tabularasa_rp | OPEN - am I blue? you'd be too

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OPEN - am I blue? you'd be too

Who: Blue Oak and yoooou
Where: Mt. Silver's peak, Heavenly Blanc, and Mortis Lake (maybe Merlaut Apartments later)
When: throughout voidcember!
What: Between Red and Lance vanishing, Ren and Akechi seemingly vanishing, and Mementos, Blue has been having a real Bad Time.
Content Warnings: alcohol abuse, depression

A. Mortis Lake Forest

[When Blue is stressed out, he has a few ways of dealing with it. The healthiest one, thankfully, comes first.]

[Although they may not having all their usual abilities, having his full team of Pokémon back meant that Blue could get back into the swing of a training routine, and that was at least the first step in keeping his mind straight. Mortis Lake was a great place for this- Gyarados chills in the lake waters for a happy soak while Exeggutor sits amongst the other trees next to a meditating Alakazam, watching as Blue directs Arcanine and Pidgeot in Agility training. Eevee is trying to follow along, although even quick as he is, he can't make such powerful single bounds and dashes as the powerful 'windy' Pokémon can.]

Come on, Arcanine! A little quicker! This time, try to make it to that notched tree over there and back before Pidgeot makes it to that treetop and back! [Blue calls, absorbed in his training. He looks... exhausted, almost like he himself has been pushing at this for hours without a break. You'll have to forgive him and his Pokémon if they don't see you directly in the path of their makeshift training arena.]

B. Heavenly Blanc

[Whether it's before the disappearance of his coworker or after, patrons of Heavenly Blanc might find the bar.... less regularly manned than it usually is. At first, maybe one could chalk it up to the strange sleep cycles everyone has found themselves beholden to, but those that catch the bar's usual tender might realize that's not the only reason.]

[Those that knew him well probably knew Blue was a fan of the bottle to begin with, but the way he's slumped over the bar, or in of the booths, or laying spread eagle on the floor probably makes it obvious this isn't just his usual casual, raucous overdrinking. If a patron enters while he's miserably laying about, he'll blink up slowly, squint, and try to roll himself up. Gotta... get back to work...]

Ah, customer... jus' gimme a second...

C. Mt. Silver's Peak

[And when he just can't bring himself to face the outside world anymore, he goes to where's most familiar to him.]

[...It's sort of laughable that it's this place. It hurts, more than it helps; huddled up on the cavern at the peak, Blue looks out over the world of the void that he can see in glimpses between the veils of snow that fall, below the misty cloudcover that swirls this high up. He wonders if Red always looked down over Kanto like this, wanting to return, but unable to bear it. That was probably how it felt, right? ...Who can know what that guy was ever feeling, or thinking...]

[Blue tucks his face into his knees and sniffles, hard and gross, shivering against the warmth of his Arcanine, who whines and nuzzles against him. That idiot.... there was no way of knowing what had happened to him- if he had slipped and fallen down the mountain, if he'd gotten eaten in those terrible corridors full of monsters and mouths- or if he'd simply ...gotten tired of people again, and vanished somewhere. Gotten tired of him again.]

[Well, in the end, as Blue had always supposed back then- he wouldn't blame him.]

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[Blue honestly isn't expecting anyone to come looking for him. Why should they? Anyone who he could have believed would have cared to bother was seemingly gone now, vanished without a trace- without a goodbye. Not that Blue was any stranger to that; but usually, he was in a position to have some way of distracting himself, some work or training or something to put himself towards.]

[Here? ...Well, there was the bottle. And even then, it was too much to have people discovering him at his worst, the pathetic, true face revealed at the bottom of a glass.]

[So he'd isolated. He understood why Red had done it. It was way better, being alone up here in a place that felt familiar, than to have to face a bunch of people that couldn't understand you.]

[When he hears the crunch of snow and a calling voice, he's shocked out of his bleary on and off sobbing, and jolts to turn towards the tall figure approaching him in the snowdrift.]

Oh, dragonboy.......

[He glances away again morosely, burying his sniffling nose into his bundled arms. It... actually surprises him, a little, that the Galarian Leader had bothered to come looking for him. At least, he... assumes that's what he's doing here, right?]

[...Sheesh. Dream on, Blue. Maybe he had just come across him by coincidence.]

At least one of us is still around, huh?

[ everyone has their own coping methods, even if some can't exactly be considered "healthy". Blue's seem to be more conventional, if debilitating on the body. Raihan's usually consisted of scrolling through his social media feeds for hours on end as a distraction, but in the absence of that, he has to face the source of his melancholy head-on. it sucks, but what else can be done?

at least being around Blue might help. misery loves company, and he'll prescribe to that philosophy by plopping himself down to sit next to Blue. he doesn't get too close, but enough to remind him of his presence. ]

More like both of us. It was pretty rude of those other guys to just poof away without a word - don't think you'll be off the hook if you think about pulling the same thing.

[ it's got a teasing tone to it, but there's another meaning underlying it: don't you go disappearing on me, too. he'd live, sure, but he doesn't want to be the sole person from his world remaining.

he sighs, returning Flygon to his ball before curling up on himself to try and will away the chill of the air around him. after a few moments of silence, he rummages through the bag he brought to take out the thermos of tea he'd borrowed from the Heavenly Blanc. he'll call Torkoal out when things start to get unbearably cold, but this should work for now. once he's poured himself a cupful from the thermos cap, he rummages into the bag again to pull out a packaged scone from the Wyndon train station and tosses it over in Blue's direction, landing close to Arcanine's paw. ]

Brooding works up an appetite.

[His mouth twists with a slight annoyance when Raihan plops down next to him, like being intruded on was more trouble than it was worth-- but..... in truth, of course, he was grateful for the presence of someone who understood even some small part of why he was so upset. Even if Raihan had been a total stranger to him before they arrived in this place, he at least had some context. Some personal relation.]

Believe you me, if I could get home too, I'd have ditched you already, [He tries to smirk through his pathetic state, feebly, returning the tease. This was good; in this way, they sort of understood one another- beyond just the common ground of their world, their Pokémon, their society.]

[A peaceful silence falls between them; there was just the gentle, filtering sound of snowflakes carried on the breeze around them and the rustling of trees up here. It was nice when you were alone, if... melancholy. Blue glances across from his knees and notes Raihan's shivering, and can't help a tiny, toothy grin.]

Guess Dragons really can't handle Ice, huh? [He jeers, then stares down at the small packaged treat Raihan tossed towards him. Arcanine leans down to sniff at it by his paw and gives an appraising RRF before Blue picks it up and turns it over in his hands.] "Wyndon Scone"....? Never heard of these, [He mumbles, tearing the package open. He pauses in a moment of consideration and a glance to Arcanine before tearing the bread in half and holding one side out for Arcanine to snap up.]

Thanks... You haven't been saving this thing all this time, have you?

The feeling's mutual - no offense, of course. I'd rather kick your arse on the pitch back in our world than this one.

[ though he's not sure how effective it'll be, he does his best to keep that weak smile going. he's sure they could be friends if their paths crossed - getting to know each other here had already proven that they have plenty in common, but more would be sure to come forward if they had the chance to battle. ]

Can't stand it. [ he clenches his teeth and pouts, enough to keep them from chattering. ] I might be a weather specialist, but I leave the hail strategies to my gym trainers.

[ there's a reason why he's never won against Melony. he can deal with Opal's fairies well enough, but the bone chill of ice is a sore point for him. ]

Hah! They wouldn't have lasted this long if I had a stash. [ he grins, but ultimately shakes his head. ] The city's main plaza showed up in that big dome you can see from the beach. Sure enough, these were behind the snack counter in the train station.

[ he unwraps one for himself, flipping his hoodie up to huddle into himself for warmth. it's not freezing cold, but definitely not a comfortable temperature. ]

They're a well-kept regional secret. Galar isn't really known for its cuisine, but these are to die for - the Bluk berry ones especially.

Hff. Big talk, thinking you can beat a world-class Champ like me, [He can't help grinning a little, so maybe it's working, though there's sort of a grated edge to his taunt. He wasn't exactly in the mood for the usual back-and-forth, as much as he enjoyed it; he was still a little baffled as to why Raihan had come looking for him in the first place, much less decided to plop down and join him.]

[He gives a snort to Raihan's feeble shivering, and watches him for a moment before he decides to get up and move a little closer, waving Arcanine along with him. Here, okay? Share warm dog.] Sheesh, if you're so cold, you didn't have to come up here.

[Not that Blue wasn't also freezing.... he munches on his half of the scone carefully, and raises an eyebrow at the bit of information Raihan gives him. The city... Wyndon, that is?? Blue's never been there himself, but he's seen lots of pictures of it before, and even had had schoolmates from the city; he's curious to go looking.] The Shuppet, first a chunk of your city, now Wyndon? Sure hope Pallet doesn't suddenly decide to drop itself onto the beach.

[He lets out a soft snort of amusement. Galarian cuisine, huh- he'd heard plenty about it in derision while at school.] Is that so. Ever had a Lumiose gallete? They make Bluk berry ones of those, too... [He chews thoughtfully.] Flakier and moister than these biscuit-thingies.

Talking big is sort of my thing. C'mon, I know you've been keeping up.

[ though he grins right back, he takes note of the edge. his intent was to try and distract Blue from whatever slump he's found himself in, but maybe that isn't quite the right way to go about it... he makes note to turn it down a notch or two, settling his expression into something more relaxed.

it certainly helps when Arcanine comes to snuggle up, but he also relents in calling out Torkoal to share the warmth. though the turtle isn't nearly as fuzzy, he's just happy to snuggle up between Raihan's legs and share his natural body heat. ]

Sure I did. [ he almost thinks about elaborating, but decides to leave it at that in favour of taking a sip of his tea thermos. now that he has some warmth, the surroundings are much more tolerable. ] Don't Jynx it! I started exploring when I got here in hopes I'd see something familiar, and look where that got me!

[ it's said in good humour, but there's an edge of seriousness to it. Wyndon's pieces may have shown up somewhat intact (despite the lava river...), but he doesn't want anyone to see their home end up in ruins like Hammerlocke did. no one deserves that kind of hurt, even if it isn't "real". ]

Yeah - Lumiose and Wyndon are pretty close by train, so we get plenty of Kalosian imports. I say they're overhyped, but I guess they're alright.

Yeah. ...We'll see if you can back it up.

[Likewise, Blue tosses back the retort without looking, like it came naturally- but he's not really grinning, and Raihan seems to get the hint, anyway. Not that he wouldn't be up for it on a normal day but....]

[He doesn't really understand that reply, not beyond Raihan just being nosy and thinking it his duty, as... a fellow trainer, Blue supposes. As the only one left. But it wasn't like he really knew.]

[He lets out a ragged sigh, to himself.]

The way they sell out, they're totally overhyped. Then again, this thing's just packaged, right? [He crinkles the wrapper, looking it over.] Not really a fair comparison. Make me one fresh and we'll see.

Back home, [He tucks the wrapper into his pocket, to trash later.] When we get outta here.

[They're going to, right? If those guys are gone, then....] Lucky bastards...

I don't disappoint.

[ it comes out softer; less poignant than he would normally convey, thanks to the situation. he gets it, and the only thing he'll be insistent on is not leaving Blue alone unless he really wants to be. ] You don't want that. I'm rubbish at baking.

[ it gets a small chuckle out of him, but it doesn't last long. he's a little more concerned with what Blue says after the fact. ]

You think that's where they went? Back home?

[ it's not that Raihan doesn't agree, but there is the possibility of them having gone... elsewhere. he really isn't sure what to think, because there aren't any concrete answers. that much is frustrating. ]

[He really hopes so. Since Raihan seems to be getting the hint and chilling out, Blue doesn't acknowledge it again, letting there be a bit of quiet, until Raihan asks.]

Better than any of the other options, right? [Let him have just that one hope; in a place like this where nothing made sense, maybe the most logical explanation wasn't likely to be the right one, but the other logical explanations felt far worse. And anyway, he doesn't think both of them could have met such fates....]

I mean, they're not answering their phones, even if they worked- we can't find 'em anywhere, and there's no trace of them.... So even if they just wandered off or got eaten by a wild Pokémon or something, you'd think there'd be a scrap of cape leftover, huh?

[Blue flashes a grim grin.] Doubt those're tasty.

...Yeah.

[ and that's all he can really say about it - or wants to say, really. the thought of entertaining any other ideas about where they could be isn't a pleasant one, for the sole reason of how capable both Lance and Red are of taking care of themselves. if returning home wasn't where they found themselves, it would have to be something grimly worse to have taken them both without a trace. better to just... assume the best, for their own sakes.

the last quip has him smirking, in any case. ]

Well, you'll have plenty of leverage to give them an earful when you're back.

[ he purposefully leaves himself out; Raihan will be half a globe away when they're back, after all... but maybe this will at least open up an avenue for some new friendships with the Kantonians he's met in this weird-ass place. ]

Hah! I never needed any.

[Blue declares, nose raised. What a brat, to say such a thing so brazenly! It's true, though- no one else could give either of those two such an earful.... Well, except perhaps his grandfather, or Red's mom.]

[...Maybe it was better not to think of how Red's mom might react if she knew about all this.]

[Blue falls into brooding silence again after that, save the quiet crinkling of the wrapper as he finishes off his bite and stuffs the wrapper into his pocket for later. No litter on the mountain. But as he thoughtfully chews and lets the quiet settle in uncomfortably, he can't help letting his mind wander, now that he has a set of ears to talk off.]

What d'you think is gonna happen if we're stuck here much longer? [Blue glances down at the expanse of land around the mountain. Things changed rapidly and unexpectedly around here; and experience had proven it wasn't always safely. It wasn't only the loss of his steadying rocks that had Blue feeling so off-kilter.]

Dunno. Haven't thought about it too much, to be honest.

[ mostly because that means assuming more time spent here against their will, which isn't a super awesome thought. it's not that this place isn't nice, or that the people here with them aren't good company... but the biting annoyance about the lack of information about their situation nearly makes everything else a moot point. ]

I think we're the kind of guys that people would look for if they went MIA, don't you? [ it's not as if either of them are particularly low profile, and that's putting it mildly. ] So I figure they'll just keep looking. It's either that, or like a bad kid's movie where we'll just come back and nothing will have changed. Like magic.

[ he wiggles his fingers for half-hearted emphasis. clearly there's more comfort in the latter prospective, but he isn't really sure what to think. ]

[...Maybe that exposes the differences between the two of them just a bit, Blue thinks to himself a bit morosely. How could he not think about it? Without Pokémon, or battles, or... much else to distract him, much of his days were spent sitting behind the bar and contemplating the slow-moving world they'd all found themselves in.]

[Raihan has a point about them being reported missing, but that only meant something if the ones looking for them could even reach this place. Without any way of knowing whether they could be found, they might as well not hold onto that hope.]

[Well, that was what he thought.] What, you don't like that kind of ending? [Blue cracks him a struggling grin.] You wanna remember this place?

[ it isn't like Raihan to worry - not outwardly, anyhow. he prefers to keep the vibe around him relaxed, staying aware while taking things in as they go. the situation they're in isn't something he can prepare for, like a battle. there are an infinite number of unknown variables that can't be accounted for, so the only real choice is to accept what he can see right in front of him.

holding onto hope is about all he can do, so he won't be giving up just yet. ]

Sure I do! Weird as this place is, I say every experience is worth remembering. [ it's definitely been interesting here, to say the least. and who else can say that they've met people from completely different universes? ] Forgetting it all would feel like I've missed out on something.

Hmmmm. I can't say I'd be upset if I forgot some of the stuff around here, but....

..I guess it's not entirely bad.

[He tosses a glance up towards Raihan over his shoulder, with a playfully raised eyebrow. The other trainer is free to take that however he likes!]

Oh, and the Pidgey here are so cute. I think I'd miss them the most of all...!

Sure it isn't! I'm here, after all.

[ he gives him a wink, choosing to take it in the way he prefers - as an ego boost. he's not wrong about there being some things here best left behind, but if there's any memories he wants to keep, it's of the friends he's made. ]

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OPEN - am I blue? you'd be too

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