[Frisk spots AZ as soon as they enter the Mess, and while at first they don't want to distract him from a task that seems to be absorbing his interest... curiosity is a demanding mistress. They've got to know.]
[So here is an eleven-year-old climbing onto the bench next to him, carefully maneuvering a small, orb-like object into their lap. Closer inspection would reveal that it's an egg, which they cradle in their folded arms with all the care due to such a fragile thing. Once it's secure, they lean slightly in AZ's direction to get a better look at what he's doing.]
[Oh... is he drawing? Neat. For the time being, that's as far as they go to make their presence known; they're content to watch him work whether he immediately notices them or not.]
Okay. [Frisk punctuates the word by giving an exceedingly gentle pat to the white-colored crown of their egg. Then they shift a little closer, cocking their head at his sketches. They still look pretty early stage.]
Ah... I was drawing Pokemon. I want to make drawings of as many of them as I can. I know Rob has a Pokedex app he can pull up, and Hilda has a Pokedex as well, but I want to make drawings so we can put them in a book or... something like that. So many of them... aren't there anymore.
[Should he be telling this to a child? ... Maybe not. He's not sure.]
Let's see...
[He pages through the drawings and pulls one of them out.]
These two I've never seen myself... but there's people here who have. Would you like to hear the story of them?
[Frisk listens with interest, head still canted. Hmm... they don't know what a Pokedex is. But they can take a guess based on context. Some kind of Pokemon encyclopedia? They can't help but think AZ might sound a little sad, talking about it.]
[Or maybe it's the drawing of the two dragon-like creatures he draws out a moment later. Frisk looks it over. These must be Pokemon, too. Funny... the white one reminds them of a boss monster. And they both look sort of angelic, each in their own way.]
[They glance up to AZ with a nod. They'd love to hear the story.]
[He smiles, and nods. All right. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, before opening them again. Story time.]
A long time ago, there was a huge Dragon-type Pokemon. It helped to create the land of Unova - that's where Hilda and N are from. Twin heroes worked with the dragon, helping it shape that land. But... as is often the case, they sought different things in life. The older brother sought truth, and the younger brother sought ideals. They disagreed so violently that the Pokemon they used split into two - Reshiram sided with the older brother, and Zekrom with the younger.
[He points to each of them in turn, smiling a little sadly.]
What happened next... was that they fought. Violently, and to the point where even their sons carried on the argument. Neither could come to an agreement. Their bonds... were broken.
[He sighs. He... knows what that's like. But the story has to continue, and so he keeps talking.]
Eventually, the two Pokemon destroyed the land they created with lightning and fire, and disappeared. The land recovered, but no one knew where the two of them went.
... Until recently, that is. Two heroes emerged... one who championed ideals, and one who championed truth. Their hearts resonated with the artifacts that the Pokemon left behind, and summoned them to fight again. And this time, Reshiram - truth - won, but the hero who stood by its side didn't want to conquer anything. No... the two heroes found a common love of things, bound together by hardship and being tossed to different worlds. The two heroes, in fact, fell in love. And recently... they got married.
... And so Zekrom and Reshiram, even if they're not with the heroes right now, have found common ground. I think... that everyone can. I think that's what that story has to tell us... that even if you fight with someone... you can find things you both share.
[He reaches out to pat Frisk on the head gently - though slowly enough that they can move out of the way if they want.]
[Frisk never looks away from the paper, but their rapt attention can be read in their body language as the story goes on. The egg hugs a little closer to their chest at the sad fate of the brothers; their head cants sadly when they hear of the two Pokemon destroying the land, two opposing halves of something that used to be whole.]
[It's not a very happy story so far. Siblings shouldn't fight. A whole land shouldn't be destroyed because they couldn't get along. Frisk doesn't think any truth or ideal could be worth so much sadness.]
[But it gets better. Resonating hearts is something Frisk can perfectly understand, whether or not AZ means it in the more communicative sense they're used to. At the very least... it gives them an idea of how strongly the new champions believed in what they stood for. Frisk's eyes finally leave the drawing when AZ mentions that the heroes fell in love, settling on him with a muted, hopeful delight. Heh. There's a happy ending they can get behind.]
[They wonder if Zekrom and Reshiram could ever be whole again. Frisk sort of understands what it's like to be one side of a coin. But maybe it's even better that they can coexist as separate, different beings. Isn't that the kind of world Frisk wants theirs to become, too?]
[They welcome AZ's hand atop their frizzy head, beaming up at him with a smile a few degrees wider than the usual fare.]
Yeah. Being different and fighting before doesn't mean you always have to. [They pause.] I like that story.
[He's... glad that he gets to tell that story. It may be that Hilda and N are from another version of their world... but the story remains the same. It's still something that they can all share. He's fairly certain the original story is true, anyway. Even if it wasn't... he's glad that it has a happy ending now. Just like his own story... even if afterwards things went poorly.]
I like it, too. And those heroes... well. They're here with us. They're both very kind people.
[Frisk had their suspicions, based on the wording of the tale, and it doesn't take long at all for AZ to confirm them: it's a true story. The brothers, the Pokemon, the heroes. That makes some parts of it even sadder... but similarly, it makes the nice parts better, too. Frisk is happy for the heroes. They do sound like good people. Other worlds could learn a lot from their example.]
[Wow... he's the father of one of the heroes? That's pretty cool. No wonder he's so proud of her. And there's not an inkling of judgment in the warm smile Frisk sends AZ's way - they understand, very well, what it's like to find people who accept and bring you into their lives. Officially or unofficially. Monster adoption practices are a lot less formal than the complicated human equivalent.]
[It feels nice to be able to say you have a family, doesn't it?]
I understand. [They lift their egg carefully, holding it up towards him.] Like Pokemon, right?
Yes, somewhat like that. People and Pokemon and other creatures come into our lives... and if your bonds are strong enough in the right way, they stay. Sometimes they leave, but that's a part of life, too. That doesn't mean their memories are gone with them.
[He glances over at his papers again, smiling a bit sadly.]
I've seen most of these Pokemon myself. Not many of the legendary ones... but some of those, and most of the known species in my world - including some that aren't even around anymore.
[Ah, but that's... getting close to a topic he doesn't want to trouble them with.]
[Sometimes they leave, but that's a part of life, too. That doesn't mean their memories are gone with them.]
[That's... also a bit sad. But it's a nice way of thinking about it. When it comes to personal loss, Frisk has been extraordinarily lucky in some regards, and they don't like entertaining the idea that they'll lose some of their loved ones for good. But AZ seems like someone who's been through a lot. They like his advice.]
[Frisk shifts the egg back into their lap. They reach over and tap the picture of Reshiram, lending voice to an earlier thought.]
[There's unabashed pride in the way Frisk's face lights up. They enjoy talking about their mother. It's not all that unexpected that AZ is familiar with her, either - they both have a way of sticking out of the crowd.]
[The Bastion. Frisk has heard it come up several times, and yet despite their knowledge that some people have lived there before they were called to a castle in the mist... they still have little idea what it actually is or what it's like.]
... It was... a place that people from many different worlds found their way to. It was held together by a thing called the Monument, which sort of looked like a big crystal. The Monument helped us by making materials we could use, but... ah. Everyone who was brought there...
[He pauses for a moment, not sure how to explain it - but Frisk is here, Frisk can likely handle such things.]
Our worlds are... gone. Destroyed. We might have been able to go back in time using the Monument's power when we found enough Cores, but... there was no guarantee that the Calamity wouldn't happen again. So we used it to make a new planet to live on. We gathered as much as we could, worked together... so it's a nice place, but... sad, too.
[So many worlds, so many people, lost because of pride and war and the inability to work together...]
[It sobers Frisk's expression for several moments; their face goes quiet, dropping into a certain stillness they haven't worn for a while. It's a lot to take in all at once: worlds being destroyed. Refugees forced to find shelter elsewhere. Frisk can't imagine what that's like - maybe Toriel or Asgore would, though. At least a little bit.]
[Instead, Frisk tries to focus on the positive. It's hard to comprehend entire worlds being gone, but at least some people got out, right? They built a new life, despite everything. It goes to show that a little determination goes a long, long way.]
[... Frisk maneuvers their egg to one side, lifts a hand to settle on AZ's arm.]
[He does his best to smile, and covers their hand with his other one.]
We're working together to help make things okay where we are now. And who knows? Maybe other people survived on the Skyway and will be drawn to that place. There's always hope.
[Hope. They couldn't have put it better if they tried. Frisk allows a small, somber smile, because while they aren't so quick to focus on the good that they'll forget about how heavy the pain of destroyed worlds must lie, they're relieved to see the glimmer of hope in AZ. Maybe because he's still got so much to love. His daughter, his Pokemon... Frisk can tell he really does love them.]
[Monsters are weird... but humans can be, too.]
[In a good way.]
I think so, too. [A pause.] Thanks for telling me about it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[Action]
[So here is an eleven-year-old climbing onto the bench next to him, carefully maneuvering a small, orb-like object into their lap. Closer inspection would reveal that it's an egg, which they cradle in their folded arms with all the care due to such a fragile thing. Once it's secure, they lean slightly in AZ's direction to get a better look at what he's doing.]
[Oh... is he drawing? Neat. For the time being, that's as far as they go to make their presence known; they're content to watch him work whether he immediately notices them or not.]
[Action]
Hello there. How are you two doing?
[Torkoal's currently heating up the Bulbasaur egg he found, so he's not too worried.]
[Action]
What are you drawing?
[Action]
[Should he be telling this to a child? ... Maybe not. He's not sure.]
Let's see...
[He pages through the drawings and pulls one of them out.]
These two I've never seen myself... but there's people here who have. Would you like to hear the story of them?
[Action]
[Or maybe it's the drawing of the two dragon-like creatures he draws out a moment later. Frisk looks it over. These must be Pokemon, too. Funny... the white one reminds them of a boss monster. And they both look sort of angelic, each in their own way.]
[They glance up to AZ with a nod. They'd love to hear the story.]
[Action]
A long time ago, there was a huge Dragon-type Pokemon. It helped to create the land of Unova - that's where Hilda and N are from. Twin heroes worked with the dragon, helping it shape that land. But... as is often the case, they sought different things in life. The older brother sought truth, and the younger brother sought ideals. They disagreed so violently that the Pokemon they used split into two - Reshiram sided with the older brother, and Zekrom with the younger.
[He points to each of them in turn, smiling a little sadly.]
What happened next... was that they fought. Violently, and to the point where even their sons carried on the argument. Neither could come to an agreement. Their bonds... were broken.
[He sighs. He... knows what that's like. But the story has to continue, and so he keeps talking.]
Eventually, the two Pokemon destroyed the land they created with lightning and fire, and disappeared. The land recovered, but no one knew where the two of them went.
... Until recently, that is. Two heroes emerged... one who championed ideals, and one who championed truth. Their hearts resonated with the artifacts that the Pokemon left behind, and summoned them to fight again. And this time, Reshiram - truth - won, but the hero who stood by its side didn't want to conquer anything. No... the two heroes found a common love of things, bound together by hardship and being tossed to different worlds. The two heroes, in fact, fell in love. And recently... they got married.
... And so Zekrom and Reshiram, even if they're not with the heroes right now, have found common ground. I think... that everyone can. I think that's what that story has to tell us... that even if you fight with someone... you can find things you both share.
[He reaches out to pat Frisk on the head gently - though slowly enough that they can move out of the way if they want.]
[Action]
[It's not a very happy story so far. Siblings shouldn't fight. A whole land shouldn't be destroyed because they couldn't get along. Frisk doesn't think any truth or ideal could be worth so much sadness.]
[But it gets better. Resonating hearts is something Frisk can perfectly understand, whether or not AZ means it in the more communicative sense they're used to. At the very least... it gives them an idea of how strongly the new champions believed in what they stood for. Frisk's eyes finally leave the drawing when AZ mentions that the heroes fell in love, settling on him with a muted, hopeful delight. Heh. There's a happy ending they can get behind.]
[They wonder if Zekrom and Reshiram could ever be whole again. Frisk sort of understands what it's like to be one side of a coin. But maybe it's even better that they can coexist as separate, different beings. Isn't that the kind of world Frisk wants theirs to become, too?]
[They welcome AZ's hand atop their frizzy head, beaming up at him with a smile a few degrees wider than the usual fare.]
Yeah. Being different and fighting before doesn't mean you always have to. [They pause.] I like that story.
no subject
I like it, too. And those heroes... well. They're here with us. They're both very kind people.
no subject
What are their names?
no subject
[And now his face turns faintly pink. He really is proud of her, and he really does care about her. He hasn't had a family in so long...]
no subject
[It feels nice to be able to say you have a family, doesn't it?]
I understand. [They lift their egg carefully, holding it up towards him.] Like Pokemon, right?
no subject
[He glances over at his papers again, smiling a bit sadly.]
I've seen most of these Pokemon myself. Not many of the legendary ones... but some of those, and most of the known species in my world - including some that aren't even around anymore.
[Ah, but that's... getting close to a topic he doesn't want to trouble them with.]
no subject
[That's... also a bit sad. But it's a nice way of thinking about it. When it comes to personal loss, Frisk has been extraordinarily lucky in some regards, and they don't like entertaining the idea that they'll lose some of their loved ones for good. But AZ seems like someone who's been through a lot. They like his advice.]
[Frisk shifts the egg back into their lap. They reach over and tap the picture of Reshiram, lending voice to an earlier thought.]
This one looks like my mom.
no subject
Really? Is your - ah.
[That... makes sense.]
She wouldn't happen to be the tall woman with white fur, would she?
no subject
[Without looking away from the sketch, they nod.]
Uh-huh. Toriel. She's not a Pokemon, though.
no subject
no subject
Can you tell me more about it? The Bastion.
no subject
[He pauses for a moment, not sure how to explain it - but Frisk is here, Frisk can likely handle such things.]
Our worlds are... gone. Destroyed. We might have been able to go back in time using the Monument's power when we found enough Cores, but... there was no guarantee that the Calamity wouldn't happen again. So we used it to make a new planet to live on. We gathered as much as we could, worked together... so it's a nice place, but... sad, too.
[So many worlds, so many people, lost because of pride and war and the inability to work together...]
no subject
[... sounds horrible.]
[It sobers Frisk's expression for several moments; their face goes quiet, dropping into a certain stillness they haven't worn for a while. It's a lot to take in all at once: worlds being destroyed. Refugees forced to find shelter elsewhere. Frisk can't imagine what that's like - maybe Toriel or Asgore would, though. At least a little bit.]
[Instead, Frisk tries to focus on the positive. It's hard to comprehend entire worlds being gone, but at least some people got out, right? They built a new life, despite everything. It goes to show that a little determination goes a long, long way.]
[... Frisk maneuvers their egg to one side, lifts a hand to settle on AZ's arm.]
I'm proud of you.
no subject
We're working together to help make things okay where we are now. And who knows? Maybe other people survived on the Skyway and will be drawn to that place. There's always hope.
no subject
[Monsters are weird... but humans can be, too.]
[In a good way.]
I think so, too. [A pause.] Thanks for telling me about it.
no subject
[Baby Pokemon should hear stories of their world, too.