[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park

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raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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Josh Devlin
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jun 14, 2024 5:13:20 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
The monster described what the essence of being... well, a monster... truly was. The monster had every right to be terrorized of Josh, too. Were they trying to scare each other into submission? Or were they truly afraid of each other? If Josh was afraid of the Monster in the Woods, he didn't show it.

"As expected," Josh muttered before sprinting toward the monster, his claws gleaming in the low light. With a squint and incidental flourish of his front teeth, the Inquisitor attempted to rake across the monster's soft flesh in a lightning-fast QUICK ATTACK.






Pokémon chosen: Absol

{PC: 16}
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played by

Blue Star

Hideo
he/him
15
October 18th
slateport
undecided
Gym Leader
Ace Trainer
smol height
smol height
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
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2,757 posts
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Hideo Kino
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jun 16, 2024 23:24:08 GMT
Hideo Kino Avatar
[player]https://file.garden/Ze-SbFmahEcRvg_Y/A%20Monster%20In%20The%20Woods%20quiet.mp3[/player]
The Monster In The Woods

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[attr="class","NOSTALGIA"]
[attr="class","Chromeright"]
[attr="class","Chromeoverlay"]
[attr="class","puppycat"]

[attr="class","lemonsoda"]

[attr="class","puppycat"]Lest a Monster I Become
[attr="class","monody"]
A Monster I Shall Be
And with the Monster's words, the Inquisitor made their choice: they went in fast, a Quick Attack aimed straight for the Monster's flesh.

But the Monster was ready for the attack; it parried the Inquisitor's claws with its ax, moving a small distance away from the house.

"
As expected," the Monster mimicked, its stance low. "Violence you have chosen, so violence you shall receive. So come then: go slay the Monster you so desperately need!"

The Inquisitor had a fight on their hands - and this was no foe they could easily slay; a single mistake on their part could lead to a sorry end.

But it was too late to turn back now.

For There's a Monster In The Woods.


Prompts:

Write out your battle against the "Monster". You must use at least 4 different attacks of your own, and incorporate at least 1 ability in some way. You may control the "Monster" and have them use attacks appropriate for a Scream Tail; they must utilize at least 3 different attacks during the battle. The "Monster" will also wield its axe as you see fit (either as a weapon or as a conduit for its attacks).

The Monster cannot be killed during this battle, but it can be defeated.
MADE BY MIZO
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raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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7,248 posts
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Josh Devlin
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jun 22, 2024 6:32:09 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
The Monster in the Woods was a Pokémon that Josh had never seen before. While it took the shape of a Jigglypuff, the feeth beneath that smile, as well as its weaponized hairdo, made the creature unfamiliar. The claws and the Monster's axe collided in a bright explosion of sparks, sounding like clashing swords. Josh shook his hand as the two backed away from one another from the recoil of their swipes. "Not quick enough! Try that again, why don't you!" he TAUNTED the Scream Tail in an effort to goad it into another axe attack.

The Monster was far too smart for that. Raising its tenticular hair skyward, the night sky parted, a SUNNY DAY baking the woods around the cabin with a harsh heat wave that made the Inquisitor sweat beneath his white fur. PROTOSYNTHESIZING, the Monster not only matched, but exceeded, Josh's great speed. The heat was so great that it slowed the pace of his SWORDS DANCE to half effectiveness, while simultaneously causing him to lose track of the Scream Tail in escalating dizziness.

In a pink blur, his foe rushed in, wrapped its hair around him, and began to PLAY ROUGH with him. Closing his eyes and willing an air blade into existence, a rising PSYCHO CUT would delay, but not interrupt, the Scream Tail's tactics. As it wound up, Josh drew his arms in before it let go, spinning him like a top. Once he was free, he spread his arms to create air resistance and slow himself down, but not before losing his balance and rolling into the cabin's foundation with a loud thud.

With both his arms bruised and it being difficult to see, he had to get away from the Monster to catch his breath. Flexing his powerful muscles, Josh leaped and BOUNCED to the top of the cabin. "For someone prone to violence, you sure are quick to run away," the Monster teased. "And those who run away from the Monster in the Woods... do not live to tell the tale."

Grabbing its hair-tentacle and holding it like a microphone, the Scream Tail screamed a PERISH SONG that echoed all around them -- even on the roof where Josh was hiding. He had to make his move now. By sheer SUPER LUCK, he landed right on top of the Monster despite his dizziness, the harsh and swift impact knocking the axe out of its stubby hands. He was victorious... but at what cost? The Scream Tail's PERISH SONG would claim him well after its singer's defeat. Would he be able to make it back to the village before its dirge claimed his consciousness?







Pokémon chosen: Absol
Attacks: Taunt, Psycho Cut, Swords Dance, Bounce
Ability: Super Luck
Enemy attacks: Sunny Day, Play Rough, Perish Song

{PC: 17}
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played by

Blue Star

Hideo
he/him
15
October 18th
slateport
undecided
Gym Leader
Ace Trainer
smol height
smol height
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
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2,757 posts
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Hideo Kino
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jun 26, 2024 22:42:57 GMT
Hideo Kino Avatar
[attr="class","snailhouse"]
[attr="class","Chromeleft"]
[attr="class","Chromeleftoverlay"]
[attr="class","NOSTALGIA"]
[attr="class","Chromeright"]
[attr="class","Chromeoverlay"]
[attr="class","puppycat"]

[attr="class","lemonsoda"]

[attr="class","puppycat"]Is Mercy Deserved?
[attr="class","monody"]
A Monster At Your Mercy
With proper strategy, grit, and a bit of luck, the Inquisitor fought the Monster. And in the end, they succeeded, the Monster defeated and at their mercy.

But while the Monster was defeated and disarmed, it still drew breath. And the Perish Song it sang lingered in the air.

"
So what shall you do now, Inquisitor?" the Monster asked - exhaustion clear in its voice. "You've found the Monster you sought, and you have it at your mercy, but time is no longer on your side."

The Inquisitor had proven their strength, but now, it was time to make a choice: what would they do now? They had the ability, capacity, and authority to judge the monster, and to carry out whatever sentence they desired…

But would it be wise to rush ahead, with what little time they had before the Song truly set in?

Within the house, through a window, a small figure was now present. It had popped up there partway into the battle, watching the two as they fought - and it did no more than that.



Prompts:
Pass your sentence

or

Do something else
MADE BY MIZO
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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 8, 2024 21:05:26 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
As much as Josh wanted to pass judgment upon the Monster, he would not be able to do so on his own before the Perish Song took his consciousness from him. "The village you terrorized will pass justice upon you. I am an Inquisitor, not a Justiciar. We will return there together, and you will pay for the crimes and injustices you have committed." With his great speed, he could surely make it back to the village in time...right?

A small figure's gaze caught his attention. With the village not being too far in his eyes, Josh felt he had some time to spare before the Monster's dirge seized him. Wandering over to the window, Josh waved toward the figure. "It's okay. You're safe. You can come out now," he encouraged whatever was inside.







Pokémon chosen: Absol

{PC: 18}
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played by

Blue Star

Hideo
he/him
15
October 18th
slateport
undecided
Gym Leader
Ace Trainer
smol height
smol height
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
2,757 posts
Hideo Kino DOLLARS
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TAG WITH @hideo
Hideo Kino
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 11, 2024 23:27:46 GMT
Hideo Kino Avatar
[player]https://file.garden/Ze-SbFmahEcRvg_Y/A%20Child%20In%20These%20Woods.mp3[/player]
[attr="class","snailhouse"]
[attr="class","Chromeleft"]
[attr="class","Chromeleftoverlay"]
[attr="class","NOSTALGIA"]
[attr="class","Chromeright"]
[attr="class","Chromeoverlay"]
[attr="class","puppycat"]

[attr="class","lemonsoda"]

[attr="class","puppycat"]You Wouldn't Punch a Child
[attr="class","monody"]
A Child In The Woods
The Monster scoffed at the Inquisitor's words. "Whether by your hand or theirs, I already know what judgment awaits me. I'm sure they've already decided what I am guilty of, and the blade they will execute me with is merely duller than the one you carry."

And yet, the Inquisitor did not rush ahead, despite the speed they possessed. Instead, they took notice to the figure watching them from the house, and chose to entreat it with what time they had left.

The figure disappeared for a moment into the darkness of the house - shortly after, the door opened, the small figure emerging.



A young boy. No doubt the child that they were told was lost in the woods.

"
Please, don't…don't kill them," the child pleaded. "They weren't gonna hurt me."

"
Don't," the Monster commanded - but it was clearly too tired to actually stop the child from speaking.

Despite the tears welling in the child's eyes, they wouldn't stop. "
They're not a monster. They were just trying to keep me safe. The people from my village were gonna hurt me if they found me."



Prompts:
Do as you wish
MADE BY MIZO
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raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 13, 2024 22:54:40 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
This was what the village had urged Josh to find: the child lost in the woods. As much as he wanted to bring the monster to justice himself, what was most important was stopping the attacks from happening in the first place. Rescuing the child would be a bonus that the village may not have expected, given how violent the monster's attacks were. He gave the child a gentle pat on the shoulders and back if allowed to do so.

"I'm not here to hurt you, either," Josh assured the young man. "We need to get back home. All three of us. I don't have a lot of time to explain right now, but I can while we're on the way. If we don't leave right now... I might not make it. If you're with me, come."

With that, Josh would lead the Monster back to his home town to be judged by his peers... and the Child back if he wanted to. He would be fully transparent of his job as an Inquisitor, what he had been through on the way to finding the child, and if there was anything he could do to comfort or shelter the child while he cleaned up the confusion that caused the villagers' stigma against the young one.







Pokémon chosen: Absol

{PC: 19}
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played by

Blue Star

Hideo
he/him
15
October 18th
slateport
undecided
Gym Leader
Ace Trainer
smol height
smol height
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
2,757 posts
Hideo Kino DOLLARS
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TAG WITH @hideo
Hideo Kino
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 16, 2024 22:14:37 GMT
Hideo Kino Avatar
[player]https://file.garden/Ze-SbFmahEcRvg_Y/The%20Dream%20Must%20End.mp3[/player]
The Dream Must End

[attr="class","snailhouse"]
[attr="class","Chromeleft"]
[attr="class","Chromeleftoverlay"]
[attr="class","NOSTALGIA"]
[attr="class","Chromeright"]
[attr="class","Chromeoverlay"]
[attr="class","puppycat"]

[attr="class","lemonsoda"]

[attr="class","puppycat"]And decisively
[attr="class","monody"]
Justice Rendered Swiftly
The child had pleaded with the Inquisitor…but the Inquisitor chose to trust their initial judgment. The child was reluctant to come along, but they had no intention of staying within the forest by himself.

"
Do not worry, child," the Monster said. "You will be safe. I promise you that much."

True to their word, the Inquisitor was able to make their way back to the outskirts of the woods in time, before the Perish Song went into effect. However, it would only be a few steps before time ran out, the song knocking out both the Inquisitor, and their quarry.

———

In time, the Inquisitor would wake up, alive and well. They'd find themself in a cabin, with the mayor who'd requested their aid not far from him.

"
Good to see you awake, Inquisitor," he said. "You've been out for a day. But worry not: we were able to take the Monster off your hands, and justice has already been rendered. We were a bit surprised to see that you hadn't done the deed yourself…but it has brought us peace of mind to end its life with our own hands, after it confessed to all the crimes brought before it."

The Monster, the creature the Inquisitor had brought here, was dead.

"
And you did well to rescue the lost child as well! He seemed to be a tad delirious, claiming that the Monster hadn't been responsible for anything, even when the Monster itself admitted to everything. He's with his parents now, though his mental recovery may take some time."

The child was saved, though it would seem he was not happy with the circumstances of his rescue.

"
We still have a couple of our villagers unaccounted for - they were part of a search party we sent in. But you needn't worry yourself with that; you've found what we asked for, and we needn't take more of your time."

If the Inquisitor had any more questions, this would be the last chance they had to ask them.


Prompts:

Do as you wish. The Dream will end in the next post.
MADE BY MIZO
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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 18, 2024 21:06:58 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
The Inquisitor succumbed to the Monster's PERISH SONG, as did the Monster itself. His body became colder and colder until he no longer could maintain consciousness. His surroundings turned increasingly blurry until he found himself looking at the Mayor's worried face.

He listened to the Monster's story and frowned. "So the child was hypnotized and brainwashed, just as I suspected..." That frown disappeared upon the Mayor remarking Josh not making the killing blow himself. "It was my job to ensure that justice was served. It was not my job to determine what that justice is. If the village did not feel the Monster deserved death, then killing the Monster myself would be a grave and unforgivable mistake."

Even if the Mayor asked him to find the missing people, Josh would refuse. "I don't think I'm in physical condition to be going back out there right now, anyway," he sheepishly admitted. "I do have one request, though. Tell the child that I'm thinking of him. No one deserves to be separated from a perceived friend like that, even if that friend's not what they think they are. If he wants me to hear him vent, I'm more than willing to listen." The Inquisitor, as fierce as he could be against true enemies, had a heart that could get him in trouble against more deceptive attackers...







Pokémon chosen: Absol

{PC: 20}
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played by

Blue Star

Hideo
he/him
15
October 18th
slateport
undecided
Gym Leader
Ace Trainer
smol height
smol height
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
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2,757 posts
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Hideo Kino
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 24, 2024 23:33:32 GMT
Hideo Kino Avatar
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[attr="class","Chromeleftoverlay"]
[attr="class","NOSTALGIA"]
[attr="class","Chromeright"]
[attr="class","Chromeoverlay"]
[attr="class","puppycat"]

[attr="class","lemonsoda"]

[attr="class","puppycat"]Time to wake up
[attr="class","monody"]
And So The Story Ends
The Inquisitor posited what they believed happened: that the child had been brainwashed by the Monster.

"
Aye, that is what we believe is the case," the Mayor replied. "The Monster possessed Psychic powers…as does the child and his family. It must've wanted to mold him into something just like itself…though whatever it planned, will not come to be."

Alas, there was no way to find out the Monster's intentions now - for a dead Monster told no tales.

The Inquisitor needed more time before they could leave - to which the Mayor happily nodded. "
Ah, excellent! Then you can stay for the celebration! With the Monster gone, we needn't worry about it haunting us any further. We celebrate our newfound peace - and we'd be honored to host you a while longer!"

The Inquisitor seemed to have one more request - one regarding the child they'd rescued.

"
Well, I'd most certainly relay your wishes to him…but I fear the brainwashing must be deep-rooted in his mind."

"
For he says that you are a Monster."

The Mayor chuckled.

"
Ah, but we know that isn't true. For we already dealt with the Monster, have we not?"

And what did they have to fear, with the Monster they believed responsible for all their woes had been executed?

"
We are grateful for what you've done for us, Inquisitor…"
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"And you have found your way through this ordeal."

Josh's exit from the dream was just as abrupt as it had started, sitting just as he'd been as he started, once more within the Gym room. The Dream Mist the two Musharna had let out was being filtered away by a Galarian Weezing, reality becoming clear once more. A small *thump* could be heard as Hideo closed the book.

There was a frown on his face, his tone far less jovial than the Mayor that'd been speaking moments ago in the dream.

"And so, you're back to reality. You were able to find a Monster In The Woods, and you rescued the child that was lost…one who may forever hate you for what you did."

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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 25, 2024 23:26:02 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Josh let out a loud and long yawn as the dream mist dispersed, feeling like he had just woken up after a good night's sleep. Hideo didn't seem particularly happy with how the Mauville Leader navigated the story. Hearing Hideo's remark made Josh freeze. That was far too close to home, thinking of how he ruined Eris' life with ambition taken too far. She could well hate him forever for what he did to her. And justifiably so, too; he pounced upon her at the slightest scrap of a lead of the Johto Beast's whereabouts.

"That was... a lot tougher than the time I came here before you were promoted," Josh sighed, sweating more than he should have. "As bad as I felt for the child, choosing a single life over the lives of many..." he trailed off. "Intuition says you leave the one behind to save the many, but in reality it's... not that simple."

It was the most difficult part of learning to be a hero.

"I know this is going to sound like a tangent, but were you at the Dyna Tree?"







{PC: 21}
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played by

Blue Star

Hideo
he/him
15
October 18th
slateport
undecided
Gym Leader
Ace Trainer
smol height
smol height
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
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2,757 posts
Hideo Kino DOLLARS
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Hideo Kino
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 30, 2024 19:13:13 GMT
Hideo Kino Avatar
"Every story is different," Hideo said, no happier with Josh's answer. "Your other story only had your own life on the line - and even then, worst case would've been you simply being trapped in the Fae Kingdom for the foreseeable future. Here, in this story, your choices decided who lived and who died. Ordeals can have any kinds of consequences, but it's the choices we make that decide what we're left with."

"And your choices led to the death of the 'Monster'."

His fingers tapped on his seat's armrest - with nary a sound from his Pokemon. "I don't disagree about trying to save as many people as you can, but you're ignoring the possibility of nobody needing to die to save the many."

It hadn't been the first time the two had discussed needing to kill; their time at that Rocket Bunker had been the first.

As for Josh's question, Hideo tilted his head. "...yeah, I did. Told Calyrex some stories. Didn't tell him any stories that I tell for this challenge."

"Why'd you want to know?"


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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Jul 31, 2024 21:38:49 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Perfection was a lofty standard. A standard that by its very nature was unattainable... or at least unsustainable. The war had taught him that. "No, Hideo, I haven't," Josh continued, slapping his hand against his knee. "I used to be like that. I wanted to be the hero that could save everyone. This war, though... it's truth in television... or more accurately, truth in literature. The hardest thing a hero has to learn is... they can't save everyone. But there is one person I am determined to save."

Excellent. It seemed that Hideo was there. "Then I'm sure you heard the story I told to the Calyrex that is now with . The story that took every bit of my force of will to tell him. It's about... my own skeleton in the closet." His heartbeat jumped. An email had been sent off about this, but it hit different telling it to his coworker in person.

"You know , right?"






Pokémon chosen: Absol

{PC: 22}
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played by

Blue Star

Hideo
he/him
15
October 18th
slateport
undecided
Gym Leader
Ace Trainer
smol height
smol height
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
2,757 posts
Hideo Kino DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @hideo
Hideo Kino
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Aug 3, 2024 18:44:16 GMT
Hideo Kino Avatar
Hideo quietly listened, letting Josh speak his peace. His displeasure with Josh's answer would remain clear on his face, the frown remaining.

"While it's true you can't save everybody, that didn't mean abandoning the two hunters that the Mushroom had captive. And it didn't mean ignoring the Child when he tried to tell you his side of the story. If you had taken time and thought through your options, perhaps you could've found a way to resolve this without any deaths."

Perhaps there was a futility in telling the fastest Gym Leader to slow down, but the point had to be made.

And as Josh went on about the Dynatree, Hideo couldn't help but wonder who it was that Josh wanted to save.

And then Josh spoke the name.

.

Hideo gripped the side of his chair. The Pokemon in the room glanced at him, then at each other, sharing a mutual discomfort. One of them, his Beheeyem, walked over towards the desk in the room - pressing a button that deactivated the room's surveillance equipment. A few blinks on the Beheeyem's hand sent Hideo the message that they could speak more freely.

"Yes, I know her."

Hideo straightened his posture, sitting up in his chair.

"I know what you tried to do to her."

"Did you decide to stop being a hero before you tried to kill her? Or was it after?"

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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
part of
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Josh Devlin
[GYM][C/Hideo] Josh's Return to Dream Land
POSTED ON Aug 4, 2024 6:23:48 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Josh had a feeling that discussing his skeleton in the closet was going to make Hideo uncomfortable. He also had a feeling that it needed to be done. The privacy of the teenage Leader's dream chamber was one of the few places in Hoenn he felt he could talk about it in person.

It was clear that Josh's already unhappy colleague was about to become even more unhappy with him. "With the Perish Song having been sung, time was decidedly not on my side. I don't regret my decision at all, with the information I had and the situation I was in. Had I did as you just proposed, none of us would have made it back alive... but the monster. And if the monster remains alive, then everyone in the village died." It may have sounded like an excuse to Hideo, and perhaps it was. Was one of the precepts of Littleroot's Gym keeping an open mind?

Instinct was a powerful tool, but instinct could also betray.

"I was so desperate to get closure on what happened to Raikou in the war. I let my ambition to befriend him, to be his Avatar... consume me," he answered, shaking and shivering. Little did he know what fate the Great One had in store for him. "And I lost sight of what she could have known about the goings-on in Kanto. It wasn't until after some strange force blasted me away, and I was inside 's offices... that I realized just how far I had fallen. I repented. I paid the price for my sins. I've paid the price in money, time, and reputation. Reputation that I have toiled blood, sweat, and tears to rebuild. But there is no penance that can repair the trauma I've caused her."

Josh's eyes remained firmly fixed on Hideo. "I know an apology won't mean anything to you. If anything, it would just make things much worse. But I deeply regret what I did that day."






Pokémon chosen: Absol

{PC: 23}
img
The Shula Region
Hogwarts AU
RPG Unlimited
MR
The Enroi Region
N:FB
Vyrehaven
Celestial Guardians, AU Sailor Moon RP
EO GENESIS
Code and Crown: An advanced literate warriors cats RP, set in medieval times
Swords Clashing