TWO YEARS AGO, A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION GOING BY THE NAME TEAM IMUM WRECKED CHAOS ACROSS THE LAND, DAMAGING CITIES AND KILLING THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS. While Imum itself has long since been disbanded, however, the region remains broken: entire towns have been laid to waste and the Association struggles to find homes for those who were lucky enough to survive the attempted genocide. Reconstruction trudges on as usual... but with three factions - the Association, the corporations, and the people - each wishing to take the rebuilding of an entire region down opposite paths, how long will it be before Lyeant's last leg gives out permanently?
03.01
first activity check is currently underway. regardless of your green status, please be sure to check it out and make extra sure your characters make it safe and sound after the eighth of march.
01.28
we're officially re-opened! come check out our event, the pokeathlon forever to enjoy some fresh restart activities. let leap know if there are any skin bugs, and they'll be sorted out accordingly!
Care to hear about our lord and savior Operation: Mindcrime? In all seriousness: Hello, hello! I'm Pharaoh Leap – or just Leap – local head admin and rock opera enthusiast. On the rare chance you catch me in a time when I'm not bawling about characters entirely written into song, you may see me actually doing work around the site, like skinning, making too many characters, and encouraging others to also make too many characters. I only know how to write angst, and in no fewer than six trillion words an app or post, so if you like dying while reading like I like dying while writing, I'm the girl for you. ;o
Howdy guys! The names Astro and I am your resident Brit & Red muse (you'll honestly see me more on him than any of my other characters). I'm a moderator and my main job is to make sure everything is running smoothly so the Admins can focus on other things, you'll often see me within the apps and shops, etc when I'm not on Red. What can I say about myself? Apart from being a Red fanboy I like music and games and yaoi huehue, I honestly never now what to put into these sort of things but ohwell, I'm more of a "ask me and I'll tell" sorta guy. Anyway, from my personally I hope that you enjoy the site and what we produce here but also if you're new, please look around and if you like what you see please consider joining for rad plots that everyone gives! :D
Hey there~ Nano over here! I uh.. Wait, I'm doing this right, right? Bleh. So I'm a moderator over here - fun, fun - who kind of just.. Keeps an eye on everyone. You know, the whole app thing and what not. Uh.. Lets see.. When I'm not doing school work (because I may or may not be trying to be a good student) I'm probably storming up new ideas like events and etc. Or plots. Plots are always good, too. As you can see, I uh.. Have the horrible habit of making way too many characters. I swear, I was tempted with plots, ships and angst. It's like, the holy trinity. Uh.. What else is there about me? Oh, right! Please excuse my obnoxiousness. I'm just really loud in general so don't be surprised if I start screaming as loudly as I can caps. So yeah. Nice meeting you!
tbe: take two! is inspired by, but not associated with nintendo's pokemon franchise. the current skin was created by pharaoh leap using font icons primarily from ion icons and fonts from google fonts. banner art by vav of pixiv. characters, with the exception of canons from the manga, belong to the members who write them, and all posts and templates on site are credited to their respective authors and artists. we claim nothing that is not ours.
There's nothing personal about choosing a target to help instill fear within the public; Bekrel simply chooses someone that stands out. If he can, picks someone that doesn't seem too strong, after all, if he can up his chances of not making an ass of himself and Imum? He'll do it. For now though only one person of interest seemed to be wandering the area. Tall, broad, sullen looking. He looked like a strong guy with the capabilities of a magikarp.[break][break]
He was perfect.[break][break]
Bekrel tapped his fingers against the pokeballs in his belt as he approached, whistling gently to himself. At first, he sidled up next to the guy, mask up and over the lower half of his face. "Nice day fr'a walk, mind if I join ya?" He kept some distance, just in case he'd managed to piss the other off with just a greeting - or, something that was vaguely a greeting. He gave his new 'friend' ample time to talk before he even so much as clenched his fist, not striking just yet. He was curious; did this stranger even know the symbol of Imum? Bekrel wore it on his jacket - on each shoulder, and embroidered on the back, it would be incredibly hard to miss if he did.
Edd breathed in the warm breeze as he strolled, sighing and lumbering along on his slow walk toward the park. It had been a remarkably slow day at the bakery, with only a customer or two stopping by and only one actually buying anything, so he had decided to shut shop early and head out for some much needed fresh air. Maybe he could even head to a field or a park nearby and let his pokemon out for some exercise; though for now they were in their balls tucked away in the little bag he carried over his shoulder. No reason to have all five of them running around on the sidewalk and maybe getting pokenapped or something. All precautions aside, he expected the trip to be pretty quiet. There didn't seem to be a lot of people out and about this way and the few that were just waved at him or, at most, gave a quick greeting before moving on. The townsfolk knew him as the local baker, but he wasn't exactly close with anyone these days, so most people let him pass without fanfare. [break][break] At least, until the blue-hair stranger approached him.[break] He was surprised, to say the least; and for a moment he just kind of boggled in confusion at the other. A quick once-over yielded no answers, he didn't recognize this person. Maybe they had come to the shop before and he had just forgotten? It's not like he was known for his memory, after all. Some part of him was oddly wary of them though, for some reason he couldn't place. After a moment he chalked it up to being startled and the fact that their face was all covered up, which was no good reason to be rude. Shaking off the inkling of danger that had popped up in his mind, Edd quickly gathered a friendly smile, letting his amber eyes light with kindness and hoping his moment of silence would be forgiven. [break][break] "Ah, sure! It is a very nice day, better to share it with a companion. yeah?"[break] He stepped a little closer to the stranger before he started off walking again, keeping just enough space between them to soothe the lingering traces of that unsettled feeling.[break] "I'm just out to get some air and exercise, so if you have a destination you might be disappointed, but you're welcome to join! I'm Edd by the way; you might know me from my shop! I don't think I've seen you before though, who might you be?"
Damn shame this fella couldn't see the bright smile Bekrel wore under his mask. There was caution, he could tell, and after that there was genuine kindness to the other's voice. Assumptions were never his strong point but he figured that this guy was pretty set and secure in at least one aspect - the mention of a shop giving him some inkling that may be correct. They were coming up to a semi-busy street, not too far from the park, so... the perfect place too start some havoc.[break][break]
Sorry Edd, you seem nice, but Imum's got an agenda.[break][break]
"Nice t'meetcha. y'don't gotta know my name, aint important." With that, he took a step ahead of Edd, then another, before turning round and aiming the hardest punch he could manage in such undesirable circumstances right at his companion's face. He grit his teeth in anticipation of the pain that came with landing a good blow, other arm steadying him and keeping his balance, at the ready to grab a pokeball as well if needs be.[break][break]
It'd be a damn shame to fell a man like Edd, who seemed to genuinely just want to exist - hell Imum could actually used folks like him. Ah well, he'd punched now, recruitment would have to wait for the next vaguely bouncy, over trusting schmuck he came across. There were a few started noises from people around, not that anyone stepped in. In fact most people ran after taking a picture.[break][break]
"Jusso y'know, I aint got nothin' against ya. Business nowt more."
This blue stranger didn't seem too keen on conversation, if their quiet was any kind of indicator. Edd was almost startled when they finally responded to the question he'd nearly forgotten asking. For just a split second Edd had the chance to process their reply and how strange it was, but he didn't get a chance to speak a word about it. No sooner had he opened his mouth than his new companion dodged in front of him and took a swing he was in no way prepared for. Their fist struck his nose with a startling crunch; pain instantly exploding out and blood beginning to trickle steadily down his face. Shocked, he staggered backward with a yelp of pain, grabbing his undoubtedly broken nose with one hand and lifting wide, wounded eyes to his attacker. For a second he considered the possibility of grabbing a pokeball from his bag and calling out his pokemon, but he quickly dismissed the idea, not wanting them to get wrapped up in a fight. Besides, he didn't want this to go any farther if he could stop it.[break][break] Gasping slightly from surprise and hurt, Edd began to prattle in a still kind but considerably more frantic tone. "H-Hey! I'm sorry, was I not meant to ask your name? I-if you're trying to rob me I don't have anything, all that's in my bag are pokeballs and some muffins..."[break] He lifted his free hand in what he hoped was a placating gesture, trying to ignore the taste of blood and the sharp pains radiating across his face as he spoke.[break] "We don't have to fight. Just tell me what you want and we might can work it out, I don't want to fight you or cause any trouble ok? Just, please, let's talk it through instead."[break] As he spoke he curled in a bit, subtly trying to look less like a threat and maybe protect some of the softer parts of his body by hunkering down. He hoped his honesty showed; it was certainly felt. He had no desire whatsoever to brawl in the middle of the street and risk hurting anyone, he'd just wanted to go for a walk! How could that be such a wrong thing to do...
The crunch was barely audible, but Arceus was it satisfying. Bekrel shook his hand while he righted his stance, pleased that he'd managed to land the hit so well with such a bad setup. The way Edd cowered away was kind of adorable honestly, tried to beg and reason with him. Maybe a few years ago that would have worked. Hell, a few years ago he'd have rushed to Edd's aid if he saw this happening, but time changes people.[break][break]
"If I wanted yer stuff, it'd not til be in yer possession now, wuddit? Nah." Cracking his knuckles and stretching out, making a show out of how much more confident he was in this situation as people turned and fled, he decided he was going to have fun with Edd. "Nothin' to talk about. Like assaid, aint personal. Jus' got stuff to do yeah? Y'seem nice, y'do, Even I'm startin' to feel bad but I already got the ball rollin'." He took a step closer, balling his fist. "Imum aint gonna rise again if we're nice to folks."[break][break]
With that he aimed another punch at Edd's face, and another, and another, whether he hit or not was of little concern. He needed to rough the guy up, have everyone terrified, and get the job done before he heard sirens. He stepped back once more after that, wiping his hands on his pants should he have any blood on them. Maybe he should have tried the recruiting thing actually shit.
Any hope Edd had held of his reasoning actually making a dent was extinguished remarkably quickly; the ice in his attacker's voice making it clear that he didn't even feel anything about this. He wasn't after money, or possessions, which in all honesty was almost a relief. It's not like Edd had much to offer, and an actual mugger was unlikely to be satisfied with a few muffins. Still, that left very few other possibilities, aside from a chilling one that Edd wasn't quite ready to humor yet. Surely there had to be a purpose behind this, yeah, but there had to be a better explanation than-[break] He didn't even get an opportunity to complete the thought before his worst fears were confirmed. At once his eyes widened, face falling in a sort of startled horror. The day he'd gotten here flashed in his mind; spotty recollections of Imum soldiers attacking his boat at the marina and chasing him into a life of lonely poverty. That's where his unsettled feeling had come from, they'd had the same symbols on their jackets as this guy. Stupid, stupid, stupid!![break][break] "Imum? I, I'm sorry. Please, you don't have t-"[break] The fresh attempt at peace was quickly cut off by a blow to his jaw that left him reeling. It was followed by another, and then another as he struggled to pull up a hand and protect his face. Everything hurt; each hit making him stagger a bit farther back until he finally just went down on one knee and attempted to shield his head. He could feel the blood running down his face where his cheek had been split; the sickening taste of iron filling his mouth and pain throbbing through his skull. One eye was foggy at best, and he seriously doubted it was over yet. Still, the last thing he wanted was to toss his pokemon out to fight this person. What if he happened to grab poor Jam? Or Poppyseed? They'd get wounded, maybe worse...[break] "Why...? I didn't hurt you, I was bringing you along to our picnic. Please, we don't have to fight."[break] It was his last attempt at kindness, punctuated by a pained cough and a tentative glance out from under his shielding arms.
No, he didn't have to be doing any of this. He could have stayed in his old life, he didn't have to be there at all. Hell he could have decided to stay home instead. The thing was, he was already there, and he had a job to do. Damn shame he wanted to go on that picnic, it had been a long time since he'd been on one.[break][break]
"Y'know I like picnics, wish I'd just followed ya." He laughed, clapping his hands twice, before his voice lowered again. "Bit late for that now." Maybe if there'd been mochi involved he'd have taken off and left his work behind, picked on someone else. He shrugged, this time he went for Edd's bag, assuming that the guy was more than done with getting hit. "You wont be needin' this." Imum could always do with more pokemon to powertrain, that and muffins weren't sounding too bad right about then.[break][break]
"I'll take good care a'yer pokemon, don't worry your pretty little head 'bout that."
There really was no chance for an easy resolution here, was there? He was pleading for peace, likely for his life, and this cruel stranger was laughing at him. The playful clapping, as jovial and casual as a friend hearing a good joke, caused the larger man to flinch and hunker down further in full expectation of being hit again. It seemed this Imum grunt was actually having fun with all this; and considering how much Edd didn't want to escalate this into an even more brutal scrap it seemed best to just take it and hope they'd grow tired of it soon. Maybe they just wanted a punching bag to scare some people or something. Edd was big, and strong, he could probably handle that. It'd be better than turning this into a battle for the death right in the middle of the walkway. If he took the beating and waited it out he might just be left to go back home to his bakery in peace. Drawing in a deep breath, he covered himself and prepared for the rain of blows he knew had to be coming.[break][break] But then they didn't.[break] Instead there was a hand on his bag, tugging and pulling and trying to open it. In an instant Edd's eyes snapped open, flying wide and fixated on his attacker, judging their movements and trying to process what they were after now. It took a heartbeat or two, but their words sank in, and he very suddenly understood, and when he understood he thoroughly, wholeheartedly rejected this. No. Nobody was going to touch his fucking pokemon, especially not this sadistic, unreasonable, asshole Imum grunt. The anger hit him with uncharacteristic severity, burning through his usual pacifism like a flame through paper and twisting his face in a snarl of protective rage. Before he'd even thought about it, he'd curled one huge hand into a fist and swung it full force into the side of his assailant's head.[break] "Leave my family alone!"[break] The words tore from his throat with a fury, blood running from his mouth as he spoke. Without hesitation he pulled his legs up under himself and ducked his head, charging his opponent like a bull and slamming his hefty shoulders and skull directly into their torso. It may not be the smartest move, but given his size it was bound to be effective, and he wasn't exactly aiming for strategy right now. All he knew was that the only friends he had left were being threatened, and that was absolutely not going to fly; reason be damned.
This was going to be easy. He'd swipe the bag, knock Edd out and then off him. He'd have muffins for dinner and a handful new pokemon to take back to Imum. He'd no doubt be rewarded for a job well done then be able to pass out for a good few hours, feed his pokemon... well if only thing were that simple. Out of nowhere, cowardly was thrown out of the window. Bekrel didn't even have time to step back before a fist collided with the side of his head. He saw stars and the world spun as he staggered back, not even in focus enough to grab a pokeball and set someone loose on Edd.[break][break]
What's worse, he was thrown back, winded by Edd's head connecting with his stomach. He didn't stand a chance of staying on his feet, being thrown back a good couple feet, landing on his ass and falling back, smacking his head off the ground, pretty much solidifying he wasn't going to be grabbing any pokeballs anytime soon. Ah, fuck. He let out a wheezy laugh, trying to roll on his side. Damn, was this going to be who killed him? This dude? He supposed it was respectable enough.[break][break]
He didn't quite get the whole issue with family, though. It was just pokemon.
As it would turn out, headbutting someone in the ribs when you've already taken a number of hits to the head is a hell of a feeling. Edd's head spins and aches and throbs and he can't even figure out where all the blood on his face is coming from anymore; it's dribbling from his mouth and streaming from his nose and the cut on his cheek and some part of him vaguely registers that he probably looks like a villain from a cheap horror movie right about now. The hit has thrown him for a loop, and for a fraction of a second he wobbles, struggling to catch his balance, but adrenaline is a drug without much compare and it quickly reminds him that stumbling or falling right now could cost him his pokemon. Shaking his head, the battered man planted himself, regaining his footing and lifting his chin with anger and something like pride as he approaches his enemy. He grits his teeth as he approaches, wiping one arm across his face to clean it, and looks down at his attacker.[break][break] For a moment, the rage grabs him all over again and he considers doing something quite terrible. He even goes so far as to lift one foot and shove the grunt over onto their back again, putting his heel on their chest to hold them there. After a heartbeat or two however, the lack of a threat settles in his mind and the blind fury begins to crumble, leaving room for his pacifism to seep back in and begin coaxing him down. Sure, this guy is an asshole, and probably a routine pokemon thief, but death seems a little harsh. Beyond that, Edd was never much the killer type. Hell, he wasn't even the fighting type, as evidenced by the traces of fatigue and something like guilt that were beginning to lace their way into his mind. Sighing, he lifted his foot, taking a step or two back and letting his shoulders begin to slump.[break] "Just, leave us alone. Leave people alone. Don't touch my pokemon, they're all I've got and I won't just, let you try and grab them. Big mean jerk pokemon thief. Find something better to do.[break] Hasn't there been enough bullshit and fighting around here already?"
Can't win 'em all. Bekrel figured that there wasn't going to be much pulling this round in his favor considering he couldn't even see let alone figure out if he was grabbing pokeballs or a rock. Whatever. He didn't care about his pokemon, they didn't care about him, so he wasn't bothered if he died and they ended up put down due to aggression. When he was kicked back over and held down, he grunted, giving Edd's leg a pat, jovial more than an actual escape attempt.[break][break]
...When his ribcage wasn't crushed, and instead he was released, he frowned, pushing himself up to he was sat cross legged, vision starting to come back into focus. He'd done a real number on Edd, and if he was honest? After that tackle he was kinda hot. Joining Imum was keeping him out of that trouble, but little else. "What, you're jus' gonna walk away?" He shook his head. "S'disgraceful. Shouldn't walk away 'til your problems dead." Maybe goading the guy that could absolutely crush him if he so desired was a bad idea, but hey! Where's the fun in playing it safe?[break][break]
"Fighting's gonna happen whether you like it or not, Edd - and knockin' one Imum grunt for six aint gonna change the world." His first attempt to get back up on his feet was a success, and while he did actually grab Boulder's ball... he clipped it back onto his belt a moment later. "I wont stop, but I think ya know that."
Despite it being the dumbest possible move, it was unsurprising that this Imum grunt tried to prod him for a further fight. It just confirmed their status in Edd's mind as 'reckless mean asshole'; a position they'd already been a great candidate for. He pushed his bag up on his shoulder, rolling his eyes at their attempts to get his hackles up and wiping some of the blood from his face with a pained wince. The split cheek would probably need stitches that he couldn't afford. Fantastic. No telling how he was gonna get that sewn up. Beyond that, it hurt. His nose was throbbing, his whole face too warm and sticky with blood and pain was radiating every time he drew a breath. Even his torso was sore from that last-resort tackle he'd pulled; as evidenced by the faint limp he had when he turned to walk away.Of course, they were still talking, why wouldn't they be. Hadn't they had enough? [break][break] He finally sighed, turning to face them again as he heard them get to their feet. No reason to leave himself open to another sneak attack; especially with fatigue settling over him fast. Their hesitation upon grabbing their pokeball had him stiffening, a glint in his eyes as he wondered if he was gonna have to fistfight a pokemon; but he breathed a silent sigh and relaxed as they clipped it to their belt.[break] "Sorry to disappoint you, but not everybody adheres to that.If all I'm disgracing is your code of honor, then I can't really find it in me to care."[break] His voice was raspy from exertion, a sort of dullness to it. After all, it was supposed to have been a decent day, and instead here he was with a broken nose in the middle of the sidewalk with a long walk home to look forward to. Still, he lifted his head slightly, a touch of conviction tracing his tone as he went on.[break] "I didn't say anything about changing the world, dude. I'm just not gonna let the world change me. Just because some people are still trying to wage war doesn't mean I have to, and I'm not gonna let it all turn me into a killer. If you're gonna let it push you into that mold, that's your business more than it is mine, but I don't think it'll get you very far."[break] He shrugged, starting to turn away again. He wanted to get home before his whole shirt was soaked down with blood.
Bekrel was silent for a moment after Edd spoke, just looking at the injuries they'd caused. Edd should be glad that was all he was limping away with - if he'd had it in him to actually do his fucking job, Boulder would have torn Edd apart. If he could actually use electric energy- instead of thinking about that, he was going to be an asshole.[break][break]
"Oh boy yer one'a of those optimists." He laughed, though not half as energetically as before. "Lemme guess - based on calling yer pokemon ya 'family', ya got ditched, yeah?" He took after Edd, following along behind him, his own hands behind his back as he walked. "Ditched ya and ran for the hills, so now you gotta pretend those pokemon ya keep are some kind of substitute. Or did you abandon them? Yer friends, parents, whatever."[break][break]
He didn't expect to be right or wrong, he was just shit talking based on observation. "Kinda wish I hadn't gone in on ya. We need folks like you, and you'd have an actual family with us. People, that can actually talk 'n shit, not creatures you keep in balls." Bad time to proposition joining Imum, but he was working with what he had, and that wasn't much. "Wouldn't gotta worry 'bout the cost a' fixin' up your face there - sorry abut that by the way. Don't normally swing for the face so much, but you're pretty damn tall. I wasn't gonna get far wailin' on you elsewhere, eh? But nah we'd fix you up for nothin' more than considerin' our cause."
The first jab about being an optimist didn't so much as faze Edd, he merely sighed and kept on his steady march back towards his bakery. He hoped this unwanted walking companion would bugger off before they got too close to the shop or he would have to start taking back roads and delaying his return. He absolutely didn't want this guy knowing where he lived and worked out of. The second bit, however, snapped him back to attention; a sharp pang searing its way through him at the unexpected reminder of his traumas. Still, he just shook his head and walked on, legs stiff and hand white-knuckling the strap of his bag to try and stay calm. He sure wasn't gonna cry in front of this jerkwad. [break] Still, each word grated on him further, dredging up the past and pushing him to grit his teeth and stiffen. The pseudo-proposition to join Imum finally pushed him too far, clawing at the rawest and most recent wound in a way he couldn't ignore. His first response was to be sad, heartbroken even, and it took all of his strength to fend off the tears that threatened to spill and replace that sorrow with anger, turning back with a new fury twisting his face.[break] "Your cause? You mean killing everyone, attacking innocent people and pokemon and being god awful brutes for no reason? Brutes that apparently can't win fights against unarmed civilians in the street. Yeah, such a meaningful purpose you have, a real higher calling."[break] He closed some of the distance between them in one quick stride, shoulders squared and voice think with feeling as he went on.[break] "I am not the person you're going to sell this to. Not when you lot of assholes and your fucked up purpose are what actually did separate me and my best friend. What kind of family goes around destroying everyone else's families?"[break] He had more or lest lost himself now, his entire personality overtaken by grief and the thick, burning rage that anyone would dare bring up his past and throw it in his face.[break] "Y'know what I think? I think Imum is where sadists go so they can pretend they've actually got some kind of worth to them when they're attacking innocent people. Don't talk to me about substitution until you're done substituting brutality for an actual cause. Maybe if you had a real one, or gave a shit about anybody but yourself, you'd have a real family."
At first Edd was talking shit about Imum, things Bekrel had heard a thousand times before. He kept his head held high, a smirk slapped across his face under the mask he wore. He stayed put when Edd drew closer, though he did tense up and his stance faltered for just a second. The dig at him losing the fight had his hand twitch for his pokeball belt, though once more he didn't loose any of his pokemon upon Edd. [break][break]
He opened his mouth to retort, cut off by Edd continuing, then stunned into silence, his eyes widening. The aggression in his stance was gone within seconds of the other having finished speaking, all the cockiness and confidence draining from him all at once. For a handful of moments, he felt like he did when he was younger, a good few years younger, and he shrank away from Edd a little. [break][break]
"...Fami-family is nothing." He retorted, trying to keep his confidence in his voice. "It means nothin. You mean nothin to them." His ears were lay flat, tail tucked. Everything about his stance had completely changed. "They'll all leave you to rot in the end."[break][break]
He realized he was cowering, lifting his ears and lashing his tail behind him, narrowing his eyes. "But keep believing what you want."{/b] He ignored the tears pricking at his eyes, hoping they didn't show. "The offer's an open one."