Lost little lambs

Eris Halla & Hideo Kino

He doesn't know who Howard is. He doesn't know how hurt Isaac is. But Eris pain is more than apparent— it makes the mind wander.

"I won't." He promises, hugging them both more firmly. "And we will. I promise."

They were only one day in, and things were already this bad. As things were going, they would be worked into the ground and hurled into the pit to become mochi.

And it seemed there was nothing that he could do about it.

---

TL;DR:

Dream

Ft. Yuina Higashi

He released a hot puff of air, eyebrows rising high as he looked around the room.

"You n'me both, cadet." He said dryly, lip curling.

He had no interest in launching a joint PokeFans career here.

There wasn't a lot of time to think about who might be looking, though— Yuina had other things in mind.

"Uh."

Things that he couldn't even begin to understand.

"What?" He asked her blankly. If his head hadn't already been on his palm, it might have taken the chance to tilt in confusion. "A clock that ticks but doesn't move and ticks for nothing?"

What an eloquent summation of exactly what she had said, with absolutely none of the context, understanding or nuance behind it.

"Uh. Sorry love— No idea what'cha mean." He finished with a shrug, before smiling. "But hey— I ain't got any of the experience you do with time stuff. Maybe it's important."

He wasn't about to tell her to ignore anything in these circumstances— anything they could latch onto was better than nothing.

---

TL;DR:
-Doug immediately has ideas of how to use their time in Dreamland.

Strong

ft. Lucia Aldrete

"Lucy?!" Doug gasped the correct name this time.

There must've been some other young child named Sofia he was acquainted with— otherwise the only explanation was that his writer was a complete clown.

And surely it couldn't be that.

Probably.

At least Sophy and Lucy were... well not close, but they rhymed! Could've been worse.

Could've called her Rika or something.

"But if you are here..." He began to say, before realizing the girl didn't seem to recognize him.

Oh, right.

He swept his hand across his face, sweeping his hair up and back before clamping tight unto it, leaving him with a barely held together, slicked back look.

"It's me, Doug!" He said as some of his hairs sprung free, swaying in the air.

Purchasing Hisuian electrode.

DOUG'S ENDEAVORS

POST ENDEAVORS

[X] make an ic post within may
[X] complete a thread within the event period
[X] participate in any forum game
[X] involve a ground type move in an ic post
[X] utilize or involve entry hazards in an ic post

[X] teach your pokemon a ground type move
[] involve one ability between: earth eater, arena trap, sand force, sand stream, levitate
[X] capture/defeat/redeem a ground type pokemon (no gifts/trades)
[X] complete a solo/duo wild or safari
[] participate in 1 II swarm or distortion

[] publish an ic post in your exhibit or garden
[X] tag another character in an ic-post
[] use a gif or image of a ground type pokemon in a post
[X] include music in an ic post
[X] use one of the names: giovanni, bertha, clay, hapu, rika

[X] use one of the words: firmament, demesne, dregs, balance
[X] use an the idiomatic noun "run (something/someone) to the ground"
[] complete 1 II mission
[] complete 2 II missions
[] complete 3 II missions

[X] post in a comms thread or comment on an hnn article
[] post in a plotter or wanted add (min 100 words)
[] sell a pokemon to the black market
[X] buy a pokemon from the black market
[] reference from the local hoenn guidebook

[X] reference the hoenn dragonology document
[] complete a thread that features a conflict with the opposite faction
[X] use mega evolution, tera, or dynamax in a post
[] use a z move in an ic post
[X] use a sygna suit in an ic post

[X] incorporate a sandstorm (weather) in your post or thread
[X] incorporate a character or pokemon falling/tripping in your post
[] tera a pokemon into a ground type tera
[X] reference or involve a heavy ball
[X] involve the emotion of fear in your post or thread

MILESTONE ENDEAVORS

[X] complete 3 total endeavors
[X] complete 5 total endeavors
[X] complete 10 total endeavors
[X] complete 15 total endeavors
[X] complete 20 total endeavors

REWARDS

SPOILER: Click to show

pokeball x3
shard choice x1
rainbow shard x1
type 1 evo x1
type 2 evo x1

type 3 evo x1
sparkling dust x1
level tutor x1
tm/tr x1
move tutor x1

move tutor x1
egg tutor x1
egg tutor x1
tm/tr x1
incense x1

ability capsule x1
start berry x1
gacha ticket x1
gacha ticket x1
prem gacha ticket x1

level tutor x1
ability capsule x1
form change x1
ability capsule x1
mega shard x1

mega shard x1
salac berry x1
devo stone x1
honey x1
tm/tr x1

sparkling dust x1
level tutor x1
type 1 evo x1
pokeball x3
incense x1

tablets of lutum x1 (teaches mud bomb)
ground tera shard x1
legendary candy x1
mega stone x1
dynamax candy x1

• player/ooc name: EBC
• character tags: John Sullivan, Gwyar Wledig
• dropped characters' tags (if applicable): n/a
• ic posts for characters: doug | Gwyar
• are characters in directories?: N
• any notes/comments:

Lost little lambs

Eris Halla & Hideo Kino

A pit, where bodies and leftovers were thrown. With a pokemon running around kicking people. Chains.

"No need to tell me twice." He sighed at Eris' all too true words, scratching at the back of his head. "Ugh... Or maybe ya do. It just sticks with ya. Even though I know it's definitely bullshit, it keeps coming back. Like... a drug urge."

He had definitely nailed it with his 'Opium Room' bit.

More importantly, though... Doug frowned, crouching before the two as if to scan them— useless though he knew the act to be in the dream.

"How are you guys back there?" He asked. "Any serious injuries?"

He couldn't do anything on the dream. There wasn't a whole lot that could be done in general while in this prison— but there were things that could be done with what they had to deal with fractured and broken bones.

"Oh, I'm sure you can guess. A ring, a wife, some kids and a whole lotta smiles and white hairs." He said at Hideo's question, shrugging his shoulders with an eye roll. "I wasn't really surprised, but I did feel a bit disappointed. I didn't think my dEePeSt DeSiReS would be so mundane."

Maybe he should be happy there wasn't anything twisted lurking beneath the surface of his conscious.

"I would say ya don't wanna find out, but given what the alternative is..." Brainwashing or cleaning carcasses while getting a beating—

"Eris?" He intones suddenly, eyes widening as the tears begin to flow. Aw shit, was that his fault, his ward's, or just everything going on? "Eris."

He throws a glance Hideo's way, remembering there's no pokemon there to parse the meaningfulness of said look to the blind child.

So he just reaches out and grabs him by the shoulder.

"Emergency hug." He warns them both, before trying to scoop up both kids into a hug.

---

TL;DR:

Dream

Ft. Yuina Higashi

He shrugs his shoulders at the question, eyes wandering uncertainly.

A valid question indeed.

"Maybe they're tryin' to avoid a riot." He offers, not particularly invested in his own guess.

When living became too painful through someone else's explicit efforts, it wasn't uncommon for people to be willing to risk death for an alternative.

'Living in such conditions is worse than death, thus, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose'.

But that wasn't always the case— and frankly, the warden trio did not appear smart enough to arrange for such alternatives.

"Or maybe it's not up to them." He offered next, before snickering. "Maybe this is aaall happenin' right under their noses. Some glitch in the matrix they haven't noticed."

---

TL;DR:
-Doug immediately has ideas of how to use their time in Dreamland.

Strong

ft. Lucia Aldrete

He hears the approaching steps first, then a shaky voice.

His head raises lazily, neck craning back to the side to peer over his shoulder.

A tiny human, clothed just like him, but with an entirely different mask, stood there now.

It takes him a moment longer than usual— yet still, just a mere moment.

His head cocks, his hand rising to casually grab his mask and pluck it off his face.

"Sophy?" He asks bluntly, cocking his head slightly.

Lost little lambs

Eris Halla & Hideo Kino

"Hiya, Hideo! Eris!" He greeted cheerfully, raising a hand.

Unfortunately, Eris was not quite as elated to see him as Hideo was to hear him.

Ah, he was feeling the love already. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, wondering if the reaction would've been the same if it was Navy or Isaac.

"Why is that your first guess? I'm at least an 8!" He huffed, irreverent. "But... yeah. And also, no. I voted for not screwing over the other wards. I was also in the minority there, though. So... Yeah."

Singed the bridges with his fellow inmates and achieved nothing in the process. Not quite good.

"Oh— Navy's there with me as well, by the way. I'm sure you can guess what his vote was."

He decided not to share the other man's state of health. There was not much any of them could do to help him while still in prison— specially Eris, who was in a separate ward entirely.

He paused. Right, Hideo asked a question too, yeah?

"Right— So like, did the guards tell ya guys about the 'Room of desires'?" He said. "Well, we went there."

He tapped his feet, crossing his arms thoughtfully as he glanced up at the sky, lips pursing.

"They make you look into a mask, and it... supposedly shows ya what you most desire?" He scratched at his cheek. "Not super sure of how legit it is. But I couldn't stop thinking 'bout what it showed me after, I'll give it that."

He had gone to sleep trying to convince himself that the mask was selling him bullshit, and at the same time, that he actually needed it. It was an odd sensation feeling, to know something was bad for him and desire it anyw—

... Okay, maybe it wasn't quite odd.

---

TL;DR:

Dream

Ft. Yuina Higashi

"Just to make sure." He echoed with a growing smile, his hold around her waist growing more firm as she came closer.

---

A little over an... hour(?) later, after thoroughly ascertaining his non-dream-y-ness, Doug found himself back in bed in a mess of sheets, Yuina's warmth burning against him as he panted.

"Hooo... Right... Hngh... then." He hummed, slowly rolling onto his side to look at her, propping his head lazily atop his curled bicep. "We should probably figure out what's goin' on, huh?"

Either that or make really sure this wasn't a dream. He could think of a couple more tests they could run.

"I think we may have gotten it half right the first time— there has to be some sort of... inter-dream stuff goin' on."

It all had to be at least half real.

---

TL;DR:
-Doug immediately has ideas of how to use their time in Dreamland.

PRISMATIC PENITENTIARY

He gives Yuina Higashi one last smile, one last squeeze of the hand, and resists the urge to kiss her as the masks are locked back into place.

---

His 'deepest desire' had been neither complex nor unbelievable.

I can reach for that life with my own hands.

Even if the chain could get him there faster— was it worth it, after seeing what it had made out of even fearsome Megalopolan generals?

No. It was not. Nothing was worth surrendering one's own free will.

...

But then again.

Before he could have a happy, peaceful life as a family man, surely the end of rocket was required...? The league hadn't really made any advances on that front ever since Team Rocket's return. If anything, they had only lost ground, what with Sootopolis still being in their grasp.

Maybe he... they did need some help. Just a little extra kick, to put things to an end. After all, they had seen the effects of the chain on other pokemon. Mutations and aggression, sure, but also... strength.

... But there's surely rockets whose greatest desire is for their side to win in this group alone, though.

... Right. Not all desires were compatible. He dared venture a guess that most of them within the ugly ward alone weren't.

Something didn't sit quite right with him about all this...

... What the hell am I thinkin'?

Of course it bloody didn't. hadn't he called it the goddamn Opium-slash-brainwashing Room even before taking a step inside? Hadn't they all been brought into this prison against their will and kept there under threat of death?

Nothing about this could to be trusted. Everything had to be questioned as a matter of course!

But... still. On the off chance that the chain could actually help, maybe it would be good to at least consider the possibilities?

"No, no, no. What the hell...?" He muttered with a groan, bringing his arm over his face with a frustrated sneer. "The fuck's wrong with me...?"

Laid upon the steel cot, trapped between a soft, pretty rock and a steel place, he tried to keep himself from banging his head unto the 'bed' while Yuina rested, the weight of her head on his chest reminding him to shut up.

Maybe if he just... stopped thinking about things and went to sleep, it would sort itself out.

He could only pray.

---

TL;DR:
-Doug thonks
-thonking pisses him off
-Angry sleep

Dream

Ft. Yuina Higashi

"Huh." Doug uttered, cupping his chin. "Good question."

He didn't usually remember his dreams, so there was a non-0% chance that this might all be a figment of his mind, already desperate to be freed from the chains forced upon him by the asshole trio.

He reached down and pinched, gently, Yuina's tummy.

"Hmm... I don't think it's a dream." He finally surmissed, glancing back up at her and grinning. "This feels same as ever."

Not that he was the one being pinched— but then, one couldn't count on dreams to replicate the sensation of grabbing something soft and pliable, right?

Right.

"But hey—" He raised himself onto his elbows, bringing his face closer to hers. "You're free to run whatever tests ya need, Cadet. I'll do anything to prove to ya it's me."

Yeah, he was probably not taking their circumstances as seriously as he should, buuut...

Eh. He could worry about that after making her forget about her worries.

---

TL;DR:
-Doug immediately has ideas of how to use their time in Dreamland.