Staying Grounded

Good to meet'cha! Are you a challenger? You can call me Jori! Oh, you aren't a challenger? Sorry, 'bout that. As you may have heard, I'm the sixth Gym Leader in the Shani region, and a ground-type specialist! Independent OC Pokemon roleplaying blog.

[maniacwatchestheworld]

So, I was hit by a car.

Before I explain, let me preface this with a cute Hamtaro gif so that you don’t all freak out.

So, I’m coming on here to let you all know that last night I got hit by a car while riding my bike. Don’t worry, I am not seriously injured. I am mostly just a bit bruised and a little scraped. My hip hurts a lot, but I did go to the emergency room, got crutches, and nothing is broken. It’ll just be a bit difficult to walk for the coming days/weeks. I don’t know how this will effect the activity on my blogs, but I should be in perfect order in a few weeks. I just thought that you all deserve to know that this happened.

[groundedjoker]

[Currently in the process of gutting, cleaning, and reworking this blog into a better, more workable state. Please excuse the mess.]

[groundedjoker]

avalanchewarning

“I just can’t do it Jori.” She choked through a heavy sob. Her left arm curled protectively around her chest, as Ia attempted to wipe away the flood of tears. “Nothing makes it go away. I just… I just want to forget.” Another sob wracked her small figure, as she continued. “I guess I thought, by bringing up your fears, mine might be ignored…”

Uncharacteristically, Ia turned and clamped her arms around him in a tight hug, continuing to sob into his shoulder, mumbling words into in clothing. “.. burns.. *sob* …better than cutting…” As the sparse words came from her mouth, Ia wrapped her legs around Jori’s waist, her body shaking softly with the heaves of her lungs. “…love you too much…”

Jori wanted, needed to comfort his friend. He would do anything to try and wipe those tears from her face. But he didn’t know how. So he did the few things that he did know. After being taken surprise by her embrace, he returned it, squeezing her lightly, but reassuringly.

After hearing her speak, he let out a soft sigh. “I... I love you too... You’re my best friend, and I love you... But... You shouldn’t try to run from your fears... You shouldn’t try to forget them either... I... I don’t want to see you hurt yourself, so please just... I don’t know... Stop running?”

[groundedjoker]

+9

[groundedjoker]

thefrostlily

   Estella listened intently as the man rambled on  upon his studies. That wasn’t to say she did not find what he had to say interesting, in fact she was attempting to absorb much of what he had spoke, he was simply over energetic in his speech. She actually found it quite amusing to find someone so enthralled in their own search for knowledge, she had to pause for a moment and wonder if she too sounded that way when she spoke about her own studies.

"Then I have to assume your Momoswine is something to behold monsieur," She responded with a small chuckle. "The way you speak of it, it must be on it’s own level entirely."

Jori nodded enthusiastically. “Mhmm! I would say that my Mamoswines are on a level of their own, they’re definitely one of my strongest, and most reliable Pokemon that I have on my team. After all, they have good resistance against ice, which ground types are weak to, and work well offensively against types that ground is weak to, primarily grass, and flying. Also, I wouldn’t underestimate their speed and attack capability. Mamoswine may look big and slow, but they can actually be pretty nimble.”

He gave the woman a sidelong grin. “They’re just my favorites, I suppose. Oh!” He blushed, looking back down at the ground. “But I suppose that I’ve been rambling just a little bit...Sorry about that... What did you say that you needed here again?”

[avalanchewarning]

On Edge

~ Quick Author’s Note ~

((Anyone who reads this feel free to ‘attend’ the meeting. It’s a meeting to discuss ongoing Team Edge problems. However, you need to find a way to get there, have a reason to get there, and also probably have a decent connection in a way with one of the latter 4 gym leaders (Yoru, Ia, Jori, or Taima), as a large majority of the rest of the region associates with Team Edge. This connection can be ‘made-up’ as long as it fits with characters and both parties allow it. Still, look forward to doing this, and as always, welcome to the Shani region, where everything is on Edge, and snow falls year-round.))

Ia sat in the small room, off-set from the modest housing she had formed in her mountain. Her feet were kicked up on the large conference table, as she reclined back in the office chair. Perhaps I called the meeting too early in the morning, she thought, looking around at the empty chairs nearby. Though, Ia HAD allowed Jori to open his tunnel to her domain for the other leaders if they didn’t want to take the normal route. Personally, she would prefer if the tunnel didn’t exist, but for occasions like this, the time Jori’s digging saved was unparalleled. Of course, Yoru would probably fly in on his Dragonite, had he been available for the meeting. His absence would be noticed greatly, the 8th gym leader being one of the more vocal of the group. Hell, Jori would probably be the only one to show, but it would be enough. Looking at the clock again, she sigh, 7 am had been too early after all…  

[groundedjoker]

Opening the door, Jori walked into the room before sitting in a chair, and slammed his face down onto the table. He let out a long, loud, drawn out groan. “It’s cold as dicks out there. Also, do you know what time it is? Do you know what time I had to wake up to get here? Huh, Ia? HUH!? It was 5 by the way.” Closing his eyes, he grumbled for a long moment. “Is anyone else here, by the way? I’ll bet you 2000 Pokedollars that Yoru isn’t going to show up... He never does show up to things like this... I didn’t bother to check up on Eliza or Taima before heading up... Besides, it’s too early for this shit...”

For a few minutes, he lay there, face first on the table before sitting upright. “Alright. So do you have the latest status report on Team Edge and their activities?”

[groundedjoker]

Ia burst into tears alongside him “Jori... Jori I’m sorry! I didn’t… I didn’t mean to! I just… I just wanted…” With this last stutter she fell to the ground, body shaking uncontrollably as the tears kept flowing. “I…. I….”

Sniffing, and pulling her sleeve to her face to wipe away the water rolling down her face, she looked at Jori, unable to keep her tone steady. “I wanted to know I wasn’t alone in my fear. I wanted to know I wasn’t the only one tormented by my past. It’s all my fault Jori! IT’S ALL MY FAULT”

The last line became a scream, after which she curled into a tight ball, her nails digging into the sides of her clothes, ripping them as she tore herself apart mentally, the shadowed images of flames raging around her.

When Jori finally tore his eyes from the ground, there were tears in his eyes. “I... I... Ia...” He didn’t know what to do. Yes, he was hurting but Ia... His best friend... She was hurting more...

Taking one hand, he touched her arm. “... Ia... It’s not your fault... Really, it isn’t, see?” He tried his hardest to put on the most convincing smile that he had. “Really, it’s fine just... You’re not alone... I thought that you would know that... As long as I’m here, you’re never alone... Please... Just... Come out... Okay? There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

[groundedjoker]

[Guess who’s back from the dead, bitches~]

[groundedjoker]

"Shatter" (I feel like this is backwards.... I'M the ice trainer...)

Send me “Shatter” and I’ll write a scene where your character breaks my character’s heart.

"Ia... I'm sorry. "There was a clear sign of hesitation in his eyes. "It's too dangerous to protect you anymore... To protect both you and my family... So I'm sorry. Some bridges need to be burned, and yours just happens to be the one I need to burn to protect myself and Milica this time. I'm sorry, Ia. I truly am. I can't babysit you anymore..." Turning his back to the woman, he nodded to the Pokemon behind him. "Nidoking... You know what to do... Fire Blast."

[groundedjoker]

I enjoyed killing your mother.

"You didn't kill jack shit, liar. My mother drowned a long, long time ago. Team Aqua killed her, not you."

[avalanchewarning]

"Well of course I’m happy moron. This is MY season. Did you seriously expect me to NOT love this weather?" and with the last word, she ran back out into the storm.

[groundedjoker]

He let out a light laugh. "Of course. Of course." He watched her go, only to stick his head out of the door, yelling to Ia. "Don't forget your coat! Also, Be careful not to slip! I'll have some hot coca when you're ready to come back inside."

[groundedjoker]

"Huh. It's been snowing for the past three days straight. Well, hopefully Ia's happy about that at least."

[groundedjoker]

"Hey man!" Sly held his hand out for a high five, with an uncharacteristically giant grin, recognizing the gym leader. "Its so great to see you!"

After a taking a moment to remember the other’ face, he returned the smile in earnest. He raised his hand to meet the other’s in the air. “It’s great to see you too!”

[wiinterceariig-blog]

Just like that, he was devoid of emotion again. Sly didn’t mull too long on the series of reactions that caused the other embarrassment, the Sinnoh man all to ready to move on from the awkwardness.  “Anyways…Hows been the gym? Hopefully you’ve been challenged a little more often than the last time I’ve seen you.”

[groundedjoker]

"The Gym?" Jori perked up a little bit. "Yeah! The Gym! It's doing great!" he let out a long sigh. "But I will admit... I still don't get many challengers... It happens, I suppose. And how about you, man? You been up to anything cool lately?"

[groundedjoker]

avalanchewarning replied to your post:Floods.... Flooding.,. Drowning... Your Fault...

Reaching an arm over his shoulder, she pulled him into a hug. “No Jori, I’m not. I wanted you to see that no one is invincible, even us. But seeing you like this will never make me happy. I’m sorry Jori. You can torment me with fire now if you want”

"I know that... I know that people aren't invincible... I've always known... But especially ever since that day... Just a little too much water and people just... Float... Like... Autumn leaves... And... And you know that I can't do that to you... I never had a taste for burning things to the ground... Besides... What would Milica say...? I... I just can't..."

[groundedjoker]

Peat || Orange & Jori

[range-the-autobot-deactivated20]

Orange sat with him and studied a mareep

[groundedjoker]

Taking a quick glance over to the Mareep, Jori paid it no mind for a moment until... "Wait a minute..." He looked over at the Mareep more seriously. "What is a Mareep doing here... Did it escape from a farm near by or something...?"

[groundedjoker]

+9

[thefrostlily-blog]

"Well then, I suppose that it really is a win win situation," Estella chuckled slightly at the man’s excitement. But she supposed everyone was rather happy when they spoke of something they particularly enjoy. "Mamoswine was quite the reliable partner. During the time we shared together I was thoroughly impressed."

[groundedjoker]

"You bet'cha it is! That's why it was built there in the first place! to see how Pokemon and humans can benefit from one another's company in an underground environment, and how Pokemon can benefit the ecosystem in general! We've even been able to find that above ground, the Pokemon will naturally get rid of plants that are not native to the area, and may be potentially harmful! You wouldn't believe some of the things we found." He was rambling, but he didn't really care. "Good! But my Mamoswine... They are my best partners. They can do far more than just impress, I say!"

[groundedjoker]

Floods.... Flooding.,. Drowning... Your Fault...

Jori shook. He couldn't control it. He was shivering. Water, water everywhere, all of it to kill. And he couldn't stop it. No matter what he did. They drowned. Their lungs filled with liquid and they suffocated. There was blood in the water. The water was dyed red, and he couldn't do anything to stop it. He was crying, yes. He was crying and he couldn't stop it. Because there in that water, everything was drowned out.

"You win... Are you happy with yourself...?"

[scoriaecous-a-blog]

» The pang of nostalgia from it all was a deep ache with oddly satisfying spread. As was the problem with this, and such was the reason he had avoided all former associates like the plague. To lose one’s former self is a difficult process, painstakingly difficult, and while perhaps at one point it would be complete, the interim proved suffering.

You cannot keep being pulled back to who you were. You must remain who you are, and the notion is a suffering one. And a new region, well, all the better. »  ”If you’re offering information, you’d best start from the top.” There was a bit of a smile in his voice, then. “Provided you stop calling me that. A first name basis is more than fine, all things considering.” Not that he wanted to let off his discomfort of it. Perhaps ‘discomfort’ was improper; the formal addressing was bittersweet at best. "And I assume you’ll know quite a lot, then, being a Gym Leader now."

[groundedjoker]

Upon seeing his former boss smile, Jori quickly found that he could not keep himself from blushing. His boss wanted information from him, even after all these years, his boss still had a use for him... Somehow, even with this distance of time, Jori still found himself honored by the very idea. Jori didn't know how much more of this he could take.

"Y-Yes sir!" he shouted on reflex, only to immediately see his mistake. "Oh... Er... I mean... Yes... Yes, M-Maxie..." The name felt unnatural as it stumbled and fell out of his mouth, but at the same time, there was something almost exhilarating about saying it. To have the honor of addressing his boss by his given name... "Maxie... Maxie..." He repeated the name again to himself, trying to get a better feel for it."

"Well... M-Maxie... Shani is a region, directly northeast of Orre. While it's mostly known for its mountains, which are famous for skiing in the winter, it actually has a wide variety of ecosystem having large plains and plateau areas. However, being completely landlocked, the only water types there are the ones native to the lakes and rivers! It's a very dry region, and just the whole region is perfect for most ground types. I personally live in a place called Quartzite Town, and I am the sixth Gym Leader in my region. My Gym is in an old, abandoned mining shaft that was repurposed into a research facility..." He really didn't know what to say, so he just said everything that came to mind. He hoped that he was not boring Maxie... He hoped a this former boss was at least taking a small interest to this.