[ Finally we can get on with this.]
[ …You hope it’ll be okay. ]
[ Only one way to find out. ]
[ …A peek can’t hurt. ]
It’s messy, and the evening light is a bit stifled by the bookcase partially blocking the window. A heavy pair of work boots are haphazardly tossed in the middle of the floor, the laces undone and tangled.
Like the rest of the house, it definitely needs a good cleaning, but it’s… warm. Well lived in.
[ …It’s getting late. You really shouldn’t linger.]
You close the door.
[ …It’s okay. You… don’t really know whats going to happen, so. it makes sense to be scared. ]
[ You’ll… make sure you get those answers. Regardless of what happens. So don’t worry, okay?]
[ Because you have to, simple as. It’s necessary.]
[ You’re… not in that big of a rush, actually-]
[ -Yes you are.]
[ Well… Maybe you could rest a bit on the bed first or something? It looks pretty comfy, and your head still hurts a bit from earlier…]
[ You don’t really have the Time for that, though, do you?]
[ It’s pretty clear that the longer you dick around, the worse things get. You said you were going upstairs to wash your face, so that’s what you should do.]
[ Besides- do you really want to keep the Professor waiting?]
[ … ]
[ Maybe… if you close your eyes, you could…]
(Flashing Lights Warning)
[…]
[ …Your hands are shaking.]
[ And your head… Fuck. You did it again, didn’t you?]
[ Just- Stop. You’ll learn them eventually, so stop just. Breaking shit.]
[ …You… don’t think it’d be a good idea to try that again. You don’t really… feel great.]
You step away from the computer.
[ …The keyboard? ]
[ You… think you could type on it blind, maybe.]
[ What do you want to try and type?]
[ You look over the desk thoroughly, but alas, there are no hidden compartments or drawers to be found. Just varnished particle board that has the air of a recent yard sale purchase.]
[ The open box doesn’t hold much in the way of secrets either - It just looks like a couple spare blankets and pillowcases, set aside just in case.]
[ Maybe it’s a sign to move on? ]
You hit the button on the monitor hopefully and… Well, it seemed like it worked! Either that, or the computer had still been on and it was just the monitor that had been turned off.
It looks like it was last open to your Email app- There’s a new one? Or maybe you just missed this one earlier in the lab when that PC glitched out.
[ “WHAT’S UP?! Hello! Isn’t MULTI BATTLE TODAY?”]
[ Somehow this makes even less sense than the last one. You should probably just ignore it, like any other email spam. ]
You turn the computer off, properly this time.
[ Leaving the screen on for too long will probably just cause screen burn-in anyways.]
It looks plugged into something, but it’s definitely turned off. Jiggling the mouse doesn’t do anything- You’d probably have to poke around under the desk to find the PC tower and turn it on.
[ It’s… weird though. It feels warm to the touch, like it was on very recently. ]
[ It’s probably nothing. ]
[ You’re… okay, you think, even if you’re not super sure what just happened. ]
[ …Agreed. You’ve been stalling for long enough.]
Having thoroughly looked through the ground floor, you head upstairs.
From what you remember… Maples room is the doorway at the end of the hall, The bathroom is the doorway closest to the stairs, and Your “room” is the bed and desk in the alcove, a little hurriedly set up but comfy looking nonetheless.
You should probably wash up now that you’re up here.
[ Oh! Wait, maybe- ]
You run over to the bookshelf, riffling through the titles you saw earlier- You know there was one that started with-
[ …! ]
[ ]
[ … ]
[ You’re… what were you doing again? ]
[ …Considering how much your head is pounding, probably something you shouldn’t be. ]
You’re holding a book, it looks like- it’s impossible to tell what the title is though, it looks like it’s using some smudgy artsy font that’s impossible to read- You put it away.
[ You really feel like you should move on. Before something worse happens. ]
[ …Right.]
[ Do you? Really? ]
[ You’re so- What part of “No Turning Back Now” can you not get through your head? ]
[ You keep skirting around this like prolonging this will actually do anything, but it’s just-]
[ … ]
[ … Sorry, you’re… not sure why you keep saying rude stuff like that. ]
[ Maybe you’re… stressed? Sorry.]
It… looks like it’s actually a collage of flyers, business cards, and sticky notes covering a white board.
A lot of the flyers look like they’re ads for local businesses- mostly delivery places. There’s a crumpled looking postcard from unova, and the sticky notes look like they’re mostly reminders to feed cotton or other mundane housework.
[ It’s a little awkwardly placed… ]
[ Was it that obvious? ]
[ Maybe you’re more tired than you think- You keep getting distracted by some pretty mundane things. You didn’t come up here to explore, remember? ]
Pulling the copy out a little, It looks like there’s a bookmark already partway through- the bit you can see sticking out says “Book Club”. Glimpsing at the cover, it looks kind of similar to the one at Blaines lab.
Curiosity satisfied on that front, you pull “The Pokémon and Policies of New Cainus” by S. Fletch off the shelf, and open it to a random page.
… New Cainus operates under a model that appears to external observers as a paradox of open borders and closed systems.
In truth, their borders are less like a wall and like a strange, permeable barrier; While many people are allowed in easily, the kinds of Pokémon permitted past their borders is a short list reinforced by harsh penalties and licensing fees.
It is a policy approach that has faced heavy criticism from the international stage, with many people pointing out that if a persons partner Pokémon is barred from entry, it is practically the same as the person being barred as well- and that is merely on the individual level.
With all this, it is unsurprising that the region has remained fairly stubborn about the competitive field, refusing any invitations from the IPL or smaller continental leagues.
[ …This is kind of dense.]
[ Well, even if you couldn’t finish the last one, you can still peek at the others.]
[ You open Walking The Ember Path by J. Satō to a random page.]
…Do not mistake fire for a force of destruction. Like Taurun, who clears the old brush so that new growth may thrive, the fire within you is a tool of purposeful transformation.
Your doubts, your fears, your attachments—these are the dry kindling of the self. Hold them in your mind’s eye, and with a breath, offer them to your inner ember. This is the first step: to learn that purification is not an act of violence against the self…
[ The book is pristine- It looks like its barely been touched, let alone read.]
[ You pull Red Star; A Collection of Sinnoh folk stories by D. Noriga off the shelf, and flip to a random page.]
…A long time ago, Almighty Sinnoh dropped something on the mountain, and needed someone to find it.
First, They called the Crow, hoping for cleverness-
But the Crow was far too shrewd and selfish.
“What’s in it for me?” it croaked, flying away into the tall grass.
Next, They called the Rabbit, hoping for obedience-
But the Rabbit was far too fragile and cowardly.
“I don’t think I can!” it squeaked, scurrying away into the tall grass.
Third, They called the Fox, hoping for balance-
But the Fox was far too defiant and rude.
“Why would I help you?” it sneered, leaping away into the tall grass.
Finally, They called the Huntsman.
“I have dropped something on the mountain,” They said.
“And I need you to fetch it from the beasts in the tall grass.”
“Whats in it for me?” The Huntsman asked.
“Feathers for your Bed,” They promised, “and Furs to keep you warm.”
“And If I think I can’t?”
“You will find courage, and my strength behind you.”
“And why should I help you?”
“Because you will be rewarded greatly as my Champion.”
[ You snap the book closed. ]
[ That’s enough of that, you think.]
Walking up to the phone, it looks a bit like it’s covered in a bunch of notes—probably shouldn’t mess with these.
Who would you call, anyways?
As for books… there’s a lot here. In between some battered computer manuals and some hefty looking books about oceanography, a few titles catch your eye.
Moby Dick
The Pokemon and Policies of New Cainus
Walking the Ember Path
Red Star; A Collection of Sinnoh folk stories
[ Maybe you could take a look at one of these? ]
[ You don’t think you saw anything like that? The channels were going too fast to tell.]
[ You don’t feel like you really need anything, but you are curious….]
It’s sparse- some yogurt cups, some leftover takeout boxes, condiment bottles that look almost fully empty… there’s a few energy drink cans in the door too.
[Looks like the Professor doesn’t keep a super stocked fridge…]
[ You feel fine! ]
[ Worrying isn’t going to get you anywhere productive. You have better things to do up here.]
Looks like Cotton is fast asleep… cute.
Should probably let the little fella enjoy its nap.
