Accidental Activation [Visual]

[etranger]

It seems like Mako's scroll has accidentally been unrolled at some point while she was attending to her morning rituals - she seems completely unaware that her form and voice are being broadcast. Currently, she appears to be chatting happily with Hampyre as she prepares a quick breakfast for Etranger.

"-pass me the milk, will you?"

As she turns around to receive a bottle of milk from the boar, her back - free of her normal black vest - can be clearly seen. There's a pair of long, jagged scars running down it, parallel to each other and clearly the claw marks of some massive creature. She continues speaking as she trots over to a small basket in the corner of the room in which Etranger is curled up, a small meerkat perched on top of her.

"So, Hampyre, I was thinking - Etranger's three now, she's probably old enough to attend school, right? I've been planning on moving out of the commune once winter's over, but do you think we should look into getting an actual house? It might be hard to get Etranger an education if we go back to living on the riverbank..."

...maybe someone should tell her the scroll's broadcasting?

Comments

[private]

[etranger]

Mako freezes, slowly turning around to face the scroll. When she sees Nozomi's face, she scrambles desperately for the scroll and switches it to private.

"...um, hi?"

[private]

[ponycure_dream]

Nozomi's head tilts a bit, still curious about things.

"Um... Ah... Where do I start? You... Wanna talk about your plans?"

Feeling better? A little. Not to the point where she's gonna pry just yet over that scar.

[etranger]

Mako shifts a little.

"I've finally gotten Etranger to the point where she can read and doesn't lapse back into Pokespeak when she talks, so I thought sending her to school might be a good idea. And, well...I originally came to the commune just to wait out the winter; I'm...not really used to sleeping in beds anymore."

[ponycure_dream]

"Oh, wow! That's cool!" Nozomi isn't going to say much about her own education, she of an underachiever. "Though, if you're looking for a place to stay, you're welcome to stay at my shop."

She looked away a bit. "It's been a tad lonely. I haven't had the courage to head back and face Ako or Ambrosia."

[etranger]

"...sorry, Nozomi, there really isn't enough space there. It's not just me and Etranger - there's Hampyre, Aeris, and Sigilyph, too. Things would get very cramped."

[ponycure_dream]

"Oh...! S-sorry, forgot...!" Can't be too hard to forget them! "I'm sure there's a place you can find either way!"

[etranger]

Mako nods at that, raising one hoof to rub at her scars.

"...Nozomi? Can I...tell you about these?"

[ponycure_dream]

"..." Nozomi nodded at that.

"I wanted to ask, but... Wasn't sure if you'd tell me."

[etranger]

Mako doesn't reply to that - she just starts talking, her gaze going distant and her ears pressed flat against her skull.

"It happened...about two years ago. I was investigating the Giant Chasm outside Lacunosa Town, which is a massive impact crater from an ancient meteor."

There's a pause, then, as Mako debates on how much to say.

"...I'll sum up, I think. Giant Chasm is home to a Legendary Pokemon called Kyurem, a gigantic dragon that controls ice and snow. While I was there, I somehow attracted its attention, and it summoned a massive blizzard and attacked me. It tore through my entire team to get to me, and I'm still not sure how I survived."

[ponycure_dream]

"Oh..." Nozomi's own ears lower hearing that story.

"...and yet..." Nozomi. Can't help but shake her head in surprise. It seems almost unbelievable. "The creature... Gave you those scars?"

[etranger]

"Yeah."

A slight pause as Mako shifts uneasily.

"In Lacunosa Town...they all go inside the minute the sun sets, because there's an old legend about how Kyurem used to stalk through the streets at night devouring anyone outside."

[ponycure_dream]

"Why? And... does this...?"

She wants to ask if it has to do with her scars, but of course, she's being cautious.

[etranger]

"...I don't know if Kyurem wanted to eat me, but...I already knew that legend when I went looking for it, Nozomi. I just...didn't think I'd be in any danger."

[ponycure_dream]

"Mako..."

[etranger]

"It was the stupidest thing I'd ever done, Nozomi! Literally the only consolation I have is that I'm the only one with scars to show for it!"

[ponycure_dream]

Nozomi's shoulders slump as she looks down, trying to find the right words to say.

"...but... you're alive, right? That's something else, isn't it?"

[etranger]

"Yeah, it's just...one big complicated mess for me right now...I'm sorry to dump it all on you, but...I just wanted you to know, since you're my best friend."

[ponycure_dream]

"I guess we have our big messes, huh? But... heh, it's best to say it now, then..."

She reaches back, scratching her head. Yeah, she had her problems with the whole Mayfield bit.

[etranger]

"No sense letting it fester, huh?"

There's a kind of tired amusement and sympathy in Mako's tone.