enjoymyatelier | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The natives seem to know a lot more than they often share, yes! It's slightly annoying, but mostly mysterious. And I can't tell if it's a good or bad mysterious!

But you'd be so good at it!

Well, of course not. But do you really think it's bad here?

I can't tell either, which is somewhat worrying. At the very least, they don't seem openly malicious, but that's hardly comforting when we don't know their true intentions.

Please. Do I really seem like the sort of person who would make a contract with the devil just to get a woman to notice me? I'm more than capable of that on my own.

[...why does saying that feel so hollow... at least the conversation has been pleasant enough thus far that he can easily pass it off as a joke.]

Well, it's as I said in my opening-some days I loathe this place, and some days I find it absolutely fascinating. I suppose today is just one of the former, I'm afraid.

That's true! I mean, about them not seeming openly malicious. Which, honestly, I will take! It would be more of a chore if they were.

Well...I'd have to say no! Haha, I'm teasing, though.

[ Little does she know about his romantic problems. ]

I hope tomorrow is one of the latter, then! As long as we're here, I think it's better to be cheerful about it. Less confining, that way.

Oh, no, I certainly agree. I'd prefer it to be mildly disquieting than an actual obstruction to our activities, after all.

I was aware, actually...

[ellipses translate to I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW TO REACT TO GOOD-NATURED TEASING...]

Mn, I suppose. I can't always control how I approach that kind of thing, though.

Though I suppose an actual obstruction might be easier to get around, since it would bother more people.

Just checking!!

That's fair enough. I suppose I am just fairly cheerful in general so I don't have trouble doing that?

That's true too, though it would also have institutional power behind it. Granted, I'm not sure how powerful that institution actually is, so who knows how much of a challenge it'd be in the long run?

That would explain it, yes. I'm not usually this easily frustrated, honestly...

I think an anniversary can do that to a person.

I suppose it can.

Though, the fact that it's also my birthday doesn't exactly help...

Oh, that's right! It's the eleventh today. If that's the case - is it all right for me to wish you a happy birthday, even with all we've just talked about?

No, it's perfectly fine. Truth be told, I'm not displeased to be spending my birthday away from home-it's... well, the other circumstances.

That's not at all hard to understand. ...If there's anything I can do to help you make today less frustrating, let me know?

I will, but I think I'll be fine. I mostly just needed to vent a bit, that's all.

[...probably not but hahaha what is asking for help in these matters]

Well, good! If you ever need to vent again, you can always call me up, you know.

Ah, of course. I'll keep that in mind.

...with that said, I do have half a mind to go and investigate the recommendations for local pastries that I've received to get my mind off things. They don't seem to my taste, but there are some things that you can't really know until you've given them a try.

Enjoy yourself!! And let me know if you find anything really good, of course. I'll talk to you later, Kayneth!

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