10th pokéball

[ghostytrainer]

Characters: [au2] John Egbert and you
Setting: Dorm Block 1
Format: Starting action, open to whichever
Summary: John returns from ruined Johto after a week and a half. First thing he does? Play network catch-up.
Warnings: None yet save for probably the usual foul language

[It was a strange realization, opening his eyes and realizing he actually felt relief, even happiness to find himself within the now all-too-familiar confines of the tower once more. As much as he hates it here, he'll take it over ruined wasteland of loneliness.]

[He's not sure how long he's been gone, and while he's fairly certain that there are a few people who have missed him (provided he's been gone long enough for people to notice), its' not his friends that he seeks out first. It's a computer terminal just outside his dorm room.]

[But even after he confirms the date, John remains at the terminal in silence for quite some time. He's frowning slightly in concentration, eyes scanning the screen as he goes through the backlog of posts he's missed. Especially the ones from Ruana following her initial Q&A that concerned her game. Just as he thought, her subsequent hint posts only cement in John's mind just how much he doesn't want to play her stupid game that's not actually a game because it's missing the most important component of a game: fun.]

Comments

[ghostytrainer]

[Shrug.]

Somehow their particular jobs never really struck me as important. Save for Zo, all the ones who are left are bad news, right? That's really all somebody like me needs to know. I am neither a leader nor an ideas guy, so it's not like that sort of information will really--

[He cuts off mid-ramble as it suddenly dawns on him that he has no idea how involved with the resistance Tohko is, if she is at all.]

Err. Yeah I miss the Pokémon world a lot, even if it's not my original home. But I meant more that it felt weird to admit that I was glad I was sent back here, not there. To be honest, I really wish I hadn't gone home. I don't want to go back unless it's to a restored world.

[tohko_amano]

[Since Tohko was Pandora Leader (C), that reaction did make her smile a little, and she lowered her voice as she replied.]

I only led a book club back home before I came here, so don't say that. Even people who aren't the leaders or idea people most of the time can come up with great things if they know a lot. Gather a lot of knowledge. It might help you.

[And then her voice returned to normal hearing level.]

But I agree with you. I don't really want to see my destroyed world. If I go back, I want to wake up to chirping birds, the blue sky, and my family's voices.

[ghostytrainer]

[John shifts his weight a little from foot to foot, unsure of what to really say to that. Despite his constant protests of leadership, the fact of the matter is that there are a few people who see him that way. Not that it makes him believe it. He is a friend, not a leader and there is a BIG difference!]

[As far as the resistance goes, he sees himself as good at only two things: doing what people higher up and more involved than him (mostly Zelda and Arturia) tell him to do and maybe keeping up people's spirits. But even then, he's not really sure how effective his attempt at the latter was. Perhaps he should do another round of letters once this game is over...]

If you say so. [He mumbles it, not sounding particularly convinced before speaking up again.]

Exactly! I want to breathe the fresh air and maybe even feel the sun on my face. I almost feel like I could deal with the ridiculous Johto summer heat wave and barely even complain about it at this point.

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko, if she was aware of John's insecurities, would speak about them and let him know that he was good at doing more than that..but since she wasn't, for right now, she just tried to pat his head and smiled.]

At least..that is what I think. But I know how you feel! The summers in Japan are horrible, but if I could feel the breeze there and eat a dozen popsicles with my family, it would be worth it! I wouldn't mind!