tapestodiane | 011 [audio]

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011 [audio]

I've been thinking about the significance of our first pokémon. I find it hard to believe the species given to us are random.

[A brief pause. He's been bothered by this ever since his arrival, actually.]

The initial reaction on meeting your first is important, whether it was fear, familiarity, anger, amusement, or the more unlikely indifference. Then there is of course the more pressing question: why were we given these particular ones?

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

[He's investigating again. Action for anyone in Azalea - he'll most likely be hanging around the pokémon center, working there and all.]

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_{[Cooper nods, looking like he agrees.]}

There is definitely more to them than simply being helpful. The majority of answers I've gotten to this question further suggest it.

_{[Pause, then:]}

I don't know what to make of it.

I've noticed that most people come to enjoy their pokémon even if they didn't at the start.

Marianne kind of helped me feel like I still existed, at least as a person, even in the absence of country. Without country, I had always expected to just fade away...

_{[Well, he did. But it's that second statement that catches his attention.]}

I can't imagine.

_{[He looks almost distracted for a while before he carries on.]}

I think I can understand why you insisted this is Hell. _{[Hint of a smile]} But not why you persist.

I know no one else agrees with me, but I haven't been presented with evidence to the contrary. No one can disprove this is Hell, at least not empirically, so I'm sticking by it as a likely theory.

I can't say I disagree with your reasoning. Just, considering how warmly you spoke of Marianne just now - but I guess your view of Hell might not add up with the more typical one.

Well, she certainly isn't the type of creature they would have in Heaven.

This could be Purgatory, though. Theology-wise, that would make more sense, since people do seem to leave and go to more familiar and better places.

_{[He laughs quietly in response but doesn't comment further on that, instead contemplating the Purgatory-theory.]}

That is an interesting thought. As a non-Christian, I reject the idea of Purgatory, but the concept of it applied to Johto could stand for a few theories.

Everyone here seems to have something that they want either in their own lives or from someone else. A goal, a kind of earthly attachment. I haven't met anyone truly bad here.

A goal ...

_{[He takes a moment to think about that. Personally, there's not much left that he wants anymore ... but he has noticed what France says about others. In the end, Cooper doesn't find much else to add, except:]}

I'd like to believe that people aren't truly bad.
_{[It's just a little something to put faith in.]}

I'm inclined to err on the side of caution for most people's intentions.

I do trust you, though. You're special.

You've had bad experiences with people in the past.

_{[It's an assumption moreso than a question, but he still searches France for an answer to it.]

[...and being called 'special' rarely happens to him unless it's part of his title, so he's caught off guard by it - but then smiles back, warmly.]}

Thank you.

I've lived a long time. When you outlive almost everyone you know, there's bound to be bad experiences.

You're welcome.

_{[He nods.]}

You're right. I forget to take into consideration that you're France ... a long-lived country with a dramatic history.

_{[He almost looks apologetic, saying that.]}

Don't worry about it. I like that you treat me like a real person. It isn't always like that, and it's so nice when I can experience it.

You are a real person. It would be unfair to treat you any differently.

_{[Formal words forever, but he means it.]}

Thank you.

Edited 2011-02-04 06:18 (UTC)

_{[A moment of companionable silence. There is much more to France than Cooper would have first thought, and he thinks about this for a second before thinking ahead.]}

I'm hoping to start towards Goldenrod as soon as the weather lets up. How would you like to join me for a coffee once I get there? I can honestly say I've missed your company.

I'd love to have coffee with you! I've missed you a lot, too.

It's still cold and snowy...

_{[He smiles at France's apparent enthusiasm.]

The snow doesn't bother me as much as the possibility of being trapped in a storm. Johto has been quite generous with that kind of weather.

_{[Not that he hasn't faced wilderness before, but storms, he'll avoid if he can.]}}

Traveling in winter is a generally treacherous endeavor, especially with snow storms included. It should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

When you do get into town, you absolutely must contact me. No excuses!

_{[Cooper gives him a sunny grin in response.]}

You'll be the first to know.

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