I've got something to say (Closed)

[frozenflame]

Who: Yukiko and Yosuke
Where: Forest Shrine
When: Week 79
What: Yukiko and Yosuke have some stuff to talk about, so she brings him out to the Forest Shrine



Yukiko didn't really like thinking about all this, about how she had basically been kicked out of her house for the time being. Yes, she'd found work and she had a place of her own, and she was doing what she wanted to do? But that didn't make it any easier or less painful to think about. Her mother had been furious when she'd found out, and even angrier that her daughter had gone on an expedition into the ruins without saying something. Nevermind that they hadn't been speaking, or that Yukiko had literally left the house. She was still her daughter, so of course it mattered where she was!

All that weighed rather heavily on the newest member of the Seekers, and had for a few days now, and even if she didn't really want to talk about it she knew she needed to. And she knew, too, that Yosuke deserved to hear what other people had been saying to her. She believed it fully, and felt that she was doing the right thing by grabbing her own destiny by the horns. Maybe it wasn't what her family wanted, just like what she was going to tell him may not be what his family wanted, but it was what was right for them. and for Union.

Squandering gifts was never wise, and even without abilities like hers, Yosuke had a gift. He was good with Pokemon, if Makie and Fuzzy were any indication. She believed that too, fully, and in a way? She felt like she was responsible for those frowns the other day.

So, when he'd returned from Refuge, as promised, she bought a picnic lunch (after several failed attempts at cooking food, Ganesha had insisted on that) and took him and her Pokemon out to the Shrine. Jiraiya, Orthrus, Hestia, Lillith, and Peter were all out and going about their business as usual. Mostly enjoying the sun and napping, though Hestia made it a point to help Yukiko prepare the food.

As she works, quietly really, Yukiko hummed quietly in time to a tune from her Warp Band. A radio jingle advertising a restaurant in Caldera first, and then one of Rise's old songs.

Comments

[frozenflame]

[That sound is really rather unpleasant. Like...really unpleasant, enough to make Yukiko's voice come out sounding very, very small. Or maybe that was just standing in Snor-Lord's shadow. Because he was pretty good about looming, arms folded...

He'll give you a chance, but just you watch, god. He'll bust out some sick dance moves on you.]

I...well you're not here to eat us. Or you would have. Do you want us to do something for you? [She'd heard a couple of rumors about this sort of encounter floating around, but...]

I mean...you want to test us? Or ask us something?

[punchesyu]

[His eyes flick back from Peter to the legend in front of them, nervous. Especially so at whatever that was. He's almost sure he's going to die, even if that thing says that it's not here to do them any harm. He doesn't know if it's lying or not.]

Y-Yeah, I have no clue. You sure you're not going to just, bite our throats out or something? I still have lots to do. You know, being alive and all that stuff that goes along with it. We'll do anything!

Just please, spare us!

[He's going to wet himself.]

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

[The 'laughter' dies a bit at Yosuke's frantic pleas. If the minor god had any eyebrows to raise, they would be arched pretty high right about now.]

...My diet does not generally include humans. Your meat to bone ratio is low.

[Is that a joke?]

But yes. That has been... the usual procedure.

I grow weary of questioning, though. Perhaps... there is something you wish to ask me, instead?

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko recognizes, unlike Yosuke, that they'll just have to take it on faith that this god doesn't want to eat them. She will admit that she is pretty stringy, and probably tastes a lot like grass. Really dry grass that's baked in a summer sun. No good dog should want to eat that.]

I...you...huh.

[That's actually not what she'd expected at all. She looks from the god to Yosuke, and then over at Peter. There's a question that's been on her mind lately, of course. Something most trainers who wandered through the shattered and recovering landscape often thought about. Especially after seeing Primal Groundon.]

Is there something we...as humans...can do to better coexist with Pokemon? I mean, we're trying, we really don't want to make you mad. Are the gods, you...and your friends...Are you testing us? Or, like with those earthquakes? Were you angry at us and trying to teach us a lesson?

[punchesyu]

[He'll just keep quiet and continue to pray to the Great Tree that he leaves this alive, standing and awaiting an answer from the legendary pokémon in front of them.]

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

[Its muzzle turns up slightly at Yukiko's words - though perhaps in god-body language, that just means it's getting hungrier.]

We are testing you.

But those who have watched over you from the beginning... It would not be amiss to say... they are preparing you.

But I should not speak on their behalf. Do not be tempted to think we are all of one mind.

[frozenflame]

Ah...uh...I see.

[Which was cryptic, oh my goddog was it cryptic! Yukiko takes a step back into Snor-Lord, who definitely gives that dog a look.]

I understand though.

[punchesyu]

Preparing us...

[He thought about it for a moment. For what? Why? There's a lot of questions to be had out of that statement alone, and Yosuke has plenty of them.]

So does that mean something big is coming? Can you tell us what that is, or when? Is it coming from the gods, or is it something that's been right under our noses the whole time?

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

No.

[A simple answer. Sorry, Yosuke.]

For I do not know myself. I am a servant of another... and we who are bound to service do not require knowledge of such things.

But I believe... Child of the Great Tree, Child of the Savior of Man... you already have an idea of what is to come.

[frozenflame]

[...That's...definitely an answer. Yukiko doesn't like the sound of it, but definitely conflict. She takes another breath, and asks another question.]

Are there any lessons you, um...personally...feel that humans need to learn? I mean, you're bound into service and not all the gods share your opinion you say, but, what's your opinion?

[punchesyu]

[And idea of what is to come. It said that this isn't the first time they've contacted humans. Yosuke has had a bad feeling about things, since the attack on Citadel, especially since Sanctuary.

Again, he waits for the pokémon's answer.]

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

[Again, the muzzle curves upwards.]

Courage, perhaps.

[Cough cough Yosuke.]

My personal opinion? It is not one that is shared by many.

But the image you hold of us -- this all-powerful, unappeasable moral force... is not entirely true. We are individuals. And we are not perfect. Humans and Pokemon are meant to live in balance. The one is not subject to the other... in either direction.

Do not live your lives in fear of 'doing the wrong thing'... but in pursuit of what is right. Only then can this world be at peace.

[frozenflame]

[That is definitely good advice, and something Yukiko's always tried to live by. She's never really considered herself particularly brave, but she's also never really thought much about these gods. They're powerful and terrifying, but as this one has shown (and compared to the last one she met: Groundon), they aren't all alike.

She nods and gestures to Yosuke.]

I...think that I get that, too.

[punchesyu]

So what, you guys hold council meetings on us and decide how you're gunna put us through the wringer? How have you been testing us? Is that why the fire god attacked Citadel?

[If anything, he sounds a little annoyed. Getting jerked around, or at least feeling like being jerked around annoys him.]

And what about the people who aren't working towards what's right, are they going to get punished?

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

[The water spirit's tail ripples and twitches now, though in outwards countenance, it remains calm.]

I believe you have ignored what I just said... And I do not wish to repeat myself.

My test... and the test of my fellow servants is simple.

It is happening now.

[frozenflame]

O-Oh...kay.

[She rubs at her cheek with a finger, thinking hard about what to ask next.]

Um...what do you, and...I guess the gods that agree with you, think about Gigas? The place to the north. The one that hurt those people to make their Enhanced soldiers?

[punchesyu]

Great. [He mutters to himself. Tested now. It didn't exactly answer his question, but he isn't going to push it since they are dealing with a legend here.]

And what about that Sanctuary crap? With the Homunculi. It's totally messed up. ...You said we should work toward what's right than worry about doing the wrong thing. But the thing on a lot of people's minds is if that whole creepy program of theirs is the right thing to do.

[At least with Union.]

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

[The ribbon-like tail whips more rapidly.]

I cannot tell you right from wrong. That is something you must decide on your own.

As for the city of Gigas... Perhaps you will understand if I say that we fear for what is to come.

[Perhaps this is not the answer they expected -- but it is spoken with great gravity. As the beast's tail strikes the water continuously, an odd ripple begins to spread across the pool.

It lowers its head towards the water and seems to nod.]

Children of man, my time grows short. My fellow servants sought to understand humanity through your answers - I glean knowledge from your questions.

I shall hope that you leave this place with greater understanding.

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko does sort of understand it...but she holds out a hand.]

W-Wait! One more question!

[A brief pause...as she realizes she just yelled at a god...]

What's your name? What do we call you, if...we were fortunate enough to see you again?

[punchesyu]

Yeah and...thanks for answering all that.

[His hand goes up behind his head, not knowing how to feel quite yet about it all. He's not sure if he's liked everything the pokemon has said so far.]

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

[It seems momentarily surprised before it bows its head once more.]

I am the North Wind... the gale that brings the frost. In my wake, the seeds of the future arise and the waters of life flow everlasting.

I am called Suicune.

[And with that dramatic pronouncement, the creature freezes in that position -- in the next moment, there is nothing but a cascade of water crashing down into the pool.

The sun shines brightly overhead once again.]

[frozenflame]

...Suicune.

[As the Pokemon vanishes, Yukiko feels her legs go out, wobbly as a bowl full of Jello already. She drops down, just in time to be caught by Snor-Lord, who'd spend the majority of the exchange cleaning his ears out with a claw.

The sunlight intensifies as she lets her control slip in her consternation...]

Yosuke...we just...we met a god.

[punchesyu]

[He feels like he's been holding his breath for way too long. When Suicune vanishes, he exhales and finally lets the tension out of his muscles.]

That didn't even seem real... I'm not feeling so good.

[Whether that's the sun beating down on him or that he feels sick and has to piss all at the same time is unknown, but it would be safe to say it's a combination of all three.]

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko's whole body just wilds against Snor-Lord, and the big monster picks her up and sets her on his shoulder.]

Don't...throw up in his pond, we really don't wanna make him mad.

[Snor-Lord starts to trundle off though, heading away and back towards the shrine...]

We...I...this is just...I don't know if anyone's gonna believe us.

[punchesyu]

Didn't it say that this isn't the first time they've contacted humans? Does that mean recently or ever?

[He's still in panic mode, so his mind is running through everything way too fast.]

Cuz they gotta believe us! Didn't you hear what it said, that they're preparing us for something! What the hell is that supposed to mean?!