Inbox for Victory Road

[majimekun]

This is Deuce! I'm out right now but leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!

[Voice/Video/Text/Action threads go here for V_R]

Comments

For Kazuki

[majimekun]

It's a long month or so for Deuce. Probably one of the longest in his life. No magic, no Magic Wheel, no annoying friends...

It was enough to leave a guy feeling depressed. Doubly so when he kept worrying about his Mom back home. Even though he'd gathered that she might not even realize that he was gone, that didn't mean he wasn't going to worry about it. But fortunately, Deuce was mentally resilient and after going through a five stages of grief sort of experience, he'd decided to cope in the only way he knew how: fighting. Or rather, letting his pokemon do the fighting.

It still seemed like a strange concept and a better person might have worried about the ethics of such a thing, but Deuce wasn't that person. And besides, his Machop, Torque, had been more than happy to take up the challenge. Really that he'd been gifted such a useful underling upon arrival was a rare stroke of luck.

So it was that Deuce had decided to make his way, carefully learning the ropes of fighting. There had been quite a few stumbles along the way but somehow they'd managed and he'd already gained two new editions to the crew: a Shinx and an Espurr.

Of course, outside of all the battling Deuce didn't really have much of a goal. He couldn't become a strong wizard, a model student or a magical enforcement officer like back home. So he was feeling a bit adrift. But he had decided to make his way towards Azalea town, if only to meet Kazuki, the guy he'd talked with in depth when he'd first arrived. From there, who knows what he was going to do?

But eventually, after mustering a bit of courage, Deuce sent a text.

Hey, I was in town. I was wondering if you'd like to meet up.

If you have time. But if not, I understand.

[forsaintcecilia]

Kazuki wasn't expecting to be contacted, but he was happy to get a test from Deuce. It had been awhile, and he was wondering how he was doing. And he could use the company! He had some guests right now, but they were just the usual sort, not any of his friends.

Of course, come on over! Montblanc is getting afternoon tea ready right now! Do you know where the Silver Horn is?

[majimekun]

Not being instantly rejected as being too clingy is a relief in itself, though logically Deuce is probably over thinking it.

Could you send me some directions? I think I have an idea, but I want to be sure.
And tea sounds nice.

[forsaintcecilia]

Sure thing! If you're in Azelea, then all you have to do is...

Insert instructions here!

[majimekun]

Alright, I'll see you in a bit then.

It doesn't take him long to find his way fortunately and tentatively he steps inside. His pokemon are all resting in their pokeballs right now, so he's the only one who enters and he glances around the reception area, wide eyed.

"Uh, hello?"

[forsaintcecilia]

A Male Indeedee was standing on a stool behind the front desk, meticulously sorting various paperwork, when Deuce walked in. He looked up and gave him a short, polite nod, and clapped his paws together. At the signal, a cute, well-groomed Kanto Vulpix with a red ribbon tied around its neck yipped happily at him, and then led him into the tearoom.

In the hallway, they passed a Furret with a basket of laundry on its back. If Deuce glanced into the kitchen as they passed by, he'd see an Alcremie and Slurpuff working on setting up afternoon tea. Kazuki's Pokemon were all working together to keep the inn running. Everyone seemed to get along really well.

In the tearoom, Kazuki was setting a table with the help of his Primarina. Tonks insisted that he be there to meet their new guest. It was his job as Kazuki's starter to vet potential friends!

"Ah! Deuce! Hi!" Kazuki turned his attention away from the tables to give a proper greeting, and stuffed a towel he was using in the pocket of his apron. "Welcome to the Silver Horn! Did you have any trouble finding the place?"

The Vulpix that leg Deuce in rubbed around his legs, and he bent down to give her a pet and a word of praise.

[majimekun]

Pokemon were becoming a familiar sight by now, but seeing so many actually working like this, well it was a bit shocking.

Back home they'd had fairies and ghosts staffing Night Raven College, but it wasn't quite the same thing or even close to the same energy. It was almost awe inspiring.

"Oh, hello!" Deuce nodded in greeting. At least Kazuki looked as nice and normal in person as he had over video. No, it was easy to find. You give good directions." He frowned unsure of what to say. "Thanks for having me on such short notice."

[forsaintcecilia]

Unlike a large portion of the otherworld residents here in the Pokemon world, Kazuki was the very image of normal and well-adjusted. No tragic backstory, no massive trauma. Just a nice guy who toot toots the doot doot.

"No problem, no problem!" he waved a hand in front of his face in friendly dismissal. "It's an inn, I've gotta be ready for guests whenever they come in! Although the Pokemon do most of the work."

Speaking of, the Slurpuff that was in the kitchen comes in, wheeling a tea tray decked with little bites of food.

"Thanks, Sticky! Uwah, you really went all out today..." Kazuki lifted the tray and put it on the table. "Tell Montblanc she did a great job for me!"

[majimekun]

He's in awe of the food, since he's been trying to dine cheap when possible and seeing actual real fod, even if it's all just appetizers and the like is a bit much and Deuce forces himself to keep his composure.

"Are they all your pokemon? I mean, there's a lot here..." He's still wrapping his mind around having three, okay? Even one was a bit of a shock to deal with.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Hmmm... Technically, I guess?" Kazuki answered as Tonks finished setting the table, and Sticky the Slurpuff took the empty cart back to the kitchen. "But I don't really think of them as 'mine.' They're more like my friends! I give them a lot of freedom, and they all do what suits them best. Whatever they enjoy!"

This whole idea was first conceived because he didn't like the idea of putting any of his Pokemon in the PC, but he was running out of room at his old place as he inherited more and more Pokemon.

[majimekun]

"Friends huh..." He said as he watched them going about their work. "I guess 'm still trying to get used to seeing them about. I mean we have ghosts and fairies back home, but they're a bit... different."

He shrugged after a moment. "Is it alright if I sit down? It's been a long trip."

[forsaintcecilia]

"They are a little different than that. They definitely don't hide like fairies do," Kazuki replied thoughtfully, a hum in his throat. "I always felt like the Fata lived in a different world, but Pokemon share it with us!"

"Please, make yourself at home!" He gestured at a nearby lounge. "How do you like your tea? Is there any kind of blend you like? We've got black tea, and green tea, and an herbal one I made myself!"

[majimekun]

"Hmmmmm," he thought for a moment. "Well maybe I'll try the one you made? We usually have it black in my dorm when we do the Unbirthday parties, but I'm not too picky." It was weird not having to work to set up any parties or follow any strange rules. Almost a relief, yet also a bit...

"I like a little cream and sugar, but not too much though."

[forsaintcecilia]

"Okay! Cream doesn't really taste good in this blend, but I'll put in a lump of sugar for you."

Kazuki busied himself with the tea, putting the herbal blend in a little cachet and tying it off with a bit of string. It was something he'd put together after some time experimenting, and he'd gotten rather fond of it. It was mainly hibiscus, with dried plum, ginger, orange peel, and just a hint of licorice. Since there wasn't any actual tea in it, it could be allowed to steep in the pot indefinitely without getting bitter.

"What's an Unbirthday party?" He asked while he was making the tea, to start conversation.

[majimekun]

Deuce watched as he made the tea, thinking on how to explain it.

"Oh, in my school dorm, Heartslabyul, we emulate the rules of the Queen of Hearts. That's... one of the great Seven. But anyways, in her kingdom, they would throw an Unbirthday party. It's a party held on a day when it's no one's birthday. So that's what we do in the dorm: if no one had as a birthday that day, we throw a party," he though for a moment. "You have to do things like paint the roses red, which takes forever even with magic," he rubbed the back of his head. "It's a lot of work."

[forsaintcecilia]

"That, uh... doesn't sound like it's very fun?"

Kazuki didn't want to sound judgemental, or seem rude, but that really didn't sound enjoyable at all!

"I mean, a party should be fun, right? Or does it mean something different where you're from?"

[majimekun]

"Sometimes it's not, yeah," he shrugged a bit. "But at the same time, I don't know, it's kind of nice, being part of school events like that." It's hard to explain to someone who isn't involved. "We also have a lot of desserts and tea and get to play croquet matches. That parts really nice." He smiled a little at that.

"But our dorm has a lot of rules, since it's founded on the Queen's severity. So it's a bit... well common sense doesn't apply I guess you could say."

[forsaintcecilia]

"Uhn... So, it's more like a tradition, then? That makes a little more sense."

To be honest: No. No it did not. But Kazuki meant no disrespect, and didn't want to come across that way either. Still, he was getting a feeling kind of like a world from a silly children's book from Deuce's description. Maybe it was a place like that?

"And school events are fun, as long as your friends are there too!" he added as he poured Deuce a cup of tea, after it had steeped for long enough. "It feels like it's been forever since the last time I got to do something like that."

[majimekun]

To be fair, Yuu, being an off worlder himself has always commented on how weird everything is too. It's all made stranger by how many incredibly intense personalities run about.

"Thank you," he said as he took the cup, inhaling for a moment. It did smell nice. "You don't have guests all the time? Even though you have this nice place?"

[forsaintcecilia]

"Oh yeah, there are guests right now! But they're probably out doing their own thing. There's a lot of stuff to do outside too, especially for the Pokemon. I just make sure there's some food around at teatime in case anyone's hungry."

As a young guy that was perpetually hungry himself, that was important! Kazuki poured his own cup of tea, and then sat down across from Deuce. He scanned the tea tray, and picked a chicken salad sandwich for himself.

[majimekun]

"Oh that's nice at least. Food is important," he said as he started to select a few different items. Back home he'd still been on that annoying diet restriction. Vil's requirements weren't unhealthy or anything like that, but being able to eat what ever he wanted again was still a bit mind blowing.

He takes a bite out of a sandwich and smiles. "It's all so good! I know I keep complimenting you, but it really is!" God he hopes he doesn't sound weird.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Oh, it's not me! I mean, I help out, but Montblanc and Sticky make the menu. I didn't know anything about cooking at all until I caught Sticky," he made sure to explain. "He was really interested, so we learned all the basics together, and then he started doing it all on his own. He's way better at it than me now."

His tone was like that of a proud dad who's kid had graduated from tee ball to softball, but couldn't throw straight himself.

[majimekun]

"That's amazing," he said said as he took another sip of tea. "Can all of them learn how to do things like that? The pokemon I mean?" He was still sussing out the personalities of the three he had right now.

Most of what he'd gather was really that his Machop, Torque, like to show off a little too much.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Yeah!" Kazuki nodded enthusiastically. "I mean, each Pokemon is naturally suited to do different things, but they're capable of a lot. It's amazing what they can learn to do if you support them! And they've taught me a lot too."

"It takes time and effort, but you can basically make anything you want to happen here, happen. I think that's part of its magic."

[majimekun]

"Anything huh..." he folded his hands for a moment, thinking. "I mean I suppose they're letting us go about on our own even when we're still high school students."

"If only they still had magic here." That put a damper on the whole follow your dreams thing though.