smash_logs | I'll be there for you

Entry tags:

I'll be there for you

Who: EV ERY ONE
What: Graduation. Prom.
When: The evening of May 31st.
Where: The Stadium.
Warnings: WHO KNOWS

One might find the stadium a little hot and humid for those used to a spring graduation ceremony. This fine evening the Academy is experiencing its first hints of summer, a warm breeze providing relief to those who would sit on the stadium floor, which had been rearranged into a platform overlooking neat rows of chairs meant to seat the gathered crowd of faculty and students. Towards the other end of the complex was the arrangement for the prom that was to follow. Food and drink, chairs and tables, each with a floral centerpiece, and, of course, a dance floor.

title or description

Before everyone could get their party on, however, there was the main event of the evening. From his place at the podium, Master Hand watched students and staff alike find their way into the stadium. With the recent robot shenanigans, there seemed to be tensions in need of dispelling. If the Headmaster knew one thing, however, it was that some silly city antics were not going to ruin this esteemed event. Not tonight. Not if he could help it.

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HEY DUDES! Here's how stuff is going to work. We kick off the log with GRADUATION. This part of the log will be divided into separate threads. I'll post them all at once, so feel free to hop around, mingle, post whenever, wherever.

HOWEVER, once the PROM starts, it will be up to you guys to post your own threads. Please check out last year's log if you'd like an idea of how this works. Everything after the thread titled "DISMISSAL" (I will post that in a bit, so don't post prom threads until I have that up!) will be considered prom, though don't let that stop you from continuing to post in the graduation section.

Please label all your threads appropriately! (Examples: "SHENANIGANS AT THE FOOD TABLE", "DANCE-OFF", "THE PUNCH IS SPIKED", "BOTHER X" In general, a location + what is going on in the thread is the way to go. Obviously, more than one thread can take place at the same location.   Linking back and forth when and if you thread hop is very much appreciated. If things start to look a bit laggy, we'll bump to the next page. Most importantly, HAVE FUN, and let a mod know about any problems or concerns you might have!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"No way! That really IS incredible, Voile. You know me - I'm not the kinda guy to chuck around empty compliments. It doesn't make me nervous at all and why should it? You ain't nervous around me and I can do some pretty incredible things too. And heck, I bring that stuff up all the time - and do it in public. Like bendin' those pipes at your contest."

He shook his head and laughed.

"We've known each other... what? Four years now? And I never had a clue. Color me surprised, buddy!"

She didn't say anything immediately, mostly because he'd managed to quiet her. She really wasn't fond of talking about herself. At least not about that kind of thing. Except anyone who knew her knew that she didn't like saying anything about herself.

"Oh..." She reddened and tried to hide beneath her hair. Well, as much as she could. "I guess I should have said something sooner. I'm sorry for keeping it to myself."

"What? Why are you apologizin'?" Knuckles asked, honestly confused. "You decide how much you tell folks and that's fine. It's not like I feel bad you didn't say anything. That's your choice. I was just surprised, that's all."

He gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.

"Oh... I thought you were upset with me for keeping it from you for so long," Voile admitted as her head tipped. "I'm used to being somewhat scolded for not speaking up. And it's not like I'm hiding anything intentionally. Sometimes there's just not a good time to say something."

She shrugged. "That's all. I never really thought it very interesting to discuss my abilities, so they never came into conversation."

"And when was the last time I scolded you for anything?" he replied, dropping an arm over her shoulders and giving a friendly squeeze. "It ain't anyone's business but yours. Right? I find that stuff really interestin' - some folks don't. Whatever."

He couldn't help chuckling, though.

"We're pretty different, huh? I go out of my way to show off my abilities to you, and you assume I'm not gonna be interested in hearing about yours. I must seem like such a showoff."

"...Knuckles. Did you just admit to me blatantly that you're deliberately trying to show off to me?" she asked him.

Her eyebrows lifted when she heard him and she tipped her head curiously. "Mind you, I have nothing against other people showing off. You have the strength and charisma. It's not really showing off. But why in the world do you feel like you need to demonstrate it to me so clearly? You have my attention."

Oblivious green-haired beauties were definitely oblivious.

"...uh... yeah. I guess I did. But I kind of figured you knew that already." he replied, his cheeks darkening a little bit. Really - wasn't he about as obvious as a bull in a china shop?

"It's not really about havin' your attention. I mean, I get that I do and I appreciate it plenty. I just... like.. showing off for you. I dunno why. It's a Guy thing, I guess."

Evidently... he was not.
Or Voile dismissed it as something else.

"A guy thing?" Voile didn't seem to understand, which in hindsight was likely no grand surprise. "From an animal perspective I can get it. Natural order of things, but usually that's being done because..."

"Uhm." She blinked. "You know. Mating and stuff."

Well THAT was enough to make him blush. Mating and stuff.

"Uhhh... I never... really.... thought of it in an animal perspective. I mean not like that. Uhh..."

Because of course he was far more likely to show off for a girl he found cute than for say, another dude. Though, that didn't necessarily mean he was angling for mating rights. He just enjoyed showing off for cute girls. Wasn't it reward enough to see them smile or make awed exclamations? It was reward enough for him, at least.

His response puzzled her. Like many things about him. But that was becoming second nature, it seemed. At least when it came to interactions like that. How had Voile ever come to have a boyfriend in the first place?

Sheer luck, it seemed.

"I think it's very flattering that you like to show off for me. I guess it's just hard for me to understand why because I can't think of any reason for someone to show off for me. I'm just me, after all."

"Bein' 'just you' is more'n enough to warrant it. Trust me." Knuckles replied, glad the conversation had turned a slightly more comfortable corner. "Anyone who knows ya will tell you the same."

"Does that mean I should start showing off for you, too?" she asked him with raised eyebrows. "I'm sure I could if it's something that I ought to be putting more effort into. I don't know immediately what I'd do, but I'll think of something!"

"I wouldn't say No to that." Knuckles admitted with a grin. "Like I said, I'd love to see you work that brain of yours and lift some stuff. But y'know - whenever it happens it happens! I'm in no rush so, don't go trying to make up for lost time or nothin'! Haha!"

"I've never been very good about getting attention, however. That could be the only downside to things," she admitted with a small smile. "But maybe I can try to get past that for your benefit. I'm sure you'll get to see it at some point. Maybe in a dire situation or something like it."

Then her head tipped, "Hm. Well, maybe not. I'd prefer to show it when it wasn't a frantic circumstance. Not enough time for you to appreciate it otherwise."

"A dire situation, huh? That sounds like you wanna go on an adventure wi' me some time!" he replied with a wide grin. "You'd probably get a kick out of treasure hunting."

"Treasure hunting sounds more fun than what I think of when I think of 'dire situations,'" she admitted as her eyebrows lifted. "I don't want it to be a situation when we're in danger, is actually what I meant. I had to do that not too long ago and I don't really want a repeat of it. It wasn't that fun."

Then she nodded, "So yes. Treasure hunting would be fun. I've never gone before."

"You should come along next time Goombella and I set up a Treasure Hunt Club." he replied. "We usually pick places that are relatively safe. It can be a pretty dangerous business, depending on where you go, but considering some of the members of the club are relatively young and inexperienced, we go for a lighter experience."

He quirked an eyebrow. "You were in danger a while ago? You mean in the city? Or somewhere more out of the way?"

"I'll certainly consider it. Give me some advance notice and I can check with the necessary parties-" Phoenix. "-and make sure we're good to go."

His question caused her to pause and she nodded, surprisingly stoic looking for dancing with Knuckles at a so-called happy occasion. "You remember when the city pretty much erupted into chaos, right? Since the contest hall is there, I had intentions to work on it and I got cornered by the whole... sub-human versus human conundrum. If it hadn't been for this girl... Chiyo, her name is, and Blue, it could have turned bad. Chiyo had it worse than I did, though. No one laid a hand on me."

Then her head tipped, "Makes me really not want to be a Pokemon anymore, though. Things are a little better now, but it's a stark reminder that Pokemon will never fit completely into the human world."

"You oughta given me a call - I could have helped all of you out." Knuckles replied, albeit gently. He wasn't upset at her though that WAS the reason he'd helped her get a phone, so she could call if she was in trouble. Him or whoever else she knew who might be able to lend a hand.

"Fitting into the Human world isn't worth sacrificing your identity for, is it buddy? I mean, you're a pretty outstanding person. And you've always been a Pokémon. I might wear this form sometimes to do certain things but.... Inside, I'm aaaaaaaall Echidna."

"Well, it wasn't like I hadn't... thought about it... I just..." She turned a few shades of pink, "I think I got scared and froze up. Everything happened so quickly that I didn't have much time to be logical, honestly. But after that, I stopped going to the town by myself. I haven't even been there for a while because of that."

Then she furrowed her eyebrows as she listened to him, "Do you think my identity is solely defined by the fact that I am a Gardevoir?"

"...right. Right. Don't worry about it. I understand."

Not everyone had a cool head when they were under attack. And Voile wasn't a battling Pokémon, so, it was understandable that her disposition had been more than ruffled enough for her to forget her cellphone. If anything, he felt a little guilty for not anticipating that.

"Probably not solely. But you gotta admit, if you were hatched as somethin' else, chances are you'd be a different person. Your life as a Raltz, Kirlia and Gardevoir before you got here probably make up a lot of who you are if not all of it. Imagine if you were born an Echidna - able to punch boulders into gravel, climb walls and glide for miles on the wind, but unable to feel anyone's emotions except your own. How different do you think you'd be?"

His very valid point silenced her. Mostly just so she could give it the thought that it deserved. She couldn't disagree with it either. Being a Gardevoir was very much responsible for who she was. Being hatched as a Ralts, as he'd so aptly put it.

"Hm. I guess you would be right. Even if I wanted to be fully human, I'd probably lose who I am. I couldn't have the abilities I have now. Perhaps I wouldn't be as kind as I am." She nodded slowly, almost a little annoyed for having to concur with him. "I should have considered that."

"You should be proud of who and what you are, Voile." he said quietly, his grin wide and toothy as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're one'a the best people I know and I know a lot of folks. I mean, I'm not saying that you wouldn't be a seriously awesome Echidna? And if you'd been born a Human you'd be a damn credit to the whole race. But I'm glad you were born who you are, just the way you are."

Frankly, his opinions of the Human race were a mixed batch. There were many Humans who he really cared about very deeply and many that he respected on an unshakeable level. But as a species there were some serious, serious problems there. He couldn't fathom the idea that Voile would want to Fit In to that world more than she was proud to be a Gardevoir.

It was a little painful to listen to him. Sort of. If only because her mindset had practically been ingrained with the desire to be a human. That was how she had begun when she really began to 'find herself.' But was all of that just an excuse? Was it lingering feelings for something that would never be? Was it anger that sat with her over her own disappointment in herself? She could go on and on and on with her theories.

It all sounded pretty dumb.

"That reminds me of something someone from Lilycove once said to me." For a moment, she looked and felt a little distant. "I'll try to embrace who and what I am more. No promises, but I can try." And that was better than nothing, considering how stubborn she often was.

"Hey, trying is the hardest part sometimes. You get that much going and you make it work and the rest should come easy."

Knuckles' situation was different, of course. He'd never wanted to be anything else. Even if it meant always being something of an outsider looking in. When he'd met Shade, the one other Echidna who had come to this school from an alternate dimension, he'd learned more about his heritage and his resolve to do well by his race had been strengthened a hundredfold. Voile had an advantage in that she had a thriving race to connect with. Knuckles would give many things to be able to say the same.

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