003. [Video]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[Zulf finds it easier to post at night, away from the bustle of daily activity; it feels far less like he's shouting over everyone else, and more like he can just speak his mind.

He's kept mostly to himself today, distancing himself from Zia and simply spending long periods of time sitting alone near one of the small streams winding its way through the trees, allowing her to explore as much as she liked without nagging her to be careful; it was unlike him, perhaps, but he hadn't exactly been too open with his thoughts on the Bastion, either. The Calamity had sobered him a good amount; what had happened afterwards...well. It wasn't anything to be talked about, either.

He should be used to losing people by now; he isn't sure what to do with the fact that he probably never will be.

The feed hums alive to depict one of the routes, though it's difficult to tell which; there's a rather large magenta...mass behind him, curled up and appearing to be breathing - those that are familiar with Scolipede's coloring may recognize it. Zulf had simply found its ball among his belongings, taking up that sixth slot after he had finally given in and left one of the creatures he had obtained in the box, given that he didn't have the heart to keep it in the ball when it was within plain sight and that hadn't been an option around his previous company.

He had scanned it with the PokéDex, as he had been instructed to; its name was Hanako.

Original Trainer...]

I don't know how many others here knew this man; for those that did, Kariya Matou is no longer in Johto.

He will be missed greatly; may he feel Mother's love and protection, even now that he's returned to his home world.

[And that is, quite frankly, all.]

Comments

[determinator]

...I appreciate it.

[And that is genuine. He doesn't know Zulf very well, but from what he's seen, Zulf is very supportive and caring. It's a stark contrast to Kimblee who is... special, really. Kimblee does care in his own way, Archer knows that, but this is genuinely nice.]

Will you be alright, then?

[leaveyourstarburning]

I think so...it's just difficult.

[He pauses for a moment before continuing, his tone hesitant.]

Can I ask you an odd question?

[determinator]

I know.

[He does. Not to the extent Zulf does, apparently, but he does know.]

Of course. What is it?

[leaveyourstarburning]

You said before that you don't believe in the gods, and that's your choice. But do you believe in fate?

[determinator]

Fate...?

[That is a rather odd question. Archer assumes Zulf is going somewhere with this, however.]

No, I don't believe in fate. We aren't predestined to do anything; everything we do is because of our own choosing.

[leaveyourstarburning]

[He is and he isn't; it's a bit of a complicated subject.]

I'm not talking about free will - more like strings of events that line up too closely. Someone being in the right place at a certain moment and something important happens as a result, or something happening that normally wouldn't have been odd but ends up being life-changing, or someone seeming to attract certain kinds of luck. Things like that. Do you think it's just coincidence?

[determinator]

Yes, it is. I suppose I haven't seen enough of that to really question it; it's never occurred to me that it could be fate.

[leaveyourstarburning]

[...WHAT IS THAT LOOK FOR

you make the most unpleasant expressions half the time, and Mother above all, he can never tell if he's making you mad or not]

What about things that have happened since coming here? Your friend, for example - I'm not sure if he's from your world or not, but if he is, then I think the fact that he's here at all at the same time as you could qualify.

And if he isn't, then there's the fact that you were both brought here at the same time and were able to become so close, when everyone comes and goes at the world's whims.

[determinator]

[ZULF BB ALL OF HIS EXPRESSIONS ARE HORRIBLE you should just get used to it and stop questioning it.]

I wouldn't call that fate, no. Kimblee isn't from my world. He's similar to someone I know, but it's hardly fate that we met here.

[leaveyourstarburning]

[Not all of them! See, that one's just...

...just...

...wow, is that tsun?]

Is he like that friend of yours you've mentioned before? The one with the similar name to mine?

[determinator]

[...it might be...]

Yes. Zolf is the version of Kimblee from my world. They have very similar names, but they're two entirely different people.

[This is confusing, alright.]

[leaveyourstarburning]

...I thought that's what he said his first name was when we met, but I couldn't be sure; I think he was pronouncing it differently, and he said it so fast...

[It sounds like a bit of a mess, honestly.]

[determinator]

Oh, no, it's Solf, with an S. I was confused at first too.

[Admittedly for a very different reason, but that's not the point!]

It's quite alright. He's not very fond of his first name anyway.

[It's worse than Frank, alright.]

[leaveyourstarburning]

Well, I don't think it's that bad. A bit...unorthodox, maybe.

[determinator]

[...bb, your name isn't any better...]

Yes, it's very unique. I never heard it before meeting him.

[Were your parents high, Kimblee?]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[Oh come on, Zulf's parents probably weren't high at the moment, either...]

Well, it seems the names in Caelondia and the Terminals are different to the names here - many of the people here have very complicated names, from what I've heard; ours tend to be far more straightforward.

[determinator]

Yes, I've heard quite a few names that are difficult to pronounce. The names vary from world to world, it seems. I don't believe I've seen any names repeated, oddly enough.

[leaveyourstarburning]

...likewise, actually.

[...huh. Is Johto seriously managing to adhere to the One Steve Limit?]

I'm assuming that friend of yours is part of the reason you want to return so badly?

[HE KIND OF HAS NO IDEA, UM]

[determinator]

[Archer freezes for a moment - he can practically feel himself make that expression Kimblee has whenever he's stunned - but he tries to cover it up quickly.]

I... yes. Was it really that obvious?

[Yes, he was just surprised by that. That's all.]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[...you're going to get kind of a really skeptical look for that, Archer.]

Are you all right?

[determinator]

[...orz...]

Yes, of course I'm alright. I wasn't expecting that, that's all.

[leaveyourstarburning]

[He still doesn't look entirely convinced, but...]

If you insist.

[determinator]

Of course I do.

[That's a good boy, Zulf! You believe what he says!]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[Oh, not at all.]

You're allowed to keep secrets, you know.

[determinator]

I... what?

[...no seriously what is this?]