LOCKED TO istheindustry

[decrees]

Summer was coming to Johto, and quite frankly, Logan was glad it was nearly here. He had been spending his time up north with Reaver, travelling to Mahogany Town, a remote little town that housed one of the Gym Badges they were in the process of collecting. Logan hadn't expected it to be so cold, even in spring. Finally it was beginning to feel like that awkward transition phase between spring and summer, and the heat was a welcome change.

They had arrived in Mahogany last night and had spent the better part of the day travelling to the Lake of Rage. Both of them had seen it on the map, but Logan hadn't expressed any desire to visit it until they had stopped in Mahogany. Yes, he understood that the badge challenge was important (he was the one who had been so determined to start collecting the badges anyway), but the badge wasn't going anywhere. Neither was the lake, but that didn't change the fact that he wanted to see it for himself.

Logan had always loved the water. The royal family had a small place in Millfields that they visited during the summers when the Hero Queen simply couldn't stand the heat anymore. Logan had loved exploring Bower Lake as a child, and it was something that never really left him even after all this time. He had only been to Bower Lake a couple of times since he took the throne, and had only brought his sister with him once. They had both been a bit too old to frolic in the ocean like children - at least, that was what they said until night fell and they were certain they wouldn't be spotted by any of the nobles that lived in the area. He remembered that evening fondly; but there were very few things about his sister he didn't remember fondly.

He brushed that thought aside, not interested in dwelling on the past. It never ended well. He was here in Johto now; he had to look out for himself - and only himself - though it was still something he was in the process of learning how to do. He was getting used to not having control over people, but taking care of himself was still something Logan hadn't really adapted to.

That said, he did look quite a lot healthier than he had in Albion. The darkness was still present around his eyes - and likely would always be, he was tainted, after all - but he had put on a bit of weight and the constant travel was doing some good for him physically. Of course, it didn't help that he was travelling with Reaver who would run on ahead if he was allowed. Logan still had difficulties keeping up with the ever-energetic industrialist, but he hadn't reached his breaking point yet.

The travelling today had been relatively light and easy; there were trainers to fight and plenty of grass to wade through, so speeding to their destination was out of the question. He was thankful for that. It did put them a bit behind schedule though; they would have to spend the night up at the Lake of Rage and return to Mahogany in the morning, but Logan really couldn't say he minded that any. If the lake was anything like Bower Lake, then he doubted he'd want to leave so soon anyway.

Speaking of the lake, it finally came into view amid the trees and Logan stopped short, staring. It was huge, possibly even larger than Bower Lake. The water looked clean and clear from where he was standing (though admittedly, it was still a bit hard to judge and it could just be wistful thinking on his part) and the shores were completely clear, no people anywhere in sight. Apparently this wasn't a very popular tourist destination for whatever reason. Logan found himself releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding, glancing side-long at Reaver for some sort of confirmation that the industrialist was as pleased with this as he was.

Comments

[istheindustry]

"I said nothing to you regarding the resistance because they were hardly any sort of threat, at least not as they were; really, if I came to you about every little uprising that occurred in Bowerstone Industrial, then you'd tire of me rather quickly - and I certainly can't have that, can I?"

And judging by his tone, that was quite simply going to be that on the matter; there was very little sense in arguing, unless Logan wanted him to be stubborn. "As for the rest, I've been your friend and advisor for years - I'd think you'd know that that's what I'm here for by this point."

[decrees]

Reaver's words stunned Logan into silence again, but for an entirely different reason this time. The emotional reaction was quick; he felt genuinely happy to hear Reaver refer to him as a friend, even after everything they had gone through. Maybe it didn't mean as much to Reaver as it did to him, but friendship was something Logan hadn't had much experience with. If one didn't count his sister, it was something he didn't have any experience with.

"I..." But he couldn't come up with anything to say in response, merely shaking his head and focusing back on the water. He knew he should express just how pleased he was with hearing that, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out how to do it without sounding like a child.

"...Thank you." It wasn't the best, but it would have to do. He didn't speak for a moment, still trying to find something to say. "You've been an excellent adviser." At least he knew Reaver was partial to compliments.

[istheindustry]

Reaver just laughed a bit at that, softly. "But of course; you only hired the finest possible." Despite the shameless egotism, however, it was clear that the compliment had pleased him.

"That said, however, there's no reason to be so shy about it."

[decrees]

"I am not--" But he didn't even bother to finish that, since it would be a bit of a blatant lie. Instead, he finished that thought with a rather undignified noise of frustration and rolled his eyes. Fine, fine, he was shy. Happy?

"...Yes, well. I did need the very best to ensure the survival of our country. You did an excellent job serving me."

...Yes, he was even willing to stroke Reaver's ego a bit more.

[istheindustry]

And Reaver certainly wasn't going to complain about that, though he did arch an eyebrow a bit at that non-admission before Logan continued on.

"Of course, my dear. And naturally, the same services will be extended to your sister, when the time comes for that."

...although the sheer thickness of the sarcasm there was likely more than enough to make it plain what he thought about that. Not looking forward to it, Logan...

[decrees]

Despite the seriousness of the topic, Logan found himself smirking.

"She's not going to let you build that whorehouse either, you know."

[istheindustry]

And all that Logan received for his effort was the most dismissive gesture.

"Oh, we'll see about that."

[decrees]

"You didn't stand a chance with me. There's no way she will let you get away with that. She's far more moral than I am."

He didn't seem bothered by that any though, still smirking instead.

[istheindustry]

"She's also far less of a prude, given what she was wearing at the point that she and our dear friend Page decided to force entry into my mansion."

[decrees]

Ahahahaha what.

"Reaver..."

[istheindustry]

You heard him.

Despite that, however, he just laughs again. "All right, all right. Consider it retracted, if it offends you so."

[decrees]

"Good. I suggest you don't talk about my sister that way again."

She is far too young for you anyway!!

[istheindustry]

...honestly, everyone managed to be too young for him, if you were going to look at it that way.

"If you insist, darling."

[decrees]

Yes, well. Her especially.

"I do." But he wasn't as uptight about it as he could have been, and soon enough, Logan was smirking again.

"You really ought to know better than to attempt to say such things about my sister in front of me, Reaver." And with that, he oh-so-maturely splashed water at the industrialist.

[istheindustry]

"Or you'll - "

...all right, wow, or apparently you'd do that - that oh-so-mature response managed to get a completely indignant noise in response, complete with an equally mature retaliation.

"Oh, come now, she's quite capable of handling herself by now, and she's not even here besides."

[decrees]

Ladies and gentlemen, the most mature men in Johto.

"Of course she is. That doesn't mean I'm not going to protect her. And since she isn't here, who else will defend her?"

That splash was returned quickly enough, Logan's smirk widening a bit with it.

[istheindustry]

Well, look what you've done, you've gone and made him competitive - so quick to return that, damn you.

Never mind that he was obviously very amused by all of this; it wasn't anything he was really bothering to hide.

"Don't think of it as insulting her honor, think of it as offering her an opportunity."

[decrees]

Oh please, as though Reaver is the only one who's competitive here? That's going to be returned just as quick!

"An opportunity."

...Okay, that got him to frown quickly enough, clearly not pleased with that at all. "Reaver." There were some topics that were just off-limits. His sister and sex were certainly two he didn't want to discuss.

So obviously the solution was to splash Reaver again.

[istheindustry]

Oh, that was hardly fair -

At the same time, it does seem to have entertained him a good amount; such a vehement reaction, Logan.

"And I suppose that you're going to make me swear up and down to not proposition her, should I be in a position to do so."

[decrees]

"Of course. You won't lay a hand on my sister."

His sister always had meant a lot to him, after all...

And it certainly wasn't as though he would rather keep Reaver to himself. That had absolutely nothing to do with it, thank you very much.

[istheindustry]

That just got more eyerolling, really. "If you're going to be so insistent about it, I suppose I can humor you for the time being, at least."

[decrees]

"Good."

Satisfied with that topic, Logan moved to run a hand back through his hair, suddenly awkward for absolutely no reason. It was a bit difficult to discuss anything that had to do with relationships after theirs failed. Of course he understood that they might eventually try it again, but that didn't make it any less awkward in the present. Logan had never tolerated failure well, much less for something he felt he should have been able to salvage somehow, despite knowing next to nothing about relationships. He always was a bit hard on himself.

Instead of saying anything, he went back to trailing his hands through the water, looking down at that instead of at Reaver.

[istheindustry]

And if Logan thought that Reaver was going to be completely unaware of the awkwardness, he was entirely mistaken; it took him a moment to work out whether he should comment on it or not - after all, doing that tended to invite Logan to actually discuss these things with him, which had never really been anything Reaver cared to do in the first place, much less willingly - but in the end...

"Something on your mind, Logan?"

[decrees]

"Ah, it's... nothing important."

He was content to leave it there for a moment. Reaver wasn't the sort to just ask about this sort of thing though, and after a moment longer, Logan finally elaborated, "I was just getting a bit... nostalgic, I suppose. That's all."

[istheindustry]

"Regarding...?"

He was fairly sure he had a decent idea; it was entirely possible that this was going to get into unpleasant territory, but this entire day had been a bit of a confusing wreck already, as Logan tended to go - might as well deal with this now, he supposed.