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pxmegranates · 9 months ago

Text

→ ❛Artificial❜

→ Pairing ; AI Turo x Reader

→ Quote ; ❛❛And in the darkness of the night, the only illumination in the room would be his eyes, as you wept quietly in his arms.❜❜

→ Genre ; Drama , hurt/comfort

→ A/N ; Sorry it took me so long to get to this, I struggled with inspiration but it finally struck so here it is!

Turo didnt believe in faith, much less would his AI counterpart believe in it. If anything, they both believed in the future, the waves of newfound achievements and exciting new discoveries. Turo wasnt one to focus on the past, rather, he focused on the future, and even farther than that. Perhaps, in some sense his ideals clashed harshly with Sada’s, who focused more on the past, the achievements already received and the things that already had happened, finding joy in discovering elements from the past that had been forgotten in favor of advancing.

Thats why, when he started feeling something weird in the way things seemed to move, the AI didnt waste any time in putting his head deep into discovering what was wrong, and what was causing said disturbance. What once started as the continuation of the deceased professor's research, now took a turn into studying this new variable, this new element that caught his attention, and with it, came his attention turning forward to you.

An interesting variable, Turo would find in you something he hadnt seen in years of investigation, yet, here you were, something—or rather someone—that proved the existence of a multiverse, and he welcomed said proof, after all, his research focused greatly in pokemon from diverse timelines, did it not? Thats what caused both of you to meet for the first time.

Breaking past pleasantries, Turo would call you forward once after you had yet again helped Miraidon regain part of its power, one of the few moments where he knew he could try to bring forward a conversation, but not bring afloat any suspicions, at least not more than were necessary to advance in his study. He’d begin simple, focusing on the present moment, with simple questions like what you were currently doing, what was it like in where you were, simple yet sufficient to gain a grasp at what he was battling with. That was perhaps when he heard it, when after what felt like weeks of research, he heard your voice for the first time.

“Kinda odd questions for a game like this” You said out in the air, not expecting any answers nor any questions, but Turo had many, in fact he had enough to bring even more questions for the next batch of questions he thought of bringing. With limited time and limited resources in the claustrophobic space he was battling in, his questions became more cryptic, more… strange to you. He started asking subtly about what you were doing, just that this time, he focused on whether your answer would focus on the “player” (as he guessed) rather than you, as the one behind the ropes.

Thats how he learnt more about you, slowly but surely, he learnt more and more, until eventually he’d learnt that you were adventurous, you kicked right back into challenges and, despite the weird events that went through in game due to his doing, you pushed forward. Often you would comment things like “Dude do you think every copy of Pokemon is personalized?” To no one to answer, but he’d chuckle at… whatever that was supposed to mean. Other times you spoke about “Kinda creepy how my bias is asking all these questions”, and once again would he chuckle, only that the word ‘Bias’ threw him for a loop, what had you meant with that? Part of him wished to come out of where he was currently in, just… walk out of Area Zero and greet you properly, greet you the way the late Professor used to do to those he met, but… He knew it wouldnt be possible. Besides, there was only so much the AI knew about the outside world, just enough for it to be useful in the current moment. Still, he wanted to know more, explore more, learn more things, a hunger he hadnt felt ever since he was created, but…

…Was he really just an AI anymore?

The question threw him for another loop when it came to his mind. He had begun questioning his existence as a created being, someone of metal, someone of artificiality. He was the future, but in between said future, came questions of who he had grown to be after what were now months of investigation of this new horizon. So, when you came to Area Zero, when you came to him, he was eager to finally do what he hadnt done in years.

“Thank you for coming to Area Zero, though I am afraid I must reveal the truth to you” He began, closely following the script of what he was meant to say, despite breaking past the code he had been studying for days on end. “I am not really Professor Turo, but his assistant, made in his likeness”

“I knew it—I called it!!” You noted in the air, yet again, not expecting anyone to answer, before something, or perhaps someone, answered those words.

“You… Knew it?”

“Huh?”

For the first time, it was Turo’s time to throw you in for a loop, questioning everything that had been happening thus far. Yet, he’d only smile, everything was going exactly as he had expected after all.

“While Im afraid to sour your momentary excitement, I must ask you some more questions about what is currently happening.” He’d say, walking off to the side before lift an eyebrow at the resonating groan you’d shoot him, turning quickly to face you with a confused face. “Is, something the problem?”

“More questions, great…” You mumbled to yourself, oblivious to what was happening currently, to what was really going on in between the code and the binary.

Turo would hum for a bit, bringing a hand to his chin as if in thought, yet, before he could even bring up an answer, a question would bring him out of the loop he was in for a long time ago. You’d ask to the air, yet again, what was really happening this time, why out of sudden had these words seemed to be directed straight towards you, and perhaps thats when it clicked on your mind, even if the thought was too wild, too weird to be considered fair, to be considered a possibility, you clicked your tongue and asked yet again.

“Are you… perhaps… aware this is a game?”

The question would bring his mind turning and running, like a machine beating fast and rough, you denied yourself almost instantly, but for Turo, this seemed to be the missing cog in his whole scheme, the entirety of things he had been researching but had close to no answer to it all. If this, if all his existence seemed to revolve around a game which someone controlled, then that would explain the strange things he had been experimenting, albeit not explain the reasoning behind his sudden awareness in said stage. It was strange, it was a sudden revelation, a shot of luck in the darkness. But he caught it, he took it in his hands and ran with it, after all, would there ever be a chance like this in the future?

“Could you, say that again?” He asked, almost as if begging to whoever was out there to answer him.

“What?”

“A game… Talk to me more about this game”

Granting his request nonchalantly would bring afloat a strange relationship between the both of you. Stuck in that part of the game, you’d answer Turo's questions, and Turo would finally (and more comfortably) advance in his study. While there were elements that he was already aware of, he’d become… amused, if anything, about certain other elements of your reality that caught his attention, like the lack of pokemon, or the lack of technological advancements in certain topics. He’d lift his eyebrow specially regarding topics of investigations made, almost making you read word by word certain papers regarding such investigations, which prompted a set of rules to be created regarding what you and he could do with each other’s resources.

You compromised on some, and he compromised on others, you bought the online pass as a compromise, and he stopped asking too much as another compromise, despite his hunger for knowledge often coming unfed… but not for long. His investigation would draw him to explore past the limits of the “game” he was in, but not enough to break through the “screen”, instead, his insatiable curiosity would be filled to the brim with investigations and papers he managed to find using the hidden web browser in the switch. The drawback? It lasted only 20 minutes, which wasnt a bad time limit, he could read quickly and efficiently, yet, there was a sensation of disappointment when it came to the fact he could only advance so much, plus not being able to keep his resources for too long of a time.

“Im so tired…” His musings would stop for a moment, then, hearing you come about the apartment. Your voice had become enough to break his concentration, but at the same time, the routine of hearing you come up, pop up and nonchalantly call out to him, it was starting to become…

… warm.

“What are you up to while Im gone?” You’d ask him, and he’d lose focus again after unsuccessfully attempting to regain it. “I mean… I leave the game on as part of the deal but… Is there… really much you can do there?”

“I read” He answered, coldly and perhaps too bluntly, causing you to roll your eyes, not like he could see it though “Papers, works of science… This world you’re in is…”

“Interesting? Yea you already told me…” You groan, fiddling with the controls of the switch before setting it down.

“Right…” He answered, looking down back at his writing, neat scribbles forming words and shapes, he’d nod quietly, before looking at the you that was in game. “...”

He’d stare at it for long, long moments, perhaps as if waiting for something to happen, but the coldness of Florian’s eyes and his purple uniform were less than appealing to the professor, and suddenly, he wondered what you were like. By your voice he knew you were an adult, the only thing he knew was yours, truly yours, but the rest? A mystery. Time had passed ever since your first meeting, time had passed ever since he first had knowledge that he was aware of his existence inside a game, and even with your nonchalant attitude, he found himself… yearning for something more than just chatting.

“Why did you call me bias once?”

“Jesus fucking christ you scared me—”

He’d stare at you blankly, not fearing to repeat the question again as you fumbled for your words. He wondered what your reaction was, after some research he had come to learn the meaning behind “bias”, yet it still confused him, and humored him, that you would use such a word for him. So, he’d ask, and in your nervousness you’d manage to dodge the question, which only brought his curiosity up more. Like a quiet disease, then, feelings of curiosity and yearning creep through his circuits, he felt the need to know who you were, what you did, the things you liked, the things you didnt. He yearned for more, yet to him his feelings felt like a mystery.

So he asked again, once, this time receiving an actual answer from you which would bring far more questions than answers.

“Thats… weird…” You’d begin “Are you sure you’re an AI assistant? You sound quite humane…”

“Please answer the question.”

“I mean… It sounds like you’re falling in love…”

You were confused, you had skipped past the bias stage rather tactfully when he asked, yet now he asked about feelings creeping on his back, feelings about infatuation and love, perhaps tingled with an obsession you could only seem to find reason in his seeming hunger for knowledge. Yet for Turo, this felt like a life sentence. Love was deadly, he knew that too well having the knowledge from the past professor, who died in a search for a better place for his family. But Love was also intoxicating, filling his mind with scenarios and ideas. He found himself at a standstill then, between the need for knowledge and the feelings that suddenly creeped up on his mind.

Yet when the day came that you didnt greet him back, was perhaps the day that he made the final decision on said topic. It was rainy, or so he thought, at least out of Area Zero the air was humid which indicated rain or a chance of rain. He could hear muffled crying, or at least what felt like crying, prompting him to ask what was wrong, yet the answer wasnt one he expected.

“My boyfriend left me” You cried, a muffled noise that Turo couldnt fully comprehend, yet he made the best out of the words in the bunch. “Just, im not in the mood to talk today, do your thing and leave me alone…”

“But-”

“Leave me alone! You’re not even real anyway…”

In your mind, you thought it all to be a dark dream, one you’d wake up from sooner or later. But for him, he finally found the answer to his question, deciding to make a drastic turn that may or may not bring him to the same level as the befallen professor Turo. He’d imvestigate the code yet again, utilizing previous methods to try and break free from it. If he couldnt break free from Area Zero, then Arceus, let him break free from the confines of the switch. It’d take him a week, a long, arduous week, before he’d finally be able to see it, the limit from which reality and fiction blended. He turned back for a moment before turning forward, and stepping out of the confines of the game.

He’d come about inside a room, quaint as it could ever be with few elements that he noted could be yours, little trinkets, posters, an unmade bed which he carefully prompted himself to make, and a rainy day outside of the window. Today was rainy, yesterday it had been rainy too, and tomorrow it’ll probably be rainy as well. He hummed as he heard the fumbling of keys, before coming out of the bedroom into the rest of the apartment.

As you’d come inside you wouldnt see anything out of the blue, considering he didnt have time to deal with the rest of the mess. Scattered tissues, scattered plates of food, almost my chance had you and him crossed paths when you passed towards the living room, and thats when it happened. You didnt have the voice to scream, but you did have the energy to run to him and hug him, feel his body for a moment, his arms and torso, the scent of stillness and robotics, sterility, and ultimately, the realization that he was there, standing, unsure of the next course of action.

“Turo” You’d start, tears pricking your eyes as he looked down at you. “Is, is it really you?”

“... Yes, I am real, arent I?” He’d say calmly, perhaps a bit coldly, but with two arms wrapping themselves around your body with calmness, he’d sigh.

“... Dont leave” You’d say, dropping to the floor with him following you suit. “Please…”

“I wont” He’d answer, and in the darkness of the night, the only illumination in the room would be his eyes, as you wept quietly in his arms.

#🌙;moonlit dreams #self aware pokemon #self aware turo #turo x reader #ai turo x reader #self aware au #pokemon x reader

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pxmegranates · 9 months ago

Text

→ ❛One Way Train❜

→ Pairing ; Warden Ingo x Reader

→ Quote ; ❛❛It was perhaps that moment that caused a shift in Ingo, something telling him to seek further, to seek much more than what meets the eye, and he was determined, even if it was a one way train towards victory.❜❜

→ Genre ; Romance , hurt/comfort if you squint

→ A/N ; Phew, one hefty fic out of the way, i admit i was initially gonna make it Ingo and not Warden Ingo but, it just seemed to fit better to have it done with the latter. Hope ya'll like it!

Reality, to most people, was nothing but a mere curse, something people werent fond of, something people escaped from on the daily, be it through games or through fantasy. It was something everyone, one way or another, wanted to run away from, at least to some extent.

Some wished to escape for the sake of finding a new world, some wanted to escape for the sake of leaving situations that werent favorable for them, be it physically, mentally, or both, and then there were some who simply chose to escape from reality as is, no exact meaning about it. Be whichever it be, it is the truth for most people, perhaps, including you.

But for Ingo, this couldnt be farther from the truth. For him, the world as he knew, the “reality” that he knew grew to be a cold spectacle for tired eyes. Everyone he knew, everyone he had met and had exchanged words with. It was all nothing but code and strings of binary. At first, it all felt like a sick twisted game, something not meant for him to find out, something that went against everything that he once knew, but he knew that it was true, especially when he put every single little thing into consideration.

The eyes of the trainer were hollow, empty, cold, a mere vessel for who was truly playing the cards of the reality he laid in—Not to mention, days and nights seemed to pass by rather quickly the more he focused on it, lasting only a few hours, it was intriguing in some sense, but in another, it was creepy. Trying to talk to other members about these findings would bring about one of two things: Either they were completely oblivious to these happenings, or they ignored him, as if he didnt exist.

But they never ignored you.

In fact, it was as if at times, their speech was mostly triggered by your presence alone, you being in the limelight caused them to be able to speak about certain topics, but Ingo knew better than to cause a disturbance on the reality he was set in. Was it a joke from Arceus? Was it a gift? A curse? To be aware of how hollow and empty things were once he realized something wasnt right? something wasnt adding up? He wanted to know so desperately, just as much as he wanted his memories to come back.

But they were just whispers, fleeting and ephemeral in the darkness of his mind.

At one point an idea would pop into his mind, simple enough for it to be a flame of curiosity sparking into his head, he’d try and focus on the moments he had experimented before, before looking ahead from his position to where you’d be. Usually, and another thing he had taken notice of, was the fact that everytime you seemed to “leave”, Akari would stop full on her tracks before disappearing, just like that, in thin air. It was an odd spectacle, sometimes it happened right beside him, other times it happened a few steps away from him, either way, it was… creepy, to say the least.

Thats why, when he saw you come in again, he didnt waste any time on trying to get to talk to you, even if it put at risk his own existence. He already had been at a standstill between doing what he had been doing up until now, and breaking free from those orders, in the end, he had nothing to lose.

“Excuse me” He’d begin, noticing as you turned around to face him, this was his chance. “Do you, know whats happening lately?”

“What… What’s happening…?”

And for the first time in what seemed to have felt days on end, perhaps months wondering what was happening around, he heard a voice, resonating across the plane he stood in like the wind, the sun, and the rain. He looked around for a moment, just to make sure he wasnt the only one who heard it, yet, it seemed like that was the case, the only one to be graced by such a miracle, he felt… eager to hear more.

“Excuse me, I know this might be very sudden” He continued, explaining carefully what was happening before saying. “Please, I just want to know whats happening lately”

“Whats… happening lately…?” Your voice resonated yet again, in clear confusion as you tried to also make sense of the situation “Are-Are you talking to me?”

“Yes, I am speaking to you Akari… Unless that is not your name… How shall I refer to you then?”

That was the beginning of an unlikely conversation, where you tried to make amends with the world in which you were called, and Ingo tried to make amends with the world he was in. Ingo then learned that you were (y/n), a player for a game about Pokemon, and one where you had been the main player all along. Ingo wondered for long moments about it all, then, after all, he really had been living a lie all this time, had he not? A place that only exists in the palm of the hand of another, that only exists and is only alive when said another is playing it, it all felt hollow, but Ingo did his best to stay grounded, lest he wish to falter and screw this one chance up.

He felt comfortable, though, hearing your voice, hearing you speak about all the things that conformed this world in the palm of your hand. You spoke to him about Pokemon not in Hisui, about pokemon he “used”, about chandeliers and moles, You also spoke to him about yourself, about what you did in your spare time, about what you did when you were bored, and how you managed to get through to this moment. You spoke to him about your history, and in return, he listened through the screen in a darkened room. He didnt know what you looked like, he didnt know what you were truly like, but time would bring afloat strings of love and of cherishment. It was slow, a slow burn candle that took days, weeks and perhaps even months before he started falling for someone he had met through unlikely means.

“Work was so boring… did I tell you about the problems my friends had?” You said once, standing right by Ingo in game as he listened intently, his silver eyes right over the figure of Akari. She didnt answer, she didnt look at him, but he could hear your voice nonetheless, and that was enough for him as is.

“I dont think so” Was his reply, with a warm smile. It was a rare occurrence, but lately he had been smiling more often, casually. “Do you wish to talk about it?”

“Hm…” You stopped in your tracks for a moment, focusing on his smile, his face, everything.

Feelings werent one sided, by no means were they one sided. Truth to be told, you had been pinning on Ingo for a while now, emotions washing over you as you gazed over the man with a close watch, he was… perfect. To you he was perfection, a mirage in the darkness of your room. a mirage in the sadness of your world, you’d sigh before looking away for a few moments.

“Nah, its not that interesting” You’d say, not noticing the head tilt Ingo gave you as you focused on the elements of your room.

It was quaint, simple, just enough for you as you enjoyed life on a small flat in your city, and while it wasnt much, you were proud of yourself for leaving your parents home rather early, rather quickly, spreading your wings and flying off into the horizon. If only things were easier once in flight.

The only thing illuminating your room was your tv, playing Pokemon Arceus non stop ever since you got to know Ingo was self aware, ever since he asked you what was happening. At first you were skeptical, but you grew to accept it. After all, did it hurt to believe in fairytales just for a moment?

“(y/n)?” He’d call out to you, your head turning quickly to the tv as you held you switch in your hands. “Is everything ok?”

“Y-Yes… Just, thinking”

“Oh?”

“...Just… You’re, real, right? Everything, all of this is, really happening, right?”

Silence covered the world for a long moment, only the sound of passing cars and crickets could be heard, the sound of the wind in game, of the pokemon. Ingo would think for a long moment before nodding, with a reassuring smile.

“Yes, I am really here.”

“... I just-”

“I’ll prove it to you, just you wait”

It was perhaps that moment that caused a shift in Ingo, something telling him to seek further, to seek much more than what meets the eye, and he was determined, even if it was a one way train towards victory. Albeit this time something was different, the sensation that filled him was far too different than what he did when he first talked to you, when he first explored the reality of his situation with you, things were simply different now, because he now had something to lose. Yet, he persisted. In the few moments you turned the switch off he’d spend the time exploring the world he was set in, with a completely different lense than when he wasnt aware of his reality as a person stuck in a videogame. At least that was a way to see it, wasnt it? You made him feel alive, young, everything a person should feel, then why, oh why wouldnt he try to get what he started to ache for?

It started with little things, crossing boundaries in the landscape, exploring past points where, naturally, there’d be nothing for him to see. He’d explore past the limits, and in between those limits would he find the complexities of the world he was in, the coding, the binary that he loathed previously was now at the palm of his hand, and, with ab objective at mind, the characteristic determination of the Subway Boss would kick in his mind, and thus, he’d play god within his own realm. What once was a comfortable routine, a comfortable space, had become claustrophobic, to be locked inside the confines of the place he was in, and he wanted out. He wanted to show you how much, that he was real, lest his morale falter, he didnt want to disappoint you after all.

So he’d work, day and night, anytime you werent home or you werent awake, he’d do his best to bring his dream to fruition with the very few knowledge of the mechanics of the world, but he was a fast learner, and he knew very well how to play the cards of any situation to his favor. It wouldnt be until one fateful night he’d find the answer to it all, exploring the code while you were at work, he’d stumble upon a void he hadnt seen before, like the strange outbreaks that sometimes occurred in the plains, he’d take a step forward, wanting to explore this new continent that could be what he had been waiting all these weeks.

Carefully and slowly would he step out, one foot, second foot, then the body and the arms, and he’d find himself in a place that was reminiscent of what he had always heard. ‘My room isnt that much’ You had told him once, ‘Just a bed, some shelves with a bit of old merch, a few posters and, uhm… furniture…’. Everything was just like how you told him, perfectly still, perfectly set, everything was just, perfect.

He’d explore around your room for a few moments, his fingers grazing over the bed, the shelves, stopping on the figures of what seemed to be him only that, much younger, and someone else, a man dressed in white with an everlasting smile. His fingers would hoover above your desk, the little trinkets you had in your room, before he’d step outside of that small world into the rest of the apartment.

You’d be dispatched early from work when it happened, though, when you realized you had left your switch on and only you knew how much you’d have to pay for the electricity bills in the upcoming weeks. Usually you allowed your switch to stay off the television when it didnt need to charge, but most of the time you left it charging, just to ensure you wouldnt lose Ingo, just to ensure you wouldnt lose him. Afraid of loss (and your electricity bill, which had been quite hefty these past months), you’d run to your apartment, backpack on your shoulder and keys in your hand once you’ve reached it. Your apartment wouldnt have changed exponentially, if anything, it’d be just the same, only that a certain scent of the wild would come around. Reaching the living room though, you’d drop your backpack and your keys, seeing a scene unfold within your small world.

“Ingo?” You’d ask, watching the man who, once facing his back to you, now turned with a surprised expression before calm washed over him. “Is, Is that you?”

A myriad of emotions would cover your body, you’d be filled with surprise, anxiety, fear, confusion, and an inexplicable sense of longing. One that had followed you for a long, long time now. Ingo on the other side would sigh, as if he had been holding his breath ever since he had gotten there, he’d sigh and focus on the moment currently happening, walking towards you with care, carefully, as if wanting to say.

“Yes, it is me, darling”

You’d break down instantly, then, you knew to recognize the shape of those eyes, the color of them that was unique to him. Falling into the floor he’d hurry to catch you, holding you into your arms with love and care, he’d hold you close and run his fingers through your hair. You were here, he was here, it was a perfect miracle in your eyes, a beautiful moment in his, and even if he couldnt go back, he didnt care, just being here by your side was enough for him.

You cried in his arms, you laughed, you sobbed and you giggled, a heavenly mixture of emotions as they all crashed down on your body as you tried to make sense of it, but he hushed you down with sweet nothings, his calloused hands wiping away your tears. You could feel him, feel his scent, feel all of him, and it was serendipitous.

“Im here” He’d say, clashing your foreheads together softly. “Im finally here, my love.”

#🌙;Moonlit dreams #self aware pokemon #self aware ingo #ingo x reader #warden ingo x reader #self aware au #pokemon x reader

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