On Valentine's Day morning, Maya will wake up to find a vase filled with blue and purple flowers, a pink box filled with one dozen cupcakes (chocolate with chocolate frosting and decorated with blue and purple sugar sprinkles), and a set of three mystery novels to help her cleanse her palate from all the gooshy romance that's been going around this week.
There's also a card.
It's handmade - Krieg has printed an anatomically correct human heart that looks like a drawing from a medical textbook, cut it out, and pasted it to the front. Inside, Krieg has handwritten a note in blocky chicken scratch.
I hope the books are okay! If they suck we can burn them and get better ones!
It's a beautiful evening in Cerulean City. Outside, the birds are singing, the sun is setting, and Krieg is on his way back to the hotel room they've grabbed with enough takeout to feed either one (1) small army, OR one (1) Psycho and one (1) Siren.
He'll be back any second now, which is good because in his absence, his Eevee and Sylveon have decided to play a game.
Punk has found a fun ring toy in Krieg's pack, and Dora is now wearing it like a necklace and allowing the small fluffy Eevee to chase him around. The two are like a pair of cats, up and down all of the hotel room furniture, dashing to and fro at top speed. At least until Maya enters the equation, somehow, and Adorababy tries to dash left when he should've gone right, and bumps right into her legs. Punk crashes into 'Dora right after that, and now Maya has an adorable fluffy pileup at her feet, featuring one very stylish Siren control collar necklace still adorning 'Dora's neck.
Maya had been reading a book up until the sudden crash of fluff at her feet. She's getting used to pokemon so it's not totally strange. So she just puts the book to the side and looks down to see if they're fine.
"Is everyone oka-"
Oh hey that sure is a collar. A familiar collar. A collar that should not be here.
"What the fuck."
And she is going to reach down and remove said collar. Sorry 'Dora. Maya looks kind of horrified at the moment.
'Dora trills an apology, and stands up on his rear legs to pat cutely at Maya's knees with one of his front paws. He's sorry, he didn't mean to interrupt her, please don't be mad! Punk, meanwhile, just looks confused. Is the game over? Did he win?
Before reassurances, condemnations, or any other reactions can be made, Krieg makes his triumphant return, two large brown paper bags filled with food nestled in the crook of one arm. The smell of delicious, greasy takeout immediately fills the room, and once he's fully inside his eyes track - as always - straight to Maya.
And then straight to the thing she's holding.
He'd forgotten about the control collar, as he usually does when he goes for long stretches without fully emptying his travel bag. The reminder is wholly unpleasant, as usual. He freezes in place as the door closes behind him, and stares with a complicated mixture of loathing and longing clear on the exposed portion of his face. Adorababy, still concerned about Maya's expletive, continues to paw softly at her lap, while Punk, completely oblivious to the sudden tension in the room, runs over to greet his trainer and begin begging for scraps. For the moment, the only sounds are the soft Eevee and Sylveon noises the pair of troublemakers are making.
Maya is just kind of turning the thing over in her hands. She remembers this. It would be kind of hard for her not to. Not after seeing two sirens trapped in it. Not after watching it choke Lilith of all people. It's... her hands clench and she just stops herself from trying to crush it, as the pokemon make her notice that someone else is in the room.
So instead she holds the collar up, with her right hand. Even holding it near her depowered siren tattoos feels wrong.
"It's Angel's." The words are out of his mouth before he can think, which is a good thing since that means he doesn't have a chance to choke up and trip over her name. Seeing the thing in Maya's hand, seeing the look on Maya's face as she holds it up and demands an explanation, makes him want to vomit. He hates the control collar. He hates it for what it did to Angel her whole life, and he hates it for what it did to Lilith. When Angel had showed up wearing it, here, in this safe and soft place, he'd wanted to break it - to crush it, to smash it, to rip it into the tiniest of pieces that couldn't possibly be put together again. But Angel had begged, and insisted, that he leave it be, and he could never say no to her, could never deny her anything she asked. He'd left the collar alone, and when she had disappeared, had continued to leave it alone.
"She found it after she--" His brain catches up to him there, and he cuts himself off abruptly, jerking his gaze away from the hated object in Maya's hand and dropping it to the floor. Punk Face stretches up to paw at his knees when he lays eyes on the little Eevee, and that grounds him a bit. "--After my guts melted."
[Some time at the start of the month, Maya is going to be visited by a little Wingull. A little Wingull wearing a postman's cap and a carrier bag (appropriately sized, of course). A carrier bag from which she will withdraw two items. One is an actual, honest to god, old fashioned letter. On paper. Handwritten. The whole kitten and kaboodle. The other thing is a clipboard, the sort one is supposed to sign before receiving a package.
After (and only after) Maya has signed the clipboard, she will receive a bright little Wiiiing and a headbob before the Wingull takes off again, leaving her with just the letter. A letter which reads:]
Dear Miss Maya,
The last time we spoke, you said you were going to look into contacting the Legendary Seekers and joining up. If you went ahead and did so, I guess you can ignore this letter. But just in case you didn't--
Just now, I received my monthly newsletter from the Legendary Seekers. It was mostly the usual stuff
[Read: blurry photos, unlikely tales and a whole lot of #confirmed]
But it also included the news that the Seekers will be organising a camp-out at the Ruins of Alph for everybody interested in Legendary pokemon. You don't even have to be a Seeker to come join. It's going to be from the 18th to the 21st. I wasn't sure if this is the sort of thing you are interested in, but just in case, I wanted to let you know. I am going, of course. It sounds like a great opportunity.
In case you want to read up on it yourself, I've included a copy of the newsletter with this letter.
I hope to see you there, but if not, of course, I'll let you know if I end up finding out anything interesting while I am there.
[This is really strange. But okay a letter. It will take her a little while to write one back because 1. how do you letter? 2. it took longer then it should have to complete the quest, find the place that sends letters by Wingull and 3. no really how do you letter. She may have read a book about it.]
Hello, Armin
I've never actually written a letter. Everything back home is Echonets and the like. So I had to look up a few things.
Thank you for the information. I have already joined up with the Legendary Seekers. They're just as strange as I thought they were the first time but I really can't judge much considering some of the people I know at home. Hopefully it isn't a cult. It isn't a cult is it? Those never end well and they can get really annoying when they reach their human sacrifice stage. If it is a cult, I get full judging rights.
Anyway that camp out sounds interesting and Krieg seemed into it when I told him so I think we'll end up there.
I don't think they are a cult. I'll admit, I don't have a lot of experience with cults beyond the Wall Cult back home, but they act nothing like that. I think they are just... really enthusiastic. They remind me a bit of that one team that 'attacked' us once. Just less criminal and more focused on legendary creatures.
[Good old Team Skull. After dealing with Team Rocket a few times, they just... really weren't very intimidating at all.]
Either way, I look forward to seeing both you and Krieg there. I think Sasha might join us too. I heard her mention something about it. I'd ask Shiro or Jean, but I know they don't care much about legendary pokemon.
Yours sincerely, Armin Arlert
Edited 2019-07-07 20:22 (UTC)
Forward dated to the first session of Dungeons & Dragonites
[No seriously, what the fuck? First Maya, then (more politely) Armin had both ditched the session. He'd never seen a gaming group fall apart that fast. Every other one he'd been in had at least made it through the first session.]
[Maya almost just doesn't replay at all. She's still angry at having Jack's presence being surprised on her like that. However it's just a text. This is fine. She can do this. It's fine.]
I didn't realize you knew Jack. I never would have joined up if I knew he was going to be involved.
I didn't want to say if he was coming until I knew for certain.
[He's learned his lesson about speaking for Jack with that disaster of a Rocket memo.]
But yes. I know Jack. I've known him practically since I got here. He's the other person in Goldenrod I said I wanted to bring. I didn't realize I had to advertise his possible presence for any activity I might do with him.
You don't have to do anything. I just left because I don't like being surprised when the guy who tried to kill me, my friends and a planets worth of people, shows up out of nowhere.
I'm not really sure if I know him well enough to make that assessment. He told me he's not a very good person. Not as bad as Jack, but that he finds it hard to care about people unless given a reason. I'm not sure if that is really being a bad person though, or if he's perhaps more honest than most people would be about their own feelings.
[But what kind of answer is that? Will that help Maya any? Isn't he just avoiding giving her his opinion in fear of being wrong?]
I-- No, I don't think he is a threat. Not unless provoked. I don't think he'd sit by if we'd attack Jack (not that we are planning to) but I don't think target us without reason. At least, not right now. Maybe if Jack has had more time to influence him...
I guess we'll just wait and see then. Maybe he's being manipulated or maybe he's just better at acting nice then Jack is.
Either way he's made his choice. I'm not saying we don't help him if he ends up needing help but for now it's probably best if we just avoid the topic of Jack around him and be careful around him in general.
With Angel here my usual plan of just trying to ignore Jack's existence is going to have to be worked over a bit. This guy just gives Jack another way to try and convince her he's changed.
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notyourgoddess) wrote2020-01-27 11:33 pm
Valentine's Day!
There's also a card.
It's handmade - Krieg has printed an anatomically correct human heart that looks like a drawing from a medical textbook, cut it out, and pasted it to the front. Inside, Krieg has handwritten a note in blocky chicken scratch.
I hope the books are okay! If they suck we can burn them and get better ones!
-KRIEG
June, Cerulean City
He'll be back any second now, which is good because in his absence, his Eevee and Sylveon have decided to play a game.
Punk has found a fun ring toy in Krieg's pack, and Dora is now wearing it like a necklace and allowing the small fluffy Eevee to chase him around. The two are like a pair of cats, up and down all of the hotel room furniture, dashing to and fro at top speed. At least until Maya enters the equation, somehow, and Adorababy tries to dash left when he should've gone right, and bumps right into her legs. Punk crashes into 'Dora right after that, and now Maya has an adorable fluffy pileup at her feet, featuring one very stylish
Siren control collarnecklace still adorning 'Dora's neck.no subject
"Is everyone oka-"
Oh hey that sure is a collar. A familiar collar. A collar that should not be here.
"What the fuck."
And she is going to reach down and remove said collar. Sorry 'Dora. Maya looks kind of horrified at the moment.
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Before reassurances, condemnations, or any other reactions can be made, Krieg makes his triumphant return, two large brown paper bags filled with food nestled in the crook of one arm. The smell of delicious, greasy takeout immediately fills the room, and once he's fully inside his eyes track - as always - straight to Maya.
And then straight to the thing she's holding.
He'd forgotten about the control collar, as he usually does when he goes for long stretches without fully emptying his travel bag. The reminder is wholly unpleasant, as usual. He freezes in place as the door closes behind him, and stares with a complicated mixture of loathing and longing clear on the exposed portion of his face. Adorababy, still concerned about Maya's expletive, continues to paw softly at her lap, while Punk, completely oblivious to the sudden tension in the room, runs over to greet his trainer and begin begging for scraps. For the moment, the only sounds are the soft Eevee and Sylveon noises the pair of troublemakers are making.
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So instead she holds the collar up, with her right hand. Even holding it near her depowered siren tattoos feels wrong.
"Where did this thing come from?"
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"She found it after she--" His brain catches up to him there, and he cuts himself off abruptly, jerking his gaze away from the hated object in Maya's hand and dropping it to the floor. Punk Face stretches up to paw at his knees when he lays eyes on the little Eevee, and that grounds him a bit. "--After my guts melted."
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Letter
After (and only after) Maya has signed the clipboard, she will receive a bright little Wiiiing and a headbob before the Wingull takes off again, leaving her with just the letter. A letter which reads:]
Dear Miss Maya,
The last time we spoke, you said you were going to look into contacting the Legendary Seekers and joining up. If you went ahead and did so, I guess you can ignore this letter. But just in case you didn't--
Just now, I received my monthly newsletter from the Legendary Seekers. It was mostly the usual stuff
[Read: blurry photos, unlikely tales and a whole lot of #confirmed]
But it also included the news that the Seekers will be organising a camp-out at the Ruins of Alph for everybody interested in Legendary pokemon. You don't even have to be a Seeker to come join. It's going to be from the 18th to the 21st. I wasn't sure if this is the sort of thing you are interested in, but just in case, I wanted to let you know. I am going, of course. It sounds like a great opportunity.
In case you want to read up on it yourself, I've included a copy of the newsletter with this letter.
I hope to see you there, but if not, of course, I'll let you know if I end up finding out anything interesting while I am there.
Yours sincerely,
Armin Arlert
Return Letter
Hello, Armin
I've never actually written a letter. Everything back home is Echonets and the like. So I had to look up a few things.
Thank you for the information. I have already joined up with the Legendary Seekers. They're just as strange as I thought they were the first time but I really can't judge much considering some of the people I know at home. Hopefully it isn't a cult. It isn't a cult is it? Those never end well and they can get really annoying when they reach their human sacrifice stage. If it is a cult, I get full judging rights.
Anyway that camp out sounds interesting and Krieg seemed into it when I told him so I think we'll end up there.
Thanks again for the data.
With appreciation,
Maya
Return Return Letter
I don't think they are a cult. I'll admit, I don't have a lot of experience with cults beyond the Wall Cult back home, but they act nothing like that. I think they are just... really enthusiastic. They remind me a bit of that one team that 'attacked' us once. Just less criminal and more focused on legendary creatures.
[Good old Team Skull. After dealing with Team Rocket a few times, they just... really weren't very intimidating at all.]
Either way, I look forward to seeing both you and Krieg there. I think Sasha might join us too. I heard her mention something about it. I'd ask Shiro or Jean, but I know they don't care much about legendary pokemon.
Yours sincerely,
Armin Arlert
Forward dated to the first session of Dungeons & Dragonites
[No seriously, what the fuck? First Maya, then (more politely) Armin had both ditched the session. He'd never seen a gaming group fall apart that fast. Every other one he'd been in had at least made it through the first session.]
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I didn't realize you knew Jack. I never would have joined up if I knew he was going to be involved.
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[He's learned his lesson about speaking for Jack with that disaster of a Rocket memo.]
But yes. I know Jack. I've known him practically since I got here. He's the other person in Goldenrod I said I wanted to bring. I didn't realize I had to advertise his possible presence for any activity I might do with him.
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Text; On the day of that fated DnD game.
That was a fiasco.
[Sorry, Maya. Armin just kinda needs to let off some salt and you will understand him. He worked so hard on those character sheets, okay!]
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Jack ruins everything.
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[Which, you know. Says it all.]
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You asked me to let you know when I talked to Steven about Jack.
I did. Unfortunately, I don't think it has helped much. He really seems to genuinely believe Jack wants to change.
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[To them or let's be real, Angel. She's worried about Angel.]
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I'm not really sure if I know him well enough to make that assessment. He told me he's not a very good person. Not as bad as Jack, but that he finds it hard to care about people unless given a reason. I'm not sure if that is really being a bad person though, or if he's perhaps more honest than most people would be about their own feelings.
[But what kind of answer is that? Will that help Maya any? Isn't he just avoiding giving her his opinion in fear of being wrong?]
I-- No, I don't think he is a threat. Not unless provoked. I don't think he'd sit by if we'd attack Jack (not that we are planning to) but I don't think target us without reason. At least, not right now. Maybe if Jack has had more time to influence him...
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Either way he's made his choice. I'm not saying we don't help him if he ends up needing help but for now it's probably best if we just avoid the topic of Jack around him and be careful around him in general.
With Angel here my usual plan of just trying to ignore Jack's existence is going to have to be worked over a bit. This guy just gives Jack another way to try and convince her he's changed.
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Maya - Armin's Lapras are gone. Someone attacked him and stole them. He's okay, but I'm going out there to help search the beach.
All we know so far is it was a group, they had a boat, and they took all of the Lapras.
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[She's guessing he's also telling Krieg but hey if not she totally is.]
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Is there anything you guys need that we can bring up with us?
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