islandshore | 67

[It's late at night when Riku turns on the feed. Judging by the starlight surrounding him he's outdoors. Lights from the surrounding cityscape shimmer from afar. The camera hovers behind him as he rests along the edge of a roof.

It hovers closer, and he finally turns around, gaze distant despite the camera's close proximity.]

You ever stop to wonder about our place in this world?

[Why, yes, it's one of those messages.]

I mean, think about it. We're dragged from our homes, dropped here and expected to play by their rules. And sure, some of us are successful. We've had businesses sprout up from nothing, helped fight off giant monsters, been invited to proms...

Still, we're outsiders, and sooner or later, we might disappear, and all the work we do here gets left behind.

[He looks up, sighing softly.]

It just got me thinking... What do the locals think about us? Do we count as citizens, even though we aren't part of the world? And how much do they really know about us in the first place?

[Heh.]

But maybe I'm over thinking it. I mean, this is a world that somehow manages to sustain itself even without an obvious education, limited career paths, and a surprising amount of pacifism in the face of crime. Community service as catchall punishment's kinda light, after all...

[Leaning back, Riku shrugs.]

I don't know. What are your guys' thoughts? I've got time to kill.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh... Is that so? I guess I'd have that problem too, I'll have to make sure it's all balanced. I want there to still be some kind of challenge, or...what's the point of it all?

...That's sort of what you're asking, though, isn't it?

Well, there's always the Elite challenges, but you can't face those until you've collected eight badges. The way I see it, I'd try not to climb too many levels between gyms-- maybe five to ten apiece? That way you've got a slow burn.

[He sighs, massaging his temple.]

And yeah, guess I kind of am, but I've been waiting to take on the Elite Four for years. Maybe I'm asking for too much.

[She just reaches off screen, presumably to her nightstand, and returns with her notebook and a pen. When Ashley starts taking notes, it really shows she's taking your words to heart.]

Why...why can't you? I thought that was the point of all of this, and...if you've been here that long, I imagine you have all the badges now? Why won't they let you?

Beats me. All I know is that they stopped taking challenges around the time we started showing up, and they've never budged on that.

[His expression sours further, and starts fidgeting with a Pokéball.]

Only time I've ever seen 'em up close was at the prom, and there's no sign of one this year.

Well, that's a ripoff. We go to all this trouble to earn the badges and st--

[...]

Iiii'm sorry, did...you say prom?

[GREAT PRIORITIES ASH]

Yep.

[Heh. The sudden pause, the surprise... He should've expected something like this.]

It's happened a few times now. Everyone gets invited to these big, fancy parties. Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, professors... All sorts of famous people pop up, so it's more like a ball than a high school get together.

[She positively lights up at the word ball...though it's short-lived. For one brief, glimmering moment, Ashley's completely overjoyed at the prospect, but then her excitement sinks to something more manageable, after some kind of realization of some sort.]

Where is it held? And- when? Do you think it'll happen again? Do you have to have a certain number of badges?

Uh... First two times, they held it in the Elite Four's private resort. Third time, it was in some kind of dream world. As for when, it's usually sometime in April, but so far, I haven't heard a thing...

Wonder if there's been complications.

[He hopes not, since it's a rather popular event. It'd be a shame to just shut it down.]

Oh... Well...I hope it still happens. If everyone's grown used to that kind of thing.

[And, if it does, she hopes--

Well. Better not get those up.]

Are...there any other kinds of celebrations or gatherings?

Not as often these days. Back when people first started showing up, we'd have holiday festivals left and right.

Now it's usually just circus shows, a Haunted House around Halloween. It's definitely slowed down.

Hmm.

[She doesn't think that whole..."and then people turned into Pokémon" thing counts, huh?]

I hope...that doesn't mean something's wrong. That they're even more out of contact than usual?

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