codeforhope | Voicemail

[Rin nods in affirmative. He rolls his shoulders and settles in for the next hour. They (thankfully, finally) reached 5am and there was still 25% left in their power gauge.]

I think we've got it this time.

[Chihiro says after some time in silence. It's clear from his tone that he's excited, but at the same time this game is tricky. It could easily throw them at the last minute.]

[It tripped them up last time; it wouldn't hesitate to do it again! Rin attempts to be even more diligent in his observations. The last thing he wants it to be surprised by some machine sneaking up on him during the final stretch.]

[It's almost agonizing having to watch the clock ticking down alongside their power gauge. It's really a race between the two while they fight to keep out of the sights of the monsters in the dark the entire time.

It's 5 AM, meaning that there's only so much time left for this one day...they can make it, he hopes.]

[Tick tock

tick tock

tick ... tock

The seconds turn into minutes, the minutes drag on almost senselessly in various directions. Was there going to be a surprise right around the corner? Will there be enough power to face the next challenge?

His palms are sweaty.
He's leaning closer to the screen.
His every action is fine tuned to this moment.

CAN THEY MAKE IT OUT?????]

[Even with headphones on, it's getting hard for Chihiro to keep focused on the screen, lest something pop up and surprise them. A jump scare is only as scary as the screeching noise it makes, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant to see. He does resist the urge to hide behind his hands as the clock ticks on, though, and he finds himself leaning a bit closer, too.

For a long time, nothing happens...

Then, without warning, the screen goes dark.

But instead of a power outage, it's the 5 AM clock slowly turning to 6.]

[D-Doth his eyes deceive him? That sure is the congratulatory music playing in the background. That sure is a number six. IT SURE AS BALLS IS 6AM.]

We did it? [MAYBE. MAYBE IT'S A TRICK??????]

[Once he was sure that the level (or night, as it were) had ended, Chihiro pulled off the headphones, so he manages to catch Rin's question.]

We did it!

[delayed cheering in 3... 2... 1 .. - ]

We really did it!!

[GONNA JUMP AROUND AND PULL CHIHIRO ALONG FOR THE EXCITED PRANCING ABOUT

THERE IS ALSO THE REQUIRED HIGH FIVE OF MAXIMUM AWESOME ACHIEVEMENT

EVERYTHING IS AWESOME]

[With how grueling getting through that night was, Chihiro is just as excited about the win as Rin is, letting him pull him into the celebrating without complaint. Even Isamu looks up from his position in his food coma on the floor to see what all the ruckus is about.]

Hi, Chihiro, it's Xion. I wanted to ask you something, so when you've got time can you please call me back? Thanks, bye.

[Surprisingly Xion only sounds slightly nervous (even if she still feels pretty nervous) otherwise the message is spoken pretty confidently.]

[Chihiro had been working on something on his laptop when Zip informed him of a new voicemail coming in, so it's only a little while later that he calls back. He wanted to save what he was doing, after all.]

Hello! I hope you've been doing well, Xion.

I have! Just hanging out with my friends and stuff, we might finally go after badges.

[Pause. Okay. Deep breath, Xion, this is what you were going to ask.]

I was wondering, um...that language you speak, Japanese? I was wondering if you could...teach me it.

That's good to hear!

[The request itself is actually a little surprising, but not unwelcome. He's been teaching Joker's Zoroark how to work with computers, but he's never taught someone a language before...but he does enjoy being able to work closely with someone and teach them something new.]

Oh...I think it's great that you're interested in learning!

You...you'll have to forgive me, though...I've never taught anyone Japanese before. But...I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

That's okay! It looks like there's a lot to learn, with the writing and all, but...it's fine, I'll do my best to be a good student!

Thank you. It's interesting how we can all understand each other here, no matter what language we speak...but it's still important to remember that most of us probably do speak different things, I think.

Yeah, that is weird. I think my friend speaks about three languages, that must have taken her a while to learn.

And I only speak one.

[A pause.]

But I'm not asking because I'm competing with her, I just thought...ever since I heard your suggestions for naming my Pokemon, and then seeing some writing later, I just couldn't get it out of my head. It feels homey.

[Homey, huh...?]

I can understand that. That's part of the reason why I choose the names I do for my Pokemon. They feel...closer to me that way, somehow.

...what language do you speak back home?

I, uh...I don't really know. I never thought about it, I guess. I just know that all of our names are pieced together in certain ways and they mean something, and all I've ever really known is my name.

Hnn--I don't really know how to explain it. And it's probably not a good example.

Hm...I suppose it could be any number of languages, then. But I can also see why you would like Japanese. It's one of those languages that has so many different meanings, depending on how a word is said or written...

Yeah, and...maybe I can find a new meaning for my name in it.

[She's not sure if that's something she should bring up with Chihiro, but she feels comfortable enough.]

If that's what you want to do, then I'm sure you will, Xion.

[He doesn't mind; he won't press her about it, either. He's sure she has her reasons for wanting to do that.]

You can call me pretty much any time you would like...and I'm usually always at my house in Goldenrod, unless something comes up.

Is your Linoone still fat?

[Ah...]

I don't think he's really lost any weight, so...he's still a bit chubby, yes. I've been trying to get him to exercise more, but he puts on more than he can burn off...

Maybe you should give him less food, then.

Voicemail

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

7/1 [voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

text;

text;

text;