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Post by DataNinja on Dec 23, 2021 0:52:39 GMT
"Thank you," he says, smiling. "I have learned that lesson all too well. We must face what is to come together."
As he wakes, Thel is careful to not disturb Em. It's been a rough time for her, after all, she deserves the sleep. Instead, he continues to just lay on the ground staring up at the stars, seeing if he can find shapes or meaning amongst them.
Listening to her calmly sleep, feeling her presence... it's everything he could want in this moment. Just being together.
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 24, 2021 21:52:01 GMT
The following day went by without event or incident. With the rains at an end, the gym leaders began to return their attentions to other matters. Falkner returned home to tend the Swanna on the back of a lustrously combed bird that was larger than he. There was some talk of engaging the creatures that had left Goldenrod between he and Clair.
Johto's dragon master opted to check in on Whitney and start the hunt for the wayward creatures. If they were dangerous, she was singlemindedly certain that she would be the one that would handle it. Clair departed on the back of a Dragonite, racing Falkner east.
Morty's departure was humble and quiet by comparison, as he himself was. Soft goodbyes, a gentle wave and an easy smile that gave nothing away. He left on foot along the route that left northern Olivine then east to Ecruteak.
Little by little, Olivine, its school, and its people seemed to recover to normalcy more and more as the brief time after the rains fell behind them. It wasn't until Sunday evening that the next chapter in his story began to unfold.
Dinner had been prepared and served, Thel, the Pokemon, Patience, and Em lounging in the caves beneath the gym that had become their space, when Jasmine arrived with a stranger.
The woman was well dressed, all in white, with jewelry in deep greens that matched her eyes. Platinum blonde hair hung long in a sweeping curtain. She considered the assembled with passing interest before Jasmine introduced her.
"Thel, Em, Patience. This is the specialist we sent for from Alola, her name is Lusamine. She is the president of the Aether Foundation, a conservationalist group set in the islands."
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 24, 2021 22:04:36 GMT
After all of the hecticness off the prior few weeks, it's nice to have a day where there's nothing. Thel does tell Em some of what he saw in his dreams - reassurance that she's progressing quickly, caution about her needing to learn to hold in her own emotions, and hope that there will soon be news of someone who could help. He doesn't mention that it might be her mother, since she'd said to not get her hopes up about that sort of thing.
It's a little bit sad to say goodbye to everyone, but he understands. They're needed more elsewhere, now that the crisis has passed. There's still more out there to do.
And then comes the visitor. There's definitely a presence about her, something of authority, of being the focus of the room. At least that's how it feels to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Thel says, with a curtsey. "I think I can easily speak for everyone in saying that we're incredibly grateful for you to come out all this way, and so quickly, to see if you can help my sister."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 26, 2021 16:31:20 GMT
"The pleasure is mine." Lusamine beamed brightly. "My, my~ What a polite young woman." She cupped her cheeks in her hands, smiling warmly, a bit of color finding her cheeks. Her voice was rich, older, Thel identified somehow, though she certainly didn't look it. "This must be Patience then." The little blonde looked up from where she was sitting, the unit grafted into her spine clearly visible under the rear edge of her shirt. "Yes, ma'am." She offered slowly, clearly wary of the enthusiasm she was approached with.
Smoothing the blankets beside Patience, Lusamine sat cross-legged. The idea that she might ever kneel, with how she carried herself, seemed so strange. "If I may?" Patience gave Thel a look, and slowly turned her back to Lusamine and lifted the hem of her shirt. There was a soft gasp. "I'm going to feel around the base of it, let me know if there is any discomfort or pain, okay darling?"
Patience gave Thel a pleading look, Jasmine politely excused herself. Em sat nearby, back stiff and staring off into space.
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 26, 2021 17:29:01 GMT
Thel moves to sit besides Patience, and holds her hand. He doesn't know what to make of this older woman, but his sister clearly needs support. "She needs to be able to look at it to hopefully be able to make it better. But I'll be here beside you. If you feel uncomfortable at all, for any reason, you can squeeze my hand, if that's easier. I… know it's sometimes hard to speak up."
He wishes that he had some time to just talk to his sister alone, be able to discuss what's troubling her without others around. But, he can't. He can only try and be there for what she needs.
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Member
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Post by Robot on Dec 26, 2021 22:50:58 GMT
Lusamine feels around the base of Patience's spine, her expression one of concentration. Now and then her attentions drew a sharp inhale from the girl, and Thel received quite the squeeze in kind. After several moments of this, the woman sat back slowly. She exhaled long and slow.
"As far as I can tell, at best the device runs paralell to her spine and wires into brackets mounted along the vertibrae the whole length of her back. It would be minimal surgery and recovery time. At worst, it is fitted between the bones in her back and threaded into the spinal cord itself. This would be much more dangerous to excise completely, and risks severe permanent nerve damage. I'll talk with Joy about the use of her facilities here in town for tomorrow, if that's agreeable to everyone. Get a good look at what we are dealing with."
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 26, 2021 23:00:20 GMT
For such a small girl, Patience's grip really was tight. But, he endures it without flinching. It's nothing compared to what she's gone through. It's the least he can do.
"Really, it's all up to Patience," Thel says. He doesn't really understand all the words Lusamine was using, but that's okay. He doesn't have to. "I'll do what I can to support her, but... this is all her. You'd just be looking at things tomorrow?"
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Member
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Post by Robot on Dec 27, 2021 18:50:38 GMT
"That's right, only looking for now.". Lusamine reassured firmly. "With what is at stake, this is not something to be rushed or taken lightly." At that addition, Patience's expression relaxed and she managed a nod. "A look won't hurt... Just a look."
End of Chapter.
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