[May's battle with Lance had been interesting in quite a few ways, in both watching a high-level Pokemon battle and in what Steven had mentioned after the battle. It may not have been the time or place to have that conversation then, but now was a different story, as long as Steven was feeling up to it.]
You mentioned something about May going above and beyond the duties of most Trainers her age the other day.
[With that prompting, she'll leave it up to Steven to decide where to begin.]
[ though Steven's visit was initially for lunch and friendly chatter, he had a feeling that Leia would bring up what he had initially brushed off on the day of the battle. she deserves the explanation, even if it's a story that he doesn't particularly enjoy telling. ]
It's something that happened back in our world. There was an occurrence in our region that had the potential to threaten the world, and she was the person to quell it.
[ he goes on to explain the weather crisis and the events leading up to it - the ancient legend of Groudon and Kyogre's Primal Reversion, the rise of Team Aqua in the present day, their plan and acquisition of the Blue Orb, and its near-apocalyptic consequences. he shares a memory of the torrential rains and the raging sea, unnatural and unyielding. ]
As Champion, it was my duty to protect the Hoenn region and its people. Unfortunately, it was a task that I found myself unable to handle on my own. I had witnessed May's strength and capability in the past, so I asked her to assist me.
[ he looks distant now, shameful at what he had done. he hopes Leia won't see him differently for it, but wouldn't blame her if she did. ]
She was exceedingly successful, but I realize now that I was asking far too much of her. I've since apologized for my selfishness. [ he sighs. ] In a way, I'm glad that she's here. It may be the best way to make amends.
[Leia's patient, listening as Steven explain about Kyogre and Groudon, Team Aqua, and everything that happened there. It's almost difficult to believe that a single Pokemon can bring about that much devastation. She's used to Steven's own Pokemon, or the other smaller, more normal Pokemon she's seen in the possession of other Trainers here, and none of them ever gave off the impression of having that much destructive potential.
But when he gets to him involving May in the mess, she purses her lips, still listening, but not entirely sure what to make of it. She doesn't really know May well enough, except knowing that she's a young child. But would she have done anything differently if she were confronted with a crisis this severe and knew there was someone more than capable of helping prevent it regardless of their age? She's not sure. Nor is she sure whether May would have accepted not being involved in the efforts to stop Kyogre.]
I think in extreme situations we all make decisions we may not have made without that added pressure. Realizing now that you asked too much of her is an important step.
[ the fact that it's all that Leia knows makes it all the more painful to recount the story, but it probably wouldn't change much even if she did know more. it's a bad situation all around, and he's trying to take responsibility for it. ]
I think so, too. For some time, I was narrow-minded enough to believe that I had no regrets about the decisions I made... Having time to stop and reflect on them was important to realize how wrong I was.
[ back in Hoenn, he was running away from the situation under the guise of wanting to "explore the world". he still wants to do it whenever he does return to his world, but for slightly different reasons. ]
She did. Our relationship still has plenty of repair to undergo, but it's important to me that I have her trust. I'm not going to leave her to fend for herself again, especially in this world.
[And that he's looking out for May during her time here, because again. The girl is still a kid, and needs people to look out for her, no matter how capable she is on her own.]
I don't think it's narrow-minded to believe you didn't have regrets, though. I think that's a natural thing to do until you're more removed from the surroundings that caused you to act that way.
[ he appreciates her reassurance. it makes him feel like he's grown as a person over the year and a half that he's been here, rather than serve as an excuse for past decisions. ]
It's actually quite funny. The last thing that I remember before waking up here was resolving myself to exploring the world and learning more from new perspectives. I thought that being in Verens was a sidetrack from that goal, but I think I'm on the way to achieving that same end.
[ what better way is there to expand one's horizons than meeting with people from completely different worlds? ]
It seems you weren't specific enough about which world you wanted to explore.
[since after all, it's not his world at all. But there's time for jokes later, when the subject isn't so serious.]
But I think I agree. Being so far removed from everything you're familiar with puts issues from home in more of a different perspective. It may have taken longer to reach the same conclusions in a more familiar environment.
I'd like to think I'm a bit wiser because of it. I still have plenty of things to learn, but I've at least resolved to keep more of an open mind. [ a beat. ] Do you think this world has influenced you, as well?
[Perhaps not in the same way as Steven and his realization, she knows. There's a lot not even being here can change her mind on or even cause her to rethink her position just slightly, even with the people she's met, from home and from other worlds. But--]
It sounds less than positive, but it's helped me learn to be more selfish.
[Something she's not used to. She's used to sacrificing her time, her happiness, her life for causes she believes in. But here, she's learned to take the time to be around those she cares for and focus more on what she wants than she has in the past.]
[ hearing that makes Steven's smile grow - not because it's an odd statement, but because it makes perfect sense to him. ]
You aren't the first person I've heard that from.
[ he knows that Ignis was the exact same way. his loyalty to the Lucian crown is still steadfast and unbreakable, but the very relationship he's allowed himself to have with Steven is proof that he's become selfish in a healthy way. ]
I think that's definitely a form of growth. Learning to live for yourself is just as important as considering others.
I was raised with the idea that I should always be thinking of others and how to help. I don't intend to entirely abandon that line of thinking [because if she did, she wouldn't be herself anymore, or what to really do with her life.] it's nice to take the time to do things I want to do. For no other reason besides me wanting to do them.
I wouldn't expect you to. The key is finding the right balance.
[ it's not the first time that he's said that during his time here. it's a reoccurring theme in the context of the world itself, individuals that he's met, and himself. ]
There's plenty of things I have left to do in my world, but the time I've spent here... I don't consider it a burden.
[She nods, because Steven is right. It's balance that she, and everyone else, really needs to find. And she feels she's done a better job of that here than at home.]
Nor do I. There's a lot I've done here that I would've never had the chance to experience back home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ACTION; idk we can predate this to before new arrivals if you want?
You mentioned something about May going above and beyond the duties of most Trainers her age the other day.
[With that prompting, she'll leave it up to Steven to decide where to begin.]
sure!
It's something that happened back in our world. There was an occurrence in our region that had the potential to threaten the world, and she was the person to quell it.
[ he goes on to explain the weather crisis and the events leading up to it - the ancient legend of Groudon and Kyogre's Primal Reversion, the rise of Team Aqua in the present day, their plan and acquisition of the Blue Orb, and its near-apocalyptic consequences. he shares a memory of the torrential rains and the raging sea, unnatural and unyielding. ]
As Champion, it was my duty to protect the Hoenn region and its people. Unfortunately, it was a task that I found myself unable to handle on my own. I had witnessed May's strength and capability in the past, so I asked her to assist me.
[ he looks distant now, shameful at what he had done. he hopes Leia won't see him differently for it, but wouldn't blame her if she did. ]
She was exceedingly successful, but I realize now that I was asking far too much of her. I've since apologized for my selfishness. [ he sighs. ] In a way, I'm glad that she's here. It may be the best way to make amends.
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But when he gets to him involving May in the mess, she purses her lips, still listening, but not entirely sure what to make of it. She doesn't really know May well enough, except knowing that she's a young child. But would she have done anything differently if she were confronted with a crisis this severe and knew there was someone more than capable of helping prevent it regardless of their age? She's not sure. Nor is she sure whether May would have accepted not being involved in the efforts to stop Kyogre.]
I think in extreme situations we all make decisions we may not have made without that added pressure. Realizing now that you asked too much of her is an important step.
Did she accept your apology, if I can ask?
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I think so, too. For some time, I was narrow-minded enough to believe that I had no regrets about the decisions I made... Having time to stop and reflect on them was important to realize how wrong I was.
[ back in Hoenn, he was running away from the situation under the guise of wanting to "explore the world". he still wants to do it whenever he does return to his world, but for slightly different reasons. ]
She did. Our relationship still has plenty of repair to undergo, but it's important to me that I have her trust. I'm not going to leave her to fend for herself again, especially in this world.
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[And that he's looking out for May during her time here, because again. The girl is still a kid, and needs people to look out for her, no matter how capable she is on her own.]
I don't think it's narrow-minded to believe you didn't have regrets, though. I think that's a natural thing to do until you're more removed from the surroundings that caused you to act that way.
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[ he appreciates her reassurance. it makes him feel like he's grown as a person over the year and a half that he's been here, rather than serve as an excuse for past decisions. ]
It's actually quite funny. The last thing that I remember before waking up here was resolving myself to exploring the world and learning more from new perspectives. I thought that being in Verens was a sidetrack from that goal, but I think I'm on the way to achieving that same end.
[ what better way is there to expand one's horizons than meeting with people from completely different worlds? ]
no subject
[since after all, it's not his world at all. But there's time for jokes later, when the subject isn't so serious.]
But I think I agree. Being so far removed from everything you're familiar with puts issues from home in more of a different perspective. It may have taken longer to reach the same conclusions in a more familiar environment.
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[ that makes him smile. she isn't wrong. ]
I'd like to think I'm a bit wiser because of it. I still have plenty of things to learn, but I've at least resolved to keep more of an open mind. [ a beat. ] Do you think this world has influenced you, as well?
no subject
[Perhaps not in the same way as Steven and his realization, she knows. There's a lot not even being here can change her mind on or even cause her to rethink her position just slightly, even with the people she's met, from home and from other worlds. But--]
It sounds less than positive, but it's helped me learn to be more selfish.
[Something she's not used to. She's used to sacrificing her time, her happiness, her life for causes she believes in. But here, she's learned to take the time to be around those she cares for and focus more on what she wants than she has in the past.]
no subject
You aren't the first person I've heard that from.
[ he knows that Ignis was the exact same way. his loyalty to the Lucian crown is still steadfast and unbreakable, but the very relationship he's allowed himself to have with Steven is proof that he's become selfish in a healthy way. ]
I think that's definitely a form of growth. Learning to live for yourself is just as important as considering others.
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no subject
[ it's not the first time that he's said that during his time here. it's a reoccurring theme in the context of the world itself, individuals that he's met, and himself. ]
There's plenty of things I have left to do in my world, but the time I've spent here... I don't consider it a burden.
no subject
Nor do I. There's a lot I've done here that I would've never had the chance to experience back home.