[attr="class","header"]FAMILY: 🎓

[attr="class","setting"]

You don't feel it. You don't fully grasp it. When the last test ends. When the final, final project is turned in. [break][break]

When your lips meet his after he congratulates you on the balcony of a party- [break][break]

the last paper thin barrier between you both ripped through by the passage of time and the consumption of alcohol. [break][break]

Your measurements are taken, your cords are ordered. You spend some time with your closest friends decorating your caps and laughing about the future. You talk of the job offers you've gotten or not. [break][break]

But it all feels fake. [break][break]

That is until you're in the stadium, hiding in a looooong, long corridor with your classmates. There's hundreds of you, but luckily you get to sit with friends. [break][break]

Your robes shine silky and navy blue. From your neck hangs a couple of cords to mark special achievements. Your grades, your academics, your college even. [break][break]

And when you're asked to walk and fill the folded metal chairs it still doesn't feel real. You see your peers filling them aisle by aisle and then you look up and above. There's hundreds, maybe even thousands of faces here. All murmuring and smiling. [break][break]

And then you hear a high pitched cheer and your eyes meet theirs. [break][break]

Your family, grinning ear to ear all happy- all alive- [break][break]

Of course they're alive. The bigger miracle is them being able to take enough time off to see you walk. [break][break]

But you don't think of that. You need to last through the speaker and your valedictorian. Or salutatorian? The student speaker. Your special guest. And finally, the calling of your names. [break][break]

Music blasts as the band plays you out. All 1200 of you. Alphabetical, called up by name. You're probably right in the middle. Just about. It starts to feel real. You feel the butterflies rumbling in your stomach. Nothing can interrupt this moment. Thousands of faces, happily smiling back and forth, celebrating a mutual accomplishment. [break][break]

It's almost your turn. Your aisle rises to their feet and snake to the stage. You recognize some people who's hand you need to shake. The president, sure, and the dean of your college. The others? Not really, but they nod and smile as if you were their own. Your footsteps thump on the worn wooden stage and you grasp a hand firmly, heart in your throat as he tells you gently to turn slightly 45 degrees and smile. [break][break]

Flashes go off. You wheeze a 'thank you' as you keep going, faux diploma in hand and stand proudly for your picture to get taken. All the while, screaming, screeching, and excited cheering peal out of one specific section of the stands. Your family- immediate and extended. Every single one of them beaming down at you and you manage a grin back. Your eyes get a little misty as you vaguely hear them screams the words 'proud!' and 'blessed!' before filing back to your seat. [break][break]

And when the ceremony ends your happy, proud, alive family nearly bowls you over like a rambunctious group of golden retrievers. Blonde hair whipping in the wind as they buzz around you lie ka beehive, all taking turns in congratulating you, kissing you, hugging you. [break][break]

Anything everything to be present, To make sure you know they're so, so proud of everything you've done. [break][break]

They are so proud of everything you will do, Concord.

[break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + let's not get drafted immediately into the civil war yaya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]GOOD ENDING: 🏜️

[attr="class","setting"]

You wipes the sweat off your brows, sitting in the shadow of the Relic Castle. Your colleagues all mill around offering you ice water and lemonades to recover. It's nearly lunch time. You should rest. Your face is flush from the sun, and even under the cover of your wide brim hat, the crown of your head is hot and sweaty. Your hair is pulled back into a sweat ponytail. [break][break]

You put the cold can to your forehead and sigh quietly before pulling back the tab and taking a sip. Your hands, ass you check them over, are covered in thick callouses. Palms rough with years of work. The only scars on them are small ones from cardboard papercuts. Your skin is sun tanned from who knows show many hours you've spent out on dig sites. [break][break]

The many pock marks and deep scars are gone. Compared to reality, your hands are clean, almost soft looking. People and pokemon amble over striking up conversation. You chit chat and joke, laughing as you clink your cans and drinks together. [break][break]

The worst thing wrong with you is your sore heels.


[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + let's not get drafted immediately into the civil war yaya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]REUNIONS: 🧩

[attr="class","setting"]

You don't understand why you're drawn to her. Perhaps its how eager your small cat seems to meet her. Young Ollie running into her out of curiosity before you apologize and pull him back. [break][break]

How uncanny it was to run into her later. At coffee, in the supermarket, walking through the mall. By this point there's an awkward routine there. Ollie catches sight of her, and runs off. And you- you run after him when you realize he's gone. [break][break]

You rush up, cheeks flushed, and hands up to profess your innocence. You look stupid, you're sure. You don't want to come off as a creep. But Ollie is sincere, and even if you are too, she can't let this chance pass you by. [break][break]

She breaks the ice as you assure her nothing's going on. She cuts you off, asks you to get a coffee with her. [break][break]

You follow, laughing nervously. You can't bring yourself to deny her. [break][break]

And then you grab coffee. You and Ollie, mostly you, explain the tense situation to her. She watches you lie ka cat eyes a bird in a cage. [break][break]

At some point, you exchange numbers, should Ollie ever get loose and find himself with her. You manage to change the subject. You tell her who you are, what you do, what university you work for. And more importantly, how you came across Ollie, the sneakiest kitten in existence. [break][break]

The furball of a Meowth chimes in when he wants, appeased only but a little pupcup ( kittencup ) and a few scratches behind the ears. [break][break]

You find out her name is CALLISTA MOON .

[break][break]

You find yourself meeting her often. You bond, you get drinks, you go out and eat together. There's a pull between you and a deep bond of friendship that forms. [break][break]

Sometimes, you're not sure if that's something deeper. You're not sure if you're the only one who feels awkward. [break][break]

But nothing ever comes out of it. Not when she listens to you talk of the one that got away. [break][break]

dear callie, [break][break]

i promised i'd send a post card with some polaroids from the dig site. not much interesting to show in the ruins of alph. most of what's here has been dug up and polished so it's a lot of research and observation. still, occasionally i think we see an unown but...i haven't yet. anyway, if you're ever in verimillion city, kanto, hit me up!! and anyway, you have my contact info so you probably already know this is coming. [break][break]

miss you already, [break][break]

connie & ollie 🐾

[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + HE LVOES HER IN EVERY FUCKING LIFE DONT EVEN START WITH ME

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]BIRTHRIGHT: ⚙️

[attr="class","setting"]

You grin, peering through the old buildings and vast ancient cityscape that sprawls in front of you. A rift had been opened. Somehow. And within it a secret you had been searching for desperately for years. [break][break]

Your groups moves carefully, only to be greeted by strangers and pokemon alike. The city is bustling, and everywhere you look spin and dance and work mechanical pokemon. Seemingly artificial, but sentient all the same. [break][break]

You make contact and are too awestruck to take notes. It's hard to understand your generous hosts, most along as they speak quickly and explain their people, their architecture, and most important their beloved pokemon partners.
[break][break]

"Pokemon?" you all ask incredulously as they gesture to the living mechanical creatures. [break][break]

"Pokemon." the assure you all. [break][break]

And it's different. They don't seem like beings that adapted from living near humans but rather things humans created. [break][break]

And that is true, somewhat. [break][break]

And you can't stop fucking grinning. [break][break]

Because before your very eyes is a living legend. Something straight out of childhood dreams. And it takes every ounce of willpower to hold back from bursting with it. [break][break]

But you, Concord, you are lucky to be there. To have made it this far in your career along with each and every one of the survey party that's in talks with the city representatives. [break][break]

And after managing to establish a link. they allow you to meet the creator. The one person in this entire city that so intrinsically understands the Mgearna and the Volcanion. They take you into the castle, and lead you to the workshop. [break][break]

And you stand, right at the door, shaking like a leaf. You can hear the faintest sounds of a hammer hitting metal and swallow hard. Sweaty palms turn into a fist and you knock twice decisively. [break][break]

The noises stop and after a long pause, you hear something that makes your heart skip a beat. [break][break]

"Come in!"

[break][break]



[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + HE LVOES HER IN EVERY FUCKING LIFE DONT EVEN START WITH ME

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]LOVE: 💘

[attr="class","setting"]

"Marry me, won't you?"

[break][break]

The proposal is not what you'd expected. And you're sure it's not what luciano fisk expected either. [break][break]

After all, you're just some archeologist with big dreams. He's a famous, globe trotting artist. Your spheres- your lifestyles are so incredibly different. And while warm words of love and adoration had been shared countless of times, in and out of the bedroom, takign the next step- [break][break]

Would Luci ever propose? Say yes? [break][break]

You hadn't known. But it weighed on you. After your nearly a decade long entanglement. From student to staff- [break][break]

You had left, and so had he. Always jsut passing glances, barely spoken feelings. You came together rarely but by the fucking gods, did you make every second count. You memorized every new mole, every new wrinkle. And perhaps luciano fisk felt a certain way but any doubts, any worries could never be true. [break][break]

At least, not when it came to you. [break][break]

People say there's more than one The One. That the soulmates thing is a lie. That relationships are hard work, not works of magic. [break][break]

That's not the case for you. For you it's only one person. And if it had to stay one sided for the rest of your life, then you'd accept it. Because he is everything to you. Even if it's a pipe dream, even if you could never hope to offer him the lifestyle he's grown up in. [break][break]

You love him. [break][break]

There is no doubt in your mind, no hesitation, and no fear. You accept it the moment your lips first touched his own. The first time he whispered your name into your ear. The first time he ever smiled at you in such gentle, genuine way. [break][break]

It's never a good time. Never the right time. Your lives so rarely overlap and when you have to separate the longing in you grows stronger. It's like an insatiable hunger that grows harder and harder to ignore after every murmured 'Goodbye.' [break][break]

And one day, you can't bear to say goodbye again. [break][break]

The next time you see Luci, you're ready. Ring in your pocket, dinner prepared, heart on your sleeve. Its quiet between you for a moment, before you fall into conversation again. It's always so easy isn't it? [break][break]

And it slips out. And you sort of quirk a smile and a nervous laugh. The speech in your coat pocket along with a little velvet box unused. [break][break]

And then- [break][break]

Surprise flits through the artist's gaze, before something incredibly soft dawns his expression. He reaches for your hand across the table, taking it in his.

"Why, amore mio, what took you so long to ask?" [break][break]

"Of course, I'll marry you." [break][break]

"You are forever mine." [break][break]

💘

You flush, warmth and relief and love flooding your senses, as you wrap your hand around his. [break][break]

"I have been, for so long, Luciano."

[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + I PUNCH A WLAL IN AAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]NIGHT ONE: HELLO WORLD

[attr="class","setting"]

Streenstrup isn't the most normal of pokemon to cuddle up with but she settles happily on the couch next to him as Paxton begins to drift, eager to try out the new strange game he'd gotten. He wakes in the castle, curious as the Snubbull King speaks before his Octillery slithers away, rushing to heed some strange call. [break][break]

It takes him a bit to get used to this, Some people rush out immediately. some stick around. He decided to wander about the castle, curious if he could find any spare items laying around before making his way out once he found none. Only this dream ball. He managed to catch the appearance of his avatar in a mirror. It's a little...on the nose for his title but maybe that was the point. The wind up key in his back especially concerning. Hopefully he didn't have to worry about it falling out. [break][break]

The forest is...strange. Distorted in a way he's sure is a feature, not a bug. Monsters, in this case, are the shadow pokemon. He managed to avoid trouble, skirting around fighting shadow mons and avoiding others screaming and crying as they were overrun by shadows themselves. It's selfish, yes, but he needed to find Streenstrup. [break][break]

He finds her in the worst place ever: hanging from a tree. She holds him down and strangles him with ease. And when he wakes up with a start he calms himself down realizing he was home. Only to panic once again when his partner is missing, and he can't log back in. Shit. [break][break]

So starts his next few days, trying to beat the first puzzle of his new game. And figuring out how to deal with his strange ability. [break][break]

THE WIND-UP SOLDIER [break]
ABILITY: LOCAL HERO [break]
THE WIND-UP SOLDIER winds the key on his back three times and begins an internal timer. During the span of this time, the key spins and grants THE WIND-UP SOLDIER extra speed and endurance. THE WIND-UP SOLDIER cannot act of his own volition and instead moves with the sole directives of PROTECT and KILL. After the key slows to a stop, THE WIND-UP SOLDIER will come back to consciousness and suffer a slow down for a minute to recover their burst in power.

[break][break]

It's a risky ability, and he doesn't like the thought of losing himself to something. But...perhaps that may be useful if he can plan the perfect moment for it. Whatever the case, he needed to find his partner. [break][break]

He finds her once more, lounging where she shouldn't. This time the Octillery had taken to trapping some FROSSLASS (Elise Calcifet ) ad devouring it while it struggled in her hold. Paxton tests out his ability, holding the dream ball in place and hoping this would work. [break][break]

He swallows as he lets go of the wind up key before feeling himself go strange- almost out of body. His entire body snaps to position, and his spine becomes rigid. Everything becomes a haze, like he's dreaming in his dream. Nothing moves the way he wants it to. His own fists reel back and cover his face as Streenstrup attacks him. Her bullet seeds land and it just sounds like something hollow and metallic getting hit before he surged forward pummeling down on her nonstop until she stops struggling. [break][break]

The timer runs out and he doubles over, eyes wide and entirely confused as to what had just happened. He struggles to move his arms but after a minute, movement comes back. His sore arm managed to tap the dream ball against his partner. Everything freezes. [break][break]

Even his exhaustion seems to melt away. The options read as strange but... "Let's just keep her as she is." he said to himself, choosing to keep her as she was. Hopefully, not dead.


[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + I PUNCH A WLAL IN AAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]NIGHT TWO: WEARY WANDERINGS

[attr="class","setting"]

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/716039518305779782/1178583491689062421/Forest_Temple_-_The_Legend_of_Zelda_-_Ocarina_Of_Time.mp3?ex=6576ac69&is=65643769&hm=0e075698b7d0ab07d09228ab3a70ae519141b2c0516098d3cb475c2c52d693f7&[/player]

[break]

Forest Temple - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

[break][break]

The premise is clear and simple enough. They're being sent on an expedition to end whatever the source of the weird creatures, and maybe even glitch patches?? He pays no mind to it, taking his task and looking over his appearance, more curious about his avatar in the game now that everyone around him had changed. As he's looking at his reflection he catches sight of illeana reyes and turns slowly, watching her back shrink before moving after her. He caught up quickly, asking her about her class and her partner. Small talk. The mention of joining together for the dungeon crawl comes up and he accepts. [break][break]

As they walk out they're intercepted by Elise Calcifet who he's happy to see as well. He eyes her partner, a little Frosslass and quickly looks away remembering how Streenstrup had tried devouring her on a previous night. [break][break]

Regardless, he and his party members head out. And while conversation is lively, Paxton takes a more passive role in it, settling down to listen it and occasionally offer input. But as they step further into the wilds, into thicker and deeper forest, he realizes something. They're speaking on loop. Conversations seem to reach a natural stop then start up again with the same few topics he's already heard of. If he lets it be they prompt him for input and when he shrugs and offers nothing they continue on. [break][break]

He doesn't need to ask to know: this isn't the real women he knew outside this game. But...they don't seem malicious at least. Hopefully, anyway. He didn't feel something bad in his gut. Paxton leads the way, offering instruction here and there before the forest darkens and thorns begin to rise. The find old, mossy cobblestone and an old, ooold door. [break][break]

As they enter, they can hear howls in the distance and soft, strange giggling from the shadows of the inner chamber. And then suddenly the lights go out and disappear, and the chase is on. Something attacks them form the shadows and more or less corrals them into the dungeons many maze like corridors they have to fight through. [break][break]

The place is ancient, and he's not sure if it was a mansion or an old temple. But regardless, they find their boss key and manage to find respite right before the final boss room. Paxton looks over his comrades. Fake or not, they needed to be in good health to help. After all, he was their main attacker. He assumed. His ability was geared for it, anyway. [break][break]

They enter the strange ruinous glade, walls and pillars fallen over and moss and grass overgrowing everywhere. Out of the shadows comes out a lone, wide, and empty eye and a silent tall bird. [break][break]

"OH fuck- not this shit-" he murmured, trying to back out of the room. But the door sealed them inside and the Xatu began to twitch and grow in response, Dyanmaxing until it tore open a hole in the forest canopy revealing a dark and gloomy sky. Only to hunch over and stare down the party as wind began to whip around them, howling at the party. [break][break]

"Shit- shitshitshit-" Paxton began, shaking as panic overrided his senses. His party moves to action, beginning to cast spells and send attacks to keep the Xatu at bay. But it doesn't blink or flinch, taking everything that comes with the same unblinking stare. It sends ice down Paxton's spine. He manages to rip his gaze away to check the UI for item cards. Meanwhile his Octillery uses SHADOW HOLD, trying to buy everyone time. [break][break]

the toy soldier - paxton concordas
mystic water / pewter crunchies / x attack

[break][break]

The giant Xatu is held in one spot, but that doesn't stop its attacks. The Xatu raises pieces of rubble into the air and began smashing them down around the pokemon, sending everyone scrambling. Paxton snaps the key off his back, letting LOCAL HERO take over and allowing his body to pilot itself. He snaps into rigid position before feeling his body take off running to divert some of the attention with anything he can. Rocks are thrown, little trinkets form the dungeon crawl are taken out and added to his ammunition. At someone he jumps towards the abyssal void of the Xatu's eyes as it hunches further and further down to meet him. Paxton feels a stick hand dig into goopy flesh and purple ooze leak out. No blinking, never a blink, but the creature screams and bats him away, slamming him into a wall and sending it crumbling. [break][break]

His Octillery isn't so lucky either. Giant pieces of broken pillar trap the octopus pokemon like a rip off ROCK TOMB while Paxton scrambles to help, only for his body to hunch forward and feeling to return. His limbs are numb and he can't move, stuck in recovery period. Elise and Eliana step up, covering his useless body with their own spells and abilities. The Xatu continues its unblinking rampage, slamming PECK after PECK into their team. As Streenstrup squirms out of her cell, Elise Calcifet 's Frosslass cries out and illeana reyes 's Duskull is batted away. [break][break]

Paxton regained enough feeling to tear his PEWTER CRUNCHIES card, only to realize they weren't going to his comrades, but his partner. He turned to see Streenstrup devour the bag of chips like Popeye eating a can of Spinach before bulking up and calling to him. Paxton rips up the other cards as well, adding to his partner's power. "All or nothing big girl!" he shouted as she inhaled deeply before letting out a buffed up HYDRO PUMP. The force of the blast forces Paxton and his comrades back, and the stream doesn't stop flowing even after they hear the horrifying tear and crack of the Xatu's head being ripped backwards. [break][break]

Finally, the attack subsides, and inches of water are left on the ground mixing quickly with...blood? It's dark purple, almost black. Not really blood. The body falls like a felled giant and after calling out to his team who respond back, he checks the loot. The body of the Xatu disappears eventually to reveal a little token. Paxton snorts as he picks it up, before nodding at his party to head back out or log off. Whatever happened first.

[break]
PAXTON'S DOG TAGS [break]
A replica of Paxton's lost dog tag, though coated in gold for a more decorative and commemorative feel. The surface is inscribed with his name, age, rank, and years of service.

[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + I PUNCH A WLAL IN AAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]NIGHT THREE: SNEAKY SHADOWS

[attr="class","setting"]

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/716039518305779782/1178583491689062421/Forest_Temple_-_The_Legend_of_Zelda_-_Ocarina_Of_Time.mp3?ex=6576ac69&is=65643769&hm=0e075698b7d0ab07d09228ab3a70ae519141b2c0516098d3cb475c2c52d693f7&[/player]

[break]

Forest Temple - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

[break][break]

The King speaks with dejection over something or another about copyright. Paxton is unsure how to take that, more interested in the new task he was presented than the Snubbul monarch's lament. Streentrup clings to his back, resting as he began to turn away from the pink puppy in search of his own little quest. The option to team up doesn't populate, and Paxton is just fine with that. [break][break]

He passes people he thought were allies, playing the same game, living the same dream. But he supposed not everything can be GOODBYE GALAR. It makes the world feel a bit more lonely though. Nevertheless he persists, taking off into the wilds. It'd be too easy to think he'd find his keyhole in the trees amidst old stumps, and darkened shrubs. He finds keyholes that reject the dog tags he'd begrudgingly placed around his neck. [break][break]

Streenstrup helps guide him, her itchy tentacles ready to help pry open his door- their door. She nudges him through the darkest depths of the forest until they enter a section where the canopy is so tall and thick the surroundings are akin to night time darkness. But his Octillery is determined to continue going. So he does. [break][break]

The keyhole is like a dead end. A strange, unique wall covered in layers upon layers of ivy. But as Paxton stared, he began to find shapes. A ring for a knocker, what could've been a slat to peer through, and as he reached forward, with a glowing trinket floating around his neck, the door. His door. Their door. [break][break]

The DOG TAGS resonated with the keyhole and as he listened to a magical click, Streenstrup's tentacle all lashed out, slamming with astounding force against the door. Suckers grip tight and she yanks violently, even as his key continues to glow. The door creaked and whined at the assault and soon enough Streenstrup has thrown herself into a void that only Paxton can populate. [break][break]

He follows, hearing her fading screech. He barreled through expecting to fall but he just ran at a slant down before his footsteps felt different. He goes from running on layers of dead leave and peat and moss to...something more wooden. [break][break]

The smell of lavender and cinnamon linger in the air, as does the smell of fire growing. He hears smashed windows, and sees a blur of speed as Streensturp has begun her attack. It's as if she's enraged by the idyllic cabin in the woods, surrounded by home made comfort. The more she destroys the more confused he is. He'd never seen the destruction of his own home, only appeared to the ashes of it. It's almost cathartic. He doesn't stop her and steps through to take one more look at the place he used to call a home. A place he'd thought he'd buried. And then he left, stepping out into the back yard where things grow increasingly more chaotic in his dream scape. He steps through familiar woods, through abandoned territory finding more and more pockmarks of destruction. Streenstrup was moving with such speed, flinging herself and blasting out move after move. The trees around him fell, the screeches of his Octillery haunted the night. [break][break]

"I'm sorry."

[break][break]

Paxton stopped in his tracks, a voice muffled and distant but very much there. [break][break]

"I'm so sorry."

[break][break]

He tracks the source, turning to follow as his partner leaves a trail of fury in her wake. Never too far off, intent on obliterating every familiar piece of this dream. He hits a clearing, notes the familiarity of the path and the hidden base before him. But that's just background to the strangely gruesome scene before him. A trail of blood, not Streenstrup's dragging tracks, but footsteps. A body hidden by shadow that heaved and shook, wheezing out broken apologies and clutching something against himself. [break][break]

Like a huge joke, the shadows peel away from the figure at the center, revealing corpses, too broken and rotten to identify. The figure before him doesn't acknowledge him, strange black skin and ashen gray hair. As Paxton began to put the pieces together, recognizing rags of uniform and dead pokemon, it turns to him. Its face screwed up in agony, dark red eyes locking onto him as it clutched the body of one CALLISTA MOON to its chest and stopped bemoaning her fate. [break][break]

"You."

[break][break]

Paxton blinked slowly, on the back foot. This was not his fight, and he wanted no part of it. [break][break]

"Y̸̡̨͈̮̟͍̤̟̳̟̹͈̱̭̟̣̓̈́̊̇̔͐͆̅̕͜͠ơ̷͍̺̑̄́̏̆͋̇̀̓͂̈́̏̃̆͝͝ṷ̸̡̢̧̝̻̣̙͎̖͖͎̲̥̗͗͂̐̃̈ ̵̧̢͔͙̲̙̳̝̲͙̲̘͙̪̮͐̇̀̀͑̋̈́̑̊͘͘̕ď̶̪̤̇̐̃̋̈́͊̍i̵̡̢̡̺̥͕̗̗̙̻̖̞̘̗̱͒͐͂̔̄̑̍͝d̶̬̮̘̼̭͓̞̈́̀̓̆̈́͒͆̆̿̽͛́̾̈́̚̕ ̷̨̨̘̭̮̣͈̺̩̯̠̰͎̼̽̃̃́̈͛̅͗͐͊̑̉̏͘ţ̴̝̭͎̱̲̳̲̙̲̘̯̝̱͉͌͐̾́͂̊̋̓͋̑͌̿̂̂̔̀͝h̶̥͍̞̞̤̺̝͙̮̃̋̾̀̇͂́̊͆̎͝ī̵̠̳̗̜̥͔̹̟̩̻̬͖͉͌s̴̡̡̩͚̘̹͇͈͎̞̎͌͐̎̊̃͗͗͌̿̀̽͝.̷̦͍͇̬͍̠̖̪̜̥̱̼̈́̾͂̄̽̅̃̓͌̀͜͝"

[break][break]

No. CALLISTA MOON was safe. Callie was home. Callie had just gotten coffee with him after a mission last week. Callie had survived. [break][break]

Callie's body is dropped, and with inhuman speed Shadow! Paxton sprints right for him, a rusted blade in his hand swiping upwards at Paxton's eyes. He fell, tripping as he moved back. Part of his bangs flutter in the wind. A moment later Shadow! Paxton is stabbing down, aiming for his thigh.

"You can't aim for shit." he snapped despite barely rolling away and scrambling to his knees, somehow the wind up key was still firmly in its place. [break][break]

"I'm not aiming for the heart."

[break][break]

Oh. His thigh. His artery? A slow and torturous death? [break][break]

"You need to bleed out, like she did when you left."

Another fucked up line of dialogue cooked up from however they had scanned his subconscious. Paxton doesn't fall to the trap set before him, throwing off the shadow when it yanks him to his feet by his hair. The copy slams down and he stares at his hand a moment. [break][break]

The shadow is unphased, stopping a slam of Paxton's heel against it's gut with a hand and shoving him back, causing PAxton to hop to keep his balance. The Shadow recovers, bouncing upwards to slice at his throat. Blade catches the forearm, ripping a tear in the fanciful coat he wears and cutting through skin. Blood is swiped from him, though in a strange black, viscous form. Oil, probably. Matched the motif. [break][break]

It stings, but Paxton slams a right hook into his copy's cheek, sending him stepping sideways. He tries to recover, lunging at Paxton as he began to reach for the key on his back when the tell tale tendrils of SHADOW HOLD show themselves. Streensturp has identified the biggest target in this dream world and she aims to destroy, not understand. The copy is held back and it struggles as the Octillery clambers onto him curling up her own tentacles and bashing them against the shadowy form again and again as Paxton tried to help. [break][break]

He scrambled out of the way, letting his partner brutalize shadow him, pulling out an X ATTACK card to use. But no sooner is he able to access the item does he hear the sounds of squishing as Streenstrup's fists meet a melting ooze. In fact the ooze sits in other places too. In the pools of blood around the littered bodies, in the sap leaking out of ripped and broken tree trunks. And what's more, flames close in remarkably fast, leaping from goop trial to goop trial. [break][break]

His partner is unaware, or perhaps simply doesn't care, writhing and squirming as Paxton scooped her up and headed back the way they came. Smoke began to fog the way flames burn and cling to him. He eats his PEWTER CRUNCHIES to see if it'll help stave off the flames through the burn resistance but can't tell if it does anything. Nevertheless, at some point Streenstrup just barely holds it together long enough for Paxton to stumble out of the mini dream world going up in smoke and flame behind him. He watches it, numb to the destruction of it all. It's not like he hasn't seen something similar before. [break][break]

Steenstrup tries to get back into it, but he holds her back and eventually, as the doorway darkens she calms. The door she'd rip off disappears and just becomes a regular ivy wall, in a dead end dark forest. [break][break]

"What's with you?" Paxton asked, breaking the silence as she went back to her perch on his back. She didn't respond and he sighed through his nose, and began making the tiresome journey back. "Wish we had fast travel." Then he remembered this was a game, and put away his partner, before checking the UI and logging out for the night.


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[attr="class","oocnotes"] + dont say shit to me abot uthe music it still fits ;;

[attr="class","pokeclass"]