Cassius's PC

I'm Cassius. Bill asked me to take over the PC for Kalos. What's up?

[punkishpcexpert]

Familiarity II Sina and Cassius

He knew her from somewhere. He couldn’t pinpoint where though. Logically, he knew who she was. Sina. Professor Sycamore’s assistant. But it was more than that. Mannerisms. The sparkle in her eye. There was something about her that just seemed...familiar. Something that tickled at the back of his mind and dredged up memories.

He grumbled, and his thought was to leave. But he needed at least some information in the tech n Sycamore’s lab if he were to fix it. So he had crossed the cafe to ask her a simple question and somehow that had turned to sitting together and eating together and actually talking about what he reminded her of.

Or rather, who.

Because they were friends and of course they were friends it was just his luck that they were because why wouldn’t they be?

“I don’t miss her.” He found himself scoffing as he ate his coffee cake and sipping his soda. He needed alcohol. “I miss her hot cocoa. That’s all.”

[videcdrome-deactivated20211130]

Send my Muse a nightmare

Make them wake up, crying.

[typicalems-blog]

I went travelling; found my home — Cassius

[typicalems-blog]

The two make way to a small café tucked in an alley without much conversation; Calem, left to his own thoughts and pondering about why Snowbelle City’s pale-yet-captivating landscape had continued to nag at the back of his mind as though it were some integral connection to the fair-haired man. Was it simply because the PC Expert’s hair had reminded him of the frozen land? Maybe it was the way he carried himself that embodied the bleak and unapproachable Eisetsu—

But each had hot chocolate that drew people in; and each had a soft core that was warm like a fire in the middle of winter. While the bell on the café’s door jingles lightly and the scent of aromatic coffee beans assaults his senses and places a brightened smile at the corners of Calem’s lips, he quickly settles into his favorite window seat looking out and motions for the PC expert to sit down.

"Coffee’s on me!" He offers before turning to the handing board behind the barista and decides on a Java Chip Frappé for the afternoon that would no doubt unfold into the start of an unusual friendship.

Hot coffee; the furthest from hot chocolate, really.

"What do you want, Cassius? I’m not going to let you off easy so you’d better get something strong so you don’t complain of boredom or sleepiness halfway through–"

[punkishpcexpert]

As the pair made their way to the cafe, Cassius couldn't help but wonder what the young trainer was thinking of. He knew what he was thinking about. All this talk of hot chocolate had his mind on Snowbelle. He shivered at the thought of the town. Still, Carbink and Burgmite liked it...

He didn't understand his Pokemon and their love of the snow. Still, suddenly Cassius really wanted hot chocolate. Both literally and figuratively.

The bell of the cafe snapped Cassius out of his thoughts, and he followed Calem to the window. The cafe was small, but quaint. He preferred the smaller cafes to the larger ones anyway.

"Coffee’s on me!"

Cassius smiled. "Thanks, Calem." He said as Calem called the barista over and ordered.

"What do you want, Cassius? I’m not going to let you off easy so you’d better get something strong so you don’t complain of boredom or sleepiness halfway through–"

This time, Cassius laughed. "Me? Not off from boredom? Does that sound like me at all?" He said jokingly, before ordering his usual mocha latte.

As the barista left with the orders, Cassius turned to Calem "So...you said something about my story. What exactly do you want to hear?"

[typicalems-blog]

I went travelling; found my home — Cassius

[typicalems-blog]

"Yeah, something like that, actually." In fact, that was exactly it – the sentiment he had been feeling for so long but translated through someone else’s experience; and somehow it still made sense. Comforted by the fact that his thoughts were not as silly or complex as he had thought earlier, Calem allows a small smile to warm up his features.

Maybe Cassius wasn’t as unfriendly as he had thought– maybe. 

The coldest city— though, continued to rest and nag on his mind for some strange reason, and a certain taste of chocolate fills his taste upon reconsideration. Was Hot Cocoa some sort of metaphor for the other that he had missed out unintentionally? Again, his mind backtracks to whether the pale-haired male had indicated any importance to cold or to the warm beverage; but nothing—

"Don’t mind me for asking; but.. this analogy of cold and hot cocoa. It’s like you’re looking for someone, or something— I don’t know how to explain it, I feel like.. that comparison is alive somehow." 

His brows knit in frustration at how he struggled to understand; but somehow or rather, felt it was a personal kind of connection Cassius had elsewhere. Sometimes, somewhere we meet people that become our home; and it’s inexplicable, intangible.

"—Do you want to grab a coffee somewhere? I’m actually pretty intrigued about your story."

[punkishpcexpert]

Cassius wondered if he was looking too far into this. Overthinking something that should have been simple. It wouldn't be the first time he'd done so. At least this problem wasn't a bore.

And neither was his company. Perhaps it was just that they shared a similar struggle. Normally he'd have moved on from his spot by now, dropping the conversation altogether and possibly forgetting it had ever happened. But instead, here he was, still with the boy he'd only met once.

"Don’t mind me for asking; but.. this analogy of cold and hot cocoa. It’s like you’re looking for someone, or something— I don’t know how to explain it, I feel like.. that comparison is alive somehow." 

Calem certainly seemed to understand him better than anyone he'd met before. Had Cassius made it so obvious. The PC expert was caught off guard, and was momentarily at a loss for words.

"I suppose it is." Cassius said, composing the surprised look on his face and giving a shrug. "It's kind of...weird how it became that way."

"—Do you want to grab a coffee somewhere? I’m actually pretty intrigued about your story."

Once again, the question surprised Cassius. When was the last time he'd had coffee with someone? That was something that friends did right? A small smile creeped onto his lips.

"Sure. That sounds nice." He said, starting to make his way towards the nearest cafe. Today didn't seem to be a total waste after all. Good. Maybe it'd stay that way...

[typicalems-blog]

I went travelling; found my home — Cassius

[typicalems-blog]

Calem is surprised when the other begun to speak again; the hardness in his eyes seeming to have warmed and melted over a particular mention. He didn’t understand exactly what it was that he said that would render such an effect on the reformed punk, but he smiles and returns the nod anyway. Hot cocoa helped – it usually does. Thinking back now he did meet a particular friendly ace during his travels that sent him on his way after much hospitality; the name on the tip of his tongue like an iceberg – a snowbelle-city girl.

I suppose Kalos feels like your home now? Why do you suppose it doesn’t feel like that in the first place? The question is left to stagnate in his mind for a moment; a sigh, and then fingers interlace with each other in deep thought. “It’s a good question, Cassius–” the boy muses. “– I don’t think it’s more of Kalos not being a home, but rather the home missing something, you follow? Like when– before– I started my dex journey it was just okay, Kalos is my home. Like it’s indoctrinated into me as a kid and it was just something I said but didn’t feel.”

He pauses, releasing his fingers from each other and scruffs a foot into the ground.

"Before Serena, nothing.. felt like it had any purpose. There’s never actually any purpose when you do things just for yourself, I presume. Like it’s selfish; and it’s just a moment of gladness but doing things just for your own is so fallible and pointless – I thought I could do it to make my parents proud, but it didn’t really feel right–” Stopping abruptly, Calem feels the heat flush to his cheeks, fists balled into his pockets hastily upon realizing he had unintentionally spilled out the true reason and his newfound person – the one he wanted to try so hard for.

"Life does funny things to a guy, huh–"

[punkishpcexpert]

The PC Expert didn't know what kind of answer he expected, if one at all. He was usually the one answering questions. But this was something he didn't understand, and he hated things he didn't understand. But, unlike most things, he couldn't study or read up on this. He wanted someone to tell him the answer to this, but he supposed that would be too easy.

“It’s a good question, Cassius I don’t think it’s more of Kalos not being a home, but rather the home missing something, you follow? Like when– before– I started my dex journey it was just okay, Kalos is my home. Like it’s indoctrinated into me as a kid and it was just something I said but didn’t feel.”

"That I can understand." He said, thinking of his childhood in Luminose City, hearing it was home but never truly feeling at home until he got away.

"Before Serena, nothing.. felt like it had any purpose. There’s never actually any purpose when you do things just for yourself, I presume. Like it’s selfish; and it’s just a moment of gladness but doing things just for your own is so fallible and pointless – I thought I could do it to make my parents proud, but it didn’t really feel right–"

Cassius wasn't sure if Calem meant to tell him all this or if it was slipping out, but either way, the PC expert was happy. He felt trusted by this boy that he barely knew. Perhaps this was what the beginning of friendship felt like.

"Life does funny things to a guy, huh–"

"Yeah it does..." Cassius said, "But I think I get it now." He paused, thinking of that freezing city that always seemed so inviting. How sometimes he almost missed the chills and the nipping at his nose. He supposed it was because, as much as he hated to admit it, that's where one of his only true friends were. "I think home is what you make it out to be. So being away makes you realize what you've taken for granted. But...I don't think home is so much of a place but rather who you're with and why you hold them dear. You could be in the coldest city in the world that makes you shiver just at the thought, but if you're with someone, if you have that hot cocoa, maybe it could feel more like home than anywhere as long as you have friends."

He shrugged rather suddenly, realizing he'd gone all mushy "Or I could be reading way too into it. I dunno."

[punkishpcexpert]

name: Cassius Crocea age: 21 height: 6'3" eye color: Dark Brown hair color: Whatever he wants it to be (Usually white and another color) sexual orientation: Straight species: Human nationality: Kalosian allergies: N/A fears: Not understanding something or someone, Incompetence, Letting people down how often do they hurt themselves: Not at all physically, but sometimes emotionally he doesn't always get things. relationship status: Single.

[typicalems-blog]

I went travelling; found my home — Cassius

[typicalems-blog]

Surprise seemed to follow their conversation today, and while Calem wasn’t personally a fan of small talk, he had felt compelled to stay on course with the white-haired man by his side. It was like grasping for straws – holding on to things that would just feel like a sliver of what it was like before: the magic that was growing up and adventures and this carefree weightlessness. He nods in return at the mention of the pokébank, grinning slightly about the new invention he had heard about and how it had opened up a new gateway to pokémon discoveries everywhere. Sometimes he figures – that technology is amazing, and that people were all round great beings. 

How was Johto? 

And again, great is the only word that comes to his mind. Calem taps his chin searching his head for a less pacifying word and tosses the typical descriptions away. “Nice” or “beautiful” or “rustic” didn’t really make the cut for something that had taught him so much more; even if the lessons learnt were more personal and less easily shared. The experience (for lack of a better word) was essentially what had brought him back to Kalos – a little braver than when he left;

"I guess I thought I went traveling; but found my home instead." His breath catches upon recalling the time he had spent in Ecruteak watching the culture of traditional backgrounds; the way the fabrics hung on the curves of the Kimono Women and the precise, articulated strokes of each dance motion. Thoughts reel to when he stood by the house of the legendary trainer Gold who had since disappeared to who-knows-where after a rumored accident that left the region in the wake of shock. “I met Professor Elm at the pokélab and got to see some of the Johto-native pokémon up close–” he shares, though there was one other thing that had left him fixated on the place and feeling somewhat hollowed out.

Nostalgia; for a place that was never his. 

"–I met many people and I suppose I fell a little more in love;" 

"Sometimes a place does that to you – maybe. i don’t really know, Cassius. There was just this one feeling of peace with a world that isn’t yours that feels so surreal, and it just made me want to come back to Kalos and experience the same kind of love all over again. A little bittersweet – I’ll admit that. Like tasting really good hot cocoa knowing you’d never have something that warms you like that even if you searched the world—" The boy pauses to study a cuticle and scowls at a hangnail before his attention fixates back on the PC expert.

"– It.. it’s like wanting to believe that what you are searching for is still back here for some odd reason. Sorry, I guess that was a rather strange analogy." 

[punkishpcexpert]

The PC expert watched Calem with a somewhat blank expression. Smalltalk bored him, and the excitement that sparked behind his eyes when it came to learning about Johto was more obvious than he liked it to be. He'd never considered going out of Kalos. That was for Pokemon Trainers on their journeys. He wasn't on a journey. he was in Kalos, taking care of the PC system. Leaving had never even crossed his mind. But now it sounded rather good.

Calem seemed to be struggling with the words to describe the far-off region, but finally he spoke. "I guess I thought I went traveling; but found my home instead. “I met Professor Elm at the pokélab and got to see some of the Johto-native Pokémon up close I met many people and I suppose I fell a little more in love." 

Cassius raised his eyebrow at him, a bit confused as to what the trainer meant. Fell more in love? With what? Being a Pokemon trainer? Traveling? "I don't think I follow, Calem." Cassius admitted. "Maybe it's just because I've never traveled but..."

"Sometimes a place does that to you – maybe. I don’t really know, Cassius. There was just this one feeling of peace with a world that isn’t yours that feels so surreal, and it just made me want to come back to Kalos and experience the same kind of love all over again. A little bittersweet – I’ll admit that."

It was hard for the PC to wrap his head around as the trainer struggled to explain. He'd never experienced something like that. But he followed the logic. What was the saying "Distance makes the heart grow fonder?" Something like that. Still how on earth could--

"Like tasting really good hot cocoa knowing you’d never have something that warms you like that even if you searched the world. It.. it’s like wanting to believe that what you are searching for is still back here for some odd reason."

Something clicked in his mind then, his mind wandering away from the Pokemon Trainer before him and off to a much colder town. One that had in one night felt much more like home than any other place. At least, he thought it was the city...

"Sorry, I guess that was a rather strange analogy."

The PC expert gave a soft smile. "No. I know exactly what you mean." he said softly, his eyes wandering back to Calem, "How cocoa helped. It usually does. I get what you mean. I suppose Kalos feels like your home now? Why do you suppose it doesn't feel like that in the first place?"

[punkishpcexpert]

11/32 muse! 56 mun

Muse!

11 - Someone I miss

"I told you. She was just a girl. And almost annoyingly cheerful. I only miss her cocoa alright?"

32 - A description of the boy I like.

"I don't swing that way..."

Mun!

56 - What I hate/hated the most about school.

I really hate how the teachers/professors don't really understand that you have other classes besides theirs. So you end up with all these essays and projects and you end up almost dying. Just...ugh...

[punkishpcexpert]

11 7 29

11 - Someone I miss.

"She was just a girl. It was way too cold where she lived anyway..."

7 - My favorite book.

"The Gligar Man comics. I've been following them since I was a kid. They're predictable and sometimes contrived and childish but I have them all so I can't just stop collecting them can I?"

29 - Most embarrassing moment.

"This one time I was working with Bill and I accidentally mixed a up a 1 and a 0 in the computer's code and shut down his machine. He fixed it of course but it was unlike me...I blame my nerves.

[typicalems-blog]

I went travelling; found my home — Cassius

[typicalems-blog]

The voice that approached was a somewhat-familiar one at best, though when Calem turned to see the pale hair of the other, he had recalled Cassius’ identity almost immediately. “Cassius, right?” he murmurs with some effort for a smile, raising a closed fist for a fist bump at an old acquaintance with topics for small talk running through his head.

It has been some time since he had seen the PC expert – or anyone from his journey, really. And while Calem struggled to slip quietly back into normalcy in Kalos, it still felt just a little out of place to be seeing someone from his old life so soon. Somehow or rather, he feels like a misplaced object in the rapidly-changing scene; an anachronism and forgotten one-hit starlet that had been brushed away to make way for new people and ideals. Resisting the urge to scruff his boots into the ground, he turns his eyes to the buildings behind them that held billboards of the latest holocaster shows and news bulletins – DIantha was still as radiant as ever, but Calem could hardly recognized the titles of the upcoming films anymore.

A low chuckle and he shakes his head — “it’s been quite a while since I’ve been in Kalos, so– excuse me for that.” 

"Either way, that’s enough about me. How’s the PC Box development coming along? I was just in Johto and it’s nice to see the rest of the regions adapting to efficiency; it’s come a long way, huh."

[punkishpcexpert]

The PC expert nodded, giving Calem a smile as he returned the fist bump. "That's right. Good to see you again."

For a moment it seemed that Calem was just as out of place as Cassius felt. He looked with him to the buildings. The ones that held people content with their everyday life and not always itching for more. He'd seen the place a million times. Knew the daily routines of the stores he went to. It was no wonder that he was itching to get out. Find another town. Another place. Kalos was his home, but he just couldn't seem to settle...

“it’s been quite a while since I’ve been in Kalos, so– excuse me for that. Either way, that’s enough about me. How’s the PC Box development coming along? I was just in Johto and it’s nice to see the rest of the regions adapting to efficiency; it’s come a long way, huh."

Cassius's eyebrows raised. "You left Kalos?" He asked. "Johto huh? Oh. The PC's been fine. Bill developed this thing called the Pokebank. It lets trainers store their Pokemon in one central area no matter what region they're from or in. This girl Brigette maintains it now. We help of course."

He paused as his mind wandered back to his comment about leaving Kalos. t had never been something Cassius had considered. "How was Johto?" He asked, hiding his interest in the tone of smalltalk.

[christinoo-blog]

[typicalems-blog]

Send me a number — random or not! & specify mun/muse!

[typicalems-blog]

être — open

Often times, there are places and faces that we learn of and forget – not completely, not fully; but simply for the moment that we are preoccupied with other things. It’s like that most often when we travel (even if for a while) that the smell of home comes rushing back with nostalgia and warmth, the quiet sigh of welcome back, I’ve been here before that rustles through native leaves. The lush grass beneath the soles of your shoes and calla lilies lining the paths in Coumarine that remind you of how beautiful this place is; Lumiose Tower is lighted up in all its glory, and even Snowbelle enclosed in its state of eternal winter takes your breath away in between slow exhalations into your palms.

Spring came quietly at first, and then violently as it exploded into a myriad of blooms. When you left, the buds were shy and reserved – hiding and perfecting the arrangement of the petalled skirts. Now, oh now, they are flirtatious and beautiful; flamboyant. They are enticing like defined strokes from a painter’s pallet. Gingerly, you bend down, picking a rose from the cobbled path that had just fallen out of a passing man’s bouquet. S’il vous plaît, attendez!The words halt, tongue curled around the last consonant as lips turn into a smile when he presents the flowers to a Beauty decked in yellow; her cheeks complementing pink. A flash of white smiles; and they’re gone.

The stem rests between your thumb and forefinger, twirling lightly as blue hues study the perfect ratio of foliole. Eventually, you take a step forward again, albeit distracted. 

  People brush by, glimpses of their lives and conversations flit by like nothing; you’ve missed her, and someone it feels like she’s missed you too —

Bienvenue à la maison, welcome home.

[punkishpcexpert]

Cassius never felt like he had a home to go back to. Sure, there was his house in Camphrier Town, and where his parents were in Luminose City. Niether of them seemed homey though. Sure, they were "houses" but they weren't "homes." He supposed it was his own fault, getting bored of a place the moment he figured out a town. He couldn't remember the last time he stayed in a place longer than a few months. Finding a place to settle a restless mind was a challenge.

He yawned as he waked down a path of flowers blowing in the breeze. The faint scent rolled over the PC Expert, and he inhaled the auroma, letting it relax his body. His mind went blank as he gazed out over the lake, memorizing the movements that the water made.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cassius spots a familiar face. A Pokemon trainer that had once came to see him when they'd been early into their journey. He wondered how they'd grown. It was interesting to watch the Pokemon in trainers boxes. Seeing them get stronger, evolve, etc.

Cassius turned, making his way towards the young man. "Hey Calem." He said, as if he'd seen him more than once when he really hadn't at all. "How've you been?"

[punkishpcexpert]

"Hello again you lot..."

I seriously missed playing Cassius. I'll be making an open and looking for other opens to reply as he and Bill, but if anyone wants to thread totally let me know!

[punkishpcexpert]

You weren’t meant to get involved. — Imelda

"Well, now I am, aren't I?" He sighs, "Come on Ice Queen. Let's get you through this..."

[frommemetoyou]

"I don’t think I ever loved you."

"You never loved me."

"You’re not being fair."

"This is the right thing to do, and you know it."

"There’s nothing you can do about it now."

"I just wanted to be your first pick…"

"Did I ever matter?"

"You weren’t meant to get...

[punkishpcexpert]

Bah, Humbug! ll Cassius and Imelda (Event)

[coldtrainer-blog]

The pulsating muscle in her chest had begun to quicken once again as she made her way back to the apartment, her steps just a little hastier than usual while a hand clutched at the front of her coat. Kicking the snow under the boots lightly as she trudged, the ace found herself less able to fixate her attention on Cassius’ words – the absent-minded question of how has work been being a mere buffer so she could push away the thoughts in her mind. 

"That sounds.. cool." The ace finally says, albeit lamely; her hands clutched to her cheeks as she turned to the PC expert abruptly mid-step. With widened eyes and trepidation laced in her fingertips, the ace reaches up to the boy’s pale locks, pushing them away from his eyes to watch the way they shone with just a hint of passion beneath the nonchalance.

Maybe, they weren’t so different. 

And maybe, the sparks from their contact wasn’t just frostbite. 

"You’re real, aren’t you? You’re not just a christmas wish come true – a facade; a temporal snow storm?" Her words are earnest as she rocked on the heel of her boot, glancing coyly at his eyes before turning away again in self-reciprocation.

"… Nevermind, forget I said that, Cassius. I’m just thankful you’re here."

[punkishpcexpert]

Why was he so nervous? He was just going back into her apartment. To help her clean up. Then bring leftover food to the There was nothing wrong with that. At all.

Right?

He knew that the question about his work was a distraction as soon as she reacted. He words... "That sounds.. cool." were too limp and disinterested for the question to be sincere. Not that he cared Cassius finally had his answer. He wondered if her heart was beating as hard as his.

They were at her apartment when she turned to him, very abruptly. He gulped, his cheeks burning against the coldness of his breath, visible in the night. Her hand pushed a strand of hair from his face, warming him even more.

"You’re real, aren’t you? You’re not just a christmas wish come true – a facade; a temporal snow storm?" Her hand left him, all too soon, and as she glanced back at him he could see the spark of passion in her eyes "… Nevermind, forget I said that, Cassius. I’m just thankful you’re here."

His hand moved before his brain registered what had happened. His hand grabbed hers, pulling her back to him. "I..." He stammered, unable to bring himself to apologize this time. He guided her handto hi s chest, letting her palm feel the beating of his heart. He leaned down, his lips pressing tenderly against her forehead as his arms wrapped gently around her  "I'm real."

[punkishpcexpert]

Bah, Humbug! ll Cassius and Imelda (Event)

[coldtrainer-blog]

Her eyes widen in partial surprise when the larger one catches hers; though a small smile and a reassuring squeeze returns the feelings to the pc expert. It was difficult to tell if the crimson dusted on his pale complexion was from his feelings or from the weather, but something told Imelda she had been feeling the similar sparks – the gentleness in each of their careful steps as though afraid to break the temporal magic of the moment.

As she took his hand once again, turning away when the powdery dust fell on her face as the other stood, Imelda nodded quietly to his words, a hand raised to tuck the stray strands of hair behind her ear.

"Sure, I’d like that, Cas; though we should get the food out to the folks around if we don’t want it to become leftovers for the next morning." Falling into step by the quiet boy, the ace found herself at a surprising silence, unsure of what conversation they should take. Over-thinking, she chides herself for being silly with a friend – a friend that her heart had somehow linked to the increased palpitations to each word he said; the kiss he had given her under the mistletoe earlier. Too cute.. Another lip-biting episode and a furious blush reaching her cheeks as the ace turned away sharply to hide the burning embarrassment.

"– SO, how’s work, Cassius? Has Bill updated anything lately?"

[punkishpcexpert]

Cassius couldn't help but feel that he was overthinking everything now. He was used to his brain going in many places at once, but this usually caused him to figure out the problem and then the solution soon after. But this...was different.

"Sure, I’d like that, Cas; though we should get the food out to the folks around if we don’t want it to become leftovers for the next morning."

"You're right. Sounds interesting." Cassius said.

He'd always thought people were so easy, and they were for the most part. He could have a town figured out in a week if he paid attention. Maybe that was why he didn't like to stay in one place. But Imelda was different. He could feel it. He felt like he was on thin ice, even though something told him it was more like a fluffy bank of snow. Was it the kiss?

Maybe...

He hoped it wasn't. He wanted to kiss her again. Mistletoe or not. But did she? He wasn't used to not knowing, or the burning of his cheeks.

"– SO, how’s work, Cassius? Has Bill updated anything lately?"

"Oh. Um..." Cassius stammered, blinking out of his daze. "Bill hasn't updated in a while, no. He's working on a system where you can store all of your Pokemon in one box no matter what region you're in and a way to teleport them all to the trainer world wide. I'm helping him with it."