ohmyarceus | JULY - AUGUST TEST DRIVE MEME

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JULY - AUGUST TEST DRIVE MEME

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"She is a friend of mine. A rather new friend, I suppose, since we only just met but a friend nonetheless," Newt rambled slightly, his usual awkwardness showing as his gaze flit from Credence to various Pokemon and back again. "Just as these creatures are my friends. And yours, if you will allow them."

Nicholas dipped behind Newt as he looked over to the Misdreavus, expression drooping.

"Sad. I think he's sad. And scared," the Gastly commented, aura flickering as he drifted over to the other ghost. "It'll be okay, though."

Newt could fix it..right?

"I know this is quite a bit to take in but you are safe here, Credence," Newt continued, catching the way the young man was fidgeting with the necklace and his gaze lingered there for a moment.

Curious.

"I promise that no one here will harm you."

"New trainers shouldn't be sad. They're supposed to be happy! They just got their first Pokemon!" She clearly just didn't get it. She'd seen other Pokemon welcomed with open arms. It didn't seem fair.

"M.. Ma will get angry. These are.. these aren't... real. they're witch... demons and.. and..." He didn't know what else to call them.

Mary Lou hadn't exactly described creatures as much as she'd described witches. Not that it stopped an inate curiosity in Credence that continued to draw him to these types of things.

"I.. I shouldn't be here, I have to help Mr. Graves and I need to be home at a certain time or Ma will get angry with me..."

This wasn't quite how his day was supposed to be going. Hand out flyers. Maybe talk with Mr. Graves. Talk to Modesty. Go home. Hopefully manage to get a day by without Mary Lou getting angry with him.

He'd yet to look at Newt. He knew what the man's voice sounded like, his hands and his clothes but his face? Credence seemed permanently bent downwards.

"Sometimes it's not that simple." It was Albus the Drampa that spoke up now, the large dragon still resting where he had been before but his unseeing eyes were cracked open and peering in the direction of the ghosts. "He needs your help to learn."

Graves.

Newt's hands twitched at the mention of the man and he immediately started to fiddle with his sleeves, clearing his throat as he smiled some.

"From what I understand, things..time stands still while we are here, Credence," he said slowly, hoping that he wasn't about to overwhelm this poor young man. "They will have no idea you're gone and when you do return home, it will be to the exact moment you left." If they went home. It was a very large if from what he had come to understand but that was better left unsaid.

Queenie, who had paused in her cleaning when everything started, let out a soft little twill as she watched Credence, waving at the young man. It's okay, really. Everyone is nice here!

Misdreavus slouches, looking disappointed still. She really wanted a confident, strong trainer... one that helped HER, not the other way around. And on top of that she'd made a terrible first impression.

"...is this.. magic then?"

It seemed obviously so. Credence had such conflicting thoughts on magic. Inexorably drawn to it yet taught ti be ashamed and afraid of it and its practitioners.

He startled at the noise Queenie made, pulling the coat closer around himself. His eyes glanced fearfully towards her before the instinctive drop to avoid eye contact. Forever acting submissively.

"Then.. I won't get in trouble.. did.. Is this Mr. Graves' doing? He said he would.. teach me but I'm not supposed to.. uh.."

Well, he's messed that up already hadn't he?

[This is ... odd. After waking up in a panic, in a strange bed and a strange room that definitely was not where he fell asleep, some woman came in and handed him a bag before promptly (heh) shoving him and some adorable strange-looking cat out the door while telling him he's late to start his journey.

What journey? Is this another one of Ardyn's tricks? Noct and the others had just rescued him from that terrible room and brought him to a dorm of sorts to rest up... hadn't they? Astrals, was that all a dream? A hallucination?

He's definitely starting to panic now, standing at the edge of a road and looking wildly around at the little town. It's really small, more the size of an outpost than anything else. There's a gentle breeze brushing over his skin, and he can smell the salt of the ocean in the air. The sun is warm and everything seems so ... pleasant. Could Ardyn even envision something so nice, let alone somehow make it reality?

Prompto feels something winding around his ankles, gently nudging his legs and he looks down to see the cute fuzz ball from the (his?) room. It's fur is brown and tan, with long pointed ears and a bushy tail that's currently swishing around as it's black nose sniffs him. Squatting and plopping his bag on the ground, he extends one hand to the inquiring nose and smiles widely when he feels the wet 'boop' against his palm. It gives a little chirp before jumping up and Prompto's reflexes kick in, allowing him to catch the fluffy little thing and cradle it to his chest.]

You're way too friendly to be something Ardyn made. I wonder if there's anything in this bag that'll tell me what you are. And maybe tell me where I am and what's even going on.

[One hand keeps the little critter tucked against him as Prompto uses the other to rifle through his backpack and comes across a few red and white balls (what the hell are these things?), some clothes and underwear (how did that woman know his size?), a sleeping bag, rope, food (but no drink?), an assortment of vials and containers that hold different colored liquids (are they like Elixirs?), toiletries, and some sort of electronic device.

Ah! Tech stuff! He may be able to figure out what's going on yet! It looks like the device has a camera, so he gently places the cute critter on the ground and tries to take a picture of it. Prompto nearly drops the damn thing when it starts speaking, rattling off things that sound like a name, stats, and general information about the little guy.]

So you're called Eevee? Huh, I just thought that was a noise you made but really you were just trying to tell me what you are. And you're a genetic mystery too... man, we're a pretty good pair!

Now what else does this thing do...?

[Prompto starts pressing a few buttons and hears some sort of ... click? Ping? Something. And maybe what sounds like the static you can hear on an open phone line when it connects but no one is talking.

Is this thing recording him? Head tilted he looks at what appears to be a front-facing camera and starts talking, hoping someone, anyone can hear him.]

[Network]

H-hello? I'm pretty sure I figured this thing out sooooo if anyone can hear me please tell me what's going on? Confused is ... kind of an understatement.

[ The disappearance of Prompto had been a huge blow to them. Noctis took it far harder than Ignis. Ignis was used to people disappearing at this point, he knew that Prompto would be safe. Things would be come terribly hard for the young man but Ignis knew for a fact that he made it through.

It was still difficult for Noctis and in turn it made it difficult for Ignis. He already felt weak here, unable to stand by Noctis as he should. Things would hopefully change soon enough, with the assistance of Oleander, his Espurr.

Dahlia, his Audino, was seated beside him, showing Ignis the controls to the Pokegear as Oleander acted as his eyes on his lap. It was all an adjustment but Ignis wanted to be more independent of his Pokemon.

Outside of Oleander, of course.

It was Dahlia who pointed out the familiar face first, letting out an excited cry. Ignis tapped the respond quickly. ]

Prompto! Where are you, you just vanished suddenly. Noct is worried half to death as well as your Pokemon.

[Thank the Six, that sounds like Iggy. Sort of. There's something off but honestly Prompto's just happy there's someone familiar here.]

I-Iggy?! I just- we were all resting in that dorm at Zegnautus, trying to get ourselves set to go after the Crystal a-and I just woke up in this random house and some lady handed me a bag and shoved me out the door.

Uh, there's a sign nearby. I think it says ... 'Route 29'? I don't - I don't know where I am or what's going on. I'm pretty sure there's a map in my bag... where are you and Noct? I can try to find you guys.

[The panic is back in his voice as he realizes that even though it seems like this little place is nice, he's in a completely new and strange world (apparently) and this Iggy seems to think he's been here before but this is definitely the first time he's been here.

And what on Eos is a Pokemon? Is that what his Eevee is? There are more questions than answers and Prompto's new motivation is to find Iggy and Noct and figure out what the hell is happening. Plus he's got a new furry friend to take care of but it doesn't seem like the animals he's used to, so he doesn't want to risk treating it like that and making it sick.

His Eevee chirps again, so Prompto scoops him up and he settles on the blond's shoulder. It's a comforting weight and warmth, and he feels his breathing even out a little. Yea, this is a new place that he's been dropped into but somewhere out there are two familiar faces that can hopefully explain things to him.]

[ Oh.

Oh dear. Zegnautus...? That was very different from where Prompto had been.. 'from', for lack of better terminology. And speaking of random houses and 'some lady'.. He was completely unaware of what this place was despite having been here only some days before. Depressed and down trodden from too much knowledge brought by Ignis but very much aware of the world around him.

When they returned they would lose all of this...?

You remember nothing from...?

[The Pokemon he had, the relationship with Noctis, the memories he'd built here. None of it was there and Ignis.. was suddenly very glad he was the one encountering Prompto first.

He would need to prepare Noctis for this less than happy news. ]

Ah I see you have your companion with you.

[ Change the subject, obviously. Oleander noticed, starting to look up before Ignis planted his hand on the little Espurr's head to push it back down. It wouldn't do to have his line of sight change to the underside of his own face. Dahlia leaned in, waving at the Eevee in greeting. ]

We can come and meet up with you, once I ... handle things with Noct. You said that you were in the dorm at Zegnautus...? I apologize, that was a decade ago for me.

[ And one of his more difficult memories. The night they lost-- well, it was all the same night at this point. ]

"Well, this tablet-thing says you're a mischievous little one and that you like to play pranks and scare people. Think you may have overdone it a little?"

Prompto's voice is tinged with amusement as he talks to the floating Misdreavus. He's happy that time spent with Gladio seems to have paid off as he was able to get a little fire going and set up a sort-of shelter in case of rain. When Credence wakes up, he'll find that he's been moved from where he passed out and covered with a sleeping bag. Something's even been placed under his head as a makeshift pillow.

Credence will be able to trace the voice to a blond sitting on the ground not too far from him. There's an Eevee on the stranger's shoulder that seems quite content to nuzzle his trainer's hair while it looks disapprovingly at the Misdreavus.

"I have no idea who this guy is, but scaring someone until they faint isn't very nice. You seem pretty friendly now, and you're kind of adorable, so maybe if you're nice to him when he wakes up you two can be friends?"

[This is ... Not Good. Panic is rising like bile and Prompto's fairly certain he's whiter than the snow in that frozen wasteland he wandered. He's supposed to remember something? Did... was he really here before? How could he forget a place like this? What if this really is an illusion? Has ... has he been captive for ten years without even knowing? What does he mean 'handle things' with Noct? What is happening?

His vision narrows, tunneling as he looks through the strange device in his hand. Distantly he hears the chirping of the animal (Pokemon?) on his shoulder but it sounds so far away. Astrals help him, what if he's still in the keep, strapped to that Six-damned table and he others hadn't found him at all? Breathing is stuttered and shallow, when did he sit on the ground, and why does it feel like he just fell on his ass?

There's something pressing against his cheek, fuzzy and warm. That chirping is getting louder and now there's something booping his nose. It's the feeling of Eevee's paw tapping on his nose that bring Prompto back with a sharp inhale. His eyes re-focus on the thing hanging limply in his hand while he brings his other still-shaking hand up to scratch behind Eevee's ears.

Taking a few deep breaths, he raises clear eyes to the camera and takes a good look at what he sees on the screen. Ignis looks... worn. Tired, almost. And maybe a little older, but it's so hard to tell; Prompto always figured Iggy would age gracefully and it seems that (if it's really been ten years ... somehow) time proved him right.

He needs to focus on finding his friends first, on making sure they're alright. There's a cute pink-and-white critter waving and he can't help but smile at its friendliness. Maybe...maybe they are safe. After all, no animal he knows of would be calm like that if there was danger around and maybe Pokemon aren't so different from the animals he's familiar with.]

I- I've got a lot of questions, Iggy, m'not gonna lie. And I really wanna regroup with you two. Instead of me just ... sitting here while you and Noct come to me, maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle? I need to know you guys are real, that you're okay.

Misdreavus looked sheepish at Prompto's comments. Well, obviously but how could she have expected that to happen? Weren't trainers supposed to be able to handle that kind of stuff? She'd hardly done anything really!! She could have done far worse than she did, she was being nice in actuality!

Credence was slow to rouse. He turned his head slowly towards the fire. What had happened...? Oh.. he was still outside. He was still where he wasn't supposed to be which was New York...

He sits up sharply as he remembers that no, he definitely was not in New York and where he was was definitely not safe.

"W... Who are you, where.."

The Misdreavus lets out a happy noise, floating towards Credence to greet her newly awoken trainer. Credence backed up quickly, scuttling further away from the fire and the approaching demon.

"Get away from me!"

[ Seeing Prompto sink into himself was at least a more recent experience for him now that he'd dealt with the younger Prompto. The one Ignis dealt with prior to coming here was stronger. Still had his worries but certainly more confident. Ignis sighed through his nose as he realized he'd dropped way too much information on the young man at once. ]

I can imagine you do. Noctis did as well, and you... I suppose it is a different you. It was, a young version to say the least. Now Noctis is the youngest I suppose.

[ More information without context. ]

We can certainly meet halfway. It is what Noct did before with myself. It's been a great help to have someone who has been here longer.. I apologize if I treat you oddly, I'm used to a far older version of yourself.

[ Dahlia noticed the wave and smiled. She saw the Eevee better now and was definitely interested in the possibility of a new friend. ]

"Hello!! What's your name? I'm glad Prompto isn't alone!!"

Prompto wishes he could better understand the Misdreavus, but he's just getting used to these ~~creatures~~ Pokemon. It seems to be at least a bit contrite, so the blond will take that as a small victory in human-Pokemon relations.

He turns his head at the sound of a body stirring and begins to smile, ready to greet the stranger, when the dark-haired boy practically skins his butt trying to get away from the Misdreavus that only wants to say hi.

Prompto can see the panic in the stranger's eyes, hear it in his voice, and see it in the way he tries to both flee and curl in on himself as if he's trying to ... protect himself from something. Taking a deep breath, Prompto tries to look as non-threatening as possible while slowly moving towards the frightened boy.

"H-hey there. I'm Prompto and I, uh, found you passed out over there with your Pokemon trying to wake you up. Did you just get here too?"

He's hoping his voice is gentle enough. Everyone handles their panic attacks differently, and Prompto really doesn't know how to help this guy but he'll try his best. Well, aside from maybe having the Misdreavus back up a bit.

"Uh, M-Misdreavus? Maybe you should come over here until he's a little calmer? You can chat with my Eevee, who I still really have to name soon..." His voice trails off at the end as he mumbles about giving his Eevee a name.

Pulling out some of the trail mix from his bag, Prompto offers a handful to the still-frightened stranger.

"Here. It's pretty good, and I don't really know when you last ate. P-plus food usually helps me feel better so maybe it'll help you?"

This was all witchcraft and his mother had warned him so much against it. Mr. Graves wasn't here to help either, so this was wild. Out of control witchcraft and nothing that Credence was prepared to deal with. It was terrifying by the sole fact that it was out of this world but it was made worse by the fact that he was alone.

"G.. Get here..?"

He finally takes note of the other young man. He manages a brief glance at Prompto's face before looking away from him. Credence could never keep eye contact, could hardly ever make himself look people in the eye. One would swear his neck simply couldn't straight up.

Misdreavus was very disappointed that she still couldn't greet her trainer. She floats over to the Eevee with a melancholic sigh, leaning her head on the little fox-like creature's shoulder.

"Not fair. My trainer is broken."

Credence really wasn't sure if he could stomach food at all but he shouldn't refuse the offering. He extends his hand to take it, every part of his body trembling. He must look so foolish but this young man was so cool and calm wasn't he? Credence found himself envious.

"T.. t hank you... I-I don't know where I am.. What .. what is that thing, where are we?"

[Prompto continues taking deep breaths, feeling his pulse return to normal while Ignis throws more information his way. It's jarring, hearing that there was (is?) another version of him here before. Is ... is he not the real him?

But Ignis is still talking to him, agreeing to a meeting at some halfway point, and preemptively apologizing for any awkwardness that occurs during their reunion. The kindness is reassuring, especially when he knows that the elder man must also be reeling a bit at Prompto's not-quite reappearance.]

Thank you Iggy. I'm sure this is strange for you too and once we meet up we'll figure things out. I, ah, hope this doesn't cause too much trouble for you. O-or for Noct.

[He pulls out his map to see where he can even go from this tiny town, giggling as his Eevee chirps into the camera. Maybe she's talking to the Pokemon sharing the screen with Ignis.]

"Hi!! He hasn't given me a name yet, but I'm sure he will soon!! He's been really nervous since he got here, but I think he's calming down now. What's your name? How do you know my trainer even though he just got here?"

[The little Eevee is curious about the Audino, about the things she could tell her that may help her with Prompto. But she also really hoping they'll be friends.]

[Prompto finishes tracing routes with his finger on the map, and he looks up to finalize his current plan of action with Ignis.]

So I can either head to a place called Blackthorn City or Cherrygrove City from here. Which one of those would you recommend?

Eevee nuzzles the Misdreavus, offering what comfort she can.

"I think he's just really scared. He kind of smells like my trainer did when he first got here, and he keeps shaking. Prompto will help though!"

Prompto notices the Misdreavus leaning on his Eevee and takes a quick moment to scratch behind one of her ears. Gently scooping her up, he speaks gently and softly to her, but makes sure it's loud enough for the stranger to hear.

"Pryna, think you and this little one can keep an eye on the fire while I talk to him? Maybe you can make a new friend, yea?"

Letting her down on the ground, Prompto (happy to have finally come up with a name for her) smiles at Pryna before turning back towards the frightened boy. His eyes take in the shaking and he sees that the guy really doesn't (or can't) do the whole eye-contact thing, which further cements the thought that the stranger has some anxiety issues and probably a whole lot of self-image issues. And, obviously, that he's having some kind of panic attack.

Prompto feels like this stranger is a kindred spirit, of sorts; he remembers feeling that way all the time, before befriending Noctis, Ignis, and Gladiolus. He still has anxiety issues, especially after everything at Zegnautus Keep, but he'd gotten better before and he can do it again. Maybe now it's his turn to help someone find themselves the way the others helped him.

"T-this is gonna sound really weird, but I promise I'm not lying. This place is called Johto, and right now you're on the side of Route 29 in a little campsite I set up. I, uh, just got here recently too and I'm still really confused. I don't know how we got here, but I'm on my way to find my friends who also ... somehow got here."

He pauses and takes a breath, realizing that his own hands are starting to shake as he's reminding himself that his friends are still his friends but they aren't the ones he was just with in the dorm, realizing that he really doesn't have a lot of answers and how did he think he could help anyone?

Swallowing and giving a nervous chuckle, Prompto continues trying to explain things to this stranger while simultaneously offering him more of the trail mix.

"Um, that cute little green floating one is a Misdreavus and she's your Pokemon. Pokemon are kind of like pets, I think? You can talk to them and train them and stuff and they make really good companions! The brown one that looks like a little fox is mine. She's an Eevee and her name is Pryna. She's been really helpful, kinda helped me out of a panic attack before. A-and she's super cute!"

Prompto scratches the back of his neck nervously, eyes darting from the stranger's face to the grass. Damn, he's really bad at this.

"Hey, what's your name anyway? S-sorry. I'm not that great at this. Look, the bottom line is you're somewhere safe and you're not alone. You've got your Misdreavus, and if you want to ... you've got me. Uh- I mean ... you wanna come with me?"

"I'm Dahlia! Trainers come and go sometimes, the world is really weird. When they come back they're not always the same but that's okay." She spent a lot of time on the network when they were walking, if only to keep the gear away from Pimpkaboo.

"We'll figure everything out together though. Noctis is very helpful and my trainer has learned a lot since coming here."

"Cherrygrove will work just fine. We are able to get there rather quickly and I can send Ravioli ahead. He will enjoy the flight."

The Pidgeot certainly would enjoy any chance to stretch his wings. And hopefully Ignis could convince him not to pick fights with smaller Pokemon. He certainly had little to prove at this point.

"Hi Dahlia!! I wish I had a name ... but I'm sure Prompto will give me one soon. It looks like he's getting ready to go so we should meet up soon, right? And then we can all work together and be friends!" This particular Eevee is a joyous ball of optimism and sunshine, and she really hopes her potential new friend doesn't mind it.

Prompto is, in fact, double checking his bag before hoisting it up onto his unoccupied shoulder. Giving his bubbly Eevee another scratch behind her ear, smiling as he realizes she's definitely talking to the Pokemon on the other side of the screen, he confirms his plan with Ignis.

"Alright, I'll start heading there now. Not sure how long it'll take, but I'll make it to Cherrygrove eventually. And don't think I missed that you named one of your ... pets - are Pokemon pets? - Ravioli. Expect some teasing about that when we meet up. What sort of Pokemon is this ... Ravioli?"

He's already started walking, eyes darting between the screen of his PokeGear and the road. It may be smarter to let Ignis go so the two of them can focus on their respective tasks, but Prompto needs to know what Pokemon to keep an eye out for. And maybe how to distinguish Ravioli the Mystery Pokemon from any other Pokemon that show up.

Wait.

"Iggy ... are there wild Pokemon?"

Optimism was needed. Dahlia could be optimistic but Ignis was definitely a more dour personality than she expected. Sure, he could have fun but the man seemed to have that air of melancholy around him that was difficult to shake. One day she hoped to break through those walls though.

"I named him after what he was attempting to steal from me. He's a Pidgeot. A very large bird. Don't be alarmed when you see him."

At least Ravioli wouldn't immediately challenge Prompto's Eevee to a battle now. He left younger Pokemon alone.

"Yes. There are. Quite a few actually. You can catch them and add them to your roster if you wish but I would keep your Eevee close at hand."

[So a 'very large bird' is going to somehow know who he is and is going to find him. Prompto's not sure how he feels about that. How is a bird going to know him? How will he know the difference between Ravioli the Very Large Bird and any other very large bird?

He's gotta make this quick if he hopes to make it to Cherrygrove anytime soon. The route doesn't exactly look short, and it's completely unfamiliar territory so there's no telling how long it'll actually take.]

Pretty sure if my Eevee isn't walking near me she'll be riding on my shoulder. She seems to like it up there. And I'll save any catching, however you do that, 'till I'm with you and Noct.

I'm gonna let you go. Gotta start movin' sometime, right? Uh, think you can maybe give Ravioli that will let me know who he is? Not too sure I'd be able to tell your bird apart from any other birds that may show up.

[Prompto doesn't want to end the chat with Iggy, but he knows that both of them need to get moving. He's still nervous, still unsure in this strange new place, but he's got his Eevee and he's determined to make it to his friends.]

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Page 8 of 8

JULY - AUGUST TEST DRIVE MEME

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Prompto Argentum l FFXV (nothing is up for September yet)

(Its okay, you can tag on that one too when it comes up if you want)

/pounces You're so helpful!! <3

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LMAO forgot the formatting in my last responses ... womp