ohmyarceus | January - February Test drive

[Here's a face he wasn't sure if he'd ever see, not that the chance was low, but that the random nature of this world made the appearance of those you are familiar with unreliable at best. Though, he supposes familiar is a charitable term.

More charitable than this world is, what with taking away the Miqo'te's ears and tail. It must be so very uncomfortable for him, what a pity.]

Indeed there are some few libraries that touch on your chosen topics, but where is your sense of adventure? Why not search the various ruins themselves for the information you seek—or are you still so keen to only watch others dirty their hands while you reap the scholastic benefits?

[He has no issue with people reading or doing research, the opposite really, but he's also just him.]

[Surprise, it's a nuisance!]

Raha!

[--no wait friend! Definitely meant friend there.]

[If G'raha is ever in search of history to rediscover, then G'rhyf is always looking for a new adventure to uncover--and where else to find that but a set of old ruins? They'd set off down into the caverns to hunt about for clues or treasure or...anything, really. But a familiar voice mumbling to himself had caught their attention, and now they turn the corner with a wide grin, hurrying over to sweep their dearest companion up into a tight hug.]

Of course I'd find you in a place like this--how long have you been here?

[Mando doesn't bother to eyeroll, since the kid wouldn't be able to see it. He does make a quiet, scoffing sound that expresses the same sentiment. Defend yourself with animals? Unless they have a spare Rancor around, Mando won't believe it until he sees it.]

[He nods at the kid's suggestion, and strides out of the centre without any further ado. He does make an effort to keep the length of his footsteps in check, so he doesn't completely leave the kid behind.]

[A small Axor toddles after him, completely ignored by Mando.]

[Once they're outside, Mando looks back down at the kid.]

Do you know a place we can go?

[Fortunately for Mando, he doesn't have to adjust his stride all that much. Riz is used to walking alongside tall elves and half-orcs. He speed-walks as a default, his short (but proportionally long on his frame) legs tearing up the distance like it is nothing. His briefcase swings slightly at his side, looking for all the world like a business man if business men came in a size four-and-a-half with the shadow of teenage acne on their faces.]

Yeah, I know a place.

[Riz's place turns out to be an ice cream parlour. Because, as it turns out, after spending so much time discussing clues over ice cream at Basrar's, it feels like the most natural place to do this.

Also, Riz is absolutely not bringing this stranger home with him. That's weird. That'd be super weird.]

[Well

That's a face he hadn't thought he'd see again.

Emet-Selch, of all people to address him, takes G'raha briefly by surprise before he huffs slightly, the words making his sensibilities prickle.]

You say that as if I haven't already planned on continuing to do so. [He isn't lingering near the Ruins of Alph because he wants every Unown!] As invaluable as a direct source is, it would be remiss of me not to cross-reference what I find with what this world has already written, would it not?

[NEVER a nuisance]

G'rhyf-

[Oh wait hug time, he laughs as the hug catches him by surprise, returning the gesture warmly. Adamas's tinkling echos in the room, the little Carbink very intrigued at this new person their person is interacting with.]

Ah - not long, really? A few weeks - when did you...?

Edited (SPELLING..........) 2022-02-05 18:43 (UTC)

[Mando wouldn't let Riz take him home, even if he tried. That just seems like begging for an ambush, or worse.]

[The brightly coloured, cheerful ice cream parlour is completely the opposite of where Mando expected to be taken--he was anticipating either a grungy dive bar or a high class private club full of hookers and spice, with nothing in between--but he'll take it. No ice cream or milkshake for him, since it would require taking off his helmet, but he's willing enough to take a booth with Riz.]

[While keeping his back to the wall and his face towards the exit. Weirdly happy world or not, he's taking no chances.]

So. What do you know?

[Riz himself orders a milkshake, something piled high with sprinkles and whipped cream. One of them needs to order something lest they’ll get kicked out and Riz is always willing to take the food burden on himself.

Also, while aesthetically an ice cream parlor might not suit this sort of conversation, Riz is both too young to enter any of those clubs and frankly, he would probably die if he came anywhere near a sex worker.

But first!

Opening his briefcase with an officious click, he rummages inside it for a moment, before withdrawing a business card, sliding it across the table to Mando. It’s not as nice looking as his business cards from back home, but it’s something.]

Okay, first things first, my name is Riz Gukgak, an investigator in employ of the Fletcher gym. And like you, someone who was kidnapped into this world. There’s a couple of dozens of us and from what I’ve heard, it’s been happening for at least a decade.

Edited 2022-02-05 20:14 (UTC)

[He makes a sound, something that might have been a token protest but really he doesn't have a counter for Claude's logic. And he knows it. That's the point.

But instead of finding it infuriating, just this once, he takes some comfort from Claude's unending confidence and allows the other man to just take charge of everything. Lorenz himself feels far too off kilter, like his heart's been hollowed out of everything that mattered and now, suddenly, that space is flooded over again and he has no idea how to contain it anymore.

So he simply lets Claude lead, squeezes his hand one more time, and when he speaks his voice is thick with emotion and the threat of tears again.]

Thank you, Claude.

That depends. Are you looking for one that can learn such a move from another source, or one that will know it naturally?

[Julian visibly flinched at the sound of a voice addressing him out of nowhere but raised a thumbs up after a moment. Eventually, he rolled over onto his back, careful not to smoosh his Charmander.]

I think the only thing I wounded was my pride. You saw all that, huh?

[The only time doing something ridiculously embarrassing was okay was when there was no one else to witness it. And even then it was still embarrassing.

He was blushing, and he would've wished for the ground to swallow him up but he'd been there and done that when it came to near-death situations.]

I think this place is haunted.

Indeed, you are not wrong wanting to do ample research, but I speak merely from past impressions. If you truly have taken up the mantle of adventurer, then that is a vast improvement than the sentinel-like position you previously filled.

[Can he sound more condescending? He smirks.]

You will find ample information about this world's legends and history in Ecruteak, it is a rather storied city which embraces its longstanding traditions with no small measure of pride. Not to say there is naught to be found in the other cities, but like as not, what you seek will be there.

[Claude laughs, deliberately light, not wanting to let Lorenz get bogged down in deeper emotions again - not over this, at least. He wants Lorenz to be able to relax, to smile, to be happy again. He knows that won't be easy, and that it'll take time and work for Lorenz to get there...but the heavy issues can be dealt with in their own time and place. Right now, when it's just a matter of going out for a meal with a friend, he wants Lorenz to set aside those heavier things for a little while.] C'mon, Lorenz, it's just dinner. No need to blow it out of proportion.

[But he squeezes Lorenz's hand back, all the same.

Claude considers their choices carefully, and soon settles on guiding Lorenz inside a bakery. He knows Lorenz is fond of cakes and sandwiches and pastries - namely the sorts of things that go with tea - but also he can tell this place serves heartier fare, too. He's specifically eyeing the soup bread bowls. Something nice and hearty and filling seems like it'd do Lorenz a lot of good right now.] This place seems nice. Why don't you go get us a table while I order us some grub?

[That word choice was deliberate. He wants Lorenz to be a little less deferential, and he figures the quick way to that is to low-key annoy him with a word as inelegant as 'grub'. Just something to get him a little huffy, stir up that banked spark of Lorenz's spirit.]

A few days. I did fine enough foraging before, just... [They shrug with a good-natured grimace.] Was bound to get unlucky eventually I guess.

[They mirror Estinien's awkward shuffle, though they frown more out of confusion and a mounting suspicion of 'something is wrong again'. And sure enough--]

I--yes, I am? [Is he from before they had come to assist Ishgard? But--no, he's not acting right for that, none of that razor edge that had clung to him until Nidhogg was finally put down for good.] You don't remember any of--when we'd worked together?

I am, yes. --to both questions.

[G'rhyf grimaces and rubs at their nose somewhat self-consciously--they didn't think they'd ever be glad their markings had been stripped away, but at least their paranoia can't worry about what Emet's emphasis 'really' meant.]

It's been quite some time for me since that confrontation. Is there-- [They pause for a moment, glancing away with a small frown before they continue. Doesn't hurt to offer.] Is there anything past then you wish to know about?

[G'rhyf laughs and presses their forehead to his for a moment, then pulls back to speak properly. Their hands fall to catch his and hold them, not wanting to let go entirely just yet.]

Perhaps a few more days before that. We must have just missed each other until now, somehow. [Letting out a soft breath, they smile warmly.] I hope you don't think me selfish for being relieved you're here as well?

[Dhaval the Ralts, meanwhile, hurries to catch up with his trainer and grabs onto their pant leg, looking up at both G'raha and Adamas shyly.]

Somewhere on some route

[It's unusual for an Applin to be seen on this route- let alone coming out to approach trainers as eager as this one seems to be. But here one is, expectantly rolling towards you with some kinda purpose? It won't let itself get caught, but if it has your attention it will roll off again expecting you to follow it!

Where it leads just so happens to be a tree off the beaten path. There is a Wooper sitting at the bottom, not a thought in it's precious little head, but more importantly--]

Ah! Excuse me! Do you have a moment?

[There appears to be a man hanging awkwardly from a tree branch?!]

Edited 2022-02-06 09:50 (UTC)

[Well, this isn't something he was expecting to see. First of all, while he's quite used to Applin, he did not expect to see one here, let alone plead so fervently for him to follow, but lastly: this scene and with whom would be its star least of all.

Honestly, he's left a little dumbstruck seeing him, primarily because...well, it had been over twelve thousand years since he last had. Fandaniel—or rather Amon—was not the same man, far from, really, so that hardly counts by his wager. Granted, he looks quite different since last Hermes had seen him, and he's left wondering exactly when he had arrived, let alone what he remembered before showing up.

Folding his arms over his chest, he tilts his head curiously as he takes him and the scene in, his heart aflutter with the chance to see him again, to speak with him again. Sure, he wasn't as close to him as he was with some other convocation members, but he did not hate Hermes. No, he respected him, respected his work, and so—]

Well, this is quite the predicament you've found yourself in isn't it, Hermes?

[While he might look different, that voice and the condescension that drips from it is unmistakable.]

Edited 2022-02-06 10:07 (UTC)

Huh?

[He had meant to ask for help getting down the moment someone showed up, but he didn't expect someone to know him here. He's caught off guard and it shows by how he continues to hang there without saying anything, blinking once, then twice-- not that it can be seen with his mask-- confused. He was certain he had never met this person before, but at the same time there was something familiar about them? The voice at least reminded him of someone he knew. But they couldn't be--]

...Do I know you?

Am I truly so unrecognizable? Or, perhaps, merely forgettable? I would think you'd have better memory than that, when it was I whom had come to interview you for your spot on the convocation.

[Granted, he knows that whole...week was a mess, and their memories adjusted, but after that whole thing he had indeed been successful in recruiting him, so perhaps he is from a time before then? It's possible, and would explain the unfamiliarity. The white mask did give him a window, after all, but it's a rather large one, admittedly.]

....Oh!

[His body jolts with the realization, flailing a moment after to re stabilize himself in his awkward position to avoid falling. So the familiar voice was more than a coincidence!]

Pray forgive me, I hadn't realized it was you, honorable Emet-Selch. I'm... unfamiliar with that form of yours.

[He cannot help his smirk as it widens from that reaction. Yes, this was indeed Hermes, not that he really doubted it. However, the confirmation is welcomed all the same, the familiarity is bittersweet.]

Yes, well...a lot has happened between your time and mine.

[His smirk becomes something a bit softer, sadder, and the tired look to his eyes speaks volumes, vague though it may be.]

I do suppose ere you fall and break your neck, I should help you down, hm? [As he says this, he pulls a luxury ball from his belt, releasing his Hydreigon Apophis. The large dragon accesses the situation with a stern expression that extends to its false faces. With a gesture towards Hermes, the command is received and so too is Hermes, the large Pokémon taking an uncharacteristically gentle hold of him as it places him firmly on the ground.]

Right then, what do you last recall ere your arrival?

Under literally any other circumstances, in any other geographical location, Dirk would have absolutely turned around and walked away.

If he didn't ditch the Applin, he'd certainly have left the guy. His assessment would have been that getting himself in an unwinnable position was a learning experience for the other guy.

But this is Route 8, and Dirk is technically a Saffron City gym leader in (theoretically) good standing, which is a position he occupies very much on purpose, and this man's costume is very, very familiar.

So he won't simply ditch this man and his extremely optimistic Applin. He can't, not in good conscience, not even in the theoretical conscience he makes up to follow when his actual conscience is inconvenient at the moment.

Instead, he stands by the base of the tree beneath where the offending branch connects to the trunk, looking up.

"Having a moment is actually my job right now, so yes. I do."

He reasseses the situation and finds it exactly as stupid as he did twenty seconds ago. Hermes earns an audible sigh.

"I don't know how the hell you got yourself like that, but what exactly is it you want me to do for you here? Just asking."

He is not going to catch this guy in his arms like a tattooed Tuxedo Mask saving his probably-centuries-old damsel.

Time? That wouldn't happen to do with the place we find ourselves in now, would it?

[Hermes is unsure of what to make of this Emet-Selch, tired expressions aside, there were other differences besides his physical form he was starting to pick up on. Coming from a different time would explain a lot of it. But that was to ponder after he was out of this tree.]

Oh, yes I would appreciate the assistance!

[The arrival of Hydreigon managed to finally get Woopers attention, scaring it enough to have it jump up and run off into the bush. Hermes however was thankful for the rescue and in general not concerned with its ferocious and stern appearance.]

Thank you, friend.

[Said to the Hydreigon rather than it's trainer as he brushed himself off and scooped up his own Pokemon into his hands.]

Ah let's see...You mentioned interviewing me for the convocation? I'm afraid I've yet to give you my decision. Or rather, I still need more time to decide.

January - February Test drive

Network

Ruins!

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Video, because Sion's like that

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Hermes | FFXIV | 6.0 Spoilers!

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