shardbond | Party Rock Anthem only it's played on kazoos

Party Rock Anthem only it's played on kazoos

[Oscar is a practiced master at Coping (tm) in the face of things he would prefer not to address in any sort of healthy or rational manner. After the events of yesterday, he's somehow getting the feeling that he isn't the only one, which means that in his mind there is only one thing to do: this translates to yet another Walmart booze heist (even larger than the original), a few side trips to amass snacks because RIP his kitchen, and some haphazardly erected decorations in one of the spare rooms to try to at least give off something of a celebratory atmosphere... but let's be real here, this is just Misery x CPR x Reese's Puffs + alcohol.

Sunday morning will find handwritten notes tucked under everyone's doors inviting them to a party that evening, snacks and drinks (that particular word underlined a couple of times, just in case people didn't pick up on the meaning of "party") provided gratis.

There's alcohol, there's soda for the minors, there's plenty of junk food to eat, and there are a whole bunch of other people who are also Going Through It. What better recipe for a party could you ask for?

... don't answer that.]

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[ The lingering feeling that he's gone way too far won't leave More. Pushed by the atmosphere to admitting something a little too serious for the nature of the game. All his compliments to everyone here have been wholly genuine - there are many attractive people here, many he would consider spending a night with. But when he rated Turo highest of all, it wasn't the same kind of frivolous interest. It had been camouflaging itself as... a passing idea, a curiosity, but there was a deeper sentiment behind it, something else he'd been skirting around.

And maybe now that he's already gone and broken everything wide open, it's time to stop being a coward. ]

... I was going to ask you to travel with me, after all this is over.

[ It's harder to admit than a mere stupid numerical rating of attractiveness. And that's the crux of the issue, really - casually indicating romantic curiosity towards a man you already wanted to stay with was maybe not the brightest idea he ever had. ]

I almost did ask you, quite a few times.

[ But he felt Turo should not be burdened with him. And he was afraid of rejection. Still is. ]

It's my sincere desire, and it is not conditional. None of the foolish notions I have put between us are of any concern.

Oh.

[Turo can't deny that he's considered the idea himself. But never too closely. He certainly never would have asked. Even after he learned that More did not have anything to return for, did not even plan to return to his home world - who was he to ask such a thing?]

I - I would like that very much. I have been...afraid, of what is to happen after this. Not because of the power situation.

[That's a factor, but more than that - where would he go? What would he do? If he set out alone again, would he ever find someone else to stay or travel with? Turo has always had a sinking feeling that it wouldn't be the case, that his own awkwardness and oddities and...well, nerves would prevent him from making friends once he was no longer literally forced to live and fight alongside others like he's been here. And what of the people he does know here? Would he ever see them again?]

[ There's an anxious moment in which More feels like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop - for Turo to find some reason to refuse him, whether that be a sudden sobering on More's nature or just another bout of humility making him find reasons for this to be inappropriate in some form.

And then nothing comes and More practically lights up. ]

I admit, I am also anxious... What roads await us? What purpose will we find by walking them? It is impossible to tell before we step out. But... with you by my side, I believe I can do it. I can believe in something wonderful, just out of sight for us to find.

That - that sounds truly marvelous!

[Turo smiles, a little helplessly. He's...happy? All at once, the future does not seem like such a vast and terrifying place. That feeling is almost a little frightening in and of itself. It does not seem like something that ought to belong to him.]

We could go anywhere we wanted. The entire multiverse...it's a little staggering, isn't it?

[ Relief is a beautiful feeling. From one moment to another, the storm clouds in More's mind seem to life and he can think clearly again. ]

Quite so! Even narrowing down our possibilities feels like a rather daunting task! I believe we can come up with a few preferences between the two of us, but that would still leave us basically limitless!

[Turo's smile broadens, simply at the phrase "our possibilities". It’s the two of them, together, choosing. He had imagined having to do it alone, a prospect that indeed felt daunting, but now it’s starting to seem far more manageable.]

I suppose we'll see how it all comes out. Maybe something will present itself.

[ Thank the heavens that Turo is smiling again. Every moment of agonizing embarrassment was worth it, if it could finally give them a perspective for the future that was so sorely needed by both of them. ]

We'd surely like somewhere scenic, technologically advanced just in case of repairs, diverse so my horns don't alarm anyone... Ah, but you're right. Better not to count our chickens before they are hatched.

[ It's easy to get excited though. ]

Oh, yes, I suppose.

[He's the one who brought it up! He's still thinking about it though! The idea of not having Pokemon around is a little sad, but his own world doesn't fit any of the criteria. Maybe there's one that's just variant enough to work...?]

I don't know of a world like that off-hand. We'd have to scout around.

Yes, maybe we should begin with asking the others some more detailed questions.

[ There's way more worlds than just the ones everyone else is from, but it's a starting point.

... and while More said to stop getting specific, he himself can't help that he keeps ruminating, so he adds: ]

Actually, my horns are not impossible to hide... or explain away as costume... or even remove, but I'd much like to avoid something so terribly painful.

Oh, no, you should not do that!

[If settling on a world would involve More mutilating himself, it clearly isn't the correct world! Though explaining it away as a costume piece is possible. That might even pass muster in Paldea; he'd probably be considered eccentric, but a lot of trainers are.]

Do they have feeling?

[ More nods, inclining his head a little for a better view of horn texture. ]

They do. Though they aren't as sensitive as skin, so I wouldn't feel a breeze of air on my horns, but touch? It all registers easily.

[He lifts his chin to peer at the horns, pupils contracting a little mechanically as he zooms in. He wonders what they'd feel like to touch.]

That varies widely across Pokemon with similar structures, so I didn't wish to assume. But yes - at least in my world, you could have gotten away with calling them some sort of costume piece. People would probably just think you were a dedicated dragon tamer or something like that.

Horn structure varies a little depending on your heritage, even among clemar.

And there are animals with similar horns as well. I'd liken my horns more to an ox's than a dragon's, though.

Oh, there aren't really any dragon-type Pokemon with horns at all! It's just a common affectation among dragon tamers. I suppose it goes well with dragon's teeth - a number of species regularly regrow them, so those are highly prized accessories.

There aren't? That's peculiar!

All dragons I have seen depictions of, or in one rare case actually studied, had some amount of horn-like growth.

[ The more abstract types like fairy, dragon, ghost and so on still give him a bit of trouble to wrap his mind around generally, so he's caught off-guard at the lack of visual similarity. ]

It's spines, primarily, or tusks! Haxorus has two prominent crescent-shaped tusks growing out of the side of their jaws - [He indicates the shape and size with his hands.] - that they use in fighting, but most other dragons prefer breath attacks, teeth, or claws.

Fascinating! Just like with fairies, it appears that your dragons are quite different from what I would consider a dragon. To start with, the dragons of my world are not primarily physical beings.

While they can manifest bodies out of magla, their purest form is 'in storage' so to speak, confined into objects.

[ It's nice to know this for sure now - sometimes memory regains are also useful for nerd knowledge... ]

Oh! Yes, that's certainly very different! Dragons are very much physical creatures, though there are one or two that are also ghost-types. Dragapult are fairly solid as ghosts go, for the most part, but the other...that is a singular creature. Giratina. It lives in something very like the void, a place outside of our ordinary world.

That... sounds extremely intriguing!

[ If they go to a world with Pokémon, he's going to be so hung up on legendaries, do not let him. ]

It sounds like a genuine deity. In our world, the mustari revere a dragon as their god, but... With my full knowledge restored, I now have reason to believe that dragons are, above all, ancient weapons. A rather unromantic and unfortunate conclusion to have to draw.

Oh, dear...yes, that is rather unfortunate.

[There's certainly cases of Pokemon being used as weapons, but if any were created for that, it must be a secret.]

People do revere certain Pokemon as deities, but I am not sure I view them that way. All observations seem to indicate that they are Pokemon like any others - more powerful, to be sure, but not an entirely different type of being.

[ More nods in agreement. He views the deities of his own world, as far as they exist, the same way. ]

I don't believe I have much faith in gods left in me, myself. I respect the faiths of others, but... Everything else feels more like a mystery to unravel than like something inherently sacred.

Yes, I feel much the same. It would be an interesting field of study...but, ultimately, I don't know if it is something I would choose to pursue.

[In the future. As long as they're...talking about a future they might have.]

I'd love to know more about it, but it's the same drive that also makes me want to know more about other cultures, other worlds, other forms of magic.

All the knowledge I am seeking is in the name of improving society, of seeking that ideal world without discrimination and hurt that I used to envision...

[ He pauses at that. ]

I don't... have a specific world I'd want to reform, anymore. But I think I'd like to write a second novel. My "Utopia", as proud as I was of it, still wound up quite flawed. One day, I'd like to try my hand at it again; at writing something that can inspire a better future.

Oh! I would be very interested to read your writing!

[He hasn't really asked before because...well, he's not sure how they could get a copy of the first novel without going to More's world, which doesn't seem like something either of them ought to do.]

[ More absolutely lights up at that!! Not that he'd been subdued before, he's been walking on clouds since they stopped circling around the attraction issue, but this one really pleases him. ]

I'm overjoyed to hear you say so, for I have no intention of giving it up! It's been far too long since I wrote fiction, too.

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