irreversible | IC: Reminisce

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IC: Reminisce

[Catching up always feels right - it's only every so often he gets to see Souji these days after all. Even if it's just catching lunch, a movie and checking out a few shops in the city -- hey, it's never bad to catch up with your best friend, right?]

[It's weird and nostalgic, but Yosuke finds himself constantly resisting the urge to step a little closer, to thread his fingers in Souji's hair... he couldn't. Because those things, as natural, as familiar as they'd seemed were just dreams. It felt like more, but it wasn't possible; hell, Souji himself would've said something otherwise, right?]

[But when they walk through the shopping district and his eyes catch a selection of Pokémon toys, he feels compelled. He lets out an awkward laugh, looking over at Souji.]

Brings back memories of being a kid, doesn't it? Hehe -- Pokémon. I didn't even realize they still made this stuff.

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[ Souji isn't too sure on what to make out on all of those "dreams" that he has had of being in some Pokemon world. It's too illogical to even think that it's possible. Being trapped in a video game? That sounds like some kind of manga or anime idea, the kind that kids love to fantasy about, but it seems to real. If he thinks about the subject hard enough, he "remembers" people like Merlin or Kagami. He "remembers" things like a breeding centre and a Skamory. He "remembers" laughing about things, getting into fights, being stressed out, blowing money on coffee, everything, and it confuses him all the more. ]

[ He doesn't say anything about the matter though, not to anyone. They're not going to believe him even if he has made sense out of the whole thing. Might as well just go on like nothing has ever happened in that world, like it's really just dreams and that relationship has just been something that he's imagined. ]

[ Even so, why does his chest tighten when he thinks about it? ]

[ He has done a good job on pushing the topic out of his mind (it has been all that he can think about for the past while), until Yosuke draws his attention to some Pokemon toys. He holds his breath and slightly leans over, taking a closer look at them. A whole selection of different kinds. Despite that he has never played the games, he can recognize most of them. That one is a Squirtle and that one is a Pikachu. This one is a Scyther and over here is an Espeon. It only confuses him further, but he does nothing but gives a smile. ]

I never played the games, but they were pretty popular, right? I wouldn't be surprised if they continued for a few more years.

Yeah, I guess that's probably it. I still-- [Pauses abruptly. "still can't believe you never played it?" Wait. No, this was the first time they were talking about this. He ruffles his hair, letting out another awkward chuckle.] I seriously can't believe you never played it, partner. It was totally like, a rite of passage or something for a kid!

[He goes quiet after saying that though, eyes focusing on the items. Certain Pokémon that he sees trigger these names in his mind... Chie, Mada, Rosie, Setanta, Garula...]

[It feels too real. Too eerie in its way, but he doesn't say anything, just looking at the items. It's flashing images, familiar sequences, people, locations in a way that startles him. He thought about this frequently, far more than he even mentions (which is never).]

[Yosuke leans over, and seeing the Scyther figure, he can't help but reach for it, fingers grazing it. There's something of a sentimental chuckle before he pulls his hand back.]

I've read more as a kid. I haven't been much of a video game kid.

[ He turns his head, looking over at Yosuke holding the Scyther figure. That's a... grass-type. Those eggs have been sold at P2000. ] Planning on buying that one?

Yeah, that totally sounds like you, dude.

[He shrugs a little, putting it back down.] I dunno, I kind of want to. But I kind of... I dunno, don't have much of a reason. Hehe, it's not like I ever even had one when I played the games.

These things are pretty cool though. [His eyes dart around, like he's specifically looking for something.] Maybe I just need to find something more fitting or something?

[ Souji looks over all of the toy and he reaches for the small Skarmory plushie. He trails his thumb around its beak before holding it over at Yosuke. ]

How about this? This one looks pretty neat.

[He's pretty quick to shake his head.]

It's cool, yeah... but...

I think it fits you more. [And as he blurts that out, he looks at it again, tilting his head. He doesn't say it out loud, but the word "Izanagi" echoes clearly in his mind. Give him a sec, and he'll backtrack.] Matching color schemes, you know?

[ Souji pulls the Skarmory back to himself, looking down at it and gives a small nod. ]

Maybe I'll take this one home then. It'll look nice on my shelf back at home. [ Still holding onto it, he looks around and notices a pink-coloured Pokemon. "Jiraiya the Slowpoke". He pokes over to it. ] How about that? It got a good smile like yours.

Dude... [He makes a face.] Are you saying that I look like some dumb, drooling... like, shoe-eating video game character?

[But he tenses when he says that. "Drooling?" "Shoe-eating?" Why... this feels so familiar, normal. Yosuke's hand grazes the Slowpoke, and he laughs a little.]

Something about it fits, for some reason.

[ "Dumb drooling" and "shoe-eating"? That sounds awfully... familiar, almost like the Jiraiya that he knows, but that just might be the characteristics of the Pokemon. He hasn't played the games or watched the show, he doesn't know. ]

Why, because you're used to having something eating at your things all the time? [ But Yosuke doesn't own any pets. It feels just right though. ]

Yeah. I mean, it wouldn't be a day if Jiraiya wasn't eating everything in--

[He stops short, catching what he's actually saying mid-sentence. There'd been no thought, the words were effortless and natural. There was no way that this feeling of familiarity was because it was supposed to be was it? His face pales slightly, grasping at the small toy.]

I-I mean... Argh, I don't even know what I mean...

[ And Souji freezes at that. Wait... Jiraiya eating everything? That sounds familiar. He slowly turns his head to Yosuke. ]

Wait, what about Jiraiya?

I... [His head tilts - Souji's expression is enough for him to really second guess his own train of thought.] I'm not sure.

I-I think it was something I had a dream about or something. I dunno.

What was your dream about?

[ Leaning a bit forward to pay close attention to everything. ]

Uh... [His shoulders tense slightly, as if he's embarrassed to even say it.] We -- you know, us and the rest of the gang -- we're, um... in a video game? Sorta. And we kind of bred Pokémon for a living or something.

Hhaha... it's really stupid, huh?

[ Then Souji goes straight back to tensing up, freezing. He feels his mouth growing dry and he doesn't say anything for half a minute, finding the right thing to say or if it's wise to say it. Then without even answering Yosuke's question, he says one of his own. ]

... Yu and Yuudai, was that in it?

[When he hears those names, Yosuke swears his heart isn't beating for a whole minute. His breath hitches, slightly, the flood of memories all falling into place. Everything suddenly feels like it makes sense in some way.]

[But if that's the case, that means--]

[He looks back down at the table, just in case.] It -- it was a dream, right?

[ Just by Yosuke's reaction is slowly starting to confirm Souji's suspicions. All of those dreams he has had, waking up and wondering if they're real, but never bringing it up to anyone because they have shown no signs of remember, it just hits him. Is it really real? ]

[ He tells himself to breathe properly and he clutches the Skarmory plushie in his hands a bit tighter. ] What else do you... "remember" of it-- of Johto?

[He has to stop and think. There was a lot of things that were slowly coming to him; details that were blurry coming into focus. The Centre, the Ice Path, the trains; fights, being tackled by his own Pokémon, and...]

[It's like a ton of bricks falling on him, and he looks up at Souji, eyes wide. His face is pale, color drained as he feels his stomach turning into knots.] You and I... uh...

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IC: Reminisce

AW YEAH LET'S DO THIS

/JUMPS INTO ARMS

/PICKS UP AND SPINS AROUND

EEEEEEEE MY PRINCE!

MY PRINCESS! ♥♥♥

/ATTACHES TO PRINCE

/NEVER LETS GO

KYAAAA

/SHOWERS IN HEARTS

/BATHES IN THEM??

WHAT A LOVELY BATH

IT'S A LITTLE BLOODY THOUGH--

BLOOD BUILDS CHARACTER

I GUESS SO

YOU'LL BE SO MANLY

THE MANLIEST

BE LIFTING WOMEN ONTO YOUR SHOULDERS AND HAVING AN EXPLOSION BEHIND YOU

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!