ohmyarceus | January - February Test drive

You may have... come from a different version of Fodlan. Where I am from, you joined the Blue Lions and helped us win the war. You then left to assist Claude...

Joined the Blue Lions? Back... in school?

[He looks absolutely flabbergasted. Why in the world would he have made that switch then?]

Really?

...Yes?

What do you remember of me?

I... certainly admired you in our school days. And the other Lions as well but... The Golden Deer represent the best the Alliance had to offer. How could I step away from that?

Or Claude. [He's absolutely not blushing in the slightest, it's your imagination Byleth.]

I didn't see you again until... well. The Bridge of Myrrdin. Father sent me to... demanded I... defend the bridge against... I didn't know you were alive! I had little choice in the matter and as soon as I realized I tried to stand down. You assured me you'd get me back to Derdriu and Claude but Ferdinand... he wouldn't listen and then- That godawful woman.

[He shakes his head, grimacing at the memory, one hand coming up to rub at the lingering ache where his shoulder had been all but torn to pieces.]

I wasn't expecting to see anyone again, Professor.

_{[Beetlejuice tends to find himself on the outskirts of towns more often than within the hearts of them--less police. And more Pokemon to train against. He's caught wise to the gradual increasing of strength of the Pokemon as he ventures further and further from where he was originally summoned (?) and so, with his newly hatched Christmas Gastly in tow, he's out training against other weak Pokemon.]

[But it's not just Lick and Confuse Ray that he's having the little ghost practice.]

[As Gregory passes by a dense flower bush in someone's yard, two pairs of eyes watch him from within. As he makes his way beyond that yard and past a small shop encouraging those leaving town to pick up some last minute supplies, the eyes appear again, this time from within the lid of a dumpster.]

[The only warning Gregory gets is a quiet,]}

Now!

_{[The path in front of Gregory is suddenly washed in blue-ish smoke as a wide and wicked face obscures his vision with narrow eyes and sharp teeth. Marley's made his move.]}

GAAaaaAaaaAAAaaASTLY!

Well...no, not here. At least I don't think so.

[He looks a little unsure when he says that, though.]

I was stuck in a building, a big Pizzaplex. But somehow I got out of it...and ended up here. I guess maybe they didn't follow me...?

...I hope they didn't.

[The boy regards the Teddiursa at his feet, and with scarcely a moment to consider whether it's a good idea or not, he stoops down and picks the bear up in his arms. Either he's very brave, or simply doesn't think the Pokemon is capable of hurting him. He's encountered far worse, lately.]

His name is......Freddy.

[Yeah. That feels right.]

Yours, that...zippy thing. What was it trying to do to me?

[That...sure is not a question that Gregory was prepared to be asked. And while he doesn't pull away (he wouldn't dream of doing so, especially not now), Freddy now has the capacity of the sense of touch and pressure, able to feel the way his grip tightens on his much larger hand.

He doesn't stop walking, but he does answer as they make their way.]

...yeah. We've only got each other now.

[...]

Having a family...would be cool, for once.

[Gregory exhales with relief at that, though he imagines it's more of a relief for him than it is for Freddy. These are his friends they're talking about, after all...even if they've been threatening Gregory for the better part of an entire night.]

That's good...I-I mean, it's probably better that they're back at the Pizzaplex anyway, right? They're where they need to be, and I'm not being hunted down anymore! Everyone wins!

[Except Freddy, perhaps. It's not like Gregory really asked Freddy his opinion on being stuck out here with him.]

You don't understand.

[Gregory says that firmly when Chica finally puts him down, taking advantage of that to put a bit of space between them. For his credit, Gregory at least doesn't try to run, staring Chica down as she regards him at eye-level.

But he definitely does not look happy. Not even remotely.]

None of you do! Only Freddy does...

[He grumbles that last part, his hands tightening into fists at his sides.]

She's trying to get me. I don't know what she wants...but it's not good, I know it.

[Gregory tenses visibly at the sight of that Bisharp. It reminds him too much of the S.T.A.F.F bots roaming the Pizzaplex...

He sighs, as if this is something he's had to explain a hundred times already.]

Animatronic. You know, a robot?

[No, she doesn't know.]

[Acting on impulse he gently rubs the backs of the fingers holding onto his hand with his thumb. It felt so right to have the youngster holding onto him.]

I have never had an actual family before. I am glad I can be your family, and that you are my family.

[Humans were supposed to have family, he knew that much, so Gregory's words worry him, but he's seen the boy get defensive and even angry before, and doesn't want to risk that with questions he might not want to be asked. Besides, they were family now, Gregory was no longer without a family.]

[Even with that warning, there's simply not enough time for Gregory to react. He'd been on his way out of town specifically, so it's not like he was prepared to be blocked off...especially not by what seems to be, for all intents and purposes, an actual ghost.]

Aaahh!!

[The boy startles so badly that he ends up falling backwards, though his fall is mercifully cushioned by one of the many snowdrifts covering the sidewalks. His Teddiursa, that had been on his shoulders, flees to a better vantage point at the back of Gregory's head, gripping his hair with his claws as he buries his face into the back of his head to try and hide himself.

But once Gregory is down, his reflexes dictate he react in a different way beyond cowering or crying or what you might expect any normal child to do.

He reaches into the disturbed snow where the ground had been revealed, snatching up a rock and throwing it as hard as he can at the shroud of smoke and- by extension- the terrifying face heckling him.]

_{[Woosh! The rock passes right through the Gastly's face and lands with a soft paff somewhere else in the snow. Marley blinks in surprise though because he's, what, four days old tops?]

[Meanwhile, from their previous vantage point, an eruption of gruff laughter can be heard. Beetlejuice rises out of the dumpster, all bundled up in a striped sweater, and all but tumbles face-first out of it while laughing.]}

THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL, KIDDO! You're gonna be a great addition to the team! Didja see his FACE? CHEF'S KISS!

_{[He does a chef's kiss between guffaws. Naturally, the little ghost Pokemon puffs itself up with pride.]}

[It takes Gregory a moment to realize that Beetlejuice is talking to the sentient smoke-cloud and not him. He's never seen a ghost type Pokemon before, but he's smart enough to realize after a moment that it's probably not a ghost that intends to hurt him...at least not physically.

Seeing that there's a strange adult commanding the ghost, though? That prompts Gregory to quickly get to his feet and take a few more steps away, ignoring the snow clinging to his clothing as his Teddiursa peeks around his head nervously.]

Hey, what gives!? You scared me!

[Gregory doesn't miss the soft gesture, able to feel Freddy's hand moving against his own. Those words- I'm glad that you are my family- are all that Gregory has ever wanted to hear from...hell, ANYONE, but there wasn't really any possibility of him ever getting that. The only small comfort in his life that he'd had was the Pizzaplex, as dangerous as it had turned out in the end. It provided him with shelter, food...and a brief respite from the world. He could enjoy himself there, and pretend just for a few hours that he was the same as all of the other kids with their families there.

He falls silent again, this time for an amount of time that might start to seem worrying.]

I'm not...a good kid, though. [He states, suddenly.] I break rules. I steal things. I go places I'm not supposed to.

Every so often, I think...but they all arrive in Newbark--yup, that's the one!! That weird lady that says she's your 'Mom'. [The sarcasm is practically dripping from the word.] But no one really knows why we get taken here, either, it just sort of...happens? Honestly, this place is kind of stupid in that it doesn't make any sense sometimes.

But if you need any help, or pointers, there is a guidebook in the backpack she gives you. It can at least answer some things, and others who've been here a long time can help, too.

Speaking of which, don't eat any wild berries you come across - they're all unsafe for humans.

[It's hard for Freddy to wait, and give Gregory time, part of him worried by the silence from his now family member. He didn't think that Gregory was going to suddenly have a change of heart about being family, or at least he really hoped not. Still, he wants Gregory to be honest and open with him, and he thinks giving the other time is the best way to do that.

What he gets for his patience is worrying, not because of what Gregory said, but rather that he feels it's so important, and a mark against him.]

Gregory... listen to me. [This felt important enough to stop for a moment, Freddy kneeling down to be more level with Gregory.] You are a kid, if you haven't had someone to do important things for you... you had to figure out how to do them for yourself. I know you don't do things just because you can, I trust that anything you have done, it's to take care of yourself.

All I ask is... you work on trusting me to take care of you too... okay?

_{[Almost as though Gregory doesn't exist for a moment, BJ trots over to the Gastly and they do a weird little sort-of-dance upon their reunion.]}

SURE DID! Boy it's hard high-fiving someone without any hands.

_{[Finally, he rounds on Gregory and beams at him with a crooked yellow grin. He puffs out a foggy breath.]}

That's the idea, squirt. It's what I do.

Yeah you're here and you could be a little happier about it, now that I actually found you.

[Because of course he'd make that about himself to rile Iwaizumi up, but also have the added hidden meaning of "I missed you, I'm glad you're here too" attached to it without even needing to be said with them.

But his attention immediately goes to the strangely adorable bug that's shuffling forward.]

Taiyō? What a cute name for her. You got a bug, seems fitting for you since you used to catch them when we were kids.

Vanessa wants to get you?

...

( Chica's eyes go blank as her head falls to the side. For a moment, she resembles her shambling form, the one that Gregory will be most familiar with. )

You mean the way you got me?

...I only wanted to help you, Gregory. We all did.

We only wanted to help. Vanessa wants to help you. Your family is looking for you, after all. OUR FRIENDLY SECURITY STAFF CAN HELP!

( To her credit, Chica doesn't look like she'll be making a grab for Gregory. )

Don't you want our help, little boy?

( With a close hold of Piplup in one arm and Michael in the other, Chica feels herself being lifted off the ground and squeals with delight. Or, makes a sound that would be a squeal if not for her missing voice situation. Talking hasn't given her much trouble so far, but she hasn't tested the limits just yet. )

I knew you could do it! With strength like yours, anyone would be glad to hire you!

Piplup-lup!

[Lifting Chica felt good, normal, like something he should always be able to do, which was comforting in the face of how many things had changed for him. Hearing her sound of excitement distorted drew his attention to what had been taken from her as something she should be always be able to do. It wasn't real pain, but his throat felt tight with discomfort and he shifted to holding her in a tight hug, still lifted up from the ground.

She had seemed so determined to avoid more unhappy thoughts, so rather than apologize for what had been taken for him to use, he said the next thing that would give a good reason for his sudden hug.]

I'm- [Of course the tightness in his throat would choke his words for a moment, after swallowing a few times he tried again.] I'm glad you're here Chica. I'm glad I have my friend here with me.

...yes. That is for the best.

[ If he was being honest, Freddy felt... conflicted. While he had promised to keep Gregory safe no matter what, he still considered the others his friends

(that's not how they were something was wrong something had to be wrong)

and the Pizzaplex had been his home... it was all he knew.

(but was that true? was that really true? wasn't there something else something he'd forgotten?)

But in his current state, being human (was he really), he was no longer one of them. He no longer belonged at the Pizzaplex.

In the end, though, none of that mattered. He had promised to help Gregory, and they were both here. Together in a new, unfamiliar place, he would continue to choose his new objective.

(he chose this he chose this he had a choice and this is what he chose. this is his) ]

The what-trix? Is that a... Oh, what did Riz call them...? Is that a movie?

[ Sorry, Rose, Rainer is from fantasy medieval land, as much as she might sound like she comes from modern times. ]

January - February Test drive

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New Bark Town

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