HOMECOMING

daphne's curry entry

thread summary: Leonidas and Daphne decide to catch up with both their work, and in general. Good sibling banter after not seeing each other in god knows how long.

why is it important?: Leonidas discovers that daphne is actually capable of cooking the two of them talk about their own prospects and, to daphne, this is something that she struggled a lot with - especially after the death of alex. it shows that daphne is still very much traumatized from the UB war, but despite being a relatively colder sister, she doesn't want to worry her siblings. it's one of the rare times she's actually vulnerable, but still won't say anything as to not raise concerns. it shows a side of daphne that's less forced and awkward, and shows her slowly (but surely) embracing that side of her that still holds all her grief, and all her regrets. it also sets her and leonidas up to start interacting more as siblings, an it'd give daphne more of a chance (or rather, have her be more willing) to open up, and realize that she doesn't have to shoulder everything on her own. Poor woman's dead set on the idea that she has to shoulder everything. Oops.

HOMECOMING

Leonidas Stone's curry entry

thread summary: after being gone from hoenn for just a few years short of a decade, leo goes on to visit DAPHNE STONE for the sole purpose of catching up with family. they discuss a couple of matters, both heavier and lighter, during his visit.

why is it important?: basically, this thread is what i'm hoping to be one of a few that goes over some of leo's feelings, expressions, and otherwise regarding his absence from not only his home, but also his family. for homecoming specifically, there were a chain of posts that ended up delving into daphne's trauma regarding the ultra beast war and their brother's death—albeit vaguely—which, by extension, gave leo a bit of insight as to the sort of stress she's endured in the time he's been gone, even if he isn't (currently) aware of the specific reasons she's so hard pressed on herself. being an advocate for crying it out and expression, he was happy to not only see her—a person that he'd known to be more reserved and composed—crying at being at least somewhat emotional, but also to be able to have the chance to reassure her after all his time away.

it not only sets up the path for more sibling development between the two, but albeit short cut and messy, there was also a small, even if slightly vague and messy, mention about leo's (and my) intent to further develop his own technologies in character. hopefully, i'll be able to expand on that more as time goes on in the form of using it as some sort of plot hook!

WICKED EYES & WICKED HEARTS

Martín del Mar's curry entry

Thread Summary:
After Mars contacts Athena (Yui Fujin Silph) under the moniker of "Tuesday", they decide to meet at the Tree of Life to exchange information. His goal is to learn what Athena knows about the mysterious "DrkTriad" that he learned about from Lulu Flint, and for the sake of obtaining this information, he in turn reveals to her that the Tree of Life is a gate to another dimension. They discuss the Unown Report and those behind it at length, and given that they're both suspicious of Doctor Holo, they decide to come up with a plan to break into the Mossdeep Space Centre and try to find out what she may know (The Najdorf Variation).

Why is it important?:
Aside from the text messages they exchanged, this is the first time Mars and Yui properly interact, and fittingly so, they're both disguised. This thread is particularly important to Mars because it shows just how much he cares about learning more about the Unown Report, and to what lengths he'll go for the sake of finding the truth – which is a constant theme for him as a character. It also happens to be the first time the alter ego of Tuesday is introduced to another character!

Mars is the sort of person who stops at nothing to achieve his goals – especially when it comes to uncovering mysteries – and I think the fact that he contacted an information broker that isn't aligned with Rocket, and is willing to go as far as breaking into the space centre with her really displays that.

On the other hand, the interaction between him and Yui is also one that stands out, because it's rare for Mars to find himself relating to someone, but Yui and him have a lot in common, and even though he definitely doesn't trust her just yet, it's something I could see happening overtime.

Writing with Pilo is always a joy ♡ I really loved this thread and I'm super excited to see how the plot develops!

HEATHERED HEARTS

Elisabeth Fiorelli's curry entry

thread summary:
After waiting and waiting and waiting for her Gracidea flower to bloom, Elisabeth Fiorelli sees it flourish at the same time as that of BARNABY FINCH's -- which he has secretly grown in her garden.

why is it important?:
First of all, I adore writing with Dove -- she's one of my favorite thread partners in Hoenn and it is always such a joy to see how she writes Bee! This is the first thread we've had since Where the Rosebuds Flourish where Elisabeth encounters BARNABY FINCH's Rocket-persona again, and during that encounter she got vulnerable and let herself for a moment look for physical comfort in a way she hadn't for a long, long time. She's in complete denial this happened, which makes her facing Bee again -- particularly for something as emotional as this -- difficult for her. She doesn't want to admit that there is a part of her that aches for comfort and warmth. She has no idea that between then and now she has encountered Barnaby many times, but as his civilian persona, the reporter Barnaby Finch -- whom she despises utterly. But he knows, and he's now aware that she's not the cold, aloof woman she so often deigns to be. Dove does a fabulous job of playing with this dynamic, and I really enjoyed how it manifested here.

I enjoyed the internal struggle of Elisabeth deciding whom to show gratitude to as well, and harkening back to Georgette Bluebottle who was the MVP of my last curry entry, Peace Lilies. It was a lovely full circle moment, and one made moreso by making a nod back to Martín del Mar in Elisabeth's first Shaymin thread: Winter Blooms, where Elisabeth decides to name her Shaymin Titania as a nod to his Oberon. There's also the fun parallels of Barnaby showing gratitude to Mars in his stone, as well as both of them being fond of fairy tale horse rides!

But beyond this -- beyond Bee and the rest of the fabulous cast of Hoenn -- this thread showcases a part of Elisabeth that I love to delve into, which is her complicated relationship with her own self esteem and her own sense of self. She is a talented gardener, but for some reason, her Gracidea struggles to bloom. Because she struggles to be grateful. She struggles to appreciate the many things she has in her life, or to believe she deserves them, or to even be grateful for the ugly things it has taken for her to survive in this world. When the Gracidea flowers, it is a big moment for her -- it's an acknowledgment that she isn't bereft of gratitude at all, and that she is worthy of the Shaymin's notice, despite her own personal doubts.

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE BEACH

Beau Fontaine's curry entry

thread summary: Beau, enjoying some recreational time at the beach with his Vaporeon Wade, literally falls at the feet of klaus anchoret, who - in spite of the somewhat bumpy first encounter they had at Sea Mauville - seems not only inclined to not run away from Beau or hit him, but actually talk to him instead![break][break]why is it important?: In "Lifting Spirits", the DW where Beau and Klaus first encountered one another, Beau was intrigued by Klaus and felt as though he'd missed an opportunity in letting the other man go without arranging another meeting. Being able to literally bump into him gave him a further opportunity to converse, and even though Klaus was basically using Beau as cover to hide from the authorities, Beau took it as actual interest and - maybe - flirting? And hoo boy, he even got an invitation to the lighthouse where Klaus works for a tour! Words cannot describe how much fun I had exploring Beau's reaction to this series of events, and it sets the stage for future interactions. I am tremendously looking forward to a point down the road where Klaus' affiliation comes into play, to see how the both of them will handle the news.

AN EXERCISE IN FATALITY

Henry Driscoll's curry entry

thread summary: Henry is conducting field tests for one of his more destructive experiments. Zev Harcourt comes to watch for curiosity's sake, more than anything.[break][break]why is it important?: Much of Henry's interaction with other characters so far has been influenced by his public-facing attitude: the bookish researcher who knows an awful lot about a terribly niche subject and who's maybe a little too nerdy for his own good. For the first time in writing, this lets him cut loose in a number of ways, and was really delightful to write - he gets to lecture on a topic he's passionate about without worrying he'll offend someone, and we get to see the kinds of science he's actually up to when he's not having to sanitize it for public discussion or consumption. This, in a number of ways, really solidified for me who he is as a character and what his motivations and passions are. I'm much more excited to continue the trend with other members of Rocket as he attempts to make a name for himself via his research regardless of his standing in the organization itself.

HEATHERED HEARTS

BARNABY FINCH's curry entry

Thread Summary:
After weeks of scouting Petalburg Woods for an ideal spot to plant his Gracidea seed, Barnaby eventually decides on Elisabeth Fiorelli's own garden - without telling her, of course. He'd visit often to check on the budding flower and, in this thread, is caught by Elisa on one such occasion. As it happens, it turns out that both of their Gracideas are ready to bloom!

Why is it important?:
The premise of this thread allowed me to flesh out some of Barnaby's feelings in regards to the relationships he's made in Hoenn. He admits to himself that the friendships he's left behind in Kalos have become strained due to distance, thus forcing him to to evaluate the ones he's made in Hoenn this past year.

This also let me put into writing his disdain for his family. I have a few plot ideas in the works involving his relatives, so it was nice to be able to express Barnaby's feelings about them here.

Of course, the main point of the thread was the blossoming of gratitude - and choosing someone to receive that gratitude. Of the numerous friendships he's made in Hoenn, the importance of Martín del Mar outmatches them all. Barnaby is still conflicted about his feelings for Mars, but knows without a doubt that he is grateful for his friendship regardless.

Scarlet and I chose to do our Gracidea thread together for several reasons, my main motivator being the reinforcement of Barnaby's budding friendship with Elisabeth Fiorelli. They're still trying to figure one another out, as they're both keeping aspects of themselves close to the chest, but trust is slowly beginning to grow.

An extra bonus for me is that Barnaby is starting to accept the fantastical occurrences that seem to happen regularly in Hoenn. Up until now he'd only been told of prophecies and Legendary Pokémon by Martín del Mar, never having experienced anything similar himself aside from the events of Tiered Tearoom. At first he is extremely skeptical of what's occurring, but soon embraces it with whimsical delight!

Writing with Scarlet is always such a pleasure! I love the dynamic we've created between BARNABY FINCH and Elisabeth Fiorelli - one that has evolved as we've played them, and is sure to continue to change as time goes on. I'm excited to see where they go next! Love ya, Scarlet! ♡

DADDY x DADDY

ollie morales 's curry entry

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thread summary: ollie morales and GABRIEL BLACK , two unlikely forces meet up for an even unlikelier task: babysitting. neither seem particularly vested in the task but somehow find themselves interacting and getting to no one another. gabe also teaches ollie a thing or two about babies.
[break][break]

why is it important?: [break][break]

family is a big part of ollie's life, despite how many years he's been abroad. he went away to school in hoenn and then later, traveled to kalos, but all the while, he has never forgotten the ties that bind. it's always a fun thread with ollie, but threads where he is forced to interact with someone that can't keep up with his upbeat nature are always incredibly fun! i really like the dynamic between ollie and gabe — the spark of ollie's happy-go-lucky personality and the nonchalance of a tired father is great.

[break][break] gabe is an important man - so i think it's fun to introduce ollie into his life, who may not know of his importance (yet). i have big plans for ollie, and this is a set-up for future threads as he integrates further into the league and meets more important characters!

[break][break] and of course, it always an absolute pleasure to thread with Greyson Connors ! he is an incredibly talented writer, and always makes writing with him a joy, whether by his witty one-liners or clever metaphors. one line in particular that is my favorite:

"now listen here, you want to hold the baby like a football and then—"

leave the light on

Alexei Ivanov's curry entry ft Guillermo Marceliño

thread summary: remember 17 May '21

On this IC day, for someone, he almost died. This was the exact same day, exactly one year ago where he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The one day of the year when the PTSD hits in full force and he cannae stop the mental images from fighting their way to the surface; however this time someone answers the call and secrets are revealed.

why is it important?: for someone who always has the constant fear of his mortality hanging over him, this serves as a grounding anchor for Alexei because he has always had this fear of dying and death (as he himself knows he ain't long for the world, literally living on extended time as it is [see this is what being afflicted with hemophilia gets you, the fear of injury and blood + paranoia]).

He very nearly came close to losing everything exactly one year ago. But he survived.

Alas, not exactly 100% whole anymore because of the trauma the attack had left imprinted on him in more ways than one. It's the first anniversary of his closest brush with death so far, he can't face the inner demons alone.

Enter Memo, the unicorn knight in lopsided armor.

They both have baggage. But the stability brought by Memo's presence grounds him down and helps him from slipping under to the dark, dark PTSD-fueled demon that is there ready to swallow him.

It's also a big-af turning point for Alex because this is where he starts to realize that holy fucking shit, I may be in more than deep like wtih you but there is a rather significant barrier preventing him from voicing out what he exactly wants to say.

(Hence why he is stuck in a perpetual blushing state whenever Memo is around.)

OOCly? Mega props to Ceej because AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH we are gonna get our bois their happy ending BY HOOK OR BY CROOK! We... just gotta LOT of baggage to unpack between them. And when I say a lot, I literally mean a fucking lot!!!

(Call these two the glacial burn of Hoenn.)

I NEED A HERO

Priscilla Chevalier's curry entry

thread summary: Two Canadians walk into an alley.... Having finally found the courage to step into the world outside the safe den of her bug-pals. Priscilla is immediately accosted by hustlers trying to trick her out of the money that she does not have. She is then bravely saved by her Knight in shining Rocket Armor Isaac Merlo
why is it important?: For the far-reaching site plot, it might not be grand. But this is her first thread ever. And it establishes some very important current predicaments that she is in. As well as creating a connection between her and the kind-hearted Isaac, a connection which will surely be important for her later on.

LINGER

freya's curry entry

thread summary: hours after returning from a months-long journey in an alternate plane, and losing someone she cared about dearly for a second time, freya is not well. after the startling realization that she can't return to the dangerous man who'd stripped her of her free will (by her own request, but that's a complicated other story), she goes to the only person she's been able to rely on. and afterwards, when the culmination of their wordless tension and the adrenaline has left her, they're left to flounder in the dawn.

why is it important?:

SPOILER: Click to show

by all accounts, freya and KING WAYLAND are strangers. their acquaintanceship started when freya was still under the influence of tapu fini's nature's madness. but after a botched attempt at raiding the team rocket tree in sootopolis, she sought to strengthen her body - to become the sword she truly promised to fernando. while her posh combat trainers refused to push the limits from human to animal, she went to seedier parts of town and found him.

he hated her. spilled silver hair, spoon in her mouth, and all the petty rage in the world. he sent her home with bruises and a broken nose and pain all over. and she returned, for whatever reason. because he wouldn't give her what she wanted. wouldn't end her, but built her. gave her strength.

people do horrible, terrible things to each other when they're hurting. and freya knew, when she dragged him to that grimy bathroom, that she was hurting him. and yet she couldn't help herself. she cared for him. cares for him. for selfish reasons, maybe. this is a pivotal moment in their arc.

she told him about her time in that other world. he listened. and he doesn't understand why she needs to find rayquaza. she'll say she doesn't either, but she hates this feeling of powerlessness. of losing emma. of losing alexander. of losing her parents. of nearly losing her life. and now, with this something, whatever it is, that she's wanted with someone else for so long, now in the palm of her hands?

she won't lose that, too.

also snubis is cool i guess

SWEAR TO MY BONES

Callan Young's curry entry

thread summary: Callan sits down with Laurence Anderson to have a drink and talk about life.

why is it important?: While it is based a mission, this thread is a pivot point for Callan in finding his purpose as a Pokemon Trainer. From being an alcoholic father indebt to Pokemon Ranger and musician, Callan's moxie was sparked by two acts of kindness, one of them being from Lars.

This thread establishes a core belief in Callan: That simple acts of kindness from a stranger or two can make worlds of difference for another. And it is something that he will hope to provide to all of his future gym challengers as well.