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

Entry tags:

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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[Viridi opens her mouth and an undecipherable phoneme comes out before she closes it again.]

Um.

...No.

[...]

You think there's a reason we're here? I just thought it was a cosmic joke.

[Blue stares back at Viridi, expecting something a little.... more.]

[Hm. Uh. Wait, was that it?]

Hah? Um... Well, nothin' in particular, but-- I guess I figured someone like you would have a better idea than any of us... right? Don't legendaries have a better idea of the... [Blue waves his hands vaguely,] The mysteries of the universe and communing with the elements and stuff?

And anyway, don't most legendaries do stuff for a reason? --Spite can count too, I guess.

'Legendary'?

Huh. I like the sound of that. I guess word of my greatness precedes me.

No, this is pretty similar to how the world was formed where I came from. In the beginning there was Chaos. The void. If we're supposed to be doing anything, I suppose it's accelerating the process of creating an actual world.

Chaos is an entity, by the way. That's why I presumed there was somebody to spite.

It's the same thing, isn't it? We don't call you guys 'gods' or whatever, where I come from. They're not people, though, [Blue mumbles thoughtfully, brow pinching. At least, that was the impression he'd gotten, between talking about these 'God' things with Ren and Akechi and what he'd heard of Viridi.... It sure seemed similar to Legendary Pokémon, anyway.] That story even sounds like the myths about Arceus... The original Pokémon that created the universe.

But... that kind of sounds like what's happening here, doesn't it? [Blue feels sort of uneasy about that, like there really could be some mythical being watching their every move.]

[Hey, wait-] Is it possible for people to just... vanish? When everything's being 'created'? T-that's like, the opposite thing, right?

[Back on the topic of his lonely mountain manpain-ing.]

...Oh, right. You're one of those people.

[She'd heard about this from Lance already.]

Yeah, I have to say I'm a fan of any god that's animal-shaped. Much improved. Good choices.

[She shakes her head.]

Nope. Didn't happen where I come from. Things spring forth out of Chaos, not the other way around. Like me. If you're worried about someone, I'd just assume they went back to wherever they came from.

One of 'those'? What's that mean? [Blue huffs sulkily- and yeah, he's heard all the 'weird animal fighting people' jabs before, he knows their reputations sort of precede them at this point, but also, they're all way better than you weirdos, and that's his opinion on that!]

[Luckily, it sounds like Viridi doesn't seem too down on their way of life, which at least earns her points in Blue's book.] ...As far as I'm concerned, it sounds like a lot of other people could use the partnership with Pokémon. Nature is way more respected where we come from, just so you know, [He complains, resting his chin in his palm. He shivers slightly- getting worked up is expending energy while he's up huddled on the mountain, but... it's also getting him a little fired up!]

...I hope they just went back home, [Blue admits, and it had been one of his thoughts- that Palkia, or Celebi, or whatever had brought them here had simple gotten bored of Lance droning on and sent him back home, or that Red had just stumbled into a portal home while he was out wandering. Both would be way better explanations than any of the dangers Blue could think of around here- the idea that they could have stumbled into Mementos before anyone else had, or worse.]

[He hums and thinks about it for a moment, but instead, chooses to only comment on something else.]

So uh, this 'Chaos', is that like, your dad, then?

Uh, nope. Gross. No need to talk about that. Just because you can continue the conversation a certain way doesn't mean you need to.

[please refrain from asking weird questions]

Let's go back to nature and how much you love animals. That will get me in a good mood. I meant 'one of those people with the little animals in balls who all insist that they like it in there so I have no grounds to complain, I guess.'

And from the questions you're asking me, I'm guessing another one of those people has left you recently.

Is it the dragon guy? I haven't seen him in weeks.

Hey you brought it up, [Blue huffs, his attempt to change the subject dashed. Damn you, fickle goddess.]

[Nature and Pokémon is a nice subject, though- one of the few things that could cheer him up right now, although thinking of Pokémon made him think of battles and the trainers that had left, and he makes a face as she predictably makes a jab about the Pokéballs.]

You can ask him, you know, [Blue jabs his thumb over his shoulder at Arcanine, who has been laying here enduring the silly banter going back and forth, because he's Blue's Pokémon and he's more than used to it at this point. The enormous dog perks an ear as he's brought into this and lifts his chin from atop his paws, glancing towards Viridi reluctantly.]

[Yes, good, be distracted with the dog; that way, Blue doesn't have to answer the question, although the impact of her words that's plain on his face answers it plenty.]

...He wouldn't just disappear. Red's one thing, but Lance......

Oh, I've been using my mystical nature mind-link this whole time! The doggy says that you're a tolerable master. He wants more treats, though.

[she has not
she is a liar]

...No, I've talked to a lot of your pets already, and I'm... satisfied enough. What do you think, doggy? Do you want more treats?

[everybody always wants more treats]

Who's Red?

Rrrr...

[Arcanine makes a flat sound, looking more doubtful than annoyed, although now that she mentions it- he would like some more treats. He turns his look to Blue and barks once with a couple wags of his tail, and Blue sighs.]

[Well, it's his own fault for spoiling them...] He gets plenty of treats! [He grumbles defensively, though he still reaches into his pack to grab more of the jerky he's taken to making in this place.] Fine.

Um, as for Red.... You ever meet a quiet guy with a baseball cap? Has a yellow rat following him everywhere? [Blue taps his shoulder, thinking of how Pikachu was always riding along there.] ...Well, he disappeared a while ago now. And he mostly avoids talking to people, so I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't, anyway.

Never met the guy.

[A slight pause.]

His name is Red? [a longer pause] And your name is... Blue.

[There is a disapproving stare at this.]

Humans are so weird.

OK, so you're sad because Lance and your primary color counterpart went home to be with - I presume - your third sibling/friend/team member, Yellow, and that's why you're moping up here with your dog.

[Blue groans the moment she repeats their names, interrupting her stare with waving hands. He knows. Everybody always says it! He knows!!] Look, our moms were nerds, okay? Don't start.

Anyway-- what? No, there's no Yellow, [Blue grumbles. Not in his universe, anyway--] So what? You got a problem with that, you can leave me alone!

[Snapping, Blue reburies himself into Arcanine's fluff, who looks torn between comforting the upset Blue and continuing to be exhausted at both of them.] Honestly! Even in the middle of Furreting nowhere I can't even get some peace...

You should find a third friend and force them to change their name. ...Ooh, then you can mate with her, and your kids can be named Green, Mint, and Seafoam! And you know, all the other combinations.

[perfect plan from a perfect goddess]

I mean, if you had just opened up about your problem in the first place, we could have skipped to the end a lot faster. Now that I finally know what's wrong, I can give you advice!

Ahem: humans are terrible, and you don't need human friends.

[...........................................]

OK, fine, fine.

People are going to come and go through your life all the time. The important thing is what you do with the time you have together.

There, is that better?

Edited 2021-01-20 04:25 (UTC)

We have a friend, she's named Leaf-- and I'm not 'mating' with anyone! [Blue sputters, now turning a deep shade of-- well, red.]

[(And anyway, Red and Blue's fanfic-child's name would be Violet, obviously, DUH!)]

[Blue snatches up a handful of snow into a hasty snowball and pitches it directly at Viridi; it's a wonder he isn't literally steaming.] Thanks for the advice. [Not that he necessarily disagreed with it, at one point in his life; but he's not quite that brooding, holier-than-thou child anymore, and he knows himself a lot better.]

[....But somehow, that advice- true or not- wasn't very satisfying, especially in a place like this. Wiping off his cold, wet hands, he goes back to sulking into his dog.]

...I know all of that. But, some people are more than just-- coming and going. Don't even you have someone you've known since you can remember? There's other Legendaries, right?

Ooh, Leaf. ...Maybe she's Green. [a faint pause] Well, that's no good, blue and green just make like... blue-green. I guess you could call it cerulean.

[you're welcome for naming your babies
viridi casually side-steps the snowball in a smooth motion]

Well. Yes, but we don't really get along. ...Unless you mean my generals. They're more... demi-legendaries. I suppose I'd be upset if they left me.

That's why I revive them every time they die!

[...there is clearly a barrier to mutual understanding here]

Anyway, is this a love problem? It sounds like a love problem. OK, new advice: if you're heartbroken, that's just something you have to work out on your own.

[that's not even advice]

Love is what it is exactly because you're feeling what you're feeling now!

Cerulean is-- no, forget it, I hate this conversation.

[It's not his fault his whole region is themed!! Blue groans and musses up his hair in frustration. Maybe an immortal being wouldn't really understand this kind of fleeting love-and-loss thing, after all....]

[The callout is pretty devastating, though. He gives her a beady-eyed look that says it all.] You're not very good at this. [And then, sullen and still giving her a bit of a glare, he purses his lips and decides to shoot back.]

Back to your dad, so that's Chaos or whatever, right?

[Viridi, you fool, you said too much and now this brat is going to latch right onto that.]

What a terrible attempt.

[Viridi snorts.]

Got it in one, didn't I? Don't get bent out of shape. It's one of the quintessential human life problems, right up there with 'I'm 35 and I still live in my mom's basement' and 'it's 8pm but I'm too lazy to make myself food.'

I'm not joking.

I don't really feel love, exactly, but the purpose of love is to bond people together so intimately that they never wish to be apart. It promotes social harmony and the advancement of a species. What you're feeling is an unfortunate side-effect.

But! What it also means is that you've found somebody who cared deeply about you and whom you cared about so much that you're willing to risk this pain. And isn't that the true measure of the human experience?

Besides, you're just going to end up back home sooner or later anyway. It's not like they're dead.

[Being told not to get bent out of shape, unsurprisingly enough, has the opposite effect- but then again, she's got him so pegged that he can't really say anything to that if he wanted to.]

[...How does she know about the 8 pm snacc....]

[He is listening, despite his petulance. Whatever other personality "quirks" this nature guardian might have, she's lived for eons, right? ...So it isn't like she's speaking out of a lack of experience or observation, even if maybe things of this nature (hah) didn't usually concern her.]

Shockingly scientific appraisal, coming from you. [He tries to be acidic about it, as pointless as it likely is. Underneath that all, though, what she's saying isn't.... wrong. And it's not even necessarily that he doesn't know- but knowing logically what causes the hurt, and actually coming to terms with living with it, was what he'd spent half his life struggling with.]

Do we really know that? That we're gonna get out of here. That we're gonna go home. [It was the most obvious assumption, maybe, but... He wasn't sure there was any way to be certain.]

Of course I'm scientific! [Viridi looks disgruntled.] I'm the Goddess of Nature. I invented the birds and the bees.

[so probably, this is her fault. viridi will redirect blame to the off-screen goddess of love, though]

Not really. But I have no intention of sticking around. As soon as this place finally recognizes my divine power, it's going to be wham, bam, let's blow this popsicle stand.

[...A pause.]

Oh. I guess you might die of old age. Eh, it's probably fine; they haven't gotten to aging yet.

...I guess you've got a point, but nature in this place isn't exactly-- er, natural, is it? And if you don't have any control over that, you don't really have any divine power, huh?

Not sure what makes you think you're gonna be recognized. [Now he's just bitter, and being a brat. Will he regret this if Viridi does regain her powers? Probably. But that's a problem for future Blue!]

[Speaking of...]

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna die of boredom before I die of old age, [Blue grumbles, fashioning another snowball. This time, apparently bored of target practice, he starts making a tiny snowman to sit next to himself.] My Pokémon can't even battle, and I can't train the new ones, either. What the Furret am I supposed to do around here if I can't even train or catch Pokémon?

[The only two options, obviously.]

Nnnnnnnnnnnnngh.

[Viridi makes a sound of disgruntlement and continues to sound like a cow in the wrong phoneme for a few moments.]

I'll get it eventually! You can't not have gods. All worlds have gods! Sooner or later, it will come around - we're the first ones born in most worlds! What kind of mythology goes, "And from Chaos stepped forth bears with spikes and spicy lava?" No one's ever heard of that! It's Chronos - time! Or Ymir - the giant of frost!

This is just backwards.

And why don't you just go and make friends and take care of the new animals? Isn't that the same thing as what you did before?

I get what you mean, but so far we haven't heard of anything. So if you're basically just another mortal now, I doubt we're gonna know any better until-- whatever brought us here is good and ready.

[As absurd as her retelling is- Blue likes to think he has a healthy respect for the natural order of the world! And he'd hope that a so-called Goddess of Nature would too.]

[This place? Was far from 'natural'. So who could say what controlled it....]

Sheesh, do you really think people can just be replaced like that!? New friends are great and all, but... A-anyway, the Pokémon here don't seem to have any abilities, either. So I guess whatever took your powers away decided Pokémon should be boring, too.

I didn't say 'replace' your friends, I said make new ones and commune with the animals so you don't spend your time moping on a mountain in a snowstorm.

You're just trying to find reasons not to self-improve.

[Viridi assumes a superior expression.]

Take it or leave it! That's the advice of a god bestowed upon a lowly mortal.

[Blue balks at the accusation, and although he's rankled, it's... not like she's wrong, and he knows it. His jaw clenches, but aside from an ineffective glare, what is he gonna say to that?]

...Tch. Thanks for the blessing, [He begrudgingly mutters, plopping a second snowball atop his first. It's coming out to be quite the squat little Snow-vee.] You know, it's kinda funny to hear that advice when I'm just copying that loser, anyway.

Pretty lame of me, huh?

I have no idea what pre-existing mental hang-up you're referring to, but if you want me to say 'no,' you don't know me very well.

[obviously. they've talked for 10 minutes.]

But you can be better than 'that loser.' ...Or if the thought gives you some sort of complex, just like, stop comparing yourself to 'that loser.'

OPEN - am I blue? you'd be too

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