"#ImpendingDisaster" By Botherer (https://pastebin.com/u/Botherer) URL: https://pastebin.com/M06FR4b9 Created on: Saturday 7th of January 2012 12:33:38 AM CDT Retrieved on: Sunday 1 of November 2020 03:09:24 PM UTC [21:46] Soft, regular breathing with just the lightest hint of a snore is interrupted by a hand on a slowly heaving shoulder, a yawn, a woman rolling over. Awkward pause ensues as the woman in question seems about to go back to sleep, but ultimately those rousing her are firm enough that she can gather consciousness and will together and sit upright, a small, suited up pokemon dislodged from her... [21:46] ...torso as she does so, falling head into her lap, and blinking up at her, confused over the perturbation. Another rakes the dirt with paws as its reptillian back stretches out, doglike, almost, and canid in its manners as it realizes its mistress has begun to stand. You'd think as the small, red-orange creature leapt up to remain close to her, it would be wagging its tail madly, as though... [21:46] ...just waiting for her to lavish it with affections or throw a stick or something ridiculous like that, but no. Vanity barely notices her companion and the perspective shifts to within her person rather than without, as the forest floor comes into focus, as Capone resolves to stand with her and Charlemagne draws in. She knocks some wrinkles from her skirt as best she can, runs a hand... [21:46] ...through her hair, yawns again, and looks to her watch partner's empty bag. 'That little bastard...' she thinks with a sigh, drawing from those who have awakened her from her probably fitful sleep that he has abandoned camp, pointing her in her last seen direction. What's one to do now, but wish them a pleasant sleep and try to find the increasingly frustrating boy. Stroking down her hair,... [21:46] ...gesturing to her companions, she dusts off her feet, steps into her heels, and meanders off into the night. 01[21:48] <@Raphael> After a long walk, one bringing her as far as the edge of the Petalburg Woods, Vanity finally comes across the, if only barely, illuminated figure of Raphael propped up against a tree. The source of this light, while at first glance may appear to be his hand, upon approaching closer turns out to be the iPoke contained within, held out in front of him to emit its glow upon himself, the book that he’s had visible on his person since arriving in Petalburg, and his Pokémon… Well, one of them, anyways. While Geoffrey is nowhere to be seen, Speedy, aderpable as ever, has fallen asleep at Raph’s feet, making “Eeep”ing sounds between his snores as he rolls about in his sleep, paws in the air and moving back and forth as if he were running… Or possibly eating… Okay, yeah, he’s probably dreaming about all the delicious human food he could be nomming upon at this moment were he awake. [21:58] The crunch of dry leaves under her heels belies her approach as Vanity finds the glow of her quarry, the pages of the book simultaneously becoming more and more illuminated by Charlemagne, the portable torch. The triad of wandering beings stops nearby, Vanity silent for a moment, waiting for him to, ideally, find a stopping point in his reading and acknowledge her. 01[22:00] <@Raphael> At the cue of crunching leaves, Raph looks up at her, the expression on his face not even remotely suggesting that any fucks were given about his defying her as he puts his iPoke down on the ground for long enough that he can put his book away; in doing so, Vanity might notice that the cover, hardbound, bears a gold-colored design on the front of a Pokémon… Or maybe it’s a brain. It’s not all that distinguishable immediately. He looks up to address the woman. “I suppose that your being here indicates that neither Ana nor Alphonse had passed on the message I had left for you.” [22:03] "I suppose it does." She eyes him somewhat skeptically, but allows him his explanation. "And what message were those two supposed to pass me and, perhaps more importantly, what are you doing out here?" 01[22:05] <@Raphael> "I had informed the two of them to have you call me over the iPoke when you had awakened." He scoops said iPoke off the ground before beginning to proceed over to her. "As for why I'm over here, I had simply felt that, since I hadn't any intention to go to bed, it'd have been best for me to leave Ana and Alphonse to privacy." [22:09] At that, Vanity's somewhat stern expression becomes a smirk as a light laugh escapes her lips. "Aha. I see." She nods knowingly with a sigh, "Well, I didn't get that message, but I think everyone involved was a little tired. Perhaps you were right to give them their space." she chirps, girlishly gossiping, playfully. "Still, this is a long way away from the group, Raphael. The more spread... [22:09] ...out we are, the weaker and easier to find, you know?" 01[22:13] <@Raphael> "I suppose setting out this far might have been a bit excessive... But I'm rather accustomed to having my own personal space... I might have went a little excessive in trying to create it." 06[22:16] * Vanity smiles softly, shaking her head a little. "Yeah, well, I can understand that much. Just... try to stick a little closer to us so we're all at least aware if something happens, 'til we clear all of this up. Please? I think we'd all feel safer knowing we all had a reasonable proximity to each other." Not wanting to press the matter much further, she abruptly changes the subject. "I appreciate... 06[22:16] * Vanity ...your offer to help accommodate my comfort earlier tonight, by the way. That was quite generous of you." 01[22:19] <@Raphael> "It wasn't much of anything, really... I had just figured that since I wasn't making use of it, someone else might have." He lifts an arm to rub the back of his head as he gives off a shrug. "I had also acquired some cooking wares when I had picked it up, if you or anyone else would be interested in using it." [22:23] Giving a little 'what's that supposed to mean' sort of grin, Vanity nods assent. "Well, it was a gentlemanly thing to do, regardless of your reasoning, so... thanks for caring. We should probably head back to camp. Wouldn't want something to happen during our watch." she suggests, turning her torso left and right, trying to stretch the discomfort out of her. 01[22:26] <@Raphael> "Very well, then..." He heads back to where he stands and finishes rounding up any loose belongings he has on him before all that remains on the ground is Speedy. It's quite apparent that he's having trouble picking up the chunky little raccoon, aided further by the fact that he does so just by attempting to scoop him up and tuck him beneath his shoulder, and you can hear Speedy whimpering in the process, and he looks up with the groggiest, dazed look on his face. 01[22:27] <@Raphael> "Shall we proceed, Vanity?" 06[22:30] * Vanity gestures back towards the camp, Charlemagne and Capone taking point together as they begin the journey back. 'These silly humans,' they must be thinking, 'walking to a place only to walk back, they should just sleep until it is time for food!' As Vanity follows them, her lips part again with a little "ah," recalling something. "I remember, now. Raphael, you said you had some business on... 06[22:30] * Vanity ...Route 103. What was that about, anyway?" 01[22:36] <@Raphael> "Oh, that..." He attempts to repeat his shrugging motions, but upon hearing Speedy make a panicked whimper as a result of the sudden movement, which almost results in him falling out from the boy's grip, he quickly stops that. "Well, I simply wasn't certain if we had acquired enough Electrike, so I had set off to try and catch another one or two... I wasn't able to come across any of the others, though." [22:42] "Ah, I see." Vanity nods, watching the boy struggle defiantly with his Pokeboa. "Well, it might be best that only those preliminary Electrike were moved here, gives the Diplomats time to study the effects before migrating more." she says, "Of course, that raises the question, why take that on yourself, especially considering what happened to Ana?" 01[22:46] <@Raphael> "Well, it wasn't as if there were anyone else present to assist me, even if I had sought to seek it out." [22:50] "And what of Ana? Is not as though time was of the essence, was it? Any Electrike near Oldale will still be there, say, tomorrow, most likely." she shakes her head, continuing along the path, Ignatius' dimming sleep lights guiding the way as they get closer. "Say you ran into several of them. Four or five or so. Having another person around to capture them before they fled again would simply... [22:50] ...increase the mission's chances of success, don't you think?" 01[22:52] <@Raphael> "Perhaps so..." His next response comes out just a little bit quicker than others'. "But as you said, it probably would be best to simply observe the Electrikes' impact before taking any further action." [22:58] "Yes." she nods, as she steps gingerly through the ring of tents and sleeping bags and folk crashed against logs and rocks to sit on the log that Ana and Alphonse had earlier taken up, turning to face Raphael. "It just seems that you don't ever take advantage of the fact that you have this team with you. And I wonder why you join us at all. It's almost like you just don't respect our various... [22:58] ...capabilities, and the way we're all trying to watch out for each other." she takes this point to dig in to the two ton gorilla standing in the corner. [23:01] *Elephant standing in the corner, for better appropriateness. 03[23:03] * Plutonis (Plutonis@7484F553.B09F9DB0.B65C4779.IP) has joined #ImpendingDisaster 03[23:03] * Plutonis (Plutonis@7484F553.B09F9DB0.B65C4779.IP) has left #ImpendingDisaster 01[23:03] <@Raphael> "..." It takes a moment for Raph to respond, if only disguising the pause as setting Speedy back down where he can be more comfortable, the 'coon letting out a dazed "Eeep~" in his half-sleeping state before falling back over into unconsciousness. "Even if we're capable of working in tandem now, come the end of this program, we'll simply be back on our own. If anything, I'd rather not find myself incapable of functioning on my own when I'll be in most need of doing so." [23:12] The silence sinks in as Vanity is taken aback by Raphael's cynicism, but only briefly, her eyes tracing his features, beaten and muddied. "That's not necessarily so." she protests to him, entreating his attention to her perspective, "I mean, will all of us remain together? Likely not, but that's okay. If nothing else, however, this program has served to bring us together. I don't know about... [23:12] ...you, Raphael, but I was lost before I joined up with the Diplomat program. In a bizarre kind of way, even though I disagree with the premise, being a Diplomat has already done a lot for me, merely in meeting you all and watching us all try to cope with this world of ours." her words are soft, genuine, as her eyes fall onto the forest floor. "I think that's the way our ancestors found... [23:12] ...their families, their tribes. Struggling together. I think that's what kept them from being alone." 01[23:18] <@Raphael> The sincerity of Vanity's words bears the misfortune of falling upon deaf ears... And the ears of those traversing the dreamscape, but their consciousness voids any meaning it might hold to them. "Well, I'm not quite certain about your intentions, Vanity, but I didn't join the Diplomat program to find someone who I could spill my heart out to... Merely a mean to advance myself and prepare for whatever may come. Though it's not quite what i had come to expect, adapting to it will simply leave me better prepared for whatever the future might hold." [23:28] "You're smart, Raphael," she shifts, shrugging off the fact that Raphael has totally ignored outside perspective because it was entirely expected. "So think of it as a simple matter of biology and math, then. Humans are pack animals. We have no natural defenses. Our bodies are squishy, we do not have sharp teeth and claws or amazing strength. We can't breathe fire or cause earthquakes... but... [23:28] ...the other inhabitants of this world are, and can. There is a REASON that humans find these societies. Even if you will deny your own emotional, or intellectual needs, which I feel are valid, the very survival benefit of having a trusted pack cannot be overstated." she jerks her head over her shoulder. "Ana can punch a bird out of the air. Ignatius can move things with his mind. Christina... [23:28] ...is a wise woman, despite her bizarre quips. Alphonse is clever, artistic. Benjamin, though world weary, is prepared to stand when it comes down to the wire. You have a body of knowledge that serves you well, and I am a planner, a perceiver. If nothing else, what you can learn from our group is the benefits of having all of these traits available to you, because your time on this planet is... [23:28] ...limited." She stands, pacing, back straightened and hands behind her back, almost like a professor as she speaks on. "You cannot do everything. If not for what this society has already done, every last one of us would probably have been devoured by one of the many territorial, terribly powerful beasts in this world. So remember, you may be capable, but the most relevant capability to... [23:29] ...surviving is knowing when to let someone who can do something better than you do it. Learn it from them if you must, but to save yourself, your pride cannot overstep your ability." [23:29] "Or you will, quite simply, die." 01[23:42] <@Raphael> "And if I were to perish, or should any other ill fate befall me, I'd only have my own incompetence to blame." Even in the dim lighting, you can still see the formation of agitation on Raphael's face. "I've already gone over this with Ana earlier today. Even if the human resources are available, I'm not going to draw upon them. If not simply for fear of their being incompetent and serving as a danger to myself, then simply because it's unnecessary. Undesired. Unwanted. I refuse to make myself an inconvenience to others. While I've already stated that I appreciate your concern, I simply refuse to allow for you to be drawn into my affairs. I've come far enough without the assistance of others, and until given substantial reason otherwise, I'd like things to continue as such." [23:51] "The problem is that it is not quite that simple. If this were all about you, then I'd have long since respected your opinion and left you to do as you would." Her gaze falls upon his, and it is no longer so soft, more reprimanding, "But this is not all about you, Raphael. Like it or not, you are, at least at present, a part of this team, and one that has not YET become an inconvenience, but... [23:51] ...who does things that foreshadow being an inconvenience, with the current dangerous situation only adding to the arguments against your behavior." doing her best to refrain from sounding scolding, she offers her evidence. "Consider, if you will, this evening, with Ana. I don't know what happened between the two of you, although I would wager she was indelicate and abrasive, as she... [23:51] ...sometimes is. Be that as it may, you'd been entrusted with her, because, again, you are currently a part of a TEAM, not a band of solo renegades. You wandered off into the forest to look for berries rather than getting help from a villager or cop or the nearby pokemon center or buying something to heal her, and ended up leaving her to her own devices, ultimately, in a town that has at... [23:51] ...one point in town been hostile to her. With your adapt or die attitude, I can understand where you think this might have been reasonable. The fact of the matter, however, remains that you did not perform your duty adequately, and if we cannot trust you far enough to at least support us, then you really might as well be doing this on your own entirely, oughtn't you?" 01[23:57] <@Raphael> "You say that as if I had left her completely defenseless. At no point had I left her completely unsupervised, as I had entrusted Geoffrey with keeping watch on her at all times during my absence, inclusive to escorting her back in town. Even if I'm advocating for my own self-sufficiency, I'm not going to completely abandon the others if my assistance is required as such." The look on his face suggests that he honestly doesn't see what the problem thus far is. [23:57] "When has Geoffry EVER been reliable?" [23:57] "From what I can tell, he protects you, sometimes. The rest of us?" 06[23:58] * Vanity shakes her head. Session Time: Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 2012 01[00:01] <@Raphael> "He proved himself capable enough this evening. Even if he's shown a tendency to traverse offf on his own, he's yet to prove unreliable when it's mattered... I'm certain that Ana would have informed me otherwise." [00:05] "I'm pretty sure Ana simply got lucky and didn't run in to anything as she DRAGGED HERSELF BACK to the Pokemon Center." With a huff, she shrugs. "Regardless," her hands are raised in a gesture of truce in front of her face, "It seems that you and I are at least MOSTLY on the same page. The thing I would ask most of you is just making sure that everybody knows your intents, especially when we... [00:05] ...have a group meeting like that. If you have concerns, address them, so we can come to a compromise or at least know from whose direction danger will occur." [00:08] Raphael has placated at least her suspicion that he's a self serving asshole with no regard for his teammates, for now. Should evidence to the contrary arise, however, Vanity will certainly address it. 01[00:12] <@Raphael> And now begins the eye rolling. "Have I yet to leave you ill-informed of my intentions? I've made disclosure of all of my activities thus far; you and the others have simply been overreacting out of fear that some terrible fate is going to befall me the second I wander out of your sight." [00:15] "Again, not about you, about us." her gaze hardens a little as he physically writes her off and she picks up on it. "Not a day after we'd all, except you, agreed to stay partnered up at all times, I found you out in the middle of the woods. That was a flagrant omission of intent and, while expected, should have been addressed. I know you like your personal space, but not for you, for GROUP... [00:15] ...SECURITY, I would ask that you at least maintain line of sight with someone." 01[00:29] <@Raphael> If just for a moment, Raph's voice rises to a fever pitch as the phrase "I simply refuse to comply with that, Vanity!" escapes his lips. The following reaction to that is his face going 'Oh crap', but he quickly attempts to recompose himself, letting out a sigh before continuing. 01[00:31] <@Raphael> "Listen, Vanity... I'm not going to say I don't understand the severity of the issue... And I'm willing to collaborate enough to mitigate the risk my actions have on the rest of you..." He takes his iPoke out of his pocket and tosses it over to Vanity. "At least if anything befalls me, they won't have further ammunition to pursue the rest of you with." [00:41] "I..." for one of the few times in her life, as she catches the small device, Vanity finds herself at an utter loss for words as the heat drains from her body. She stares down at the box, obviously a simple tool that he'd existed without before, then looks up to him, exasperated but still pleading in her incredulity over his stubbornness. "...Why are you doing this?" She just sort of slumps... [00:41] ...against the stump, sighing. 01[00:50] <@Raphael> "Well, it's obvious that our desires are in direct conflict with one another. The least I can do for you, since compromise isn't an option, is accomodate for the consequences of my actions since i have no intent to stand down." 01[00:52] <@Raphael> He simply stands there, arms now crossed, staring down at the perched Vanity. [00:58] "Yes, but..." She runs her fingers through her hair, sucking in a deep breath through her teeth, remaining level, "Shy be a part of a team at all if you've no intent to stand down? I don't understand what is so terrible about being in the presence of other human beings at night, but..." she sighs deep, holding it up in front of him. "Only when you wander off. I will take responsibility for... [00:58] ...this tool for you when you're taking your space. I don't understand you at all, Raphael, and that's somewhat frightening, but, I do respect that you're at least trying your best." Her gaze is uncomfortable, sort of weak and averted, mouth pulled into a tight half line of worry. "So, when you do come back, it's yours again." She hangs her head a bit, and makes a gesture with the back of... [00:58] ...her hand, dismissively. "I'm sure you'll need that space after this talk, so if you need it, take it. I'll watch the camp and scream real loud if something happens. Hope you find whatever it is you're seeking, out there in the black, and at least try to remember that, while you may not need other people while you're wandering these woods, sometimes..." beat. beat. "they notice some things... [00:58] ...that make the hike a little more beautiful and worthwhile." [00:58] *why be 01[01:09] <@Raphael> "While there's still a great deal of the shift left, if you're willing to make the concession, then I'm more than happy to accept..." [01:11] "Yeah, well, you know. That's what a pack does. Tries to look out for the needs of the members of its family." She raises a hand, still not looking at him. "Have a nice night, Raphael. Try to get some sleep." 01[01:15] <@Raphael> "If anything arises, I'll be patrolling the perimeter of the city..." He readies himself to leave, but still looks back towards Vanity. "... I suppose this is where I should be bidding you a good evening as well, so, umm... I suppose I'll see you and the others in the morning." [01:18] "Yeah. Thanks." She nods, seemingly recovering some of her composure and relaxing a bit, but still obviously somewhat distant. "We'll see you tomorrow, bright and early." 01[01:22] <@Raphael> "Understood, Vanity... And you're still welcome to make use of my belongings if the need arises..." He waves her off before setting off, fading into the inky blackness once he escapes the light of blackest magic... Err, that stuff Ignatius is somehow making in his sleep. [01:30] "Mhm." She assents, and watches the boy as he walks off, her nails idly tracing the head of the sleeping Charlemagne, who has curled up beside her. Capone remains vigilant at her directive, and they stare out into opposite directions, to keep the sleeping party safe, or those members of it who chose the warmth of the fire over the chill of the night. Thoughts swirl about in Vanity's head as... [01:30] ...the night watch wears on and the darkness wears on her mind, and silently, stoically, still, the grave faced woman drips inky black makeup from her eyes as the occasional tear rolls down her cheek, lamenting this reality which she and those around her have found themselves at war with, its danger and cruelty. Perhaps for the first time in her life she cries genuinely over a death, not... [01:30] ...because she knew Luther, but because she knows those who'd known him, her compatriots, Birch... he will be missed. It isn't the corpse that receives her vigil, her sacrifice of thoughts, water, salt, and breath. It is those that were left behind with one less person to trust for whom she is stirred, tonight.