Zulf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
leaveyourstarburning) wrote2012-07-30 05:22 pm
leaveyourstarburning) wrote2012-07-30 05:22 pm
004. Text/Action for Goldenrod City
[It's been a month full of crises, it seems; Zulf has been aware of the attacks, of the assaults on civilians and gyms and the Centers, and out of all of that, it's the last one that angers him most. And then there were the mutations, the illnesses, things that couldn't be fought with words or actions, leaving him feeling rather useless, all things considered.
And then had come proof that whomever had said that bad things happened in threes hadn't been wrong; the third crisis was of a far more personal nature. Zulf supposed it was selfish to allow the personal issue to cut him far more deeply than the attacks against Johto as a whole; however, he found that it was something that he couldn't help.
He allowed himself to be useless for a short while afterwards, to give himself time to recover, to not be rash; following that period, he had returned to Goldenrod City and found work immediately, among all the people that were still alive and not burnt to ashes where they stood - how long would it be before Zia could see something like this again? - and the buildings that seemed a bit too tall to be real. It was what he did when he didn't know what else to do - he threw himself into his work, whatever that may happen to be in his current location.
Today, though, he's distanced himself from all that a bit, sitting in one of the open squares near the northern side of town, close to Route 35; the park is small but nice, and he's sitting on one of the benches occupying the edge of it, in rather plain sight. There are several Pokemon playing in the grass; some are his, some aren't, but they all seem to be getting along rather well; he glances up once in a while to see what they're doing, but for the most part he seems rather content with what he's looking at, and he's rather comfortable diverting his attention back to the 'Gear, on which he's been tapping out a message to send to the network. He shifts a bit once in a while, allowing his leg to brush up against the large bag at his feet as though checking to make sure it's still there, but it's not an anxious motion, though the text itself seems to be taking a while to set up.]
For those that knew her, Zia is no longer in Johto. May she feel Mother's love and protection in our home world. She liked creatures of all sorts and enjoyed taking care of them; now that she isn't here anymore, I would like to try to do so in her stead.
My name is Zulf; the Pokemon Centers are still down, but I have good numbers of Revives and Hyper Potions. I was not affected by the mutations, but I do not fear you if you were. Should you want to avoid the public healing center in town for that reason or any other and can't afford your own healing supplies, I can be found in Goldenrod City, near the route leaving town to the north. I'm told that I dress strangely/am hard to miss, and I always have at least a Scolipede out in the area with me (her name is Hanako, she is friendly and will not try to eat you). I'll try to be there in the evenings for as long as I'm needed.
[And with that out of the way, he'll be returning to...whatever he's been doing on that bench; it appears to be playing with a few rather large skeins of string, braiding them together in what appear to be bracelets of some sort while he waits.]
And then had come proof that whomever had said that bad things happened in threes hadn't been wrong; the third crisis was of a far more personal nature. Zulf supposed it was selfish to allow the personal issue to cut him far more deeply than the attacks against Johto as a whole; however, he found that it was something that he couldn't help.
He allowed himself to be useless for a short while afterwards, to give himself time to recover, to not be rash; following that period, he had returned to Goldenrod City and found work immediately, among all the people that were still alive and not burnt to ashes where they stood - how long would it be before Zia could see something like this again? - and the buildings that seemed a bit too tall to be real. It was what he did when he didn't know what else to do - he threw himself into his work, whatever that may happen to be in his current location.
Today, though, he's distanced himself from all that a bit, sitting in one of the open squares near the northern side of town, close to Route 35; the park is small but nice, and he's sitting on one of the benches occupying the edge of it, in rather plain sight. There are several Pokemon playing in the grass; some are his, some aren't, but they all seem to be getting along rather well; he glances up once in a while to see what they're doing, but for the most part he seems rather content with what he's looking at, and he's rather comfortable diverting his attention back to the 'Gear, on which he's been tapping out a message to send to the network. He shifts a bit once in a while, allowing his leg to brush up against the large bag at his feet as though checking to make sure it's still there, but it's not an anxious motion, though the text itself seems to be taking a while to set up.]
For those that knew her, Zia is no longer in Johto. May she feel Mother's love and protection in our home world. She liked creatures of all sorts and enjoyed taking care of them; now that she isn't here anymore, I would like to try to do so in her stead.
My name is Zulf; the Pokemon Centers are still down, but I have good numbers of Revives and Hyper Potions. I was not affected by the mutations, but I do not fear you if you were. Should you want to avoid the public healing center in town for that reason or any other and can't afford your own healing supplies, I can be found in Goldenrod City, near the route leaving town to the north. I'm told that I dress strangely/am hard to miss, and I always have at least a Scolipede out in the area with me (her name is Hanako, she is friendly and will not try to eat you). I'll try to be there in the evenings for as long as I'm needed.
[And with that out of the way, he'll be returning to...whatever he's been doing on that bench; it appears to be playing with a few rather large skeins of string, braiding them together in what appear to be bracelets of some sort while he waits.]
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However resigned his tone may be, however, there's a definite anger in his eyes, a distinct sense of fury to his expression.]
The Calamity was the result of some sort of massive weapon being fired. Its original purpose was for it to be used by the Caels to destroy the Tazal Terminals and slaughter my people. It was designed many years ago, after a war between the Caels and the Ura; the project was abandoned once peace was made, but relations between our races were still tense, and worsening all the time. Eventually, work on the weapon resumed again; it was sabotaged by a scientist, one of the Ura, so that if it were to be set off it would backfire and destroy Caelondia instead, hopefully sparing the Terminals.
I've been working to bring peace to our people for most of my life. I had a large amount of influence in the Terminals; I still do, I think - some of my memories of what happened are a bit odd. I travelled to Caelondia to try to prove to them that things had changed. And in several ways, I did make a difference.
Yet the weapon still went off.
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[He's not sure what to say, and when Zulf finishes Archer finally moves to sit beside him. He hesitates for a moment longer before touching the back of Zulf's hand - it's a gesture that's trying to be reassuring and... kind of failing horribly, sorry. He doesn't know how to deal with affection like this that isn't latching onto someone. He gets the feeling that would scare poor Zulf.]
I understand how you feel. You blame yourself for all their deaths. I'm sure you've been told that it isn't your fault - that doesn't make it any easier, does it?
[Archer glances away, once again finding it awkward to look at Zulf.]
I don't believe it's your fault, Zulf. You didn't know the weapon existed, correct? Even if you had, could you have changed anything? I know it's difficult to think about, and it's even more difficult to acknowledge that you really couldn't have done anything. I understand.
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At the same time, he does understand what Archer is trying to do; he can't say that he isn't grateful for it, either. He honestly doesn't know how to give physical affection very well himself; he usually limits it to incredibly awkward touching on the shoulders or something, and he never really sustains it any longer than he has to. So in a way it's nice to know that not everyone knows how to do this, either.]
...thank you, Archer. I appreciate it.
[............]
I likely shouldn't have discussed this with you. It's not something most want to deal with.
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[Zulf's words earn a rather bemused look there, though.]
You don't need to worry about it. Like I said, I understand what it's like. I find that it's much easier to deal with things like this after I've discussed them with someone. You might not be the same way, but there's no reason for you to worry about that. I don't mind dealing with it.
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You've been very kind to me, Archer. I'm glad we got this chance to talk again.
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I do what I can.
[Archer still can't manage a proper smile, but he's trying!]
I'm glad as well. I'm sure everything will work out for you, Zulf.
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...orz...]
It will. I'm going to try to stay here as long as possible; if that isn't what Mother has decided will come to pass, then I have Zia and the others to return to. Either way, I'll be fine.
no subject