offtracks | for i_am

for i_am_emmet

[Ingo has been in this land for a little while now.

There wasn't any grand cataclysm. No rift that he's aware of. He did not fall from the sky. One day, he simply woke up here, lying on the side of the road with a stranger fussing over him in a language that he hardly understood.

He'd quickly made excuses - which he's quite sure she did not understand - and fled into the nearby forest. That's where he's been living, if one could call it that. How do you cope with losing your home, your people, everything you know, for a second time? How do you keep going when you do remember what you've lost, and know that there's no way home?

For a while, he didn't. He doesn't know how many days he passed in a blur of grief and despair, too hollowed-out to consider doing anything but sleep or mourn. It was his Pokemon who cared for him then. He offered to break their Pokeballs and set them free, guilt-ridden that he'd dragged them away from their home too, but none of them left. Instead Gliscor and Tangrowth took it in turns to go out and gather food for everyone. Machamp built a shelter of logs and branches, and Alakazam sat with him and woke him from his nightmares. They all guarded him from wild Pokemon. There aren't too many, or else they aren't so aggressive here. Once, there was a strange black-furred Zoroark, but they attacked it so fiercely that it never even attempted to become Ingo-in-white.

If not for them, he would not have survived this second derailment.

And it's for their sake that he eventually forces himself to begin moving again. He cannot let them waste their lives on him like this. No matter what it feels like, his tracks have not reached an end just yet.

But where do they lead? His first tentative venture out of the forest brings several discoveries. For one: he can't communicate very well with the people here. The language is one he understands! Sort of! But it feels like old, rusty gears in his mind. Written words are easier, but the people just speak too fast and too much. No one will pause to let him try and translate. In fact, most of the people he sees on the road avoid him altogether. It seems outsiders aren't welcome in this land - or, maybe, he just cuts a rather unpleasant figure. His standards of living have slipped.

And this place! To the east of his forest, there's an enormous bridge made of towering metal and glass; to the west, there's a city that's very similar. He attempts to venture into it once, only to find the lights and noise overwhelming. With a blinding headache, he flees back to the forest.

Maybe if he spent time there, he could get used to it. But what's the point? Why should he start from scratch again, carving out a place for himself in a strange land, when it can be torn away from him again so easily? He can't go through it all over again. He won't live through this a third time. The loss of his memories was probably the only reason he settled into Hisui so easily. As much as he's always wondered who he used to be, he's starting to think the amnesia was a blessing. But he didn't forget Hisui when he came here, so he doubts he'll forget this place if he's ever taken somewhere else.

No. There's no place for him here. He doesn't want to fight to make one. So eventually, after having managed to acquire a map, he forms a different plan. This region has a large port city. If he gets there, and finds a way to earn his keep, surely he can barter passage back to Hisui? It's clear to him by now that he won't find any of his friends or clanmates waiting. There's no going home for him. But however long it may have been, the land will still be there. He can return to the familiarity of Mount Coronet, and maybe one day his bones will rest near those of his clan. It will be no less lonely than living here in the forest, but at least he will know where he is and how he fits.

The first step of the journey is to get through the city - Nimbasa, according to the map - and exit by the southern road. It's an intimidating prospect. There are no guards or city walls, but they obviously don't much like outsiders, and he cannot pass for a local. What, then, to do? He spends a day or two scouting it out. The bustle barely dies down even at night. How do they keep the lights burning so long? When do these people sleep?

Ingo finally decides to set out in the early hours of the morning. The streets are still brightly lit, but at least they're quiet then; most of the people have gone. It should be fine? But maybe he's just developed some sort of aversion to the place - his head still starts pounding before he's even halfway through. It's the sort of headache that makes it hard to see, much less navigate. Luckily, he isn't the only one with a good sense of direction here; he releases Probopass.]

We are trying to leave this city to the south. Can you help guide me there?

[Probopass offers him a floating stone arm to lean on. And they move through Nimbasa like that - a little slow, Ingo leaning heavily on his Pokemon. He's a shadow of the man he was in Hisui: gaunt, bedraggled, shaggy and bearded. He hasn't been eating even as well as he used to, and certainly hasn't been attending to his usual grooming standards. Well, who's left to care how he looks?]

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[Probopass - dear, faithful Probopass - is the one who notices first. Luckily, he's of a calm and steady temperament. Gliscor might have attacked directly, but he just stops and lets out a low, quiet cry. Ingo had been focusing on the ground in front of them, trying to ignore the lights and colors; at that, he looks up.]

[Ah. He knows that silhouette. The white coat stands out boldly amid the muted tones of dawn.]

[He'd forgotten there were Zoroark in this land. Maybe that black-furred one is holding a grudge?]

[Though...it's a little odd. He's never seen Zoroark keep close company with other Pokemon before. Maybe they're both Zoroark? He almost hopes so. Probopass can hold his own against a Zoroark, but that Pokemon...it looks like a ground-type? A very poor match-up.]

[Those two are still a short distance away. Part of Ingo thinks he ought to go and engage. Zoroark loose in a human settlement can be very dangerous. But...he's tired. Even the thought of a battle doesn't sound very appealing. And surely such a large city must have its own defenses? Better if they can just slip through here without notice - Ingo pats Probopass's side and gestures silently, and the two of them start to move again. Not running. Running attracts attention. Just a brisk, confident walk, with one hand slipped into the pocket where his other Pokeballs are hidden.]

[Excadrill stared at the man, and rushed to him. Its arms wide open like a child seeing a parent return home from a long vacation.]

[Emmet followed the pokemon, wondering what had gotten into him to suddenly break off like that. That wasn't like Excadrill at all who would walk beside him calmly and enjoy being out and about.]

Excadrill! Stop!

[The Pokemon did not listen as Emmet got closer to the two. Thats when he started to notice things, the faded black coat, the torn-up hat- all of it. Emmet knew what a Subway Boss uniform looked like, even if it was torn to shreds.]

[Ingo and his coats were customized for them. To help them stand out from the rest of the Depot Agents. How did this man-?]

[So much for that plan.]

[Ingo and Probopass move as one: Ingo stepping back and Probopass gliding forward with a loud cry of grinding stone. His limbs rotate around him in a threat display - oh, but that thing is coming in fast and those claws look very sharp! No time to try intimidation tactics.]

Earth Power, agile style.

[The order's given at a conversational volume for most people and a rather low one for Ingo. It's been a long time since he really spoke to another person. He used to speak to his Pokemon near-constantly when they were alone, but...well, point being, his voice is a little rusty.]

[It's also given in the language of Hisui and absolutely not Galarian, so have fun with that!]

[The move is incredibly quick, but also weaker than it ought to be. Ingo is mostly testing the waters, seeing if this is a Zoroark or not after all, and also maybe if a show of resistance will frighten the both of them away. Wild Pokemon are often like that; if you show you won't be easy prey, they'll back down. He doesn't want to have an all-out battle here, in the middle of a city where he doesn't think he's welcome. It can only lead to trouble.]

[This is a disaster. He should have just taken the bridge and gone the long way around.]

[The timbre of the voice, the tone, the coat- all of it was hitting Emmet like a wave as Excadrill took the blow. It brushed it off easily though, considering it wasn't level synched to the Gear Station and the attack was more of a display than anything else .]

[Emmet froze when he could finally see the man's face. He knew that face, even with the beard and grunge on it. Even with it being thinner than before and more tired. No.]

...Ingo?

[It was all Emmet could force out as the mole-like Pokemon kept going to Ingo, crying out.]

Earth Power!

[Probopass moves quicker than it ought in retaliation. Quick enough, with agile style, that there isn't enough of a gap left for either of them to notice that the other Pokemon isn't attacking. It won't last, with them reverting back to a regular move, but clearly they'll need to hit harder to get out of this.]

[Ingo stands his ground at the call of his name. There was a time he'd have listened; he's got the scars to prove it, and now he knows better. Two of them. Even with Probopass's defenses, they're outmatched. He withdraws a second Pokeball from his pocket - but the answering flash of light doesn't come from the ball in his hand. Alakazam has released herself.]

Alakazam! This is not your stop!

[She's quite unsuited for fighting a ghost! But the psychic-type doesn't return, or move forward to join the battle. She just stands next to Ingo for a moment, sharp eyes surveying the scene.]

[This time it hits Excadrill, who goes flying back at the attack. Emmet moves to cradle the Pokemon, who is getting back up and trying to go to the other man again. He refuses to stop.]

[Too many thoughts are going through Emmet's mind as now some people are peering out to see the pokemon fighting.]

[This looks like Ingo, sounds like Ingo- but, Emmet doesn't understand what he is saying. He looks at the Alakazam who emerged suddenly but wasn't moving.]

[Ingo can feel the eyes on him. His heartbeat picks up. If they call the city authorities, will they be glad that he intervened against these wild Pokemon? Or will they be angry? They need to get out of here. The smaller Pokemon going down provides the perfect opening.]

Prepare for immediate departure. Let's go.

[He doesn't recall either of his Pokemon, but he starts to back away, clearly intending to flee. Probopass starts to back away as well. Alakazam does not. She looks between Ingo and Emmet, eyes glowing faintly pink, and then points with a spoon at Emmet. Ingo pauses at the flashes of psychic images in his mind - not really convinced, but not willing to run away without one of his Pokemon.]

Of course it is a Zoroark! Look at it!

[It's an attempted hiss, but Ingo being Ingo means that it's fully audible. And even if that was all in another language - well, "Zoroark" is a common name. It's not hard to at least guess what they're talking about.]

[Emmet heard Zoroark. Maybe this was one? Maybe one pretending to be his brother and just not getting it right? He reached for an empty Pokeball in his pocket. He had a few on him just in case he saw a Joltik he wanted to bring into the horde while he was out and about.]

[He threw it at the other, hoping to try to catch it would make it at least revert. Although it was still innocently cruel of the Pokemon to look like Ingo and come into town.]

[he could catch it and release it back in the wilds perhaps. Maybe give it a lecture on how it should be more careful on who it mimics?]

[Ingo's too busy frantically gesturing for Alakazam to come with him right now; he doesn't see the Pokeball coming quickly enough to step out of the way, and it bounces off his head. More startled than hurt, he fumbles to catch it before it hits the ground.]

Hey!

[Whipping it back at the Zoroark is less a reasoned, logical choice, and more an immediate indignant reaction to having it chucked at him in the first place!]

[The Pokeball hits him in the chest and bounces off of it, hitting the ground and rolling away into a bush. The Pokeball didn't open like it should have when hitting a Pokemon for either of them.]

Ingo?

[He questioned again, louder, the blood rushing in his ears, the tears forming in his eyes as he wondered if this was really real. That his big brother was here, speaking in some language he didn't know with Pokemon he didn't know.]

[Or if this was just some cruel prank being played on him, but if it was, this was a different technique than he would have expected.]

Ah...

[Ingo looks pole-axed. He doesn't know what to make of this at all, but...he knows how Pokeballs work. That would have worked if it were a Zoroark. So...]

[He exchanges a panicked look with Alakazam (who is still quite calm) and then Probopass, who has returned to watch this whole thing and seems equally confused. His first thought is that he really really should have taken the long route. He wants to go home. He wants to run back to the forest. The pounding of his heart is deafening, and he feels sick with sudden nerves. But no - he can't do that! Can he? No, no. He has some sort of responsibility here, doesn't he, if this is a...a relation?]

[Ingo draws himself up, posture brittle and tense. It still feels a little too unbelievable to really be true, like some sort of dream logic playing itself out in the real world. Like one of the nightmares he always has about failing some important task in front of the entire clan. He's abruptly conscious of exactly how filthy and unkempt he must be. Terrible! Disgusting! But there's no fixing it now. Instead he dredges his mind, and replies in accented Galarian:]

Yes...?

[The tears escaped. He ran forward to throw his arms around the other man, not caring how he looked or by extension- smelled. It was Ingo. Where has he been? What has he been doing? Why does he seem so ragged? Why- so many questions in his mind while at the same time the only thing screaming at him was 'It's Ingo']

I missed you!

[Ingo flinches backwards, an automatic reaction like he's still expecting an attack - but, oh. He's being hugged.]

[He stands there awkwardly for a moment, hands frozen in the air. The man's tears are quickly soaking his shoulder. Ingo's stomach twists. Being hugged is strangely overwhelming - not exactly good or bad, just a lot - and he's dreading the moment this turns from joy to disappointment, but he hates to see the guy cry. He gingerly settles his arms around the other man and pats his back.]

There, there. It, ah...well, I suppose I cannot say it will be alright. But please don't cry!

[He's lapsed right back into Ranseigo; it's very much his default language after so many years. He can put Galarian sentences together if he tries, but it's slow and frustrating and he hasn't had much practice with conversing in it. Behind the man's back, he sketches out a few quick hand signals to his Pokemon: please do not let anyone else near. This is quite enough to deal with!]

I am Emmet, I missed you so very much.

[Emmet repeated as he dug his fingers into Ingo's coat. It was the same material as it always was, even if the man wearing it had changed. Emmet didn't understand Ranseigo. He was never one for verbal language. But the voice was the same, and that was what Emmet was clinging on to as all those years of refusing to break down started to emerge.]

[Emmet knew he couldn't stop crying, because- it was Ingo. When their parents decided it was time to 'pray for the best, but accept it' he couldn't. He just couldn't. One time heard when Reshiram and Zekrom were separated, Reshiram cried out like its soul had been torn asunder.]

[When Ingo went missing- Emmet understood that pain. He knew he did not have enough tears to cry to let his body surrender enough endorphins to ease the pain.]

Emmet.

[A simple sentence, short words, repeated. Ingo understands this. It's a huge relief - he'd been afraid he would have to end this by asking the man's name.]

[Despite himself, Ingo finds tears pricking at his own eyes. This is really happening. He feels awful - that he didn't think to come look around in Nimbasa sooner, that he'd reacted so defensively. That he still doesn't really know who Emmet is. At the same time, he's so relieved that he isn't as alone in this place as he'd thought he was! And the idea that someone had missed him this badly...at once horrible and horribly gratifying. Even if technically none of this is really for "him".]

[His breath hitches as he, too, starts to cry. But he relaxes too, and starts to rub Emmet's back a bit more naturally as he continues to mumble comforting nonsense.]

You're okay. You're alright.

I don't know what you're saying.

[Emmet finally said. But he didn't care- again. This was Ingo. If he were less selfish, he would call their parents, Elesa, their Uncle. He would tell them Ingo is back! If Emmet were more logical- he would alert the authorities so they could come do what they needed to, to figure out what happened. What Ingo was speaking. Take him to a Doctor to make sure he was healthy.]

[But Emmet was selfish.]

I don't know.

[Ingo mimics back in Galarian. His understanding is a tiny bit vague, but between those three words and the tone he's pretty sure he's got the gist. Emmet doesn't speak Ranseigo. Ingo did, when he first showed up in Hisui, even if he hadn't been so fluent then as he is now. And then he did it so much that he's lost much of his ease with Galarian. That...is going to be a problem, isn't it?]

[So much of this is going to be a problem.]

[He should say more. Come up with something else. He can do it, he's sure, if he just has enough time...but he can't get his thoughts straight, not like this. Emotions are running too high.]

I don't know.

[Emmet rubs his eyes as he wonders, did something happen to Ingo? He one time read about people who suddenly went missing because of Dissociative Fugue. He wondered if Ingo-?]

[Did Ingo forget Galarian? Did Ingo forget more?]

[How Ingo reacted to seeing him- how he reacted to Excadrill-]

[He prayed that this idea that sprung into his mind suddenly was wrong. But then again, all of his prayers up until now have been answered. Ingo was back- if he used up his favor with the universe to get that- he was happy.]

Do you remember me?

[There's a beat of silence as Ingo, ironically, fishes up the word "remember" out of his memory.]

[And then a much longer one as his stomach drops. How did he know? No, he tried to defend himself like they were both wild Pokemon. It must have been obvious, and Emmet's only just realized. He...he thought he was an impostor, Ingo is just now realizing himself. A Zoroark, or some other similar Pokemon. Strange to realize he must have always lived near them.]

[His silence must be answer enough. Still, Ingo manages to choke out:]

No.

[It struck him like a physical blow. He felt his breath get knocked out of him.]

[He knew this was coming. Something inside of him was screaming this was a cruel prank. But then again- this was the truth laid in front of him.]

[This man looked like Ingo. Except...weathered. He should call the police. Get them to confirm it is Ingo. Not get his hopes as high as they were just in case it does come crashing down.]

[He dug his fingers into Ingo's coat more. The following words fell out of his mouth.]

Don't be a prank.

[Ingo shifts as if to pull away - as if expecting Emmet to pull away. He hears that sharp breath in his ear. But instead Emmet clings closer. That's fine, then. He stays where he is, hands settling back against Emmet's back, awkward again.]

[Prank, prank, prank...he's quiet, mulling that one over. He's already asking for a lot just by being here like this; he doesn't want to ask for language help unless he really needs it. Which he shouldn't! He can understand Galarian! Mostly! Sure, it sometimes takes him a minute, but...]

[Faintly, he realizes he's already started imagining a future where they spend more time together. A very vague one, yes, but more than this. More than he should ask for.]

[He's been quiet too long.]

Uh, no?

Let's go home. Everyone has missed you.

[He will contact the police when they get home. Chandelure could confirm it was Ingo and- and everything would be complete again.]

[Emmet...he wants to go back to his home. Wants both of them to go there, he's pretty sure. As soon as the suggestion resolves, Ingo very much wants the same! He doesn't like being out here on the street like this. It seems as though many of his concerns about the city authorities might not be warranted - not if he isn't actually an outsider - but he still doesn't like the scrutiny.]

Yes! Yes, ah...

[He disengages from Emmet, reaching into his pocket for the Pokeballs to return Probopass and Alakazam. It'd be rude to bring his Pokemon into someone else's dwelling!]

[The space makes him more aware that there are some people out on the sidewalks now. Looking at him. Ingo flushes beneath his beard and tugs his cap down over his eyes. This is exactly what he wanted to avoid! It's probably rude to speak in a language Emmet can't understand, but Ingo's never been great at holding back words; he comments in Ranseigo:]

There are far too many people in this city! How can you possibly keep track of all of them?

[Excadrill uses this as a chance to approach Ingo now, tears in its eyes.]

[Ememt doesn't understand the sentence. He squints a little.]

I don't understand.

[Now that he knows this isn't a wild Pokemon, and can even see that it's friendly, Ingo's reaction to Excadrill is entirely different! He crouches down and holds out a hand, as if greeting a Pokemon he's never met before in his life - which, as far as he's concerned, he hasn't. But it's Emmet's partner, so it must have known him once too. Strange to think about...but it feels somewhat less fraught than reintroducing himself to Emmet.]

Good morning! I apologize for the misunderstanding earlier - Probopass and I were only startled! We will introduce the two of you properly later! If Emmet agrees, I suppose.

[It probably doesn't understand him any better than Emmet does, but at least Pokemon tend to pay a lot more attention to tone and body language. He looks up at Emmet, frowning a bit more deeply. This is rude. He needs to be working on his Galarian anyway.]

Sorry. Ah...this is who?

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