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.
● too good, too pure for this world[break] ● short-term memory loss[break] ● wanted to be a bird specialist
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danny's profile
really gay and always down to talk about how absolutely in love he is with Walker DuVall . ... is that bestiality? ... l-let's not think too hard about that.
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]YOU WON'T SURRENDER, BUT NOW YOUR HEART IS BREAKING
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His situation was mortifying. No self-respecting man wished dress in the attire of a woman at anyone else's will than their own, after all. And yet, staring into that mirror in horror, he could only think that Sora still managed to have things undeniably worse. Only one of them had been afforded a wig, namely Daniel with his unruly mop of hair tucked as neatly as it could be beneath blonde curls of high enough quality to be mistaken for the “real thing”. This left his friend, with his less-than-muscular and masculine build and long, flowing hair to play a bigger part – or, at least, had had a bigger part, if one could understand what he meant. Even as he, himself, gawked in disbelief and confusion at their situation, the finishing touches were being put on the other's makeup (yet another torture he'd personally been spared from), and while his heart had ached many times in the past for many people in many situations, he could not vividly recall a time when his sympathies went out to anyone as much as it did now. To be more accurate, he could not recall his sympathies going out to anyone over anything more important than a dropped spoon-full of mint chip ice cream, but this was certainly leagues beyond that. This was an Arceus-doomed travesty.[break][break]
No worse than what was spoken to him next, though, he supposed.[break][break]
“We lost our jobs at the League because we eloped and they couldn't stand the thought of their champion marrying a gijinka.”[break][break]
… They what? They what?[break][break]
“We what?” Danny demanded, eyes as wide as saucers as he turned his head to his friend. His friend, mind you, entirely platonic. Or, at least, so he had thought. It was entirely possible that his heart had been moved by the Umbreon gijinka in the time swallowed whole by his disorder, a love that had sparked up between them consumed by past mistakes, but there was no real precedent for this, so how was he to have known? With Walker, after all, he could remember the very moment he had realized it, the emotions that pulled on his strings, the way his chest had clenched at the sight of the blond asleep on that bed – oh, legendaries, Walker. Did he not love Walker anymore? That didn't sound right, but how was he supposed to know? (It was his curse: caught in a constant state of bafflement, unsure of who his friends were, where his life went, what he really wanted. His sympathies went to Sora for another reason. Who could possibly know and love a man who could not even come to know and love himself?)[break][break]
“N-no, I'm sorry, that's – it's just a lot to take in,” the champion attempted to remedy, wondering with copious amounts of guilt how many times he had had to be told that they were technically wed. Wed. Wed. Mother had always figured he'd have settled down with a family in his twenties, and he was certainly past that now, but something still didn't quite sit right when he eyed his... husband. It was probably the maid uniform. “Wait – but that doesn't explain why we're dressed up like maids!”
Post by DANIEL PARKS on Feb 28, 2018 19:57:09 GMT -6
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[attr="class","hotnotnot"]YOU'RENOT
[attr="class","hotnotbot"]please don't take this the wrong way. i mean, you look very nice, and you seem like a respectable person. (people in lab coats must be hard workers, right?) you're just not really my type, sorry. ;u;
[attr="class","dannypostlyric1"]c'mon, skinny love
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]I TOLD YOU TO BE PATIENT, AND I TOLD YOU TO BE KIND
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His penthouse was impressive, the fairy tale ending of the tale of a little boy who'd grown up on the ranch, but to Danny, it had never really felt like home. His work kept him far from it on most any day, for one thing, dragging him far and out of the complex, if not the city as a whole for a meeting here, a party there, a too-dangerous criminal there if the police hadn't the manpower to stop it themselves further still. There weren't any concrete memories of the modern décor, the ceilings so high that the suite's occupants voices echoed when they spoke. Every morning woke up in his bend came with the wonder of why am I not home, with is this home hot on its heels. In a word, it was – lonely. No family to eat breakfast with. No friends to invite over. No one to wake up to. Empty walls. Empty home. Empty heart.[break][break]
If Walker noticed the stagnant feel of it – a house, but not a home; furnished, but unloved – they didn't make much a comment on it. The two of them had been near silent since their meeting at the airport, the cab ride over swallowed whole by suffocating silence. He'd known, because he'd been told, that there was something of importance that needed to be spoken of, but evidently in confidence, and evidently something that required a great amount of stewing over. His friend's “thinking face” was easy to read, even if he couldn't quite remember the last time, or any time he had seen in. In the meantime, he hadn't even known what to say for small conversation, more tongue tied in his life than he'd ever been, memory of it or otherwise. His gaze would drift out the window, terrified to look as though he were staring, only for him to blink, look back, and see Walker there “for the first time” all over again. What a mess. Anger wasn't even what stilled his tongue. It had been so easy to feel irritation (more at himself than the man who'd turned tail without a word, granted, but he knew a guilty party even when he could forgive them) with an image, the idea of a person who had been here for so long and then suddenly wasn't. An image wasn't Walker. And image didn't breathe and give off heat and didn't occupy the spot by his side, somehow more perfect in real life than any “ideal” image his brain could have concocted. No, he didn't dare speak now. He wasn't even sure what he would say if he tried, but he knew that the moment he opened his mouth, it all – too much, too much – would come tumbling out... and he was more than certain the the person he said it to, meant it for, cherished wouldn't want to hear it now.[break][break]
But Danny wanted to hear what they had to say, desperately. He set his usual device to record, terrified of missing even a second to this cursed brain of his, and said, “Um, I guess... you're up.”[break][break]
He'd prepared himself for a lot. “I've hated you all along” was one that he'd been particularly dreading hearing, although anything from “now that you're champion, I have to kill you” to “haha, no homo, am I right?” was a disaster he'd built up his walls to defend against. “I'm not who you think I am” was something he could work with; “I'm not a human – I'm not walker” was most certainly not.[break][break]
Silent, save for the thundering pound of his heart against his ribcage. They spun for him a story of meteors raining down to strike Hoenn and split the world in two, of Team Rocket and experimentation that drove them to loath humanity as a whole, of a man with his name and face who was slated for death, and of a last-ditch effort to preserve two lives by killing a bit of both. All the while, he prayed to Arceus that it wouldn't take this from him, not until he'd had the chance to say his peace. There was too much here, almost more than a person would be able to wrap their minds around. From the lips of any other person he'd ever known in his life, he may not have believed, may have laughed and shrugged and moved on – but Walker's humor had always been dry, scathing, never like this, and they never spoke to him in a tone that rang so... hollow. “I don't have a heart,” they said first. “How do you love something like that?” they said last.[break][break]
Love. Oh. So they'd known. Even when they left – left him here to his empty penthouse and his world full of confusion and loneliness – they had known.[break][break]
“I don't believe you,” Daniel told him when the silence dragged on too long for his story to hold anymore to it. His heart was still pounding too hard, his lips suddenly too dry no matter how frequently he licked them wet again, but he forced the words past his teeth and into the echoing chamber around them. “When you said you don't have a heart, I mean. Maybe it's not red, or squishy, and doesn't pump blood and all that other important stuff. But you didn't have to come back. There's nothing left of Lyeant anymore. You didn't have to come back to me, at least.” I'm glad you did, he wants to say, but it catches in his throat. “And you wouldn't tell me – you wouldn't tell me that I would be 'better off' with someone else if you didn't have a heart. So I don't believe you.” Weakly, he reached out for one of Walker's hands, overwhelmed by the urge to hold onto him, any part of him, terrified after all this time that he may have just been an image all along. “I've seen it, you know. It's – it's why I love you.”[break][break]
Oh no – the world had begun to swim in his vision, the face he had missed for so long blurring into obscurity. (Come to think of it, wasn't this the first time he had said it, those words he'd berated himself for holding in too long?) “I love you. I – I really, really love you. I don't care if you're Deoxys, or if you're a Bidoof, or Arceus itself. I still – I'm not going to stop, just – just don't tell me to stop. Even if you don't feel the same. Even if you think I'm stupid for it. At least let me have this.”
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]WITHOUT A CLUE, I'LL WALK THIS WAY WITH YOU
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His presence in Eirenhyre typically boiled down to the fact that his champion's penthouse was located in, to the surprise of no one, the city that had formed the focal point of the Association's nervous system, even prior to the Imum war. Most of his life, in fact, revolved around the city, and very little of it after his victory at the League Tournament all those years ago had been spent outside of Her walls. If anything, “waking up” within the territory of another city (particularly in times as tense and unpredictable as these) was more startling than anything; his mind had fixated itself on the fact that Eirenhyre was safe. Eirenhyre was home. Eirehyre was where he was meant to be. That he was here today wasn't what confused him. No, no, not at all. The true source was actually two: first, that he'd “woken up” in the middle of the streets, and he'd left himself no notes informing his future self that he was out for groceries on errands; second, that no one was accompanying him on this... well, whatever this was. If it wasn't errands, it was usually a task or event held by the Association that he, as champion, was requested or required to participate in. Assuming that was the case, though, why was he alone? Didn't the Association usually take steps toward preventing this very problem by assigning him someone to make sure he stayed on track? Was there a reason for his solitude, or was this some massive understanding that could be solved simply by standing still? Too many questions, enough to make a man with a headache suffer a headache all the worse. Danny could keep still in his spot in the street all he liked – but there was no guarantee there was anyone waiting for him if he stood around, and the hunger in his stomach alongside the steadily increasing whispers around him (“Isn't that the champion?” “Doesn't that look like Champion Daniel?” “What's someone like him doing out here?”) were both compelling arguments in the case of Standing Still versus Grabbing a Bite to Eat. Only a few moments of contemplation more, then, and he was on his way, eyes scanning the streets for the nearest eatery.[break][break]
Fortune hadn't been on his side when he'd been stranded, confused, on the sidewalk, but it flashed him a grin and an apology in the form of a cafe not even a block away, empty in what the clock revealed to be the afternoon lull between lunch and dinner (really, what had he been doing?) and quaint in its own charming little ways. The waitress across the counter was smiling and waving in greeting, when suddenly her expression flashed to something far more akin to alarm. Daniel only had the chance to wonder for a second what behind him could have been making her look at him that way... until the answer struck him. Quite literally.[break][break]
Oof.[break][break]
Down toward the ground he went tumbling, letting out an exclamation of surprise as he went. If the poor victim of his surroundings oblivion made any effort to catch him on his descent, they were all wasted; the only thing that spared his head from another unwanted blow was his arms reaching out behind him to catch himself before the worst of his fall. And yet, despite being the one sent flying, he immediately rushed into a flurry of apologies: “Oh, Arceus, I'm – I'm so sorry, this is my fault, I swear. If I'd only been watching... Sorry! Sorry.”[break][break]
A sheepish glance from his spot on the ground showed him the aforementioned victim: blue hair, sharp eyes. The sort of person who could probably get away with stepping on his face if he wasn't the current make and model for the League. He'd almost call her pretty, in a slightly terrifying way, if he wasn't certain he had at least a ten year lead on her. More than anything, however, the sight of those eyes had something in the back of his mind screaming of familiarity – a most unpleasant experience for someone who knew he was prone to forgetting anyone and everyone he interacted with, regardless of the weight they held in his life. “Um... Maybe I'm wrong, but... Do I... know you?”
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]I OUGHT TO LEARN I CAN'T PLEASE MYSELF EVERY TIME
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“Chivalry isn't a quality that is usually valued in a Pokemon battle.”[break][break]
Was that so? Truly, he hadn't been concerned about “chivarly” or anything of the sort. Letting the opponent start first gave him the advantage of seeing first, having a split second longer to to formulate a plan, but even that fact hadn't really struck his mind at all, much less played a part in his invitation for her to go first. “But no one likes a bad sport,” Danny said with a beam, watching as her Pokemon cracked open wide to reveal the Pokemon inside. A massive lion, one he couldn't remember the name, type, or strengths of. It didn't take a Dex Holder's treasure PokeDex to tell that the creature that stood before him posed quite the threat, though; no, no, the ripple of muscle, the towering frame, the sharpened steel edge that told of hundreds of battle of experience spoke it all loud and clear. That day – the last day he remembered clearly, the one before the wreck – he would never have thought about sending Percival out to do combat with a creature as mighty as this. Now, he'd start this battle no other way.[break][break]
His Staraptor erupted from his own PokeBall no more than seconds after her Pyroar hit the center stage, brown and white feathers shooting up and into the air, supposedly with the force of the emergence. What looked like ruffled result of his arrival, however, was actually a Feather Dance acted out for the second the Pokemon's trainer had hit the button to set it loose: a stealthy attempt to lower the opponents offensive power without drawing attention to the fact that is attack had been dropped at all. It was impossible to remember whether the opponent was a physical or special attacker (and even if he tried to recall, it was only a matter of moments before his memory wiped itself fresh again, rendering the effort useless), but the fifty-fifty toss up of hampering its abilities was well worth the effort. Percival, on the other hand, was undoubtedly a close-ranged physical fighter. The smaller the distance, the better he fought, and the best way to shorten the distance while guaranteeing the first strike was:[break][break]
Post by DANIEL PARKS on Feb 1, 2018 15:00:36 GMT -6
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DANIEL PARKS
' THREAD & RELATIONSHIP TRACKER
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DANIEL[break] PARKS
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people talking, and they're saying that you're leaving. so unhappy with the way that you've been livin'. oh, we always wish for money. we always wish for fame. we think we have the answers. some things ain't never gonna change! it doesn't matter who you are - it's all the same. what's in your heart will never change. look in the mirror, and you see how you've been taken. oh, you won't surrender, but now your heart is breaking. oh, we always wish for money, we always wish for fame.
[attr="class","fraceshighrelationname"]Sora Kei Adler BEST BRO
Unlikely friends, considering the only time they ever spent time that Danny can remember is when they crashed a League party under the assumption they were infiltrating a violent cult meeting. It's - a long story. Still, these two get along pretty darn well, and Danny would do just about anything to help out his "best bro". Fortunately, the feeling's definitely mutual!
ryuuna appears to have marked danny as her sworn enemy - an obstacle to overcome once and for all after he halted her original aims for the champion spot some years ago. personally, danny finds her antics pretty endearing and can't bring himself to think badly of her; sometimes, he'll play the role of villain just to get her more fired up... before beating her again. whoops.
well, sometimes. makio, as a fellow member of the elite four, is someone daniel holds a great deal of respect for. though their battles are less common than his with ryuunas, makio has challenged him on more than one occasion to test out strategies on the so-called "best of the best". danny likes her attitude - even if she's one of many who can't seem to get the better of him in battle.
a friend made through connections to zach's aunt, although a welcome addition to danny's roster of acquaintances. in truth, danny doesn't know what makes zach like him, opposed to other people, but he doesn't mind the company of "such talented youth"... and honestly feels a little bad for the guy without any other association friends.
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]I OUGHT TO LEARN I CAN'T PLEASE MYSELF EVERY TIME
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Challengers were, by no means, a rarity to the person named Champion. While official battles recognized by the League and Association were only ever held every three years, trainers from all walks of life, all levels of skill hoped and prayed for their one chance to test their skills against the main heralded – however inaccurately – the strongest trainer in the region. Never mind the fact that the system was flawed, relying on an elimination process that could evict trainers of greater skill simply for unlucky matchups, or that the strongest trainers the region had to offer weren't even guaranteed to participate at all. That didn't seem to change people's minds, though, assuming the thought ever crossed them to begin with. Child and veteran – run-of-the-mill trainer or gym leader alike – everyone wanted to pit themselves against the standard of “the best”. How many times had he beaten Ryuuna alone already? If the tallies in his notebooks held true, at least twenty, perhaps closer to thirty by now. Tenacity was taken to an entirely new level by that girl, if not defined by her in its entirety; it was some small miracle that she and all of her skill and strength had yet to surpass him. (A calculated trick on her end, surely, although he couldn't quite get a read through all of her glowering that would allow him to make a guess at what she stood to gain from practice loss.)[break][break]
To an extent, the woman across from him was no different. The total number of victories he had earned over her were smaller, of course, but researched into his own past dictated that this wasn't the first time she'd asked for a spar between members of the highest order of the League, and a refresher on her temperament would instruct him that it probably wouldn't be the last. From the sounds of it, he was simply a gloried practice dummy to test out new or optimized strategies on before they were put to use against actual trainers – a glance on the time since she came into her position would tell him that she hadn't even faced her first League tournament, which certainly explained away the need to perfect strategies before hand, but he didn't know that in the present – but fighting against a trainer so highly acclaimed that she'd earned the title of Elite Four at all, much less at such a young age was different than fighting against any random trainer off the street, or even Ryuuna and her gym leader-level army of Dragon-types. Certainly, his string of good luck would not last him forever. He'd need to be as strong as possible for when the day came that it failed it.[break][break]
There were probably better concealed places for a sparring match, but his notes were quick to inform that the best place to hold a battle for the sake of battling, not hiding was right here where they stood opposite of one another, prepped with PokeBall in hand for round... oh, he forgot the number. No doubt he'd forget to shout his starting call if he didn't do it soon.[break][break]
In his hand, Percival trembled with anticipation: the classic start to any battle with the Champion Daniel. If Makio expected any different, she'd certainly overestimated him. “Ready when you are!” he called to her. “The first move's yours!”
When in doubt, all-for-one-ing it definitely works. |D Bonus points if they don't even get to finish their battle, the press finds them first and they have to book it for the hills before they get roped into unwanted interviews. XD[break][break]
If we're starting straight off with a battle, there's no clear person who should start logically, so either one of us could whip something up depending on availability. I can definitely get up something if you need me to before the night is over. If you had something more specific in mind for the opener rather than just hopping straight into the action, though, lemme know and we can work out something more specific!
Well, you're in lucky, because Danny loves you.[break][break]
Champions and Elite Four don't necessary have to do much together, no, outside of League tournaments, but I like to imagine that Danny tries to hang out with the Elite Four as much as possible, anyway: partly because he's nice and hanging out with people is cool, partly because he respects them for having the Pokemon battling skills they do, and partly because he hopes that the more time he spends with them, the more likely they are to get solidified into perma-memory. Makio, specifically, is also the same age as Zach, who's one of his best friends you're all so talented and young, aaaaaaaaaaaaaah, so it's entirely possible he spends a bit of a disproportionate amount of time with her, oho.[break][break]
How many years would you say Makio has been Elite Four? 8O I think that Danny's been champion for at least the last two rounds of the League tournament (so six or so years minimum?) so it's still probably likely that he held his position before she held hers. Heck, maybe he even saw her battle and put in a recommendation to the Association to offer her the Elite Four position, although she probably wouldn't know that. >u> I love the idea of them occasionally mock battling, too, so she can test out her strategies! If he remembered it afterward, it'd probably help alleviate some his worries about people going easy on him because she's such a prideful trainer, BUT ALAS. That probably won't happen. Honestly, when it comes to her pride, he'll probably be like, “Heck yeah, be proud of yourself, you're an Elite Four! You worked hard for this! d^o^b” He's a dirty enabler like that.[break][break]
If you wanted thread out one of those mock battles, or even just some casual conversation and affair, I'd absolutely be down! They can get hounded by the media because they're region super stars, RIP, and have their day mutually ruined. ;o Lemme know what you're thinking!
do you remember when you got your lucky break?[break] you're lookin' back, now, & it seems like a mistake.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 26
Hello, Daniel! Eheh, that looks even weirder on paper than it sounded in my head. Anyway, Daniel, today, you begin a very interesting experiment that could very well change your life. That's what we're hoping for, anyway. The doctors have made it pretty clear that your memory is about as dead as a ghost-type now, even if everything from before the crash is as fresh as a garden-picked berry, so if your brain can't make the memories for you, you've got no choice but to find some other way to keep them up there where they belong. So I present to you the most obvious answer to your little problem: writing the important things down! Now, now, I can hear you scoffing at me already, but they always say that the solution is always the most basic one. So I'll tell you what you did during the day... if it's important, and you try your best to to remember, okay? Okay.[break][break]
It's not going to be easy. On you. On anyone. But hey! If anyone can tough it out, it's you! Remember that and you'll do fine. Probab Definitely.[break][break]
TUESDAY, MARCH 30
The Starly you saved that day is finally back to one hundred percent now. Well, not one hundred percent exactly. Maybe ninety-five? Ninety-six? You can see it in his body movements that he tires a little quicker than most Starly, but they won't tell you if he's always been that way or if it's because of the cathe accidyou well, you know. You're a smart guy, though. You can figure out what they're not saying. Weirdly enough, though, the little guy's taken quite the liking to you. It's pretty cute getting to watch him hop around behind you wherever you go. He even sort of ruffles his feathers and shakes his head when you forget where you were trying to go. A real copy catter, that one. You don't need to hear it from me to know that you wish he wouldn't, though. We all know he only means well, but he's only... only serving as a reminder. Not that he hurt you. That you hurt him. Even if he's fine, you've cut your way so deep into his life that he may never get to fly with the flock again and that scares you more than you'll ever say out loud. But that's okay. Because I know. And you know. You keep hoping that one day he'll get up and fly away for good so that when you stop in the middle of the hall and wonder where you are, you won't have to see and remember one of the only things you still can.[break][break]
More than that, though, aren't you scared that once he leaves, the last thing reminding you of what made you what you are will be gone? It hurts to look at him. But it's gotta hurt more to think that all of this wasn't for something. Right?[break][break]
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
His name is Percival. You caught him, and he's yours. Your very first Pokemon. Aren't you happy?[break][break]
(Please don't cry next time.)[break][break]
THURSDAY, JULY 22
You met know a girl named Desdemona who doesn't seem all that happy to know you, but didn't seem all that happy when you didn't know her. I made sure to tell her about your head since you obviously forgot to. Don't beat yourself up over it, though, okay? She'll beat you up plenty herself, and she'll kick your butt ten times harder than anything you could ever do, so it's all covered. You looked pretty scared for a second, like you really thought she would kick your butt every time you had to – to reboot, but don't get too worked up about that, either. I think she's very kind beneath all the gnashing teeth and cutting glares. I think she's scared like you. It's all skin deep, really. After all, even after all that complaining she did, she still stuck around to help you find poor, misplaced Percival! Arceus only knows how far you'd get without him before you walked yourself into a poll and got lost. If I had to guess, it'd be not very far.[break][break]
You tried to take her out to lunch to repay the favor, but I think she mistook your kindness for flirting. You don't really know what it's like to have the opposite gender constantly hitting on you like she does, apparently. Who would flirt with you anyw It's just not something that happens very often. If your cheek stings at all, it's probably from where she slapped you. Don't be surprised if she does it again next time you see her. Assuming you even remember this warning, I mean. More importantly: Don't hold it against her. I think you... really like this girl. Even if she hits you. You've never met someone like her before, and the way you were grinning like an idiot even when she hadn't said anything funny can't mean anything bad, right? You could use a friend. If you'd had any up until this point, I would've made sure to write them down so you could know.[break][break]
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Trainer school is tough for you when you spend half the class trying to remember why you're there in the first place. It'd be nice to hope that the teacher would try to make it a little easier on you, but considering the number of strings they had to pull to get you in in the first place, you should be thankful for what you've got and stop reaching for more like a greedy little Meowth. You can't remember names of previous League champions because they all leave your head not even a minute after you've looked away, and you're lucky your grandparents really hammered in those berry names and functions before that day, or else you'd be flunking just another one of your classes. If you're so smart like everyone says, you're probably thinking, why do you feel like such an idiot?[break][break]
Did it feel good when you beat down Desdemona in that battle? Were you proud of yourself when you stomped all over her pride just to let out some pent up aggression? I wasn't proud of you. Neither were the teachers, or the people watching, or even Percival who would've thrown himself off a cliff with his wings clipped if he saw you do it first. Strength to her is everything. You know that. What does it even mean to you? Why did you even care? You never wanted to be good at battling, so why did it matter so much to you to put her under your foot right when she needed that win for herself?[break][break]
You're terrible.[break][break]
She'll never like you back now.[break][break]
Don't bother apologizing. She won't want to hear it from you, anyway.[break][break]
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
You graduated today – congratulations! Don't think too hard about why it's at the end of November or how on Pokearth you managed to pull those grades around. Supposedly. What matters is that they slapped a diploma in your hands and you're off to greater heights! You probably don't really care, but your teachers said that they can't remember the last time they met a trainer as gifted as you. If you wanted to, really, they think you could even aim high enough to challenge a couple of gyms. We all don, honestly. You might want to branch out from the flying-type Pokemon you're specializing in, though, if you wanna stand a chance against those guys. Don't even listen to what that guy Zach says about birds being the best. He's a huge nerd and is probably gonna die alone in a house full of empty Dorito bags and an army of flying-types. Er, ignore that last part. Even for a joke, that was pretty mean. You'll apologize to him for me, won't you? He's a pretty cool guy when he tries to be. And no, not the cool he wants you to believe.[break][break]
Um...[break][break]
She talked to you for the first time in two years. Not that she was avoiding you that whole time! You both had different classes, after all, and she was too busy doing... well, whatever she does to really talk to you. I think it was the right thing to do when you accepted her offer for a rematch, and even better that you didn't hold back just to make her feel good. If there's one thing that makes Des angrier than your stupid air headed looks, it's being coddled, right?[break][break]
She's already forgiven you. When are you going to forgive you?[break][break]
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14
You met a boy named Walker on the bus today. He looked hungry, so you gave him those chocolates you forgot the origin of. Someone told me that those were actually a Valentine's Day present from a really sweet girl just that morning. But hey, don't sweat it! You didn't remember – you couldn't have remembered – and even then, they went toward feeding a poor, hungry bus-goer! You're pretty sure the only reason he let you sit next to him the whole time was because he was too busy eating those chocolates to tell you off, but! That's fine, because you got some of the best company you could've ever asked for.[break][break]
Try to ride the bus more often! Not – not because he might be there. Because you might meet someone else who will make your day![break][break]
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15
You didn't bring chocolates this time, but you did bring cookies. He gobbled them up just as quick. It was pretty impressive, actually! You thought he was going to choke a few times there, but he's just stop and glare every time you asked if he needed the Heimlich. He's a pretty funny guy like that! Maybe next time you should bring brownies? He sure does like his sweets...[break][break]
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16
The brownies were a success. He smiled – he really smiled! It was only there a second, but you saw it. I saw it. We all saw it. And it was great.[break][break]
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Well, this is why we read the journals. Now you've just gone and made a fool of yourself! He actually tried to talk to you, and you called him a criminal! Okay, maybe his baggy clothes and... baggy eyes and... well, everything make him look like he could knock you out in a back alley, but you should know better! He's prickly like Des, but he's grumpier, and every time he pouts, he looks that much cuter, don't take that away from him! He seemed to understand a bit more when you explained your little, uh... problem, but hopefully this time you'll remember to keep these journals on hand so that something like this doesn't happen again. Promise me, okay? You have to promise![break][break]
… Who are we kidding. You won't remember. You won't remember the way his face feel when you told him you didn't know who he was, and you won't remember the way your stomach dropped when you finally realized your mistake. You won't even remember everything I'm writing down here for you, will you?[break][break]
What's even the point?[break][break]
TUESDAY, MAY 6
You were really scared to ask Walker out on anything that could even remotely look like a date. Honestly, I don't even know why you'd be worried about something like that. You could've just taken him to the arcade and you probably would've had just as much fun together, wouldn't you have? I know I would've had a blast. But for some reason, the one on one time freaked you out. Okay. So your brilliant plan was to invite him to watch you battle the local gym leader. I can't really tell you what's crazier: the fact that you thought that was a good idea to begin with or the fact that he actually agreed. I guess miracles really do exist, huh? If you can't get them where they matter, you can at least enjoy them where they don't. It was a total team wipe, but what's to be expected? You haven't lost a battle your entire life. Not like you'd remember any of the fights. Actually, have they ever told you that? You've never lost a battle. You were surprised at the time, but according to your grandma, you shouldn't have been.[break][break]
Maybe it the confidence you get from the sparkly new badge – it really matches your eyes! - or just some dumb stroke of luck, but after that fight, you really didn't waste a second inviting him out for a celebratory dinner, huh? You really are silly, aren't you? Wasting all that time fretting over avoiding a date, then inviting him out on one the very second the chance arrives. I'm glad you did, though. You really looked like you were enjoying the food! And Walker... Well, he looked especially handsome. Must've been the lighting. Yeah, that was it.[break][break]
MONDAY, AUGUST 11
You know, they really make these gym leaders sound like real rough cookies, but you cut through another one today like a hot knife through butter. Sure, you had to, uh, reboot a few times in the middle there, and let's not get to hung up over the idea that maybe the leader went a little easier on you because of that, but otherwise, it was as close to a flawless victory as they come. Seriously, if you have any idea where all of this talent has come from, I'd love to know. Walker, too. I didn't think he'd tag along with you for a second gym battle, much less the next three, but every time, he's there in the audience (of one) cheering you on in that adorable little way of his. You know the one. Where he pretends like he's looking at anything but the battle, even when there's nothing to look at but the battle? He's such a dork sometimes. That's what you... love about him, though. That's... That's what you love.[break][break]
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Six badges make you look a whole lot cooler than five. I'm really impressed that you managed to pull through with that one, actually – I thought for sure your type disadvantage would've been the end of your winning streak! Guess not, huh? Still, it's pretty late when you get done with the battle, and the commute back and forth between your hometown and all of these different cities and towns with gyms in them takes a physical (and time) toll on poor little Percy, so instead of heading straight home like usual, you got a place for the two of you to stay the night. It's pretty expensive, even for just one night. It's a good thing that gym leaders pay a lot to winning challengers! You might've been fresh out of luck otherwise, wouldn't you have?[break][break]
Walker's passed out on the other bad now. He didn't even bother to change out of his clothes, and if you could see face from where it's smooshed down into the covers, you guess you'd probably see him drooling. All of this, the spread eagle position he flopped down on the sheets with and the not really quiet snoring he's keeping us up with, is just so him and it's... it's the best thing you've seen all day. And now you're sitting here, five feet away from your best friend in a hotel room, wondering how long you've got left before you forget about him again.[break][break]
But you don't. You're just sitting and staring and it's all there, the room, the snoring, his perfectly messy hair, it's all – there in your head, and oh Arceus, you love him. You love him, you love him, I love him, I love him so much and I have to tell him I have to I[break][break]
You have to tell him. You have to tell him before we forget again.[break][break]
I don't want to forget him again.[break][break]
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26
Walker moved to the Johto region today.[break][break]
I knew I was running out of time. Why didn't I tell him?[break][break]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20
Congratulations, champion in the making! Or should I say champion who was in the making? … Okay, yeah, that was bad. In case you didn't already get the picture, though, you've just earned yourself the title of the strongest trainer in all of Lyeant! Isn't this what you always wanted? No. From now until the next League tournament, trainers from all over are going to try to take a whack and you and see how they fair up against a real life champion. Don't get too cocky, though, eheh! One of them might just snatch your title from you! … Wait, no, they can't officially do that for another three years. Well, even so, a humbler person is a good one! There's probably a better saying for that, but you know I'm right! We're always right![break][break]
Des already called to congratulate you. Er, okay, “congratulate” might not be the right word. She threatened to do some things that I'm not really comfortable writing down her, but! You know her. And you know that that's all fancy talk for a good ol' clap on the shoulder! And Walker... Don't... Don't wait up on a call from him. We both know it's not coming.[break][break]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
You've never come really close to losing a battle before that I can tell you of. Not even your battle against the last champion pushed you this hard. Today, though, you were up against the daughter of one of the old Elite Four members and her army of dragons and... well, it was an army of dragons. Are you surprised you had a tough time? You can't remember seeing anyone take a loss as badly since... Well, you can't really remember anything, can you? The point is, you feel pretty crummy right now. She was the hardest challenge you've ever been put up against, but she still looks so crushed, like she couldn't wipe the floor with most all of the other trainers that've tried to beat you before her. And you tried to make her feel better, you really did! But if anything, that just made it worse. Man, when we were younger, we were so good at put a smile on peoples' faces. What happened to us? I think you already know. Well, I guess we'll never know.[break][break]
THURSDAY, MAY 5
I've got the best news you could ever possibly hear. Are you sitting down? I hope you are, because you will be once you get done reading this. You might not be hearing from me much longer! Because of all your hard work, you managed to make it to the champion's throne, and whether you want to admit it or not, being the champion does have its perks. Specifically its connections. There's a man from Silph Co. who's been doing a lot of research on the Sinnoh Pokemon Uxie, along with a lot of other Pokemon who have abilities that have to do with a person's memories. They were so confident with how their research was going, in fact, that they promised that within a year's time, they would have a cure for your anterograde amnesia. You know what that means, right? No more of this stupid journal nonsense. You'll get to remember again – really remember – and all by yourself![break][break]
Hang in there, Danny. We'll be fixed up before you know it![break][break]
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Make a point to look up Sora Kei Alder.[break][break]
… Make a point to look up Judaism in the Lyeant region.[break][break]
Today was a... very, very odd day to say the very least. But maybe some things are better left forgotten.[break][break]
NOVEMBER
He lied. He lied. He said that they would be close to being done by now, but they're no further along than they were to begin with and he lied to me. They they promised me they promised us results they promised us a cure we were supposed to be remembering things but it's November already and you know what he said? Do you know what he said to you? To me? To Daniel the champion Parks? “I'm sorry, but Parallax no longer wishes to associate with the Pokemon Association's mindlessly loyal dogs.” Parallax? The Association? What does it even matter? He's keeping up with the research anyway – whatever happened to doing kindness for the sake of doing kindness? Whatever happened to keeping your word? Why am I going to keep suffering from the same stupid mistake some twenty years old now because this guy can't stand my bosses? This is betrayal. This is – This is cruelty, and I'm not going to stand for this, I'll – I'll sue or I'll – I'll battle them all into submission and[break][break]
I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate living like this I can't keep writing in these stupid journals and I can't keep pretending like they'll ever actually help I'm going to die without a clue who or where I am and no one will even care im going to die im going to die im goin[break][break]
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
You're probably wondering why the journals are all out of whack now, huh? Well, I took the liberty of tossing a couple out. What you're probably wondering now is how drunk I must have been to do that – it's not like you have a hard enough time remembering things as is, right? - but believe you me, I'm as sober as we were at birth. You won't miss those crummy old things. Why, once everything's been reorganized, this'll go down the waste bin and you won't even remember that I tossed out some old memories, anyway. Isn't that neat, Daniel? It's a power that only we have. Another person can spend their whole life trying to forget something, but if we want a memory gone, all we need is a match and a crummy old journal to torch. Give it three days and no one will ever know it was there to begin with. And some people would say that's horrible. “You can't live life without all of the memories, good and bad” they might try to say. But they don't understand. They can't understand.[break][break]
HOVER OVER SPRITES ON THE LEFT FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION
PC POKEMON
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[attr="class","taketwoapplicationtab3right"]
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[attr="class","taketwoapplicationtab3right2"]
PERCIVAL
STARAPTOR #398
PERCIVAL is a MALE pokemon. its ability is INTIMIDATE. it seems to have a ADAMANT nature.
[break][break]
the causation of ruin - the damsel in distress daniel ruined his life to save. percival's right leg is permanently crumpled as a result of the accident that took its trainer's memories. a prosthetic allows it almost-normal mobility, both in and out of battle.
One, two – reset. How high functioning can a person be without the aid of their memories? One, two – reset. Its a question that few have probably asked before, but one that Daniel has thought to himself over and over and over again. (He doesn't remember asking it last time, or the time before.) Can someone without their memories live with society, in society, like society? Can a person who can't even convert short-term to long-term lead their life like a normal human being? Daniel Parks, champion of the Lyeant region traded the ability to do just that, convert short-term memory to long-term memory in a tiny act of heroism that saved a Starly's life. Despite the many hurdles his anterograde amnesia has presented him, however, he strives to enjoy his life and the world he was put in as much as he possibly can. His position, if anything, should be a testament to his efforts. The path to the top is hard one alone; with a brain that fights you at every turn, it becomes all the more hard.
[break][break]
>>> FRIENDSHIP
The first impression many have of Danny is that of a kind person. Whether its on air or in person, in battle or in conversation, he empathizes, he compliments, he supports no matter the person. It'd be easy to think that it's simply the face of a person in power, but a person who forgets his surroundings and his company and falls into the lap of confusion so frequently can't be expected to wear a mask all the time, and it wouldn't take long for people to witness his bone-deep affection first hand. Despite his amiable personality, though, it's precisely because he forgets his surroundings and his company that companionship becomes so difficult. How can he remember names? How can he remember that he has a relationship with them at all, regardless of the sort? All of his friends are spoken to him in past-tense, from books and recordings written by himself to himself. He won't know them for what they are in the present. How well can a person take being forgotten entirely time and time again?
PLOT IDEA #1 every day would be the same. nothing more, little change. if i cared, it would mean nothing: it's all such a pain. friendly bonds are so unneeded, i don't give a dang. a busy life is what i am. could it be that family was a way of escape? didn't know if it was right, so i threw them away. couldn't take it anymore, i had taken enough, so then i hide my need for love.[break][break]
PLOT IDEA #2 lay me right down, let me sleep, i'm restless. cover my eyes. when i'm up, i'll finally fade away, here, today. give me a reason: then i'll stay. if i could fly, if for only a moment, there wouldn't be such a need for casualty. i'm alone, and that is how it'll be.
>>> HATESHIP
Perhaps Daniel's most fatal flaw – excluding, that is, the anger and hat ehe harbors for himself – is his inability to think for himself in situations that he cannot afford to. When recalling what he's doing in and of itself takes so much effort, not to mention the arduous process of recording his entire life for himself in hopes that a day will come when he retain all of that stored info, he doesn't spend much time thinking of the morality of man or what motivations a person may have. While he, himself, never personally thinks ill of a person, his enemies are that of the Association. If his bosses were to point their finger, he would certainly strike without thought or empathy. Their reasons for evil would be lost in a heartbeat, anyway, and what reason would the Association have to lead him astray?
PLOT IDEA #1 every day would be the same. nothing more, little change. if i cared, it would mean nothing: it's all such a pain. friendly bonds are so unneeded, i don't give a dang. a busy life is what i am. could it be that family was a way of escape? didn't know if it was right, so i threw them away. couldn't take it anymore, i had taken enough, so then i hide my need for love.[break][break]
PLOT IDEA #2 lay me right down, let me sleep, i'm restless. cover my eyes. when i'm up, i'll finally fade away, here, today. give me a reason: then i'll stay. if i could fly, if for only a moment, there wouldn't be such a need for casualty. i'm alone, and that is how it'll be.
>>> LOVESHIP
A trial of the mind for the poor soul who attempts this – but a soul that is accounted for already. Daniel's heart belongs to a god in a human body, and has for years now. Still, what he lacks in outward beauty – truly, he is a plain thing, isn't he? – is made up for in spades in inner beauty. It's wouldn't be impossible for another to fall to his warm smiles and gentle laugh, though an unfortunate turn of events for the affected party.[break][break]
>>> WANTED
Danny has held his position as champion for the last two League Tournaments, utilizing pin-point strategies and Pokemon who have taught themselves to fight without the aid of a trainer who can become confused mid-battle to crush those who have challenged him for his position. He fights with everything he's got in every battle, though fears that his opponents give him leeway because of his condition, resulting in his easy victory. That being said, though, challengers are more than welcome, particularly repeat ones who can't seem to throw him for a loop. I like the idea that he has a pretty good relationship with the Elite Four members, as well as quite a few of the Councilmen, just because he tries to be as active in the Association affairs as he can – even if he usually just ends up as a glorified mascot-slash-punching bag for the League between Tournaments.
[attr="class","dannypostlyric1"]c'mon, skinny love
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]I TOLD YOU TO BE PATIENT, AND I TOLD YOU TO BE KIND
[attr="class","dannypostleft2"]
[attr="class","dannypostleft3"]
He'd been in the middle of an important League meeting – the sort that he only half paid attention to, painfully aware that he hadn't the slightest idea of what the speaker was going on about until afterward when they awkwardly slid him a copy of the transcripts – when the first of many text set his phone to life, and it was this very important League meeting that he managed to single-handedly disrupt by violently removing himself from his chair and loudly excusing himself in a flurry of words that were likely impossible to decipher. Because he was the sort of man who could handle many surprises; living the way he had, hardly any memory retention at all, made just about everything in life a small surprise in itself. The rebirth and reintroduction of Walker Duvall into his life, however, was simply one surprise too much to handle in a room full of practical strangers.[break][break]
Walker had been a curious case over the entirety of Daniel's life: Unlikely friends from the get go, a duo that most people tended to raise their eyebrows at. The blond was one of few people that he could truthfully say he remembered, fragments of time that miraculously made it past his disability and cemented themselves in his mind. What he didn't remember was the day where they'd first disappeared from Lyeant, nor the days that followed where he'd continue showing up at their home in vain, unaware that they were long gone already. It had taken longer than he would like to admit to to really learn that the second of his only two friends was now also painfully absent; the only difference this time was that at least Desdemona had the humanity to actually respond when he reached out to her. Had he not known in advance of Walker's plans to move their place of residence to the Johto region, he'd have wondered if the silence was an after affect of their death. And maybe it was cruel, but that would have been a much easier pill to swallow, the idea that they'd simply passed on into the afterlife, dying peacefully in their sleep, than the thought that they, like so many before them, had cut ties with a useless layabout of an amnesiac if only because it was easier. How many troubles did he have to bring upon a person to get them to remove him from their lives entirely? It was a question that injected itself into his thoughts frequently, and one that he was quite afraid to know the answer to. If there was one positive to his friend's sudden and long silence, it was that he wouldn't be getting that answer from them. At the very least, he hadn't thought he'd been a burden. Those few snippets of true memory had always been pleasant, things he treasured as much because he had them at all as the contents of them, and the journals he tried to keep himself familiar with chronicled mostly pleasant things, only occasionally soured with fights or days of poor moods.[break][break]
In the beginning, he would have given the functioning parts of his brain to have those happy times back, or anything else fate would have asked him for just to meet that end. Now, years later, staring down at the black words carved into the screen of his phone, he wasn't so sure.[break][break]
How was he even supposed to feel about all of this? Was he supposed to be mad? Excited? Nervous? In truth, he didn't remember the pain he may or may not have felt about his friend's departure – assuming he even remembered that long enough to feel pain over it in the first place – so it wasn't as though he could hold that above the other's head. Not that he'd want to, anyway. At the same time, though, what Walker had done to him hadn't exactly been an act of a paragon of virtue, intentional or otherwise. Just because he couldn't remember it firsthand didn't mean that he didn't understand that the rug had, essentially, been pulled right out from under him. In fact, any sane person standing in his position would have deleted the messages the moment they'd been read, turned right around, and gone back to whatever it was that they might have been doing without a second thought. Let them all die with his memory, gone off to some place where it could not hurt him. As his many co-workers and former opponents would attest, however, the raven-haired champion wasn't always the sort to think reasonably, nor was the the sort to pass up on the opportunity to give a second chance. He owed Walker, if nothing else. At one point in time, they'd been a beacon of light in his life – and at the very least, he didn't imagine that he would have continued to pursue the path that lead to his crowning as champion had it not been for the audience of one cheering him on every step of a gym of the way. So he'd go. He'd give that second chance, repay the debt he owed. As for whether or not he'd stay after the fact -[break][break]
Well, that was a bridge he'd have to burn when he'd get to it.[break][break]
The terminal was more crowded than the trainer had pictured when he'd arrived, families and friends waiting to greet former passengers upon their landing and staff members chasing their tails and those of misbehaving visitors for longer than he, himself, would have the patience for. His phone had gone off once more about five minutes out of his destination – Are you here? it had read, a question he didn't bother to answer through his PokeGear – so it was safe to assume that he was a touch late, but hope that the biologist had not given up on him showing his face burned slowly in his heart. He had to see them at least one more time, no matter what it took. Arceus, even if they had given up on him and had made their way into town, he'd just have to use every bit of his power to track them down. Being the champion had perks like that: No person was any further than twenty-four hours away, if he really thought about it. Blue eyes flashed toward the message displayed on his phone, the one that had first announced his friend's arrival and the one that he used to keep himself from forgetting his purpose for being here – and when they lifted up one last time, it was only so that they could land on a much more interesting target. As it turned out, five minutes of tardiness weren't enough to ruin this poorly planned rendezvous. More importantly, though, it looked as though Walker Duvall hadn't aged a day since they'd separated. He stood there longer than he would have liked, transfixed on the image a ghost, an apparition, the form of a person he had known on the surface would be here but hadn't had the chance to truly comprehend, and in moments, his thoughts were taken back to a night spent in a hotel, sat next to a sleeping friend, emotions tumbling in him, smiling wide, memories, memories, love, love. (If there had been any shred of anger in him for the years that Walker had set aflame, they disappeared like mist in the morning's light.)[break][break]
There was space between them – empty, dead – and with a grin that swallowed his face whole, he cast his line, his words across No Man's Land, charming and intelligent as always: “Hi.”
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]YOU WON'T SURRENDER, BUT NOW YOUR HEART IS BREAKING
[attr="class","dannypostleft2"]
[attr="class","dannypostleft3"]
For all of the perks that came with being a champion, there were an awful lot of downsides that came nipping at their heels. Sure, there was fame and quite a bit of fortune that came with the name – special living accommodations, access to places and things that most people dreamed of having, and more exotic foods than he thought his stomach could... well, stomach – but being the supposed “strongest trainer in the region” affiliated with the Association often times made him out to be some sort of disposable weapon, expected to arrive at every beck and call and do exactly as told by whichever higher up told him to do it. In some cases, his memory problems allowed him the chance to get off in instances that any other champion in the region's history would be stuck doing some menial task. In most cases, he was fed the same sob story (even if he didn't remember any of the ones that came before it) of how he was “the region's last hope”, even if such had never actually been the case up until that point, and expected to drop everything to play the role of the chairmens' most loyal dog. He was always a good sport about it, of course. In truth, he didn't have much to do outside of his Association-related work. Few friends, a non-existent love life, hobbies that he couldn't even remember doing him little good... If anything, sometimes the missions they asked of him were a much better way to spend the day than whatever he would have done otherwise. Other times, though... Other times turned out like this.[break][break]
Danny's gaze drifted between the face of his partner, the wall behind them, and the motion of his sweating palms failing to rid themselves of the perspiration against the fabric of his clothing. He'd never actually had a job before his current line of work, the likes of which was hardly what would be considered “normal work”, and even with his complete failure of a memory, he doubted that he'd ever been in the back room of such an establishment before. He'd already forgotten when the establishment even was twice before a scan of the room caught him back up with a nameplate – the N M 156 Cafe, apparently. Despite the modest nature of the room, all white-walled and sparsely furnished and decorated, there was still a sense of awe that flooded through him at the new environment. Awe, rather, that was quickly replaced by sympathy at the sight of the cafe's tired looking workers rushing to and fro, into the room and out, sometimes all the way across as though there was some horrendous fire that needed to be put out in the back corner. (Twice now he'd looked, just to be sure. Still no fire.) This, supposedly, was a normal day for the oddly dressed waitresses that barely had the time to acknowledge their presence. This, supposedly, was also a very average look for the room. Nothing was out of place. Nothing at all save for the elephant in the room. Or, more accurately, the two elephants in the room: he and Sora, standing awkwardly no more than two feet apart from each other and staring at their reflections in a mirror. Two grown men – very much men – stared back at them, each dressed from head to toe in an elaborate maid costume.[break][break]
The raven-haired trainer broke the illusion of stone by bringing a hand up to pinch his nose, eyes closed tight as if trying to shut the image out of his brain. (Too late; it was already stuck.) Because of his impeding memory problems, the Association was always careful to be sure that he never went out into the field alone, always leaving with a second brain to remind him of his mission whenever he forgot what, exactly, he was supposed to be setting out to do. To begin with, as well, he'd been overjoyed at the knowledge that his partner would the Umbreon gijinka that stood next to him, a friend who had, as if by some miracle, actually imprinted himself on Daniel's memory. (Too bad the way they met also decided to stick around; that was another thing he was pretty sure he could stand to forget.) Now, though, he couldn't help be feel anything but shame. No one deserved to be dragged down into this with him, much less one of the very few people he could actually call a friend. He'd offer as many apologies as his tongue could form – but apologies didn't seem like nearly enough to make up for this mess. Too afraid to open his eyes, he dared to ask a question that he was sure he'd already asked at least once and wasn't so sure he wanted to know the answer to: “Why are we doing this, again?”
[attr="class","dannypostlyric2"]YOU WON'T SURRENDER, BUT NOW YOUR HEART IS BREAKING
[attr="class","dannypostleft2"]
[attr="class","dannypostleft3"]
People talkin', and they're sayin' that you're leaving. So unhappy with the way that you've been living. Oh, oh, oh – we always wish for money, we always wish for fame, we think we have the answers. Some things ain't never gonna change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart with never change. Look in the mirror and you see how you've been taken. You won't surrender, but now your heart is breaking. Oh, oh, oh – we always wish for money, we always wish for fame, we think we have the answers. Some things ain't never gonna change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will never change.[break][break]
Do you remember when you got your lucky break? Your lookin' back now and it seems like a mistake. Oh, oh, oh – we always wish for money, we always wish for fame, we think we have the answers. Some things ain't never gonna change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will never change. It's only change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will never change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will stay the same. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. It's only, it's only, it's only change. Never – you ain't gonna, you ain't gonna change. You ain't gonna change.[break][break]
People talkin', and they're sayin' that you're leaving. So unhappy with the way that you've been living. Oh, oh, oh – we always wish for money, we always wish for fame, we think we have the answers. Some things ain't never gonna change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart with never change. Look in the mirror and you see how you've been taken. You won't surrender, but now your heart is breaking. Oh, oh, oh – we always wish for money, we always wish for fame, we think we have the answers. Some things ain't never gonna change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will never change.[break][break]
Do you remember when you got your lucky break? Your lookin' back now and it seems like a mistake. Oh, oh, oh – we always wish for money, we always wish for fame, we think we have the answers. Some things ain't never gonna change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will never change. It's only change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will never change. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. What's in your heart will stay the same. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all the same. It's only, it's only, it's only change. Never – you ain't gonna, you ain't gonna change. You ain't gonna change.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU GOT YOUR LUCKY BREAK? [break]YOU'RE LOOKIN' BACK NOW, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A MISTAKE
[attr="class","tbeapponebio"]
[attr="class","tbeapponebio2"]
FRIDAY, MARCH 26
Hello, Daniel! Eheh, that looks even weirder on paper than it sounded in my head. Anyway, Daniel, today, you begin a very interesting experiment that could very well change your life. That's what we're hoping for, anyway. The doctors have made it pretty clear that your memory is about as dead as a ghost-type now, even if everything from before the crash is as fresh as a garden-picked berry, so if your brain can't make the memories for you, you've got no choice but to find some other way to keep them up there where they belong. So I present to you the most obvious answer to your little problem: writing the important things down! Now, now, I can hear you scoffing at me already, but they always say that the solution is always the most basic one. So I'll tell you what you did during the day... if it's important, and you try your best to to remember, okay? Okay.[break][break]
It's not going to be easy. On you. On anyone. But hey! If anyone can tough it out, it's you! Remember that and you'll do fine. Probab Definitely.
TUESDAY, MARCH 30
The Starly you saved that day is finally back to one hundred percent now. Well, not one hundred percent exactly. Maybe ninety-five? Ninety-six? You can see it in his body movements that he tires a little quicker than most Starly, but they won't tell you if he's always been that way or if it's because of the cathe accidyou well, you know. You're a smart guy, though. You can figure out what they're not saying. Weirdly enough, though, the little guy's taken quite the liking to you. It's pretty cute getting to watch him hop around behind you wherever you go. He even sort of ruffles his feathers and shakes his head when you forget where you were trying to go. A real copy catter, that one. You don't need to hear it from me to know that you wish he wouldn't, though. We all know he only means well, but he's only... only serving as a reminder. Not that he hurt you. That you hurt him. Even if he's fine, you've cut your way so deep into his life that he may never get to fly with the flock again and that scares you more than you'll ever say out loud. But that's okay. Because I know. And you know. You keep hoping that one day he'll get up and fly away for good so that when you stop in the middle of the hall and wonder where you are, you won't have to see and remember one of the only things you still can.[break][break]
More than that, though, aren't you scared that once he leaves, the last thing reminding you of what made you what you are will be gone? It hurts to look at him. But it's gotta hurt more to think that all of this wasn't for something. Right?
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
His name is Percival. You caught him, and he's yours. Your very first Pokemon. Aren't you happy?[break][break]
(Please don't cry next time.)
THURSDAY, JULY 22
You met know a girl named Desdemona who doesn't seem all that happy to know you, but didn't seem all that happy when you didn't know her. I made sure to tell her about your head since you obviously forgot to. Don't beat yourself up over it, though, okay? She'll beat you up plenty herself, and she'll kick your butt ten times harder than anything you could ever do, so it's all covered. You looked pretty scared for a second, like you really thought she would kick your butt every time you had to – to reboot, but don't get too worked up about that, either. I think she's very kind beneath all the gnashing teeth and cutting glares. I think she's scared like you. It's all skin deep, really. After all, even after all that complaining she did, she still stuck around to help you find poor, misplaced Percival! Arceus only knows how far you'd get without him before you walked yourself into a poll and got lost. If I had to guess, it'd be not very far.[break][break]
You tried to take her out to lunch to repay the favor, but I think she mistook your kindness for flirting. You don't really know what it's like to have the opposite gender constantly hitting on you like she does, apparently. Who would flirt with you anyw It's just not something that happens very often. If your cheek stings at all, it's probably from where she slapped you. Don't be surprised if she does it again next time you see her. Assuming you even remember this warning, I mean. More importantly: Don't hold it against her. I think you... really like this girl. Even if she hits you. You've never met someone like her before, and the way you were grinning like an idiot even when she hadn't said anything funny can't mean anything bad, right? You could use a friend. If you'd had any up until this point, I would've made sure to write them down so you could know.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Trainer school is tough for you when you spend half the class trying to remember why you're there in the first place. It'd be nice to hope that the teacher would try to make it a little easier on you, but considering the number of strings they had to pull to get you in in the first place, you should be thankful for what you've got and stop reaching for more like a greedy little Meowth. You can't remember names of previous League champions because they all leave your head not even a minute after you've looked away, and you're lucky your grandparents really hammered in those berry names and functions before that day, or else you'd be flunking just another one of your classes. If you're so smart like everyone says, you're probably thinking, why do you feel like such an idiot?[break][break]
Did it feel good when you beat down Desdemona in that battle? Were you proud of yourself when you stomped all over her pride just to let out some pent up aggression? I wasn't proud of you. Neither were the teachers, or the people watching, or even Percival who would've thrown himself off a cliff with his wings clipped if he saw you do it first. Strength to her is everything. You know that. What does it even mean to you? Why did you even care? You never wanted to be good at battling, so why did it matter so much to you to put her under your foot right when she needed that win for herself?[break][break]
You're terrible.[break][break]
She'll never like you back now.[break][break]
Don't bother apologizing. She won't want to hear it from you, anyway.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
You graduated today – congratulations! Don't think too hard about why it's at the end of November or how on Pokearth you managed to pull those grades around. Supposedly. What matters is that they slapped a diploma in your hands and you're off to greater heights! You probably don't really care, but your teachers said that they can't remember the last time they met a trainer as gifted as you. If you wanted to, really, they think you could even aim high enough to challenge a couple of gyms. We all don, honestly. You might want to branch out from the flying-type Pokemon you're specializing in, though, if you wanna stand a chance against those guys. Don't even listen to what that guy Zach says about birds being the best. He's a huge nerd and is probably gonna die alone in a house full of empty Dorito bags and an army of flying-types. Er, ignore that last part. Even for a joke, that was pretty mean. You'll apologize to him for me, won't you? He's a pretty cool guy when he tries to be. And no, not the cool he wants you to believe.[break][break]
Um...[break][break]
She talked to you for the first time in two years. Not that she was avoiding you that whole time! You both had different classes, after all, and she was too busy doing... well, whatever she does to really talk to you. I think it was the right thing to do when you accepted her offer for a rematch, and even better that you didn't hold back just to make her feel good. If there's one thing that makes Des angrier than your stupid air headed looks, it's being coddled, right?[break][break]
She's already forgiven you. When are you going to forgive you?
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14
You met a boy named Walker on the bus today. He looked hungry, so you gave him those chocolates you forgot the origin of. Someone told me that those were actually a Valentine's Day present from a really sweet girl just that morning. But hey, don't sweat it! You didn't remember – you couldn't have remembered – and even then, they went toward feeding a poor, hungry bus-goer! You're pretty sure the only reason he let you sit next to him the whole time was because he was too busy eating those chocolates to tell you off, but! That's fine, because you got some of the best company you could've ever asked for.[break][break]
Try to ride the bus more often! Not – not because he might be there. Because you might meet someone else who will make your day!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15
You didn't bring chocolates this time, but you did bring cookies. He gobbled them up just as quick. It was pretty impressive, actually! You thought he was going to choke a few times there, but he's just stop and glare every time you asked if he needed the Heimlich. He's a pretty funny guy like that! Maybe next time you should bring brownies? He sure does like his sweets...
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16
The brownies were a success. He smiled – he really smiled! It was only there a second, but you saw it. I saw it. We all saw it. And it was great.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Well, this is why we read the journals. Now you've just gone and made a fool of yourself! He actually tried to talk to you, and you called him a criminal! Okay, maybe his baggy clothes and... baggy eyes and... well, everything make him look like he could knock you out in a back alley, but you should know better! He's prickly like Des, but he's grumpier, and every time he pouts, he looks that much cuter, don't take that away from him! He seemed to understand a bit more when you explained your little, uh... problem, but hopefully this time you'll remember to keep these journals on hand so that something like this doesn't happen again. Promise me, okay? You have to promise![break][break]
… Who are we kidding. You won't remember. You won't remember the way his face feel when you told him you didn't know who he was, and you won't remember the way your stomach dropped when you finally realized your mistake. You won't even remember everything I'm writing down here for you, will you?[break][break]
What's even the point?
TUESDAY, MAY 6
You were really scared to ask Walker out on anything that could even remotely look like a date. Honestly, I don't even know why you'd be worried about something like that. You could've just taken him to the arcade and you probably would've had just as much fun together, wouldn't you have? I know I would've had a blast. But for some reason, the one on one time freaked you out. Okay. So your brilliant plan was to invite him to watch you battle the local gym leader. I can't really tell you what's crazier: the fact that you thought that was a good idea to begin with or the fact that he actually agreed. I guess miracles really do exist, huh? If you can't get them where they matter, you can at least enjoy them where they don't. It was a total team wipe, but what's to be expected? You haven't lost a battle your entire life. Not like you'd remember any of the fights. Actually, have they ever told you that? You've never lost a battle. You were surprised at the time, but according to your grandma, you shouldn't have been.[break][break]
Maybe it the confidence you get from the sparkly new badge – it really matches your eyes! - or just some dumb stroke of luck, but after that fight, you really didn't waste a second inviting him out for a celebratory dinner, huh? You really are silly, aren't you? Wasting all that time fretting over avoiding a date, then inviting him out on one the very second the chance arrives. I'm glad you did, though. You really looked like you were enjoying the food! And Walker... Well, he looked especially handsome. Must've been the lighting. Yeah, that was it.
MONDAY, AUGUST 11
You know, they really make these gym leaders sound like real rough cookies, but you cut through another one today like a hot knife through butter. Sure, you had to, uh, reboot a few times in the middle there, and let's not get to hung up over the idea that maybe the leader went a little easier on you because of that, but otherwise, it was as close to a flawless victory as they come. Seriously, if you have any idea where all of this talent has come from, I'd love to know. Walker, too. I didn't think he'd tag along with you for a second gym battle, much less the next three, but every time, he's there in the audience (of one) cheering you on in that adorable little way of his. You know the one. Where he pretends like he's looking at anything but the battle, even when there's nothing to look at but the battle? He's such a dork sometimes. That's what you... love about him, though. That's... That's what you love.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Six badges make you look a whole lot cooler than five. I'm really impressed that you managed to pull through with that one, actually – I thought for sure your type disadvantage would've been the end of your winning streak! Guess not, huh? Still, it's pretty late when you get done with the battle, and the commute back and forth between your hometown and all of these different cities and towns with gyms in them takes a physical (and time) toll on poor little Percy, so instead of heading straight home like usual, you got a place for the two of you to stay the night. It's pretty expensive, even for just one night. It's a good thing that gym leaders pay a lot to winning challengers! You might've been fresh out of luck otherwise, wouldn't you have?[break][break]
Walker's passed out on the other bad now. He didn't even bother to change out of his clothes, and if you could see face from where it's smooshed down into the covers, you guess you'd probably see him drooling. All of this, the spread eagle position he flopped down on the sheets with and the not really quiet snoring he's keeping us up with, is just so him and it's... it's the best thing you've seen all day. And now you're sitting here, five feet away from your best friend in a hotel room, wondering how long you've got left before you forget about him again.[break][break]
But you don't. You're just sitting and staring and it's all there, the room, the snoring, his perfectly messy hair, it's all – there in your head, and oh Arceus, you love him. You love him, you love him, I love him, I love him so much and I have to tell him I have to I[break][break]
You have to tell him. You have to tell him before we forget again.[break][break]
I don't want to forget him again.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26
Walker moved to the Johto region today.[break][break]
I knew I was running out of time. Why didn't I tell him?
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20
Congratulations, champion in the making! Or should I say champion who was in the making? … Okay, yeah, that was bad. In case you didn't already get the picture, though, you've just earned yourself the title of the strongest trainer in all of Lyeant! Isn't this what you always wanted? No. From now until the next League tournament, trainers from all over are going to try to take a whack and you and see how they fair up against a real life champion. Don't get too cocky, though, eheh! One of them might just snatch your title from you! … Wait, no, they can't officially do that for another three years. Well, even so, a humbler person is a good one! There's probably a better saying for that, but you know I'm right! We're always right![break][break]
Des already called to congratulate you. Er, okay, “congratulate” might not be the right word. She threatened to do some things that I'm not really comfortable writing down her, but! You know her. And you know that that's all fancy talk for a good ol' clap on the shoulder! And Walker... Don't... Don't wait up on a call from him. We both know it's not coming.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
You've never come really close to losing a battle before that I can tell you of. Not even your battle against the last champion pushed you this hard. Today, though, you were up against the daughter of one of the old Elite Four members and her army of dragons and... well, it was an army of dragons. Are you surprised you had a tough time? You can't remember seeing anyone take a loss as badly since... Well, you can't really remember anything, can you? The point is, you feel pretty crummy right now. She was the hardest challenge you've ever been put up against, but she still looks so crushed, like she couldn't wipe the floor with most all of the other trainers that've tried to beat you before her. And you tried to make her feel better, you really did! But if anything, that just made it worse. Man, when we were younger, we were so good at put a smile on peoples' faces. What happened to us? I think you already know. Well, I guess we'll never know.
THURSDAY, MAY 5
I've got the best news you could ever possibly hear. Are you sitting down? I hope you are, because you will be once you get done reading this. You might not be hearing from me much longer! Because of all your hard work, you managed to make it to the champion's throne, and whether you want to admit it or not, being the champion does have its perks. Specifically its connections. There's a man from Silph Co. who's been doing a lot of research on the Sinnoh Pokemon Uxie, along with a lot of other Pokemon who have abilities that have to do with a person's memories. They were so confident with how their research was going, in fact, that they promised that within a year's time, they would have a cure for your anterograde amnesia. You know what that means, right? No more of this stupid journal nonsense. You'll get to remember again – really remember – and all by yourself![break][break]
Hang in there, Danny. We'll be fixed up before you know it!
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Make a point to look up Sora Kei Alder.[break][break]
… Make a point to look up Judaism in the Lyeant region.[break][break]
Today was a... very, very odd day to say the very least. But maybe some things are better left forgotten.
NOVEMBER
He lied. He lied. He said that they would be close to being done by now, but they're no further along than they were to begin with and he lied to me. They they promised me they promised us results they promised us a cure we were supposed to be remembering things but it's November already and you know what he said? Do you know what he said to you? To me? To Daniel the champion Parks? “I'm sorry, but Parallax no longer wishes to associate with the Pokemon Association's mindlessly loyal dogs.” Parallax? The Association? What does it even matter? He's keeping up with the research anyway – whatever happened to doing kindness for the sake of doing kindness? Whatever happened to keeping your word? Why am I going to keep suffering from the same stupid mistake some twenty years old now because this guy can't stand my bosses? This is betrayal. This is – This is cruelty, and I'm not going to stand for this, I'll – I'll sue or I'll – I'll battle them all into submission and[break][break]
I hate this I hate this I hate this I hate living like this I can't keep writing in these stupid journals and I can't keep pretending like they'll ever actually help I'm going to die without a clue who or where I am and no one will even care im going to die im going to die im goin
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
You're probably wondering why the journals are all out of whack now, huh? Well, I took the liberty of tossing a couple out. What you're probably wondering now is how drunk I must have been to do that – it's not like you have a hard enough time remembering things as is, right? - but believe you me, I'm as sober as we were at birth. You won't miss those crummy old things. Why, once everything's been reorganized, this'll go down the waste bin and you won't even remember that I tossed out some old memories, anyway. Isn't that neat, Daniel? It's a power that only we have. Another person can spend their whole life trying to forget something, but if we want a memory gone, all we need is a match and a crummy old journal to torch. Give it three days and no one will ever know it was there to begin with. And some people would say that's horrible. “You can't live life without all of the memories, good and bad” they might try to say. But they don't understand. They can't understand.[break][break]
