The Grand Opening

[driftingmods]

[A large WELCOME sign is hanging from the buildings when you walk into Levanta Town, but that seems to be the only sign that today is any different than any other day. The villagers are simply going about their daily business. However, if they are approached they are more than happy to explain the region as well as they can to any new arrivals.

Welcome to Levanta Town in The Drifting Land!]

Comments

[tinylord]

[Man is this familiar. How did he prove it last time? He can't remember. Zozo doesn't care.]

... Our hair's the same?

[Good job, Captain--]

Shush!

Don't give up, little N! Worm your way into his heart again, you can do it!

[sans_eyepatch]

You know that means nothing, right? [Kid, you know nothing about genetics. It might help your case to say you're his son fro ~*~the fyooture~*~, because he's still a virgin and there's no way he can possibly be a father.

...Even if this does feel oddly familiar.]

He'll do his best!!

[tinylord]

[The Zorua's plain sick of it and hops onto Ghetsis's lap, staring up at the man with a flick of his tail. You. Are N's father-thing. You are N's father-thing. You are N's father-thing.]

Repeating it doesn't help any unless they understand you, Zozo. [It's called subliminal messaging! Even if they don't understand you, they'll still get it!]

Let's see... Oh! I'm N, N Harmonia. [There! That should do it, right? Last names should do the trick.]

[sans_eyepatch]

[Ghetsis stares back at Zozo, his own glare full of daggers.

Well, at least until he hears N's last name.]

Wait, what did you say?

[tinylord]

[See, it worked! The Zorua hops off Pops and sits back beside N, who just shakes his head with a smile.]

I don't think that's what did it. I'm N Harmonia. I told you I was your son, and that proves it, right?

[sans_eyepatch]

[That's what he thought.]

J-just because you have the same last name as me... [God, this is so messed-up.] Anyway, I can't be a father, much less yours. I've never... you know.

[tinylord]

[Please explain to the smiling child why you cannot be his father for the second time.

Zorua's just snickering.]

[sans_eyepatch]

[OH GOD WHAT HAS HE DONE?]

Don't look at me like that!

[tinylord]

[But he wants to know!!! He thinks you might've avoided last time, too.]

If you can't explain, then you're my father.

Somehow I missed this.

[sans_eyepatch]

What kind of messed-up logic is that?! I can't be a father because I've never... made... a kid. [It's terrible, but hopefully N will let him off with that.]

It's cool.

[tinylord]

Oh, I see. [Huh. Rejection felt just as bad the second time as it did the first. Oh well. He stands and Zozo mimicks him, the former a little disappointed.]

I suppose I've made a mistake then. I'm sorry for waking you.

ASGHIUJBERFIWNEJF NOOOOO

[sans_eyepatch]

[Gah, sad babby.

Another jolt shoots through his head, and this time it's a flash- a fragment of a memory... Holding this child until he fell asleep in his arms... What the heck is with these memories? He knows he can't be a father, so what are these feelings.]

H-hey, wait... [Why is he stopping him?]

WHOOPS

[tinylord]

[Hmmm, halting. Looking over at him, too.]

Yes? [Maybe we've guilted him into remembering you.]

SON, YOUR DAD IS A TSUNDERE

[sans_eyepatch]

You... you don't have to go. If you're lost, the least I can do is help you find your real dad, right?

[Not like I l-like you or anything, baka!]

OH HEAVENS HELP HIM

[tinylord]

I'd rather stay with someone I at least think is my father than no one at all, so thank you.

[Zozo's good with this arrangement too. Aw yeah, a real place to stay this time.]

[sans_eyepatch]

Hey, I never said you could stay with me! [Ghetsis climbs to his feet, mentally freaking out a little.]

Only until we can find your dad! I don't know the first thing about taking care of brats. [And yet something is compelling him to take care of this kid. Some kind of weird, messed-up memory that can't possibly be his own.]

[tinylord]

[Messed-up memory or not, N's pretty glad for it. See if he'll get us something to eat too, ice cream or somethin'. Maybe a big, juicy steak.]

I'll be okay by myself for the most part, but neither Zozo or I can cook.

[sans_eyepatch]

And what makes you think I can? [He is a sixteen-year-old boy. The most he can make are sandwiches.]

Anyway, if you're going to stay with me, I'm going to lay a few ground rules. One, [He holds up a finger.] What I say, goes. Two, [Another finger.] Don't call me 'Father'; it's weird, and I'm not your dad. Just Ghetsis. And three, [third finger!] if you slow me down, I'm leaving you behind, got it?

[tinylord]

[Well he's Father ofc he can cook--

Oh.]

... Okay, Ghetsis. [Well, it's not like he hadn't ever called him that. But still. Man, that jerk stole my third rule.] It just goes to show that you're similar, Zozo.

[sans_eyepatch]

And one more thing... [He kneels, locking Zozo in an unblinking stare. It's been bothering him for a while now.] Are you talking to this Pokémon?

[tinylord]

Yes. [It's still weird he has both his eyes, you know. I'm used to rememberin' him with just one. I hope you didn't get his monster brows.] I've always been around Pokémon, so I came to understand them.

[sans_eyepatch]

[Hey, lay off. His eyebrows are just fine, thank you very much.]

...Wait, really? You can do that?

[tinylord]

[As bad as Paul's!]

Uh huh! I've been able as far as I can remember. [N, N, look, they're movin'! Like worms! If you keep surprisin' him, they'll pop right off his head! Keep doin' it!]

[sans_eyepatch]

[Zozo, if he could hear you... But that does give him an idea.]

Maybe you can have a talk with Deino, then- get him to stop tearing me up every time I let him out. [Pfft, as if that'd work. Deino's even more of an ass than his trainer.]

[tinylord]

I could try. Pokémon don't generally take too kindly to being ordered around, but I wouldn't mind meeting him anyway!

[How could Deino resist this cute face and friendly child who can actually understand him. Otherwise, Zorua'd just illusion-transform into something big they'd seen back on Awesome Island to scare the critter.]