solas_ion | ☘ 042; [video; action for goldenrod breeding center]

'Noble and famous indeed thou shalt be, but transitory and soon gone.'

[The backdrop to Lancer's reminiscence today seemed to be his room in the breeding center...and behind him was what appeared to be one hell of a hoarded cache of various bottles of alcohol. The half-empty one he was holding might have explained why his tone and phrasing were notably more serious than usual.]

Somebody said that to me when I was a little kid. Prophecies were kind of a big deal back then. But me, I was the kind of glory-seeking dumbass that didn't really care about consequences. Hell, I still don't. But here's the thing, y'know--I think that was wrong the whole time. Yeah, yeah, I got famous and whatever, and maybe thirty's not the ideal age for somebody to die at, but I outlived...everybody. Just about everybody that mattered, at least. My teacher, my kid, even my adoptive father got offed long before I did.

[Shrugging, Lancer poured himself drink number Who Knows and drained the glass in one quick motion before he continued.]

Here's what I'm getting at: I've been here a long time. Too long for most, but I have to say being stuck here in itself doesn't bother me. Still...every so often I catch myself thinking 'so how long until the rest of you disappear into thin goddamned air?' And I wonder if this is the epitome of my miserable luck, living out a normal life while everybody around me keeps coming and going without so much as a 'see you later, Lancer' or even a 'good riddance, stupid'.

Guess at this rate, I'm just gonna have to live with everyone else being the transitory ones. [He sighed, and the sound seemed irritated rather than punctuating the unhappiness that seemed to be in his words.] What a pain. I ain't even sure how people deal with this anymore...aside from drinking. I kind of got that one covered.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Man, you make it sound like I need a caretaker or something. I'm far from stupid enough to drink myself to death, I assure you.

I'd never doubt that. I was merely wondering if a long distance drinking partner would be needed.

[He has a nice bottle of vodka and plenty of time to spare, after all.]

...Guess I can't really turn that one down, can I?

You could if you wished. I'd hardly take it personally.

[But he does move offscreen a few moments, long enough to grab that bottle and open it.]

How are the Breeding Center's Pokémon reacting to her absence?

Hard to say, really. She left her Marowak with me, seemed to be doing well enough.

That's good to hear. Some teams take it worse than others, whether they find themselves adopted or not.

I've taken care of Caliburn before--the first time she left who knows how long ago. I think it was still a Cubone back then. So I wouldn't worry about that one, at least.

So that's one fine, and... goodness knows how many that are still undetermined. Has anyone else mentioned finding her Pokémon in their PCs?

I haven't heard. I'm almost certain a good number were kickin' around the Breeding Center in some way or another, I'll have to check when I get over tomorrow's hangover.

But damn...I really screwed up this time.

How? No one could blame you for needing a drinking or six today, considering the circumstances.

[In fact, Cecil now takes a drink of his own.]

I had something I needed to say to her.

[Shrugging, Lancer poured another drink.]

Ain't any point in beating myself up, I guess.

Write it down for next time. That's always a possibility.

Not if she doesn't remember. That happens and there's really not gonna be any point to it.

And if she does remember? Would there be a point to it then?

I doubt it, but I'd probably try anyway.

Better to try and fail than to do nothing and regret it.

☘ 042; [video; action for goldenrod breeding center]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]