Willy
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Post by Willy on Apr 25, 2013 0:38:30 GMT -5
"Well distance isn't so much the problem, though I suppose being closer to where I want to go doesn't hurt. Either way I-" Doug began before realizing it wasn't all that important. There would be time to discuss those matters some other time.
Doug listened to everything Marduk had to say. He had suspected something had been up at this festival, but he wasn't sure what. It all made sense up until Deb was included. Doug could have sworn Deb and Vito were at odds with each other. Then again, the Wish Stone couldn't be an easy item to steal. It likely required a very complex plan. And he couldn't say he much trusted the Blaziken anyway.
And Haru. Haru was definitely a loose canon. Even if Doug could somehow convince him to help, it would be more effort than it was worth.
The Empoleon may be unpredictable, but Doug thought back to his match with Ansgar. It was pretty clear Ansgar let himself lose for a reason. At least to Doug. He would probably be worth talking to about this at some point. Not to mention his match with Jarek. Something was funny about that guy.
Everyone else was either on the opposite side or fairly lackluster. Not to mention Tali seemed to have a thing with Vito.
"There's one thing that still bugs me about all this," Doug announced, "I've seen the area around the stone. There are guards assigned to it constantly, and it's even in an area that isn't easily accessible naturally. Why do you feel the need to take the duty of defending the stone on yourself?"
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Apr 25, 2013 1:19:56 GMT -5
Bob sat still, watching the mostly empty fairgrounds. Silent, he began to think. His thoughts quickly strayed from his surroundings, flocking to his emotions instead, as thoughts tend to do. Jet did not want to come with him, as he had said countless times. Which was excusable to a point, as what they were looking to do was risky in many ways. That never stopped Bob before, though, as once he had his mind set on something, he didn't stop until he got what he wanted.
But what did he want? This was the first time in a while that Bob had had a moment to truly ask himself that question. That rage that he was feeling was greater than any he had ever felt against a potential rival. But the rival in this situation was not Marduk. He thought back to the conversation that had just occurred, before the Abra ran off with the Zangoose. He didn't have to listen to it to hear it; Doug and Jet were friends, the two of them were willing to support each other no matter what. Bob, on the other hand... Jet didn't want anything to do with him. Just like everyone else in this universe, and the other, as far back as he could remember. He wasn't even sure his old Pokemon team would have stuck around were it not for the technology they were bound to. He missed them now more than ever. It began to dawn on Bob how much Jet had reminded him of Franz...
A question that is never asked is impossible to answer. Once the question was on the table, It didn't take Bob long to figure out what he wanted.
After what was probably the longest silence Bob had ever had while awake, he finally responded to the Buizel. "Go ahead." He paused, wincing at the shakiness of his voice. He let a tear fall, still facing opposite Jet, but it wouldn't have mattered if he had seen it. His pride was no longer important. "Forget my plan. It was stupid anyway." He stared at the ground, unable to even look at Jet. "I need... I need a moment."
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Post by Digizel on Apr 25, 2013 10:44:10 GMT -5
Once he had finished speaking, and offered what he had considered his ultimatum (not that he would have sought to cause any harm to Doug or his friends in any way), Doug began to ask another question. This one, he wasn't sure he could answer fully. It was true that he felt like he could trust Doug, but perhaps saying too much would just put him in too much unnecessary danger. If he knew too much, he could end up making himself--or more importantly, that Buizel friend of his--more of a target for those who might seek this information.
"...That is not as easy a question to answer as you may think," he said, withdrawing his claw and turning halfway around, looking out across the Festival grounds once more. "...It is true that that stone is well-guarded at all times. However, this does not protect the stone from any who win this tournament who plan to use it to their advantage, or even bring it harm.
"...Although, that is certainly not the only reason why I am here and work tirelessly to protect it. I am not sure how much of myself and where I come from that I am allowed to reveal, but I will say this. I have been raised from an early age to protect certain ancient relics with all of my power, putting my very life directly at risk if necessary. I firmly believe that protecting this Wish Stone has become a large part of my duty to this world."
"...Have I answered your question sufficiently enough?" Marduk asked as he turned his attention back to Doug once more.
~~~~~
Jet held his breath as Bob seemed to have an uncanny silence following his response. Despite his hope that Bob would simply let him go and do as Doug asked...the Zigzagoon's answer caued him to stop and wonder. He had heard the shaky response...what was that, exactly? He had never known Bob to be anything more than an eccentric, happy-go-lucky personality. He was always pushing himself into everything, and always bugging Jet to do whatever he wanted.
However...that wasn't what he was hearing here. That voice sounded...almost choked up. "B...Bob...?" he muttered, ignoring his last words. "Are...are you okay...?" He took a step forward, lifting a paw, thinking to place it on the Zigzagoon's head or shoulder or something. However, he froze in doing so, unsure if that may be the best action to take here. At least, maybe not yet....
Suddenly, Jet felt somewhat cold. For the first time since he could remember, he felt a strong sense of guilt take hold of him. He had been so used to the thought that Bob was just an annoyance who loved to make his life miserable...that he had completely forgotten that this Zigzagoon was just as human as he himself was. He had never really put much thought into the idea that Bob's words and him forcing himself into Jet's tiny circle of friends...that any of that had been genuine.
Jet looked down at Bob, frowning. Maybe there was a reason Bob had forced himself upon him after all.
"I-I'm sorry Bob, I-I didn't mean...." he started to say, but he trailed off. He simply wasn't sure what to say at this point....
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Apr 25, 2013 16:43:03 GMT -5
Bob hesitated as Jet asked if he was okay. What was this, legitimate concern? Guilt? Pity? It didn't matter. Whatever it was, it wouldn't last. "I'll be fine," he replied, obviously disbelieving his own words. "I always end up fine." Barely knowing it, he had ended up repeating the very words that his father would, and then his grandfather, whenever his mother or grandmother would express concern about him all those years ago. And it seemed to be true, as Bob had always been an optimist, finding a bright side to even the worst of his tragedies. But there was a difference between being optimistic and being oblivious. His eyes had been opened and he was forced to look at the world, and his own reflection, with full clarity.
Among all of the stormy thoughts inside his head, he heard Jet once again, trying to apologize. "Just go," he said rather forcefully, turning his head halfway towards Jet. "I don't blame you. I really don't. I am a fool; an oblivious, selfish fool who destroys the lives of anyone unfortunate enough to cross paths with me. I will be fine, but nobody else around me will be. So you're better off leaving me for good, for your own sake. Doug is a much better friend to you than I'll ever be."
He laid down, spreading his limbs across the ground submissively as he waited for Jet to leave. He had no idea what he should, could, or would do next. He began to think that the world might just be better off without him.
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Willy
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Post by Willy on Apr 25, 2013 21:01:00 GMT -5
Once Doug had heard Marduk's reply, he was sure about his decision. "Jet seems to think you're worth helping, and I guess I don't see any problems with your story, so fine. Count me in. But don't forget what I said earlier. I don't help without Jet."
Doug gave the overview of the festival another look. "But I suppose it's not that important. We've still got several days before anyone gets close to that stone. Either way, I'll be ready when you need me."
Doug shook the Zangoose's hand, "I suppose I can take you back into the festival whenever you're ready."
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Post by Digizel on Apr 26, 2013 9:52:50 GMT -5
When Bob told him to just go, Jet winced slightly and took a half-step backward. He had never been good at taking forceful comments out of nowhere. He certainly had not expected Bob to start voicing some of the things he had always complained about regarding him. He certainly would have liked to just believe that Bob would 'end up fine' as usual, but he had never before seen him in such a slump. Could he really just up and leave him like this? He may have been annoying, but....
"N-no, Bob, I...I'm not going anywhere right now," Jet said, starting to walk toward him again. "Y-you haven't...destroyed my life or anything...! Y-you may have been a bit annoying, a-and how you always tried to force yourself into my life without even so much as asking...but you were never really THAT big of a deal...!"
But when Jet heard his comment about Doug, he stopped. "P-please, don't compare yourself to Doug like that. I've been with him far more than I've been with you, s-so it's only natural that I'd be a closer friend to him. B-but that doesn't mean you're a bad one...!"
It was strange for Jet. After all of this time complaining about Bob...he had only now, when Bob had decided to give him the chance to leave him, realized that the Zigzagoon may not have been as bad as he made him out to be. Maybe...just maybe...he could actually put out an effort to the hand of friendship...?
"B-bob, please...." Jet muttered, stepping in front of him and holding out his paw. "...I won't leave you like this. We may never have been the best of friends...but that doesn't mean I actually hate you. I...I...." he swallowed, only half-believing his own words at this point (true as they may be). "...I want to...to actually try to get to know you. A-and maybe...I can be a friend to you, too...."
~~~~~
The Zangoose nodded with satisfaction as Doug shook his hand in agreement. "Yes, this Jet friend of yours will be there if you desire him to be so very strongly," he affirmed. "However, you might want to re-think that. If this escalates too quickly, then he just may only be in more danger with us than if he were to stay behind or set off on his own somewhere. Are you absolutely certain that you want to bring somebody as...no offense intended...but frail as him along with us? Intelligent or not, if he can't hold his own, he could end up getting seriously hurt."
He looked back across the festival grounds. He didn't yet answer Doug about taking him back to the festival. He figured it would be best to make sure that everything was clear and out of the air about this agreement before heading back.
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Willy
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Post by Willy on Apr 26, 2013 16:21:40 GMT -5
Doug shook his head "You forget who we're talking about here. Vito is a one man army. If Jet were to go off on his own, Vito wouldn't have much trouble finding him and kidnapping him. Or worse.
"Besides," Doug continued, "I've always had a traveling companion I could trust. I have a very good reason for that, but like you I have secrets I'd rather not discuss just yet. Jet can handle himself. If he can't, that's why I travel with him. If I can't, that's why he travels with me. And that's the last discussion I want to have about leaving Jet behind. It's not happening. I hope you can understand that."
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Apr 26, 2013 23:47:23 GMT -5
Bob's ears perked up at the sound of Jet's voice reaching them again. He had given Jet the chance to leave him, and instead of doing so immediately like he expected, he stuck around, giving Bob a second chance. He'd heard it all before from his family growing up, that they would always be there for him, but that is part of what makes a family a family, they were almost contractually obligated to give second chances. He had always had his family. But this was different. Bob was in an entirely new dimension, surrounded by strangers, and to hear that he was worth a second chance from someone who he admittedly barely knew... could it be true? Was this misguided kid still worth sticking around for, despite all of the mistakes he had made?
Bob opened his tear-filled eyes and looked up at his friend, who was extending a hand in his direction. Still there. Still willing to try him again. A hopeful smile spread across his face as he leaped back onto his feet, bouncing him toward Jet in a springing, grateful hug. "Jet... I should've known you wouldn't abandon me!" Bob squeezed as if Jet could vanish from underneath him at any second. "You won't regret this, I promise! From now on, I won't force anything else on you or anyone!" Realizing a bit of irony with his statement, he hastily jumped off of the probably grossly overwhelmed Buizel. "Er... starting now. Heheh, sorry."
He wiped away the tears with a foreleg, starting to laugh. "Hah, that was all very silly of me... what a ridiculous idea, trying to sneak into some high-security, super-expensive and super-experimental equipment for a joyride and nothing more... Let's not and say we did, eh?" He looked back at the machine, his curiosity still present. His eyes furtively scanned the grounds a final time. "...Unless you want to, that is."
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Post by Digizel on Apr 27, 2013 0:13:06 GMT -5
Marduk nodded. "I had a feeling you would continue to insist. If your desire to have him along is a must, then he shall be there with us; though whether for better or for worse I'm still not completely convinced.
"And yes, of course. I will not pry into your own personal matters, so long as you are satisfied with not prying into my own. If you claim that having this Buizel with you is so important, then so be it, regardless of the reasoning."
Marduk turned his gaze back to the festival grounds once more. He looked out over the seemingly calm, tranquil blackness of the landscape, dotted with the few remaining lights, shimmering like a starry sky. "...This land is a beautiful one," he said after a few moments' pause. "And it is not often that I find time to truly enjoy what wonders surround us. If you wish to head back to your trailer, then go ahead. I will remain here for a while longer before I head back, with or without your Teleport shortcut."
~~~~~
Jet couldn't help but smile a bit of his own when Bob suddenly leapt back to his feet. However, that smile quickly transformed into a grimace when Bob suddenly wrapped him up in a hug. Not that he disliked it...he just hadn't been expecting it. In fact, he had actually been unable to keep his footing--since it hadn't exactly been very solid--and had toppled over backward, onto his back with Bob's full weight bearing down on him.
"H-heh...yeah...don't worry," Jet said with a small smile as soon as Bob let him go. He quickly climbed back to his feet and looked over at the Zigzagoon again. "That...sounds like a plan to me." He looked around for a moment, and there he was.... The Raichu, Cassius, was still eyeing the two of them. He wasn't sure how long Cass had been watching, or what he thought of them, but he didn't really care right now.
He turned his attention back to Bob. Seeing the Tiny Raccoon Pokemon wipe away the tears and start a small laugh brought a smile back to his face. But when he mentioned the plan from before, he stopped. "W-well...I don't know, Bob." he said. He hadn't actually given this any real thought yet. "I-I mean...something like that...I-I guess it DOES sound like it could be a little fun.... A-and I could certainly use some battling practice if I'm getting myself into something dangerous.... B-but if we get caught, we could get thrown out of the festival. A-and then I wouldn't be able to support Doug like I want to...." He thought for a moment. Then, he added. "Alright...let's do what Doug asked me to do first, alright...? And then...if you really want to go, we can talk about it afterward. Does...does that sound fair to you...?"
Now that he had begun to think of Bob in a new light, he couldn't help but think that this could only go forward. This short exchange had given Jet a lot more insight to Bob's true self. He was just as human as anyone else, even if he's a tad...eccentric. And he honestly began to feel quite happy with what he had started here tonight.
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Apr 27, 2013 0:42:10 GMT -5
Jet's response made Bob let loose another laugh. "I was only kidding, of course!" he said. There was no doubt that he was back to his old cheery self again. "There's really no sense in strapping ourselves into a machine to practice battling and risk getting thrown out when we could just do it the old-fashioned way! I prefer it that way anyway."
He recalled Doug's instructions for Jet. Bob didn't have to make a rival out of everyone, and he certainly could afford to think of the desires of others every once in a while, especially when they didn't ask for much. "But yeah, we might as well not leave Doug hanging. A friend of a friend is a friend, after all!" He waved to Cassius as he said this, only just now noticing him. "So, lead the way, Jet my man, and I will follow! Heh, never thought I'd say anything like that before now," he added afterward. It was as if a track switch had been thrown, freeing his train of thought from circling an endless loop. It felt quite liberating to him, and this was only the beginning of the rest of his journey.
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Post by Digizel on Apr 27, 2013 1:33:39 GMT -5
Jet nodded a bit at Bob's words. "W-well, I guess that makes sense. A-and if we really wanted to give it a try, all we'd have to do is leave the festival grounds...." Just as he said these words, an idea clicked. However, there was no point in mentioning it at this moment. As he had a certain job to do for now. "Alright then, come on. Let's go get Cass and get back to the trailer." With that, he turned around and headed back toward Cass, who had completely ignored Bob's wave. Although whether he had completely ignored it or simply missed it was open for debate.
Jet was, for once, happy to see Bob's usual, happy self. He wasn't quite sure how it had happened, but he had come on friendlier terms with Bob. Something he had never expected to happen ever since he recalled first meeting him as one of Haru's partners.
As Jet and Bob came up to Cassius, Jet explained what Doug had told him to do, his voice sounding uncharacteristically calm now; he wasn't studdering every other word like he usually did with the larger Raichu.
"So that's what's going on," Jet said simply, concluding his explanation about Doug's request.
"So, he wants to make sure I'm taken care of, eh...?" Cassius replied thoughtfully. "Well, why not? Some may call me a fool for trading in a possible luxury suite for an old trailer for a night, but...heck, if Doug's going places, then it might be nice to stay with him."
Jet nodded, but was a bit disappointed. If he was honest, he probably would have preferred Cassius to find his own accomodations. He may have gotten onto better terms with Bob, but the Raichu was a fruit of a completely different tree. He still felt somewhat intimidated, but he was able to more freely control it this time. "Alright then, I guess we should get going."
And with that, the party made their way back to Doug's small trailer. It was then that Jet realized just what exactly the problem was going to be. "...I...kinda forgot how small this trailer really was...." he admitted. The trailers were clearly intended for two people. Perhaps three if two were a couple or something and could sleep in a single bed.
Cassius just stared at the small trailer with crossed arms. He was going to stay in this old thing with two people he was certain he wouldn't get along with? These were definitely going to be some very long nights....
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Apr 27, 2013 1:52:12 GMT -5
Bob patiently listened to and followed Jet as he brought Cassius up to speed and brought the both of them to the trailers. He was not worried at all about sharing a small trailer with up to three other people. In fact, he was rather excited about the ordeal. It would certainly be better accommodations than sleeping outside, as he had been forced to do the past couple of days of the tournament.
He looked up at the trailer in awe. "Ooh... our own trailer to sleep in..." Bob was easily impressed, especially after having no shelter at all for the past couple of days. "This is going to be a fun night!" He began to hop up and down excitedly, giving the impression that he might not have even been very tired at that moment. "And hey, don't worry about space, I can scrunch up pretty tightly if I need to. You won't even know I'm there!" Although that was debatable and even Bob knew it.
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Post by Digizel on Apr 27, 2013 2:19:55 GMT -5
Jet thought back to Doug's orders from before. He remembered something about a murphy bed...? He had to think for a moment before realizing what that was. "Ah, okay...so, now here's the problem...." He looked over at Cassius and Bob and sighed a bit. "Like I said, the trailer's kinda small, but there's an extra, kinda small bed set up just in case.... But then that's only three. So somebody's going to have to take the floor, I guess...?
"If that's alright with one of you, then I can go ahead and open the door and let you in so you can make yourselves comfortable." He looked from Cass to Bob, wondering which one, if either, would probably want to this spare bed more than the other. Unless, of course, they planned to share a single bed. Awkward as it may be, it might end up more comfortable that way.
Whatever the case, Jet awaited a response from either Bob or Cassius.
"Hmph...I don't really care," he said. "But I do not need to be sleeping on the floor. One of the last things I want to worry about is getting my coat all filthy like that. Besides, your new best friend looks like he's small enough to fit just about anywhere. In fact...so do you. Buizel and Zigzagoon commonly sleep all curled up anyway. I bet the two of you could stay in a single bed if you absolutely needed to."
"Well, I...I guess that makes sense...?" Jet mumbled. While he was on good terms with him, he wasn't exactly jumping at the idea of he and Bob sharing the same bed just yet....
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Post by Blahsadfeguie on Apr 27, 2013 2:47:25 GMT -5
Bob thought for a moment. He considered taking the floor, as it'd still be an improvement over the rough and open outdoors, but then Cassius mentioned Jet and Bob sharing the same bed... leaving Bob to literally jump at the idea. "That'll work just fine!" Bob agreed. "Surely you won't mind sharing the same space with me after all that! You can even use me as a pillow if you want! A rather... prickly pillow, but I'm soft on the inside~"
Bob laughed. "Actually yeah, even I tend to itch after sitting still for long periods. If anything, you'd make the better pillow, Jet! But then again..." Bob scratched his head. "That'd be no different because we'd still be in contact with each other." A few more seconds of thought, and then a gasp. "Ooooor, I could take the small bed, and Cass could use Jet as a pillow. Or maybe the other way around. Either way, as long as nobody's touching me I think we'll be fine. Problem solved!" Except not really.
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Post by Digizel on Apr 27, 2013 10:43:02 GMT -5
Jet and Cassius both simply stared at Bob for a few moments after his short brainstorming session. Once they had both stared at Bob for a good few seconds, they turned their heads to look at each other. It was clear to both of them that this wasn't quite the most ideal thing in their minds.
It was Cassius who actually voiced his objection first. "Yeah, I don't think so," he muttered. "There is NO way I'll ever be sharing a bed with THIS little twerp." He gave Jet a slight shove from the side for emphasis, who was forced to shift his footing a bit to prevent himself from falling over.
Jet sighed a bit. "In that case, I guess I wouldn't mind sharing a bed with you, Bob.... Though, I don't...really expect to be using you as a pillow of any sort." He turned around to face the trailer again. "Well, I guess if everybody is okay with this...then I guess you guys can just...make yourself at home...?" With that, he took a moment to open the door and pushed it open before standing to the side to allow the guests in first.
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