100th moon [video]

[paladinlost]

[The video starts with stones. Stones upon stones, stones that form floors and low walls until they give way to the sky. Someway, somehow, the Pokégear has found its way to the top of a tower.

The image turns east, towards taller walls and taller towers, before dipping to show a dark grey yard. A castle, it seems. One so solid it could withstand any army, with strong oak doors to match. As the video keeps moving more walls and outdoor passageways come into view, decorated with lit torches and banners of red and gold. It pauses for a few moments at the castle gate, left open to show the surrounding waterways and a few brave and curious locals who do not quite dare to enter.

Finally, the video moves towards the central courtyard, where dozens of Pokémon can be seen milling about curiously. Their looks of wonder as they explore are too far to be seen but still undeniably present, just like the smile of their trainer behind the camera.

What words could Cecil possibly use, to convey all the feelings that this slight slice of home awakens within himself?]

My Greninja has decided to play hide and seek in the castle. Help.

[...Baron's greatest public speaker, ladies and gentlemen.]

Comments

[audio]

[nullorvoid]

[...Holy...shit, Cecil, where did you even get that thing - ]

...That looks nothing like anything that belongs here. Where'd you find it?

[video]

[paladinlost]

In a moment of madness, I tried wishing for the comfort and familiarity of my true home at one of those trees. This... was not quite what I hoped to obtain.

[Understatement of the century.]

[nullorvoid]

Are all holy knights that well off?

[paladinlost]

I was likely to inherit it long before I became one, actually. Paladins do not receive payment or castles for simply being themselves, but as the Lord Captain of the Red Wings, I was one of the very few who could.

[nullorvoid]

Secondary title then. Got it.

[...]

Congratulations on getting home back, I guess, even if it's not what you wanted it to be.

[video]

[samsa]

[Kaneki can't really help but re-watch the video before actually responding, if only so he can get a better look at the castle in its entirety. It looks like it came straight out of a novel set in the middle ages, to say the least.]

That's incredible...is that castle yours?

[video]

[paladinlost]

It is my home, yes. I'd not seen it in nearly five years, but I never imagined it'd some day find its way to Celadon.

[Or that it'd become the best hide and seek playground ever, for that matter.]

[video]

[samsa]

[No kidding.]

Your Pokemon seem to like it, at least.

[video]

[paladinlost]

...A little too much, in certain cases. Eblan can disappear from my sight in a small house; will I ever manage to find her again in here?

[video]

[samsa]

If you pretend to give up looking for her after a while, she might show up. That works with some of my Pokemon.

[islandshore]

...That's a castle.

[Okay, that was a dumb thing to say, but Riku can't help it. He's just... speechless. That thing came outta nowhere. Why? How? When?

What Cecil may not realize is that he's actually standing right outsie the castle, having stepped out for a quick shopping trip.

Oh. He should probably say something else, though.]

You still need a hand?

[paladinlost]

The greatest castle ever built, if I'm allowed to say so. Home sweet home, as they say.

[Cecil indeed does not realize that Riku is so close by. From all the way up that tower, everyone on the ground is a little tiny.]

I do, yes. I've looked through every tower, but that still leaves the ground floor and the basements. Assuming she's not moving around, of course.

[islandshore]

Heh. Not like I've got anything to compare it to.

[His fingers drum on his hip, as he contemplates what to do.]

And if she's anything like Enigma, then you're definitely gonna need the backup. Those frogs are way too fast for their own good.

[paladinlost]

I know. I once managed to lose track of her for fifteen days, inside my regular-sized house. I can only imagine the possibilities she sees in musty old basements.

[What he imagines is more than slightly terrifying.]

[islandshore]

Geez. And she didn't leave any clues?

[Man, what'd that frog even do during those days? Did she hoard a bunch of food and camp out somewhere?]

Video

[fairy_tale_trainer]

That sounds like fun! Where are you?

Video

[paladinlost]

In both Celadon and Baron Castle simultaneously, thanks to a wish. Are you talented at hide and seek?

Video

[fairy_tale_trainer]

I used to play it all the time!

I don't think I'm close enough to make it anywhere near there any time soon.

Video

[paladinlost]

That's a shame. But then again, Eblan plays hide and seek every day and I doubt she'll stop anytime soon. She merely... has a much larger hiding ground at the moment.

Video

[fairy_tale_trainer]

Is there any faster ways of travelling. So far I've only experienced a lot of walking. Though the spa in Cherrygrove city was nice. I know my pokèmon enjoyed it too!

[video]

[solas_ion]

...That's a castle.

Where the hell did you get a castle.

[video]

[paladinlost]

The wishing trees can be surprisingly generous, perhaps as compensation for deliberately misinterpreting what I wrote down.

[video]

[solas_ion]

It gave you a castle.

[Lancer may have been restating the point a bit much, but that was mostly due to being both impressed and immeasurably jealous.]

[video]

[paladinlost]

I wished for home. It simply brought home here instead of sending me back there.

[Why yes, that's indeed his house.]

[video]

[solas_ion]

[well of course it is, knights live in castles and lancer sees nothing odd here]

...Yeah, kinda figured it'd pull stuff like that. [A sigh.] I don't trust wish granters even if they look like they ain't got strings attached.