14 [Action + 2 Dreams] - Anytime in the 1st week

[niepokonany]

[ACTION]

[During the daytime, Feliks is keeping himself very busy.]

[Since deciding that maybe -- just maybe, mind you! -- his family's future is kind of his business, he's done his best to keep making a good name for them and himself. And what better time than the Soulfasting to get in people's good books?]

[So, armed with a big basket of high-end sweets, he's paying visits to all the prominent families and citizens he can think of, just sort of dropping in as unannounced as he can. His other friends might be getting a knock on their door sometime this week, too!]

[DREAM 1]

[Far, far away, in a wooded valley surrounded by tall, white-peaked mountains, there's an idyllic kingdom. There are few humans -- it seems to be populated half by an even mix of fairy, grass, and psychic types, and half by... Ponytas?]

[Anyway, everyone is living in peace, frolicking around and eating lots of berries and stuff. But! The fabulously-dressed prince of this realm has a terrible problem! Spotting a stranger (a new servant??), he runs to their side.]

Quick, you totally have to help me hide!

[DREAM 2]

[The setting is a dinner party, taking place in what seems to be an empty black void with a spotlight on the table. There are only three people there -- Feliks, Fai's uncle, and you.]

[And wow, is the atmosphere tense. They hardly talk, and Feliks gets visibly more and more uncomfortable with each little exchange. For his part, the older man appears to be making it worse -- what start as veiled insults get sort of comically direct and over the top as dream logic removes the need for social conventions.]

"You should just disappear out there, playing adventurer with your Pokemon. No one would miss you, and my family would be the better for it!"

[Annnnd there goes Feliks's temper.]

Excuse you, what?!

"I said, 'pass the salt.'"

You didn't! You totally didn't, you total weirdo! He didn't, right?!

Comments

[niepokonany]

[In spite of the Pokemon's apparent disinterest in him, Feliks smiles down at them. N'aww, Pokemon, man. He wonders which one of them ran into the door.]

[It takes him just a second to notice the person he came here to see, and recognize what she said. When he does, though, he smile, casting sparkles all over the hallway.]

Yeah -- like, have a happy Soulfasting, from my family! I brought these little cake-y deals, they're kinda to die for.

[aerial_ace]

[Judging how the Flareon is whimpering a bit and walking away with his tail lowered, it would probably be him. Poor fluffbaby thought you were his master. Cordelia looks a bit down herself, but she manages to put on something of a smile for the blond.]

Oh, right, it is about that time of year, isn't it? Thank you very much.

[niepokonany]

[Feliks glances down at the little whimper, his own smile shrinking briefly.]

Yeah, no big! I brought some to the main house, and they said to come by here, too.

...So what's with that little guy?

[aerial_ace]

Did they? That's very kind, thank you for taking the trip.

[Cordelia frowns a bit as a Leafeon casually sniffs at the goodies she's holding. You're sharing those, right?]

He, along with the others, belong to a very dear friend, who has gone missing, likely in the dream world. I imagine Bolganone thought you might have been him and got a bit... over-excited.

[niepokonany]

No big deal! I might have gone a little overboard getting the sweets.

[Feliks might go a little overboard with a good 90% of what he ever does.]

[Something catches his attention about that...]

Gods, I hope mine aren't freaking out too much when I go there. Have you been?

[aerial_ace]

[Considering she looks a bit haggard, she likely hasn't been sleeping well.]

No, I haven't.

[niepokonany]

Well, like, maybe you'll go soon! Some of the dreams are pretty sweet.

[aerial_ace]

[Stern face time. Zero fun will be had when Cordelia is around.]

This isn't the time for playing. We know nothing about this place or how dangerous it may be.

[niepokonany]

Well, yeah, and that's why it's so fun to go exploring!

[...And this attitude is why Feliks is a freelance trainer, and not with an organization.]

[aerial_ace]

Fun isn't the word I would use in this case. There is danger in the unknown.

[niepokonany]

Gods, people keep saying that like it's news. So?

[The danger is worth it, for him. He spent all his life caged in by those high walls, and the outside is all he's ever wanted, danger and all.]

[aerial_ace]

So, that means that it shouldn't be treated like some kind of picnic!

[niepokonany]

But picnics are way better outside the walls. There's so much more stuff to see!

[-->The point








-->Feliks's head]

[aerial_ace]

[Good job, shortie.]

I believe you may be missing the point.

[niepokonany]

And I think you might be?

Look -- the point is, we're alive in this world, so why not have some fun with it?

[aerial_ace]

As far as I can tell, this "dream world" doesn't work on the same conventions as our own. As such, it should be approached with caution.

[niepokonany]

I mean, I had a pretty lame dream where I was stuck in a room with Fai and Yuui's uncle, but it's been pretty chill besides that so far?

[aerial_ace]

[She sighs. Cordelia isn't going to be able to convey the seriousness of this situation to him, is she?]

In any case, as mundane as that sounds, it's impossible to say how long these dreams will stay that way.

[niepokonany]

What, just 'cause something's weird means we're supposed to get all freaked out about it?

And trust me, that is a total nightmare!

[aerial_ace]

Not necessarily freaked out, but cautious to be sure!

[niepokonany]

Same difference, pretty much?

[Feliks, no.]