Gear's camera.]

Cherrygrove is at least a three days walk, Sylvain. [Although at least the path is straightforward and, honestly... It might not be a bad idea for him to travel a bit. Interact more with his Pokemon.] I... We may stay there a short while, but you will at least want to speak with Felix on this sort of thing..

[This isn't something Dimitri can decide on his own. Won't let himself decide on his own.]

Right now... We are in the next country, across the small sea you likely see in that town. It is in a city called Vermillion. There is a - it is an incredible thing, Sylvain, a thousand times faster than a carriage, or pegasus. It is called a train. Yet even as fast as it is, it will take us six hours to get to Johto...

[Hm. His fingers grind down against a bit of clothing. Should they bring some of the clothes that Sylvain had here...?]

...But we will get to you immediately within those six hours.

[It will feel sick, to go from Goldenrod to Azalea to Violet to Cherrygrove, but Sylvain is worth it. After all of that, the flight will be swift.]

Three days...

[He frowns with thought. That's longer than he should make them all wait for him. Longer than he wants to be alone, truthfully. Six hours is a long time to stay in this tiny little town, though.]

You can travel from an adjoining country in less than a day? Will the surprises here ever stop?

[He tries for levity, a little smile flickering onto his face, but it doesn't quite stick. Sylvain is too unbalanced to properly hide behind his usual vapid expression. It hurts too much to see Dimitri like this, when he had been laughing and enjoying himself, so much freer from his ghosts, only hours ago from Sylvain's perspective.]

Don't... I know you and Felix are too stubborn to listen to what I say right now but please don't push yourselves too hard. I'll bide my time. I'll wander up the path a little but I won't disappear into it. I'll stay here until you two can meet me, okay?

[Big Bro Sylvain mode has been activated.]

We are used to the travel of this place. Please, do not worry, Sylvain.

[...Because Dimitri absolutely can't say they won't be pushing themselves as hard as they possibly can.]

If you stay on the path away from the trees, it would be easier for us to spot you... So it is fine if you wish to stretch your legs. We will be keeping an eye out for you.

[But this must be worrying so much... His smiles don't seem right. Dimitri takes a breath, tries to smile back even as he starts to pack his things together.]

There is so much to show you in this place, Sylvain... We will be glad to show it to you. The doors move automatically in some places, just when you approach them, and that is only one of many incredible things.

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

video - not private because it's dimitri

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