Set in the original region of Arciel, Legends Rising is a route-inspired, but not strictly route-based, Pokemon roleplay. Pick a faction, pick a class, and strike out into the wild to take on the League, master Contest coordination, research the mysteries of Pokemon and Arciel, and much, much more. Will you be a classic trainer? A criminal? A farmer? Choose your destiny on Legends Rising.
Arietta was functioning on autopilot, letting herself get led like a ragdoll by Elise. Ara was still, veyr much trapped inside her head right now, shaking, eyes watering, but she made pace with Elise, up the elevator, towards the room- one step, two step, three. She'd been the one to leave him this time- not him. Not again. But some part in her brain refused to disconnect the idea of leaving with years ago, the idea of being left behind, defenseless- but Gabe had Senara- but she wasn't wanted-
A two faced bitch. That's what she was- that's what Senara said she was- but... she wasn't? She didn't understand, and maybe it was the sudden switch between Senara being sweet to literally blowing up in her face that had Arietta shook, or the very culmination of the last few months coming to light infront of her friend- chaos that she'd attempted to hide. Arietta might have been holding Ellie's hand far too tightly, but she hadn't noticed. She just sniffled a little.
Aumia couldn't do much else but nuzzle into Arietta's neck and coo, she was confused, suddenly just fucking drained, ripped open and left raw, her excitement from earlier had been all but taken away. Arietta didn't know what to do- what could she do? What would be the right thing to do? She'd have to explain to Ellie literally everything but she could barely even put on her fake grin right now.
A door opened, a hotel room and Arietta followed along without saying much. She was trying to think of what to say- what to do- had the press seen? Would anybody say anything? Was there anything she could say? She found herself sitting on the edge of the bed in the room without really realizing how she'd got there and finally brought her gaze to Ellie's. "s-sorry, uh...the...tiny issue- might not be... as tiny as I said it was?" She could say that again, and could only blink at Ellie then, no rambling just... waiting, and sniffling.
Elise’s hand remained sealed around Arietta’s as she pulled her and her suitcase out of the elevator and down the hallway towards their room. Four oh one, four oh two, four oh three, four oh four, four oh five— There it is! She stopped there finally and started to fish for the cardkey they had each been given. Finding it in her pocket, she quickly scanned it and then pushed the door open. Pulling them both inside, she let the door close on its own as she stepped inwards. A suitcase would be tossed on her bed, and Elise finally allowed herself to take in a moment to breathe.
Ok. Ok. Ok. Wiping her eyes briefly, Elise turned around back to Arietta again who was sitting on the opposite bed at that point. At those words, Elise said nothing back but closed the distance between them and immediately hugged Ari around her shoulders, holding her tight to her chest, and petting her hair gently. No words, just actions, just holding her and trying to steady herself in the process. She still didn’t understand all of what had happened, but that could come later. For now, Ari needed comfort. “It’s going to be ok,” Elise blurted out. “It’s going to be ok.”
There was no response- at least not verbal. Arietta found herself quickly wrapped in Elise's arms, hands running through her hair and the faint sound of Elise's heartbeat through her clothes humming in Arietta's ear. It was then that Arietta's sniffles turned into sobs, that she tried her best to hide until she couldn't anymore. Tears trekked down her face as she clutched whatever fabric she could get ahold of- she was weak. She was confused. Elise's words didn't comfort her, they didn't help. All she could mumble back was, "N-No... it's- i-it's... not..."
A head was reered back to look at the girl, and Arietta stubbornly shook her head. A small portion of her fringehad become stuck to her face by tears- thankfully she was wearing waterproof makeup. "Ellie- there's... there's so much- and- a-and... and I... I d-don't know what to do?"
Empathy sucked, and Elise wanted to cry. She wanted to cry because Arietta was crying, and it was so hard not to just break down with her. But she remembered she wasn’t exactly a part of this. She’d…. she’d only seen what she guessed was the aftermath in one form or another. So she squished her eyes as tightly as she could to clear them and kept holding and petting Arietta.
At least until she pulled back and looked at her for a moment. Hesitantly, one hand raised to gently set itself on Ari’s cheek, just cupping it gently. There’s so much…. So much that Elise didn’t know? So much that she could only guess at. Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you just talk to me? Or any of the other girls? Do they know? What all has been happening??? All these questions zoomed in Elise’s mind, but she wouldn’t say them, not then, anyways. “T-tell me all of what happened?” she finally asked quietly, unsure of what else to say right then.
Arietta was glad to have a friend like Ellie, and a ghost of a smile forced itself on her features unwillingly as her hand rested on her cheek. The girl ever so slightly leaned into it, and she tried to sniffle back more stupid tears. At the girls words Arietta closed her eyes momentarily... did Elise... really wanna hear like, everything? Literally- everything? Arceus fuck- she... well.. uh... "...Everything?" Arietta echoed, her eyes opening to watch Elise for a few more seconds.
After realizing she really, really did want to hear everything Arietta let out a long breath. "...O...Okay... Uhm... so- if we're going by everything... We... We start..." She moved back a little and brought a hand to her face, attempted to bat away tears- she was shaking. When do they start?It was before Halloween... a bit before... "...September. We... W-We start September."
She brought her hands down and moved around, as if searching for something, however she gave up and instead reached for Elise's hand, really needing something to just, hold onto. "Uh- so... I was having a mini photoshoot for instachuu- or- o-or I was planning to have one, and... I posted about it- and on my way to location- I was w-with Aumia- me and her heard some uh- sounds in the bushes which turned out to be, uh..." A pause, "Gabe. Gabe who.... who I hadn't seen in... well- since I was 16- since..." She didn't want to speak about Ivy town right now, so instead she averted her gaze. "Since...You girls had to bring me back from the island."
“Everything,” Elise had echoed trying to match the tone in her voice to her ever evolving determination. Elise shifted a little to sit next to Arietta as she started. The thought that this had been going on since last year made her stomach tighten some. Had she been ignoring this all along or had Ari been really good at concealing it? Maybe a little bit of both? She felt bad which meant it had to be both. September… Goodness.
As Ara clasped her hand again, Elise gave it a squeeze in response. She listened quietly keeping her eyes on Ari as much as possible— only for them to widen a little as Ari spoke. Back from the island… Yeah, she remembered. She remembered all those tears and fears and whatever else. A small “Y-yeah…” of recognition was all she could manage. “Was…. he like stalking you or?” she breathed in awkwardly then, and her words came out strange as a result.
Was he like stalking her? Arietta... really didn't know- maybe he could have just been on a nice forest stroll with Liz, or maybe he'd seen her post and gotten mad or... She chewed on her bottom lip for a second, sniffling. "...I... can't be sure..." A head tilt, "I... thought so at the time, but after everything maybe- maybe it was just a really, really unlucky c-coincidence?" Right? Because why else would Gabe be there- there was no use stalking her when he was doing everything in his power beforehand to... try and forget her.
A spare hand ran through her hair then, "...Anyway...I... I had t-tried to, be nice- y'know- b-because the last thing I wanted was a fight, or was to... re-live what happened... b-but of course- it... uh... ended in a fight- uh- he... he said that i-i'd stolen everything from him- and- i'd... gotten out my phone because- y'know when you... need something to clutch?" She trailed off, lowering her head, "...he stole it out of my hands. A-And- and.. I... I forget... the details- it was... really long ago but- he- he got so mad he... uh..." She used her free hand to imitate crushing the phone and shifted a little. "...he....crushed it? And- and there was- a lot of... stuff... said... I... I don't know what I said but- I was mad... I... I was upset and- I was... so c-confused?"
A head shake, "But... but things settled- and- and h-he said he'd pay me back for my phone, walked off with Liz- b-but... I... I wasn't so okay... uhm..." She shook her head a little then, god she barely slept for weeks after that, "...I...I'd actually thought that all my exes were after me- that- that Gabe'd... just... pop out from anywhere- that- that... they'd try hurt me- or they'd accuse me of more- I... was paranoid- and hurt and scared- because this was the last thing you'd ever want, right?"
Elise frowned. Her brows pressed together. Her eyes flickered with concern. An unlucky coincidence… Still, she nodded her head slowly in understanding, making sure to give Ari enough feedback that she was listening to proceed. It ended up being a fight… Or ended in a fight, which was actually two different things, but Elise couldn’t quite grasp the difference just yet. Her lips went into a flat line as Ari went on. “He broke your phone?” she repeated. “Crushed it??” She shook her head a little at that. “That’s horrible!” It didn’t matter what was said, that stuff was personal stuff!
And then she went on, and some things started to click into place. The shaky texts here and there, the way Ari’d deflected conversation now and again. All of that was… was around that time wasn’t it? “Did… did any of them— anyone else show up?” she asked. “They didn’t hurt you, did they???”
Arietta brought a hand through her hair again, the other one squeezing Elise's once more. There was a nod at him reaffirming that he broke her phone, though she didn't say anything else on the matter- there was so much to cover. She drew her knees up slightly and bit her lip, at the question about them hurting her she quickly mumbled, "No- at least... not...yet in the story." A pause, "...unless you could emotionally?" She was mainly questioning herself more than anything, and let another shuddered breath draw out.
At the question about others Ara just sighed, and mumbled, "...Technically... y-yeah..." But quickly followed with, "B-But- it was a coincidence uh..." Hands tightened and untightened and she chewed on the inside of her cheek for a second. "...I...I didn't get any sleep- I... spent a lot of the night b-being... really upset- I had mascara tracks- I didn't have m-my phone and I didn't wanna worry anybody- since- obviously- s-seing Gabe was... supposed to be a one-time coincidence- and m-mum'd booked me in at the spa in Birch- y-y'know the one we sometimes go to to chill...?"
A pathetically tight smile came about her face, "And...and of course...I bumped i-into Koray- because... why couldn't it get any worse?" A pause, "A...And I... I may have... yelled a little... b-because I thought- that... that he was- was gonna do what Gabe did- because- b-because- what are the odds?! I... I didn't... I didnt wanna get hurt- i don't..." A head shake, "I...I just wanted to go to the spa and forget all about everything, Ellie..."
Elise winced and bit her lower lip. “A coincidence?” she echoed again. She didn’t quite follow where this story was going next. It sounded like she was just… going to relax somewhere? That didn’t seem so bad? Like, she would have done the same thing or maybe like—
Why didn’t you come to us? They were friends. All of the girls. They were all best friends. Why didn’t you say anything…. Elise pushed the thoughts aside for now. She’d resolved to listen rather than speak. She was there as a supportive friend! Not an accuser!!!
What came after, though, had both lips paring again. “Koray too???” she gasp-squeaked. “What was he doing there???” At a spa??? What were the odds??? And why the odds???
Ellie was surprised, Arietta could hear it in her voice, and she girl sniffled, moving to release the girls hand and instead wrap her arms around her knees, pressing her cheek into it. "...No...On the route leading to Birch....I...I... I d-don't... I don't know...uhm..." A head shake, "And...And...I think I...broke down... and...I told him about the spa- and- and- he said he didn't want me to leave again- and-" She was talking quickly, far too quickly, and had to suck in a breath. "And-and he said- he told me not to push him away- and- and- and he didn't hate me- and- and what if Gabe was watching me- and- and then he hugged me- and-" Arietta brought her head up, "This- this is before the spa, on the way to the spa- and Aumia was freaking out- and- and- I couldn't breathe- and he kissed me, Ellie."
She pushed her head into her knees and let out a soft sob, "And I pushed him away- and he tried to tell me it'd be okay- but- then he kissed me again- and- and then- he brought up the spa- and- we ended up... going to the spa together- and- and...." She brought her head up and instead pushed her hands through it, closing her eyes, "And- I...told him the real reason I... broke up w-with him- and- and he said- it's funny how- how he couldn't stop loving me- and he kept- talking- and- talking- and- I was crying- and nothing was okay- and then he kissed me again and- and I said- I told him it-" She collapses against the bed then, a long sigh leaving her.
"I said... it... it wasn't right- that- we weren't a thing so we shouldn't... be...then... then he... he said- we- we don't have to be a thing... to kiss..." A mumble followed, "...And then he said he didn't mean love- but that he meant that... he cared about me- and- and that... he wanted to be friends again- that... that I shouldn't leave him- and I was so confused- and torn- but..."
She brought a hand up to her eye, '...I felt so safe...and then I slept over at the hotel and then- we- we went to my apartment through... and...and...." A loud sigh left her, "He- he said nobody has to know- because...Because I... was worried... about...reporters... and... a-and that- that's fine- and...he promised he'd be fine..."
Almost in a defeated like manner the Arietta slumps against Ellie, "...And...that's...t-that's september... then- we get to october..."
Elise’s brows furrowed. She’d… met Koray on the way to the Birch spa? And he was being like… clingy or something?? It was hard to keep up now with Arietta talking so quickly. Her features flickered between numerous questionable expressions all at once— and then settled on alarm as she got to the point. Koray had kissed her en route. After… after all that. Both of Elise’s hands raised to her mouth. Then one dropped and reached to set itself on Arietta’s shoulder gently. Oh gosh. Oh no. Oh dear.
“You didn’t—“ Oh thank GODS she pushed him away— Oh NO GODS??? Oh gods. Oh dear Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyogre, and Jirachi! And whoever else her Dad constantly swore to when he smashed his thumb on something!! Oh goodness…. She watched Ari flop back against the bed and looked down at her with concern. Her hand reached up to a lock of gold hair and tugged from the strain…. She…. she could infer what happened after. A small hit of color came to her features, and she pulled her own hair a little more with the feeling of anxiety twisting in her stomach.
And that was just September. “……….” Elise took in a slow, shaky breath. “Ari……” she mumbled reaching over to gently pet through Arietta’s hair again. She wasn’t sure how soothing it would be, but there were plenty of times her mom or her sisters had done that and it had… helped. “That sounds so horrible… I’m… so sorry you had to… deal with that…” She didn’t know what else to say. Couldn’t know what else to say. “What… else happened?” she asked instead.
At least the fingers gently coaxing themselves through her hair seemed to help some, and Arietta peered her eyes open, simply watching Ellie and her reactions. She was shocked, and a little taken aback, but Ellie was trying, and she was hear to listen- and it's not like... Arietta could just... not.. say anything now. It... it was kinda... helping- with Eise here to listen but-there was so much? And... and she didn't want to overload the girl- especially when there was nothing that could be done, because it was her drama, her hellhole that Arceus had condemned her to- and she just kept diving right into the pit.
"...D-Don't be sorry- we're not to the worst of it." The pathetic smile she had kinda died and she weasled her way back up into a sitting position, grabbing a pillow from the top of the bed to instead hold to herself. "B-But... October... so- i'm with... Koray a bit now- b-but- the... the main event... is- uh..." She pauses and tilts her head, "...t-the halloween ball- I think you were with Tony t-that night- uh..."
Hands clenched a little at the pillow. "...I-It... was a good night- uhm- or... s-supposed to be? Mm... S-So.. I- went as Gardevoir- y-you probably saw my posts a-about it- and uh... well- I ended up dancing with... a M-Mismagius... they- they were... so good at dancing- it... it was perfect- like- l-like right out of a movie- there w-were no falters- there... there was flirting- and talking- and- and...they...also kissed me- and they said they believed they were falling for me- and... I was like ah I fell in love on a dancefloor like this- because- because- with Gabe, I had- and- and..."
Her hand raised in a 'duh' motion and she closed her eyes again, head moving to rest on Elise's shoulder. "...It...was... Gabe.... but... the night had only just begun..."
Not at the worst of it. Not at the worst of it. Elise paled a little, but she listened. She listened carefully. “Yeah, I… I was…. we were handing out candy at dad’s shop….” She had wanted to go to the Halloween festival, but Dad had insisted someone stay and watch the shop and hand out candy. And Tony was nice enough to be there for her. It turned into a really cute date, and she was thankful for it now.
…..Oh. Oh gods. Oh dear Arceus. Elise’s lips parted, but no sound came out. She closed them again and looked down at her knees and then sideways at Ari and then up at the TV. Anywhere, everywhere, to think that over. “What happened next?” she asked much quieter still, waiting for what would come to pass.
Elise's voice was quiet, but at least Ara knew she was listening, because of course she was. Arietta just sniffled a little, a long breath leaving her. "...After... the realization- we... went back to... to dancing with- each other- because- it... it was a night for- uh... f-for fun- and- for dancing- and- it... it was fun- and... it...and... we... flirted...and..." She brought a hand up then to scratch at her cheek, "...and... then... he couldn't dance- or he... danced too much, knee gave way- and I stressed out and- and I ended up trying my best to- uh- help him- i...I don't... I don't know why..."
Or... did she? Her hand rested on her face then, and she let out a soft sniffle once more. "...But- then more stuff happened and- glass shards- he was hurt- he was hurt and... and... I don't want people to hurt- I... gave away PNG tickets to get the bathroom cleared out- b-because... it... was the right thing to do- and... and... I bandaged him up- with toilet p-paper...and- and I- I was so worried?! A-And... and i'd... found out that- that after... after Ivy he... he didn't leave Arciel- Ellie??" Eyes flicked up, "...He didn't leave. He left me in Ivy- but he didn't leave."
She sat still for a few seconds, before going "...his mum's sick- so i-it's not his fault but..." A head-shake, "...And- and... and we were talking- and- and it... it was- it was kinda... kinda nice- then- then- then he- he- he said- don't take this the wrong way but i'm still in love with you- and he said I don't wanna be with you but- but I still -feel that- so?! So what was I supposed to do- w-what am I supposed to do?!" Her voice was getting louder and she was crying again, "...I...I just wanted to help however I could, Ellie- i-it's not fair that... he shouldn't be...wouldn't it j-just be... be better for everybody? But- but- it was happy- I was happy- s-somehow- s-somehow- somehow- everything was fine- and there was no yelling- so I kept helping and we kept talking and talking- and he was okay- and- and it was fine-"
She was rambling, and cut herself off to look at Elise, as if waiting for her to cut in and say something.
They went back to dancing??? Elise’s lips parted, closed, and parted again. She was about to ask if they had done something but— “OW???” A squeak broke from her lips instead. Sympathy pain for the devil by that point, apparently. Wait— So that's why our finance person was throwing a fit months ago??? She’d… never really… understood what was going on there??? She just sort of assumed it had been some sort of fluke in the system not related to them at all??? Concerned. Elsie was concerned. She wasn’t mad. She was most definitely concerned. But that was so much money, Ari what the hell??? Elise … could have used that to buy a new dress or…. Any number of things!
But Arietta was continuing to speak, and Elise was doing her best to try and stay focused on that. So Gabe didn’t leave Arciel when he left Ari out on Ivy Island with no one else there but herself. He just bummed around their region doing…??? What exactly??? Elise’s cheeks puffed a little. Lowlife things, probably… He was crazy after all— But then she remembered the series of events that had just transpired with Senara… and the way she’d yelled and stuff… Slowly Elise’s cheeks deflated again. Now she just felt sad.
And Arietta was still talking, fast and confusingly now. And crying. Elise felt her own eyes water out of habit, but she was quick to move and hug Ari sideways petting her again because what else could she do? What else could she do?? “You just care a lot!” she blurted out instead.
Post by Arietta Ostinato on Feb 9, 2020 19:39:38 GMT
She just cares a lot? Well... sometimes she feels she cares too much. She just wants to help?! “...I...d-don’t think I mentioned this but he kissed me when I was freaking out about his... wounds too...” Arietta leans against Ellie then, she was warm and kind and here for her. She was just processing things. “...then he was going to leave- and- I told him not to- and- he started asking... all these questions, about- like- if I wanted him back or- and he said that he didn’t want me- and- and...”
Arietta heaved another sigh, wow there really was a lot to go over now that she looked back on it. “..and... I invited him to the dance studio with a free membership... b-because- I thought it’d help him, dancing- he hadn’t danced in a while w d he had so much fun...” her voice when quiet “...I....I just thought... that- that he needed help, that... t-that I could help him- that maybe- we could be friends or something again- because dancing is always so fun- and he likes danincg and.... and I like dancing- and... I...” she shook her head a few times and sniffled a bit.
Right- right she was getting off track. Uh- “...We danced once more then I went to the b-bar and had a few shots of something because I just felt... so weird- oh he gave me m-money for the phone too- uh...” a head shake, “And... and tipsy now I went back to dancing- and- I danced with another good dancer and- and they ended up kissing me a-and I freaked out and they said it was all fine- and-“ a head shake “A-Any guesses on who that was, Ellie?”
Elise didn’t stop squeeze-hugging Arietta. She wasn’t sure what else to do, what else to say. She didn’t know how to comfort someone aside from listening to them, and she was just feeling so much secondhand emotion off of Ari. If she’d been a born in psychic with empathic powers, she probably wouldn’t have survived this long. Natural selection tended to cull those types, or so it seemed.
That didn’t stop her from squeaking when Arietta mentioned Gabe kissing her. Arceus. And then… Oh gosh. Oh gods. Her lips parted and closed as she listened to what happened next. A free membership. Oh dear….Oh dear. The more she heard, the more Elise worried. As Ari shook her head, Elise leaned back a little and clasped her hand instead. She listened… and waited… and ….
“Another one?” Surely not Koray. Maybe Shea? Maybe uh… who else was there? Elise couldn’t remember off the top of her head but was pretty sure she was just a little nerve shot right then. "Are they .... like... stalking you???"
Ellie had her hand then, and she spoke... if they were stalking her that'd be so much easier, and so much more of a simple conclusion for her to wrap her head around- but no. "I...I don't think they are- or- uh- if they are then they're really- r-really good at it..." She let out another breath and glanced up to the roof, focusing on the small grained patterns above her, to calm herself down before she burst into another series of tears.
"...It was Koray." she said, after a beat, moving to drag her free hand over her face softly, as if to catch the end of her tears. "We danced- and- he kissed me- again- and- and I pulled back and thankfully- thankfully he didn't push it this time- but- when he found out it was me he... because he didn't know it was me..." She trailed off "had.... h-had a panic attack?" she tested the words, as if she didn't quite believe what she was saying, "And.... and I don't know why- because- it was- just me- and- yeah for... for me it was supposed to be a night of... of moving on from my exes but- I didn't... I didn't freak out when I realized- or at least- I- I don't... why..." A muffled groan followed and she brought her hand back to her lap.
"But... I... I took him outside- and- we'd been... p-playing like twenty questions when dancing so that continued b-but the questions got really deep- like- like it went from what lie do you tell most often to him saying he loved me unconditionally- not- not like romantic w-which is good?" She blinked at Elise then, "...that's... that's good right- that means.. he's... at least moved on?" Her fingers drummed at her thigh, in a tap-tap-tap pattern. Tap. Tap. Tap. "...Then..he asked w-what i'd go back and... redo...and... a-and..."
A very soft giggle left her then, and she smile, albeit shakily at Elise. "...and...a-and I had my cinderella moment where I... I went off- a-and... and..." She went quiet, "...I may have told him... that I- uh... regretted...leaving him- and... ran off?"
As Arietta looked up, Elise looked down. She’d worn a cute pair of pink sneakers today, and she really liked the kitty designs on them. They were one of her favorites…They didn’t make her feel any better, though, not as Ari started talking again. This was…. so messy? So convoluted?? It just seemed to be getting worse. “Guess you had your freak out for the night, already?” she murmured, offering some idea of why Arietta didn’t freak out when coming face to face with Koray. “That… that sucks so much…” By that point it sounded like she was pretty burnt night wise…Poor Ari….
Why did she— Elise winced physically as she listened to the rest. It sounded so sucky, so unnecessary, so horrible…. The giggle had her shivering uncomfortably. Arietta’s smile had Elise frowning. Elise stood up immediately and rounded the space between them so she was standing right in front of Arietta. Immediately arms reached out and wrapped around shoulders and fingers ran through hair. “Ari…….” she breathed chewing her lower lip. “Ari that’s not good….” Her voice was squeaky from concern, but she kept speaking. “That’s really really really not good…”
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