as ATP is this weekend!

[these_balls]

TEST DRIVE MEME


➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!


NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | and | KANTO

✭ ✭ ✭


As usual, we've created a Google Doc so you can submit your wanted characters for a big Route game ad on this month's ATP!
FIND IT HERE
CUTOFF FOR ADDING CHARACTER WANT ADS TO THE GDOC IS:
6:30 PM, EST, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 30!

Comments

[armoredsoul]

[Al's a bit lost at the moment himself, map out and puzzling to himself under his breath as he tries to find out just where he took a wrong turn. His Luxio and Glameow trot along at his side, the former nosing curiously under every bush as the latter simply keeps an eye on him.]

Was it...a left over there? No, I'm sure I took a right, didn't I?

[father_of_the_year]

[Upon hearing the sound of someone sorting their thoughts aloud, the Major turns and calls out with a cheerful wave - even though they're not likely to see it behind that big old map anyway..]

Hey! Looking for something?

[armoredsoul]

Ah! Yeah, I got turned around somewhere, and-- [Al lowers the map to answer and stops short, staring in shock at the man addressing him. This...no way. Sure, Scar was here, and everyone else, but somehow the thought of others dead back home showing up was just...]

M-Mister Hughes?

[father_of_the_year]

[Wait, that kid kind of looks like Ed. But Edward's hair is lighter than that, isn't it?

And there's this moment of dumbfounded blinking. Had the Philosopher's Stone thing worked out, then?

Well, here's a long shot..]

..Are you...Al?

[armoredsoul]

[Al's lip wobbles before he runs over to Hughes, map cast aside as he flings his arms around the man. Sorry, Hughes, your life is now Desperately Sorry Elric Hugs TM. Luxio charges along with a look of alarm, and Glameow isn't far behind with his chorus of confused meows.]

You-you're here! I didn't think I'd ever see you again!

[father_of_the_year]

[And there's mild confusion, but wrapping his arms around the boy and giving comforting hugs and soothing circular backrubs. Speaking in a low, even and calming tone - his paternal streak is showing.]

Hey now, it's alright. I'm here. It'll be okay.

[...Was this...because of what happened back home?]

[armoredsoul]

[Al's shoulders shake with held-back sobs, but Hughes's comforting words do help to soothe him. He sniffles, burying his face against the older man's chest.]

W-we never meant to get you in trouble like that. We never meant to...

[To get him killed. He hadn't done anything wrong, he'd just wanted to help and he died because of them.]

[father_of_the_year]

[And still holding the boy close and rubbing his back.]

Shh. It's alright. It's not your fault, Al.

Intelligence is a dangerous line of work sometimes. Some risks you just have to accept as part of your job.

[There's a gentle, reassuring smile offered at that.

It does bring back the sad realization that he'll probably never get the chance to hold his daughter again, but..Now's not the time to think about any of that.]

..And, it looks like everything worked out in the end. I mean, you're not a suit of armor anymore, right?

[armoredsoul]

[Al pulls back a little and manages a wobbly sort of smile up at Hughes, sniffling again and rubbing at his eyes.] Y-yeah, Brother managed to fix me. And we stopped the woman that was orchestrating all those wars, too.

[Al's Luxio nudges his head up under Al's arm with a worried whine, and he pets his head reassuringly.] I'm fine, Eddie, I promise.

[father_of_the_year]

[Without missing a beat, Maes picks up the conversation.

You'd think he was just catching up with someone after only a week or so had passed - rather than the actual circumstances at hand.]

That's good! I'm glad to hear it.

Sure sounds like I missed out on a lot though, huh? You two sound like you've been kept pretty busy!

Did he wind up needing the Philosopher's Stone after all? I know that that was a problem for him before, when he found out how it was made..

[armoredsoul]

[Al frowns a little, glancing to the side.] ...yes and no. We...it's a really long story. A lot happened after you were gone.

[father_of_the_year]

[He nods.

It looks like this is one of those things where changing the topic might be for the better.]

Well, at least things seem pretty nice here?

[A gentle smile. Hey, he's making the best of things, right?]

[armoredsoul]

[Al eagerly latches onto that change in topic, and nods.] It is! It can get weird at times, like how it literally was raining cats and dogs for two days, but it's not that bad overall.

[father_of_the_year]

[His brows knit together with concern as the peculiar weather information digests. Along with momentarily pondering what the appropriate response to that is.]

...Literally raining cats and dogs?

Was anyone hurt?

[armoredsoul]

Nothing really serious that I heard of. Even the Pokemon were okay after the fall--one of them even fell right onto Brother, and other than his pride being squashed they were both totally fine!

[father_of_the_year]

[Okay, he kind of wants to chuckle at that, but he manages to resist the urge to do so but does offer a smile.]

It's good that there weren't any injuries, then. I'd think that falling from that kind of distance, anything with a reasonable weight could actually get hurt or hurt something else. So, the fact that there weren't any serious injuries is good to hear.

[And then there's a beat.]

..Ed's here too?

[armoredsoul]

He is! Well, he's around somewhere. I was still packing up the camp when he went haring off, and then I got lost trying to catch up to him. [SIGH. Why can't Ed just stay still for five minutes?]

Hughes is such a dad at heart. He really is. /)(\

[father_of_the_year]

[He chuckles.]

Sounds like he hasn't changed a bit.

I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later, but I'd be glad to keep you company until he does. I don't really have any plans, sooooo...

[And there is the most casual of casual shrugs.]