Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
enjoymyatelier) wrote2013-04-15 01:36 am
enjoymyatelier) wrote2013-04-15 01:36 am
010 [ACTION FOR ILEX FOREST/AUDIO] [BACKDATED TO THE 11TH]
[It was about halfway through the day before both realizations hit Kayneth. He found himself sitting down in the clearing next to the Ilex Shrine with his Pokemon for a lunch break after spending most of the morning training and trying to check the area out, and after starting to eat he began internally lamenting that he wouldn't have settled for these cheap excuses for ingredient a year ago before realizing that it had been exactly a year ago that he'd arrived in Johto.
This was followed up by the realization that he was also officially another year older, though that... probably actually happened a few months ago. He hadn't really bothered to work out the math, because he thought he wouldn't care that much.
...he actually kind of did, though, and he couldn't really figure out why. He'd always somewhat dreaded birthdays since it had always involved dealing with irritating distant relatives and ensuring that he didn't end up on the wrong end of family and Association politics-it was never dangerous for him and he was practically untouchable, but it was annoying all the same. Here, though... he didn't have to worry about any of it.
...now that he didn't, though, it just felt kind of empty and meaningless. Particularly given that... really, what had he accomplished since he'd gotten to Johto? Getting a starter that was positively useless, only getting the easy first badge in a year, losing to a teenage girl in the first round of a tournament, effectively having his engagement broken off by the woman he loves twice, meeting some acquaintances that he could possibly have called friends and having most of them disappear from this world within several weeks of this date...
...well, very little of that could be considered his fault, even though it was pretty distressing. He'd just run into a patch of bad luck, and it had continued for his entire stay here for whatever reason. That thought didn't make things any better for him, though.
After some time spent staring into nowhere as he ate his sandwich, he considered going for his PokeGear, but... no!! Venting to the network would be totally undignified!!
...but it wasn't like he could talk to his Pokemon about this. He had kind of weird opinions about them to begin with, and they were natives so it wasn't like they'd have any idea what he was going through...
...bluuuuh]
I suppose I'm feeling a bit philosophical on my one-year anniversary of arriving in this world, so I may as well attempt to ask one of those popular open questions to the network that are intended to be thought-provoking or... something.
[Kayneth sounds a bit tired and his tone has a hint of "I can't even believe I'm doing this I should be asking about something I care about," and... well, yes, that is precisely how he feels, but at the same time he needs to talk about something...]
What was your impression of this place shortly after arrival, and how has that changed-
[He stops suddenly after saying that, then lets out a curt, frustrated sigh.]
No, that's an awful question, and I wouldn't blame anyone for not being able to come up with a coherent answer to it. Honestly, I can't for the life of me form a consistent opinion of this place-some days I'm enjoying myself-or at least I may have managed to trick myself into thinking I'm enjoying myself-and other days I have nothing but hatred for this place. It's certainly an interesting puzzle to try and piece together how this world works and what's behind our presence here, yet there are so many things about it that are an absolute nightmare to deal with. Our inability to go home, random disappearances, the lack of infrastructure, the constant music...
[...as he trails off he realizes that yeah he just kind of ended up venting to the network anyway didn't he
how
inelegant he should be more controlled than this what has this place even done to him
ugh, he just
he just]
...anyway, is there anywhere in Azalea that has good alcohol? Or cake, I suppose. If I have to settle for just cake, I will. I rather like the place otherwise, but one bar in town is positively atrocious and I wouldn't be seen dead in there.
This was followed up by the realization that he was also officially another year older, though that... probably actually happened a few months ago. He hadn't really bothered to work out the math, because he thought he wouldn't care that much.
...he actually kind of did, though, and he couldn't really figure out why. He'd always somewhat dreaded birthdays since it had always involved dealing with irritating distant relatives and ensuring that he didn't end up on the wrong end of family and Association politics-it was never dangerous for him and he was practically untouchable, but it was annoying all the same. Here, though... he didn't have to worry about any of it.
...now that he didn't, though, it just felt kind of empty and meaningless. Particularly given that... really, what had he accomplished since he'd gotten to Johto? Getting a starter that was positively useless, only getting the easy first badge in a year, losing to a teenage girl in the first round of a tournament, effectively having his engagement broken off by the woman he loves twice, meeting some acquaintances that he could possibly have called friends and having most of them disappear from this world within several weeks of this date...
...well, very little of that could be considered his fault, even though it was pretty distressing. He'd just run into a patch of bad luck, and it had continued for his entire stay here for whatever reason. That thought didn't make things any better for him, though.
After some time spent staring into nowhere as he ate his sandwich, he considered going for his PokeGear, but... no!! Venting to the network would be totally undignified!!
...but it wasn't like he could talk to his Pokemon about this. He had kind of weird opinions about them to begin with, and they were natives so it wasn't like they'd have any idea what he was going through...
...bluuuuh]
I suppose I'm feeling a bit philosophical on my one-year anniversary of arriving in this world, so I may as well attempt to ask one of those popular open questions to the network that are intended to be thought-provoking or... something.
[Kayneth sounds a bit tired and his tone has a hint of "I can't even believe I'm doing this I should be asking about something I care about," and... well, yes, that is precisely how he feels, but at the same time he needs to talk about something...]
What was your impression of this place shortly after arrival, and how has that changed-
[He stops suddenly after saying that, then lets out a curt, frustrated sigh.]
No, that's an awful question, and I wouldn't blame anyone for not being able to come up with a coherent answer to it. Honestly, I can't for the life of me form a consistent opinion of this place-some days I'm enjoying myself-or at least I may have managed to trick myself into thinking I'm enjoying myself-and other days I have nothing but hatred for this place. It's certainly an interesting puzzle to try and piece together how this world works and what's behind our presence here, yet there are so many things about it that are an absolute nightmare to deal with. Our inability to go home, random disappearances, the lack of infrastructure, the constant music...
[...as he trails off he realizes that yeah he just kind of ended up venting to the network anyway didn't he
how
inelegant he should be more controlled than this what has this place even done to him
ugh, he just
he just]
...anyway, is there anywhere in Azalea that has good alcohol? Or cake, I suppose. If I have to settle for just cake, I will. I rather like the place otherwise, but one bar in town is positively atrocious and I wouldn't be seen dead in there.
[video]
...Is it really...?
[video]
Not more than my own, I think.
[All in all, the Pokéworld might even be better in some aspects...]
Sure is! [He pulls out a business card and puts it in front of the camera; the card reads "Blackbird Delivery", together with Crow's contact information and a small drawing of a black bird.] You're talking to the owner of the best delivery service in both Johto and Kanto!
[video]
[...granted, all he knows about it is "Nazca lines are actually fucking creepy" and "Japan has cities that are named non-Japanese words for some inexplicable reason" so maybe it is...]
...hm, well, I wouldn't accept anything less than the best... how much does it cost?
[video]
[The duelist shrugs a bit. He's honestly seen weirder things than constant background music, the aforementioned Nazca Lines included.]
Lemme see... [He strokes his chin, letting out a thoughtful hum.] Azalea's kinda far away from everything... But you said it's your anniversary, so I guess I can give you a discount...
[The duelist continues to mumble some calculations under his nose for a moment before grinning triumphantly at the screen.]
That'd be 670 for shipping! Plus whatever wine and cake cost, obviously. Works for ya?
[video]
That's a fair price. You'll be delivering it via Pokemon, yes? Should I just give the money to your Pokemon?
[video]
No place's perfect, huh? Guess we've just gotta learn to live with it...
[... Yeah you know what LET'S GO BACK TO BUSINESS. With that, a trademark Work Smile makes its way back on his face!]
Yeah, that works! Just lemme know what kinda wine and cake you want and I'll send 'em your way ASAP. They'll be there before you know it!
[video]
[don't think he didn't notice you being sad about it too]
Admittedly, I'm not particularly familiar with the brands of wine here, but I'd prefer an upscale champagne. As for cake... dark chocolate or tiramisu would be fine.
[video]
[He tries to tie some humor into that line, and fails miserably. Crow is pretty transparent like that.
... Those are some sophisticated wishes, holy shit. But hey, who is he to question the customer's order?]
Gotcha! [The duelist gives him thumbs-up.] You'll get 'em before you know it! ... Along with the invoice.
[video]
[...the goods, not the invoice.]