bakerstreet | Damn.

[Welp... Looks like Cynthia just finished the end of evangelion.]

Oh Asuka... you poor girl... you're so brave and wonderful...

[She's not crying, you are!]

[ Asuka feels... very awkward, for some reason? Is this pity? Should she react to this? She has no idea. ]

You don't have to say that, you know.

[Cynthia clears her throat a little awkwardly, blushing at making a slight scene. It was definitely pity, and she doesn't want to disrespect Asuka.]

Ah! You're right, I'm sorry. It's just that you were dealt a very dysfunctional hand, and I feel you handled yourself very admirably. I find you to be a truly inspirational young woman, the likes of which I've never seen before.

[ Asuka feels trapped between wanting to bask in the praise and wanting to discard it and lash out. To feel insulted that someone would say that now. Her weight shifts from one foot to the other and she frowns. ]

Well, glad someone realizes that. Finally.

[ When it doesn't matter anymore. ]

[That earns a laugh from Cynthia, because it was probably a bit too little too late. Her world basically ended and she woke up with Shinji as literally the last man on Earth. It's probably one of the most hollow "I told you so" moments if that's how one could describe it.]

I suppose the recognition is a bit late isn't it? Still, that's one of the great things about the multiverse. You still have a chance to live out the life you never had the chance to lead, in a different world without all the drama from your past if you wish to. I personally would be honored to treat you to an ice cream if you don't mind an older woman's company.

[Probably not the best consolation prize in the world, but it's probably better than going back to a world of nothing but the emo kid who wouldn't get in the robot?]

Ice cream?

[ For a moment Asuka just stares, not sure how to respond to that. She lifts a foot, rubbing it against her opposite ankle as she stares moodily off into the distance, her face set into a little scowl. Maybe she should be insulted by that. Ice cream, after everything that's happened, is a poor consolation prize. ]

Sure. [ She finally replies after a few more moments of awkward silence. ]

Treat me.

[ More a demand than a request. ]

[Forgive her Asuka, but Cynthia can't help but find that reaction adorable. She's just laughing again before offering Asuka her hand.]

My name is Cynthia, and I'm the pokemon league champion of the Sinnoh region. Now if you want the best ice cream, you should come with me to Castlelia City in the Unova region. The quickest way to get there would be on the back of my Garchomp.

[Adventure ahoy!]

[ The laughter rankles her, but she reluctantly takes the offered hand anyway. ]

...what's a "pokemon"? Or a "garchomp"?

Yes, I suppose you wouldn't be familiar with pokemon.

[Cynthia takes out a pokeball, and begins her explanation.]

My world is inhabited by creatures we call Pokemon that come in all manner of colors, shapes, and sizes. There is all manner of speculation on the origins of pokemon, and whether or not they replaced the other fauna of our planet, but there is a term used that I believe you may find more useful. They are sometimes referred to as Pocket Monsters, because it is possible to capture and tame them while storing them inside a pocket sized ball like this one.

[Cynthia then opened the pokeball and released her Garchomp]

This is my Garchomp, a dragon pokemon and one of my oldest friends and companions.

<[She gives her Garchomp a friendly stroke on the back right near the dorsal fin, and her Garchomp looks like it's absolutely melting into her touch.]

As you can see, she can be quite gentle. We'll climb on her back and she'll fly us to Castlelia in no time at all.

I-

What?

[ Asuka looks a bit flabbergasted by this, but you know what? This might as well happen. Can't be any weirder than piloting a giant robot and all of humanity getting turned into soup. She slowly blinks at Cynthia, at her dragon, and then drags a hand through her hair. ]

You know what? Fine. Fine! This is just my life now! Let's... get on your dragon and go, I guess.

[There's that laugh from Cynthia again, she's clearly a very cheerful woman.]

You're so cute Asuka, thank you for being such a good sport about all this. Now let's have you get on first so that you can sit between me and Garchomp's dorsal fin here.

[She offers Asuka a boost up on her Garchomp, and then settles in behind her when she's certain the girl is settled in.]

Now hold on tight, the initial jump into flight can be a little jarring.

It's not cute.

[ Asuka retorts. ]

It's how anyone would react to... to this-!

[ She gestures at the pokemon, but finally does start clambering onboard with a touch of caution, clinging to the creature with a sense of trepidation. ]

This thing better not buck me off in mid flight...

Not anyone. I've had this speech a number of times, and you're taking this quite well in comparison to them. I think it's cute that you're so quick to keep your composure, rather than panicking about a large and potentially dangerous dragon, and riding on its back.

[She puts a finger to her lips as if she would keep it their little secret.]

No need to worry, I'll be right behind you and my Garchomp would never buck me off its back. To Castlelia Garchomp!

[With that, Asuka's body was practically flung against Cynthia's as the dragon pokemon took to the air with one massive leap into the sky. After the initial burst of speed, it was surprisingly smooth sailing as if they were in a jet plane rather than flying through the air with the wind whistling past them at such speeds their faces should be getting friction burns.]

One of the abilities of a Garchomp is that they're capable of neutralizing the wind resistance around them making a smooth flight for us. We'll be able to get there faster than we would on most commercial airlines this way.

[ Asuka chooses not to comment on the assessment of her and instead focuses on the weird dragon she's riding. This is just... a very strange day. But what else is new? Her grip tightens a little and then-

She shrieks for a moment as they jet off into the air, feeling herself pushed back - and then it's surprisingly smooth sailing. She blinks and glances back at Cynthia, trying to process the information she's hearing. ]

...I've been in an EVA unit before and this is still weird. But as long as we're not gonna fall out of the sky... I'm not gonna complain.

I've been wondering about the EVA units, like how it's possible to breathe the fluid that they use inside. Such a thing seems so alien to me, and yet it was your every day life for quite a number of years.

[She nods in fascination.]

Although I suppose your life was literally an open book to me, while mine is still a bit of a mystery to you. If you have anything you'd like to know about me, you can feel free to ask.

[ She is pretty much rising with a stranger, isn't she? But that's probably the least perilous thing she's done and she might as well roll with it. Asuka scoffs a little and falls silent for a few moments. ]

...what do you actually do? Why do you have a dragon, of all things?

[This was one of the reasons she liked Asuka. She was very brave and bold, and willing to accept Cynthia's invitation despite the dangers that could have been involved. Indeed it would be all too easy for her to fall to her death if Cynthia was some sort of deranged serial killer, but she didn't need to worry about that.]

Well as I was explaining before, my world is a world of pokemon. Pokemon and humans live side by side in harmony, but pokemon are very violent and aggressive by nature. They will often seek battle, and to that end many of the people who catch pokemon train them to battle other pokemon. The pokemon enjoy it immensely, and there are facilities all across the world that specialize in healing pokemon that get injured in these battles.

[Cynthia placed a hand over her heart with a warm smile.]

I myself am a pokemon trainer, who has been recognized world wide for my skill and ability in training and battling with my pokemon. It is a professional sport in my world that gets televised world wide, a bit like the Olympics. My Garchomp here is one of the strongest of her kind.

[ A deranged serial killer isn't the worst thing she could run into honestly. And so far Cynthia is pretty pleasant, even if she's just suspicious in general of everyoje and everything. Perhaps she can be excused for that...

She listens, though, a brow arched. ]

...sounds like dog fighting or something. Are you sure these things actually like it?

[ Just a whee bit cynical. ]

Although I guess that makes you a celebrity, huh?

Yes there are quite a number of times pokemon battling has been called into question, particularly in the Unova region.

[Team ~~PETA Plasma in particular wanted trainers to release their pokemon, but many of those pokemon were then stolen by Plasma for nefarious purposes.]~~

There are many people who do not have their pokemon do battle, but pokemon by nature will seek it out particularly in the wild. If you have a pokemon by your side as a human, wild pokemon will almost always try to attack it, often out of jealousy or rivalry.

[Pokemon are violent little things.]

In a sense yes, although you too are a celebrity in your own right. I suspect that many people who find themselves traversing the multiverse as we do are celebrities of a certain sense.

...didn't end up helping me in the end.

[ Being a celebrity that is. ]

No one really cared. Or wanted me around, anyway.

[Cynthia sighed when she heard Asuka's self depreciating words, and she couldn't resist giving her a warm hug from behind.]

I care, and I do want you around even if you don't know me that well yet. You're a sweet girl Asuka, and I want to help you have that life I feel like you truly deserved to have in your world. One where you can be happy, healthy, loved, and appreciated for who you are and the many talents you possess. Just because no one in your life was willing to show just how much they cared about you, doesn't mean there aren't people out there that do. So don't give up on yourself, or your happiness, okay?

[She hoped that Asuka wouldn't mind the show of affection, particularly since it would be difficult to shove Cynthia off while they were riding on the back of her Garchomp. Speaking of which, there's the tell tale signs of skyscrapers on the horizon as they're flying over the ocean.]

Looks like we're almost there.

[ Asuka goes stock stiff as she's embraced from behind. There's tension in her shoulders and her neck and she doesn't really accept the big or lean into it. But she doesn't shove her away, either. She's stuck between the two, eyes suddenly fixed on the neck of the creature she's riding on, her fingers curled in against her palms. ]

...I don't need you to tell me that.

[ It's a low, almost angry tone. ]

And I don't want your pity.

[ But they are getting closer, aren't they? ]

I wanna get back on the ground.

[Cynthia let her go with a solemn nod as a way of apology.]

Perhaps, but I wanted to tell you anyways. As I mentioned before, I admire you and I think that is altogether different than simply pity.

[They were reaching the city at almost alarming speeds until Cynthia's Garchomp started to slow down and the wind around them could be felt once more.]

We'll be landing on a helicopter pad I've used on many occasions, and then we'll take an elevator down to the ground level of Castelia city. If you don't want anything else to do with me you don't have to accept my affection for you, but I was hoping you might at least still let me treat you to that ice cream.

[Asuka was certainly a prickly girl, and difficult to get through to. She knew why, but she just wished Asuka knew she could trust her.]

[[Trust is a very tricky thing, especially for Asuka. But she's here and she shrugs a little, tone edging into surliness. ]

I said I'd get some, didn't I? And I came all the way here. I'm not about to leave now.

[ Mixed signals. And sheer stubbornness.

As soon as garchomp sets down, she slips from his back to get solid ground under her. She exhales with a low sigh and then settles her hands on her hips as she takes in the sight from the pad. ]

You must have money, huh?

[Cynthia smiles sweetly, trying her best to respect Asuka's boundaries.]

That's good, because I'd hate to have to send you off with just some money for a taxi or something like that.

[She hops off her Garchomp, and returns her loyal companion to its pokeball.]

The elevator is a bit small to be handling my Garchomp, so she'll be sitting out this outing. As for money? You could say that I'm rather... successful.

[Or one of the wealthiest women in the world, but she doesn't want Asuka to think too differently about her just because of her net worth.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

I'm sorry for her

Don't be, she's perfect! XD

she's just a handful

Queen of tsun

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject