offtracks | for outbounds

for outbounds

[ In the end, Ingo's return to his home station doesn't come down to any action of his own at all.

Akari's the one who offers the trip. She doesn't make any promises, but after the work she has put in for the almighty Sinnoh, she insists that it owes her a favor. Ingo spends a few days contemplating it, sitting quietly in his favorite spots on the mountain. Can he really leave? Whatever else he may be missing, he has built a good life here in Hisui. He is happy, most of the time. He could stay, and know exactly what his future tracks look like, and there wouldn't be any problem with that.

But...even after all this time, he still can't quite ignore the gnawing ache in his chest. How much would he regret passing up this offer? Would it not just poison anything he might build here? He has to know. Maybe he'll regret leaving Hisui behind in the end, but at least he'll know.

So he spends some time making his goodbyes. He officially steps down as Warden, and accepts one of Lady Sneasler's elder kittens as a passenger. He bids farewell to the Clan. They let him keep his bracelet, and his tunic - keepsakes, for a one-way trip. The whole time, he cannot help but question himself - is this really right? He's abandoning people that he knows care for him, to return to a complete unknown. Is that selfish of him?

Maybe. Maybe it is. But he still cannot waste the chance. And, suppressing any lingering conflict in his heart, he does.

The flash of light separates him from Akari. He had expected that; though they've agreed to try and find one another again, they did not come from the same home station. Wherever he came from, it is dark and silent. Ingo recognizes the feeling of the cool air on his skin: he's underground. Some sort of tunnel? It's hard to say from here which way is out. So he just starts walking. He hadn't been dressed for travel back then, so how far away from civilization can he really be?

After a little while, something bright and roaring barrels through the tunnel. Ingo hears it coming; he backs away from the tracks and presses himself against the wall, watching the thing pass by with wide eyes. There are people inside. Some seem to be looking back at him.

He keeps closer to the shadows and moves more cautiously after that. Scary... ]

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[ Sudden movement at his back startles Emmet into spinning around, continuing backwards for a pace or two before— ah.

(Just where did...?) ]

No, no, wait. It is okay. See? It is just a prerecorded station announcement, they play when the trains will be arriving soon. Nothing else is happening.

[ He plays it like he's trying just to hush and reassure Gliscor— after all, many Pokemon take some time to completely, properly adjust to an urban environment, especially if they were from particularly far out in the wild, it is hardly something that will turn too many heads— but the words are for Ingo too. ]

[ Gliscor's tail is wrapped around his torso. Ingo grips at it as Emmet speaks. He doesn't look especially comforted - he still doesn't really understand what on earth that way - but if Emmet says it's normal... ]

Yes...yes, of course. Please do not pull the brake for my sake!

[ He will also be stopping at the bottom of the escalator as if concerned it might eat him, but he WILL get on once he realizes he's holding up traffic. What is WITH Unova? Why is it like this? ]

[ I'm officially making the executive decision now that there's more entrances to Gear Station than just the one we see ingame, if we're going to be scaling Nimbasa up to proper city or even borough size. Anyway, there are stairs right there, Ingo, if you're worried about the escalator eating you. Either way!

He wouldn't have thought twice about it before, but for now, after that reaction, Emmet will just study the two of them for a moment... then reiterate, as seriously as he can: ]

Nimbasa is a busy city. Please be prepared, okay?

[ Because eventually, they'll emerge from the underground...

To a late afternoon in the city, the sun somewhat low in the yellowing sky that can be glimpsed through the buildings, the skyline, not quite sunset yet. It's active, the streets, the background din of a populous settlement ever present. In the distance a waterfront stretches out, in another direction the silhouette of the ferris wheel can be seen ...

Emmet hesitates again, then thrusts out a hand. If Ingo accepts it, he'll tug them along, navigating through the streets with the ease of familiarity. If not, he'll just do his best to lead them. ]

[ Yeah actually you know what, we're abandoning Emmet for the stairs! Living that stair life! ]

Oh. Ah...very well...

[ Ingo doesn't actually know how to prepare himself. After the bizarre world of the station, he's not sure what to expect Emmet's idea of "a busy city" to look like. To him, Jubilife is busy - a town, yes, and not a city, he knows that much. But while he knows the faces of very many people there, he doesn't know all of them personally. He can't keep track of all their names, their comings and goings. That's busy.

What he emerges into may as well be an alien world.

The waterfront is beautiful, nearly familiar. But the buildings tower above, blocking out everything, and it's noisy, and what is that fast thing that just zoomed past -

Normally he might have demurred, but he grips tightly onto Emmet's hand when it's offered. It has hardly been five minutes and he's already feeling very overwhelmed! He can't even quite tell, from his position as a head-rest, how Gliscor is taking it, except that he's snarling low in his throat every time a fast thing rushes past. It's valid; Ingo isn't sure how or why everyone else seems to just be ignoring them. He keeps his head down, eyes on the ground, halfway trying to blend in and halfway just trying not to panic. ]

[ Oh. That is ... a solid grip.

(He is going to be so disappointed if he wakes up tomorrow and he is alone again. This time of year is always bad... but he can't keep doing this.) ]

It will not be long. Bear with it, okay? Just focus on me.

[ It's not far. Not so much so that they'd have to hail a cab or something, not that Emmet would with the way Gliscor seems to be handling things, let alone Ingo, but ... it's still a bit of a walk. This part is unavoidable, though, whether or not any of them were prepared for it.

(Mentally, Emmet marks down another notch for '... deep in the wilderness, somewhere.'.)

It's much quieter once they're away from the busiest flows of traffic. Not quiet, there is always ambient noise, but much more tolerable. Should be. As they approach the apartment complex Emmet leads the group to, he'll wince a bit, given that the receptionist or doorman at the entry will probably be there ... but whatever. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all.

He'll guide them into the building, past the front desk, up a flight of stairs or few— no elevator for now, not with Gliscor like this— and come to a stop outside a door, where he'll finally start looking through his pockets with his free hand for the key. Finds it, fumbles for a moment with the lock since it's his off hand, then show the three of them in, and shut the door behind them. ]

... Welcome home.

[ If the receptionist or doorman takes notice, Ingo himself doesn't see it. He only relaxes marginally once they're in the stairwell, safely isolated away from basically everything else.

Inside, he looks around, still visibly rather shell-shocked by Everything. This place is pretty obviously inhabited - oh, he must have misunderstood. Emmet was taking him to his own home. That does make more sense! Who keeps hold of an empty home for years? The fact that he did return eventually doesn't negate the fact that he ought to have been presumed dead a long while ago. ]

...thank you.

[ Emmet Was Not paying the front desk person any mind as he hurried them past, but if his notifications or texts start blowing up he'll probably have a decent idea of what happened, anywhere from in and between Gear Station and the apartment complex. He probably should put it on silent, huh. It's fine. He'll leave it on in case there's an emergency at the station unless it really becomes an issue. ]

... Your room's down the hall. Over there, first door on the right. Most things should still be pretty much how you left them. Kitchen's right over here; bathroom is that way and to the left. Have a balcony if you need some fresh air.

Can take a moment. [ To get settled. To reacquaint himself with whatever he needs to. Emmet gives Ingo's hand a squeeze. ] Or you can ask whatever you want to. I will be here either way.

[ The couch is looking very inviting right now, actually, but he won't pull away until Ingo does. ]

Oh! I lived here as well? You did not have to keep the space!

[ Though he's a little touched, which is quite obvious in his voice. Maybe even his face too, to Emmet. Ingo wavers, not quite sure what to do. He can't read what Emmet's thinking in the least. He settles for delaying the decision, opting instead to set their bag on the table and dig around inside.

This also involves pulling his hand away. He isn't quite sure if that's the right thing to do after the squeeze or not, either. ]

It is very...large.

[ Ingo pulls his hat back onto his head. He's seen comparable living quarters in Jubilife, if of a very different style, but he's never had so much space himself! ]

Was I supposed to move elsewhere? Our Pokemon do not mind the space.

[ On the one hand, cutting down to one paycheck instead of two— maybe not ideal. On the other, the hours Emmet's been keeping, the amount of overtime he's been putting in— means it really isn't a concern even before taking into account other factors.

Anyway, Emmet drifts his way over to the couch to more or less flop into it without even unbuttoning or taking his coat off when he's released, so at least letting go doesn't seem to be a big deal? He'll just watch Ingo for a bit as he rummages through the bag for his hat before blowing out a long breath. ]

Besides. Of course I did. [ Simply. ] Hmm. Did basic cleaning when I could. But if something is in the wrong place or it is a little dusty— sorry.

[ 'When he can', it turns out, is not exactly on any specific schedule, but. ]

[ It would simply not have been done at home. Space ought to be used, or left for those who might use it later. There's no sense hoarding it. But things are so different here. They must simply not think of it like that.

He watches Emmet go as he shrugs his own coat back on. ]

No, no, of course. I'm very grateful.

[ He supposes he will go off to find this room, then? It feels a little strange to simply walk away, but he isn't sure what else to do. After that somewhat harrowing walk, he's not sure he's up for leaping immediately into whatever this conversation will be, anyway. ]

... I wouldn't have done anything else.

[ As Ingo heads off down the hallway, Chandelure releases himself to follow along after him. Emmet watches them go without much fanfare or fuss, though if Ingo glances back at any point Emmet will just smile and cock his head in slight question, before waving them on. ]

[ Ingo looks over his shoulder at the sound of the Chandelure emerging, mostly. Oh, so...it's coming. (He? She? Unclear to him.) That's fine, he supposes? At least he sort of remembered its existence too! Even if, even now, nothing more is coming to mind.

He walks down the hallway to the indicated door and places his hand on the knob. How strange, to think that he'll see his own past space, suspended in time. Will he recognize it, on some level? Will it resonate with him at all? He hovers there for a moment, uncertain, but the other option is to return to Emmet and admit defeat. He doesn't want to do that! So he'll open the door. ]

[ The door swings open.

There's a desk along the wall, a bookcase with a collection of varying things on it along another. A closet, a wardrobe, a bed— the expected things, maybe. The position of the shutters on the window keeps the room from becoming either too warm or too depressing.

Many of the things in the room are varying shades of neutral to dark. Not everything, and not to the point of being stifling or gloomy, no, the room is still well lit, inviting, but enough to indicate a clear preference.

As Emmet sort of warned about, dust is starting to collect on some of the surfaces, on some of the things spread across the desk and shelves and nightstand. Some lingering trace bits of shed fur and scales cling to some of the sheets; it'd probably have been due for another cleaning soonish. Among the things on the desk: picture frame, pen holder, a few books, perhaps a few personal trinkets...

It's a room that clearly did belong to someone once, and has been maintained in their absence. ]

[ Ingo looks around, hoping to be drawn to one thing or another...but nothing happens. He feels the same as ever. Sighing, he moves over to the desk to look at the picture; photography has always been an interest of his. It's been colored with what must have been meticulous care, and depicts the black-and-white forms of himself and Emmet standing together. Unlike in the current day, they look entirely identical. Like one of them is a mirror...

He turns quickly away, sets his bag on the bed and starts to fashion a nest for that Sneasler egg there. That's what's most important. Gliscor carefully hop-flutters down to the bed as well, turning to keep an eye on Chandelure while they're all stuck in here together. ]

[ On its part, Chandelure swings back and forth a bit in curiosity as Ingo pulls the egg out, flaring his flames a bit in question. Doesn't drift too close, in any case, and once Gliscor starts glancing its way also ends up just watching the scorpion-bat.

At least the bedding probably makes for a pretty cozy nest? ]

[ Yes, that works out perfectly! Ingo will arrange it, and then step back to...look around the room some more. Does he want to search through these things now? What is Emmet doing out there?

He looks at Chandelure. Having it bear witness to him looking through his own forgotten belongings feels almost as bad as Emmet would have been. What if he doesn't remember anything? Just walking in didn't spark any new recollections. So far, nothing has. Maybe if he waits a little, he can do it on his own tonight. ]

Let us go see what Emmet is doing.

[ His voice is quite quiet, for him. He's trying very hard. ]

[ Chandelure tilts a little in the air, but sure. They can go back to Emmet! Emmet is ...

on his way to dozing off, apparently, despite the coffee. Or at least that's what the living weighted blanket called Eelektross would probably want, though Emmet himself doesn't seem to be all that keen on it given how he's halfheartedly shoving at the insistently clingy elefish. Presumably he also released himself from his Pokeball after Chandelure went to follow Ingo. ]

I am fine, Mercury, stop fussing...

[ His sleep habit has definitely not been all that fine recently, but let's not talk about that. Mercury, of course, releases a sort of disagreeing electric hum. ]

[ Ah. He's resting - is he resting? Ingo pauses on the threshold of the room, wavers, and attempts to fade backwards down the hallway again. ]

[ Emmet doesn't notice right away, given that the giant weighted blanket known as Mercury is obstructing part of his vision— but some of the floor does creak slightly, and Emmet snaps to attention at the sound. ]

Oh— you are back already? [ shove, c'mon, Mercury, get off him already; ] Was everything okay? I do not think I threw away anything important.

Oh! Ah - I don't think so.

[ How would he know? Emmet could have done anything he wanted to the room, and Ingo wouldn't know the difference. Was he supposed to be looking through his things? Or...unpacking? He supposes he didn't really do that either. ]

Ought I to do something else...?

[ If he were marginally more upright he'd shrug. As it is, a slightly more insistent push gets Eelektross off of him and up into the air, at which point Emmet also sits up properly, tilting his head. ]

Not really. Don't think there is any supposed to be for this, so whatever you want to do is fine.

[ A pause, before he hesitantly pats the seat cushion next to him, smile mild? The intent is more 'you can sit down, if you want', but he doesn't want to have it accidently come off as 'get over here' or anything like that instead. ]

[ Is that meant as a real invitation...? Ingo is really having a difficult time reading Emmet at all. Granted, he has never been the best at that in general. In the Clan, an invitation to share space with a stranger would be more ritualistic...but then, why should any of that apply, in this circumstance?

After what is certainly too much hesitation, Ingo comes to take the seat indicated. Gliscor flops over him on the large seat - comfy! Ingo's also noticing the comfort of the furniture; he's just a little too uncomfortable in general to really relax into it yet. ]

[ He laughs a little to try to lighten the mood after Ingo sits down so stiffly, though maybe just a little bit nervously. ]

I am Emmet. I am not going to bite, or get mad, or anything like that.

[ How ... how do they do this. 'How much do you remember?' mmmmaybe shouldn't be the first thing he asks, like that's all he cares about. There's so many things he wanted to say to Ingo if when they saw each other again, but with the way things are, and how they've been... ]

This is ... probably a lot. I know. [ He is, generally, a lot. ] Probably skipped past a couple of stations on the way here. Ssssso. Yup. You can ask me whatever you want.

Edited 2025-10-07 04:37 (UTC)

[ What questions does he have? There's too much; Ingo finds that his mind is instantly blank, in spite of the many obvious questions. What can he ask that won't be upsetting? That isn't just his continued bafflement over all the strange machines here? ]

There's - more Pokemon?

[ He noticed signs of more than just Chandelure (and Haxorus? Is that one supposed to be on his team, too?) in that room. That's several, and large ones at that...he needs to start finding some form of employment as soon as he can. ]

[ '... not much, then,' the answer to the question he didn't ask. ]

Ah— yeah. I've been taking care of them.

[ They'd always split the care and handling of their Pokemon across the both of them anyway, regardless of whose name and ID it is any one of them was originally registered to, so.

(Chandelure hovers in a little closer.) ]

Did you want to see everyone?

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