021 [voice/video; forward-dated to around 8am]

[cheapblusuits]

[...at first, it seems as if Phoenix's Pokegear is transmitting by mistake, because at first, all that can be heard is silence. No static, no talking -- maybe a lght gust of wind, but that might have just been your imagination.

But, wait! Was that breathing? I think it was! and a sigh, even, before the lawyer actually begins speaking;]

...is that it

Comments

[video]

[itsthebutz]

[Larry's response comes a little later...because yeah, he's probably not up that early. Especially after all the excitement of the weekend.

It's obvious to Larry why Phoenix is acting odd, but he's not going to bring up the issue at the moment.

He rubs the back of his head.]

What a weekend! That wasn't really how I wanted to spend Halloween, but what can ya do?

[He can't help but snicker at that Mareep.]

Nice sheep, Nick. It's like a ball of fluff.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

[Yeah, you might want to save that for later. Phoenix already spent a good portion of yesterday evening/last night/this morning trying not to hyperventilate. Hence his sudden departure from the city -- all of the bullshit going on in Violet PLUS Dahlia popping up made being in that place too much to bear.

When Larry's feed comes in, though, Phoenix puts on a smile and gives the Mareep another pat.] 'What a weekend' is a bit of an understatement, if you ask me.

It is pretty fluffy. Not quite as warm as a Growlithe, but she'll do for now. [A light chuckle.]

[video] fff sorry this is so late

[itsthebutz]

[And Larry will be there when the time is right, because that's what best friends do.

He returns the smile.] Yeah... I think it's safe to say that I'm pretty sick of Violet by now. I can't wait to move on to see new stuff.

Heheh, Pess does make a good blanket. Especially when you're stuck with a cold.

[video] No prob, man, god knows I do it all the time!

[cheapblusuits]

[Phoenix...plans on solving this on his own, like the idiot that he is. He knows that Larry will be there for him -- and he appreciates that, definitely -- but he doesn't want anyoone else to get involved. If anyone will get hurt because of this, he wants to limit the casualties to one.]

I heard it's pretty boring until you get to Goldenrod, but even a change of scenery will be nice.

Yeah, I can imagine. [A chuckle.]

[video]

[totesaladder]

... Nick?

[she had wondered where he had gone, and something feels... off]

Mia... I like it.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

...hey, Maya.

[Maya...is someone that should probably know about this. Really, she should have been the first person he'd told, but...he glances away, absentmindedly petting his new companion. He quirks a bit of a smile, though, when he hears that she approves of the name.]

Mia it is, then. [The Mareep bleets in approval.]

...how are things back in Violet? I'll be back soon.

[video]

[totesaladder]

Is... everything okay, Nick?

[a smile, soft yet encouraging]

We're okay here. It's quiet without you.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

[...a shrug.] There's...[He pauses, still not sure whether he should be telling Maya this or not.]

There's someone here, Maya. Not...here, here -- I think she's still a ways away from us, I mean -- but... [He dwindles off into silence. He...isn't too sure of how to go from here.]

Good. I'll be back soon.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

[After that huge ordeal, Heather's taken up her now-usual pastime of plonking down, taking up the PokeGear and checking all the messages she'd missed while she was running around and trying not to die. So far, the results had been heartening! Most everybody seemed to be all right. .... But then she got to Phoenix's channel.]

..... Phoenix. You all right?

[It's the same thing she's said to just about everybody she's checked in on, but this time, her tone is almost cautious. SOMETHING'S up. ... She's not sure she has any RIGHT to be concerned, considering, but.... she is, so she'll show it.]

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

['Something's up' can't even BEGIN to describe the clusterfuck of stuff Phoenix is feeling right now. First, it was the nightmares. Then, it was de Killer, and Edgeworth. THEN, it was the glitch, and now...

...really, anyone would have expected him to freak out a LONG time ago, but this is Phoenix. Phoenix never gives up, nor is he one to let life beat him down. Too much, at least.

At Heather's feed, Phoenix...is quiet, almost brooding, ruffling Mia's wool as the sheep Pokemon looks up at him quizzically. Then, he shrugs and says;]

I'm...fine.

[He says that so hesitantly, though, that it's obvious to anyone that he's kind of NOT.]

[video]

[foolishwren]

[Poor thing. He never gets a break, does he?]

... No offense or anything, but... I don't really buy that.

[She's not totally sure what to say-- after all, it's not like it's really her business, and as brash as Heather often was, she actually had a pretty healthy respect for other peoples' privacy.]

... Did something happen while the world was all.... uh... [She makes a weird hand gesture that was apparently supposed to mean 'glitched out'.]

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

[No, sir! In fact, I don't think he's ever had a happy moment that lasts for more than 12 hours. Poor Phoenix!]

...I wouldn't either. [A pretty feeble attempt at a laugh.]

Er--well, not exactly because of the... [He...vaguely imitates her hand gesture, making a fairly squicked out face to accompany it.] ...y'know, that, but it...well.

Someone turned up.

[and by someone, he means that woman he'd told Heather about a mere few weeks before.]

[video]

[justicepuns]

[Apollo can tell that something is very wrong. Phoenix hadn't been this bothered when...whatever that was happened. Apollo is a bit worried, mostly because Phoenix being on his own is a Bad Idea.

Honestly, Apollo doesn't look so great himself. The weird pixel monster thing finally made him hit the point of physical and mental exhaustion. And he looks it-- he's rather pale and tired and looks almost sick. Even his antennae are a bit droopy today.]

I'm just glad it's over. We can figure out the "how" later.

[A pause]

When are you coming back?

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

[And that's because Phoenix has faced life-or-death situations so many times now that the potential end of the world only fazes him in the fact that his friends might be caught in the crossfire. But the sudden return of his college girlfriend who sort of tried to frame him for murder? Um.]

You can say that again. What a weekend...

[He sits up, beckoning before his Pokemon to follow him.]

I'm already on my way back. I still need to fight the Gym leader, and after that... I want to get as far away from this city as possible.

[video]

[justicepuns]

It's one of the more memorable Halloweens I've had. Possibly the worst, actually.

[Apollo isn't sure he wants to press just yet. He's sure something's really, really wrong now.]

Yeah, I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to. We've got to keep moving.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

This...might be my second. Maybe third. [...makes you wonder.

Oh, yes. Don't worry, Apollo, you'll be hearing the story soon enough, whether it's straight from the horse's mouth or not.]

Yeah. I'd like to finally get past Violet.

[video]

[yattagarasu]

Whoa, it's like a ball!

[ she's aware that he seems... well, not-himself, but the Kay response to her friends acting weird has always been to try and cheer them up without even knowing what's wrong. ]

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

A...big, yellow, fluffy ball. Pretty much. [Another chuckle. Mia makes what sounds like an indignant sound before waddling off-camera to where a flash of blue indicates Butch is playing.]

[video]

[yattagarasu]

She's cute, Mr. Wright!

... I just hope she doesn't tip over.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

She's pretty sturdy. Aren't you, Mia? [A jovial "Maaa!" is the response. Will he ever get a Pokemon that isn't derpy and cheerful all the time? No, probably not.

Speaking of his Pokemon--]

Ah, that's right -- how's Pidge, Kay? I hope she hasn't been too much trouble.