To Drink Down Your Troubles [Palmer]

[Varnock]

If there was one thing that never changed, no matter what state the world was in, it was that a bar was always populated. There was always someone in a bar for whatever reason, be it to drink away their trouble, talking with friends, or simply looking for a way to pass the time. It made them feel almost normal, even in times like this. It was just one of few things that remained constant and kept people sane in times like this.

Of course, the bars were still populated by those talking about their troubles and the current state of the world as well. It made sure that no matter where you went there was always someone there to remind you there was no getting away. No amount of alcohol could stop them all from talking, but most were adept at ignoring anything they didn't want to hear. Things like that was what let the world get like this in the first place.

It was thoughts like this that floated about Brandon's mind as he entered the pub within the Battle Frontier. A small place, but well off thanks to where it was. Back when things were calmer there was no shortage of trainers celebrating or lamenting their latest battles. Even he had even been a part of that crowd a few times when he was still traveling as a trainer. Not now though. Now it was a quieter place than any bar should be, just like many others now. Everyone was still talking, but in a manner that wouldn't carry as much as more natural conversation. No one wanted to find out the wrong ears were listening. Again, he should know. It had been his job to listen once, before he had done what he did, before he had learned what he learned.

He sighed as he claimed a stool at the bar proper to await the man he was meeting with, happy to get off his feet again. At least this time their meeting would be less formal than the last two, though he had been surprised when Palmer had suggested they go out for some drinks. Really it was just what he needed. Things had been slow, and he didn't much like that. Having nothing to do left him alone with his thoughts, and that could be dangerous. He kept lingering on the people he had met while traveling and what the information he had passed on might have done to them. He knew for certain he had ruined at least a few careers, and gotten several others killed thanks to his actions. The fact that they were Nox had him praised, even if they weighed on him at first. Now... Now it was different. Time had dulled things and he simply looked back and wondered what could have been and if any of them remembered the traveler they had met.

It was a perfect mindset for a bar really, since he could drink away just a few of his problems and sit with his thoughts as he kept working and kept planning. Things were picking up again, and he had to be on top of it. After all, no one really knew what he had done and he hadn't started publicly supporting Lux yet. He could still work in the shadows as he preferred, this time as a double agent that would actually make a difference.

He ordered up a drink and settled in to wait, content in the knowledge that at least there would be some pleasant conversation and good company for at least a little while tonight. Almost anything was better than being alone these days, especially in a bar.

[Palmer]

The pubs, the bars, the relaxation of the overall protection of his sanctuary of the Battle Frontier is what guided him to rarely leave without getting shot. He enjoyed the talking, it made him feel hopeful and relaxed, and when he wasn't fraternizing with the women, he was drinking away his filthy, unwanted memories of people now long gone and/or useless to him. His wife would never allow such a thing, the drinking and the jollies that came with such a giant bar, but she wasn't in the picture anymore. He was free. Well, as much freedom as Lux allowed for him. He had a soft and frankly broken smile, able to take in the one thing he gave a damn about. Life. He breathed a cheerful and loving sigh, some girls coming up and asking for his autograph, or for the chance to 'meet such a seasoned warrior'. He fulfilled their requests with an empty and sleepy smile, finding next to no joy in it anymore. His life was an odd one.

Sure, some people kept yelling about how bad Nox were, and how much of 'crap-fer-brains' they were. Things like that were encouraged. But around these parts, they all knew better not to challenge the authority of Lux and all they stood for. He didn't care, quieting everyone down who wanted to converse with him or whatever, then began to just simply look upon the pub he established. There was no escaping the war, but in here, there was a modest escape from how bad life has gotten in general. Things like this, no matter how small, was what he lived and thrived for. The chance to just ease some pain, like his own, was nothing short of euphoric to the man at this point in time. He truly did care about the people here, and by Arceus, he was happy to see them having fun.

Now... Now, it was a fair bit soulless. Where's the rum gone, etc. The girls who even asked for his autograph or a kiss had eyes full of sadness, or dulled out by war entirely. They were in pain. They could see his own eyes in all their sad, droopy splendor, and that truly did hurt some of them.A few girls cried over Palmer looking the way he did. He didn't blame them. His life here was not an easy one. But you know, there's silver linings. He didn't know the girls, but he knew someone here. Someone he invited. He breathed a huge sigh, putting on a smile. Sure, it was a broken promise. But if he could at least put a step into his day with a happy meeting, it'd be worth it. A lot of things would be perfect and go his way if everyone was more cheerful. But there was no cheer anymore. Regardless, this was his territory along with the other Frontier Brains. And whoever disturbed the peace would get their personal opinion on the matter. This was his paradise and sanctuary. Nothing could disturb them now.

Palmer gladly took a stool next to Varnock, having a smile on his face, and a bottle of strong 'medicine' in his gloved, left hand. He was trying his best to look cheery for you, a gesture that was either extremely pathetic, or extremely welcome. The bar was to yourselves, and he had lots of time to spare.

"Evening, pal! How are you? I thought we should get to know each other better!"

[Varnock]

As always, the sound of a door opening drew his eyes in a subtle way. It was a habit he had picked up long ago when skulking about for rumors or looking for someone, but even knowing that didn't bother him. It had given him a good set of skills. He could judge the mood of a room upon entering it much more easily than he used to be able to, could find a seat that wasn't likely to draw the eye to him while still being able to see most of the room, could pick out who didn't fit. Things such as that.

This time though, the one entering had him smiling a bit. It was good to see a more or less friendly face that he was actually familiar with. It took the edge off the stagnant feeling the pub had taken up, loud voices and smiling faces doing wonders for the place, no matter if they were forced or not. A place like this needed such things to thrive, and any happiness they could spread around would be a godsend for these people.

He chuckled as Palmer got closer, offering up the stool beside him even if it was the clear choice on where to sit. Making the motions was just as good as actually meaning them sometimes.

"Palmer, you're just as enthusiastic as last time we spoke. Life is treating you well I hope, or at least treating you better than it treats me?"

That was one way to try to get a laugh out of someone. As long as there was a worse situation, people had something to smile at, some hope knowing they weren't as worse off as the next fellow. Hopefully they could spread some of that with this just as they did with their talking. Life without 'life' was meaningless after all, and this bar was anything but lively right now.

"Even so, I cannot complain. Things have been going well enough for me all things considered, and Snowpoint is actually doing rather well. And you? How are things going around here?"

The more natural a conversation this felt like, the more those around them would benefit. They would see on of the brains interacting with someone unfamiliar in a more or less normal manner. It ought to do them good, or he hoped so at least. And even if it didn't, it still helped him to have a normal conversation with someone again.

[Palmer]

"It's treating me...something," Palmer said with a grim and tired smile, "Murkrows must be having a grand time! But hey, it's treating you well, right? You were a big help a while ago! I appreciate that!" Palmer had a smile, and appreciated Varnock's gestures. It made him feel more comfortable, if not outright appreciated. He nodded, pouring him a glass of booze outright, offering it to Varnock, then made a glass for himself.

"Things for myself..." Palmer clinked the ice around in his glass slowly, thinking with somewhat of a thinking glare at his cup. He scratched his chin, thinking about his experiences. Well, there was the Tower. The thousands of trainers that fight tooth and nail every day like rabid, stray Mightyena, ripping and tearing at each other until being told to stop and go to the medics for a few minutes of recovery, was...something. But they weren't for him, they were things under his supervision. His supervision over the place was nigh-unquestioned, and what little did get questioned... Well. He didn't like that. Regardless, he breathed a content sigh.

"Been pretty good Varny." Palmer said with a smile, It's really been quiet and pretty serene these past few weeks over at my place, despite the training regimens I have to design. Other than that, it's pretty cushy!" That was the truth, the abridged version anyway. Food, girls, and training were the regular... But I doubt he wants to hear that, right Rosie?

[Varnock]

Another light chuckle came from Varnock as he accepted the glass and raised it in a silent thanks before taking a small drink as a sample. A pleased sound escaped him afterwards as he took a slightly deeper drink to truly savor it after that. It made sense that a frontier brain would have access to better than a double agent such as himself.

"As some might say, something is better than nothing, right? While birds will be birds, at least they don't have any kind of meal to be looking forward to as of now. Things have been in a pleasant lull after what N did in Johto. Quite an impressive act that, managing to stop hostilities even for a short time. I hope I can see hostilities in Sinnoh stopped that way eventually. Snowpoint may be kept mostly safe thanks to its location, but I'm afraid that won't last forever, especially not with how bad things have gotten in the past."

A small shrug there, accompanied by another small drink. Even if things had gotten bad before, and were likely to get worse if he was honest, things were still looking up for the world. Johto had calmed down considerably while everyone reconstructed what had been destroyed, Isshu's movement was steadily picking up speed and power, and things were looking generally calmer for the time being. Everyone had stopped and taken a deep breath for a moment and to rethink some plans it seemed like.

In the end though, little changed for him. He was still spying on one side for the other, just in a different way than last time, and he was more or less fine with that. He just wanted to keep Sinnoh as unharmed as he could manage, and if he happened to turn out some Nox plots while he did so, well, all the better if it kept destruction away from his region.

"Boring as the quiet might be, it's good to hear. No news actually is good news in most cases these days, as it likely means everyone is still quietly working together as they should be. I just wish Hoenn could do what Johto did. Things always were worst over there."

[Palmer]

The fresh love and life that was brought by a hiatus was wonderful! Palmer really had some time to reflect and calm down in these past months, getting things straightened out and such, and he was no slacker to improvement. Much of his muffin top had actually gone away, leaving a good lot of muscle rather than fat. Of course, that was merely because he worked so hard... "Well, I'm honestly glad no trouble's been stirred up. Maybe everyone's finally came to their senses and formed a peaceful solution?" Palmer sighed, then poured more gin for him and Varnock with a bit of a tired face. He also needed a bit of a shave, having some stubble. "Wishful thinking, I know. Oh well, I'm sure it'll give way eventually, if Lux can win over most of the people. Personally, I'd like to go move in Unova, rest a good, long while for a couple years if this ever gets solved. If."

Of course, this was just a wish. A wish that may as well be pointless due to a Sisyphean standoff between humans that just overstepped their boundaries and some cokeheads that got heavy gain in a world where it was all about working together. Palmer started chugging the stuff, wear being able to be seen on his frumpy face. He breathed a sigh, stretching. There was still work to be done. "...How's work been treating you? I know N decided to cry his eyes out, but that's just N. I'll be amazed if something gets done lately about a full ceasefire." Pause, drink. The man really didn't have much of a hope, probably in the same boat as you by now. If he was hiding anything, you'd probably be able to see it.

"...Y'know, Cynthia's overall reaction kind of..broke my heart," Palmer said, glaring at his glass, "I mean, I think everyone got shook up when she...well, committed suicide. No one just thought to calm her down or anything... It's just... Sad. I know this is war, but this is really too much. Blood being spilt, lives being taken, even people taking advantage of the situation... I presented the idea of Lux... And it's gotten a bit awkward around the people who helped me." He couldn't outright say he was BOTHERED by them, could he? That's demeaning and might get him flogged. "Still, I'm confident I can fix some of the problems soon. So that's something. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's better than Nox with their disrespect to what everyone built."

[Varnock]

Even Varnock laughed there. Everyone managing to come to a peaceful solution sounded like something from a fairy tail. There would always be some extremist left, on either side really, that would cause things to escalate again. Still, if things like Johto could keep happening, then they might just survive it long enough to end things, peacefully or otherwise. He took a drink of his refilled glass, a quite thank you spoken beforehand.

"Perhaps someday it will be more than wishful thinking," he quite liked Palmer's idea of retiring somewhere quiet for a while, but Snowpoint was more than enough for him. Perhaps he would revive the idea for a school that had lasted for a while. The building was even still there and maintained, just mostly empty. "I think I'll stick to my home region. It will hopefully be more than quiet enough for me once things get solved." He let no 'if' enter his sentence. People had to believe there would be an end someday, even if it was a long way off. If anything, it would give them something to strive for and look forward to. Anything to add some light to the horizon.

At the mention of his work though, his face darkened a bit. That wasn't exactly good for public conversation, though he could still twist it enough to sound normal. Probably. "Work has been... work. I'm afraid that's all I really have to say on the matter. Things have been awfully slow with everyone pausing to give each other dirty looks, though I'm not complaining. It's given me some time to train my pokemon and rest at home. I suspect things will pick up again soon though."

He really couldn't say anything to the sudden mention of Cynthia. That had done terrible things to the moral of most of those born in Sinnoh. It had definitely been just one of the things that sparked his original involvement with the war. Few people could see someone as respected as her die and do nothing afterwards. If anything, it just made him feel better about his decision. Anything to stop this war that wouldn't simply leave things worse off than before.

"If you need any help, just ask. I've got a lot of time on my hands recently and something to do with it would be appreciated." A smile, though not exactly a happy one, as he thought back on the last thing he had 'helped' Palmer with. "Perhaps another attempt at a tournament? This time it might actually finish without interruption by crazed extremists." Or it would, and they would all be better off for it. It would be just as simple as last time to plan for their interference and still function around it.

[Palmer]

"Yeah, always nice to have a backup plan in place something goes awry, right?" He smiled calmly as he kept refilling enough for the both of them, getting more relaxed. His own mood was lightening, and his overall disposition just kept getting more hopeful. It'd end sometime. Granted, that sort of thing was a long ways away, but sometime. He listened to Varnock talk about his work, then the prospect of the Tournament came up again. A tourney... Maybe. A big maybe. It'd be more used to bait Noxies than anything.

"A tourney, huh..." Palmer said as he rattled the ice around in his drink... He wasn't opposed to it, but he wasn't sure if it should happen this soon. "Honestly, it'll be much later for that kind of thing. I mean, the war just started getting a bit antsy again, right? Arceus knows what kind of crazy traps Nox would pull on a harmless tournament." It was very harsh but a good truth. Palmer got a look on contemplation on his face, then sighed deeply. "...Of course, I'm game for it if it ever works out enough to stop Nox from intruding in on it. Or even just baiting them. It's not like they're smart enough to come on over and know instantly that people are there to stop their shtick, y'know?"

[Varnock]

"As they say; every plan is good until the first shot is fired, no? It pays to have a backup, even if they might not remain possible after all things are said and done." Another drink followed his words, mind idly floating over the thought that he ought to not drink too much or else he might have some trouble getting home. Who knows what might slip if he wasn't careful too. He made a point of avoiding getting drunk as much as was possible throughout his life, but from the few times it had happened, he knew he was a bit of a lightweight.

"Even if it doesn't happen now, something the people can enjoy that reminds them of more normal times would do wonders for them," a pause as he brought up another point that most any Lux would support to get things moving a bit more smoothly. "The publicity would certainly do us some good as well. If people think we have things under control enough to host a tournament, all the while with Johto calming down slowly, it ought to do wonders for our image."

It really was a good idea the more he thought about it, and they didn't even have to make it look they were under control. Not in the Frontier. This place was as solidly Lux as you could get. Anyone who tried anything this time around would be readying themselves for a suicide mission, especially with him around to act as a wrench in the gears.