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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 4, 2021 2:51:59 GMT
"Well... Alright...". Patience accepted hesitantly. "It's too bad the weather isn't nicer. I feel like I could climb a tree today, even if I shouldn't.". She folded her hands together at her waist. "You want to learn the game I was teaching Jasmine's Bisharp? It is pretty easy and doesn't require a lot of leg or back movement... I saw a couple little girls playing it in town while you were out, before the rain got bad."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 4, 2021 3:28:19 GMT
"...yeah, I miss the sun, and the nice weather," he says, wistfully. "Even if we didn't do anything, I feel it'd be way better to just... lay on the grass under a clear blue sky, basking in the sun. It's only been a few days. but..." He sighs.
"Just too bad it's when you have all this energy. But, sure! I'd love to learn a new game!" he says, enthusiastically, before laughing. "You're apparently a lot better than I at picking up on human stuff."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 4, 2021 18:52:23 GMT
"Going slow will do that. I don't think I am typical for my family at all."
Patience sits down across from Thel and proceeds to teach him some kind of human rhythm game. Apparently it involves singing, but the girl never caught the words. So, while humming, the pair went through the motions of clapping their hands against each other in mixed patterns. There was a lot of warmth, enthusiasm, and contact, so it is certainly something. When it was done she sat back, pleased with herself.
"This was nice. I never really played before."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 4, 2021 19:09:45 GMT
"I... never really did, either," Thel admits. "The closest has always been doing stuff with you all in the morning, running around or wrestling before brushies. Or seeing and doing things with Em. That's really it. It's... nice to just do something that doesn't really have a greater purpose. So thank you."
Thinking about family is hard. Would others be like him if they had the chance? Or was he the weird one? He'll probably never know. He certainly wouldn't inflict being a human on anyone, though. He's only okay because of lots of support from... well, everyone. He falls back into the blankets of the nest, a bit of a troubled look on his face.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 4, 2021 22:22:12 GMT
Patience kneels beside Thel and watches his facial expression passively, before one of her hands moved to his belly and began to rub in slow, dutiful circles. Not particularly firm, or wandering too far. The other hand worked in behind the boy's ear.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 4, 2021 22:28:47 GMT
"Ah, sorry," Thel says, embarrassed. She wasn't saying anything, but it's obvious she was concerned. "Just got... lost in bad thoughts again. It happens sometimes. Just... mentioning family got me thinking of back home. And everyone else. And just... wondering. They weren't ever really family, not compared to how close I am to everyone here, but... it really hasn't been that long. I don't know. Feelings are weird," he says, helplessly.
"But, I don't want to bother you, especially not your good mood."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 4, 2021 23:02:32 GMT
"It's okay, I see you do this for Serenity when she gets upset or excited, I thought maybe it could help.". Her posture was relaxed and she was clearly comfortable with the motion. "Family is something you choose now Thel. Humans add or remove family all the time. When you find the right humans you could have parents, or siblings. Where you came from isn't family anymore. You are better then that now."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 4, 2021 23:21:45 GMT
"It does a little," he admits. "Thanks." After a few more moments of it, though, he shuffles around to sit up next to her.
"Huh. Really? How do you add parents? Aren't they just where you come from?" Thel's a bit confused. "I... never knew mine. No one did, the egg nests were communal. Meant we had no attachments. The Lady was essentially parent to all of us. So... I don't even know if I could handle having any. Too many reminders of her."
"And... I mean, I'm better than I was, but I sure still feel like a mess," he says, laughing.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 5, 2021 1:24:16 GMT
"I think they have to add you. One of the people my old Mistress worked with called her Pokemon 'her babies'. The Mistress was visibly distressed by this and refuted it angrily, but the girl treated them very very well. Sometimes I was jealous of them. Mistress seemed to think calling Pokemon family was wrong, but now I know she was the wrong one."
Patience rubs at the bridge of Thel's nose.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 5, 2021 1:33:32 GMT
"I see..." Thel says, thoughtfully. "That's interesting. The more I learn about humans, the stranger they are."
"I'm sorry, too, more and more, that you weren't able to experience care and belonging before..." he adds quietly, putting an arm around her shoulders. "But, just know that you've got friends and a family here, for so long as you want them." He laughs. "No babies, though. I certainly have no idea how to parent."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 5, 2021 2:12:03 GMT
"I know I do, I chose you. You make me feel safe. Not like a dad, I never knew mine, maybe more like a really big spider that carries me around and makes sure other things don't eat or hurt me.". Patience nods, agreeing with herself. "Serenity is a rescue too. And Harmony. You are like a hero to us when we are very small. Now that we are bigger, you look out for us still but let us do as we please... Maybe that is what a Dad does?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 5, 2021 2:29:21 GMT
"I have no idea, sorry," Thel says, shaking his head. "It was only the ladies who had any... anything, so I have no idea what a dad would even be like. Didn't matter how old we were, we were all brothers." He makes sure to give Serenity comforting pets at the mention of spiders.
"I... I don't think you could call me a hero, though," he says, flustered. "I just... helped. Gave you the little bit you needed. And you've given me more than enough in friendship and fighting and everything in return. It would be wrong for me to try and tell you all what to do on top of that."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 5, 2021 2:51:16 GMT
"Well, if we are going to be family, it is very important we figure out in what way we are family.". Patience declared with determination. "We could maybe ask someone how this works? And what normal parents do? Or at least what humans think they are supposed to do?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 5, 2021 3:00:26 GMT
Thel giggles. "We don't need to make everything fit exactly, or put them with labels. I know you like to figure out everything, like with the problem from Violet's book, but sometimes it's okay to just... let things be how they are."
"I remember Whitney having some problems with her mother. Where she didn't really have choices, or freedom, or any of that. So... I don't know how much I like the idea of parents..." he says, frowning. "Courtney was nice, and helpful... but I didn't see any of that in a parent-child way, much. So... I think the important thing is," he muses, "just that we're important to each other."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 5, 2021 4:26:44 GMT
"What if I want to know where I belong in your family?" Patience pouts. "Em's your... girlfriend? You're not old enough to be my dad. Does that make you my brother?" She watched him with those large blue eyes pleadingly. To someone that had never known family of any kind, having anything officially might've meant the world for how she insisted.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 5, 2021 4:33:37 GMT
"I mean..." Thel mulls it over. It feels weird trying to shove... whatever this all was into human dynamics, because it's a weird situation. But... "Yeah, sure, why not. It makes sense enough," he says, laughing, and gently pulling her closer.
"You're sure a lot better than any other sister I've had," he comments, teasingly.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 5, 2021 11:17:30 GMT
"You said you only had brothers before." Patience corrects as she rolls in against him to get more comfortable. "Sisters are different." She rests her head on his shoulder. Serenity moves into a sitting position with her head down, face very near Thel's. "Wrrrr?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 5, 2021 17:21:55 GMT
"Oh, sorry," Thel says, shaking his head. "I meant with the males. No matter the lineage, we were brothers. Same with most of the ladies. All sisters. They were just... above us in every way. And then there was The Lady. The closest thing to a parent. So, yes..." he laughs, "sisters were definitely different. But now I have a better one."
He smiles as Serenity moves around, and starts petting her neck. "You're family, too... if you want it, of course," he says, before laughing. "For whatever given value of family this is. It's a mess... but it's our mess."
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Post by Robot on Feb 5, 2021 18:20:39 GMT
"It's a good mess. Like a nest you make out of webs, sticks, leaves, bark, and feathers. It is warm, and comfortable, and gives you a place to hide and be safe.". At that Serenity side eyed Patience, moving to huddle her very large body into Thel's arms with a small whine.
"...What's wrong Serenity?" The small girl asked.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 5, 2021 18:44:40 GMT
"It's okay, it's okay..." Thel says quietly, stroking the fox's fur and clinging to her, trying to comfort her.
He looks to Patience after getting a rhythm of petting going. "So... you remember when I told my story to all of you? I mentioned when I found Serenity... she was trapped in a spider web. Helpless. I had to rescue her from the spider that wanted to make her its meal. Ever since then, she... she has not liked spiders. They bring her trauma the same way that Salazzles do for me."
"So... describing something like a web... that's not at all comforting to her. I know it is to you, but... she was almost eaten there. You... know how I was when you saved me from Diva. How distraught and how much of a wreck I was. That's... about how she is around spiders. She's gotten to know you, and know you won't ever hurt her. But... the topic's still something that's immensely traumatizing."
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