Scoundrels and heroes

[buson]

Question [closed to Ash]
Alright. It was time Buson (Attila, or even Akira, if you prefer) stopped gleaming information solely through listening in on conversations or second-hand sources. With his partner here, after nearly half a year of separation, he was going to need more precise answers.
But he also didn’t want to go around in disguise. He isn’t trying to trick anyone and if the boy’s still angry (even if it was his fault for ignoring his very charitable warnings until his Pikachu was in serious danger…), so be it.

After asking around for where to find him, Buson approached without preamble, dressed almost exactly the way he did on first arrival. Pants tucked into black boots, belt, blue tank top. No R-emblazoned jacket, a much deeper tan too. Stupid? Risky? Misguided? Probably all of those things and then some, but he didn’t care and approached it with the same gravitas as a mission, which might give the incorrect impression he’d gone back on his word, but he wasn’t visibly causing any trouble…

“Hey.”

Gilterrace and Turnbloom + Snacks and Grudges[open to all]

Searching is hungry work, so Buson could easily be found taking breaks, here and there, slurping udon or loudly crunching chips or whatever’s available, really. Atrocious table manners.

He could be approached alone or found with a bunch of very, very irate wild Electric types gathering unnoticed behind his chosen seat of the moment, looking about ready to ambush him.

Comments

[buson]

"Maybe... don't really know much about fashion."

Oh. No, it wasn't drifted Pokemon, but he won't correct her.
"... ain't that what trainers do all the time, though?" Attila asked, after a quiet moment of reflection. "Battling and catching Pokemon and taking them away like that?"

There's a lot he was taught to normalize how Team Rocket handled Pokemon... it waa going to need to be unlearned.

Attila nodded and drank the tea slowly, gazing off into the distance.

[ulternnpc]

"Hmm, that's one way to look at it but..." She's glancing over to Attila again, with a wide smile. "Icharibachoude, yasa! We've all met for a reason, and I doubt anyone here would want to forcibly take a Pokemon if they don't want to be caught."

She looked away to the rest of the town. It was such a relaxing day, with the sun bright and the sounds of Pokemon being heard all over.

"I'm not much of a trainer myself, 'course but I know that plenty of 'em bond through battles, too. Something about their hearts becoming one? Speaking of Manzana and Dunsparce may not get along now but I'm sure they can learn to understand one another eventually as long as they're together."

[buson]

"But Pokemon fight back either way, so aren't they overpowering them to catch them? Unless things are done differently around here..." Attila said dubiously, folding his arms. "And anyway, d'ya think of regular Pokemon as brothers, as family, too?"

"That stuffs sounds nice, but I dunno if I can really believe in any of it, that stuff about hearts becoming one... they're probably just mimicking their trainers or picking up a few things.

"... maybe. I hope they'll get along. He seemed to really like her.

[ulternnpc]

"I think it depends, since people do still catch wild Pokemon by running into them out there in the wilderness." She glanced over in the direction of the nearest route. "...but not all Pokemon that live with us are Pokemon any of us caught."

She'll then point to a strange looking Sunkern gathered around one of the Farmers. They're clearly happy together, as the Farmer's laughing and the Sunkerns were hopping in joy.

"See them? Those Sunkern help that Halser out, and that Halser helps them. Those Sunkern don't belong to the Halser but they care about each other." Anemone smiled to herself. "Maybe it might be hard pill to swallow but the Pokemon and People here care about each other. It ain't right to purposely hurt anyone since life is a treasure."

She then looked a little wistful.

"Manzana...he was skeptical like you. I dunno what kind of life either of you lived before Ultern. He doesn't want to talk about it, and I sure don't want to remind him of any past pain. I just hope both you and Manzana can be happy."

[unlearning is going to be a slow process, huh?]

[buson]

He watched and a part of him itched to catch the unusual-looking Pokemon for the Professor to research. Well, maybe he could catch just one... no, he wasn't going to be doing that here.

"... isn't it just that, whaddayacallit... symbiosis? They're mutually benefiting of each other. They probably help his farm grow and they probably drink the dew from the leaves of his crops. It isn't about caring, it's mutual exploitation—no, kinda... benefiting off of each other. Not harming, but but kinda... feeding off of each other.

"... dunno, but if his life was anything like mine, you don't get somethin' for nothin'. Everythin' comes at a price. I believe you Ulternians can give without a price attached, but... I don't think I can believe these random, wild Pokemon are as charitable. There's gotta be somethin' in it for them. They gotta follow their instincts when wild, isn't that right?"

If it were a very intelligent Pokemon, closer to human, or a Legendary, maybe, or even if it were a trained Pokemon like Evie, but a wild Pokemon? He continued to look doubtful, but hearing about Manzana, he went quiet a long while, before finally responding, "... yeah, that'd be nice."

Change doesn't happen in one day, after all!

[ulternnpc]

"Hehe," there's a soft laugh from Anemone. "Ya really think hard before accepting what's in front of you, huh?"

She meant no harm of course as she turned to look at Attila. Plopping herself down next to Attila, Anemone continued on.

"There's an old saying in Ultern, how both People and Pokemon will come together and dance in harmony. We all heard it growing up, but maybe it's not so common outside of this place. Everyone has their reasons for seeing the things the way they do."

She'll then think back to Manzana, and smiled to herself.

"Of course I don't expect you to see the things the same way as I do. Nor can people change that easily. Manzana was the same way, back then..." She trailed off. "I don't doubt there's still a part of him that hasn't changed but it's hard to tell nowadays. He's happier, and I'm glad. He's kinder, too but I was a lil' bit surprised when he came home with you!"

[1/2; the irony of this coming from a man who attacked Raikou]

[buson]

"It's a way to stay alive," Attila said gruffly. "If I just accepted stuff, I'd be long gone."
He shifted away a little, to keep some more space between them.

"... stuff like that's said a lot. In Johto we have this legend about Ho-Oh... we got these two bell towers, y'see, the Burned Tower and the Tin Tower... the Tin Tower was built later, originally, it was just the other one, which wasn't called the Burned Tower back in the day, a'course. Before it burned down, it was the Brass Tower, actually... Ho-Oh used to touch down on the Brass Tower to visit humans... but one day, humans stormed the tower with swords drawn, attacking the monks, trying to take Ho-Oh's power for their own, and setting fire to the tower. Lives were lost in the great fire an' Ho-Oh, disappointed in the greed an' lust for power, abandoned humanity. They say he'll show up again, for a pure-hearted human, who's one with Pokemon, but... that's like a fairy tale, isn't it?" Attila said. "Just somethin' they tell kids to make 'em behave and not be selfish. It isn't gonna be enough to change the world. S'just a hope to make things a little better. In the end, there are bigger things standin' in our way...

[buson]

As for what Anemone said... he flashed a sharp grin, but kept his gaze averted. "... sorry, did I scare ya back then? I don't blame ya."

He's pretty used to scaring most people on first meeting.

[ulternnpc]

"It's okay to let the weight off your shoulders here." Anemone didn't seem to mind when Attila moved away. She figured he just liked his personal space. At the mention of Ho-Oh's legend in Johto her expression softened with a frown.

"I wonder if that's true... I can't stand the thought of Ho-Oh not being friends with us anymore. You see, in Ultern..." she will lift her gaze up to the vivid blue sky. "Sometimes ya can see Ho-Oh! And you can feel a breeze sweep by, that's a sign that Shi-Sah is close by too."

She doesn't think to explain about Shi-Sah, mistakingly assuming Attila knew about the other legendary.

"For a looong, long time they are said to protect and watch over the Pokemon and humans from evil. They're revered to this day, and we keep lil' statues of them on our rooftops or the entrance of our buildings. It's a sign of our everlasting friendship."

She grinned.

"Ya have some big dreams, huh? No matter the obstacle? Don't forget that you don't have to face them alone." She's reaching over to place a hand on his shoulder. "Icharibachoude, yeah?"

At Attila's remark Anemone laughed. She shook her head while slapping her knee.

"No way! I've seen plenty'a burly guys! I was just soo surprised Manzana was so determined to take care of someone who similarly drifted here. He's changing for the better."

[psst, hey, if Ho-Oh's fine with Manzana here, you and Bashou are prooobably oka--]

[buson]

"Mm... maybe you're right." He thought of Bashou and wondered if he'd ever be able to, here... he'd still stay by his side, either way, to keep him safe, even if he could stay safe and even instructed him to look after his own interests. His eyes widened at hearing Ho-Oh still communicated with them and he turned, forgetting his decision to generally avoid ever looking at Anemone. He stared, wide-eyed. "... H-Ho-Oh... you've all met him?"

It's a different reality! This didn't have to be the same Ho-Oh! Nevertheless, Attila felt a panic seize his heart. What if it's the same Ho-Oh? What if he flew here when he disappeared from sight in his world? What if he knew what he and Bashou did to Raikou, if the legends are true—

He was quietly panicking, distressed, but outwardly just looked stunned.

He couldn't even think to ask about Shi-Sah, because he was so scared!

Right, Anemone's tough, she's seen several other big guys too, he quietly turned away, holding his breath, even though that just made the pounding in his chest hurt more. Maybe he should've taken a deep breath, but he was scared of drawing attention with it. It's not safe here like it is with Bashou.

He can't understand most of the things she's saying right now. Something about Manzana changing for the better. Drifted... is she talking about him? What's going on, anymore?

"... thanks for the food. I'll have the rest later, I gotta... go—"