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
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01.28
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Post by james silph on Jan 3, 2017 23:59:29 GMT -6
THE STREETS OF NEW VEHERNA had remained as busy as ever, even when James had visited the place years ago. The widest city in the region, huh? He tilts his head slightly back, eyes scanning what urban sprawl was laid out in front of him. It's hard to even spot the horizon between the buildings, and even harder with the bodies around him. He's a tall guy, but even he can get lost in the concrete jungle that is New Veherna.
He shrugs. It's a contrast to his impeccably built hometown; there's no water in sight. Disguised as a casual tourist, he flaunts dusted jeans and a clean jacket to match. A luxury watch, however, lays across his right hand. He would never dare to go out without one--such expensive tastes would go to waste if he didn't show it off.
"Excuse me." He murmurs, weaving through the crowd. It's lunch break, and the endless search for something actually good to eat proves tedious. He's hungry and irritated; if only he'd done his research before coming here.
Another nudge, another shoulder check towards what seemed like a dead end. He huffs angrily, peeling away from the busy foot traffic, and takes a moment to glance at his phone. 12:45 PM. It'll be a miracle before he'll be able to find any quality food. It seems like his annoyance has reached it's peak today.
At least, until he catches the glimpse of something familiar.
Blue eyes, like the color of the deepest oceans. James rises. His vision tunnels before him, and his hurried steps lead him into the crowd yet again. People filter in between him, and he pushes them aside --he can't lose her again, not ever. "Wait!" He yells, catching the attention of other people. Desperation fills in, and when he catches up, he reaches to clutch onto what he assumed was the crook of her elbow.
It's her.
The darkness of her hair, slightly more frazzled than he remembered. The expensive clothes gone. What had they done to her? He pushes down his confusion--she can explain later. When she's home, safe. Regardless of the time, she's the same as ever, and just as beautiful.
Post by HARPER THORNE on Jan 4, 2017 1:07:00 GMT -6
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Harper's in her own world as usual, headphones blaring music into her ears and her thoughts lost someplace where terrible office lunch and the hustle and bustle of the city can't reach her. It's so easy to forget about everything like this-- these re the busy days she forgets even to eat or go anywhere, and all around here are the things she'd rather be immersed in, or already is.
The call to reality goes unheard, and her naivity allows her to ignore the shift in the crowd-- she's invisible when she wants to be and she has no reason to believe that they're whispering about her. Or the boy behind her, always, always running behind her.
And then something jolts her elbow, catching on and grabbing the loose wire that makes up her headphones. When she walks, the force tugs at her ears and at her hands and she stops, turning around, completely startled...
But startled doesn't even begin to define her expression when her eyes fall on him. One item on the far too long list of things that she had left behind. She'd speak, but she's certain that if she opens her mouth her heart will fall right out, and spill all the words she never said onto the streets. Busy people walk them by, but some leave whispers before they go.
"J-james," she stutters his name. Because saying it after all these years is as close to confrontation as she ever wanted to be.
His grip tightens, as if she'd disappear at any minute. The memories of their last encounter stay crisp in his mind, the reminder that Harper had run away because of that. He had to get her to trust him again; to help her out of this terrible city. The Republic's ideals run sharp against Parallax's, he wouldn't doubt that they've tried to brainwash her into what they think is right.
Her eyes widen, and she can barely stutter out his name. She doesn't move, yet James still won't dare to let go. He crowds next to her, letting the irate strangers part around them without any care. He would, however, prefer to talk in a more private place. One that won't garner the stares of other people. James may hold a strong position in Parallax, but being cornered in the city of the opposition is the last thing he wants.
"It's so nice to see you, Harper...I thought you were dead." He says, slowly loosening his grip on her elbow. He doesn't know what Harper's been through for the last two years--all that time had been spent searching for her. Now she stands here, before him, and that's perhaps the most perplexing fact of all.
Why was she here? Why didn't she contact him or her family? He's tempted to ask, but James remembers that there's a time and place for everything. He lets go of her elbow, and motions back to the direction her came from--he remembers seeing a small sandwich shop not far away.
Post by HARPER THORNE on Jan 4, 2017 4:47:44 GMT -6
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Her elbow's already numb by the time he thinks to let go.
His words sort of phase out, going from one ear to the next and losing themselves in the wind. They mix with the voices of the people near them, fading, fading, lost forever. It had been easy to forget, but right now she was staring him in the face and it was far, far easier to remember. Everything. Vividly, suddenly-- like a blast of water across her face. She didn't want to remember.
She's spent too long a time hiding in his shadow to even dream of seeing the light when he's so close. How had he found her? Had he been looking for her? Would he take her back? Harper reverted, all of a sudden, into something she didn't want to see ever again. It was just lunch. It was lunch. With her betrothed. With James... The walls of her past had closed in. She could not break free. "Yeah...Okay." She said while nodding, but she was quick to break contact with his eyes.
She hadn't eaten yet. At least, that was what she told herself.
The city has always been bustling and loud, but when she finally takes the time to look at him, her expression full of emotion, it feels as if the whole world's been muted, like someone had turned down the volume to low. The eye contact was brief yet intense, a renunion formerly left on an awkward note. The past had reared its face, and James was ready to take to it, guns blazing.
Fortunately, she accepts. James grins, warmth spreading from his center, ecstatic at such news. How could he ever doubt that Harper would say yes? He nods, motioning her to lead the way. How long has she been here? Longer than him--probably. Harper must know her way around this city better than he.
"So...how have you been?" He lilts, slightly nervous. Two years had gone by so quickly, and he hadn't realized how much he'd change by then. Work takes up most of his time, even when he's off the clock. Rarely was there room for socialization; even time to himself was sparse.
He texts his secretary. Reschedule the meeting this afternoon, it says, something important came up. Such actions were usually uncharacteristic of him, but James wouldn't miss this oppurtunity for the world.
He takes a glance at Harper's face, and realizes how much she's aged. She's grown slightly taller, her form filled. Her face has elongated, shoulders low. She walks with new confidence. Two years have passed so quickly, yet they've both changed so much.
"Thank you for letting me take you out. I'm sure you're busy."
Post by HARPER THORNE on Jan 4, 2017 7:17:17 GMT -6
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He motions for her to lead, and when she does the only thing she can feel are his eyes on her back, and the rising beat of her heart. It's so loud that the sound swallows the city whole, and it's just the two of them again. "I've been okay," she says, quietly, because she wants something (anything) to punctuate her heartbeats and make them seem more steady.
When she takes a risk and glances back, James is on his phone, the vaguest hints of a faraway smile on his face as he types quickly across the screen. In that instance, a wave of nostalgia hits Harper and reminds her of everything that could have been. They could have been everything, had everything, done anything together. She tore that future apart. And her reasons almost had nothing to do with James. He didn't deserve what she had done...
Her eyes averted and she walked into a small corner shop with pretty wooden furniture and a classic sandwhich menu. It was quaint, and little bits of the paint on the walls was peeling off, but there were few people still. She sits down as he speaks, and she opens her mouth but she doesn't want to choke on her words. Because she doesn't want to stutter, not when saying this. "James I--" and for a minute, it sounds like she's about to say something, and that she's been looking to say something for years and years. But she catches herself, and averts her eyes again, looking at the old and deteriorating wall. "You're right I've been...busy."
She's been okay. Not great, nor terrible. James nods, ambivalent. It's good that she's not suffering. But when he entertains the thought of her, being miserable without him, he feels happy. And it feels slightly sickening to know that he's satisfied with that, despite it being petty and possesive. James has never been known from sympathy, even for Harper sometimes, and he isn't willing to change that sentiment so quickly.
He slides his phone back into his pocket, catching a glimpse of Harper's gaze, wondering what she'd just seen. What she even thought of him, even. James could give her everything she wanted with a simple press of a button, and yet here she was, doing well in New Verherna, of all places. Her family was worried sick and he's found her in the stronghold of the opposition, of all places. Had she been kidnapped?--or worst, brainwashed?
That possibility, though small, terrifies him more than he'd like to admit.
He leaves his hands in his pockets, huffing. James will deal with the problems as they come up; Harper is safe and sound, and that's what matters. When they arrive at the sandwich shop, it's thankfully not busy. With simple wooden furniture and peeling wallpaper to match, James resigns himself to such plebian tastes.
He slides into the seat across from her and links his hands together, resisting the urge to reach across the table. Eyes scan the menu, finding nothing particularly tasteful nor expensive The silence, uncomfortable and suffocating, makes it hard to break. But it's clear that Harper would like to say something, and he waits patiently for her to gather her words.
Unfortunately, she still leaves him with more questions than answers. She's obviously holding herself back. Such actions weren't unlike what their old relationship had been like, and James sighs. His quick temper has already started to get the best of him despite himself.
"Busy...how?" He prods. They're dancing around a dangerous topic. Words left unsaid, gazes evaded. James wants to confront everything, but he doesn't want to lose what's left of the pieces of their relationship. He's sure that it's salvageable, but they just need to get through the hard parts first.
Post by HARPER THORNE on Jan 4, 2017 9:40:22 GMT -6
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She's barely made an answer, though it's an honest effort of hers. Regardless, she regrets the words as they leave her mouth. But words, like time, can never be taken back. And it's two years she has to repent for. She feels like a fifteen year old girl again, getting reprimanded for a single hair being out of place, or looking outside the window while attending one of father's meetings. When James sighs angrily, she's afraid she's said something wrong, and the thought paralyzes her.
Busy how.
And that brings her back to life. Her chest swells up, and she blinks suddenly. How could she have forgotten? How did she let it get this far? James simply breathing again in her life made her forget everything. All the friends she'd made in the past few years, all the wonderful work she'd been doing as the head of marketing. All the people and the pokemon she'd met. She swallowed hard, and she knew she had to speak for herself now, or get lost as history repeated herself.
"The past two years." She says, firmly, now. "I guess I...I've rented an apartment in New Veherena, James." Though she can be quite charming, she has the habit of speaking with her words and ideas all over the place, fragments that only seem to come together when she's done. "I've met new people." Her eyes stare at the table, glance away to see strange faces occupying the tables near them. "I've made new friends." Each word is made distinct from the other by furtive glances towards James, as though afraid of what he'd think of her. "I've learned...so much."
He links his hands together, fingers interlocking, and sets his elbow on the table, hiding the bottom part of his face out of view. That doesn't, however, hide his discontent at Harper's revelation. She's been living here...by choice. That fact alone makes his stomach turn uneasily, and James pauses to think through his words before saying anything.
"I see." He says, not wanting the silence to linger for too long. James doesn't move his gaze from hers, although she's unwilling to do the same. Harper's uncomfortable--she's been caught in the act, and he's not sure what to tell her.
He thinks back to their moment at the cafe, how she'd left and never came back.
"Why?"
He's growing more irate, his voice growing louder in response, "Why didn't you bother to even tell me--"
"Excuse me," A voice suddenly interupts him, and he looks up angrily to see the waitress, a pad and pen in her hands. Compose yourself, he thinks. James clears his throat. He has to remember that he's in a restuarant, and he can't attract anymore attention than he already has. "Just some tea and a club sandwich." He says, impatience evident in his voice. He takes a glance back at Harper, and idly wonders how she'd been doing without all that money.
"I'll pay for your meal, so order anything you want."
Post by HARPER THORNE on Jan 6, 2017 6:10:54 GMT -6
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As usual, James doesn't understand. She smiles softly, staring out into space as she often does, frozen in time as her mind reaches elsewhere. She supposes she's never really been clear, and a long long time ago she could count of James to bring her back to reality or clean up the mess that's her mind. But now it just feels like they're speaking two different languages, taught two different vocabularies.
Her mind goes back to that day, where she had run away from him. From her family, and never once looked back. She had run from the cafe to an alleyway where he wouldn't find her, and then she had run back home. After lying and telling her parents she was going out to meet James, she had stuffed everything she could into a duffel bag and disappeared. What had happened next? She imagined James giving up on his search and bursting through the door of her home, shouting at her parents, maybe. She imagined them rining her up, only to find that her phone had been left absent mindedly by the bathroom sink. How long had they stayed up, waiting for her to come back?
Guilt fills her wholly, and James' rising voice makes her close her eyes and brace herself because she's certain she won't be able to survive what comes next.
And the waitress interrupts James. And she opens her eyes, and stares, practically bewildered. She's looking at the waitress for a few moments, before it comes back to her. "No, thank you. I won't be having anything."
She gulps and turns to look at James. "Thank you so much. But I shouldn't have come with you. You...shouldn't have come here." Her heart is beating wildly again, remembering the last time she'd gone against James in such a similar backdrop.
He links his hands together, fingers interlocking, and sets his elbow on the table, hiding the bottom part of his face out of view. That doesn't, however, hide his discontent at Harper's revelation. She's been living here...by choice. That fact alone makes his stomach turn uneasily, and James pauses to think through his words before saying anything.
He sees it once again, the wistful smile that drifts across her face, thoughts somewhere else. The very action only serves to makes James more irate; didn't Harper consider his feelings? It's supposed to be a serious conversation, and yet she's here in her own world. Despite the time, Harper hasn't changed much at all.
"Harper." He deadpans, voice flat. He continues his questioning. Her eyes close, and she tenses. James has always had a quick temper, and she's well aware. It's then that the waitress interrupts them, flashing a not-so-subtle look in his direction, and asks for his order.
"...What?" He starts. It's been a long time since someone's challenged him like this, and out of all the people, it's Harper. She's cutting their lunch short, but he refuses to leave with so many questions unanswered. He quickly reels in his surprise, and urges himself not to snap at her--instead, he makes a plea. The waitress is waiting, and he doesn't want to keep her waiting, if only because he doesn't want to attract anymore attention then he already has.
"Harper, don't be unreasonable, please." He says, voice clipped. Being angry would only give her a reason to leave --and it'd make him look bad as well. Arceus knows the last time he'd lost his anger at such a place. With a bitter taste on his tongue, James isn't keen to repeat what'd happened.
"I cancelled my meeting for this...Can we just talk for a bit?"
Post by HARPER THORNE on Jan 7, 2017 10:15:39 GMT -6
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She's in another memory, another wistful time. Because there had been a point in her life, when she had been all quirk and sarcasm, as sheltered and privileged as she had been made to be. When she had been coy and confident, before she'd known anything at all and when she had though she had known everything there was to know. Would it have been easier to have remained like that, frozen in place? Would James and she have been happy? Ignorance is bliss. But she chose to run from that one.
Jame's voice drags her out, startling her. And for once there's nothing on her face except sudden fear and horror as she stares at him. A nano second, only, but she's sure he won't miss the expression she had given him before she'd run out of that cafe all those years ago. And in a flash she's regained composure again because it's taking her everything she has to even say anything at all in front of him.
Harper watches him, and swallows a dry lump in her throat before giving the table a coy smile. "Well you know I always did say you had too many meetings for your own good." A truck of nostalgia hits her like a ton of bricks, and she feels nauseous. Why did she say that? It feels so wrong and right at the same time.
No. She can't avoid this any longer, or pretend like it's okay, or make herself believe that she's in a simpler time. It won't work that way. "I'm sorry, James. I guess I was trying to run away again..." Finally, her eyes meet his. She's ready to try again, she's ready to take anything he can throw at her. Or so she thinks.
When he snaps her out of her reverie by the call of her name, she flinches, her face full of fear until she manages to cover it up again. He can't help but notice such expressions, even though it'd passed by as quickly as it appeared. He taps his foot against the floor uneasily. It's worst than he's feared. James doubts that he'll be able to persuade her today, but she'll turn...eventually. He just needs to be patient.
And to be patient, he has to wait.
James doesn't remove his gaze from Harpers, watching as she swallows uneasily before laughing. She reluctantly concedes, smiling before giving him one of her old quips--just like what she would do years before.
It feels like a breath of fresh air.
It may not by all genuine, but the sentiment is there--she's trying, and that's what matters. James can't help the turn of his lips, a wistful smile on his face as he scoffs. "Thank you Harper...you always did worry too much." He teases. She used to be so sarcastic; coy. Today he's only seen her anything but--at least, until now. Perhaps that means that she's getting more comfortable. Certainly the first step out of many.
"It's fine--you're staying, and that's what matters." He says, laying his napkin on his lap. The waitress has awkwardly written down their order, and they're left alone once again.
When Harper finally meets his gaze, her eyes are strangely confident. A challenge? He looks in deeper, daring her to breake their connection. Her eyes remain full of emotions, many of which he couldn't name. It's mesmorizing, and he can't help but soak up in her attention.
"Let's play twenty questions...I'll start." He says. It's something he's often played before, when conversations stagnated into silence. "Why are you renting an apartment in the middle of Republic territory?"
Post by HARPER THORNE on Jan 10, 2017 5:56:22 GMT -6
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As soon as she speaks in a tone reminiscent of yesterday, Jame's expression softens. It goes from stoic to wistful, and she feels a sharp pain in her chest when he smiles awkwardly. He teases her, and shes not quite sure what to feel, or if she should feel anything at all. Would it be wrong to say he looks perfect with a half-dazed smile and wide, open eyes? It's just her silly mind acting up again, she reminds herself. She thinks back to what her mother used to say. To rose tinted eyes like yours, even barbarianism would be poetic. Well, now that her job was pretty much doing just that, she wondered what mother would say.
James' napkin is on his lap and Harper's soon follows, not without a frown beginning to tug at the corner of her lips. Their eyes meet, and it's all harper can do to keep up with the intensity of his green eyes. She barely notices the waitress leaving, as everything vanishes in the CEO of Silph Co's radiance. Or darkness? It's hard to tell.
James isn't talkative, but when he talks he's always fond of getting to the point. Harper's not sure if it's a business thing or if, like her, he can't stand small talk on foolish topics, but it's one thing that's always brought them together. Though now it might not work that way.
"You could have started with something simpler," she says, and her voice is a whisper as she breaks his gaze. Sighing, and attempting to relax on the hard wooden chair she's so unused to in some foreign restaurant, Harper speaks.
"It's not like I own a house here, after all," she says, but she's pushing her luck with her teasing this time and she knows it. "I'm here because I got a job here, in marketing..."
Why can't she bring herself to say the truth that right in front of her? Why can't James bring himself to see the truth that's right in front of him? At this rate, there will be no end to the game they're playing.
"As for my question...How's Irisia?" She can't be specific or direct. It's simply not in her nature. And while she might have been playing games with anyone else, suddenly there's a sharp longing in her heart for her old home and she wants to know what the underwater palace has been like without her there. But she dismisses the thought. Irisia was home.
Post by james silph on Jan 10, 2017 10:01:34 GMT -6
With Harper's reaction, it's obvious that she's not quite fond of his question. He shrugs, unrelenting. They've been avoiding this question for a while, and while he'd like to chat with Harper, it's been a long time coming--two years, in fact. He needs to know, and he won't stop until he does.
Unfortunately, Harper's answer wasn't what he was looking for. It left him with more questions than answers. After all, Harper came from money. She didn't need to work, nor would she have much difficulty finding a job if she wanted one--with a pull of strings and a phone call, she could've been the head of a company within a week if she wanted to.
He quirks and eyebrow, his expressions clearly of displeasure, but James reluctantly lets that pass for sake of the game, and continues. Harper's question starts out vague and indirect to him in particular--the state of Irisia. At this, James can't help but grow fond. It's his home, one that he's immensely proud to be apart of.
"It's amazing, as always. I will always appreciate its beauty--although, it always does feel like it's missing something..." He admits. Whether or not it pertains to Harper is up to her. It feels empty to be in a city so grand, although he'd be hard pressed to admit it.
