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[weenwoon]

HYTHLODAEUS

---

OFFICE 413, BUREAU OF THE ARCHITECT, AMAUROT
LEAVE MAIL ON HEAD

© EFRYNDIEL

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action // late september

[scension]

[Not too long after Operation Pants, Sagi also acquires pants. A hoodie and a messenger bag, too. The effect is undermined somewhat by the spiky vambraces staying on, but he didn't know where else to put them. There are... a lot of things he doesn't know at this point, that he wishes he did. Danger or no danger, wandering aimlessly outside only does so much to clear his head in this unrelenting rain.

Presently, he comes back to the Pokemon Centre to dry off, two of his Pokemon following alongside. The crowd isn't as pronounced right now as it will be later in the day, but it still rates a solid "bustling" out of 10.]

Wipe your feet, don't forget.

[Pawniard and Mudkip chitter and burble up at him from the doormat. They didn't forget! They're setting a good example to kids everywhere. Their little animal sounds fill the silence, which he appreciates, but...

A splash of colour interrupts his unusually internal train of thought, and he looks over with a start. He's been staying here all month, for lack of anywhere better to go. When did they get that ominous giant statue in the corner, and what the heck is it wearing?]

[weenwoon]

[What the gaudy statue is wearing... Is a sparkly pink-and-blue puffy-sleeved shirt with a ribbon, cuffs that are more like elbow gloves at this point, just-below-knee-length tights with a kind of sarong draped over one side and a sort of tutu over that. The whole effect would not be quite so much, though, if he did not also have a hood made of black, yet immensely sparkly fabric, button-fastened to the shirt's collar and draping into a kind of short cape over his back. The mask, once Sagi can see again after being blinded by the glitter, might look familiar, though.

Hythlo is standing in the corner, peacefully sipping on a cup of boba, apparently doing nothing much at the moment. His immobility, however, is interrupted as a familiar ghostly fella pops into the air next to him, weaving back and forth in some excitement. Hythlo stares at him for a moment, and then turns his head to see what Hades is trying to point at.]

Oh! Master Sagi!

[scension]

[The mask and the voice combined are what nails it down for Sagi. He smiles. It does nothing to make him look less babyfaced.] Mr. Hythlodaeus! I'm glad they could finish it.

[He assumes the sparkles mark this out as a Pokemon outfit, since he hasn't seen many of those in the non-cryptid stores. Beyond that, the outfit doesn't stick out much in his mind. Probably not very waterproof, but eh, his clothes aren't either. They'll be out of here soon. They have to be.

His Pokemon are less accustomed to this level of Fashion from anyone who isn't Sagi, particularly someone well over 2 metres tall. Mudkip takes one look up at the glittering tower to the heavens looming above him and starts backing away, extreme sequin-induced uncertainty in his beady little eyes. Pawniard quickly putters after him, trying to reassure him with a head pat. Shh, shh. They'll defeat this evil together.]

How are things today?

i cant call it a fanny pack bc youre british

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo doesn't notice the poor Mudkip being scared of him yet, so delighted he is to see Sagi. Hades, meanwhile, studies the two curiously, wondering if they would do as prank targets.

Hythlo himself raises his cup of boba in greeting.]

I found this. It is quite tasty!

[The choice of words isn't accidental, but Sagi is a game protagonist, as far as he's aware eating and drinking things you found in the sewers or suspect alleys is perfectly normal.

But bragging about his dumpster diving makes Hythlo remember something, apparently, and he raises a finger.]

Oh, just a moment.

[Another addition to his wardrobe is a makeshift waist bag: really nothing more than an amateurishly sewn bag on a simple belt of the same "fashionable" fabric, but still very useful. He roots around it for a bit, and then turns back with a handful of Pokedollars.]

My thanks again. I would not be able to wear something like this back home!

SO IS EVERYONE IN FFXIV

[scension]

Oh? [Sagi is a little too surprised to pocket the money right away, although he's hardly going to refuse.] Honestly, it was nothing. I think anyone would've -

[He stops and looks down, his attention finally drawn by a weak light glinting off of metal - Pawniard just noticed the Duskull sizing up the two of them and has stepped in front of Mudkip protectively, gesturing from her eyes to Hades' with one of her little claws. Mudkip, still distracted by the glitter, does not seem to understand why.]

What are you two doing? [Despite him making a show of looking exasperated, his tone is mild and obviously fond.] Come on, we're not looking for any more fights. [Back up at Hythlo:] Sorry, two of them can be a handful. I'm still getting used to it.

the wonderful fanny.......

[weenwoon]

[Hades clearly takes offence at being threatened like that. He doesn't have a tongue to stick out at Pawniard (how do Duskull eat? nobody knows), but he demonstratively turns away as if to show that hmph, why would he care about some dumb bug and a soggy blue chicken.

Hythlo, meanwhile, looks quite pleased at this sudden change of subject.]

Ah! 'Tis fitting that you mention that, master Sagi. You see, I was waiting for Rhel here hoping that she could explain it to me, but I have yet to see her...

[He sighs and gives a little shrug. Not that he can't blame Rhel for having her own things to attend to, but what about hiiiiim.]

I want to learn about these battles. Master Atsushi, someone I spoke with before, seemed quite unhappy about them... But I cannot reconcile in my mind the gentility of people hereabouts with lust for bloodsport.

[scension]

Atsushi called them that?

[Sagi has to stop and think about how to respond to that, which is not exactly a habit of his. Atsushi worries him a little sometimes.]

I'm not surprised he's still sceptical. I was too. Most monsters back home aren't as... as tame. [He was halfway into saying "as much like people" before changing his mind. Let's not go there! yet] But these ones seem different in a lot of ways. Physically tougher, for one.

[That much he can state with all the confidence of someone who tried and failed to suplex one.]

So it ends up just like play-fighting for them, at least when it isn't pure self-defense. I mean, it's hard to ask them directly, but that's usually how their hearts feel to me. And that's the part the people here turned into a sport.

[Speaking of play-fighting, Pawniard has not backed down nor relaxed in the slightest. That's right, villain, you better turn away.]

[weenwoon]

[Duskull seemingly preoccupies himself counting the bits of glitter on Hythlo's hood... But if you watch long enough you'll notice he's trying to sneak a glance back at Pawniard. She looks mean and he doesn't like her. >:(

Hythlo himself is grateful for the information, and it's reassuring to know that people here don't just throw their companions into danger for their own amusement, but it's a seemingly passing detail that he chooses to focus on.]

How their hearts feel to you?

[He's intrigued. Could it be that Sagi possesses some kind of aethersight as well? That's the only thing he can think to describe as feeling someone's heart.]

[scension]

[Sagi just interprets this as Hythlo noticing a turn of phrase he should stop using if he doesn't want to stick out in this place as much as he has been. (...he thinks, with his armour still strapped over his hoodie sleeves.) On reflection, that's probably right; the natives here don't really talk about hearts at all. It's just not the kind of thought he's used to examining very much. None of his thoughts are.]

How they feel to me. Sorry.

[weenwoon]

[Another one of his trademark hum-and-head-tilt. You're not getting off that easily, Sagi.]

Can you read my heart, master Sagi?

[Don't worry he's not Geldo-"how did you enjoy your time in my bedroom"-blame]

[scension]

[Suddenly Hythlo's choice of outfit makes sense.

No, not really. Sagi just tilts his head slightly in return, uncertain where this is going. He's nothing if not painfully earnest, though.]

Uh, not in so many words. I don't have any reason to think you're a bad person, but I barely know you.

[Painfully earnest.]

No offense. ...We might be thinking of different things, anyway. I've been getting that a lot, too.

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo chuckles, not in the least offended by Sagi's words. If anything, it's relieving to know that he's not the type to trust blindly, nor be afraid to voice his thoughts.]

Mayhaps. I daresay we shall find out in time.

[What does that MEAN you goddamn cryptid asparagus]

[scension]

[What does that even mean!!!

Visibly at a loss, but not exactly unused to people being weird at him, Sagi decides to go back to the topic Hythlo raised in the first got damn place.]

Well... I don't know all the ins and outs yet, but if you want to see what a battle is like, how about we try one? Assuming you don't mind getting those clothes rained on.

[Assuming Hythlo would not prefer to just go back to sipping his sugar-saturated dumpster boba.]

[weenwoon]

[Unfortunately for Sagi, everyone in Amaurot is legally required to be a cryptid. Hythlo seems to like the idea of a trial battle with someone he knows, though!]

'Twould be no problem! Actually, a lot of the rain seems to simply slide off it. Do give me a moment, though.

[He is NOT leaving his dumpster boba behind, so he's going to try and finish it all in one go. Sagi has to deal with about half a minute of extended slllllllllllllllrrrrrrrrrpppppppppp.

Hades, however, is less thrilled than his "trainer". He gives Pawniard another glare. She's mean, and he's not going to battle her, he wants to fight the soggy blue chicken. He looks like a pushover.]

[scension]

[Sagi will in fact wait patiently for the entire duration of that slurp, although he starts to look mildly second-hand embarrassed by it about halfway through. The noise is thick and unpleasant enough that he could probably draw the essence of this Incredibly Annoying Noise... if he had any working magnus and actually wanted it, neither of which are at all true.

While waiting - well, he's certain that Pawniard is just posturing right now, but for the sake of letting the huffy little ghost chill for a moment, he takes out her Pokeball and needlessly holds it over his head to recall her.] I said knock it off, alright? Be nice.

[Pawniard would probably pout if she had the face to do so, having learned from an expert. She complies, though, disappearing in a flash of red light for now. That just leaves Mudkip sitting there, who has now recovered from his sequin shock and is simply observing Hythlo's boba-chugging with a look of good-natured confusion.]

Let's see... Just outside the Centre should be good enough for a 1v1.

[Might trash the building before any volcano or tsunami gets to it, but eh.]

[weenwoon]

Come on, Hades.

[Hythlo motions his Pokemon after him as they step outside, and then stretches in the rain as the Duskull hovers next to him uncertainly. He does want an easy win, but going out back into the rain for it...]

Alright... How does it work? I think Atsushi simply said that our role is to, er, watch?

[He has just an inkling of an idea that that can't be all there is to the trainer's role.]

[scension]

[Mudkip obviously has no problem with the everlasting rain and bounds straight out the Pokemon Centre doors ahead of Sagi, wagging his little tail fin at the prospect of extra playtime. Sagi is a little less eager to head out so soon after barely drying off... but he made the suggestion in the first place, so he's doing it. Hood up over his stupid head feather, let's go.]

Mm, almost. They're usually smart enough to fight by themselves, but the rules say we call the shots. For example, if you're up against a plant monster and yours knows fire magic, telling them to use that is more efficient than letting them do whatever they want. Plus, you have to show them you're supporting them.

[After stepping outside, he plants his feet and turns to face Hythlodaeus from the other side of the Centre doors. Gotta do this properly (ie, dramatically) if he's demonstrating, right? Itaru taught him that. It's the circle of life.]

So I could just tell this guy to attack yours. But it's better if it's more like -

[Wings: unfurled! Feathers: windswept! Valedictory Elegy opening riff: muffled in the distance! Pointer finger: out! Hythlodaeus is forcibly escorted into a Pokemon battle!]

Mudkip, soak him!

[Exactly on cue, Mudkip opens his mouth and launches a rain-boosted water jet straight at Hades' mask. Some of that is going to spray indoors if he's still floating in the doorway. So much for avoiding a mess.]

[weenwoon]

[Hades certainly wasn't expecting such a powerful jet stream, and squeaks and spins from the impact. How dare!!

Hythlo is impressed, however, and claps his hands a little. That looks a lot more fun that he'd expected, and he likes the dramatic posing!

... The only problem is that he has no idea what moves Duskull has. He realizes that doing a dramatic pose just to say that he has no idea what to do would look a little silly in the circumstances.

Oh well, when in doubt, look haughty. He learned from the best. Hythlo folds his arms, halfway turns away from Sagi and raises a hand to the edge of his mask--if he had glasses, he would push them up like your regular evil nerd rival.]

Hades... You know what to do.

[Wasn't that cool? Hades does not seem to think so, but he is too preoccupied with getting his revenge than bonking his silly trainer over the head. He'll show you not to underestimate ghost types, soggy chicken!

Hades does a strange dance in the air, wailing high-pitchedly. The frequency and the motion are hypnotizingly unpleasant enough that Mudkip should be thrown off his groove.

HADES used DISABLE!]

[scension]

[Most people would think the effect of such a haughty pose would be undermined by the glittery ballerina outfit, but the thought doesn't cross Sagi's mind. He nods encouragingly, his hood almost slipping back off.] Yeah, like that!

[The unpleasant screeching noise Hades emits a moment later wipes the smile off his face, though. What was that, exactly? Mudkip sure doesn't know, his default expression being some shade of politely baffled anyway.]

Well, he tried something... [But scratching his chin to try and figure it out does not make for an appropriate pose. Instead, he raises both arms in front of his face and mimics a defensive stance.] Watch out for what he does next!

[Mudkip burbles affirmatively, fixing his beady little eyes on Hades to keep him in his sight. His Foresight, one could say.]

[weenwoon]

[Hythlo has no idea what's going on. A staring contest? Oh well, he came out here to have a good time and he is going to have a good time. He points a scornful finger at Sagi.]

Hah. You think you could possibly stop us? Your preparations will avail you naught! Go, Hades!

[Hades would be so embarrassed by his trainer if he was not too busy being gleeful at not being hit again. He screeches again, and this time lunges directly at Mudkip, slapping down with both his ghostly arms, before diving into the ground and then bobbing back up near Hythlo. The dive was so sudden that Mudkip might be left astonished.]

[scension]

[Mudkip is baffled, astonished, flabbergasted! Zooming through the floor is even more astonishing - maybe he can learn to do that? But he braced himself, so he manages not to flinch, standing his ground despite the rain-slick pavement.]

Wait for it...

[The moment the little ghost emerges, Sagi throws a hand out in front of him, palm out, as a signal to Mudkip. He simultaneously lifts off the ground and briefly hangs there as if pretending to cast something, the nerd. He's still showing moral support! It's important.]

Now! Get him!

[His Mudkip is young and thinks these sorts of theatrics are perfectly normal, so without further ado he looses another stream of water at Hades' face - this one a spiral, a miniature Whirlpool that might hinder his movements if it lands. And, uh, is very likely going to spray Hythlo as it corkscrews through the air, since he's standing close this time. Sorry about your expensive outfit, Mr. Hythlodaeus.]

[weenwoon]

Oh goodness.

[Hythlo is completely unfazed about getting drenched, if only because a) he's already gotten used to being soaked in this weather all the time, b) he was busy looking at the spiral. It's small and round and spirally! It's cute! Maybe Pokemon are cute!

Hades squeals in horror at MORE WATER and tries to dodge, but his split second of being scared lost him that chance, and he can only screw up his little ghosty eyes and shake himself off vigorously yet ineffectually. Eww, gross, he's all wet now! And cold!

Meanwhile, Hythlo seems to remember that he should be the Big And Spooky Evil(?) Opponent and staggers theatrically, a hand to his face, glaring daggers at Sagi through the fingers. Well, he should be glaring, but literally no one can tell with the mask.]

Urgh... Not bad, I'll grant you that.

[He straightens up, turning slightly to Duskull but keeping his eyes on Sagi. All you need is a cut to a closeup of his profile with some action lines at top and bottom of the frame...

ACTIVE TIME MANEUVER! Press buttons rapidly to skip Hythlodaeus's Anime Battle Narration monologue!]

Hmph... It seems like his main attacks consist only of launching water at you... But the patterns are different. It may have different effects, so we should be careful. Preparing for an attack did not shield him, but seemed to diminish the effect somewhat. I thought we could take him by surprise, but he's tougher than he looks... Blast it! We need an edge, Hades. You can't just rely on sheer power in this condition!

[He halfway lowers his voice for the monologue, because what good is it if no one can hear him, but also what good is it if he just tells his opponent what he's thinking?

The dramatic monologue is interrupted by Hades impatiently waving his small soaked arm at Hythlo's face. You're an embarrassment! Stop being so stupid! He hasn't relied on "sheer power" even once so far! Why did he pick you of all people to hang out with! Your mask is the only thing you have going for you!!!

Hythlo being stupid or no, though, Hades also doesn't want to be embarrassed by losing, either, and perhaps his trainer's idea isn't so stupid. Shaking off the last bit of water off him, he crosses his arms in front of him, shielding his eyes... Before throwing his arms back and giving Mudkip a leer as his eyes glow red. It looks pretty spooky!]

[scension]

Hmm... [Sagi scratches his chin about halfway through the monologue. He feels awkward just standing here.] That might be overdoing it.

[Apparently even mister "may my blade be sharp" can get embarrassed eventually. If you tried to deliver a speech that long to an actual monster, it would just eat you, you know?

But Hythlo keeps going. Presently, he goes on long enough that before Sagi can interrupt him for real, Mudkip toddles over to Hythlo of his own accord and hazards a little tug at his sarong just to check he's okay.

This means that when Hades Leers at him from inches away, he is no longer on guard. He jumps in surprise, emitting a little squeak. Specifically, having determined Hades' solidity earlier and it still being in the back of his tiny mind when he panics, he Tackle-jumps onto Hades. Accidental relay combo!]

[weenwoon]

[As expected, or perhaps unexpected, things go even worse than they already were going to go.

Hythlo gets distracted from his dramatic monologue by the tiny tug on his clothes, and Mudkips are still absolutely adorable to him... so he can't help leaning down to pet the little axofrog? frogolotl?, which in turn means that when Hades throws a Leer at Mudkip and Mudkip panickedly attacks in turn, well, it means that Hythlo gets half a faceful of tiny fin-tail as Mudkip jumps back after slamming into Hades, who gets knocked back with an indignant screech.

Clearly tired of getting wailed on like that, Hades charges in again with another Astonish. He's getting pretty worn out and if he gets hit one more time, he's going back into his Pokeball no matter what Hythlo says, but he can't just let the soggy chicken get away scot-free!]

action // pre halloween its regain time baybey

[scension]

[Why would a pure-hearted boy like Sagi be found skulking in a Mango City alley in the middle of the day? It's kind of a long story, involving a magazine. Not the kind of story that would have been in such a magazine - he'd be horrified at the thought. He just happened to see it lying out on a park bench, decided instantly that this was not an object he should leave in the vicinity of any local free-roaming preschool kids, and went to find somewhere less visible to throw it away.

After flicking through it. With his gloves on, because he literally doesn't know where it's been. Look, anyone would be a little curious.

But when he disposes of the hazardous object and goes to close the dumpster like a responsible citizen, something inside lets out a meep of surprise and darts out from under the lid, landing unsteadily on a nearby trash bag. It's small, it's fuzzy, it's purple, it's kitten-shaped... it's an Espurr! A little crumpled snack bag appears to be stuck to the fur on its front. Sagi doesn't know the name, of course; he only knows that it seems to have frozen up and is now staring blankly at him, as if it has Seen Things.]

A Pokemon!

[As ever, he's his own running commentary at normal speaking volume. He does crouch down to talk to the Espurr itself, though. The poor thing looks frightened out of its mind.]

Were you stuck in there? I don't want to fight you or anything, it's okay.

[...It's still staring at him. Presently, a light breeze dislodges the snack bag and sends it drifting down the alleyway.]