[action; open] A different life in a brand new place

[subzeroshredder]

WHO: Grusha & You!
WHERE: Labyrinth & around the city
WHEN: Jan 29
WHAT: New arrival!
WARNINGS: References to traumatic injury


i. labyrinth

[Grusha doesn't notice it immediately; the change is so slight, a shift from one place to anoher. But he's known these mountains for years, he's had to know them better than himself. Suddenly, he's not where he was.]

What...?

[They're similar enough to Glaseado, these mountains, but distorted, misremembered ever so slightly - as if from a dream. With more snowboarding paths, and boards littered about, he feels a wince of pain. His dreams mock him like this, too.

Wind whipping up snow behind him, Grusha takes a tentative step forward. The mountains in winter are trecherous, he knows this better than anyone - but what other option is there here but to move forward?

He hugs himself tightly from the cold and reaches into a pocket - his pokeballs are still there, but on inspection, all but one is empty.

Strange, and alarming.]

Altaria!

[He calls out, releasing the dragon from its captivity. It's in no way big enough to carry him, but...it's enough. To hold onto, at least, as he makes his way down, unsure of what'll even meet him at the bottom.]

ii. in the city

[Being in a gym battle one moment, then an unknown mountain the next, followed up with an unfamiliar city...it's a lot for a sudden turn of events, let alone being given a (non-rotom) phone equipped with a mysterious app.

With Altaria returned to its ball he finds somewhere to sit, somewhere warm - a cafe of sorts - and scroll through the app proper to try to make sense of this all. Talks of secret organisations, magic fruits, monsters, so much more...]

You can't be serious...

[He sighs, and a wry grin peeks out from over his scarf.]

Man, Geeta must really have it out for me.

Comments

[fionnuisce]

Like magic, sure. [the line between magic and magecraft is a genuine distinction that takes far too long to explain.] But honestly, this place is weird even by my standards.

[subzeroshredder]

Man...that weird, huh?

[Great......]

You seem to be handling it well, all things considered.

[Heavy on the things considered.]

[fionnuisce]

Oh, I absolutely hate it. I've just had time to get used to the whole thing--there isn't much point in panicking or getting angry over things that are well out of my hands.

[subzeroshredder]

[Ah yes. That - the putting up with of bullshit and quietly resenting it the whole time but keeping that Very Much contained - Grusha knows well.]

Is that the next step after ‘Don’t panic’? ‘Cause I’ve got the technique down already.

[fionnuisce]

Pretty much. Adapting quickly seems like the best thing one can do around here.

[subzeroshredder]

Noted.

[Grusha gives a nod but, frankly, his head is spinning. He lays a hand on the table for a brief moment, then tucks Altaria's ball back to where it belongs.]

...Thanks. You've been a great help. I can see why you're a Professor now.

[fionnuisce]

I wouldn't go that far. I'm effectively just aware that I don't know shit about the larger picture.

Are you alright? I know it's difficult to contend with.

[subzeroshredder]

[He responds coolly:]

I’ve had my life uprooted once before.

[He doesn’t elaborate, but he’s sure that Waver can pick it up.]

It’s just…a lot to process, that’s all.

[fionnuisce]

[He made a quiet noise that was either agreement or commiseration, shrugging with one shoulder.]

It is. I'd say it gets easier, but I think it's more that one just learns to take how fucking weird it all gets in stride.

[subzeroshredder]

[Honestly? That’s more comforting than being told that it gets better, or whatever. It’s something more believable. Realistic.

He lets out something of a dry laugh.]

At least I won’t have to deal with my boss anymore.

[fionnuisce]

[There was a short and brief sound almost like a snort of laughter, Waver's face twisting into a smirk.]

Sure as hell know how that feels. Are they that bad?

[subzeroshredder]

She’s definitely got it out for me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad to finally have her off my back.

[He might not be as overworked as Larry, but Geeta gives him nothing but anxiety. Silver linings in an unforgiving place.]

Yours?

[fionnuisce]

She's a demonic little sadist. Causes me no end of trouble, and that's when she's not trying to work me half to death.

[she is also barely 16]

...But that's to be expected in our line of work. She could certainly be worse.

[subzeroshredder]

…How much worse can it get?

[Only half-rhetorical.]

[fionnuisce]

She's never tried to kill me, which is more than I can say for a few of my colleagues. But I'm well aware that's a little beyond the problems of an average career path.

[subzeroshredder]

No kidding.

[…]

How many times has that happened?

[fionnuisce]

[Shrug.]

A handful over the past seven or eight years? Better they should try for me than her, honestly speaking.

[subzeroshredder]

[Putting the matter of repeated attempted murder aside for the second-]

Why’s that?

[fionnuisce]

Just because I think she's a sadist doesn't mean I dislike her. Reines is still just a teenager, her position of power aside. I'd much rather anyone trying to take that power come after me instead of her.

[He sighed, in the way of one very mildly inconvenienced by his job rather than someone whose life was at risk.]

It's troublesome, but so is everything else about the job. What about yours?

[subzeroshredder]

Well, nobody tries to kill me.

[So there’s that.]

I’m a gym leader, which means anyone aiming to be a Pokémon league champion has to face me. Either I make them face reality, or…I lose. [He says it with a shrug.] It’s meant to be a test of skill, but every so often our boss checks we’re up to standard. If not — we’re done.

It’s a pain, but…battling is the last talent I have left.

[fionnuisce]

No kidding, that sounds...mildly familiar. Never fun when your one remaining purpose in life has immeasurable stakes and scrutiny attached.

[subzeroshredder]

To be honest…it isn’t. Except for the rare opponent…

[He thinks back to the one he battled before coming here. There’d been a certain flame, something that might melt what’s been frozen over.]

Oh, never mind. Not like it matters anymore, now.