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

He might get bits and pieces of his memory back, because this is heartbreaking otherwise.

[sans_eyepatch]

[Wait, father what?]

I think you have the wrong person, kid. [Oh my, it's this all over again.]

I'll say...

[tinylord]

[Oh wow, deja vu. Zorua rolls onto his back in exasperation, and N tilts his head. I think he got hit on the head, kid.]

Maybe... No, I have the right person. You're Ghetsis. I'm N. This is Zozo, he's my best friend. Were you hit on the head?

[sans_eyepatch]

[Okay, now he just looks really confused and-

Flinching, Ghetsis clutches his forehead as pain lances through his skull. Wait, no, this does seem familiar, but he can't put his finger on it. He didn't hit his head, but there's definitely some kind of memory in there that he can't quite grasp.]

...N? I don't know. This is weird.

[tinylord]

[He's gone senile.]

He's not that old. I'm pretty sure. His head doesn't look broken or anything, so I guess he can't have hit it, but he was just sleeping there...

[Se-nile! I'm tellin' you, squirt, his mind is gone! I've seen people who were like this, 'cept they had their dreams eaten by Munna and stuff.]

Anyway, I'm your son.

[sans_eyepatch]

[Ghetsis looks between N and Zozo, an eyebrow raised in confusion.]

What are you...? [No, never mind.] Whatever, you can't be my son.

[That would require Ghetsis to have slept with a woman, and, well... He hasn't. He's also a bit too young to be little N's father.

Hoo boy, it's this all over again alright.]

[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?