January - February Test drive

[indigo_events]

➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
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CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

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Comments

Hermes | FFXIV | 6.0 Spoilers!

[syruphistry]

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?!]

[amaure]

[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.]

[syruphistry]

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?

[amaure]

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.]

[syruphistry]

....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.

[amaure]

[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?

[syruphistry]

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.

[amaure]

[Every bit of this man is the Hermes he remembers, the gentle soul who deeply cared (a little too much) for everything around him, especially creations. Assuming Hermes regards these creatures the same way Emet-Selch does, then his expression of thanks towards Apophis is unsurprising. Nor why he got himself stuck in the tree, the Wooper was likely to blame for that, though he is doubtlessly uncertain why one would climb a tree in the first place?

The scenario seems vaguely familiar, but nothing he can truly place why. Probably not important.

As for Apophis, there's a small grumble that leaves him before he floats over to Emet's side.]

That far back are you? Well, I suppose that's a bit of a mercy.

[He brings a gloved hand to his chin, his expression falling to something more thoughtful than the tired smile it was moments ago. No point in hiding things from him, he'll find out one way or another anyway.]

The chasm of time betwixt your point is mine is over twelve thousand years. [He removes his hand from his chin as he sweeps his arm over himself with a gesture.] And no one is immune to time's sway, so you'll have to forgive my queer appearance.

[syruphistry]

[Yeah probably not important at all, even though this Hermes remembers finding himself in the same sort of predicament not too long ago...

He brings his free hand up to his chin as he thinks, tilting his head ever so slightly.]

A mercy...? Did something happen?

[Their people are long lived, but twelve thousand years is a bit far off in the future isn't it? For Emet-Selch to dress as he does now though, well something big must have happened.]

Do we all dress so.... creatively in the future?

[uber_marionettist]

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.

[songofthedawn]

[Well. This is certainly a familiar sight. Familiar enough that G'rhyf is almost--almost tempted to ask him just how often this sort of thing happens. But the window of time he would have needed to come from to even recognize them is small enough that--their usual boundless serendipity aside--they're not going to take that bet.]

[So instead after a long moment they just sigh and hold out their arms below him.]

Go ahead and let go, I've got you.