#sagawrites

The Open Source Tech Festival of Phoebe city was absolutely abuzz with activity this weekend. People have come from around the world, dressed in their finest “nerd” chic. Linux’s iconic Eiscue, Tux, adorns bags, jackets, and banners as attendees make their way from panel to panel.

I have the singular honor of interviewing Professor Montague, one of our region’s foremost experts on Paradox Pokemon. He is a grizzled figure. Far older than one would expect for someone speaking on a phenomenon so recently discovered, but he seems more than comfortable as he sits down to speak with me. After introductions I, of course, begin with the foremost question on everybody’s mind.

Q: “What do Paradox Pokemon have to do with Open Source tech?”

A: “Paradox Pokemon, whether past or future have a lot to teach us. Future Paradox pokemon are the most obvious. They give us a glimpse into what we will achieve in the future. By studying future Paradox mon we can help ourselves along a bit more smoothly, hopefully avoiding whatever pitfalls we might have otherwise run into. While the relevance of past Paradox mon isn’t as clear, it is, I promise, very relevant.  The evolution of tool usage greatly parallels our relationships with the world around us, including, perhaps especially, pokemon. Technology is a tool, and tools are technology, so by studying Pokemon from the past, we can hopefully come to a greater understanding of how our own technological evolution took place.”

Q: “Do you mean to say that Pokemon are tools?”

A: “Oh certainly not! Perish the thought! Pokemon are our partners, and therefore our own progress must accommodate for their own unique physiologies. The question is not, how were the pokemon used, so much as, how do the pokemon inform the advancements we have made and will make in the future.”

Q: “Are you concerned about any sort of disruption in the timeline due to these studies?”

A: “Hardly. I think the universe is better at self-correction than we are at fouling it up! Besides which, the Purrloin is already out of the bag, so to speak. It is up to us as scientists to ensure these studies are done as safely and ethically as possible.”

Q: “Do you have a favorite Paradox Pokemon?”

A: “Perhaps a bit unoriginal, but I am quite fond of Iron Treads. It might look a bit menacing, but truthfully they’re actually awfully gentle beasts if given the right enrichment and environment.”

Q: “Do you have any advice for trainers who have, or looking to acquire a Paradox Pokemon of their own?”

A: “Good heavens! I honestly wouldn’t suggest trainers pick up any such pokemon so recently discovered. We still know so little about them! Alas, I suppose many trainers already have managed to get ahold of them.

My advice is, first of all, your local pokemon center will likely not have information specific to your Paradox mon’s physiology. They do have the resources to get answers to those questions, such as we have any, but you may be waiting a bit longer than usual during Center visits. 

Second, if your Paradox mon’s temperament seems a bit extreme, try contacting Pokeroid Central. They are a fantastic resource for the creatures, though I for one am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we can communicate with them at all!

Finally, if you find that you are unable to care for your Paradox mon, it is very VERY important that you do not simply release them! Neither should you leave them at a shelter. We still know so little about these fascinating creatures. Your local shelter may not be equipped to handle them, and releasing them into the wild could have catastrophic consequences for the ecology of your region. Instead, please take them to a Pokemon Center where they have the tools to send them to a facility that will best suit their needs.”

Q: “Thank you so much for your time, Professor. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?”

A: “The world is wondrous and her secrets are immeasurable. In the interest of progress we can always use more curious minds to ask questions and study her mysteries. Paradox mon only scratch the surface of what there is to learn, so never stop being curious!”

News has blown up recently regarding an incident in the Jacali region in which a man was found collapsed in front of a food stall belonging to one Gen of Goldenrod City in the Johto region. The man is currently alive, but hospitalized in spite of rumors to the contrary. The news of this incident has caused quite a stir, particularly due to Gen’s peculiar condition. Gen is what is known as an Eeby Deeby, a human who has been transformed into a pokemon or, in his case, a hybrid of two separate pokemon. This is a rare phenomenon that has caught a lot of attention in recent years, but of which very little is known.  As I am neither a legal, nor medical expert, I will not be speculating on the case itself, nor what it means to be an Eeby Deeby. Instead I would like to discuss who Gen is as a person. Gen is a young man who had aspirations of becoming a professional chef long before the incident that changed his life. He enjoys cooking for others and has worked tirelessly to continue to follow his dreams in spite of the many obstacles fate has placed in his way. He lives with a loving family who have taken in many others who face similar struggles. Gen is always kind and helpful towards others, doing all he can to help, no matter the circumstances. He prides himself on a job well done and has a big heart for all who cross his path. I personally had the pleasure of meeting Gen face to face during the World’s Fair in Kalos about a year ago. I can honestly say that I have met few people in this world with the same amount of optimism, kindness, and generosity as this young man possesses. Young men like him are a credit and a boon to this world of ours, and I for one am very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet him. Dear reader, I implore you to remember that these are not creatures, these are people and deserve all the dignity and consideration afforded them thereby. Saga

Summary: Sometimes Lloyd had wished to just stop feeling, now he would do anything to feel at all.

TW: Sorta Selfharm? Not sure

The mind was a weird thing, Lloyd figured.

It controlled your very being - could destroy you if it wanted. Usually of course that wasn’t the case, it tried its best to keep you safe when your demons attacked and when everything hurt too much, it would simply turn all emotions off.

But what was meant to be helpful, only made everything worse for Lloyd.

The feeling of emptiness was a terrifying and uncomfortable one but sadly one he was too familiar with by now. The first time it struck him he was scared and confused as to what was happening to him but it was even more scary to him that he couldn’t feel his panic. It was like he knew it was there, deep inside him but it was buried underneath piles and piles of - of emptiness.

He wouldn’t have been able to get himself to care about anything, even if he wanted to. It was like he was living on autopilot, as if someone else was controlling his body - but it wasn’t like Morro’s possession because Lloyd was aware and in control of everything. He just didn’t have the energy to think - to care.

He tried to cheer himself up, look up memes, text his friends, watch his favorite movie - nothing made him feel again, which somehow made him feel worse. A pressure slowly building up on the inside of his body, his jaw clenching and his fingers running cold.

He felt like he was dead. But he wasn’t, he wasn’t dead and that’s what made it even worse. The constant reminder of the fact that he had lost it so bad that his mind thought his life would be better if he just didn’t feel at all, as if he was a robot.

It was hard enough to get up for basic necessities. He laid in his bed for days, not eating because he didn't have the energy to stand up and make himself something and at the same time he was too embarrassed to ask his friends for help. So he waited, waited until his stomach hurt so bad he thought he was being ripped apart - so bad that he couldn’t ignore the hunger pain by sleeping.

Sleeping was the only thing he did in those times, because it was the easiest. By sleeping he could shut the world out, shut the emptiness out. And if he wasn’t sleeping, he was staring at his phone with burning eyes and he oddly liked the pain he felt. Whether it was the stomach pain he got from starving, the pain in his eyes in response to staring at his way too bright screen or the numbing pain in his limbs for not moving for too long - at least it made him feel. At least it made him feel anything but the buried panic inside of him and the dullness that reigned over him.

Lloyd cursed himself for ever wishing to stop feeling at all, just because he couldn’t take the crushing sadness he felt while his heart seemed to be ripped apart, making him feel like he was dying.

But feeling like he was dying was better than feeling dead because at least he knew that what he was feeling was real and that he was still alive.

He’d rather be dying than dead.