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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 Jan 24, 2022 21:52:59 GMT
"Come with me...". Lusamine gets up, a warm insistance in her tone, offering Thel a hand. "I know just the thing to banish those bad thoughts, and help you have a great sleep."
"Mom Power!". She declares earnestly, her other hand clenched into a fist, which earns an incredulous "Mom power?" From the girls. Despite how goofy, and potentially embarrassing it is... The staff looks up just long enough to acknowledge it happened, then return to what they are doing. This is perfectly normal for Lusamine.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 24, 2022 22:01:27 GMT
"I... uh..." Thel is just as confused as the girls as to what is happening. But, this is apparently normal. Okay then.
Thankfully, his dinner is basically finished, so he gets up and takes Lusamine's hand, sharing a look with the girls. "Uh... should I wash up my dishes and stuff first?"
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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 Jan 25, 2022 1:33:13 GMT
"It's all automated here, to save time. The scraps are composted and the dishes sterilized, you just push it into the slot under the food bar.". Lusamine demonstrates, pushing her plate up under the counter, into a slot. "We automate as much as we can to save time for more important pursuits!"
Arriving in the living quarters, she pauses by a door, Patience seeing herself in. "Your sister and fianceé will be right next door if you need anything. Yours is the next room on the right. I'll be in, in just a moment to settle you for bed."
She heads into the room after Patience, helping the girl into a fluffy looking set of clothes, spending extra time to tuck the blankets in over her, snugness, weight and pressure obvious. Her voice is a soft murmur as she strokes the girl's bangs.
Em smiles and laces her fingers with Thel's. "I don't think she wants us in the same room.". She whispers mischevioisly.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2022 2:40:40 GMT
"O-oh," Thel says, widening his eyes at the process. "You... don't think it loses something not doing it yourself? I guess you probably do have much more important things to do, but..."
"I remember people tend to be sticklers about that for some reason," Thel whispers back, before giving a small smile. "But... I can be there with you even if I'm not there with you."
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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 Jan 25, 2022 2:48:02 GMT
"I know.". The girl giggles. "Being told you aren't allowed to do something makes it more exciting, don't you think?". She shrugged giddily, leaning her head on his shoulder and watching the scene unfold with Patience, her expression growing slowly distant.
A softly hummed melody wafts out into the hall, their hostess kneeling beside Patience's bed. The snippets of conversation prior had been about how the dishwasher functioned. The girl was out without any of her usual fidgeting or badgering. Lusamine let out a pleased sigh, and rose slowly, beckoning Em silently.
"I'll see you in my dreams?". Em asked hopefully.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2022 2:54:34 GMT
"I... uh, I don't know, I'm not really enthusiastic about breaking rules," Thel says, awkwardly. "Even if I think some are stupid and confusing. But," he smiles warmly, "anything for you."
"And of course. I'll see you in my dreams as well." He hugs Em, before making his way towards the room Lusamine had indicated. As much as he loathes being further from Em… it feels weird to just be standing alone in the hallway, watching.
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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 Jan 25, 2022 3:06:11 GMT
Thel's room is a bit unlike the other. Where the girls had two beds, his has a bed and a couch. There is a utilitarian bathroom to one side, all stainless steel and tile, with a large mirror and bright lights. It has a small stand up shower. The room is carpeted, and on the cooler side. He finds a set of clothes like Patience wore, hanging in the closet.
Pajamas? They might be called pajamas.
It is another twenty minutes or so before there is a knock at his door.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2022 3:18:12 GMT
The room is a lot different from any other room Thel's been in. It's not like a Center room, with its crowdedness. Not like his tiny room at the school, where there was barely any furniture. The closest was that one night under Courtney's care, and he wasn't really in a state to take notice.
The room is a little chilly, and those clothes looked warmer than the ones that he has. ...hopefully they fit. That's been the hardest part of shopping for clothes.
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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 Jan 25, 2022 18:50:38 GMT
The pajamas seemed to fit fine, though the pattern was more to Muku's tastes then Thel's, and gave a pleasant balance between the air conditioner and his own body temperature. With how humid it was outside, it was likely it ran constantly. There was another soft knock, before Lusamine let herself in.
"Wonderful... They fit.". She breathed a pleased sigh. "They were my son's, I had them washed and brought up for you.". Cupping her hands, she hooked her fingers together, and watched him with her bright eyes.
"You... Really never had a home that you remember fondly?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2022 19:01:13 GMT
He really isn't sure how to feel about these kids of clothes. Not as loose as the dresses and skirts he's been favouring recently, but not super tight either.
"O-oh, I couldn't take his things!" Thel says, eyes widening. "And... no, I never have. My home growing up was one where I was... subject to constant humiliation and torment. And then I was taken. I only got out from everything about... uh, I guess it's three months ago now. There hasn't really been any time. ...and, even then, the people who abducted me seem to want to take me back. It... really makes it hard to relax." He deeply exhales. "I'm far away from all that, now. Far away from them."
But... is he really? If this is where he came from, then they were here, too...
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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 Jan 25, 2022 19:11:35 GMT
"You poor thing... Your parents sound terrible, and the foster system is difficult in the best of times...". Lusamine embraced him slowly, concern and pity in her eyes. There was intimacy in how she held him, whispered soft words of comfort and sanctuary. "No one will take you, or abuse you... Not ever again..." She assured him gently.
There was no discussion about the pajamas, as though she hadn't heard or intentionally ignored him. "Let me help you get comfortable? I insist..."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2022 19:17:11 GMT
He nods. "I... have my friends now. They're strong, and they're willing to protect me. It helps. I wouldn't have made it without any of their support." He isn't so sure at her reassurances, given that the people who want him could apparently call people from other dimensions and cause the world to flood... but it's a comforting idea nonetheless. He allows himself to feel that way, just for a little.
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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 Jan 25, 2022 19:24:08 GMT
Lusamine peeled back the covers for Thel to make himself comfortable, arranging the pillows to one side and seating herself as though she expected him to rest his head on her lap. "Gladion and Lilly both always put up such a fuss..." Her eyes sparkled. "As though growing up made... My affection embarrassing... But I never let that stop me..."
"A mother, a good mother at least... Would do anything to show her children her love.". Her expression faded a little, words coming as though she were speaking to herself, or perhaps someone else entirely.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2022 19:38:34 GMT
Thel goes along with her expectations, allowing himself to feel - however briefly - like he has a mother. Like how it was in his dream.
"From what I've seen of here, I have no doubts that you're a good mother," Thel says, quietly. She's doing so much for people and Pokémon. For him, for Patience, for the Salandit...
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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 Jan 25, 2022 20:12:50 GMT
Lusamine's lap was warm under Thel's cheek, and her fingers lightly brushed through his bangs and across his forehead in light, rhythmic waves. Her other hand fussed and tucked at his blankets and then moved to work along his back.
"You are a good child... You don't deserve all the trouble that has been visited on you. Patience will get better here... Maybe after, you could stay with me, here? Someone to make sure you are comfortable, and safe... Happy."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 25, 2022 20:57:18 GMT
It's nice to have someone obviously care. To just... let himself not worry.
"I... that's a gracious offer," Thel says, "but... I don't know. The world is enormous, and... I haven't seen much of it yet. I don't know..."
And what if it isn't safe? The thought worms its way into his head. What if he brings Giovanni upon her and the people here, too?
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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 Jan 27, 2022 19:21:16 GMT
Light touches, soft music, and easy conversation draw along with the warmth and comfort another's presence provides. Thel isn't sure how long it lasts, before sleep takes him.
It's the deeper parts of the facility, at least he believed it is. The lighting is dim, and through the glass, all around, jellyfish like creatures glow with a ghostly blue light, marked with stars. A distant humming seems to carry from somewhere. They bob and drift, without apparent purpose.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2022 19:28:46 GMT
Whoa... he'd never seen anything like it before. It takes a little bit before he registers that they were probably a fair bit under the water. The thought concerns him, but not as much as it normally does. He doesn't worry about things like that, or how he got here. Instead, he just seeks out the source of the humming.
Like the jellyfish, he drifts.
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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 Jan 27, 2022 23:16:51 GMT
Thel finds Lusamine, a hand on the glass, staring out at the innumerable bobbing shapes in the darkened water, humming the same tune she had to ease him off to sleep. She considers his approach, that iridescent brilliance around her.
"Family is the most important thing there is, Thel... I'm so glad I've found a kindred spirit.".
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2022 23:26:13 GMT
"The world is big, and challenging... but being able to lean on others and have them lean on you makes it all worth it," Thel says, nodding. "There is strength in love, in being able to get through anything, no matter how difficult..."
He peers out at the jellyfish. "...what are they? There's so many of them."
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