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!

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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.

"I'll... keep that in mind. I imagine it'll take some time. A mindset long held is one not easily let go of, regardless of who's around to help influence otherwise."

She smiled, though. Lightly. As if she knew better. Or perhaps that she wondered over her own strength of character. Knuckles sure had given her a lot to think about. Many things to question, from her own past, to the present, and even the coming days.

There was an underlying point, however, that she likely should have done things for herself, not for other people, a lesson that she was still learning.

"Is there anything you can do to kind of... I dunno. Get in touch with your roots and remind yourself why being a Gardevoir is so cool? Whenever I'm feeling like I need to get in touch with myself I go to my Island and walk the Hidden Palace. My people lived there and made a home there and I draw strength from that. You, on the other hand, have an entire species out there, alive and kickin'."

"Hm..."

After some thought, Voile shook her head. "No. Not here. When I left Lilycove behind, it was with the pretenses that I wanted to let go of everything that was there. My feelings, my thoughts. My history. The person I was when I was there. And yet, it's the only place that could bring me to my roots."

Looking aside, she offered a slight shrug, "I can forgo my roots if it means I don't have to deal with that part of things. I'm not interested in thinking about my past or facing it."

"Oh, geeze. I didn't realize I was openin' up a can of worms there, buddy." Knuckles replied, his smile fading. "I just figured it might be an OK thing to suggest. I didn't figure there was somethin' like that attached to the idea."

Lifting her right hand, she waved it back and forth dismissively. "No. It's fine. You and I are close. We should be able to talk about things like that." Then she found herself shaking her head again, "If I were stronger, I could try to put things together and face the demons of my past, but that isn't something I can or want to do just yet."

"But maybe one day," and she sounded a little hopeful when she said it. "I just want to be who I am now. And hopefully I can be the person people like you need me to be."

"Hey, all I need you to be is my pal. Anything other'n that is your call and you just need to do what's best for you." he replied with a smile. "I hope that someday you can figure out how to take on your past and maybe get yourself some closure."

"When I figure out what all of that is, too-" what was best for her, she meant. "-I'll be sure to let you know."

But she nodded and gave with the motion a subtle kind of surrender. It wasn't a battle, at least not the kind people had in books, but it was her simply conceding to his inevitably valid words. He sure was full of a lot of wisdom.

"I think with time, all things will become clear. I'm not in a hurry for it either, which may make it better. All people deserve some closure."

When it came to figuring out things like who he was, he was an expert. He'd had to invent himself from scratch with no help at all, and then since joining the world at large and quitting the high flying lifestyle that was being a crazy mountain hermit (Only the mountain was an Island that flew. And he was more surly than crazy.) he'd had to reinvent himself all over again. And somehow, he'd managed to integrate the best parts of both worlds. In his estimation, at least.

"They do. And I'm sure you'll find it for yourself too. As always - and you know this well enough by now I'm sure, but darned if I'm not gonna say it anyhow - any help I can give is yours."

"Oh, I'm aware."

He always wanted to help her and she just wanted to keep doing things herself. Life was easier when it was just her. If she kept herself at a distance then it meant that hopefully fewer people would suffer if something happened. She, unrealistically, always wanted to be the only one who had to pay consequences.

Was that... martyrdom? She didn't even know.

"If I need help, I'll let you know. If I really, really need it." But she assumed she wouldn't. She hoped she wouldn't.

Given the option to respond to her martyrdom he'd have dismissed it, of course. Not to be cruel or to suggest her feelings were invalid. But simply because if they were talking about risk vs reward, he considered her friendship to be a reward that far outweighed any risk. There were risks of that nature involved in any relationship, after all. Even making the wrong acquaintance could cause trouble. But she was one of his very best friends so more than worth any of it.

"Make sure ya do."

She cleared her throat when she realised she was starting to blush again. And that was probably because like many times in the past, she was beginning to over think it. Always trying to figure out why, when the why for this scenario wasn't that important.

"Thank you for dancing with me," she finally said. "It's kind of like a tradition, isn't it? Almost every year we dance together."

"An annual tradition. I like that." Knuckles replied, his smile wide. "Though, I probably oughta let you get back to your date and the other fellas who probably want a chance to get their dance on with you."

She almost snorted. Instead, Voile replaced that with something of a sly smile. "Hm. I'm sure the guys are just clamouring to come dance with me," she teased. "But I guess I better keep myself available just in case some clamouring comes up as a possibility."

"You say that like it's a joke or somethin'." Knuckles replied with a sly grin of his own. "I'm sure it's not too far from the truth, buddy. I'll catch you later - definitely before we dance again next year."

Because it is. Except she didn't say it.

Instead, she nodded to him with a lighter - and more sincere - smile. "We should probably see each other again before next prom and graduation, yes." She couldn't imagine why they wouldn't. "Until we do, take care of yourself."

"You too, buddy. Enjoy your night." he said, giving her a wave and walking off to have even further dance related adventures.

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