awesmazings | Voicemail

[If asked, the answer would be a hard hell no, followed probably by running in fear.

So, you know, not the best place for Ashleys.]

He gave it to you? [Let's start this exploration...] How could he give it to you if he just...people just leave, right? They can't choose?

Well yeah...people can't really choose to leave. Or when they leave.

[Jimmy starts off down the street with his Pokemon following at his side, both of them only slightly reluctant to move away from Ashley and her gracious pettings.]

But Jack had been here for a pretty long time, way longer than me. I think he just wanted to be ready incase he ever did leave. He had a letter written to me and everything.

[He pushes his hands into his pockets with a shrug and his usual bright smile returning, even though it can't help but be a little sad.]

I promised him I'd take good care of it, so that's what I've been doing! I gotta show it to you, it's so cool. We made it into a haunted house for Halloween. It's pretty much a tradition by now!

Oh, so it's like a... Excuse me, did you say haunted.

[First thing's first.]

Yup, haunted!

[There are ghosts and everything it's very exciting!!]

Can I never see the haunted house, ever, in my entire life? Please?

[Oh, drat, Agatha wanted to meet other Litwick.]

Aww, but the ghosts are really nice! They love company!

[Lucius growls softly in the back of his throat as a way of stopping Jimmy, swatting his hip with his tail.]

Haha, okaay...don't worry, we don't have to go there if you don't want. What are your thoughts on the circus, then?

[Kind of grumbled:] I'm not really a fan of scary things.

It's a nice circus, right? Like...peanuts and three rings and tightropes and all that?

[Hey, Jimmy's not going to judge. ...admittedly, his hometown is probably what most people would consider straight up terrifying, so he's just used to it by now.]

Exactly! 'Cept instead of circus animals, we got Pokemon! It's seriously one of the most fun places to work ever!

Like, big feline Pokémon instead of lions, and... Okay. Okay, sure, that sounds good. That's in town?

Mhm! We have at least one show every month, sometimes more if there's something special going on, like our anniversary or a festival or something! I can show you around the tents n' stuff, if you'd like!

Like a backstage pass. [That puts her a bit more at ease.] Okay. Alright, sure. Let's start there.

[Jimmy nods eagerly, heading off toward the center of town with the massive department store building looming in the distance.]

Thanks for deciding to come along after all, by the way. I know that survey thing was probably kindof weird to just...suddenly be on if you didn't actually sign up for it.

Yeah, it definitely was. [A small glare at Agatha, who just tromps alongside her.] But, um, more than that, thank you for being so cool about it all. Most people would probably be disappointed.

Disappointed? No way! I'm just happy that we got to hang out at all, you know? It's fun! And most of the time, I don't get to meet new friends in person for a while since Johto is so spread out and all.

[Really, it's hard to see people in person unless they A) live in Goldenrod, where most people tend to be, or B) you specifically plan to meet with them or are traveling with them already.]

Hm. I...didn't really think of it that way. I thought everyone could just...I don't know, travel wherever they want if they've been here for long enough.

You can do that too! Lotsa folks end up picking a town somewhere that they like a lot and live there once they've been here long enough. Like, for me, Goldenrod is pretty much my home, but I've been aaall over the place.

I don't really want to find a place to live for good. You know? Is that...okay? I don't want...roots. [...] Everyone says it's different here, but...I dunno.

Oh, no, there's totally nothing wrong with that! The biggest reason I've got a place to stay is cause...well, lotsa people go home, but I haven't yet and it's already been two years.

[He technically did though, he fell into one of those strange comas and woke up with memories of home, but...it wasn't the same.]

Tw-two years? [A little faintly. Every time someone says they've been here for so long...] You're one of the long-runners then, huh? Yeah... Yeah, I guess after all that time, you'd want somewhere to call...home.

[Jimmy nods, looking down at the sidewalk for a moment as they make their way past nearby cafes and other trainers out for a stroll with their Pokemon.]

Yeah. I mean...I really love this place, don't get me wrong! But I do miss home a lot, too. My friends and everybody...

...you know how time works in this place, don'tcha Ash?

[Nice segue, Jimbo.]

[She nods, gaze following some of the other trainers.]

It's one of the first things I heard when I showed up here. People wanted to reassure me.

[...]

Did it help?

It did! Or...somewhat, yeah. It just...doesn't make me stop thinking about it, everyone back home and...all of that.

Oh, that's good! Yeah, I getcha though. It's always weird for people who haven't been here long, just...suddenly showing up in a new place and all.

It's just... it's just so hard, you know? And so many people've either been here for so long or are enjoying it so much that, like- they just expect me to go with it.

[A beat and-]

Eegh, sorry, it- I really am still adjusting.

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