Hideo could breathe a sigh of relief, knowing Melody wouldn't push him further. He was already working on his Gym ideas, so going back on that now would have wasted the time he'd spent.

And there was more work to be done. Maybe he could think of some way to get his parents to sign the stuff they needed to sign, but he'd have to put some more effort into thinking up a solution.

"Yeah, I don't think I'm in the mood to make anything tonight. Once this thing's all over, we could order some Alolan. I know one kinda close to your house that's open 24/7. Though who knows when Rocket'll give up looking for whatever it is they're looking for." After Littleroot, he knew Rocket would do just about anything for even a crumb of power - but their endurance wasn't limitless.

Hideo stood back up. "Well, guess I can go see if anyone else needs help moving stuff around. I imagine Uxie already teleported what we were gonna send out before." Sure enough, throughout their conversation, his "Ralts" had been teleporting back and forth with the supplies as requested. Hideo could feel it climb up onto his shoulders, his Aggron following close by.

This was certainly one of the better conscriptions he'd had.

Was it concerning that it wasn't his first? Maybe.

Melody Miro

• player/ooc name: Blue Star
• character tags: Hideo Kino
• dropped characters' tags (if applicable): n/a
• ic posts for characters: Yeet
• are characters in directories?: Y
• any notes/comments: You ever make plans to get more involved in stuff, but then life sees that and says "how dare you?"?

"Hmm."

A grunt was Hideo's immediate response to Melody's encouragement; not agreeing with what she'd said, merely acknowledging that she'd said it. He'd already accepted it in his heart that he couldn't be Champion; he couldn't constantly put his Pokemon at risk against every crisis Hoenn faced, even if he wanted to do what he could to help protect his home region.

"I think this is what I really want to do. A Gym Leader can still help protect Hoenn, and helping other people learn and get stronger feels like the right thing."

That stubbornness that led to him running away from home to become Champion, now worked to keep him away from the spot, the weight of his losses keeping him down.

"I do want to go forward and do this, but the rules kinda got me stuck until I'm 18. I don't want to wait that long." As much control as he had over his own life now, it didn't mean squat if the system just outright stopped him.

Did he really have enough control, in that case? Were there any ways he could get more?

Maybe…

"Well, you don't have to worry about keeping up a smile for me~" Hideo smiled, to make up for Melody's lack of one. Another bit of levity, to get his mind off the depressing conversation. He had no objection to the hair ruffling - marking another person that did that to him.

Hopefully John Sullivan and Eris Halla wouldn't mind Melody butting in on their territory.

Melody Miro

The offer of help catches Hideo's attention. "I feel like I'll have to be the one to convince them. But a letter could help. Dunno if they'll care about it, but to have an Elite Four's approval gotta amount to something, right?"

That wasn't as much of a rhetorical question as he would've hoped; he knew just how stubborn his parents could be. They very well could leave that letter in its envelope without ever breaking the seal, and then proclaim it did nothing to convince them. "Better to have it and not need it."

The question that Melody asked next caught him off guard, the boy taking a moment to focus. "...when I first ran away from home, I wanted to become Champion. Anyone that becomes Champion has to be the best of the best, and I wanted to show my parents that I really was as capable as I kept telling them. And I got seven badges nice and quick!"

That bit of elation in his voice didn't last long. "But after all the stuff I've been through, going through all the things a Champion's supposed to do to protect Hoenn…after my screw-ups got my Pokemon killed, I kinda realized I can't be Champion." After Necrozma's arrival, with the loss of four Pokemon after promising he'd lose no more, he knew he couldn't be the protector Hoenn needed.

"So at the very least, I can help someone else become Champion, or just other people become stronger trainers." It was the first time he discussed this with someone, and in a way, it was liberating to get it off his heart. Even if it meant betraying the main reason he'd left home in the first place.

"'sides, with those changes they made to the Gym Circuit, I dunno if I could become the Champion anymore. I still don't fully understand what the Champion Assessment thing is now."

Melody Miro

It was comforting, knowing she didn't let her past color her perception of him. He knew he'd be wary of a Pokemon type, and anyone that specialized in them, if they'd done that to him.

Yet the comfort doesn't last long, knowing another obstacle to what he wanted to do. "...problem is, I might need to talk to them for something."

There wasn't much point in keeping it a secret from her, if she was already willing to share so much with him.

"I talked to Doug about it already, that I'm thinking of becoming a Gym Leader." He could still remember that conversation with John Sullivan , and the complication that arose from it. "But he said since I'm young, I'd need my parents' approval to become one. Dunno how I'll do that. I had enough anxiety just leaving a letter at my house to let them know I was doing ok."

No doubt he'd have enough trouble just leaving the house after hearing their denial. He was clueless how to convince them to sign off on letting him be a Gym Leader when they wouldn't even let him out for more than a day.

"I already got the idea for the gym set up with the Minor League. Even got to test out the battling and the nontraditional portion. Both times, the challengers loved it." But it was little secret the Minor League lost a lot of attention after the changes to the Gym Circuit; those two times had been the only times. "Using Psychic Pokemon and illusions to give people fun arenas to battle in, or having them go on a dream adventure. Using their powers to help people learn about themselves and have a good time doing it."

He sighed. "Won't mean much if I can't become a Gym Leader."

Melody Miro

A chill ran through Hideo's spine as Melody elaborated on how she was being controlled. Psychic Pokemon manipulating people's emotions was something he was very familiar with; a lot of his Pokemon were Psychic-type.

Quietly, he listened as Melody gave him the details of her kidnapping. Two of the names, he recognized in an instant: Chu-e Choi and Eris Halla , though he already knew they were with Rocket. The surprise came more from hearing Chu-E helped Melody's mother manipulate her. He knew little of what Chu-E did as a Rocket, so this was the first he was heard of any of his exploits.

Not a good one.

He could feel a finger touch his hand - Melody's. He didn't pull his hand away, inching it closer to hers. "It's been a while since I talked to anyone about them," he said. The last had been Andy Blackadder , before he'd ran away. "Nothing like you've dealt with, but it feels good to talk…"

Yet that bit she'd said before, about her Psychic Pokemon controlling her emotions, still couldn't leave his mind.

"I'm kind of surprised you're fine around my Pokemon. A lot of them are Psychic-type…and I sometimes have them do stuff with my emotions too. I trust my Beheeyem with it the most. He's helped me keep calm when things get really tough."

And more than that - though he didn't know it.

"I don't think I could've gotten this far if he wasn't helping me."

Melody Miro

Hideo's melancholy thinking was interrupted by Eris bringing up exactly what he'd thought. Uxie nodded as it munched on some cookies agreeing with her assessments - both spoken and unspoken.

He could feel the bulky hand of his Beheeyem patting him on the back. Even Elga could see it.

"I…guess," Hideo answered, shrugging. "I'm glad I have the freedom I got, but there's stuff I miss. Like someone doing my laundry for me."

A small joke, to try and deflect off thinking about everything he didn't have now. He never had to worry about having enough food, or if it was safe to sleep at night. Or worry about what to do if he or his Pokemon didn't feel well. He'd managed to iron out most of those uncertainties when he first started, but there was a lot he had to consider.

The offer that came after was a familiar one: a home to visit when he wanted, even throwing in food, the ultimate temptation. And this wasn't one that forced him to stay overnight. "...well, I can't say no to an offer like that. I'll try not to just get one of my Pokemon to teleport me inside out of nowhere." He had at least that much decency. "I'll try to drop you a text before I come in. Or maybe your pa. Maybe I'll even give him the jokes when I ask to come in."

He did want to talk to Chu-e Choi about a lot. Some of which might have been better if Eris wasn't around to hear.

"I do want to talk about stuff, but it's hard to find time with everything going on in Hoenn." There was a lot he wanted to talk about with people, but sharing too much with John Sullivan would worry him, and he hadn't known where Andy Blackadder was since he'd left for Galar. Melody Miro was already worried enough for him as is.

In a sense, that just left Eris as the closest person he could talk freely with. "I wouldn't mind talking with you. About stuff."

Eris Halla

Ironically, there wasn't a "perfect idol" image in Hideo's head for Melody to break. He'd always looked up to her more as a trainer than a pop star, even if he liked the music she made and sang, and he'd already been around her enough times with the mask off to know she wasn't some infallible figure.

Yet the reveal shocked him all the same, surprise written on his face. "Shit…" was his first response, his brain quickly catching up and making an effort at a better answer. "I'm sorry that you had to deal with that, Melody."

And in a way, he could relate.

"My parents tried to push me to do stuff like music. It's why I know how to sing kinda well, but it was never really what I wanted to do. They just wanted me doing anything that wasn't being a trainer. They never went as far as using poison, but they seemed dead-set on keeping me away from what I wanted to be, just 'cause they think I'm not capable of doing it."

Would his parents have done the same, given the chance?

"But here I am now. I got seven badges, I'm running a Minor League gym, and I'm sharing life stories with an Elite Four member right after we beat up a bunch of Rockets."

But was that enough? When his original metric was becoming Champion, something he hadn't made any effort towards in almost a year?

Maybe if he said it enough times, it'd feel right.

"Your mom isn't still doing that stuff to you, right?" He hadn't met Melody's mom, but he wasn't with her 24/7.

Melody Miro

"Yeah, I can feel it. I think Ralts here feels it too."

There was no denying there was an oppressive aura around them. Did they finally manage to attract the attention of whatever was causing all the weirdness in the Mechanical Kingdom?

"The song sounds a lot different, though."

It was hard to miss the difference: this song didn't sound mechanical at all, unlike the one they heard whenever they came here. "Whatever's singing this song isn't mechanical. Dunno if it's a person or a Pokemon, but if it's got something to do with why music controls stuff here, it's probably a Pokemon."

Apart from the real Volcanion, they hadn't encountered any sentient Pokemon here. Even if it wasn't the one responsible, it was worth investigating.

A set of directions would find its way into everyone's minds - Hideo's "Ralts" giving the way to find the source. "Unless anyone has any objections…let's go find whatever's singing."

Eva Morales CIAN MAHER Melody Miro

DONATING/EXCHANGING

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!

[break]

DONATING: 1000 MP TO LEAGUE[break]

EXCHANGING:
500 - Paradox Mon (Scream Tail)
300 - Custom Mon (Espartha, ♂ Opportunist / Lumina Crash, Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Pounce, Agility, Feather Dance)
250 - Legendary Candy (inventory)
150 - Silvally Memory (Poison)
125 - Tera Shard (Steel) (Ribombee)
200 - Mega Stone (tbd)
100 - Mega Shard
150 - TM/TR x3[break]


Total MP spent: 2775


CURRENT TOTAL MP: 630


MP Threads:

SPOILER: Click to show

440 pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/34053/lost-damned-postdormitum
585 pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/33931/playing-sides-postdormitum
500 pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/33997/directionally-challenged-postdormitum
400 pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/34050/little-bit-tomfoolery-postdormitorum
460 pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/34058/cargo-ch-postdorm
430 pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/34366/dreaming-eyes-open-postdormitum
590 pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/thread/34064/cargo-1

Total earned: 3405

As if long winding mazes and random Rockets everywhere weren't enough of a concern in the Ultra Deep Sea - now he had to worry about fissures too? This place was definitely off his list of Wilds to check out after he was done scouring the Mechanical Kingdom.

Some relief came from Eris confirming she was fine, though curiosity didn't subside, both from Hideo and Uxie, though the latter didn't share any more than Eris did. "I didn't think the Interdream could actually warp the area around it like that," he wondered. "I've only dealt with it making physical stuff once, but that went away when the mist was gone. It's never done this much before."

Did it simply have more effect because it was the Ultra Deep Sea? Was it becoming more powerful in general? "Hope it really is just an Ultra Space thing."

Whatever it was, it was a better idea to get away from it, rather than wait for whatever Mesprit tossed to wear off. "Yeah, I don't wanna stick around whatever this is." And it sounded like it wouldn't be much farther, though he'd have to complete the rest of the trek on his own.

Surely, it wouldn't be hard to find an exit from there, right?

Though that didn't allay all his concern. "I think I can make it all the way there on my own. Just…be careful with Rocket, Eris. They're getting a lot more violent now." He was already surprised she was still working with them, even defending them, after all she did to help get Chu-e Choi away from them.

But now wasn't the time to try and pull her away from them.

Eris Halla

Hideo nodded. "Yeah, as long as they like doing it. It's no good if they're forced to do that kind of work." He already knew his Rotoms could leave their devices whenever they wanted, but could a Revavroom leave a car if it was fitted as its engine? "And it'd be nice for cleaning places up, right? If they're eating up poison, that's less toxic stuff other Pokemon have to deal with, right?"

Save for the few that liked it - or were toxic stuff.

Hideo could hear an engine in the distance - the same kind that had raced ahead of them. While his arms weren't exactly tired from carrying this box, he was eager to finally get to set it down. His Meowscarada was sure to guide him towards a proper spot to lower it, his Aggron dumping its boxes down on a clearing near the tent.

"Glad I could be of some help," he said, "and not just with the boxes. Those Jellyfish monsters can be a hassle. Hopefully, the one we dealt with left to lick its wounds."

…did they even have tongues? Eh, he'd leave that for the science-y people.

Colton Boothroyd

MP Total: 460
+10 (post)

+200 (win)

+100 (mission completion)

Hideo's opinions on Rocket had been fairly neutral just a year ago. He hadn't encountered them before, so he didn't have to find out just what they did. He'd heard bits of what they did in Kanto, but their presence in Hoenn couldn't have been to that level.

But now? After he'd been there during their assault on Littleroot? After so many gave him trouble when he was just trying to get out of the caves? After talking to Eris Halla and seeing how they were still using her?

His opinion wasn't neutral any longer.

Uxie didn't have to explain anything to Hideo: he could catch on just from her voice, how she spoke. "What did Rocket do to you? I'd heard they kidnapped you for a while…but did they do something else to you? With toxin?" It's what he'd assumed she was about to say, and he was already aware there were some toxins that could make people act differently - he got to experience some from one of those Jellyfish monsters in the cave personally.

Melody Miro