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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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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 3, 2021 2:30:03 GMT
Bliss' brow gently presses into Thel's palm, she quietly gives his wrist a squeeze with both hands, before tapping the Pokeball at his waist and graciously disappearing whence she came. It was as though she declared the problem well in hand and resolved. More stateliness in that single action then in any other since she had evolved.
Violet watched her go, and finally brought herself to look Thel in the eyes again. "...If. If it didn't mean to you... what it meant to me, maybe we could try again? Your... your way...? I do like being warm and dry, and I do very much like being your friend. Let's... just talk, okay?" She pat the floor beside herself, and held the flap of his jacket open invitingly.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 3, 2021 2:40:37 GMT
He brings Bliss' ball almost up to his face, before whispering, "Thank you" and clipping it back to his waist.
"That sounds good," he says to Violet, nodding. "I'd like that. I've enjoyed getting to know you, and I'd be sad to see you go." He gets up and walks over to her, sitting in the offered spot, listening to the rain pour down outside the cave. "Thank you, Violet."
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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 3, 2021 4:32:08 GMT
"Can... can you tell me about her? What it's like to love somebody like that? To... find someone you're so sure of that nothing could ever change your mind about them? I've... I've only ever read about it in books, and I can't imagine it's done justice." Violet folds her arms around her knees and leans in against Thel. There is more reservation then she carried herself with before. Some physical stiffness, but she seems uncertain what to make of the lines between her and Thel.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 3, 2021 4:51:47 GMT
Ah. Well, this is a conversation topic. Thel's worried about causing her more pain, but it would probably hurt more if he doesn't say anything. "It's... all hard to put into words, but I'll do what I can," he says. "To start off with... Em's kind, gentle, always open to others. She would never hurt another soul, and avoids conflict when she can. Is always supportive. Really, you remind me a lot of her, thinking on it. You both showcase all the good that I've seen in people."
"I'm sorry, I'm trying to describe feelings, and it's hard. I guess... part of it has to do with when we met. It was just after having managed to finally get out from my family, and into the world for the first time. She was in somewhat the same boat, having lost her family. There's... just something about being at your lowest, when you show your raw essence, I guess. We each supported each other through that time, helping the other where our own soul had a gap." He gestures futilely. "I'm sorry. I don't really know how much better to put it. It's the feeling of knowing that you could ask anything of a person, or they could ask anything of you. That they light up your life, such that you could simply sit there in their presence for the rest of your life and be happy. The feeling that they complete you."
"It's..." he gestures again. "It's frustrating. Because there is so much that it shares with friendship. The enjoying being around them, and doing things with them. Wanting them to be happy. And I can't even be sure that my experience is how it normally is. There's just... a certainty and a bond that transcends words, it feels." He sighs. "Sorry that that's really just... a lot of rambling words."
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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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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 3, 2021 17:22:59 GMT
"Hardship is known for bringing people together." Violet offered slowly, looking out the mouth of the cave and into the pouring rain. "I'm... okay just not telling anyone what happened today. Having one friend is better then having none at all, even if this is just... every degree of painful and confusing." She laughed weakly. "Look at me, my first heartbreak... I'm growing up. Yaaaaay." There was a dryness about her sense of humor, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "This is the closest I've ever gotten to anyone... I guess... letting yourself be vulnerable can be really dangerous. Is it worth it?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 3, 2021 20:43:44 GMT
"Are you sure?" he asks. "Then please, let me know if anything that I do is too painful. I don't want to keep hurting you." There's a bit of a melancholy look. "I'm sorry, too, that... I've been your only friend. I know the feeling of not having anyone you can turn to. Of anyone who cares in your life. It's not easy."
"I... I would say that it's worth it, but I'm also probably not a good person to ask," he says. "Because it does hurt. Both in the not having, and having people who hurt you. I know for me, I got numb to everything... but my life got so much better once I started having other people in it."
Thel sighs. "I'm going to be honest. I feel a little weird trying to give advice or anything, because things have already shown that I'm... not exactly normal, with what experiences I've gone through. I really don't want to give advice that'll lead you to more pain and confusion."
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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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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 3, 2021 22:42:08 GMT
"...You'll still come out on these walks with me, and appreciate bug Pokemon right? I never did get a good look at Hope." Violet smiled hopefully, though it seemed like the emotional wear of the moment was starting to draw on her. She huddled for warmth, and showed signs of nodding off soon. There was comfort again, it had been uneasy at first, but with assurance that there was no foul play at work and it was just a misunderstanding, she was happy to be able to claim she had a friend.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 3, 2021 22:54:23 GMT
"Of course I will," Thel says. "Nature is nice, and even better with a friend. You seem to know something about every Pokémon we come across, too, things that I could never have imagined."
"And once we see her again, I'm sure Hope'll love to let you get a good look at her," he laughs. "She loves the attention... just be careful, because she's sometimes a little rambunctious. Likes to tease people sometimes. But she's a good soul at heart, my first partner. Trusted me before I was able to truly trust myself."
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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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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 4, 2021 0:24:55 GMT
"Pokemon are like that... they see things in us that we can't hope to see in ourselves most of the time. Might be nice if they could talk." Violet managed before drifting off to an emotionally exhausted sleep, leaving Thel to watch and listen to the rain, and be with his thoughts.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 4, 2021 1:07:35 GMT
"They really are," he quietly agrees. For a time, he just listens to the rain, worrying about the others, but he tries to get his mid off that. Besides... he has someone else he has to apologize to.
He releases his lone partner, meeting her eyes, before sighing and trying to find words.
"I just want to apologize, Bliss," he says, quietly. "I don't expect that it'll be accepted... but that's okay. I deserve it. I should know by now that all of you tend to know many things far better than I do. But I didn't take heed, and I misinterpreted what you were saying. And everyone suffered for my failures."
"I might ask that in the future, you try and not get physical with other people, though, because that tends to... make things harder for everyone. It's just human nature to be warier of violence. But... regardless, I'll try and be better about listening to all of you."
"I don't deserve all of the friends that I've made," he says, tearing up. "But you've all made my life so much better. And I'll remain forever grateful for that. Just... remember that if you feel the need to move on, you can. I want you to be happy, 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 4, 2021 1:28:37 GMT
Bliss listens quietly as Thel makes his requests of her. She seems somewhat amicable to the request but doesn't indicate an immediate 'yes'. Instead, she moves to his side, considers her Pokeball with an unimpressed tilt of the head, and points at it. As if to ask 'and what about this?'.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 4, 2021 1:46:02 GMT
"I am sorry about earlier..." Thel says, flushing. "I was just... panicking, and didn't know what to do. Violet was upset, you were upset, and I didn't want anyone to get hurt. And I understood the situation completely wrong."
He sighs, resting his chin on his knees. "That's something I need to fix. That's several times now, that I've panicked, and done something without thinking. Several times that you've been hurt, in one way or another. It's not right of me."
"I promise, I won't do it again," he says, resolutely. "It's wrong, and it in no way solves any problems. It just hurts someone more. Being a Trainer is still so new to me, I sometimes... don't think. But I will now. I have to. Otherwise, I can't call myself a good friend."
"However..." he says, quietly. "I do have something to ask of you. Are you going to be okay being around my other friends, and having them get attention, too? Because I want everyone to have some care and affection. In equal amounts. And if you aren't okay with that, then I don't think that, in the end, anybody will be happy."
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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 4, 2021 3:05:40 GMT
Bliss looks thoughtful, lazily pacing in a semicircle around the two sleepers. She had grown up sharing Thel's affections with others. It wasn't that she wasn't enough for him, it was that he wasn't enough for them. Occasionally she'd make a small noise to herself, tapping near her mouth with a stem as she considered the question very carefully. Asking her to share! Well... what did she get out of sharing besides less of him? That wasn't exactly fair, now was it? Not to her anyway. Maybe to the others. A foot tapped at the stone floor. A spark of an idea, and a sly look, followed by a nod.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 4, 2021 3:13:01 GMT
"Alright," he says, smiling. "I just wanted to make sure. Because... well, this whole everything has taught me to be careful that everyone's of the same mind. If everyone wants things that're incompatible, we're just going to hurt each other. And I don't want my friends hurt."
He lifts up a side of the coat. "Do you want to snuggle in?"
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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 4, 2021 3:17:47 GMT
With a gleeful nod, Bliss huddles in under Thel's coat, careful to keep her head-leaves outside of it, less they get mussed. This has her standing on his thigh, which is not at all comfortable, face practically cheek to cheek with his own. It takes some fanagling, but eventually, everyone is happy with the arrangements. The rains continue, unabated, late into the evening. Still drumming powerfully on every exposed surface. It may be time to venture out, or make a plan to remain until there is a true break in a weather that shows no sign of stopping.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 4, 2021 4:07:43 GMT
When it's clear that the rains aren't going to stop, Thel gently shakes Violet awake if she isn't already. "So... it doesn't look like the rain's letting up anytime soon. We should do our best and get going back down before we lose light entirely, I think."
"I... I don't want to leave Patience, Hope or Serenity out all night. They don't really have any food, and... it's just worrying. I don't have much food left in general, really, after lunch. And I'd just... rather not have to stay out here in a cold cave all night, if we can help it. I don't know if we can keep enough warmth."
There's also not making Jasmine worry if they didn't show up to the Gym tonight, or him for work tomorrow... but those are less important than just making sure everyone's 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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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Jan 4, 2021 4:34:57 GMT
"Alright um... how should we get started? It's hard to see out there, and the trails are probably a wet mess if there are even trails left? I've never been in this kind of circumstance before, but everything I've read says to stay put until it's safe or help finds you..." Violet looks to him hopefully.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 4, 2021 4:43:39 GMT
"I... I don't know," Thel says, sighing, and slumping down. "That's me letting my emotions go ahead of smarts again. You probably know better than I do. I just... I don't want to leave them out there."
"But... you're probably right. It's no good if we don't make it to them. The rain's just... too bad. I've never seen it like this before..." He gives another sigh. "I'm sorry for waking 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 4, 2021 5:06:06 GMT
"No that's okay... maybe we can go through the caves to get further down the mountain? It'd be less steep down there, and we might get wet looking for Patience and the others, but at least we wouldn't fall that way?" Violet got up slowly and gave an awkward, painful looking stretch. "You've got Bliss... and I've got Kindle... maybe we'll get out of here okay." Releasing a small humanoid insect that has a curious expression, and what looks to be a dapper outfit in purples that match it's hair, the bug sheds enough light that the inside of the cave has definition at last.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 4, 2021 5:16:56 GMT
"Yeah, that... that could work," Thel says, slowly nodding, before waving at the new Bug. "Oh, that's cute. Hello, Kindle. Nice to meet you."
"Also... you keep my jacket for now, Violet," he says. "I'm the one meaning that we're moving."
Looking to Bliss, he asks, "Do you want to walk right now, or prefer to ride in the ball? If you're out, you'll probably get wet at some point."
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