He writes in his daily journal

[unwrittenformula]

 Who: N, his Pokemon and YOU
When: Any time during the curse
Where: (Part of) N's Castle on the Island
Style: Action, but can follow any
Status: Oooooopen


[Another week, another curse, another-- ... castle?!

Yup. There's a castle, or at least part of a castle up on the island. How did it get there? Where did it come from? Do you have the guts to attempt to explore it? Maybe there's riches inside, or a damsel in distress?

Either way, it's just sitting there, begging to be explored. Just be prepared for what you might run in to.]



(ooc: So the castle isn't completely there, it's just the center tower. Inside are a collection of rooms that all look more or less like small banquet rooms, except for one that looks more like a child's play room. N and Zoroark are wandering around, but the castle is more or less deserted aside from them. A rough map of the tower can be found here.)

Comments

[kadonamonkey]

[ So waking up without a tail was like.. a HUGE bummer, and more then a little alarming despite reassurances that it should return to him in about a week. The extra foot and a half of height was a nice bonus, though it didn't quite completely make up for it.

Though if there was ever something that instantly made him feel better it was poking around and exploring in a place that he probably wasn't welcome in. And the big mysterious tower was just way too tempting for someone such as himself.

It was easy to just squeeze inside one of the first floor windows, even if he wasn't as small as he used to be. And then... poking around time began. He investigated cabinets, peeked into draws, and perhaps a few pieces of silver cutlery found their wait into his pouch.

Yep he was just having the time of his life. He was even eying one of the smaller marble statues and wondering if there was anyway he could possibly drag it out. It'd look cool in his bedroom! ]

[unwrittenformula]

[You know how N sort of ninja'd behind you when you met him and Zoroark?

Well, he's not going to do it again. Namely because he's hidden himself somewhere else entirely. But Zoroark obviously picked up some of those skills, because the next time you turn around you're going to find yourself face to snout with a curious Pokemon who seemingly popped out of nowhere.]

[kadonamonkey]

[ Zidane jumps back a little, startled that once again someone has managed to sneak up on him. But he breathes a sigh of relief when he ses it's just that big black and red fox thing. What did N call him again...? ]

Zoroark! Don't sneak up on a guy like that.

[ He pouts dramatically and puts his hands on his hips. ]

So what are you doing here? On the lookout for treasure and princesses too?

[ Not that they can really understand each other... but Zidane really just loves to chatter away regardless. ]

[unwrittenformula]

[Zoroark could understand human speech at least, and the questions gets a shake of his head, followed by a distressed noise. He pointed a claw down the hall, trying to tell Zidane that his trainer was in the castle, and he was worried about him.]

[kadonamonkey]

[ And Zidane can at least figure out that there's something that's really worrying his furry friend somewhere in that there general direction. And he's the kinda guy that'll jump no questions ask to lend a hand to someone in need. So he just takes one glance in the direction Zoroark indicates and nods. ]

Think you can show me the way to wherever the problem is?

[unwrittenformula]

[A nod this time, and Zoroark carefully takes Zidane's arm, starting to tug him along out of the room and down the hall.

Luckily all of Zidane's exploring had brought him relatively close to where Zoroark wants him to go - the toy room is only a few doors down on the same floor.

But the scene in there is hardly calm. The room has been trashed by some one, with toys scattered, things broken, and the remnants of glass from a once-framed picture tossed across the room.]

[kadonamonkey]

[ Zidane steps gingerly across the floor, avoiding broken glass and nudging toys aside and muttering a little to himself. ]

Geez... what happened in here? Looks like a monster attacked or something.

[ Zidane's eyes widen a little. Zoroark was seriously worried, this room was trashed, and the green haired dude who was with the pokemon before was no where to be seen. ]

Shit! N! You in here?

[unwrittenformula]

What do you want?

[The voice came from behind the skateboard ramp at the back of the room. N was tucked away in a corner where a toy box had been. Said toy box was scattered over the center of the ramp.

If Zidane looked closely, he might spot a tiny trail of blood leading back that way. Zoroark certainly knew it was there, and he was tugging frantically on Zidane's arm, pointing with a claw back in that direction.]

Go away... !

[kadonamonkey]

[ Zidane noticed those bright red little drops of blood even before Zoroark began tugging at his arm. They stood out alarmingly well against that yellow ramp. ]

I'm not going anywhere.

[ He walks cautiously across the room, still a little wary that something might be lurking around. That and N didn't quite sound right. Finally he peers around the ramp, spotting the green haired huddled up in his corner. ]

What's going on? There's blood and Zoroark is really freaked out and worried. Did someone try to hurt you?

[unwrittenformula]

[N is holding his right arm, fingers curled around the torn, red stained sleeve of his white shirt. He's shaking, tears in the corners of his eyes, but there's no one else there. It's just him.]

I can't hear him anymore... I can't hear his voice!

[kadonamonkey]

[ Zidane's beginning to piece two and two together here. ]

Who? Zoroark?

[ He crouches down beside N and puts a gentle hand on his arm, careful not to touch where he figures the injury must be. Slowly, so as not to alert him in case he wanted to be petulant and not let him look, he started to coax N's arm away so he could gauge how bad the injury was. ]

That's scary, not being able to hear a friend.

[unwrittenformula]

[Zoroark whines, shuffling carefully behind Zidane with drooped ears and a downcast expression. Even if the Pokemon can't speak, he can still understand N, and it saddens him to see his friend in such a state.

N sniffles childishly, but he doesn't resist having the hand pulled away.]

This place is cruel...

[kadonamonkey]

Life is cruel sometimes.

[ He corrects as he fishes around in his pouch for his pen knife. Carefully he cuts the fabric on his sleeve so he disturbs the wound as little as possible (the shirt is pretty much ruined anyways), and gently dabs some of the blood away with a silk napkin (that he might have napped along with a few pieces of silver cutlery earlier) so he can see how bad the damage is. ]

It has a tendency to throw tests and tragedies at you when you least suspect it.

[ He glances over his shoulder to give Zoroark a reassuring smile. He's gonna try and fix this, don't worry. ]

[unwrittenformula]

[These are things N hasn't fully grasped yet, at least in the scope of his own life. For Pokemon, sure - cruel trainers, unfortunate accidents, humans that just don't understand... but N has more or less lived in a gilded cage until recently. This castle, or rather this part of a much larger castle is a pretty decent testament to that.

But N doesn't comment on that, his attention turned to his wound as Zidane dabs at it. Even without ointment or water it stings, and now that pain is finally registering again after his tantrum his arm twitches and he lets out a hiss of discomfort through clenched teeth.

It's deep, but the only danger to his health would be getting an infection from leaving it untreated.]

[kadonamonkey]

[ Zidane is going to keep on talking, because he's been beat up enough times that he knows it's easier to deal with the pain when someone's talking you through it, gives a distraction at the very least. ]

It's difficult too. I've been through some really really hard things myself. I thought my friends had abandoned me, that they hated me and they never wanted to see me again. It was lonely. I was being a real knucklehead though.

[ Without water he can't really clean up properly, but he's sopped up enough blood that he can properly see and make an assessment. It's deep but as long as it's dressed soon he figures he probably won't need to get sewn up. ]

Can you stand up? I wanna get you washed up and wrapped up so dirt doesn't get in.

[unwrittenformula]

[It does help. It keeps his mind off of it, and considering his lack of any real physical altercations in his past, dealing with injuries is a whole different level of uncomfortable for him.

Again, he doesn't comment on what Zidane is saying, his only thought being "at least you had true friends", and he focuses instead on the question.]

I think I can. There's a washroom down the hall...

[kadonamonkey]

Yeah I noticed it earlier.

[ When he was poking around... ANYWAYS! He stands up and holds a hand out to N to help him up. ]

Up we go then! I'll have you all patched up in no time.

[unwrittenformula]

[It totally hasn't occurred to N that the only reason Zidane is in there is because of a case of breaking and entering.

He looked to Zoroark, but as before he can't hear his Pokemon's voice at all. There's enough emotion in his expression though that N... almost gets what he's trying to say.]

I think... this is the part where I thank you...

[kadonamonkey]

[ He laughs a little and shakes his head. Man why does he collect so many socially awkward people all the time? But still... this is a step forward! ]

I think you need to give you buddy some thanks first.

[ He nods over to Zoroark. ]

He practically dragged me over!

[unwrittenformula]

[N did thank him without actually being prodded by Zoroark. That is project. Apparently emotional distress does that to him.

Blinking, he looks back at Zoroark, and the Pokemon approaches to nuzzle against N's hair with a quiet murr.]

I'm sorry I worried you...

[kadonamonkey]

[ He smiles a little and opens the door to the washroom and points over to the tub. ]

Why don't you sit down on the edge over there. I'll find some towels.

[unwrittenformula]

[N nodded slowly, and with Zoroark's help he moved over to sit down quietly.]

[kadonamonkey]

Turn the water on too so it warms up

[ Zidane begins rifling through the cabinets looking for towels and other things. He finds them as well as a little white box that has a good amount of gauze in it as well as a tube of what appears to be some sort of ointment to put on cuts. The words on the label were like some kind of alien language or something. ]

You're not alone, you know that, right? If you're feeling sad or scared you shouldn't force yourself to be by yourself.

[unwrittenformula]

[N fumbles with the handle for the faucet, but eventually Zoroark steps in to turn it on instead, clawed paw moving easier than N's shaking fingers.]

Why not? Some people deserve to be alone...

[The comment makes the Pokemon whine worriedly at him, but N merely avoids his gaze.]

[kadonamonkey]

No one deserves to be alone! It's the worst kind of punishment.

[ Towels in arm he sits on the tub rim next to N and soaks a towel so he can start washing the blood off his arm. He's careful not to aggravate it too much, this guy didn't seem like he had a very high pain threshold. ]

You don't either.