The Raha Cup

[wrnpcs]

[The day is a bit cloudy, and wind on the water is around eighteen knots. The harbor is bustling with townspeople and visitors. Temporary stalls have been set up selling mostly food and drink or merchandise for the three Raha Cup yacht teams.

[You might need to shove a few people to get right on the waterfront, but the view of the boats in the harbor is well worth it. Once the race begins and the boats are clear of the harbor, remote control boats are available for rental; the race is expected to take two hours.

[At the nearby Balamb Hotel, there is a large TV screen set up outdoors with seating available. Hotel staff are running an outdoor bar for the occasion.

[Throughout the area and within a couple of blocks of both the waterfront and the hotel, a combination of SeeD, Cadets, and uniformed Balamb militia and police are posted as security, in response to threats received by the town council. Normally this event only has police security, so the townspeople seem to resent the need for this increased show of force rather than the fact that they're around at all.]

(OOC: Free-for-all! Feel free to make your own threads as well as using the location threads. NPCs may hit your characters up. You may have your SeeD/Cadet character hired as security if you choose; they will be in uniform, and will be on for half hour shifts so they have time to enjoy the event as well.)

Comments

[espio]

[Espio is soaked, but give him a moment to strip himself of that saltwater soaked, completely ruined uniform.]

I'm coming.

[fierybluebird]

[Whistles to them both and holds up a hand.]

Please.

Allow me, eh?

[NINJA PHOENIX PIRATE to the rescue!] Nam-chan, remember that time I found a cave after we lost Tommy-boy? And I wouldn't talk to anyone except Thatch and Pops? I've got this. [Hugs Espio and pets his head.] Sorry it took so long, eh? I miss having pocket den den handy.

[Same for Namur with a hug and headpat.] You both did well. Now it's my turn.

Espio you might wanna get back on station. Namur, feel free to cause a ruckus or check on Thatch, eh? I've got this, but if we're not back by nine tonight, send Grell.

[espio]

[...BIRD!!

Asgsffff don't mind Espio out of the blue just hugging you like his life depends on it, mostly out of sheer relief. Marco's words don't even process - aaaand the crying he was trying to hold back just plain comes out.

Oops.

Uh, Marco, do you think Espio's really fit to go back to work like this...?]

[om_nom_namur]

More'n happy t' let you deal with the rat thing. She's chuckin' sparks all over the place.

[Namur side glances at Espio. Damn, smolt's all shook up.]

Come on. I'll take y' back t' Balamb.

[Though he might take the long way 'round.]

[espio]

But... I can't just leave him...

[fierybluebird]

[Awwww cutie chameleon hug all worried, abubububu.]

It's okay. [Soft grin.] Pikachu is just very scared, and you have a scary face. Too much eating metal.

[Quietly leans in and whispers to Namur:] Thanks. See if you can't get Espio drunk on milkshakes, yoi.

Espio, I've got it. I promise. You'll have your fiance back tonight in one piece. Trust me.

[om_nom_namur]

[Marco gets a look because drunk and milkshakes does not add up. But whatever. Namur cocks his head from side to side, rolling his shoulders.]

He'll be okay, didn't y' hear? Marco's goin' t' get him.

[And Espio will find himself picked up and plunked on a wide shoulder. If he's got any last words for Marco, he better start spilling them.]

[espio]

But - wait!

[It's a bit telling in regards to Espio's state right now that he's a little too exhausted to fight...]

He...

He was saying that... he wants to go back. To where he came from - to before he came here... I... I can't...

[fierybluebird]

[He tilts his head to the side, and then nods.] He doesn't mean he wants to forget you, eh.

[Thatch was the same way. Wanting the impossible, wanting to go backwards.] Espio, you're one of the only things keeping him moving forward and for that I thank you.

This is something I get. I'll have to talk to him and I don't know how long it'll take, but it'll be all right. I've been in that kind of state before myself. And he's my kid. Just ask Thatch. That's a big deal. [Cracks his knuckles, flexes his arms and switches them to wings.] Now if you two will excuse me...

[espio]

[Mumbling...]

...that's not how it felt...

[He's not gonna get a choice about being hauled off, is he?]

[om_nom_namur]

[Nope, none whatsoever. Namur slings the chameleon over his back, trusting him to grab on to the fin like before, and dives back into the water.]

[fierybluebird]

[Marco meanwhile flies on out to the island to find Toby!]

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias is still not tiring -- too much practice swimming, too much need to tread water to survive. Marco can easily find him still swimming.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Pikachu is shaking her head every so often, irritated about the spray. When she hears the bird, she looks up, her ears flattening a moment before sparks dance across her cheeks again.]

[fierybluebird]

[He whistles to pikachu, not sure if she'll understand his phoenix-speak, but at least he can give a try.]

I trust you to keep him safe, but he is my son and I want to help. I've been through this kind of thing before, love.

Any idea where he's going?

[corruptedsouls]

[Pikachu seems to understand just fine, shaking her head and chittering back at him. The gist seems to be that Tobias doesn't want to be around anyone right now.]

[fierybluebird]

I know. I've been the same way. But in that situation, what I wanted was to run away and never see anyone ever again. And it wasn't good for me.

What I needed was to be found and forced to talk, by my father, and by Thatch.

Do you understand?

You know him best. Do you think all that time alone made him happier?

[corruptedsouls]

[Pikachu flicks her ear in irritation, musing before replying again. If Marco heard her correctly... she thinks that not being alone, but being back in the wilds with animals and Pokemon, is the best thing for him.]

[fierybluebird]

Sometimes even if we want that, that's not best. That's surviving, not living.

I lived for a very long time like that. Trust me, this way is better, it's just a lot harder, yoi.

[corruptedsouls]

[She shakes her head again, letting the sparks intense once more. Seems she's not leaving it up for debate, Marco.]

[fierybluebird]

[Unfortunately, Marco's not one to give up either.]

Please Pikachu, let me heal him.

[His eyes are hard about it. She might be willing to face a phoenix to defend Toby, but Marco will fight the universe for his son.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Pikachu pauses, her ears flicking once or twice. Then, finally, the electricity stops.

Only because you're a bird, is the chittered reply. Only because you understand.]

[fierybluebird]

I know, gorgeous.

Help me get him to an island or someplace, I can't touch the water.

[corruptedsouls]

[Pikachu nods, giving a sharp spark to Tobias. The surprise causes them both to disappear under the surface for a moment before coming back up, the dazed, far-away look in Tobias's eyes gone. He blinks at Pikachu, who chitters back at him, and nods.

It doesn't take long to find an island and Toby drags himself up, rubbing his arms and breathing a little hard.]

1/2

[fierybluebird]

[Marco's fairly alarmed to see his son get electrocuted in the water, however mild, but as Toby swims over, Marco lands down next to him and gives him a phoenix hug.]