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.
Edd had darted into the back for a moment to respond to Toasty; who's alert oinking had notified him that the latest batch of hand pies were done and ready to come out of the oven. Giving his oldest companion a quick thank-you pat on the head, he grabbed his oven mitts and ducked to pull out the perfect pies. As soon as he opened the oven to check them, he was greeted by the thick, sweet aroma of well made crust and sugary filling. Mmmm, pecha berry, nothing could compete with it. No sooner had he placed the tray on a table to cool than he heard the telltale jingle of his doorbell, alerting him that a customer had come in. Straightening up, he called out to the front, doubtful that they could hear him but figuring it was polite to at least try.[break] "I'll be with you in just a moment!"[break][break] Hurrying as fast as he could without messing up quality, the baker dusted the fresh pies with powdered sugar and grabbed the tray of cheri berry turnovers that had been waiting their turn to slide into the oven. Once they were set to bake, he gave Toasty another pet, asking him to keep an eye on things before taking off his mitts and heading back up toward the front. Just in time too, if the gentle ding of the service bell was any indicator. As he walked he smoothed his apron, trying to shake off some of the sugar that dusted his front and emerging behind the counter with a cheery greeting.[break] "Sorry about that! The oven's always cycling through these pastries and I can't leave them back there too long. Don't want them turning into crispy critters!"[break] He chuckled at his own joke, lifting his head to his waiting customer.[break] "Now then, how can i help y-"[break] He froze mid sentence, amber eyes blowing wide open when he saw just who his patron was. There was no mistaking those ears, those dark eyes, the familiar curve of that smile. And of course his swoobat, when had Pick ever not come with him on errands? It was him, it was him and he was here and he was real and Edd had genuinely thought he'd never see him again. He had resigned to it, even; since the day at the docks...[break] His voice was barely a whisper, breathed in something like disbelief.[break] "Tom...? Is that you..? Can it really be...?"
Moving with practiced ease, Edd grabbed a paper bag from somewhere below the counter and bagged up the muffin box; leaving plenty of space for if his customer made a choice on that mochi. He smiled a little at their surprise on his pricing, standing a little taller all of a sudden.. Ever since he'd set up his little bakery he'd taken an acute pride in making his stuff affordable for the people here. Immediately he nodded his assent, confirming what he'd already said.[break] "Yeah, one apiece! The four for three deal goes for every three you buy, too."[break] Given their surprise at his prices and how much he was ogling the mochi behind the counter, Edd figured the other might be up for buying three to get the free one. The last thing he expected was for them to put down a wad of notes that was clearly too many, in hopes it would cover the goods. For a moment he just stood and blinked at the money, wondering idly how much mochi had to cost other places for them to think this wouldn't be enough, before finally regaining himself and sputtering a response.[break][break] "Uh, Yeah. That'll do it and then some. Hang on lemme do the math here..."[break] Counting under his breath, he glanced over to his stock-a batch of 12, made fresh that morning-and glanced back to the heap of cash in front of him. Slowly he began counting out the cost, staying true to his word and ignoring every fourth one. Okay, that was nine. Seventeen in total. Yeah, this was a heap more than he needed. Nodding and grinning, the baker took the seventeen and slid the remaining notes back over before turning to the mochi and wrapping it to go in the back.[break] "Seventeen in total! I'll have to make some more mochi to keep the stock from just being out, wow. I really hope you like my recipe!"[break] Pleased, he placed the goodies in the back and handed it to his patron with a gentle smile, deciding on a whim to push his luck a bit.[break] "So, since you know so much about where i live and work, do you reckon I can know your name this time, or is that still a secret?"
Despite his task at hand, Edd kept his ears open for anything, sparing regular quick glances from his work to see what the newcomer was doing. He didn't intend to harass them or kick them out or anything, but that didn't man that he was going to be caught completely off guard if they tried anything. He was still watchful, still wary and ready to very quickly put a stop to it if they should go for his shop or any of the pokemon currently working around it. Mentally he catalogued where everyone was. Macaroon was in the back, Poppyseed was arranging cupcakes on a display plate, Toasty was off minding the oven, Mulberry was with him at the counter, and Jam was... Somewhere. Being Jam. Everyone was accounted for, and everything seemed fine. They really did seem to just be here for a snack.[break] At least until they pulled the mask from their bag, threatening him with a stick up. At once his blood ran cold, eyes going wide as he stared up at them. He had just enough time to process the threat, rearing back to call for Toasty when they dropped the act and admitted it was a joke. He continued to boggle at them for a long moment, blinking once, twice, before exhaling a semi-relieved laugh and relaxing again. Still snickering, he reached over to pet Mulberry and calm him down from where he'd been bracing up to spit acid at the perceived intruder. Down boy.[break][break] "Shit dude, you just about scared the frosting out of me."[break] He chuckled again, seeming to have actually found the joke to be pretty funny once the fear wore off. Smiling, he went back to icing his puffs, grateful that he hadn't squeezed the piping bag in his startle. That would have been a mess and a half.[break] He waited easily for the other to finish their shopping, wrapping up his task in the meantime and calling over Poppyseed to plate the puffs for display as he wiped his hands off. Finally, his customer seemed to make a choice and walked up to the register, where he was casually resting on the counter. He picked up the box as they put it down, checking it for price and murmuring as he did so.[break] "It's good to see you again, didn't think I'd get the chance."[break] He flashed a grin at them, taking note of how hard they stared at the mochi he kept behind the glass in his display case. They hadn't asked for any, were they wanting him to wrap some up..?[break] "Uh, the muffins are eight for the box. Do you want some of that mochi you're eyeballing too? They're one apiece, but if you buy three i'll toss in one for free."
Okay so, whatever reaction Edd might have anticipated to the grand reveal that he was a gijinka, this was certainly not it. He might have expected to be laughed at, or for Tord to be grossed out, or maybe even being better friends because they both had some pokemon parts, but he had not thought to prepare for hands planting firmly on his shoulders and pushing down until he gave in and squatted. Still, even if it wasn't a response he knew to be ready for, it wasn't one he minded in the least. Calm and rather happy that Tord seemed to be taking this well at least, the larger boy stayed crouched, even going so far as to tilt his head forward for easy access. He'd never had someone so curious before, it was kinda fun![break] The sudden touch to his delicate head-feather surprised him; as did the sudden discovery that it could be a little ticklish. Giggling, he twitched and wiggled the soft appendage to try and shake off the itchy tickle-y feeling; but other than that he accepted his newfound friend's exploration. It was probably fair, he didn't know if they had gulpin wherever Tord had come from, so this might be his first time encountering something like this![break] Honestly though, he could have done without that particular commentary.[break] For a short moment, he was almost hurt. Was Tord making fun of him? Everybody made fun of him, so it wouldn't be a surprise, but the longer he thought about it and measured the other's tone and gentle, inquisitive touches, the more he figured it wasn't meant in cruelty; and after a few seconds of quiet he grinned and laughed a little bit. Okay, yeah, he had to admit. He could see why it would resemble a tail.[break] "Hey, my head's not a butt! Your head is a butt!" [break] His tone was light and well-humored, not mocking at all. As if to punctuate himself, he flicked the little yellow feather forward to purposely tap against Tord's hand before he continued.[break] "It's not a tail, its my head-feather, like gulpins have! They're a type of pokemon, and I was born with some of the stuff they have! Like you have horns and a tail, I have my head-feather and some other stuff!"[break] His speech, though still steady for Tord's benefit, couldn't completely mask his enthusiasm. Even if they weren't as uncommon here as they were in other regions, gijinkas still weren't exactly the average. Meeting new people like him and having them be as nice and fun as Tord seemed to be was a remarkably rare occurrence; and an exciting one at that!
A James Bond, yes! He was a spy right? Edd also hadn't seen any of his movies, but he'd heard plenty about the guy and he was at least eighty-five percent sure he was a spy. So Tord had it, and his explanation was good! That realization made his chin lift a little bit with pride at the idea of having successfully taught somebody something. As Tord went on, Edd listened with wide, interested eyes; waiting patiently for his companion to pick his words. Though it should seem that his new friend was not actually a top secret government spy, he couldn't find it in him to be disappointed. How could he? He'd maybe found somebody else who actually liked being around him; and more than that, Tord was nice! [break][break] The implication that he might be a spy gave him room for pause, and for a second he contemplated telling the other that he was a spy and trying to play pretend, but it quickly occurred to him that with the language struggle that might be taken seriously. Edd was a lot of things, but a fibber was not one of those things. He opened his mouth to disagree, but broke off when the other leaned in, giggling at the loud-whisper and beaming at the other boy.[break] "No, no, I'm not a spy either! I'm just going to school, like you! Maybe one day we can be spies together, though." He still kept his talking slow, trying to be conscious of his words and not launch off at a million miles per hour, as he was wont to do. The friendly offer to keep his silence if he really was a secret agent meant something to him, and he wanted to repay that with a touch of trust. Even if the biggest secret he had probably wasn't a hard one to notice anyway.[break] "I'm not a spy, but I'll still tell you a secret. You just can't tell, okay?"[break] With that he leaned in close, glancing around them to check for any eavesdroppers. You can never be too careful.[break] "I'm different, like you are! I'm a gulpin, though! Not as cool as you, but still."[break] As soon as he said it, he leaned back and, with one more perimeter glance, lifted the feathery appendage atop his head to show off with a shy smile.
Somehow, despite all his awareness that Tord was absolutely from another country, it hadn't really dawned on Edd that he might not speak perfect English yet. Probably because he hadn't really met anyone before who didn't speak it well; though frankly it was something he should have gathered from the beginning. Tord's slow, cautiously enunciated question very suddenly made him aware of this, however, and all at once he was a little ashamed of how fast he'd been talking. Jeez, his poor friend must not have known the vast majority of what he was saying this whole time. Still! He managed to override the shame by deciding that he'd do better from here on out, and turned his gentle, eager smile back to the other. This time when he spoke he was careful to keep it a bit more slow and even; not condescendingly so, just enough to not be rattling off like he'd been doing before.[break] "Oh! You probably don't know all the words yet, huh? That's okay, I don't know all the words yet either, I'll help you!."[break] Secret and spy were probably as good of a place to start as any, since they were clearly very important words that should be used all the time.[break] "Okay so... A secret is like, something you don't want people to know, so you either don't tell anybody or you only tell your most-best friends, but you tell them they can't tell anybody else, so not everybody knows it!"[break] Yeah. definitely a sensible definition. Practically Webster's, that was.[break] "And uhh, a spy... A spy is like, somebody who's hired to find stuff out, or fight bad guys, but they have to do it in secret. They have to be like, hard to find and all their stuff has to be really quiet and fancy so they don't get caught!"[break] Satisfied with that, Edd gave a definitive nod. He felt...oddly important. It wasn't often he got the chance to be the teacher! Honestly, hanging out with Tord was seeming better and better. He probably hadn't seen all the cool stuff around town yet, like the field that always had butterfree hanging around or the tree where everyone tried to set records of who could climb higher! [break] Though, chances are he was getting ahead of himself. He could only hope that his companion was warming up to him the same way.
Edd noticed immediately that his new friend's demeanor had changed. The powerful, intimidating stance had melted away in an instant, replaced by obvious uncertainty and a sort of shyness. Then again, Edd couldn't exactly blame him, he'd moved here from a whole different country! Or at least that's what the teacher had said. Besides, it was okay if he was a bit anxious, he was still really cool! Definitely top notch friend material, and Edd hoped to be just that. All at once, a trickle of anxiety began to slide down his spine; making him question if he was anywhere near cool or interesting enough to be friends with this guy. He had come from far away and had seen awesome far away things, maybe he wouldn't be fond of a small town gulpin gijinka. After all, a fair number of the kids who'd been his classmates for always didn't even like him![break] Thankfully, the worst of these fears was swiftly extinguished when Tord returned with his backpack and agreed to walk together. Edd lit up on the spot, the worried frown he'd been sporting quickly morphing into a beaming grin as he nodded to his companion's pointing. [break] "Yeah! I live this way, and since you're on this path I guess you do too. C'mon, let's get going!"[break][break] Happy and excited at the prospect of a new friend, Edd extended his hand to grab the Norski's own before beginning at a quick trot down the sidewalk, rattling off all the while. He'd always had a bad habit of getting a bit talkative when he was enthused, and today was no exception; though thankfully he did leave pauses for Tord to speak as well.[break] "Y'know, I don't think we've ever had a new kid before. It's really cool that you came here from way off where you used to live! I really like your tail and horns too, you look so awesome and tough!"[break] He flashed another smile, slowing down as his initial hyperactive eagerness began to calm; until they were walking easily towards their respective houses. For once, Edd wasn't all that eager to get home, he wanted to spend time with Tord first.[break] "Where did you come from? Did you move here for top secret spy reasons?"
The harsh landing against concrete on already bruised ribs had winded Edd for the moment, leaving him to lay there and catch his breath. Closing his eyes for a moment, he drew a few quick breaths and took inventory to make sure he hadn't busted his head or anything before snapping them open again for a look around. From his perspective on the ground, he could see Chris starting to get up again, and at once he stumbled to his feet and prepped for more fighting. He was not talented at this by any means, but surely he could at least keep one of these older jerkwads at bay so they couldn't bother his new friend. [break] As it would turn out though, he might not have to, as Chris turned toward him and immediately froze; staring wide eyed at something behind him. Confused, Edd tossed a glance over his shoulder and froze on the spot. Okay, so the new kid had apparently harnessed some of his abilities as a gijinka. That was absurdly cool, and a little scary, but mostly cool. Upon seeing that his impromptu protector was apparently charging up the fire blast of a lifetime, Edd made a point to duck out of the way and leave the older boys to face the music. Of course, despite their talk and cruelty, none of them were ready to get roasted alive; and with an nervous, aggravated grimace Larry called off his friends and took off down the sidewalk with hardly a word.[break][break] Edd watched their retreat with something like amazement. Nobody had stepped up for him like that before, usually the one or two other kids who noticed what was happening just kept their heads down and went on to avoid becoming the newest victim. Having someone jump to his side like that was a first, and something he hadn't expected from anybody aside from maybe his tepig. Slowly, his gaze wandered over to his new companion, and he blinked =, expression slowly changing from shock to warm gratitude. A bright smile stretched over his bruised face, and he even dared to laugh a little bit in triumph.[break] "Haha, we really showed them! I bet they'll keep running forever and ever after what you did! That was awesome!"[break] As he went on, his cheerier nature took over his soreness and he took a step towards the Norski, almost bouncing as he went. [break] "You're Tord, right? You were so cool! Like a superhero wooshing in against the bad guys. Thanks!"[break] Come to think of it...If Tord had come this way, he must live in this direction. Had they been walking the same way and Edd had never even noticed? That would have to change![break] "Do you wanna walk home together or something?"
Once upon a time Edd would have defended himself from this assault, but the first time he'd fought back against Larry had merely provoked the bigger kid to bring his cronies the next time. Trying to struggle only made the attacks worse, and he feared that trying again would invite them to bring an even bigger army next time. Besides, he may not be a decently big kid, but that didn't mean he could even begin to stand a chance against three kids who were already older than him. All he could really do against them was try and shield himself with his arms and backpack, whimpering faint protests to their sneered comments. He wasn't a girl, his name wasn't Allison, he wasn't pathetic or stupid or a freak, he was a boy and a good kid...[break] His quiet attempts to defend himself were cut off quite suddenly, as the assault of kicks and punches slowed rather suddenly. It seemed too soon for them to be done, leaving Edd confused and wary; a sentiment that only deepened when he managed to draw in a breath. Why did he smell smoke?[break] All at once the Kate's thin weight disappeared from where she'd been climbing on him, far too quickly for her to have climbed off herself. Curious and startled, Edd lifted his head, eyes widening as he spotted the new kid from class. What was he doing here? Was he defending him? It took a long second to process this information, but as soon as it clicked in his mind the boy scrambled to his feet. After all, Larry and Chris had gotten over their shock and were looking pretty pissed off, and Edd wasn't going to let his apparent protector take the worst from all three of them. [break][break] Gaining his nerve and thriving on the adrenaline coursing through him, he grabbed the back of Chris's shirt and yanked him away from where he'd begun to attack the newcomer. What was his name? Trent? Todd? It was tough to remember, especially in the heat of the moment. When Chris spun to get a look at his new assailant, Edd was ready and waiting; and promptly clocked him in the jaw. He winced in pain as the impact jolted his knuckles, knowing he likely didn't have the expertise to not injure himself fighting like this; but at least Chris was looking worse for wear. Before his opponent could regain himself, Edd had punched him in the gut, following that up with a firm shove that planted the older boy flat on the sidewalk. Breathing heavily and aching all over from his previous beating, Edd looked up to survey the scene, only to see Larry coming up for a surprise attack on the new kid, who seemed to still be distracted by Kate.[break] Very suddenly, Edd could remember his name.[break] "Tord!!! Look out!!" [break] As soon as the cry had left his mouth he started running, acting on full impulse, and slammed his shoulder squarely into Larry's back. The larger boy stumbled at least, slowing his intended attack on Tord, but Edd had clearly not thought this through enough; as he promptly bounced off and hit the ground with a thud.
The few heartbeats after Edd offered they both leave were some of the most tense in his life to date. If he was truly honest with himself, he knew he probably didn't have a ton of fight left in him; definitely not enough to take on this grunt and their pokemon. One or the other maybe, but paired off against both he'd lose, He was burned out, adrenaline had taken almost everything from him; and the mixture of blood lose and the series of blows to his head had made his world begin to wobble a bit. He would do all he could to protect his pokemon, of course, but in reality his fate almost certainly rested on whatever his opponent chose to do next; which wasn't exactly comforting given their clear penchant for violence.[break] Much to his his relief and surprise, however, the fiery gijinka agreed to back down and turned away, vanishing down the path just as quickly as they'd appeared and leaving only a quick flirt and a very startled and battered man in their wake. Shocked by their willingness to recede and sort of confused by their parting comment, Edd only stared after them for a moment, blinking and mouth agape, before shrugging again and turning to limp his way home. He checked over his shoulder the whole way, half expecting to see them coming up on him for another sneak attack, but the walk was thankfully quiet and peaceful. Though, the same could not be said for the rest of the afternoon; in which Edd had to force his own nose back into place and enlist the help of Toasty and Macaroon for stitching his cheek up again.[break] He wanted to be mad, or bitter, or icy, but he wasn't really anything aside from guilty and tired; so thoroughly spent that he scarcely managed to cram some food down before curling in bed and fading into welcome sleep.[break][break] The next days went by as per usual; easy visits from regular customers and a few first timers too. Business was running well enough that the oven was rarely turned off during shop hours, and everything was fairly calm. Despite the new bandages that patched Edd's face, he was decently happy; glad to be keeping his head above water financially and glad to be helping make some of the townfolk happy. He was busy frosting a fresh batch of poke' puffs when he heard the front door bell chime gently, alerting him that the door had been opened. He lifted his head to smile at the newcomer, at first only noting that it wasn't one of his regulars, but before he could give his standard cheery greeting a cold realization clicked in his mind.[break] That was them, the same grunt from before. How had they found where he lived?? Were they here to hurt him? To burn his little shop down?[break] He swallowed hard, resisting the urge to panic. Maybe they really were just here for a snack, there was no need to start a whole new fight here; and that probably wouldn't be wise to do in his own store anyway. Blinking once or twice, he took a deep breath and decided to keep the same welcoming way he offered to all his patrons. Maybe first impressions weren't everything...?[break] "Uh, hello there! Welcome. If I can help you with anything, let me know and I'll be right with you."[break] And just like that, he returned to icing the poke' puffs, waiting to see the reception of his goodwill.
All that anger, all that grief and hardship and pain swirled around like a storm inside Edd; feeding on itself and fueling him to keep going. He wanted to keep raving at his attacker, maybe even start up their fight again and get in a few more good licks. He'd been trying to do better and not think about all that had happened and this random asshole had the gall to dig it all up and throw it back in his face? What right did they have, what right did anyone have! Indignation, vengeful and fierce, swelled in his chest in a way that actually sort of distressed him, somewhere in his mind. This wasn't like him, he hated lashing out like this, and yet the catharsis was too much to deny. Squaring up, he prepared himself to launch in again and keep up his furious ranting.[break] And then he looked, really looked, and saw the way his opponent was standing. He saw the flattened ears and tucked tail and eyes that shone with scarcely hidden unshed tears, and all at once the red hot aggression that had been powering him melted away like ice on a stovetop. It was like everything had drained from him, including the vast majority of his energy, and all that remained was guilt and fatigue and; as much as he hated to admit it, a stirring of concern for the other. Especially with how they were going on about family and being ditched and all that.[break] Okay, so he might have gone a little too far.[break][break] Drawing back, Edd let out a sigh that practically deflated him and took a step away from the other, scratching the back of his neck with an exhausted sort of awkwardness. He hadn't intended to care about his attacker, but here we are. [break] "That's, sometimes blood family kinda sucks but that doesn't mean you can't find people who care and think you're worth something. People who don't expect you to kill everything all the time."[break] This couldn't get any weirder if he tried, and he had a strong feeling that this guy wasn't the kind to take sympathy well. Left with little option and even less energy, he simply shrugged the strap of his bag back into place and spoke again, a passive edge lacing into his tone in a way that carried his honesty well.[break] "Look. I don't want to fight you or hurt you or get hurt or, any more of this. Let's just go home and take care of ourselves and eat dinner. I gotta try to straighten my nose out and your head probably needs an ice pack. You're not gonna change my mind and I don't think I'm gonna change yours so, there's really no point to yelling at each other and beating each other up out here. Besides, the cops probably got called by somebody or other and it'd be better for us both to not be here if they roll up, I don't wanna have to give a statement.[break] Sorry for the hitting and the yelling. Let's just go home. Nothing else has to happen out here."
The stark, chiming echo of the schoolbell shrilled through the air, alerting the students that it was time for dismissal and snapping Edd from his drowsing to full alertness. At once he jerked up, pretending that he absolutely hadn't been dozing off on his desk, no sirree. Only once he figured out that it was the bell that had woken him and not the voice of an angry teacher did he relax a little bit, climbing down from his chair and heading over to his cubby to grab his backpack. He sighed as he unceremoniously dropped his books in, jerking the zipper shut and meandering out the door. He really, really wasn't looking forward to the walk home, but he had very little choice. It's not like anybody could come get him, he just had to suck it up and get it over with.[break][break] No sooner had he descended the school steps and started hurrying down the sidewalk; hoping against hope that his lateness would mean everyone else was gone, than he was greeted by a cold and unpleasant voice just behind him, making him freeze.[break]
"Hey Allison! Little Allie, what is a girl like you doing out here all by herself?"[break] The voice grated up Edd's spine in the worst way, making him curl in on himself a bit as though his backpack might protect him. Slowly he turned, looking over his familiar rival with anxiety. He could scarcely remember the name of the boy, Larry, maybe? With his horrible little cronies Chris and Kate, all older than Edd by a year or two and more than happy enough to cause trouble on his way home. Reaching for calm, Edd breathed in, trying to keep his voice steady as he answered in hopes of getting away without too much trouble.[break] "It's Edd, you know it is, Larry. I'm not a girl, and I'm just trying to get home."[break] Praying that would be enough, he made a new attempt to walk away; only to be stopped by the hand that roughly grabbed at his backpack, yanking him to a stop and drawing a yelp out of him. Thrown off balance by the sudden halt, he staggered and fell onto the sidewalk, instinctively curling in on himself to protect from what he knew came next.[break] This was not the first time this had happened, and he knew well enough to be prepared. The first kicks to his ribs hardly even hurt anymore, though Kate's scrambling to take swings at him still did. Each hit was punctuated with icy words and laughter, and with three to one all he could really do was wait. for it to be over.
The first jab about being an optimist didn't so much as faze Edd, he merely sighed and kept on his steady march back towards his bakery. He hoped this unwanted walking companion would bugger off before they got too close to the shop or he would have to start taking back roads and delaying his return. He absolutely didn't want this guy knowing where he lived and worked out of. The second bit, however, snapped him back to attention; a sharp pang searing its way through him at the unexpected reminder of his traumas. Still, he just shook his head and walked on, legs stiff and hand white-knuckling the strap of his bag to try and stay calm. He sure wasn't gonna cry in front of this jerkwad. [break] Still, each word grated on him further, dredging up the past and pushing him to grit his teeth and stiffen. The pseudo-proposition to join Imum finally pushed him too far, clawing at the rawest and most recent wound in a way he couldn't ignore. His first response was to be sad, heartbroken even, and it took all of his strength to fend off the tears that threatened to spill and replace that sorrow with anger, turning back with a new fury twisting his face.[break] "Your cause? You mean killing everyone, attacking innocent people and pokemon and being god awful brutes for no reason? Brutes that apparently can't win fights against unarmed civilians in the street. Yeah, such a meaningful purpose you have, a real higher calling."[break] He closed some of the distance between them in one quick stride, shoulders squared and voice think with feeling as he went on.[break] "I am not the person you're going to sell this to. Not when you lot of assholes and your fucked up purpose are what actually did separate me and my best friend. What kind of family goes around destroying everyone else's families?"[break] He had more or lest lost himself now, his entire personality overtaken by grief and the thick, burning rage that anyone would dare bring up his past and throw it in his face.[break] "Y'know what I think? I think Imum is where sadists go so they can pretend they've actually got some kind of worth to them when they're attacking innocent people. Don't talk to me about substitution until you're done substituting brutality for an actual cause. Maybe if you had a real one, or gave a shit about anybody but yourself, you'd have a real family."
Despite it being the dumbest possible move, it was unsurprising that this Imum grunt tried to prod him for a further fight. It just confirmed their status in Edd's mind as 'reckless mean asshole'; a position they'd already been a great candidate for. He pushed his bag up on his shoulder, rolling his eyes at their attempts to get his hackles up and wiping some of the blood from his face with a pained wince. The split cheek would probably need stitches that he couldn't afford. Fantastic. No telling how he was gonna get that sewn up. Beyond that, it hurt. His nose was throbbing, his whole face too warm and sticky with blood and pain was radiating every time he drew a breath. Even his torso was sore from that last-resort tackle he'd pulled; as evidenced by the faint limp he had when he turned to walk away.Of course, they were still talking, why wouldn't they be. Hadn't they had enough? [break][break] He finally sighed, turning to face them again as he heard them get to their feet. No reason to leave himself open to another sneak attack; especially with fatigue settling over him fast. Their hesitation upon grabbing their pokeball had him stiffening, a glint in his eyes as he wondered if he was gonna have to fistfight a pokemon; but he breathed a silent sigh and relaxed as they clipped it to their belt.[break] "Sorry to disappoint you, but not everybody adheres to that.If all I'm disgracing is your code of honor, then I can't really find it in me to care."[break] His voice was raspy from exertion, a sort of dullness to it. After all, it was supposed to have been a decent day, and instead here he was with a broken nose in the middle of the sidewalk with a long walk home to look forward to. Still, he lifted his head slightly, a touch of conviction tracing his tone as he went on.[break] "I didn't say anything about changing the world, dude. I'm just not gonna let the world change me. Just because some people are still trying to wage war doesn't mean I have to, and I'm not gonna let it all turn me into a killer. If you're gonna let it push you into that mold, that's your business more than it is mine, but I don't think it'll get you very far."[break] He shrugged, starting to turn away again. He wanted to get home before his whole shirt was soaked down with blood.
As it would turn out, headbutting someone in the ribs when you've already taken a number of hits to the head is a hell of a feeling. Edd's head spins and aches and throbs and he can't even figure out where all the blood on his face is coming from anymore; it's dribbling from his mouth and streaming from his nose and the cut on his cheek and some part of him vaguely registers that he probably looks like a villain from a cheap horror movie right about now. The hit has thrown him for a loop, and for a fraction of a second he wobbles, struggling to catch his balance, but adrenaline is a drug without much compare and it quickly reminds him that stumbling or falling right now could cost him his pokemon. Shaking his head, the battered man planted himself, regaining his footing and lifting his chin with anger and something like pride as he approaches his enemy. He grits his teeth as he approaches, wiping one arm across his face to clean it, and looks down at his attacker.[break][break] For a moment, the rage grabs him all over again and he considers doing something quite terrible. He even goes so far as to lift one foot and shove the grunt over onto their back again, putting his heel on their chest to hold them there. After a heartbeat or two however, the lack of a threat settles in his mind and the blind fury begins to crumble, leaving room for his pacifism to seep back in and begin coaxing him down. Sure, this guy is an asshole, and probably a routine pokemon thief, but death seems a little harsh. Beyond that, Edd was never much the killer type. Hell, he wasn't even the fighting type, as evidenced by the traces of fatigue and something like guilt that were beginning to lace their way into his mind. Sighing, he lifted his foot, taking a step or two back and letting his shoulders begin to slump.[break] "Just, leave us alone. Leave people alone. Don't touch my pokemon, they're all I've got and I won't just, let you try and grab them. Big mean jerk pokemon thief. Find something better to do.[break] Hasn't there been enough bullshit and fighting around here already?"
