farawayplace | joy on helixmas morn (even for domeists)

[1) Alice's Lab]

[In the days leading up to Helixmas, or Christmas, or "whatever you want it to be" as Dr. Unoya put it last year, Alice can be most often found in her lab in the Shrouded Woods. She's currently cleared off one of the bulletin boards and is mulling over what's best described as a conspiracy wall, with yarn connecting photos of the different Legendaries that popped up over the past year, news articles about the Malamar incident at the last Harvesting Bonds Festival, copied texts about the festival in general, and any reports of evil-team activity she can possibly find. You may come in to her pacing back and forth, focused on the board, until Hyperbug buzzes and Alice turns around.]

Oh! Sorry, you gave me a start! Did you need something?

[2) Turnbloom Market]

[But, well, it is multiple gift-giving holidays, and even if Alice doesn't celebrate any of them, it's always good to appreciate your friends. To that end, she's made the trek to the biggest centre on the island a few days before to do some more last-minute shopping. She looks over a hand-knitted Wiki plush and hums.]

I know all the textbooks didn't go over well last year, but what does everybody want?

[3) anywhere]

[Alice has the determination of a scientist and three team members who know Fly, so she'll head out to find you and deliver your gift herself! Don't be surprised if she shows up wherever you happen to be. Don't worry, it isn't programming textbooks this year. Probably.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He nods along with her explanation, but blinks as she continues talking about describing her observations. For a moment he stiffens slightly when it seems she's touched upon their secret, but then she continues on to describe him as "not aging" and he relaxes again.]

Not in the way that, for example, my teammate Gideon is contracted to Ho-oh. I can't channel the powers of a legendary like those who are contracted do, although of course with my position I take missions from them sometimes. And as for your other comment...I do age normally, actually. Brinda's...not my biological child. [It feels weird to call them "adopted" when he was their at their birth, already there to lift them from their shattered shell and into his arms. Although he also feels kind of bad that he apparently gave her false hope about being like her in some way, he's not sure how to convey that.]

[Alice doesn't seem disappointed, but she does nod along with Nathaniel's explanation.]

Oh! I probably should have assumed that was more likely. Sorry, I got ahead of myself. But you know someone tied to Ho-Oh? That's fascinating! The only divine power I can channel is democracy, or at least it's the only one I've tried -- oh, that's a manifestation of the power of order to funnel the wills of many into a single input decided by the most popular option, it was extremely useful in dealing with the Voices given they're a massive hivemind and difficult to coordinate at the best of times -- regardless! I apologize for my curiosity, it's just that the metaphysical aspects of my world tend to differ from others. Nobody here even knows the fossil pantheon, and where I come from they're second only to the Streamer.

[He blinks a few times at the influx of information, focusing on the last part for now.]

The...fossil pantheon? Their names are the same as the usual fossils that scientists have figured out how to revive, right?

...no one here seems to know the Smith either, although he's always been the type to work more on the sidelines.

I'm going to assume my last name is a coincidence. [Alice rubs the back of her head.] And yes, that's true. The fossil gods usually take the forms of ancient Pokémon, hence the name. They all come in pairs, their domains opposite each other. My patron, Dome, is the god of order, with the lesser domains of democracy and organized sports. It isn't as popular as its opposite number, Helix of chaos, but without Lord Dome, we never would have put the world to rights after the Randomizer.

Oh, definitely a coincidence. He was the one in charge of creating new variant Pokemon species, that were more adapted to the changed world. I actually assumed that was the case for some of your Pokemon when I first saw them.

[Nathaniel listens carefully to the explanation.] Balance...that always seems to be the case with Legendary duos, doesn't it? Although...what about Aerodactyl? Does it have a corresponding fossil god?

That would explain a lot. Unfortunately, you can blame us on the Randomizer, and blame that on... my own problems. Someone who was more dangerous than the gods whose power he messed with.

[DJ rumbles, and Alice sighs with a nod. When Nathaniel asks about Aerodactyl, she looks up.]

Yes, Amber of balance was originally the centre, a long time ago. Though it has its own opposite number in Drive. OLDEN doesn't have an opposite number, but that's because it only ascended a few years ago -- well, a few years from my perspective, being out of time does scramble things -- after the Voices found what was wrong and the hosts who found it were able to fix everything.

[He nods at her explanation.] Your world sounds like it's been through a lot too. Even if it's of a different nature than what happened in mine.

You've got that right. Over and over again.

[Hyperbug buzzes gently and tilts his head in sympathy at Nathaniel.]

I try not to bring it up too often just because it confuses and upsets people, but the key word is "try." I don't succeed, as things go.

[He nods.] If you'd want to talk about it in more detail...I wouldn't mind listening. [It's really not more upsetting than his own backstory, after all.]

Really? I'd be glad to answer any of your questions. I have to admit it's difficult to find a starting point that won't get people even more confused, from experience.

[An ordinary-looking Dolliv pokes out from around a bookshelf and shuffles over to sit with the group, and Alice pets her.]

joy on helixmas morn (even for domeists)

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