escordvi | they say my hunger's a problem, they tell me to curb my appetite

Who: Azul Ashengrotto, and maybe even you?

Status: Open + Closed prompts

Where: Various!

What: No Rift Like Home: Azul might have made a mistake attempting a ritual that would allow people to return home. (Plus a potential catchall of sorts for May?)

Warnings: None yet but will add them if they come up

[Azul's been studying and gathering information for months on anything that has looked useful for finding a method that would allow people to willingly travel back and forth between this place, and their home. The most promising so far has been a book that he had acquired during the auction house raids that depicted several rituals from past rift farers in the last few years, including one that if performed correctly, would allow for transportation back to one's home, regardless of how many dimensional barriers there may be in the way.

It was however risky and would require quite the concentration and wealth of magic to attempt, so he had put it off... until his abduction mid March. Being subjected to such a humiliating experience, both the captivity and the recovery he had to undergo has significantly given him the motivation to risk trying that ritual now rather than putting it off any further. Sure, he was able to be rescued and recover quickly, but who's to say that something even more troubling isn't simply waiting around the corner? It would be better to return to Night Raven College as soon as possible. He'll do the ritual, and then he will call Leona over to come over so that he can use it too if the ritual works.

So he gathers the materials he needs, writes the formulas and symbols on an empty space of flooring in his workshop. Pour his magic into summoning a rift the way it's described in the book for the ritual, and it should create one as long as his focus is entirely on his destination for returning home to Twisted Wonderland... and if he's lucky, this will extend to anyone else in this place that is just as strong in their desires to return to their own homes as well.

There's a shift in the air. For a brief moment, an image ripples into existence, and he thinks he can see something. He can't see the school, but he does see something teal in color. Sharp teeth. Mismatched yellow eyes.

Jade and Floyd.

And then...]

A. The Outer Edge of Eltrut

[Water. Lots and lots of water suddenly rushing up to meet him as his body proceeds to drop right into the middle of the ocean.

It takes some time for him to swim back, even in merform before he switches back to human upon getting close enough to Eltrut to be able to do so. (Thank the sevens his transformation potion was still on his person here when he fell through that rift) However, even when he's back in human form and has managed to climb up and out of the water, he is absolutely drenched, clothes sticking to his person as he drips salt water around him. He takes a moment to remove his fancy hat, turning it over as more water and a fish fall out, expression rather flat and unreadable for someone like Azul.

But uh, hey, if you wanna try to approach the wet cat of a man that's standing here? Go for it. Can't promise that he's particularly cheery right now, though.]

B. Surasthana Cafe

[Okay. So... just because something has gone wrong with the ritual doesn't mean that it doesn't work at all. Maybe he misplaced a symbol among his formulas. Or at least that's the hope. So he returns to his workshop, rechecks his notes and formulas... and tries again. This time, focusing more on the buildings of Night Raven College. Octavinelle dorm. His room, or no, better yet, his office and cafe he's worked so hard on building and profiting off of, practically his second home away from home--

Only for the world to tilt sideways, and the next thing he knows, he's very suddenly no longer in his workshop and is instead dropped right in the middle of Surasthana Cafe. Hope there wasn't a table or something there for him to have broken in the process, but either way, he's gonna lie here for a hot minute to curse under his breath.]

C. Mostro Lounge

[Maybe you took one look at that Manta Board quest that showed up in regard to the rifts and figured out who was responsible just from the description alone. Or maybe you did do some more investigating around for details and managed to get ahold of info such as a man who had visited several libraries or places with records looking for information about rift farers and magic similar to teleportation. Maybe it's just the fact that Azul stopped wearing his stupid fancy hat for a little while (in fact he's been wearing other clothing instead of his usual Octavinelle dorm uniform) once he saw that quest on the board.

Maybe it has nothing to do with the quest and the rifts and you have your own motivations for seeking him.

Whatever reason you have to go looking for him, he's not at his apartment. You'll have to go looking for him at his business: a building with the sign "Mostro Lounge", but there's a second sign on the door that says [CLOSED] right now. However, there is the sound of movement inside, so someone is definitely here, and should you be insistent on knocking and getting attention, Azul will eventually look outside here, wearing a frown.]

Yes? Can I help you?

D. [WILDCARD]

[Not vibing with the above in some manner, but still want to thread something regarding the rifts and Azul? Have him somehow accidentally teleport to where you are, or vice versa? Or even something that has nothing to do with the rifts at all? Hit me up! I am not picky about what we thread here. You can find me at

wailords or ping me in the Discord game's server if you wanna plot something super specific.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mm, indeed. It would be dangerous if these peculiar rifts kept appearing and teleporting others to places they shouldn't be in.

[... HE SAYS, AS IF HES NOT PLANNING TO TRY TO OPEN A NEW ONE AFTER THIS ONE DIDN'T WORK...]

Right. So I guess we should work on findin' the cause of these rifts. I bet I could ask Professor Turo to look into 'em too, he's pretty smart about this kinda thing...

[Oh he is 100% assuming Azul is a victim here and will help find a solution. No deception detected here!]

[And this is why he likes you, Kieran.]

I see. I don't know Turo-san very well, but I would appreciate it of you keep me updated on what he has to say about it if you do ask him, or come across any other information in regards to this matter while I do my own investigation into things here.

Of course! I'll let you know as soon as I find somethin'!

[Though after a moment he pauses, looking up at Azul curiously.]

Uh, do you need help gettin' back home? Actually... is your home far from here?

[At that, Azul sighs.]

It's a bit far from here, but ah, please don't worry, I can get back on my own. I don't want to take time away from what you and your Pokemon were doing here more than I already have.

[He already owes Kieran and his Pokemon at least a small favor in the future for helping dry him off a bit, but if they help him get back to his apartment here, then he is going to have to owe them more...]

Are ya sure? We were just trainin', I could always get back to it after. And I bet it'll be faster flyin' on Dragonite rather than walkin'.

[Dragonite rumbles in agreement. There's plenty of room on his back!]

[At the suggestion of flying, Azul actually seems to go pale for a brief second before he quickly puts his hands up to wave off the offer.]

Oh, no no, that won't be necessary! I don't want to inconvenience your dragon friend here by having to fly me anywhere...

[He's not very good with flying, sadly. At least, not when it comes to being on a broom, though he's not sure how it would feel on a dragon by comparison...]

Are ya sure? We wouldn't mind!

[Kieran's just trying to be polite! But if Azul insists...]

Well, at least stick around long enough for Incineroar to dry you off. Walkin' around in wet clothes sucks...

[Azul does pause here, considering... yes, he will need to walk back, but walking through town looking like he almost drowned is not something he wants being noticed if he can avoid it...]

...That I do agree with, at least: I'm not particularly fond of the sensation of having my clothes drenched and sticking to my skin like this.

[So he will stay, at least long enough to get dry...]

Alright! Then you can hang out with us while Incineroar dries you off. You can do that, right Incineroar?

[At Azul's side, Incineroar rumbles out an agreement, puffing out his chest. Of course he can do something like that!]

[Welp, guess this is happening. Azul sighs as he peels off his wet gloves here that he realizes he still has on.]

You said that you were "training" a moment ago? What does that entail?

Oh, I was trainin’ my Pokemon!

[He turns to his other Pokemon on the beach, grinning to them.]

In my world, Pokemon are used for battling’ against other Trainers’ Pokemon in battles. So I was doin’ drills and practice runs with ‘em to help keep their strength up. I know Dragonite likes to fly along the shore, and thought Politoed might like swimmin’ in the waves for endurance, while Incineroar an’ Hydrapple could run drills on the beach.

[Beside him, Furret chitters, and he reaches down to pet him on the head.]

Furret here’s not much of a battler, but he likes to help out, too.

[Interesting...]

I admit that I don't quite understand what it means to battle with Pokemon, but it reminds me a little of the duels that mages like myself occasionally participate in against other mages for competition or for testing our own skills that we have been practicing with from classes or self-study. In this case, I suppose it is your Pokemon that does the actual battling while you direct their movements, in comparison to a mage using their spells to dictate the flow of a battle.

Heheh, you make it sound cool like that, talkin’ about mages and spells!

[But he nods in agreement.]

But you’re not too far off! People battle with their Pokemon, and battles’re seen as a test of both a Trainer and a Pokémon’s skill. The school I go to even emphasizes battlin’ as a core part of the classes!

[He rests a hand on his hip.]

I could show you sometime if ya want!

Sure. I'm fascinated to see how these battles work and what they look like... ah, does that mean you would battle Turo-san and his Pokemon here, or someone else? Or is there a different way to do so if there are no other "trainers" around like yourself?

I could battle Professor Turo! But his Pokemon are pretty strong, so he wouldn't be easy. I also got a... a friend here, named Drayton. He goes to my school, and he's got his own Pokemon team too, so I could ask him.

[Of course, that would involve asking Drayton, but... well, it's been a while since he had a proper Pokemon battle.]

Well, usually when there's no other Trainers around, people usually either use practice targets or go battle wild Pokemon. 'Round here, I usually use run through some drills with my Pokemon to help them practice.

they say my hunger's a problem, they tell me to curb my appetite

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