awesmazings | Voicemail

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.

[In response, Jimmy just shakes his head again.]

As much as I love this place, I don't think you should have to like it if you really don't. And I know some folks who have just gotten used to it because they've been here a while...but they would still go home if they could. Jack was that way.

I mean...I miss my home, too. A lot, actually! But...I guess knowin' it'll still be there whenever I do go home makes it not so bad.

Huh. I... guess it's a lot more complicated than I figured.

Maybe... What've you done here that's the most...oh, I don't know, fun? Amazing? Something to make you love it here.

[Sensing Ashley's misgivings, Leader decides to fall into step a bit closer to her side while Jimmy answers her.]

Amazing? I could be here all DAY telling you all the amazing things I've done! I've gotten to be part of the circus and have played almost every part there is! I've traveled all over the Johto region with my Pokemon and challenged all the gym leaders and got almost all the badges!

[He gets a little...distracted easy, which means some of them he's skipped accidentally.]

I get to fly places on my Pokemon whenever I want, even better than a real airplane pilot! I've seen Legendary Pokemon up close in person! I've battled bad guys and got them to work together instead of fighting! [AND NEARLY GOT JOHTO TAKEN OFF THE MAP, BUT THAT'S FINE.] I've seen snow again, every year! I've celebrated Halloween, Christmas, two birthdays, and I've spent it all with some of the best friends a guy could have in the whole wide world!

[As Jimmy continues on, Ashley raises her eyebrows and nods along, taken aback.

(Ashley's Zubat, Bram, peers down from her shoulder at Leader. Hey, you. You're good.)]

Wow. You...really have done it all, haven't you...? [A smile flits to her face.] I'm not really...a high-adventure kind of girl, see. But...some of that does sound kind of nice.

[Leader seems to sense that he's being watched, looking up with a soft 'woof'. Hello there friend.]

Yeah! I guess there's always a first time for everything too, isn't there?

[A little skittering scree. The bat approves.]

I...maybe. I'll say maybe.

[Jimmy will sure hold you to that maybe of yours, Ashley.

And just like that, the circus tents can be seen starting to loom in the distance.]

Look there! That's the Eve's Garden circus, right up ahead!

[It's been years since Ashley's been to the circus; the sight of the tents, however, lights her face with a reflexive smile, larger than the seeds of what she has now.]

You really work for a circus. [Not like she didn't believe him. It's just only hitting her now.] Alright, Jimmy, show me around.

[Jimmy pulls his hands from his pockets, gesturing with a wave of his hand for Ashley to follow before trotting on ahead of her so he'll be able to pull back the curtain to the main tent.

One thing that will be almost immediately apparent is the fact that there are Pokemon everywhere. Both Pokemon belonging to Jimmy and Joker and everything in between, to Pokemon that usually live and work at the circus even when there aren't trainers around.

Jimmy laughing might draw Ashley's attention back over as a gaggle of Pokemon come rushing excitedly up to greet him. Heading the pack are a sticky Goodra trailing slime across the ground followed shyly by a Breloom tapping his claws together with his tail slowly wagging at the sight of Jimmy and a new friend. A Jolteon comes loping behind them with a Sunflora at her side, and finally a quite large lion bringing up the rear, carrying himself with a decidedly regal air as he looks over at Ashley and her Pokemon before taking a seat on the sand a respectful distance away.]

Ahaha! Hi guys, I missed you too! Guavaaa you're getting me all sticky!!

[Ashley doesn't follow immediately, mostly out of surprise. She hasn't seen this many Pokémon in one place before, especially not of all shapes and sizes. Agatha's bouncing on her wax, little stubs curled to fists in the direction of the first water-type she sees. Ashley pushes her along with her leg; no fights today, please.

While her Zubat sticks close to her, the two psychic-types are keen to investigate. The Munna floats sleepily over to whoever's closest, while the Espurr would rather totter to the lion, mouth open in awe.

Same, Eliot, honestly. Ashley watches Jimmy and his Goodra, stunned.] Holy cow, it's so...big...

[The Goodra looks over when Ashley speaks up, dripping a thin layer of goop onto Jimmy's sleeve as he pets her neck with his hand, seemingly completely unbothered by the fact that she's quite literally leaking at the moment. With a curious tilt of her head, she starts to lumber past Jimmy and approach Ashley, but she knows better than to just love on people she doesn't know (especially with Goodra slime is so hard to get out of things). The Breloom follows shyly behind, watching from beneath the hat-like cap on his head.

Meanwhile, Jimmy's Pyroar observes Ashley's Espurr out of the corner of his eye, his paws kneading at the ground as he breathes out a slow sigh.]

This is Guava, and behind her there is Spore! Say hello you guys, this is my new friend, Ashley!

[She's definitely not into a snuggle with a giant slime-dragon thing...but at least she looks friendly? Ashley's eyes dart between Guava and Spore, and she offers a tentative wave. The shy one's really cute...]

Hello there, little guy. And, uh, big gal. It's nice to meet you.

[The Espurr, meanwhile, looks at the Pyroar's paws. And then his face.
And back to his paws.
...And he pokes one of them, as if he's performing a very serious task.]

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