I’ll take my throne, lay it on a mountain

[achievementhunter]

Who: Our volunteer mountaineers
What: Two parties split up to scale the mountain from two sides, planning to meet at it’s peak. Shenanigans occur along the way.
When: September 13th to 16th
Where: Group 1: G3, H2, G2 || Group 2: F3, F2, G2
Warnings: Please note any warnings in your subject headers!


Word spreads quickly in a small community such as this. What was originally intended to be a small party turned into something much larger- and on the day Chara planned to leave for the mountain, it’s not one, but two parties that make off for it’s peak.

Group 1, led by Chara, moves off during the early hours of the morning, seeking to search the furthest part of the mountain by following the river upwards. The path is longer and more winding- however, they are unhampered in when they can travel.

Group 2, led by Ardyn, takes off after the sun has set- due to the needs of multiple members to avoid the sun’s harsh glare. Their route takes them up the closest side of the mountain, which provides an easier path- however, they may only travel whilst the sun is set.

---

OOC: Welcome to the mountaineering open post! Keep in mind the following;

♆ RNG was happily done blind by our wonderful Guzma mun, with our animals RNG'd by Wade Wilson's! Thank them both for all your misfortune.

♆ Prompts have been provided for each group below! Simply toplevel wherever you wish and treat this like a normal open post!

♆ Since each group will generally be in close contact with one another, consider asking others if you can threadjack here and there; nothing says team-building like being a nosy parker.

Comments

Chara | heck y'all someone's gotta do some nightwatch before being attacked.

[achievementhunter]

[At least it isn't so hot, now.

Between the nine of them, they've been more than capable of making do with one, large campfire- lighting up the small clearing that's become their encampment for the night and leaving long stripes of oranges hues slowly disappearing into the woods.

Like this, with the slightly cooler air and the more fir-like trees...they could almost be on Ebott. They could almost be-

Home is far too strong a word for it.

They take the first shift of the watch unquestioningly, setting up close to the place where Frisk rests. Will, is, or is meant to rest, at least. Looking not at the fire, but the silent woods beyond it. Lost in thought.

Considering the idea of sleeping when vulnerable to six strangers is clearly out, it's a good time for those.]

[hellawrath]

Looks like this child isn't the only one with less than stellar faith in the night watch capabilities of a bunch of strangers. Teamwork is great and all, but at the end of the day (literally), the twins are only ever going to rely on each other. So once Taako is pretzled up in his blanket and she's gotten bored of sitting around by herself, she picks her way through the camp to their little leader facing the darkness.

"Sleep's overrated, huh?" she quips softly in a sort of companionable tone, but remains standing for now. It's okay if they'd rather have their space.

[achievementhunter]

If she surprises them, they don't show it, looking up to her with a polite smile that most certainly doesn't reach their eyes. The day has taken it's toll- it's been... a long time, since they've climbed a mountain.

Turns out it's always a rather exhausting feat.

"Somewhat- Kittu was tired, at the least." A gesture towards a tiny form, curled up by the fire. Looks like Chara's sentiments on climbing mountains is one shared.

[hellawrath]

Yeah the heat really took a lot outta everyone, otherwise it could have probably been a fairly chill little hiking trip. Even Lup is feeling pretty beat, so she doesn't wanna imagine how much worse it must be for a couple of kids. She smiles sympathetically at Kittu out cold by the fire, before raising an eyebrow at the other sibling.

"I bet they're not the only one," she says, because nobody's fooled here, honestly. But she didn't come over to call anyone out, and she gestures with her thumb over her shoulder back at Taako's ears barely visible in his blanket chrysalis. He's gonna emerge in a few hours like a fucking majestic butterfly jonesing for coffee. "Doubt they were as much of a whiny baby about it as my sweet baby brother, though. We don't even need to sleep really, fun fact? But it's one hell of a habit when you grow up mostly around humans."

[achievementhunter]

The only thing her knowing tone gains is a bland smile; they're not about to say a word, even if she's already got them pegged. Following her gesture, they don't hide the soft snort that escapes them upon sighting Taako.

Or part of him, at least.

"You don't?" That's a fact they've never heard before. A flicker of curiosity crosses their expression, giving way to something far more thoughtful as they consider his sleeping form.

"...I suppose humans everywhere continue to be bad influences."

[hellawrath]

If that seems like a weird thing to say to Lup, she doesn't show it, instead letting out a low snort of amusement. "I guess so, though not really worse than any other race. There's dipshits everywhere." She had the pleasure of hanging around the low life of all kindsa races and it's all a wash, in her experience.

She takes their curiosity to mean they wouldn't hate chatting with her for a bit, so she sits down crosslegged next to them. "Yeah, we can just go into a trance to recharge? About half the time that humans need, too. But let's be real, why would you do that when you've got an excuse to be snuggled up and cozy as fuck and like, nobody's giving you shit for a while. Ya feel?"

[achievementhunter]

They let out a rough exhale, but the amusement is flat. Not because she's wrong, however.

No. She is absolutely correct. Which is why they fail to continue that thread of conversation, directly pushing through to the next. "I'm afraid I can't agree. Far better not to need sleep at all, or trances."

Who wants to be stuck being vulnerable at some point every day for the rest of their life? Not this kid, that's for sure.

[hellawrath]

Lup offers a noncommittal shrug at that because yeah, maybe she didn't sleep a whole lot either at that age, when she was suddenly the only one responsible for her brother's well-being. It's just tough, and exhausting, and they're not really doing anyone a favor with that attitude.

"Well you're missing out," she comments breezily. "And at some point you're gonna conk out at a bad time and your sibling's gonna have to save your ass, and it's gonna be embarrassing for everyone." They can't prove she's talking from experience, okay.

[achievementhunter]

"I can't say the idea concerns me." If they're that exhausted, they can still LOAD. It's less pleasant than ever, and using it- it needs the time for them to recover from that gut wrenching sensation. But it's still there.

An ace up their sleeve. "I am slightly more durable than you may think, ma'am. Sleep isn't an immediate necessity."

[hellawrath]

And there she goes getting ma'am'd again, which is either a snarky nickname or the kid keeping her at a distance. Fair either way, and she acknowledges it with a flick of an ear.

What they're claiming is more interesting for sure, and she gives them a sort of amused sideways glance. "You know, I can't tell if that's youthful hubris or a legit thing, and I bet you like it that way."

[achievementhunter]

"Woe!" Chara says dramatically. They press the back of one hand against their forehead, slouching back in a dramatic fashion. "I have become, as the kids call it, suspicious. Never has there been such a cruel fate as this."

[hellawrath]

Okay, whatever she was expecting in response to her teasing callout, this was definitely not it. It's all she can do not to burst out laughing completely and no doubt wake up at least Kittu if not the entire camp, instead snorting gracelessly into her hand. As she giggles, the stiffness in her posture and ears softens, no longer expecting to be given the cold shoulder at a moment's notice.

"Oh no no, pumpkin," take that, needless formality, "you've become, as the kids call it, a fucking dork." She declares this with all the authority of having known quite a few dorks in her time. "But don't sweat it, your secret's safe with me." Said with a wink and a finger gun, because she's not gonna be out-extra'd by a child.

[achievementhunter]

You gotta be careful about what you put in your prose there, Lup- because there's no way you can out-extra them. Their own amusement is clear; there's something to be said, when they're capable of making someone laugh, though they do tsk at her, shaking their head in mock disdain.

"A dork I may be, but to be a dork is an art that deserves more than your slander. A pox on you, ma'am, for bestowing a word most foul into the ears of a poor, influential child."

[holdmyhand]

You guys are really close, huh? Are you siblings?

[ Luna plops down near Chara!! Probably one of the quietest little noodles here. Such mystery. Such hair cut. Such green sweater.

Luna's face cannot hide that she has many, many questions. ]

[achievementhunter]

[Such red hate. Much smile. Very nosy. Wow.

She's the only child on this island they haven't spoken to- and whilst quiet is always precious, the chance to ask some questions of their own steals any irritation that may have been fostered by the overly familiar approach.]

We are, yes. Twins. [Politely, they shuffle a few inches to their left- further away from her. Personal bubbles are always in fashion, unlike your rooster hat.] And you- you know mister Guzma, correct?

[holdmyhand]

[ Luna looks over Chara at the other sleeping child and then leans back a bit, easing her gaze on the fire. ]

Twins, huh... [ it's nice. At least they have each other-- Luna's never had any siblings before. Pokemon are companions, but they're not actual blood family, and she's always been curious if it's the same feeling. She adjusts her beautiful hat a little and returns her gaze to Chara when they ask her a question, which makes her smile a little. ]

Yeah, we came from the same place! He, uh...leaves a really intense impression, huh? [ that smile gets a little awkward, and she pulls at a short, black strand of hair near her chin. Y i k e s.... ]

[achievementhunter]

[Whatever her thoughts on their claim, Chara has nothing more to say about it. At the end of the day, twin still feels- discordant. Wrong.

It doesn't convey their connection half as well as it could.]

He certainly has a way with words, I'll give him that. [Their own smile is amused; less uncomfortable or annoyed than Luna may have expected.] Since you know him better than I, tell me...

Would you consider him to be a good trainer?

[holdmyhand]

[ Chara's words entice a laugh out of Luna-- the part where he's got a certain way with words, for sure. Her knees come up to her chest and she hugs them a bit to find a good, comfortable sitting position. ]

Well...I've only battled him a few times. But his pokemon really listen to him-- and pokemon don't always listen to people who they don't love or respect. [ her nose wrinkles a bit when she smiles. ] I think he's a really, really good trainer! But he's really hard on himself..

Have you ever seen a pokemon battle before? [ it's an interested sort gaze that is cast on Chara now. She and Guzma had entertained the idea of battling at one point, surely, but with their pokemon in weakened states here on the island, it's been something of a skipped topic. ]

[achievementhunter]

That's good to know. [It really is- her confidence ensuring that Chara won't start challenging him for the right to have them any time soon. Trainers...continue to be an uncomfortable subject, for them.]

I admit...I haven't. It's uncomfortable to consider that there's a world where people use creatures in such a manner.

[Monsters. People use monsters in such a manner. Like Tibia.]

[holdmyhand]

Guzma's not a bad person. He's kind of scary sometimes, but his pokemon and his team love him a whole lot. I don't think someone like that can be all bad. Right?

[ this person is...thoughtful, if Luna had to describe them. Uncomfortable. That's the word that popped up into Luna's mind when she saw Lusamine's collection of frozen pokemon. ]

It's weird, because...I'm a trainer, too. But I don't think pokemon live to be used by us. [ she pulls a pokeball out of her pocket and smoothes the red top of the ball with her thumb. ] They choose to work with us-- and we help each other. I think there are some bad people out there, and...I don't know.

Real trainers would never make their pokemon do something they don't want to. A chance to show people the bond that you have with your pokemon...that's what a real pokemon battle is. [ That feels like a good explanation! Yep! ]

[achievementhunter]

[The silliest thing about this is... this is, perhaps, the first conversation they've had, in which someone has actually described what being a trainer truly is. And Chara takes it as seriously as if she were telling them the secrets of the universe, letting silence trail after her explanation, before putting in their own two cents.]

In that case, is trainer truly the correct term for such a bond?

[holdmyhand]

I think...well, we keep everything organized, kind of? I know all the moves my pokemon have! [ what a proud moment! She scratches her arm softly. ] We depend on each other-- so I guess I'm more of a, uh...

[ she's looking for the word. Searching....searching.... ]

...a planner? A strategist! [ she'd heard that word a handful of times from the professor. Good memory, Luna. A+. ] So my team focuses 100% on battling as amazingly as they can, and I coordinate them! We work together for every victory! I'd do whatever it takes to help my friends grow, however they want to.

[ she reaches into her bag and retrieves a pokeball, cold to the touch, and strokes the outside of the metal ball with her thumb. There's a proud look in her eye. Talking about it in this much detail makes her thankful that she still has two of them, out of the 6 that she came with. Surely, the rest have to be here somewhere. ]

[achievementhunter]

...I see. [So it is very different from what the term would usually imply. They consider the others they've known- AZ, N...

No. They can't quite say they regret being so hostile to them. Even if a trainer is different from what they had assumed, a person was a person. Guzma...and now Luna too, they suppose, have been the only two they would deem 'decent'.]

In that case, I would be honored to see you battle, sometime.

[holdmyhand]

[ her eyes light up more, if that's possible, and she beams proudly. Pokemon have become her life, after all, and what started off so small, and seemingly by accident, turned into something big, and wholesome.

A family of sorts. Luna cradles the little ball against her chest with both hands. ]

Of course!! If you want to! Me 'n Guzma are overdue for a battle, and! [ she gives the ball a toss into the air! There it goes! A pupper emerges, tail wagging ever so slightly, watching Luna and regarding Chara with...a curious sniff, from a distance. Another tiny human. Luna pulls the wolf pokemon into a clumsy, hearty embrace, and Chiffon nuzzles into Luna's arms and chest-- there are growing red marks on her arms, but Luna seems quite used to it. ]

We're gonna do our best, won't we?

[ Chiffon borks happily and tries to climb into Luna's tiny lap. Of which there is clearly not enough space for a pupper. But SPACE BE DAMNED, CHIFFON IS FILLED WITH DETERMINATION ]

[achievementhunter]

[Sorry are you still speaking Luna? Because all Chara sees now is a Good Dog. Perhaps, even, the best dog, sitting up with avid interest as Luna hugs them close to her chest.]

Are they friendly?

[Because they clearly...are in need of more pets.

Undoubtedly.]