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Guys Being Dudes [Bar Crawl]

POSTED ON Dec 24, 2022 0:52:42 GMT

John Sullivan likes this

[attr="class","samcam"]

Locke Jamison was good people. He was good when you needed something delivered on time, he was good when you were on your smoke break and he was waiting on the IT guys to sign something, and he was good in your fourth bar on New Years Eve. John had thought all of these but the last one for a while -- and only because the last one hadn't come up until just today.

"Locke there's so many people it could be," John complained good naturedly, trying to keep up the boisterous spirit Locke had injected into what was really a rather dire recounting of life and death events, "I don't know, did the kid dive in after you?"

John was fairly certain he remembered a kid coming up in an earlier part of this story. A young girl, maybe? Regardless he was sure there had to be someone who matched that description. It was a sad truth of Hoenn that just as sure as another calamity would strike, some of the cleanup would inevitably be handled by the region's youth. Look no further than John Sullivan for the truth in that.

A silent toast to them, then. Disguised as one to whoever Locke said saved his ass from that pit.

He threw back the Sazerac in exactly the way Giddy always complained he oughtn't before flagging the bartender for another.

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new years bar crawl: howling at the moon
mission
Locke Jamison

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POSTED ON Dec 22, 2022 21:13:17 GMT

[attr="class","samcam"]

By the time Cian's hand settles on John's shoulder he's managed to get his shit together. The tears are done (though he's left with red eyes that betray their presence) and he can take a proper breath without risking a second round of them.

"Oh, I'm going to mention it," John laughs, voice still a little watery, "I don't know where, how, or why but it's happening."

As he speaks he turns to face the younger man head-on.

"I uh . . . I'll need to talk to my boss. To work out time off. I've got vacation days stockpiled, and maybe he and I can work out something remote too -- the point is I'll figure it out. I want to do this."

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help me, please [mission]

POSTED ON Dec 21, 2022 17:00:41 GMT

[attr="class","samcam"]

Maybe it was silly, but John couldn't help but feel a little sad to know his new friend had to go so soon. In such a short time together gallowsCalibrator had saved his life, given him some sick loot, and set him on the path to playing the game properly. It had been a while since he'd been in the mentee position anywhere in his life and he found it was kind of nice to be looked after.

Though a bit weird when he considered the person on the other side of the screen was almost certainly, significantly younger than him. But in a world where teenagers trained gods and fought wars what did that really matter?

creampunk: i guess i'll work my way through the tutorial, then
creampunk: thanks for all your help!

He was sure to follow up the messages with another bow and the cheesiest smile the emoji wheel had to offer.

creampunk: you'll be amazed at how much stronger i am the next time we meet

This proclamation was maybe sillier still than his sadness, but it buoyed his feelings and pushed him in the direction of process. He gave his new friend a chummy wave goodbye before setting off in the direction of the . . . East! The East Gate! Before setting off in the direction of the East Gate.

He had some Wyrmple horns to collect.

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kepler brueshaber

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WINTER MASQUERADE [Holiday Event]

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 3:08:42 GMT

Elisabeth Fiorelli and GIDEON GRAVES like this

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(FOLLOWING THE THREAD DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY)

There's a certain pep to John's step as he spins away from his dancing partner (no longer Juno in his mind, but Xiura -- a name much prettier than the moniker she chose and no doubt a disappointment to trade for John). Maybe it's the Sazerac finally getting comfy in his stomach, but he'd like to believe it's the company. The company that he's finally feeling a little less anxious around since he managed to fumble his way through a waltz of all things without embarrassing himself.

Key words there being "a little less". Not a lot less and certainly not enough that he'd call himself comfortable as he finds himself once more alone, in a sea of masks with names no doubt more esteemed than his own. Which is why he lets himself swing by the bar and order another Sazerac. If only because there's a chance he'll get to stumble into GIDEON GRAVES and complain about the cocktail to his face.

Then he orders another, because he's thirsty after dancing and that first one managed to vanish before he'd even considered that little scheme of his.

And then he realizes he doesn't know how to find his friend, or anyone for that matter. They all came to him before his dance. Which was much easier on his nerves, he thinks. So he camps out at the bar and sips his drink, figuring someone will find him again or he'll reach that familiar point of drunkenness where approaching strangers feels natural and exciting instead of nauseating -- as it does now.

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incoming! [mission]

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 2:37:07 GMT

[attr="class","samcam"]

Okay, that was a good reaction. Cool. Unfortunately there's more Minior coming and, embarrassingly, John can feel himself locking up. The whistling of the approaching pokemon brings other images to mind that make his palms and neck sweat. The image of them growing closer. Of falling debris.

The cold touch of a wet hand pulls him out of the moment. He jolts in place before whipping around to look at the young man who's grabbed him.

"Y-yeah, yeah let's move," he pulls loose of the boy's grip only to switch their roles -- grabbing hold of the stranger's bicep, John starts to hustle back towards shore.

"Dess! Keep us covered, girl!" John calls over his shoulder as he struggles to move quickly while even just the few inches of water complicate matters. His Exploud keeps her eyes skyward, and ensures that if the whistling isn't enough to give one a headache her HYPER VOICE will get them the rest of the way there.

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nagi miwa

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POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 2:16:37 GMT

CIAN MAHER likes this

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No one likes to see a grown man cry. No one wants to watch their whole face pinch -- like someone has grabbed hold of their nose and yanked. No one wants to watch them struggle not to. To witness them be pulled between years of conditioned stoicness and a moment of intense emotion. It's ugly and unflattering and . . . dammit John can't help it.

So he does Cian the kindness of turning away before any tears spill and pushes one hand against his eyes to try and stymie the flow. He hopes the younger man understands there was nothing to be done on either of their ends. The shock of the offer ran up against years of regret and hopelessness and there was no way he could even know the tears were coming before they were just there, stinging in his eyes.

"Sorry, that's just . . ." He murmurs, trying not to sound choked up even as he swallows down on what feels like a golf ball in his throat.

"That's really nice." He manages.

Really nice. It's more than that. He feels like he might be getting his dream back. And he's terrified that he might not. It's an offer sweeter than any he deserves. It's potentially a great cruelty he's done nothing to earn.

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john's pc

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 1:56:29 GMT

BARNABY FINCH likes this

[nospaces]

[attr="class","silpc-LEAGUE"]

[attr="class","silpc"]

[attr="class","silpc-top"]

[attr="class","silpc-top-1"]x

[attr="class","silpc-top-1"]□

[attr="class","silpc-top-1"]-

[attr="class","silpc-top-3"]STORAGE OVERVIEW

[attr="class","silpc-top-2"]STORAGE DETAILS

[attr="class","silpc-top-3"]+

[attr="class","silpc-url"]

[attr="class","silpc-url-1"][attr="class","lnr lnr-redo"]

[attr="class","silpc-url-2"]

http://pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/john+hubert+nelson/pokemon+in+depth

[attr="class","silpc-bulk"]

[attr="class","silpcc-num"]#206

[attr="class","silpcc-img"]

[attr="class","silpcc-name"]DUNSPARCE⭐

[attr="class","silpcc-ability"]RATTLED

[attr="class","silpcc-blox"]

MALE

NORMAL TYPE

LAND SNAKE PKMN

GIFT

[attr="class","silpcc-title"]THORN'S ORIGINS AND PERSONALITY

[attr="class","silpcc-dex"]

[attr="class","ion-quote"]

captured as a dunsparce in slateport city on 12/19/21[break]
(gifted by BARNABY FINCH)
[break][break]
john came home from work one day to find thorn trying to wriggle his way into a hole dug outside his apartment complex. it was embarrassing. john caught him to save him the shame.

[attr="class","silpcc-title"]THORN'S MOVEPOOL

[attr="class","silpcc-moves"]

DOUBLE-EDGE

ANCIENT POWER

DRAGON RUSH

ROOST

MAGIC COAT

MOVE 6

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john's pc

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 1:49:56 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

[nospaces]

[attr="class","silpc-LEAGUE"]

[attr="class","silpc"]

[attr="class","silpc-top"]

[attr="class","silpc-top-1"]x

[attr="class","silpc-top-1"]□

[attr="class","silpc-top-1"]-

[attr="class","silpc-top-3"]STORAGE OVERVIEW

[attr="class","silpc-top-2"]STORAGE DETAILS

[attr="class","silpc-top-3"]+

[attr="class","silpc-url"]

[attr="class","silpc-url-1"][attr="class","lnr lnr-redo"]

[attr="class","silpc-url-2"]

http://pkmn-hoenn.boards.net/john+hubert+nelson/pokemon+in+depth

[attr="class","silpc-bulk"]

[attr="class","silpcc-num"]#053

[attr="class","silpcc-img"]

[attr="class","silpcc-name"]MEOWTH

[attr="class","silpcc-ability"]TACTICIAN

[attr="class","silpcc-blox"]

FEMALE

NORMAL TYPE

SCRATCH CAT PKMN

GIFT

[attr="class","silpcc-title"]JOAN'S ORIGINS AND PERSONALITY

[attr="class","silpcc-dex"]

[attr="class","ion-quote"]

gifted as a meowth by martin del mar on 12/25/22
[break][break]
most work gifts come in the form of sweaters and mugs, but a soft spot in Martín del Mar 's heart led to john receiving a meowth one year. joan is a domesticated pokemon, bred and prepared for a mascot's life. john is admittedly unsure what to do with her.

[attr="class","silpcc-title"]JOAN'S MOVEPOOL

[attr="class","silpcc-moves"]

FAKE OUT

SCRATCH

BITE

GROWL

SCREECH

TAUNT

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slippery slope [bar crawl]

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 1:33:22 GMT

GIDEON GRAVES likes this

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As New Years approached, John found himself in an oddly pensive mood. It wasn't at all appropriate for the end of the year -- a time typically defined by excitement and optimism -- but it was the mood he landed in nonetheless when he slipped into the first bar (of what would no doubt be many) of the night.

He was of course accompanied by a few of his coworkers, but they weren't daft people. They could tell his mind wasn't in the party space just yet and because he was their manager instead of their friend they felt no need to babysit him and perk him up. So he found himself settling into a booth alone to consider a whiskey, and then another, and then because he was lonely and felt in need of a reminder of friendlier faces a cocktail.

The Gravedigger was awful, like most cocktails, and it didn't have the desired effect. The taste of berries made him dwell on the reason for his seriousness and his distaste at the sweetness that coated his tongue back to front was less fun to indulge in without the person he was missing.

Already he was considering picking up and finding another bar (slipping away from his coworkers) when the sound of just the voice he was longing for came from somewhere in his blind spot -- so close that he could practically feel the hot breath of the man behind him.

"Giddy!" he turned around and cheered, face flushed but no competition at all for that of his dear friend.

"Don't mention the masquerade!" He groaned with a wry smile -- the night was equal parts enchanting and embarrassing to recall, "That's 2022, the past! Today is for the future, Giddy."

He teased and inspected the face of Gideon at the same time. His slightly unfocused gaze, the wider-than-average smile. And his voice. Sing-song and carefree in a way John wasn't sure he'd ever heard it before.

"Are you drunker than me right now?" He questioned, amusement plain on his face. It wasn't often he had Gideon at a disadvantage in these things.

new years bar crawl: walpurgisnacht
GIDEON GRAVES

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familiar faces [social]

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 1:23:25 GMT

GIDEON GRAVES likes this

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The bar was comfier than John expected. Over the few seconds he'd settled over its width he began to doze off; he was only saved from the no-doubt unceremonious hand of the bartender that would have found him in an hour or two by Gideon's own, more gentle touch. He straightened up lazily and rubbed at one of his eyes.

"What, home?" He asked sleepily, stretching with an only just-audible groan as his back popped.

Both of his hands -- previously reaching above his head -- slapped down onto the bar top a moment later.

"Well Giddy, if you wanna walk me home I could," A moment of bleary-eyed silence, "I could allow it I guess. Save you to trouble of, of hunting down my address."

He almost flopped back down again as he shifted to rest his chin on his hands and his slippery elbows on the bar.

GIDEON GRAVES

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Pay Day. Pay less. POG Bank [IL]

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 1:15:21 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

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"Managed to leave the cattery somehow . . ." John murmurs more to himself than to the other man in the room. It's hard for him to pin down who (or what) that idea makes him more frustrated with: the workers at the cattery or the Meowth themselves. His heart tells him the Meowth -- he doesn't like to pin blame on workers whenever possible -- but part of his brain argues that you can't blame a (mostly) wild pokemon for escaping. The people at the cattery should be doing their best to curtail their attempts.

No matter where he lands on the matter of blame John doesn't vocalize anything. He hasn't forgotten the lesson he learned over drinks. Even if del Mar isn't the type to fire employees willy nilly, it would irresponsible of John to speak ill of them around their boss.

So instead he focuses on the building yowl that echoes out from the vent's exit. Entrance? The hole in the vent.

"Ah, I've interacted with enough wild pokemon. I'll be alright," he replies to del Mar, but takes a step back out of the danger zone anyway, "MC, keep sharp. If it drops down you take it down."

The Zangoose rushes into the spot John was just in and drags her claws against one another. HONE CLAWS sharpens and brightens them in the same motion as they issue a hiss of their own.

"Gently," he adds as an afterthought and his pokemon settles just the smallest amount.

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Martín del Mar

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holiday cheer #1 ❤

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 1:01:47 GMT

BARNABY FINCH likes this

This is very thoughtful! Thank you, Dove!

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Season of Giving Gifts [Batch 2]

POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 1:00:43 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

We've only known each other and been writing together for a short time, but I would like to extend a similar thanks to you for your welcoming attitude towards me and the wonderful time you've given me in our threads together. I am happy to hear that I have -- in any small way -- made your life brighter and I would like you to know the same is true from me to you.

Thank you for the Meowth!

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POSTED ON Dec 15, 2022 15:43:14 GMT

Martín del Mar likes this

[attr="class","samcam"]

The question Cian asks is -- at first -- the kind of thing he's brushed off a million times before.

'would you ever . . . take a few weeks of work and try?'

Of course not. Of course not. Work needs him. He needs work. It pulled him out of the doldrums after his failure and he's good at it. It wouldn't be fair to them to disappear to have a midlife crisis.

(It wouldn't be fair to him. To rub his nose in his mediocrity again after years of ignoring it and come back with his tail between his legs.)

But all these thoughts were predicated on the idea that John would be doing what he did before. That he'd be doing it alone. He's never dreamed that a gym leader would be asking him this question, much less that he'd be offering to help. Martín del Mar 's words from the bar days ago come to mind: 'To be successful you need to network and to learn how to choose your allies. You need contacts, and you also need hardworking people who are willing to make your vision come to life.'

With that in mind this feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity. And he can't help the way his hands tingle and his back straightens and his mouth goes dry.

"Do you mean it?" he says instead of 'yes', "If I . . . If I wanted to try again would you really . . ?"

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POSTED ON Dec 14, 2022 20:46:06 GMT

[attr="class","samcam"]

It's hard for John to picture Cian behind a desk plucking away at spreadsheets. Hard enough that it breaks him out of the moody fog he was settling into to try. Gods . . . even imagining the kid in a tie . . .

"Funny." he says, thinking aloud more than replying.

The question of why he quit battling nearly sucks John back down, though. Bitter feelings always simmering just under the surface fill his mouth with a sour, unpleasant taste.

"Ah, nothing interesting," he replies in a hurry, words breathy as if they left his mouth half-formed.

"I just got stuck. Something like fifty percent of trainers don't manage to get their fifth badge. I just happened to be one of them, and there's no real life in battling for a bottom-half trainer pushing thirty."