This world is inhabited by creatures that we call pokemon. People and pokemon live together by supporting each other, but now the scourge threatens the safety of the entire region. Kohaku has become a dangerous place, where children stay at home and only brave souls go adventuring.
Welcome to KOHAKU. Come for the nightmares. Stay for the tea and crumpets.
The season is SUMMER. It is easy for survivors to forage for food from the land, as there are entire abandoned farms ready for harvest. On the downside, you can smell the corpses.
swarms
GRAND OPENING !
Welcome to KOHAKU REGION's grand opening! If you're interested in joining, come check out our grand opening giveaway!
"an urban food critic...those are good odds. it sounds that you were rather lucky to have known mrs. brand" the name feels strange on her tongue. had zahir waited just a little while longer, she may have been mrs. brand too. except she's not - she's only physis now, unless the part of her heart that was weak and fragile and cowardly wished to speak. then she is only sophia.
she smiles honestly for what feels like the first time in forever. "i wish that i could have made a love story for him. at one point, i wasn't sure if i was able to do that for anyone." she hadn't, but she doesn't regret loving him once - does she still? physis doesn't like to think about that part. "the world is made up of small blessings, it seems. tonight must be one of them."
how else will human beings continue blindly striving for their own destruction?
"...i don't say things that i don't believe in...not anymore." it's just that she believed in some things more than others. she looks neo in the eye during this exchange, knowing that she will not falter. there were no lies exchanged tonight. "thank you...i have little desire to see him again"
Neo glances at her in their shared dream. The stranger looks like any other woman, stronger than most, both in stature and in poise, but normal enough. She didn't look like she deserved whatever lot life and the scourge had dealt her.
Neither did anyone, really.
"What was your fiancee's name?" she said. "I never did ask."
she didn't. sophia rosenburg deserved none of the cards that the world had dealt her, and neither did every trainer and pokemon that had been felled by her hand. they are all careless stories thrown into the wind if hades gets their way (and they will). they are all careless stories thrown into the wind if hades does not get their way (and they will).
She stood up, left dream cash on the table next to her coffee. Finally, Neo turned to Sophia to really, truly look at her. She will remember her face next time they meet.
"I hope you find someone to love again," she said, because Neo didn't trust this stranger enough to wish her luck in all her endeavors. "I hope you find someone you deserve."
nobody chooses what they deserve - physis does not believe that. it is possible to choose what one deserves, but there will only be one choice. choose or reject -- that seemed like plenty of options to her.
sophia is filled with a sense of closure, the knowledge that the past has little reason to come knocking at her door again. she would not be talking to neo right now if she did not believe that the door has finally swung shut behind her.