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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 30, 2020 23:01:47 GMT
Violet's lips pressed against Thel's with a warm, soft insistence. She closed her eyes, and held him close.
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 30, 2020 23:05:29 GMT
There's more than a moment where he's frozen, not really sure how to react at the suddenness of it all. But he returns the lean in, and holds her in an embrace.
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 30, 2020 23:11:34 GMT
Violet seems content, at least until Bliss wedges between the pair, places a stem on Violet's sternum and pushed with enough force to send the girl sprawling. The Tsareena's expression is angry, and she doesn't look up at Thel.
"Oww... What is her problem?". Violet coughed, rubbing the middle of her chest. "We were just kissing!". She raised her voice, clearly frustrated with the intrusion.
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 30, 2020 23:19:58 GMT
"Bliss?" Thel asks in shock. "Bliss, what's wrong? That... you shouldn't be doing that. She's not trying to hurt me or anything!"
"Are you okay?" he asks Violet, really concerned. He knows Bliss can hit hard. Oh, this is turning into a disaster. He has his hand on Bliss' Pokéball, in case she tries to go for Violet again.
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 30, 2020 23:36:47 GMT
Bliss rounds on Thel, planting her stems on her hips and gives him such an intense look. Through a mix of pointing and frustrated, angry cries, Thel ascertains Bliss feels Violet was going to hurt the both of them. Or did already.
"A little upset, and I'll be sore later. My first chance to show you how much you mean to me without you getting in trouble, and your Pokemon attacks me." Violet wipes her eyes.
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 30, 2020 23:52:39 GMT
"She hasn't hurt me," Thel reassures Bliss, "and I can't see her doing so. It'll be okay."
He crouches down in front of the Tsareena. "I appreciate you looking out for me. It does mean a lot. But when it comes to people that aren't actively attacking me... I'd appreciate it if you didn't attack them. Please. Don't hurt people. I'm sorry, Bliss," he says, quietly, tears welling up. "I just... I'm not strong enough to handle this right now. We can talk later." Tearfully, he recalls the Grass-type.
Standing back up, he looks over at Violet, taking some breaths to try and calm the tears and his emotions. "I'm... I'm so sorry. She's sometimes had troubles with people or Pokémon in the past, but she's been better recently. Everything was fine earlier, so I figured it'd stay that way...
"It's my fault here. I-I've got some medical supplies in my bag, if those might help."
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 31, 2020 0:05:25 GMT
Then the sky broke. Rain hammered the earth in blinding, cold sheets. Still coughing intermittently, Violet seized Thel's hand an began to guide him along the mountainside as best she could with their failing vision. Shivering, and drenched, they at last found a cave to hole up in.
"It's not your fault... You spoil her a lot, she must want that all to herself.". Violet's teeth rattled against the cold. "Not like a Pokemon would understand something as complex as romantic love..."
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 31, 2020 0:15:32 GMT
Oh no. The rain. He'd seen the storm earlier, but hadn't even considered it would hit them. That was stupid of him. He's grateful for the cave, though. It's some measure of relief, even if he is sopping wet with freezing water.
"It... sometimes seems like she doesn't want to share things, yeah," Thel admits. "She's gotten better, and it seemed like with earlier she was much better with others than she usually is. So... I thought it'd be fine to keep her out. That part was my fault."
"And, I don't know..." he says. "I think that Pokémon are more complex than a lot of people give them credit for. Hope and Serenity especially helped me a lo-" His train of thought abruptly shifts with a realization, away from the 'Wait, romantic love?' thought that was beginning to take shape, and he bolts up, heading towards the entrance. "Hope! Serenity! Patience!" he cries, before realizing that it would be completely futile as the rain splashes down.
Returning to Violet, he sits down, exhaling. "Oh... I hope they're okay. They're right by water, and weren't near a cave... but it would be way too dangerous to go back down and try and find them."
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 31, 2020 0:38:03 GMT
"They'll be alright, they have each other like we do. We can keep each other warm till the storm breaks, then go looking for them?". Violet asked hopefully, putting an arm around his shoulders, sitting hip to hip with the boy.
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 31, 2020 0:42:57 GMT
"Yeah... that sounds good," Thel says, leaning gently against her. "Oh, I've got my jacket in my backpack, we can use that as a bit of a blanket. I think it'd be better as that than just another layer of clothes to get wet..."
"Wish Serenity was here even more now, though," he says, laughing. "The fluffball is like a furnace sometimes. It's really nice. But we'll have to make do with what we have."
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 31, 2020 1:05:27 GMT
The cave is quiet and dark, Violet warm against him. The hours slowly tick by with the girl becoming more bold with her 'appreciations' until Thel is finally alerted to what Bliss was protesting all along, as Violet crossed a line.
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 31, 2020 1:11:13 GMT
There's suddenly a click in Thel's brain, as things fall into place, and he pulls away some. It had passed into the realm of what Whitney was talking about, and what Joy had mentioned. "Violet, I... I'm sorry," he says, quietly. "Please... please stop. I care for you... but, but not... not in the way for that."
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Dec 31, 2020 1:19:21 GMT
"You... You don't?" Violet's expression was one of crushing heartbreak. She recoiled from him as though he had burned her. "Then why the kissing and cuddling? Why... Why let me bring you on a date at all?" She shook, mortified, embarrassed, wrapping her arms around herself. She continued to speak through ragged sobbing. "As much as we've done together, you don't feel... Anything? Not even a little spark?"
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Post by DataNinja on Dec 31, 2020 1:39:14 GMT
"This... this was meant to be a date?" he asks, eyes widening. "I... I didn't realize. Ah. I... I understand now why you didn't want Patience along. I... I just thought that you were wanting to hang out. To share the experiences with someone else who loved nature."
"Is... is the being close, and cuddling and all that n-not normal? I... I'm so sorry." He shuts his eyes, tears leaking out. He should have learned more. Been more human. Then he wouldn't have hurt her. "When... when I was growing up. I was basically taught... that my body meant nothing. That I... didn't really have a choice. I... I thought that all was normal. It was... it was only recently I learned that.. that there are supposed to be boundaries. I... I barely know what those are."
"I like being close with people, cuddling up with them. Just... feeling their heat and their breathing. It makes me happy, and feel close with the person. And... I-I guess I felt it made others happy. But... it's not meaning anything more than that. I didn't know it was supposed to..."
He opens his eyes, and tries to steady his breathing. "I feel comfortable around you, Violet. I enjoy your presence, doing things with you. You've been a steadfast friend, and you're kind, gentle, and care about other people. I like hanging out with you, and doing things. And I feel care for you, and want you to be happy. I just... I don't feel the same way emotionally to you that I do with Em. There's friendship, but there's not... love."
"And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't know that that's how my actions seemed. That's no excuse, though. I've... I've hurt you. Deeply. And... and I know that it's probably not something that I can fix." He closes his eyes again, as he tries to hold back tears. It doesn't work in the slightest. "I... I've done nothing but hurt people because of my presence here. You. Mable. Even Ophelia. I... I shouldn't have come. I... I don't belong. She was right. And I... I know I've hurt you most of all. Because I showed you something, and then pulled it away. Even if it wasn't something I realized I was doing, that doesn't make it any better..."
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 2, 2021 22:05:27 GMT
"Of course there was another girl... I'm so stupid..." Violet muttered into the safety of her palms. "The one time I feel comfortable enough to try... and I get it all wrong..." She sniffs wetly, scrubbing at her eyes. She doesn't address Thel directly, emotionally having pulled back. She won't so much as look at him. As if on cue, the ball at his hip snaps open, Bliss materializing. She gives Thel a cool, passive expression (of the chilly sort, but not so harsh as to be unkind). There is a little sigh, and a heave of her shoulders. The Grass Pokemon moves non-aggressively towards Violet.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 2, 2021 22:15:45 GMT
"It's... it's not your fault, Violet," he says quietly, also avoiding eye contact. "It's all mine. If I was just... better at reading things. At knowing. You did as best you could with everything you knew. Don't blame yourself. It's all me."
He feels ashamed under Bliss' gaze. She knew. Of course she could see it. All of his Pokémon knew better than him in a lot of ways. But he didn't understand what she was trying to say. He got it wrong.
He still watches Bliss cautiously, though. If she's going to hurt Violet more than he'd inadvertently done so, he wants to be able to intercede.
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 2, 2021 23:45:48 GMT
"Tsa." Bliss holds a stem up haltingly in Thel's general direction, before continuing her approach. Violet seems nervous enough to beat a slow retreat. When the Tsareena reaches her, she beckons the girl down to her level. Hesitantly the trainer complies. Bliss doesn't dry Violet's tears, but she does brush them away. Gently postures the girl's shoulders up and square. Tilts her chin higher, composes her bangs. "I don't understand..." Violet sniffles once more.
The Tsareena takes a few steps back, gestures to her chest and gives a small mock bow, before proudly standing at her full height, seemingly unfettered by the incidents of the day despite her completely uncalled for timeout. And her trainer doing absolutely inappropriate things in front of her.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 2, 2021 23:52:47 GMT
"When things come down to it," Thel says, softly, smiling a little at the sight, "she'll always do what's right. Take care of those around her. She just wanted to protect me before... but now that things are clear, she wants to help."
"Just a few days ago, there was a bit of a setback, and I helped her get back on her feet," he continues. "I think she wants to pass it along, and do the same thing here, with you. Make sure you're okay."
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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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May 15, 2024 21:00:37 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 3, 2021 0:43:10 GMT
Bliss rolls her eyes, but begrudgingly nods, giving Thel a 'close enough' sort of gesture. "What is there for her to help with? We... we both made absolute fools out of ourselves." Bliss walks in a slow circle, looking around at the empty cave, and then shrugs. She makes a lifting gesture. "Pick ourselves up and keep going?" A nod, followed by a small nasal sigh, and she starts back towards her trainer, attention on the ceiling.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 3, 2021 1:02:51 GMT
"We can't change the past," Thel says, finally feeling more of an equilibrium in himself. "so all we can do is decide how we want to go forwards. If it's any consolation," he adds, "you certainly didn't seem like a fool to me. You were just going off what you saw."
"We have... a couple options, I guess. Maybe more that I haven't thought of. If you want to stop hanging out at all, that's fine. I'd miss those, but I'd understand. Being around something or someone that reminds you of strong emotions can be... hard." He remembers all that reminds him of his time as a Salandit. "If you want to continue to hang out and study or whatever, whether less often than before or not, that's also fine. I'll do what I can to not make it awkward."
He takes a breath, and exhales it slowly. "And, I guess, if you wanted to and felt enough discomfort, you could probably get me kicked out. I won't protest that, if that's how you end up feeling."
"You don't have to decide right now," he says. "Or even have that be the final choice, if you change your mind later. ...except for the last one. I guess that one couldn't be changed."
"Anyway... as is, we're still stuck in this cave until the rain lets up. So... while we're here, you can keep my jacket there. Keep you warmer."
He feels just... out of words. He's said what's there to be said, and can't find anything more. Bliss' eyes aren't on him, and he doesn't look right at her as she approaches, but he extends a hand towards one of her own. Whether she takes it, or hits it, or ignores it... he's okay with it.
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