SPECULA

[00:21:17] <@BigTentacruel> TIME: January 14th, 20XX - Approximately 12:45 PM. Sophia, having seen a terrible display of what she considers to be selfish provocation of conflict, led Camellia back to her apartment in TERRIBLY AWKWARD SILENCE. Sophia has left an open invitation for Jamal to pop in for tea when he feels like it. As the duo reach the park behind the apartment complex, Sophia finally speaks up.
[00:21:21] <@BigTentacruel> RECAP:  Sophia steps gingerly over the grassy hillock at the edge of the park, looking at her feet. "They say Felidante is extremely malicious and a poor omen for travellers," she says suddenly, completely without warning.
[00:21:21] <@BigTentacruel> <Camellia>  [Not like we needed to be told that!] Oolong speaks up while Camellia is still caught off guard.
[00:21:21] <@BigTentacruel> * Camellia waits a few seconds. "...I am not completely convinced what I met is your desert spirit. It did not feel like it had an affinity for bright areas like deserts."
[00:21:22] <@BigTentacruel> * DiceMaid-9001 is now known as Jessie
[00:21:24] <@BigTentacruel> * Jessie is now known as Meowth
[00:21:26] <@BigTentacruel> * Meowth is now known as DiceMaid-9001
[00:21:28] <@BigTentacruel> <Sophia> Ignoring the Spiritomb's words, Sophia continues, "We do not claim it as a spirit of the desert. That role belongs to another. What I say is universally true. All travellers suffer from its appearance, falling to illness in a short time or losing supplies when fording the rivers. We are not unfamiliar with other cultures, and their tales came almost to mirror our own."
[00:22:02] * Garlyle (464dd8bc@sux-775C1CDB.mibbit.com) has joined #OnceMoreWithFeeling
[00:22:22] * castfromhp is now known as Camellia
[00:22:29] * BigTentacruel is now known as Sophia
[00:22:56] : Camellia furrows her brow. "Still not right. That just sounds like the stories you hear about Absol."
[00:25:13] <@Sophia> Now it's Sophia's turn to be confused. "Absol? What is that?"
[00:27:47] <Camellia> "Um, a large cat of sorts. Oh, not anything like my sketch. It has a scythe on its head, and the stories I've heard seem to match yours."
[00:29:34] * KujiUn (Kotodes@93D3A8D3.60ECF9E2.E096B1A4.IP) has joined #OnceMoreWithFeeling
[00:29:41] <@Sophia> "Can I see that sketch again?" Sophia asks suddenly, her face burning with bewilderment.
[00:29:45] <KujiUn> (Do you mind?)
[00:29:51] <@Sophia> (Not at all.)
[00:29:59] <Camellia> (don'tmind at all, just trying to get away from chatter is all)
[00:30:53] <Camellia> "Sure, but let's go inside first."
[00:32:40] <@Sophia> Sophia remembers that she is covered in mud and seawater then and grins. "Yes, that is fine. Would you mind letting me get cleaned up somewhat first, actually?"
[00:35:26] <Camellia> "Oh, go ahead, of course." [Bahaha, yeah, I bet the cops are looking for some gal who looks like a swamp monster right now.]
[00:35:55] * Garlyle is now known as Garlyle|Dishes
[00:38:32] <@Sophia> Moving into the apartment building, Sophia fishes her key from a pocket, saying nothing at first in response to the Spiritomb's words. As she unlocks the door and pushes it open, revealing a sparsely furnished living room and a tiny kitchenette, she says, "I wronged you back at the diner and must apologize."
[00:39:56] <Camellia> "Hm? Oh! It's no problem, I just wasn't comfortable around that man with the Unown tattoos. It's not your fault." [No apology needed! You put on quite the show. I'd clap if I had hands.]
[00:43:06] <@Sophia> "No. That is not what I mean. In my home, Matrons are psychics trained in particular specialties. They exist to understand the plight of others. Empaths, they call us. I never became a Matron. Instead I became a Guardian, a protector of my people, the one to whom the sin of violence is the burden, but I retain my Empath abilities."
[00:43:48] <@Sophia> Briefly, Sophia pauses, turning to face Camellia and placing her hands upon Camellia's shoulders.
[00:46:07] <@Sophia> "We consider two things to be a great sin for our psychics. You see, the mind is a sanctum for a person, and no one should penetrate that sanctum without permission. To read another's thoughts without permission is a high crime for my people. For Matrons, the power to impose emotion on another is a strong one. We are supposed to maintain a positive aura, but in times of stress, that aura can be directed upon another, forci
[00:46:08] <@Sophia> ng them to feel a certain way. To subdue one's natural emotions is similarly wrong."
[00:46:44] <@Sophia> "I attempted to calm you when I saw you upset with Grant. That was a gesture outside of my bounds and for that I apologize."
[00:48:31] : Camellia gives a weak smile and raises her still barely bleeding left hand. "The Ecruteak elders meant for me to play a particular role in my traditions as well. A priestess for the pokemon of ancient lore who used to make the city their home or so I was taught. Circumstance willed otherwise. You see what I use my abilities for now."
[00:52:23] <@Sophia> Sophia gives a wan expression. "Nevertheless, I refrain from reading another's mind at all times. I broke my own discipline, and for that I suffer the concequences. I simply could not stand to see you upset by something I could have prevented."
[00:54:00] : Camellia shakes her head. "You could not have known I would be upset by your acquaintance's presence. But enough of that, let's go in. I'll just sit myself down and make some tea while you get yourself changed." Camellia pulls out a small pouch of tea leaves from her bag.
[00:56:59] <@Sophia> Relieved, Sophia gestures to her kitchen. "Please, make yourself at home. I will return shortly." Moving to the bathroom through the hall beyond, she goes to shower and change.
[00:57:12] <@Sophia> (loltimeskipforlike15minutes)
[00:57:34] <Camellia> "Of course!" Camellia suddenly seems a lot happier and hums to herself while preparing tea. (and...timeskip to sophia's return?)
[00:58:07] <@Sophia> (Sure. I don't see anything else that could feasibly be included here, unless Camellia decides to join Sophia in the shower XD)
[00:58:17] <KujiUn> (...*nosebleed*)
[00:58:21] <Camellia> (timeskip it is)
[00:59:38] : Camellia has taken out her own tea set from her bag and seems to enjoy arranging it on the table in an artful manner.
[01:00:12] <@Sophia> Returning some time later, Sophia appears in the doorway, wiping away water from her face. "Oh, what sort of tea is that?"
[01:01:42] <Camellia> "Uhhh...." Camellia stops and glances around at her pokemon, settling on Oolong. [Oh don't ask me! The leaves came from Assam, he should name it. Well, if he could talk...]
[01:02:55] : Camellia closes her eyes for a second and focuses. "...Well, I guess it could just be assam tea." She's now swaying lightly back and forth, similar to the way Assam is at the moment.
[01:03:02] <Camellia> (Assam is a Grotle)
[01:04:10] <@Sophia> "I... well, I have never had anything but the tea leaves taken from Pokemon in the desert. It is a bitter drink." Sitting in one of two large armchairs in the living room, Sophia seems much more relaxed. "Now, you were going to show me the sketch once more?"
[01:06:20] <Camellia> "Assam was bred for the tea farms back home. It was an honor to receive him as a companion." Camellia pulls the notebook out and flips it open to the latest filled page, with the drawing of the black cat. "See, an absol would have a scythe-like horn like so" she gestures with her finger on the paper.
[01:08:49] <@Sophia> "I have never seen or heard of anything like that." Peering at the paper, Sophia makes a noise of uncertainty. "I do not think this is precisely what I know of from my legends either. It is very similar, but it is not the same. The creature I know possesses fire appearing along its legs here."
[01:10:25] * Garlyle|Dishes is now known as Garlyle
[01:12:17] : Camellia sips her tea and ponders a moment. "I...hm...could it be the difference between regional legends?" she flips back through the notebook and settles on a page filled with sketches of various birds. "Even among the legends native to my land, there is disagreement over the exact physical form such a creature of lore takes. Many scholars of the lore consider appearance ultimately unimportant."
[01:16:22] <@Sophia> "This is... possible, but I do not believe it to be the case. The appearance of Felidante is one of the solely consistent details regarding sightings from other cultures as well. They say Felidante has black fire burning about its legs and a six-pronged tail. Felidante has no eyes, either. In that place are mere sockets."
[01:16:41] * KujiUn (Kotodes@93D3A8D3.60ECF9E2.E096B1A4.IP) Quit (Ping timeout)
[01:16:49] <@Sophia> "Perhaps this Absol and Felidante are different creatures entirely."
[01:19:23] <Camellia> "Well, does this Felidante represent anything of the spirit of battle? From what little I've learned of the creature here," Camellia gestures to her sketch, "it seems like combat is a catalyst for great emotional upheaval among those in its presence. Well, either that or it simply has great command over emotion."
[01:23:13] <@Sophia> Thinking for a moment, Sophia seems almost to be drawing symbols in the air. "There is a story I recall my mother once told me. A man who lived in our village, a man of great peace and tranquil nature, revered and respected for his passive demeanor, encountered Felidante on a travel in the desert. When he returned, he had changed. He was violent and irritable, lashing out at those he once cared for. Felidante enhances the
[01:23:13] <@Sophia> emotion of those in its vicinity, targetting the negative parts of the soul. I imagine it can be seen to be a spirit of battle."
[01:24:26] <Camellia> "If this is the case...hold on, do you have a pokedex handy or something? I want to check my line of thinking with Absol with a real photograph to be sure."
[01:26:46] <@Sophia> "I... do, but I do not like to use it." Standing, Sophia walks into the hallway and opens a door. Pulling forth her Wanderer's Pokedex, she returns to her seat. "A creature should be seen with one's own eyes to be understood, I feel. Such devices alienate us from the rest of the world. I keep it strictly for the call of the Wanderers when need be." She hands it to Camellia.
[01:29:26] : Camellia takes the pokedex from Sophia's hands and her eyes widen for a second before she simply flips it open and searches for Absol's entry. "Circumstance doesn't always allow one to view the world as they wish." She hands it back, photo displayed on the device.
[01:32:17] <@Sophia> "Circumstances change if a person wills them to do so. Nevertheless, this is nothing like Felidante. Do I have what Pokemon resembles your drawing there in this Pokedex?"
[01:33:49] <Camellia> "No, that would have made this much easier. Well, there is a common cat pokemon that looks much the same, but it is nowhere near as formidable as the one depicted in my drawing." Camellia pauses for a second "Um...
[01:34:28] <Camellia> I must apologize. I've been deceptive." She pulls out her own Wanderer 'dex. "I simply did not want to reveal my occupation. Now you see why I have such opportunity to travel and study such matters?"
[01:36:52] <@Sophia> Sophia smiles a little. "I know little of Wanderer ways. I only know that they ask us of work and pay when needed. Beyond that, I know nothing of the abilities the device permits. It has not been in my interest before. As for the Pokemon, I feel I know which one you speak of, though its name eludes me."
[01:37:46] <Camellia> "It escapes my grasp as well. Give me a moment...
[01:38:28] <Camellia> okay, here." Camellia punches through some menus, sorting pokemon by size, color, etc until finding purrloin. "This."
[01:40:12] <@Sophia> Gasping, Sophia replies, "Yes, that is what I am thinking of. It is... an infantile form of Felidante. Felidante is a rare evolution, and thus its powers are very great."
[01:43:18] : Camellia gives another skeptical look and continues sipping her tea for a few seconds. "I...you said there were stories in many cultures of this, but I've never stumbled upon any. Though, perhaps I have spent too little time in Altho to know." Camellia shrugs. "In any case, I don't believe this creature was much larger than a purrloin. Just...more malicious and formidable. I have to be honest...
[01:44:37] <Camellia> ...this unnerves me greatly. I have always been taught that the pokemon of ancient lore were our guardians. Tell me, has this Felidante of yours been known to ally itself with those of ill repute? Even those creatures known to hold command over the uh, darker aspects of reality act as our guardians, but this one seems different." Camellia shivers a bit and pours herself more tea.
[01:47:36] <@Sophia> "I have never seen a Felidante either, but I have heard stories. I lived on the edge of Altho. Many stories came from beyond Altho to the south." Sophia pauses and thinks over her memories again, seeming to draw in the air once more. "Felidante is an embodiment of negative emotion, but it is a natural creature, as are those who are supposedly the creatures of ancient lore. It has a counterpart, the embodiment of positive e
[01:47:36] <@Sophia> motion, whose name escapes me. I would have to have time to communicate with my people to learn more about its counterpart, but Felidante is not necessarily evil, if you mean it that way. It is merely a reflection of nature."
[01:50:21] <Camellia> "Of course, I understand that. The ancient creatures that bring great firestorms and drought across the land, the creatures that create great floods that destroy the harvests of a season, they do what they do to survive. It is their nature, just as we humans kill to survive." Camellia shivers again. "But the sheer malicious anger behind this being, and that I had heard it was aligned with two
[01:50:39] <Camellia> irresponsibly violent humans...I find it hard to accept."
[01:52:55] <@Sophia> "I did not know a Felidante even existed any longer. Perhaps we are even still wrong and it is another Pokemon entirely. I only know what the legends say. If one has come again, though, rest assured its counterpart exists somewhere. The nature of the world is to balance itself. Good and evil cannot exist without one another, as with kindness and selfishness."
[01:54:01] <Camellia> "...That was the part that worried me. There was a second pokemon. I did not witness it, but I am told it was traveling with the two humans as well. If it is the one you say it is, then that means even a being of positive emotion such as it has been subverted for a malicious cause.""
[01:55:46] <@Sophia> "I believe that is a good place for it then." Sophia says, well aware what her words communicate.
[01:56:16] <@Sophia> "A being of positive energy which enhances the positive emotions of others will heal harmed souls driven to selfish intentions."
[01:56:37] <@Sophia> "And the Felidante can do little to souls already damaged."
[01:58:51] <Camellia> "I worry about that. It certainly didn't make its presence known to me." Camellia flips back through the notebook idly, stopping on a page of Unown rune etchings. She chuckles a bit "...I have a lot to apologize for today. I lost control of my emotions when I saw your acquitance. The man with the Unown tattoos."
[02:01:10] <@Sophia> "I only wondered what about him bothered you so." Sophia says, her eyes resting on Camellia's face. "You need not apologize to me for your feelings."
[02:02:53] <Camellia> "The Ruins of Alph in Johto are a place of unspeakable horrors. I don't expect you to necessarily understand that. I...prefer not to speak any more of that. I only meant to apologize. I know you mean for the world to live in harmony, but..." Camellia's gaze rises up from the journal to meet Sophia's "nothing you say will convince me to be on good terms with that man."
[02:05:45] <@Sophia> "I... believe he has a need to come to terms with himself." Sophia says, trailing off for a moment. "I once thought I had taught him the value of understanding others when he attempted to convert people openly in the streets to his cause, but he uses his gifts for selfish reasons, which leads him to a damaged soul.
[02:06:35] <@Sophia> "It fills me with sorrow that the world is not as harmonious as it is for those back home, but I am beginning to understand better. Someday that will help me in my purposes."
[02:10:22] <Camellia> "Circumstance works according to its own whims." Camellia glances down at her pokedex as she takes another sip of tea. "Ah! I have a train to catch this evening, I should get to packing! Sorry about that. It was great talking to you, and I hope you forge your own way from what circumstance hands you.
[02:11:20] <Camellia> Camellia gestures to her pokemon, but.... Oolong is fast asleep! [Zzz...huh, what we're leaving now?]
[02:13:19] <@Sophia> "You are leaving?" Sophia asks suddenly, starting forward before regaining her composure. "Please do not be afraid to find me if you are near. I think you can communicate with me through the Pokedex, can you not?"
[02:14:05] <Garlyle> (That is a negative)
[02:14:32] <@Sophia> (I've confirmed Sophia knows/cares little about Wanderer tech)
[02:14:47] <Garlyle> (I know; I was answering that in advance for Camellia's sake since I don't believe it has come up)
[02:14:48] <Camellia> "I make it a habit to never stay in the same place too long. As I've been here since New Year's, I feel like I've almost overstayed my time in this city." Camellia glances down at her pokedex. "I...have never heard of such a function. Why don't we swap phone numbers instead?" Camellia gives Sophia her cell number.
[02:14:53] <@Sophia> (Oh, alright.)
[02:16:44] <@Sophia> "Alright. Well, I enjoyed meeting you. I am grateful that you stopped to listen as well. I have learned much from this." Sophia pockets the number and shows Camellia the door before returning to the room, staring out the window at the bay beyond her window, musing softly to herself.
[02:16:50] <@Sophia> (Aaaand cut.)