Something was coming, Eddie thought as he made his way through the streets of Ever Grande. It was a romantic notion, perhaps, but he swore that he could feel it on the cool spring air that smoothed over his hands, could smell it on the wind perfumed by wet earth and ozone. The world was shaking off the long slumber of winter, waking with a heart thrumming with possibility. Eddie's heart surged too, with hopeful excitement. [break][break]

He hadn't been completely sure that the cowboy would take him up on his offer, but Eddie was elated to be given the opportunity to repay that kindness extended to him back at the Giant Chasm. It was a pittance, sure, but it was something; the thought of letting such selflessness go unpaid didn't sit well with him. And besides, there was something gnawing at Eddie, a line of inquiry he was deeply tempted to pursue, and perhaps that's where all this thought of possibility was coming from. That all could wait, though; it'd be improper to ask even more of Navy, at least before Eddie bought him that promised drink. [break][break]

Eddie closed his umbrella as he entered the bar, the friendly chime from the bell overhead announcing his arrival. He grinned at the sound of Navy's greeting, [break][break]

“Yes sir!” Eddie beamed, settling in on a spot next to Navy at the bar. He paused for a moment to order himself a drink before turning back to the cowboy, “Not really a bard or nothin', but hell, it's been more fun than I expected! How about you?”

[attr="class","ooc"] Michael Navidson
[break]MISSION

“Well hell, ya put more thought into it than I did. Mostly just told 'em whatever story came to mind; some of it was just stuff I remember from when I was a kid, if I'm bein' honest.” [break][break]

He watched Navy down the whiskey and order the next drink. Eddie's smile grew a little wider, somehow; good things were meant to be shared, and that was all the more true if it was in the presence of good company, even if it was on his dime. That's why the good lord Arceus invented credit cards, after all,[break][break]

“Never tried it.” [break][break]

He eyed the drink with eager curiosity before turning his gaze back to Navy; Eddie was about to protest the cowboy's rejection of the title of 'hero', until that train of thought was derailed entirely. [break][break]

Huh, who'd have thought that a Pokemon would enjoy something like booze? Maybe he ought to find a way to drag the little lapine Pokemon out to karaoke after all, but that was a mission for another time. Eddie took a drink of the mid-shelf bourbon he had ordered for himself, sweet and smoky as it blazed a fiery trail on the way down, while he formulated his response, [break][break]

“Not bad, all thing's considered.” [break][break]

He paused. Maybe this wasn't the wisest thing to admit to the man that had pulled him out of the dangerous lands of the Giant Chasm in the first place, but Eddie had always been terrible at hiding things, [break][break]

“Actually, I've been back out that way a few times since. Sounds stupid, I know but...” His grip on his glass tightened a little. Eddie couldn't help but look away, choosing to stare down at the amber-colored liquid instead, “Was hopin' to do some good down there.”[break][break]

'Like you did for me.' [break][break]

Maybe it was better that he kept that last bit to himself, at least for now.

[attr="class","ooc"] Michael Navidson
[break]MISSION

'You're gonna be different, a year from now.' [break][break]

He knew it was meant as a warning. Eddie wasn't the most tactful man in Hoenn, but he also wasn't as dumb as he'd like other people to think he was, either. There was a real weight to Navy's words, coming from an unmistakably honest and personal place. His eyes flicked to Navy, then back to his own drink. Eddie's expression darkened somewhat in quiet contemplation. [break][break]

Eddie didn't give much of a shit about gods; hell, he didn't even know half of their names, but Navy had him pegged; Eddie cared about people. Eddie cared about doing right by them, about leaving the world a better place than he entered it. On the other hand, there was something a little more selfish stewing in Eddie's gut as he mulled over the cowboy's words. [break][break]

The idea of being changed wasn't the grim warning that it was supposed to be. What was he now, after almost thirty-nine years of living on this earth with so little to show for it? A nobody at best, a coward at worst. If he did change, so be it; Eddie hoped that the man he would someday face in the mirror was a man he could be proud of. He downed the rest of his drink with a few quick swallows, [break][break]

“Yes sir,” he responded earnestly, turning to face Navy, “I mean, wanna try to avoid the whole 'gettin crushed' thing if I can, but hey, no one lives forever.”[break][break]

The statement wasn't meant to be flippant, just intended to inject a little levity into the conversation. Eddie ordered himself another bourbon, mentally assuring himself that he'd do a better job of savoring the next glass.

[attr="class","ooc"] Michael Navidson
[break]MISSION

Eddie's eyes widened a little in spite of himself. This was a second great kindness Navy was granting him; an opportunity to do something, to be something. He would do whatever it took to do this right, to be able to do anything at all. Eddie nodded along empathically; there was a brief mention of a choice to be made, but the answer came easier than anything, [break][break]

“Like hell'd I'd pass up the opportunity to train with you,” Eddie beamed, only turning away long enough to accept his new glass of bourbon and take a drink, “Army it is, then. Just hope ya won't have me scrubbin' latrines with a toothbrush.” [break][break]

Ah, but who was he kidding? He'd do it anyway, and happily, just for the chance to make a difference. To pay back the debt he owed twice-over now. Gratitude burned pleasantly warm in his chest, or maybe that was just the liquor; before he even consciously registered the action, Eddie found himself raising his glass towards Navy, [break][break]

“A toast, then, ta joinin' up?”

[attr="class","ooc"] Michael Navidson
[break]MISSION

The tension in Navy's tone went mostly unnoticed with the heat of the bourbon coursing through Eddie's veins, painting the world new shades of warm. He grinned, making a zipper-like motion across his mouth; he'd certainly done stupider things when he was far drunker, if that old notch in his eyebrow was any indication, [break][break]

“Appreciate it, Navy. I really do.” he grinned, accepting Navy's phone number. [break][break]

But there was still something hanging in the air, something heavy that even the liquor couldn't chase away as Navy stood, clapping a hand on Eddie's shoulder. The warning, the weight to the cowboy's words; there was something there, something Eddie couldn't quite place. The older man's smile faltered for just a moment as he puzzled it over, until something came to him, like an epiphany. He called after Navy, with a smile that belonged to a man half his age, [break][break]

“I won't let ya down. I promise, ya won't regret givin' me this chance.” [break][break]

Damn that saying about old dogs and new tricks; this was different, Eddie thought with resolve. Like the long dead things that slumbered under the earth during the winter, the spring rain that rattled the old shutters and pounded against the brick walls of the bar were a herald of a rebirth. Of a new Eddie, a better Eddie. And he'd prove that to Navy in time, he thought to himself, and drive away whatever fears or reservations lingered in the space between them.

[attr="class","ooc"] Michael Navidson
[break]MISSION