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.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 13, 2020 23:38:36 GMT
As he saw that Fayne had no objection to him speaking, Elliot stopped flinching away so much. In fact, he actually started to lower his guard once again. Maybe it wasn't that she was cold, or had something against him, but he just messed up earlier in the conversation and wasn't sure how. Or maybe she was the type of person who'd engage with topics of her interest and tune out when they passed by. Really, anything was possible here. And she did leave him some interesting ideas to springboard off of.
"That's the thing, though. Galar's Leaf Stones still work on the same Pokemon that they normally do. They just also work on Eevee, even though normal leaf stones don't," Elliot said. "But the Moss Rocks don't do anything to those other Pokemon. So why do Galar's do both when the others are just kind of exclusive with each other? Is it, like, possible to be both? A moss stone with a plant fossil imprinted inside of it?" He paused for a second, considering the question. Then again, the Galarian store also said it could evolve Nosepass with their thunderstones, which have me thinking that they cut them with a magnetic material too. I can see why they'd try to sell that. Especially as regions become more connected, and Pokemon show up out of their native environments, it must be a pain to find out you've been traded a Pokemon that literally can't evolve where you're from. But did they just find the stones that way? Or are they, like, making them themselves?"
Yeah, Elliot was definitely rambling now. But at least he knew he was in good company for it, for a change. "And what about other trade items? They break when their energy's used up, just like stones, but a lot of them are grown in the ground, or even manmade, right? How is their energy captured? Could that hold they key to making artificial stones?"
Post by Fayne Abernathy on Apr 14, 2020 18:17:16 GMT
Fayne listened intently to Elliot, her full attention on him as he spoke of Moss Rocks and Leaf Stones, magnetic fields and Thunder Stones, and regional differences for Pokemon and their evolution requirements. He had some very interesting theories, some of which Fayne had never even considered before, but all of which emphasized the importance for world-wide evolution stone standards. She wanted to comment on this fact, to reiterate how important it was for both vendor and buyer alike to do plenty of research before selling and purchasing a stone from a store, but Elliot still had more to say.
He shifted gears a little to talk about other evolution items, a topic which was of less interest to Fayne. This fact may have been obvious from the way her body grew more lax as the conversation continued. It was as if she didn't have as much energy to talk about anything other than specifically evolution stones. There was still some fascination in regards to general evolution items, as was apparent in her wide eyes and lingering smile, but she appeared less giddy overall. She only opened her mouth to speak again when Elliot grew silent, leaving off on a question of whether or not these other evolutionary items could be the key to harnessing evolutionary energy in a lab.
"Maybe, maybe. I know a lot of evolution items sort of 'fuse' with the Pokemon and allow them to evolve. It's different enough from evolution stones to be given a different categorical label, anyway. Like, think about it. Porygon and Porygon2 get upgraded with the Upgrade disk and the Dubious Disc. Or Rhydon evolves by coming in contact with Protector armor. But stones, all they're doing is transfer energy. Elemental energy." She paused a moment, considering something that she didn't share with Elliot. "...Radiation..." she mused, speaking slowly, as if she was trying out the word for the very first time. Her eyes refocused on Elliot as she said, "Either way, you've got a point. If I want to know everything I can about evolution stones, I'll need to learn everything I can about other evolution items. I'll need to take a close look at them"
As much as she loved talking about evolution stones, it was only through this conversation that she realized how little she actually knew about them. The podcasts she'd listened to and the articles she'd read were largely in the realm of speculation and out-dated research. No one, to her knowledge, had dedicated their entire career to the study of the stones, which meant she'd be the first... but that also meant that she didn't have many facts to go off of. The only things she was able to contribute to the conversation with Elliot were her own questions and theories. She was upset at the lack of concrete answers but also inspired to get busy conducting her own research. Speaking with Elliot reinvigorated her. "But enough about me," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "What about you? You seem really interested in history and geography; maybe you plan on becoming a researcher too? Or maybe a breeder... since you decided to go with an egg for your starter?"
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 14, 2020 21:58:33 GMT
"What about the King's Rock?" Elliot asked. "That's also a stone. And it also goes inert after being used once. But much like the other, not-stone items, it's inert unless you trade the Pokemon. And unlike the Protector or the Metal Coat that you talked about, I don't think it's a merge. I mean, Politoed doesn't become half-frog, half-rock, right? So what's the King's Rock? Is it just a type of stone that doesn't have enough energy on its own, and needs to be activated by training?" Much like Fayne, Elliot was theorizing more than anything. And unlike her, Elliot didn't really have the research or eagerness to come up with overly complex theories of his own. But as someone who hadn't even considered the field of stone evolution, who knows? Maybe his random theorizing would give the actual aficionado some ideas!
That said, Fayne seemed to think Elliot had more know-how than he actually did! Elliot smiled shyly, blushing a bit as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I actually have no idea," he admitted. "I'm pretty much figuring out what I want to do as I go. I mean, I love learning about new things, don't get me wrong. But I haven't really found my passion yet, you know? Part of why I really wanted to go on this journey so bad is so I could finally get the chance to try and do that. School's great and all, but it's totally different. There's really nothing like this. Actual experience.
He sighed, looking back down the road he took to get here. As he did so he gave the end of his walking stick an agitated drum with his fingers. "Well, if I had any doubts, too late for them now, right?" he asked, mustering up a somewhat weary, somewhat bittersweet smile.
Post by Fayne Abernathy on Apr 14, 2020 22:59:05 GMT
Their alk of evolutionary stones soon switched to what class Elliot planned on training in while on his Pokemon adventure. Fayne had a few ideas for him, but they were all shot down the moment the boy smiled nervously, scratched the back of his head, and confessed that he had no idea what he was doing. Apparently, his plan to was wing it and figure things out along the way. Fayne felt her smile waver with concern, but she did a good job keeping it plastered across her face. Elliot went on to explain that he did enjoy learning, but because he had yet to find a passion that he wanted to turn into a life-long career, he thought a journey would do him good.
Then came the line that hit a bit too close to home for Fayne: "School's great and all, but it's totally different. There's really nothing like this. Actual experience." The young petrologist found herself nodding in subtle, albeit frantic, agreement. That was the exact reason why she'd left Alfrim. She no longer wanted to take classes on experiences that other people had, or take tests on individuals who had managed to actually do something amazing with their lives. She wanted to get out and make a name for herself. No, maybe not that, exactly. She wasn't so star-struck with the idea of fame that it was the primary reason for her leaving home, but she wanted to experience life for herself.
And so she understood Elliot's position, even if she did have a clearer idea of exactly what she wanted to do with her life. Had she left home years ago, when she was closer to his exact age, she might have been just as uncertain. She couldn't fault him for that. In fact, she almost admired him. It must have taken a lot of courage for him to make it this far. No wonder he had been so shaken up when they first met. He was all alone, probably on his first Pokemon adventure, and had no idea what to do or where to go next. And without so much as a starter to help when things got tough, he undoubtedly had a couple run-ins with wild Pokemon on his way to the city. Everything suddenly made sense, and Fayne couldn't help but look at Elliot with an expression of sympathy.
"I don't know if it's ever too late to turn back," the novice researcher said after a long moment of silence had settled between them. "But it's a good thing too. Pushing yourself and testing your limits, I mean. Not everyone is up for an adventure. I think most people are too scared." She didn't come out and say "I think you are a brave for doing this," but between what she did choose to vocalize and her tone, the message was heavily implied. "Just know that it's okay to ask for help every now and then. We're all just trying to find ourselves out here, and the Pokemon just make it a little easier." As much as Fayne wanted to say, "There's no shame in calling it quits either," she bit her tongue. She didn't want it to seem like she was trying to talk Elliot out of anything.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 15, 2020 3:39:03 GMT
Of all of the looks that Fayne could have given Elliot, he expected dismissal. Maybe even disdain. But actual sympathy? That got the boy tilting his head a little in surprise. Had he misread the atmosphere around their interactions so drastically? Or had he really done so much to salvage her impression of him? Frankly, Elliot couldn't be sure, but he wasn't about to look a gift friendship in the mouth. Tension rolled out of his shoulders, and his smile widened ever so slightly on his face. "You're right," Elliot said, voice so soft and gentle that Fayne'd be forgiven for thinking he had faded away in mid conversation. "Even if I'm scared, it doesn't change how big of a decision I just made. And if I'm making a decision as big as this one, there's no way it won't pay off for me one way or the other. Even if it all ends up a mistake, there's something to be learned from it, right?"
Nevertheless, as Elliot thought about the statement, his smile dropped slightly. He continued staring down that road, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. The longer he kept his eyes closed, the more colorful, fuzzy shapes he could see dancing between them. What they meant, he didn't quite tknow. But with the path he chose to stare down, he knew they had at least some sort of significance. If he strained, he swore he could still make out the trees lining the path. And as he watched the shapes in his eyes, he could see people, face, hands.
Maybe it was little more than watching clouds, literally and metaphorically.
He sighed, breaking eye contact with the road and turning back to Fayne. "But . . . what if you really can't turn back?" he asked. "Whether you really can't, or you just feel like you can't? What does that mean?"
Post by Fayne Abernathy on Apr 16, 2020 19:36:37 GMT
What Fayne had said seemed to be a good thing... at first. After Elliot stopped to think about it, however, his smile wavered and he turned his gaze back to the path behind him. There was silence as Fayne tilted her head and tried to catch the boy's expression. What was he thinking? Had she somehow said something that offended him? She wasn't going to apologize, especially since she didn't believe she did anything wrong, but if there was something else she could say to help make him feel better then she'd say it. And yet, she wasn't the one who spoke first. Instead, it was Elliot, questioning the truth behind Fayne's statement. He wanted to know what would happen if someone really couldn't turn back.
The young researcher lifted an eyebrow in confusion. What did he think they were talking about? It felt like she was only privy to one half of what they were actually discussing. "I'm not sure what you mean," she confessed after a long moment of consideration. "But I don't know why that would be the case. If you find that adventuring life isn't for you, there are other options. You can settle down somewhere, change classes, go back home...""Abuse" entered Fayne's mind that very second, and another wave of pity overcame her. "But if you can't go back then moving ahead seems like the better option anyway, so I'm not sure why you'd want to go back. Moving on might be hard, but it'll be better in the long run. And remember, you can always ask for help if it seems like too much to handle by yourself."
She offered a soft smile to let Elliot know that he wasn't alone. Although she'd never been abused or neglected in all her life, and her high self-esteem and sense of independence meant that she probably would never get trapped in an abusive relationship, she did have a strong sense of right and wrong, and she knew that Elliot would be better off moving out on his own than return to an abusive situation. The idea of Elliot coming from a less than ideal household filled her with a deep-seated frustration. Those sorts of people -- people who would hit, insult, or manipulate others -- were the scum of the earth. There was no excuse for it. And even though Elliot hadn't come out and admitted this part of his past, there was plenty of proof to back up the claim. Fayne swallowed her rage, continued smiling, and fought the urge to point at his bad leg and ask if his family was responsible for the injury.
TAG ▸Elliot Sunderland NOTES ▸ Watch as big sis Fayne hunts Elliot's family down and beats them bloody just because she thinks they were abusive toward him.
MADE BY VEL OF GS, WW + ADOX 2.0
"Hey mom, I wrote you some soft songs. And tell dad I'm just fine. We had to choose, we made our moves, and now we gotta go." - ♪
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 17, 2020 23:21:54 GMT
She was right. What would going back prove? Absolutely nothing. It would just get him back where he started. Worse, who knew what setbacks would be there along the road? Would he even get a chance to prove himself like this again? Or would he be getting put under lock-and-key for worrying his family sick? No, he couldn't just go back. He needed to keep going forward, and eventually the two paths would cross once again. Then he could go home with a proud smile, a clear conscience, and so many stories to share with his family. The more he thought on it, the more Elliot decided he'd be okay with that. "Then that's what I'll do," Elliot said, smiling softly. "No matter how hard it gets, no matter what it takes, I'll keep moving on."
He didn't even know what Fayne was suspecting. Would his response have been the same if he knew what was running through her head? Or would he have fallen over himself to dispel any worries she had? Yet for once, the girl's poker face held strong, and Elliot couldn't see the cold hardness in her eyes that lurked behind her soft smile. Emotional subtleties and clues like that always eluded him, anyway, despite his best attempts.
Yet that didn't mean he didn't think of others. "And why are you going on your journey?" he asked, before a smile of his own crept up on his face. "You know. Besides seeing those trees, of course."
Post by Fayne Abernathy on Apr 20, 2020 17:22:00 GMT
Would Fayne have said what she said if she knew the truth of Elliot's family history and the real reason why he'd left home? Maybe. She wouldn't have pitied him as much as she currently did, but she probably would have told him, "It's your life, and kids younger than you have already started their Pokemon journeys, so there's no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to try too." Being a single child, Fayne had her fair share dealing with overbearing parents who didn't want their precious daughter to do anything too dangerous and would spoil her because there were no other children in the house to spend money on. And yet, there was a clear divide between the two teens' lives. There was too much complicated history in Elliot's past for Fayne to accurately predict what his life was actually like without him simply coming out and telling her... and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Fayne wasn't going to pry and Elliot wasn't going to offer such personal details to a woman he'd only just met.
Regardless of what she did or didn't know, the fact remained that she believed in her heart of hearts that the boy standing before her had been abused in the worst ways by his family back in Ash City, and that was the reason why he'd decided to leave home and start his journey. So when Elliot agreed to keep trekking on, no matter how difficult things got, Fayne's smile softened into something resembling relief rather than amusement. She couldn't protect him from people she didn't know, but hopefully if he kept his eyes on the road ahead then he'd never end up with terrible people again. "Good luck," was all she could muster the strength to say, daring not linger too long on something that appeared to be a sore subject for Elliot. Though her didn't necessarily change the topic of discussion, he did turn it around on Fayne by asking why she was going on her adventure.
He joked about her leaving her home region to finally see some trees, which elicited a soft chuckled from the researcher. "Mostly the trees," she teased back with a nod, as if to confirm that this was the real reason why she left. "But also to do some research. Field studies and theory work, that kind of stuff. It was this or start attending a university to continue my studies, but like you said, there's nothing like personal experience. You can only learn so much from books." She was mostly just restating what she'd said before, but there wasn't much to her decision to leave, so there wasn't much else to explain. The pros of leaving out-weighted what Alfrim could offer her. "And I heard there are crazy huge mines under Arciel, chock full of evolution stones ripe for the picking. I mean, I'd be a fool not to come check it out, right?" It was a rhetorical question, but she fell silent afterwards, having nothing else of importance to say on the matter.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 20, 2020 18:43:49 GMT
So it was less about trees and more about rocks, huh? Elliot listened with interest as Fayne described the bounties beneath Arciel's caverns. "It fits your field of study well," he said. "Must be nice having such easy access to your passion. Although there's probably a lot more than just evolution stones down there, too. Hoenn's champion was pretty much a fanatic for stones, both the evolution kind and others. In fact, he even-"
Suddenly, as if stricken by a good memory, Elliot perked up. "Oh! What about Mega Stones?" Elliot asked, voice filling with excitement. "Do you think there are any of those down there? I mean, maybe they wouldn't be useful if you just plucked them out of the ground raw. But I'm sure if you were able to get them all cleaned and polished up, you'd be able to put them to good use, right?
And come to think of it, where do they fit? You know, in all your theorizing and all that. They don't break, unlike the other types of stones, but the forms they turn your Pokemon into only last for a little while. Does that make them, like, almost the opposite of evolution stones? Or is it a different type of radiation they use entirely? I know both the trainer and the Pokemon need to be holding one, and they need to be wearing some kind of ring, so it might just be that they only give off the radiation for a little bit of time. But what would happen if the ring just kept triggering the trainer's stone? Would it be possible to turn "on" the Mega Evolution for good? Or would that just be unhealthy for the Pokemon? Are they a mutation, or are they a lost fourth level of evolution?
You were right, Fayne! There are so may questions!" The boy smiled exuberantly. He may not have had the spark for independent research that Fayne had, but clearly he was eager to learn from somebody who knew more than he did. He was so lost in his cheerful ramble that he didn't even seem to blink, though he blinked a few times after he had finally finished talking to make up for lost time.
Post by Fayne Abernathy on Apr 29, 2020 19:44:57 GMT
Fayne didn't even realize that she was nodding to everything Elliot was saying until he inquired whether or not Arciel's mines had any Mega Stones. Not wanting to seem overeager, the young petrologist stopped mid-nod before continuing again, to show that she wasn't just paying attention but that she also agreed with everything he was saying. "Probably. If the radiation down there is enough to turn stones evolutionary then it's not too crazy to think there are some down there that can temporarily turn Pokemon into their mega forms." The two teens seemed to be in agreement that the mines were worth checking out because they would be full of incredibly useful evolution items. Elliot mused on about cleaning and polishing stones, which wasn't something Fayne knew much about... yet. That was part of why she so desperately wanted to visit Pine Town. If anyone knew how to excavate and polish evolution stones then it would be the miners who spent their entire lives doing so.
Even as Fayne's mind wandered to where her Pokemon journey would take her, Elliot never slowed his questioning. It didn't take long for the young researcher to refocus on the conversation at hand, just in time for her to hear out the boy's theories about where Mega Stones fit into the evolution stone spectrum. For a second, he wondered if they did the opposite of what every other evolutionary stone did. Fayne shook her head at this, not in an attempt to shoot down Elliot's theorizing or silently judge him for making such a bold claim, but to show that she didn't believe it. Mega Stones didn't revert Pokemon to a lesser form and didn't take levels away, it was a boot in energy, the same thing every evolution stone did. The key difference was that they caused last-stage Pokemon to reach a more primal, hostile version of themselves... but only temporarily.
"A lot of Pokemon have a tough time mega evolving. It takes a lot of energy for them to reach that stage. I guess I always imagined it like temporary muscle enhancements. Like steroids. You help a Pokemon juice up with radiation for a short period, but eventually they burn off that energy and the only way for them to reach that level of strength again is to take some more." She shrugged and chuckled a little. "I have no idea what I'm talking about," she confessed, knowing very little about Mega Stones and even less about muscle enhancements. "Either way, I'm convinced Mega Stones are a type of evolution stone, but different somehow. I wonder what that difference could be..." Fayne's voice drifted away as her mind began to wander. She was brought back again when Elliot admitted that she was right, that there was still so many unanswered questions about Pokemon evolution and the stones that were a part of the process. It was nice for someone to admit that her line of research wasn't a waste of time and that further research could and should be conducted.
"Maybe one day I'll visit Hoenn," she said when Elliot seemed to be done speaking. "Like you said, Champion Steven is big into collecting all kinds of rare geological finds. With any luck, maybe I'll get the chance to take a peek at his collection one day. Can you imagine what kind of stuff he's got? Might actually have a brand new evolution stone and not even know it." It sounded like she was about to say something else on the matter but had stopped abruptly in the middle of a thought. Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion before she finally spoke again, "Do you think he's so obsessed with stones because that's his last name? Steven Stone. It's either an amazing coincidence or he just felt like he had to live up to his name. I almost feel sorry for him if that was the case."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 30, 2020 2:22:04 GMT
Elliot hummed a little at the description Fayne gave Mega Stones. "You know, when you put it that way it makes a lot of sense," he said. "From what I've seen, they don't really change a Pokemon as much as an actual evolution would. It's almost like instead, they bring out the hidden potential their final form has. Or, like, brings out the potential a related Pokemon has. Poor Slowbro." Even Elliot knew what Mega Slowbro was like. When it was first discovered in Hoenn, it was actually the subject of the morning news for how ridiculous and pitiful the poor thing was! Sure, its defense was impenetrable compared to most Pokemon, but it also looked like it was perpetually being eaten!
That said, a stone that changed a Pokemon's body was still a stone that changed a Pokemon's body. Whether it functioned like an evolutionary stone or a completely different method, Elliot had to say he was on Fayne's side with this one. Though it seemed Fayne didn't share that faith, judging by how she described her "expertise" in the field. "Hey, that's okay," Elliot said, the file on his face as soft as his voice. "I don't know anything, either. We're kind of the blind leading the blind here. But you've got so much of your path planned and figured out, y'know? Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if you already had your path through the region traced out! You may not know a lot more than speculation yet, but you've go the smarts and confidence to back your theorizing up. So, I believe in you, at least." Compared to the shy, easily-embarrassed Elliot, and the overly cheerful, ramble-happy Elliot, this facet was certainly a new one! How could a boy who could barely look Fayne in the eye earlier say such earnest support with a straight face?
That straight face was promptly left in the dust when Fayne mentioned Steven's last name. For the second time today Elliot burst into uproarious laughter, as if realizing this for the first time. "Oh my god. You're so right!" he gasped. "That's, like, Gligarman villain levels of naming! I really hope the poor guy wasn't born that way!" When he recovered from his laughter, a slight smile spread back across his face. "Though maybe it's a stage name kinda deal, y'know? Being the champion of a whole region must be a huge deal, and I can imagine wanting to spare his family from having to deal with all the press and attention.
Do you think you'd want all the fame? I mean, your goals could attract a lot of attention."
Post by Fayne Abernathy on May 4, 2020 18:49:13 GMT
Unlike the last time Elliot became hysterical with laughter, this time it was actually warranted. And there wasn't a long pause of awkward silence preceding it. In fact, Fayne couldn't help but smirk and giggle too. Her comment about Steven's last name was pretty funny, wasn't it? Still, Elliot wondered if it might have been a stage name created after he became Champion, likely as a way to protect his family from the press. "Maybe, but isn't his dad a big shot business guy back in Hoenn? Not sure how much an alias would do if everyone knows who his dad is." There was still a faint smile lingering on her lips, though her expression had shifted in a familiar way, with her eyebrows knitted together in curiosity and inquiry. "But you still might have a point. It may not protect his family's identity, but it could still be a stage name. It has more of a ring than... I don't know, Steven Abernathy or something." She gave a single, confident nod.
Then came a question that Fayne had considered a time or two but hadn't given much thought to: "Do you think you'd want all the fame?" After asking the initial question, Elliot commented on how studies on evolutionary stones could attract a lot of attention. It all sounded a bit too ominous for Fayne's taste. "I don't know. Probably not," she confessed with a dismissive shrug. "I guess fame could have its perks, but I didn't become a researcher to become popular. I did it to find out the truth, to share my findings with others who are interested, and to hopefully bring to light the inconsistent standards around the world. Who knows, it might lead to change." Her smile had all by vanished by this point in the conversation, but there was still excitement in her tone. There even seemed to be a flicker of wonderment in her deep pink eyes. "Don't get me wrong, a pat on the back from the worlds' top researchers or an award for my studies would be nice, but I don't expect any of that. If I did, I would've become a coordinator." There was a soft, bitter chuckle. "My dad would've liked that," she muttered, half under her breath.
And yet, she didn't give Elliot enough time to pry before she piped up with a question of her own. "I know you said you don't really have a plan, but is fame on your bucket list? To become the World's Best Trainer or Breeder or something?"
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 5, 2020 3:52:46 GMT
"Oh. Right. Forgot about Mr. Stone," Elliot said. In his defense, he was very young when he left Hoenn, and was never much of a market speculator in the first place. How was he supposed to know the names of all of Hoenn's head honchos? That said, the head of Devon Corp was a fairly prestigious position, so it didn't take much prompting for Fayne to remind Elliot of who he was. "Of course, then you have a Stone who mines rocks and a Stone who sells them. That makes it even worse!" Suddenly, Elliot stopped. He turned to Fayne, eyes wide and voice hushed.
"What if Stone is his dad's stage name?"
This conversation was getting too ridiculous. It was time to abort ship. Fortunately, Fayne had a lot to say about the idea of being rich and famous. It seemed to be something she could take or leave, hoping more that her work would have impact then notoriety. It was a noble goal! Elliot couldn't help but smile a little at it. "Glad to see you've got your priorities straight," he admitted. "If you're doing anything, it should be for the love of it. Not just to become rich, famous, or powerful. Sure, you might succeed despite it not really being your passion. But I can't imagine pushing myself through something I can't get excited about day after day. I dunno, maybe that's why I'm taking so long to find my calling. Because I'm waiting to really know it's what I want before I dive in headfirst."
At Fayne's returned question, he gave his head an emphatic shake. "God, I get nervous enough when I'm in one person's spotlight. I don't think I could imagine having the whole world's eye on me," Elliot said. "Sure, I stream sometimes. But for, like. Three people. I'd freeze up if I had a whole city paying attention to me. Though come to think of it, as long as I could keep my head off of the pressure, I don't know if it'd be that bad. Not for the fame itself, but for the amount of people that it'd let me help connect with. Maybe it's silly, but if there's anything I can hope to get out of this journey besides finding myself, it's leaving the places I go a little bit better than I found them. Even if it's just, like, brightening one person's day, I think if I could do that I'd be happy.
And if fame's the best way to do that for a lot of people? Well, I guess I'd just have to start getting used to it."
Post by Fayne Abernathy on May 9, 2020 17:37:04 GMT
The truth was that Fayne had no idea if Steven's dad shared the last name of his son. Like Elliot, she didn't know much about businessmen or the like, so for all she knew, Stone was only Steven's last name. But the fact that people knew that the two men were related dispelled any and all idea that the name change was to protect the family. And yet, Elliot confirmed that the father's last name was also Stone. That shot both teens' theories out of the water: the name wasn't created to protect relatives and it wasn't created to act as a stage name. It was a family name, and so Fayne's initial theory about Steven being born to collect rocks may not have been incorret. Poor guy.
Ultimately, Elliot wondered aloud if the last name Stone was Mr. Stone's stage name, and he simply passed it on to his son. Fayne could barely contain herself long enough to give a proper reply. "Yeah, maybe," was all she could say before chuckling. It was far more likely that it really was their last name, and it was nothing more than a coincidence that they had such a fascination with rocks. It didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, and so the two trainers were able to move past the topic with ease. Instead, they started talking about fame. Fayne expressed her side of it, and Elliot praised her for having her priorities straight. A gentle smirk graced her face upon hearing this.
The boy explained that he wasn't sure what he wanted to do with his life because there wasn't anything that he felt truly passionate about. At least, not passionate enough for him to wake up every morning and feel excited about the career he'd picked. Fayne nodded in understanding and returned the question by asking what his thoughts were on fame. Elliot confessed that he had stage fright, which came as something of a surprise. Such an overeager, sociable guy would have no problem on stage, right? Then again, he was an anxious mess before they'd veered the conversation away from his home life. It was possible that he was just hiding his insecurities behind a mask of excitability. Still, Elliot claimed he might be able to overcome his fear if he focused more on finding himself, meeting new people, and leaving a positive impact than trying to impress others. It was a nice sentiment, but the researcher ultimately took issue with it.
"You won't be able to help anyone if you don't take care of yourself first," Fayne blurted, a skeptical look on her face as she spoke. It was only after the words had escaped her lips that she realized how cold they might have seemed. She wasn't going to backtrack or soften the truth with a smile, that wasn't her style, but she did choose to elaborate on her position. "You've got stage fright. Kudos to you for having the determination to face your fears, but I think the 'just get over it' sentiment can be kinda dangerous, don't you? You don't have to become a trainer or coordinator, you know? You can help people while still avoiding the spotlight. You can become a nurse or ran--" she cut herself short as she remembered Elliot's bad leg. She coughed and acted like something had been caught in her throat. "Excuse me. Nurses and breeders help people and Pokemon alike. Might be worth checking out."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 10, 2020 17:35:21 GMT
While Elliot cringed a little at Fayne's advice, he didn't go all-in on hushing up or flinching away like he had previously. Instead, he kept his head held high and looked her in the eye, listening to the girl's advice. While her words may have been harsh, she just didn't want him to go charging off unprepared and getting hurt. In a way, it was kind of sweet! "I mean. You're not wrong," Elliot said. "But wouldn't being a breeder or a nurse put me in the spotlight, too? Maybe not as suddenly, or as dramatically. But the better I get at the job, the more people would hear of me. And the more people here of me, the more renown I'd get. I'd also kinda have to advertise, you know? And hoo boy if that isn't a nerve-wracking idea.
Meanwhile, if I decide to be a coordinator or gym trainer, then it's kinda whatever happens happens, you know? Maybe people'll be there cheering me on. Or maybe they're there to cheer on the gym leader, or the other coordinators in the contest. I could end up making a big name for myself, or I could just end up another face in the crowd. It's a lot less of a sure thing than more professional notoriety, but it could also get me a lot more in over my head. So its kinda just pros and cons, you know? Easily the kind of thing I'll need to think about as I keep my journey going.
But, hey, don't worry. I'm not out here looking to get rich or famous or anything. Just . . . preparing myself, for whatever might happen. Besides, I've easily got at least a year or two before I'd even need to confront that kind of thing, you know? The journey could leave me a completely different me by the time I get to that point! After all, I'm here in the first place to to find myself, right? Maybe by then, I'll have what it takes to look the crowd in the eye like that.
And if not? No reason I can't go on making a difference for people one at a time, the old fashioned way." The smile he shot Fayne may have been shy, but there was still a quiet confidence behind it. "How about you? I know you said you're not out for fame, but what would you do if it ended up sneaking up on you?"
Post by Fayne Abernathy on May 11, 2020 19:46:18 GMT
Fayne cocked an eyebrow at Elliot's question about having to "be in the spotlight" as a nurse or breeder too. The two teens apparently had vastly different definitions of what it meant to "be in the spotlight." While the young researcher took the phrase quite literally, to mean standing on a stage with spotlights illuminating you while you do something in front of a crowd, Elliot took it to mean socializing with strangers. If he had agoraphobia, this whole Pokemon journey thing would sure prove to be a challenge for him. And yet, Fayne had her doubts that this boy had such crippling anxiety. For one, he didn't seem to have any issue carrying on a conversation with a woman he'd only just met a few minutes ago.
Although Fayne wanted to question Elliot's understanding of the phrase "being in the spotlight," she bit her tongue and chose to continue listening as he rambled on about how some trainers and coordinators didn't receive much notoriety at all. He had a point, but the fact remained that those two classes -- especially the latter -- tended to literally put the individual in the spotlight, since they were the focus of said professions. They were putting on a show for people, and so everything they did and said were closely scrutinized by gym leaders, contest judges, and audience members. It didn't matter if they were popular world-wide. Being in the spotlight was literally part of their job description.
Fayne knew that, as a researcher, she wasn't obligated to stand in front of crowds. She could scribble notes, write essays, and take part in lab studies, all without having to be at the mercy of the public. Of course, she would have to communicate with other people to make this happen, but that was just part of having any job. If she wanted to spread her findings across the region and across the world, she could take part in a conference or lecture circuit, and then she'd have to be the center of attention. But the fact of the matter remained that she wasn't expected to stand in the spotlight. Trainers and coordinators did, at least that was her understanding of it. Fayne continued to bite her tongue and merely gave a shrug. In the grand scheme of things, this was of little importance. Elliot would find his comfort zone eventually, and no amount of Fayne arguing the meaning of "being in the spotlight" would change that.
He reassured the young geologist that he wasn't looking to get rich or famous, which seemed like an odd thing to try and console her about. So long as he wasn't doing anything illegal, she could care less if that was his end goal. In fact, she had no doubt that any number of actors or politicians started pursuing their career because they wanted fame or fortune. Kudos to those famous individuals who loved what they did, but Fayne was no fool. She knew that money and praise were major motivators for many people. And if Elliot was one such person, that would've been fine too. She was not one to judge. Regardless of his motivations, he assured the petrologist that he was preparing himself for whatever was to come.
When Elliot explained that his journey might end up changing him in the long run, Fayne finally piped in, "I think that's the point of a Pokemon journey, to learn more about ourselves by... well, pushing ourselves to the limits. To push us out of our comfort zones. But like you said, if we find that line," she made a line in the dirt with her shoe, "and we can't cross it, either because of fear or lack of experience, then we can do something else. If the spotlight isn't calling you then, yeah, you can help one person at a time." Ultimately, she was just restating what the boy had already said, but she wanted to say it for herself -- not only to emphasize to Elliot that he didn't have to become popular to do what he wanted, but to also make the fact clear to herself. If becoming a researcher ended up being too taxing on her, there was no shame in choosing another profession and doing studies on Evolution Stones as a hobby.
Still on the topic of fame, Elliot asked what Fayne would do if she did end up being popular. The answer was a simple one. "I guess I'd have to embrace it. I won't go out seeking it, but if it happens then it happens. Maybe I'd use my status to spread my research and even open a lab." She fell silent only for a moment before adding, "Researchers aren't really beacons of fame, though. Pokemon Professors are the most popular of the bunch because they interact with a large number of civilians, but that's not really what I'm here for." She shook her head and waved a hand in the air dismissively before casting a glance at the street to see if her taxi was in sight. When she realized she still had time to socialize, she turned back to Elliot and began to pry. "Be honest, if you could be famous without all the pressure of impressing people, you'd go for it, wouldn't you?" Everything he'd said up to this point led Fayne to believe this, but only he could confirm or deny her suspicions.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 12, 2020 0:11:25 GMT
It was highly unlikely that the two agreed entirely. Their mindsets, their goals, and their understandings of the situation they were in were simply too different. One was a young professional, moving to another region all by her lonesome to pursue her dream job as soon as she became an adult. The other was a runaway, starting his journey far later than he should and trying to find any sort of meaning in his snap decision. Was it any wonder that their perspectives differ so heavily? Yet, at the same time, they ended up saying the same words. If fame came to them, they'd embrace it. And if their journey proved too much for them, they'd change course.
That said, were researchers not usually beacons of fame? "I figured someone with so much to say would attract a lot of attention one way or another," Elliot admitted, shrugging. "Sure, Pokemon Professors do a lot of individual talking and presenting. But they wouldn't even get to that point if they didn't have so much fascinating research to talk about, right? And then there are the enthusiasts like you, who I bet hunt down even their more obscure papers and topics. Heck, you could probably school me on at least five professors I've never even heard of before! Though I get what you mean. The fact that I can say there are professors I've never heard of probably proves your point.
Then again, there are probably tons of battlers none of us have ever heard of either, y'know? Not everyone's a Steven or a Wallace. Or, heck, even a Brawly. There are probably so many trainers out there good enough to make a living off of it, but not quite enough to make the list of big names." As he thought about it more, Elliot couldn't help but laugh a little. "Jeez, we're standing here talking about being famous. And we haven't even started our journeys yet. We really are a bunch of kids, aren't we?" Was Fayne going to resent that comparison? By all appearances, she wasn't much older than he was! Hopefully she'd at least see the irony in them having every aspiring trainer's first conversation, six years later than normal.
Suddenly, the spotlight was back on him. Elliot blushed a bright red as he looked to his feet, trying to think on her question. Would he want the challenges of fame if they didn't come with all the social pressure? Was that even possible? What, was he just supposed to be adored and showered in money for existence? Were there even any challenges left if he did that? Even someone as humble as Elliot couldn't pass up a bargain like that! "I mean, that kinda sounds like a win-win deal, the way you put it," Elliot admitted. "Adored. Rich. Able to try pretty much anything I'd want to put my mind to. I'm sure it'd still have challenges, but without the pressure, the expectations, and the insecurity that comes with it all? It'd be way easier to handle!
Then again. If I don't have those expectations, I'm not really inspiring people, am I?" Elliot realized. "Then I'm just kinda some rich guy people love for no reason. Sure, it'd be nice. But it's also kind of unfulfilling, isn't it? It'd be so, so nice to live like that for a little while. But I think I'd rather have a harder time overall and make a difference for people along the way.
What would you pick? And since it's not fame, what do you value most? Knowledge? Passions? A hard fought challenge?"
Post by Fayne Abernathy on May 13, 2020 17:13:47 GMT
Fayne was hardy and assertive, and that tended to turn people off. They were intimidated by her. She wasn't very tall or overly muscular, but that rarely seemed to matter. Nor did her choice to wear feminine outfits and cutesy hair pins. Her personality and demeanor tended to turn people off by themselves. However, her cold exterior had little bearing on how much she cared for others, and after coming to the conclusion that Elliot had come from an abusive household, she cared far more for his well-being than she let on. Her tone may have been blunt, but there was good-will behind it. And ultimately, she hoped that encouraging Elliot to spread his wings while remaining safe and wise about his limitations would help, even if the way she delivered the sentiment could have been viewed as harsh.
Fortunately for Fayne, it seemed Elliot and her had come to some sort of understanding, a mutual respect where he would hear her out and she wouldn't question his judgement -- as much as she wanted to. The topic at hand, about fame and fortune, had little immediate impact, but the young researcher still wanted to make sure her new acquaintance had his priorities straight before running head-first into the untamed wilderness. More on the subject, Elliot expressed surprise at the fact that researchers weren't as popular as some other classes. "Having something to say isn't the same as public interest," Fayne pointed out. Unless it effected someone's day-to-day life or appealed to someone's specific interests, people weren't usually keen on giving researchers as much attention as Champions or Idols.
When Elliot pegged her by explaining how she probably hunted down obscure papers and could school him on professors he'd never heard of, Fayne smirked. She really was transparent, wasn't she? He could read her like a book. Front to back, she was a dedicated researcher at heart and everyone knew it. But that was besides the point. The point Elliot was trying to make was that there were famous and anonymous people in every class. Whether or not Fayne actually agreed with this point was a different argument altogether, for she still firmly believed that certain occupations were destined for the spotlight while others weren't. She was only suggesting that Elliot don't throw himself in the limelight if he didn't feel comfortable with the idea of fame. Hence where her question came from. Did he actually want to be recognized, just without the threat of being harshly criticized?
Ultimately, he spoke up and said that it was a win-win scenario. Fayne cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly. So he did want to be famous. She was right. He rambled on about how great life would be if he could pursue a life in the limelight without the pressure of impressing others. He admitted there would be struggles, which Fayne confirmed with a nod, but he ultimately declared that it didn't matter as much as inspiring people. That led to an entirely different set of inquires. He wondered if he could still inspire people if he was just some random rich guy. Fayne made a face and shook her head. "Wealth wouldn't just land in your lap," she rebutted. "You'd still have to work for it. Just because people don't like you doesn't mean you don't have to be famous..." She pursed her lips together in puzzlement before speaking again.
"Is that right? All I'm saying is that you can inspire people by the work you do. Whether or not someone has a negative opinion of you has no direct correlation to the number of people you inspire." The way she spoke was different. It was as if Elliot had flipped a switch in her brain and turned on her professionalism. It was like she was speaking about some scientific theory to fellow researchers. Even the way she created little boxes with her hands seemed to have some mathematical purpose behind it. Her demeanor relaxed to something more casual when Elliot asked what she valued most out of her career. "Knowledge is power," Fayne mused. "And I'm not saying I'm power-hungry, but learning more about the natural world makes me feel fulfilled. I could do without the challenge, but I fully expect there to be some. After all, I plan on studying something that had been largely unexplored before now. It'd be silly to think there wouldn't be some roadblocks."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 14, 2020 0:59:36 GMT
"I wish it was," Elliot admitted. "If it wasn't for researchers, a lot of the stuff we take for granted today wouldn't even be possible. I mean, someone had to have invented the Pokeball, right? Or the TM. Or Porygon!" That was just stuff related to Pokemon, too. What about all the other stuff they took for granted? Like sidewalks? And homes? And computers? And phones? This stuff didn't just exist out of nowhere, people! "Though from the sounds of it, you're probably thankful for that little degree of separation. So maybe its both a blessing and a curse."
That said, it seemed like Elliot had misunderstood the question somewhat. Perhaps he was envisioning it as fame suddenly falling on his lap, happening in the snap of a finger and the blink of an eye. After all, how else would someone get famous with no pressure to impress or perform? Meanwhile, Fayne was more able to untangle the two, imagining a world where Elliot would still need to work for what he earned but would be immune to criticism over it. Did his response make him sound conceited then? Oh no, that wasn't what he was aiming for at all! Frankly, praise got him just as squiggly and awkward as critique did, especially when coming from tons of people at a time. "They'd both be a lot to wrestle with," Elliot admitted. "I know the negatives are easier to worry about. But so much direct positive attention would be a lot to take in, too. I think inspiring from a distance is the most comfortable route for me by far."
Meanwhile, Fayne had her priorities locked up tight. Knowledge and discovery were all she wanted, with challenges an inevitability and power simply a pleasant side effect. "Not that I'm surprised by that, with how professionally focused you are," he admitted. "But its still nice getting a reminder that you're in this for your passions.
Any roadblocks you've already scouted out? I'm sure there have to be at some initial challenges in your way, or at least ideas of what they could be."
Post by Fayne Abernathy on May 14, 2020 18:23:06 GMT
Elliot wondered what sort of roadblocks Fayne was talking about, and she responded without a moment's hesitation. "For one, I don't know how to mine." She averted her gaze and scratched the back of her head. "If I want to study evolution stones in their natural environment, learning how to find and excavate them should be my number one concern." She looked back at the starry-eyed boy and continued, "And I haven't exactly figured out where I'll be able to examine my samples. I'm hoping Professor Holly might lend me some of her equipment, but that's something I'll need to figure out down the line. I can't expect her to offer her lab to me, but I don't exactly have the money to buy my own gear either." She glanced down at the moving boxes and patted the handle of her suitcase to draw attention to it. "Roadblock number one is finding an apartment," she said with a sense of finality.
"And I'm sure you'll have plenty of roadblocks too..." Fayne stated as she tried to peer at the ground behind Elliot. "Seeing how you don't have any luggage," she explained, shifting her gaze back to his face. "Did you even have a plan on what you'd do when you arrived here?" There was that cold, borderline-judgemental tone again, but her eyes showed a sliver of pity. She seemed to be grossly aware of how her words might have been taken, for she hurriedly added, "Staying at a Pokemon Center is a good temporary solution, but what do you plan on doing after that? After you get your starter egg from the Professor?" She clenched her jaw and tried biting her tongue. She so desperately wanted to say, "And don't say that you'll just wing it," but she kept the comment to herself. It wasn't her place to say such a thing; after all, there were plenty of tasks she was procrastinating on too. Calling Elliot out on his lack of a concrete plan would've been hypocritical, and the questions Fayne already asked had more than made her concerns known.