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Describe the person above you in three words or less.

Finally gets it

Galarian Stories

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	______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ __________________... in Motostoke at the Motostoke Stadium

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Thomas had been inside the stadium since before the sun crested the distant mountains. Although not adverse to it, he often took the opportunity to avoid the crowds knowing full well how much time and energy fans were often to take up. Being as it was the day of the ceremony, he had very little of either to spare. His early morning routine on this day was a little different from his usual. There was still the warm cup of coffee, now inside a favorite thermos of his, accompanying him to his every task. There were the greetings he gave to his Pokemon and the daily check-in with those at the lab and gym. There was the girl to whom he saw to. Then, there were the duties he expected of himself as one of a few leaders on the given day.

Working closely with a florist in the city, he helped to design and set up the floral decor in the stadium, ensuring that everything transported was handled with care and received enough attention to survive the entirety of the day's events. Colors blossomed in every hue, though muted in the light-less morning hours, and touched the accents, edges and corners of much of the stadium's architecture. It was a welcome change of scenery from the usual steel and brick that Motostoke was known for and also helped to clear some of the metal tinged air that often hung in more crowded cities. Confident the flowers would brighten up festivities once kissed by the sun, Thomas moved on to more menial tasks. He spent what was left of the day's dawn helping to set up tables, clean up trash on the field and put up whatever signage was leftover. When he was satisfied, or more accurately when the staff were on the brink of taking up arms to get him to stop, he finally took his leave to tend to a last errand.

By then, the sun had begun peaking over the ridge in the distance and the cool morning air was being slowly carried away by it's gentle warm push. He tried to relish the last moments of his favorite part of the day; when there was still the ice kiss on the tip of his nose and the air unfolding from his lungs turned to a hot ball of fog with his every breath. The coffee, still warm in his thermos, helped to keep his fantasy and as he came upon a peculiar shop tucked into the corner of a quiet square, he pulled from it one last sip. The "Good morning" he gave the elderly woman standing in front was hot and tasted of caramel.

She fumbled with her keys and eventually found and pushed a bronze piece into the door. "Thomas... would it kill you to care for your jersey on any day other than the day before?" Her tired, frail voice cracked around the edges of every word. "It's still too early to bother me. Pick-ups aren't for another hour."

"Well, I do appreciate you opening up so early… and just for me but, Nina, I keep telling you you don't have to."

With a slow twist and a deliberate push, the door cracked open. "If I didn't... you would be up there in your pajamas." Thomas laughed even as she did not and followed her inside. The shop itself was rather old as well. A room trapped in a year a decade ago and encased in the shell that was Motostoke innovation. Floorboards creaked underfoot and the ceiling hung low, threatening to snag at one of Thomas's stray hairs. The air was stagnant and smelled of an odd mixture of dust and clean linens. The walls were covered in various shelves that held not merchandise but Nina's innumerable tools. Mannequins were dressed in other people's clothes. Clothing racks were drowned in fabric. The window, currently sealed shut, displayed yesterday's fashion, though for what Thomas couldn't tell. She didn't sell. She did however clean and repair and was one of the few who’s skills with their hands were unrivaled. The main floor was also her main workstation. Beyond the counter that cut the room in half was a desk and on it, a track suit and a jersey. Ironed out, patches resewn and colors restored... again.

"Not that it matters anyways. These are barely any better than your pjs." Nina continued to waggle her tongue at him even as her back was turned, moving with an unexpected nimbleness to the other end of the room where his articles were waiting.

"Are you taking care of the sapling I gave you?"

"On the window."

Thomas turned and with a quick glance, found a potted plant standing defiant between two towering displays. He moved closer for a better inspection and noticed that it had rooted well and that the stem, which had already begun to stretch toward the sky when he'd given it, was now branching and budding. It was indeed in good health and seemed happy. "Wow. It's looking good."

"Unlike you, I take care of my things."

Thomas furrowed his brow as she straightened out and turned to her again. "I take care of my things."

"Haa-gh." Her rebuttal more of a grunt than anything Thomas recognized. "Clearly..." Her shriveled thumbs traced the trim of the outfit he'd refused to put on for a year and had left to collect dust stuffed into the corner of a closet. "And are you taking care of her?"

"Yes."

"No. Her. The uh... other one." She waved a shaky hand in his general direction signaling at another female dancing along the edges of what he thought she was trying to say. "You told me about the uh... fair ski-"

"Yeah, no Nina. I don't have the time right now. Kind of busy with construction of the lab and training some 'come-ups'."

The old woman shook her head. By now she had produced a bag and had already begun transferring the tracksuit over to it. The suit itself was first, folded some at the edges to allow it to fit with the jersey placed safely inside. Both were easily secured with the slide of a zipper and a sticker was placed on top. She scribbled something on it before picking up the entire thing and making her way back over to him. "Taking care of your things also means taking care of yourself." She held it out for him to take. "Don't forget to save some of that love and attention you give away so freely for Timmy."

"That's... not my name."

_________________________

The roars of the crowd just outside the main doors were loud enough to rouse the Flapple on his shoulder. Having spent almost the entire morning asleep, Thomas was happy to see the small dragon finally blinking it's way into the later early hours of the day. Thomas's greeting nudge on it's chin was returned with a trill on it's tongue and a long stretch and yawn. "There you are. I hope you're rested and ready for the day, Draco."

Thomas himself was now as close to prepared as he expected he'd be. His navy tracksuit was zipped up over his jersey, now in pristine condition thanks in no small part to Nina and her handiwork. His hair was up and tied back, Flapple was finally awake and last he checked since he returned, the stadium itself was ready to go. Although a few trainers and spectators had already started to trickle in, opting to ignore the ever growing crowd outside, the staff were nearly complete and were putting the finishing touches on setup. Everything was pretty much ready to go and in time for everyone's arrival.

He could recognize them by their entrances. Even through walls of concrete and steel, Hestia's Charizard's roar was unmistakable. The muted sound of heavy feet slamming into the ground followed by loud cheers signaled the Fire-Type leader's arrival and her voice answering their call was all the confirmation he needed that the rest wouldn't be far behind. Sure enough, the others followed suit. Fiona's particular speak cut through the crowd shortly thereafter, easily recognizable over a sea of shouts and cheers that threatened to drown her out. Then there was the voice of Isla, with an assuredness to her that was admirable but short-lived under the boisterousness shadow of Zeke's arrival. His persona was donned as it usually was in front of cameras and crowds and even if Thomas couldn't hear the man's exact words through closed doors, he understood the gist of what he was saying. It was a short-lived game as he tried to translate some of the mottled warbling language leaking through to him before the cry of a Loudred cut through everything else and effectively shut his musings up. After the crowd swelled with it's entrance and eventually evened out, Thomas picked up Ezran and Malik adding their song to the others. Liam followed shortly after them, his being one of the few that Thomas could clearly visualize as his compliments and flirtations were always rather loud and obvious. Nordrin was there as well, the renowned chef keeping his volume low, however, and just barely discernible from the rest.

Still to arrive it seemed were Joseph, Henrietta and the two other leaders whom Thomas knew the best: Moira and Elijah. He checked the clock on the wall. There was still time.

"They'll be here, Draco... and it's probably time we got out there as well, hm?" He turned to the dragon on his shoulder who yawned a lazy approval and stretched apple slice wings in preparation. Thomas did the same, pulling his arms behind his back, rolling his neck and taking a deep breath before holding it in his lungs as he went through a final mental check. Floral decorations were done. The stadium was set and prepped and ready. His official outfit was donned for once, though still concealed under his tracksuit which was also cleaned. He'd drunk enough coffee to offset his early morning start and received a wholesome dismissal and reminder from an old lady. And so, with a lung full of air and caffeine in his veins, he exhaled a ball of confidence, poise and carefully scrounged charisma and moved to the doors ready to greet the rest of the world.

"T-thomas! Thomas! I'm so sorry to bother you but... it never ends, does it. We've already got a complaint about some new trainer named Timmy leaving his stuff in someone else's locker. There was a bag with a name on it and some rather plain boring clothes inside that we've moved to 'Lost and Found'. I've made up some temporary signs as a reminder. Do you mind putting these up here? I'm putting these ones up at the other end of the stadium."

What Are You Listening To?

ᵗʳᵃᶜᵏ ⁰⁵

_____________________________________________ C A N W E by J I M - E S T A C K wb · ig · fb & K A C Y H I L L wb · ig · fb
	Hmm I would give you the world If that would make it all better They said that love's gonna hurt But babe, it's only beginning If I give it up, would it break your heart? Just to know what I'm like 'Cause I'm home again Tell me you're feeling it If it's love Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm And there's a million words I could say to you, baby But if you think it could work Tell me they're all worth saying If I giving up, would it break your heart? Just to know what I'm like 'Cause I'm home again Tell me you're feeling it If it's love Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm

Ban the Person above you

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Describe the person above you in three words or less.

Not enough words.

Post a random fact about yourself.

I used a bathbomb for the first time in my life.

I also learned that the bathtub part of a shower is amazing.

What Are You Listening To?

ᵗʳᵃᶜᵏ ⁰⁴

_____________________________________________ P E P P E R S A N D O N I O N S by T I E R R A W H A C K wb · ig · fb
	You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the Sun but gum is stuck to my shoes (I try, I try, I try, yeah, yeah) You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the Sun but gum is stuck to my shoes (I try, I try, I try, yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah I'm not perfect, just a person (Yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah Sometimes happy, sometimes nervous (Yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah I'm not perfect, just a person (Yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah Sometimes happy, sometimes nervous (Yeah, yeah) I'm new to this game, I ain't been here long (Long) So forgive me if I get this wrong (Yeah) I get lost sometimes, Italy, I roam (Yeah) I had to figure certain things out on my own (Woo) Make a phone call home to the ones I love (Love) Shit crazy out here, have you high on drugs (Damn) To be real man, I thought about pullin' the plug (Uh) So I can go fly high with the ones above (Ooh) Yeah (Damn) I don't wanna be judged, I just wanna be me (Damn, damn) Even though we buy chains, we just wanna be free (Damn, damn, damn) I don't wanna be judged, I just wanna be me (Damn, damn, damn) We just wanna be free (Damn) You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the Sun but gum is stuck to my shoes (I try, I try, I try, yeah, yeah) You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the sun but

T H E R I V E R ᶠᵉᵃᵗ ᴱˣˡᵗ ˣ ᴮʳᵒᵏᵉⁿᴾʳᵒᵐˡˢᵉ

_Peter
^{PDC HQ · Holding Sublevel B2}

"It's a... hard question to answer, I'll admit."

Peter adjusted his glasses and stepped away from the woman, tapping the now transparent wall. The previous box of text was removed and a complicated overlay took over the entire space. Everything inside the room became highlighted. Over the edges of the Aida was a thin green line which followed the eye-line of whoever was looking through it, moving to match whatever angle they were viewing the information. Opposite him was the same man who had been inside the room since Kefira was first shown the live feed by Lorelei. He was highlighted in a dark grey as if to 'mute' him. Smaller windows began to appear across the surface, each one locked to a specific focal point in the room and magnifying and extrapolating extra information from their focus. The one on the doctor had a box around his chest, with an x-ray view of his heart. It beat calmly, the numbers and moving data lines around it the tell tale signs of normal oxygen levels and of low stress.

The Aida had several. There was a similar box around his chest with much of the same information albeit with a slightly slower heart rate. There was another on his hands and fingers, recording movement and subtle signs that could lead to any number of possible actions taken on it's part. There was an intense magnification of his eyes. Like the one over his hands, it read subtle twitching but also blinking rate, tracked what he was looking at and for how long, and also kept a log of temperature and tear production if any were produced. The final box was a blank square. There were lines that were drawn from it's corners to a point centered on it's head but while the program tried to read what was there, it could not.

"I have access, yes. But, my time with any of the AIDA versions post V three has been severely limited. I mean... the third version was out for a few years before everything went to hell and... they. Are. Expensive. Let me tell you." Wide eyes and misplaced bewildered excitement met with Kefira and her actual question. It took him a brief moment to realize that the present was not the place and he shook his head. "My time was limited and AIDAs are amazing pieces of work... despite what they've done. To really understand them... well you would need one of their scientists or engineers and they're strangely very elusive. It often feels like the technology was designed to prevent reverse engineering." He pointed at the blank box hovering near the AIDAs head, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders at the girl. "We're not allowed to look inside. I'm not sure who is besides them. Maybe the military but who really knows."

"What I can tell you is that yes, he is still a 'computer' in a sense. While he's made entirely of flesh and bone, what we know of his brain from the pieces we're allowed to glimpse and 'edit'..." He glanced again at Kefira knowingly. "...Tells us that he runs on commands similar to any appliance if you will but can still think and reason learn... 'grow'. The code underneath is impossibly complicated, we speculate, as we can't see it and even the code we can is at times, weirdly, hard to decipher but, yes... he can be controlled. It's what we'll be establishing right now today. Speaking of, there's no implant or surgical procedure to this process. It's all painless. Due to his natural programming and the growth process during development, he's actually meant for this. Waiting for it if you will... and actually waiting specifically for you. Time of purchase was not recent so, like the other nine or so V fours out there, he's tailored to fit a specific role and person. Lorelei was specific apparently and extremely tight-lipped about it all."

Peter picked up the headpiece to his proximity suit and began putting it back on his head, adjusting the visor until it was center with his eyes and reconnecting the wires he had to disconnect earlier. With a satisfying click and a short hiss of gas pushing through now sealed vents, he returned to Kefira. "After this, it's permanent. It cannot be undone with a button push. It cannot be hacked. Everything he does will irrevocably be linked to your actions. It's what they wanted... and maybe why she chose you. Although... I guess it's not my place to comment on that..."

His voice trailed off as he moved toward the door and stood next to the pad that would allow her entry. "David in there will leave and I'll accompany you inside and take his place."

"Did you have any other questions before we go in? Don't hesitate to ask. Some may be too late to answer when we leave the room."