[ Listen that really doesn't look out of order at all... he's staring at the ticket machine, arms crossed, but he will not argue someone waving him down. What else is new, really. He's rude though and doesn't look at the attendant. ]
The ticket machine has a touch screen that displays a list of selectable items, with a label at the top: Prison Shop. Almost all of the items and prices are glitchy and illegible. But there is one option that is clear, and faintly glowing, looking as if it is superimposed over the glitchy screen. It reads:
Azure Flute – 3 plates
The attendant hands out a Pokeball with a Munna inside. "Here, this is for you."
Munna makes a sad noise, blinking up at Lear. Depot Agent Cloud snorts in surprise. "Weren't you the one who was just acting like you didn't need it? Now you're getting picky about what you got? Catch something else if you're dissatisfied."
Munna floats lower to the ground, trying to stay out of the way, apologetic...
"Huh? We're gettin' back the Boss's memories. You got the memo, right?" Cloud gestures in the size of an index card that Ingo definitely went around giving people prior to this palace happening. "Not that he really knows what the deal is on the ground, so to speak."
"If we knew exactly how to fix the problem, we'd've done it already." He sounds unimpressed. "But my idea's that you should just get some good battles in there. That's something we can't go out and do ourselves."
Regardless, fine. I can handle Pokemon battles perfectly well. Do you at least have a suggestion for which direction for me to go in that will have the most interesting battles?
"What's your standard for most interesting? I think the Regressive Line is holding a Battle Subway challenge... But I'm not sure. Hard to stay on top of things lately."
You step down the stairs, and see a train already pulled up to the platform. Only the first car has doors open for you to enter. There is about the same amount of fog here as there was in the main area.
The train is a standard modern subway car. Above the seats, where advertisements would normally be in a train, there are instead photographs of different scenes. They depict different people—some familiar, some unfamiliar, some Ingo himself. There's an uncomfortable air coming from them, including those which are not overtly negative...
Here's all the photos. You can decide which makes Lear the most uncomfortable, because the whole train car has the vibe, and it's hard to feel anything from specific pictures without getting closer:
- Emmet looking directly at the viewer, not smiling. - Ingo and Emmet as teenagers, with a sulky Ingo in a vaguely emo-goth aesthetic. - Ingo sobbing on the floor of Da Vinci's workshop as she crouches near him. - Chandelure lighting a darkened room with two beds. - A younger Ingo entering a doorway to see two people intimately entwined (anything explicit obscured by the sheets). - A cellphone with an unread text message notification. - Ingo splayed out on the ice, pained, bleeding profusely from a major chest wound. - A snake-headed man, and a woman with scales down her face, smiling fondly.
no i'm joking, it's absolutely Ingo bleeding from a major chest wound, my goodness. He winces a bit at that, feels like maybe he's crossed a line from being so nosy, and takes a step back from the photographs.
ahem.
Time to search for any other human life and/or Pokemon trainers instead. ]
You try to step away, but lingering on the photo still gives you a sudden understanding as you move, distracting you from otherwise searching the car:
For a long time after you appeared there, it was hard to feel anything. You had so little to hold onto. It was hard to find enough stimulation to muffle the void inside. That made you careless, even if you knew it wasn't safe. What were you protecting by keeping yourself safe? Nothing worth all that much. And yet, impaled by that terrifying claw, you were screaming internally: Not now! Not yet! There is still hope! Don't kill me without letting me remember the value of my own life!!
Munna notices your regret, and floats up closer to you again.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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What do you want?
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Azure Flute – 3 plates
The attendant hands out a Pokeball with a Munna inside. "Here, this is for you."
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... What?
[ he finally looks over and accepts the Pokeball, and blinks. ]
For what purpose? I have my own Pokemon.
[ ... wait does he, now he has to check-- ]
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"It wouldn't really be fair if we only gave one to the people who didn't have one, right? Just consider it a bonus."
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Anyway. That logic checks out (mostly), so he just shrugs and lets the new Pokemon out.
And squints. ]
... This is the best you could do?
[ be nice, Lear ]
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He hands over some empty Pokeballs too.
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Fine then. I will.
[ he looks unconcerned by Munna's sad noises. ]
Regardless, what is all of this about?
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"Huh? We're gettin' back the Boss's memories. You got the memo, right?" Cloud gestures in the size of an index card that Ingo definitely went around giving people prior to this palace happening. "Not that he really knows what the deal is on the ground, so to speak."
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[ poor Munna, I feel so bad for it. ]
I would like to get this over with as soon as possible, so... the most direct method of accomplishing this would be appreciated.
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What use are you, then?
[ he's the worst i'm sorry
anyway it's fine.
The prospect of battles brightens him up. ]
Regardless, fine. I can handle Pokemon battles perfectly well. Do you at least have a suggestion for which direction for me to go in that will have the most interesting battles?
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[ regressive line... that sounds. like a name for a line. A shrug. ]
But fine, that will do. I'll take that line.
[ do you think Lear knows how to take a train. ]
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"Head down those stairs."
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[ DEFINITELY... KNEW THAT.
it's fine.
DOWN THE STAIRS HE GOES!! ]
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Onto the train with him. He's looking around with clear curiosity. Is this how peasants travel-- ]
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He's going to snoop towards the photographs that feel especially uncomfortable, because he's nosy ]
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- Emmet looking directly at the viewer, not smiling.
- Ingo and Emmet as teenagers, with a sulky Ingo in a vaguely emo-goth aesthetic.
- Ingo sobbing on the floor of Da Vinci's workshop as she crouches near him.
- Chandelure lighting a darkened room with two beds.
- A younger Ingo entering a doorway to see two people intimately entwined (anything explicit obscured by the sheets).
- A cellphone with an unread text message notification.
- Ingo splayed out on the ice, pained, bleeding profusely from a major chest wound.
- A snake-headed man, and a woman with scales down her face, smiling fondly.
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no i'm joking, it's absolutely Ingo bleeding from a major chest wound, my goodness. He winces a bit at that, feels like maybe he's crossed a line from being so nosy, and takes a step back from the photographs.
ahem.
Time to search for any other human life and/or Pokemon trainers instead. ]
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For a long time after you appeared there, it was hard to feel anything. You had so little to hold onto. It was hard to find enough stimulation to muffle the void inside. That made you careless, even if you knew it wasn't safe. What were you protecting by keeping yourself safe? Nothing worth all that much. And yet, impaled by that terrifying claw, you were screaming internally: Not now! Not yet! There is still hope! Don't kill me without letting me remember the value of my own life!!
Munna notices your regret, and floats up closer to you again.
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(But also... he had no idea that Ingo has been through so much. He's always so genial and pleasant and.......... huh.)
Another glance at Munna. ]
... Listen. [ LISTEN!!! ] If he didn't want us to look, he shouldn't have...
[ ... ]
Never mind, I am aware that sounds ridiculous, even for me.
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R-regardless. The point of us being here is to find other trainers to battle. Come on then. I would like to see what you are capable of, also.
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