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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 Jan 27, 2021 1:22:18 GMT
The Falinks return the rest of the boy's tools and take a collective step back to watch the magic happen. Each pair of eyes was fixated on some other point of Thel's activity and they squeaked back and forth in hushed tones.
"It is a uniquely human thing, not knowing what to do, isn't it?". Patience asked quietly. "For a Pokemon, uncertainty means capture or becoming prey. And then it is no longer your concern anymore."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 1:52:02 GMT
"It sure seems like it, yeah," Thel says. "I... guess I never really through about it compared to others. I knew that my own experiences were... beyond that of most Pokémon, control-wise, but... you're right. It is far easier for a lapse as a human to be non-fatal. For an indecision to not result in something catastrophic."
"So... it's understandable how you're feeling, but don't... feel that it's something that you need to immediately overcome. Humans that've been dealing with it for all their lives still struggle. It is... a peculiar realization."
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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 Jan 27, 2021 19:00:09 GMT
"Maybe it is more something young humans struggle with? Like hatchlings that haven't been taught what they aren't born knowing? Have you seen many old humans in your travels?". Patience continued to watch the ceiling with a passive expression while the smell of Thel's cooking wafted lazily through the cavern they called home now.
"Maybe we just aren't experienced enough as humans to understand."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 19:21:29 GMT
"No, come to think of it... I haven't," Thel says, thinking. "The oldest are probably some of the teachers at the school, who... well, it makes sense, they're teaching us stuff, and Courtney. Uh, the person who was in the house with me when we... first met," he clarifies. "And she had the experience to be teaching us and Whitney... I wonder if it's being of an age to have a child that does it?"
"So, that all makes sense. It'll probably be... awhile before we're more confident. If even someone like Jasmine still sometimes struggles." It feels weird having an audience for cooking. He's done this a few times before, but with Harmony watching intently, he suddenly feels a lot more pressure...
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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 Jan 27, 2021 19:47:18 GMT
As if acutely aware of Thel's emotional state, Hope swoops in chittering and chirping, causing Harmony to retreat a few shuffling steps as a group. Bliss gets up, a sense of heightened alertness at the sudden outburst. On a social defensive, Harmony lines up and Brass shields its eyes.
Patience moves to also rise, but Serenity is camping her legs. "... What was all that about?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 20:11:51 GMT
He's startled, too, at Hope's sudden chittering-fest. "Hoooope…" he says, gently, with a small smile, "I know you like to play, but... there are probably better ways to introduce yourself to Harmony, okay?"
There's a sense of momentary relief from the pressure of cooking for an audience, but it's replaced by an anxiety at making sure everyone felt comfortable. He gives each of Hope and Harmony little pats as things cook, trying to comfort everyone... even if he knows Hope was really just trying to do the same to him. It's appreciated... but also, things can't just be about him.
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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 Jan 27, 2021 21:26:21 GMT
With some coaxing, and some pouting from Hope, the insect apologetically tapped a shield of each of the six. Both parties seem reticent. The Ribombee settles beside Bliss and strikes up a conversation as the two settle together with an odd sense of comraderie he hadn't witnessed between any of his team and Bliss prior.
Harmony seems uncertain what to do with themselves, but they have stopped staring. They shuffle over and pet Serenity, the large fox having a look of concern but not quite distress. This was strange.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 21:31:01 GMT
Thel feels awkward. There's a bit of an odd atmosphere right now, and he isn't sure how to fix it. Especially since he can't let the food burn. ...maybe he can sort things out later. He can't help but feel like this is all his fault.
Hopefully full bellies will help soothe things down some.
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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 Jan 27, 2021 22:03:43 GMT
Cooking off the planned dishes for the night, the cave falls to a content silence now that there is food. Despite how many of them there are, the Falinks only eat enough to match Patience or Thel himself. When the food itself is sorted, Harmony collects plates and bowls, and squeaks at Thel, still eager to help but seemingly worried that they did something wrong.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 22:12:07 GMT
"Aw, thanks," he says genuinely, taking the plates from the 'mon, giving each of them a rob on the helmet. "That was helpful. I'm glad to have you all help. Just... cooking is one of those things where a lot of it's done by feeling, and experience. So I can't share those kinds of feelings with you, or the experience, unfortunately. So it's a lot easier for just me to do it. If that makes sense?"
"Once there's a bigger kitchen, though!" he says, brightly, "so there's more room, and I'm making bigger meals, I know that there's a lot of prep-work that I'd love to have some help with. Just chopping things up and getting stuff ready! If that sounds good?"
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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 Jan 27, 2021 22:42:02 GMT
They huddle around Thel, squeaking excitedly. There were uplilts in the vocalizations, questions maybe? Excited questions. They huddled around him as though it were story time, despite the armload of dishes. Cooked food was very different from found food and they wanted to be good at more things and hear stories about things they didn't know. They knew each other, and caves. This was new!
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 22:57:21 GMT
Thel laughs at the swarm of Pokémon and questions. "Okay, okay, I get the hint. You'd like to know more." He smiles. "Here, tell you what. I'll clean this up, and you and everyone else who wants to listen can find a comfy place around the nest and we can settle in for story time. After all, only Hope's been with me for this whole - well, basically whole - journey... everyone else has just heard pieces."
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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 Jan 27, 2021 23:17:26 GMT
Tending to the dishes in the break room sink gives Thel his first moment of solitude in some time. No Pokemon, no Patience, no companions. When he returns, they have all gathered amidst the blankets with a space for him to share his story. Several of Jasmine's Pokemon seem to take note of the shift in behavior but don't make a move to join the proceedings.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 23:33:28 GMT
It brings a smile to his face to just see everyone all sitting together nicely, huddled up amongst the blankets. It makes him feel like they're all family, of a sort.
"Alright," Thel says, settling in, seeing the many more pairs of eyes on him than he's used to. "This is going to be a long story, with a lot of people that many of you have never met. I... probably will get fairly emotional during it. But... that's okay. You're all my friends. You all deserve to know."
"It doesn't exactly start with any humans, though. Instead, it starts on a mountain..." Slowly, he makes his way through an abridged version of his life, and the journey he made from being a Salandit on the mountain, to where he is today. He covers many of the people that he'd met, the lessons that he'd learned, and most importantly, the bonds that he'd made, especially with each and every one of them. He glosses over more private, personal moments, but tries to give a general overview of what he's done. What's been happening the last several days, with the dreams and visions. Just... spilling his heart out.
By the end, he's emotionally exhausted, breathing heavily. But he had to get it all out.
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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 Jan 27, 2021 23:40:40 GMT
Miraculously, no infighting ensues, only rapt attention, the occasional excited sound when one of the Pokemon was mentioned as if they suddenly understood where they fit into the puzzle. By the end of the storytime, Thel is laying against Serenity, with Hope and Bliss cradled in his arms. Patience nestles against his back, and Harmony nestled in a row of three against each leg.
"Thank you for sharing all of that Thel. It really meant a lot, to all of us.". Patience gives him a gentle squeeze. Bliss watches Thel's eyes quietly.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 27, 2021 23:54:27 GMT
"I'm nothing without the people in my life, not really," he says, quietly, not really wanting to disturb the moment. He looks at each of his Pokémon in turn. "Each of you, and many others, have all helped shape who I am today. You deserve to know. I just... hope it shows you, how much you all mean to me."
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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 Jan 28, 2021 0:07:23 GMT
There are some murmurs of agreement from most, save the faint snoring from Serenity herself. A long day with much laid out ahead of him, but surrounded by the family he chose, Thel at last finds rest. His dreams are sweet and filled with moments afield on pleasant warm dry days. The glow of the moment he left in the waking world keeps the troubled at Bay.
Waking the next morning to footsteps, Thel groggily wakes among his pile of friends to Jasmine in more formal attire, collecting some of her partners from the cave. Alloy, Hope's favorite perch, the Bisharp that Harmony had been chasing about, and her Carbink among them. "Go ahead and take care of breakfast for your friends Thel, I'll be coming with you to the school today."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 28, 2021 1:23:33 GMT
The rest is nice, after the nap of earlier. A dream of better times, when this can all be over, and the sun will shine once again...
But it's over too soon, as he wakes. "Huh? Oh, Jasmine, good morning," he says, a little disoriented by all the movement and noise. He feels good and well-rested, though. A nice change of pace from the day before, sleeping in a cave. "And, ah, okay, sounds good. I'll try and be quick. Alright, all, up and at it," he says, laughing. "Unless you don't want to eat before we leave."
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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 Jan 28, 2021 2:04:24 GMT
There is a lot of scrambling at that, Patience being the slowest to come around. Her discomfort is clear this particular day, and she doesn't more than sit up and brace her back against the cave wall. It's in the tightness of her shoulders and the glazed look in he eyes.
"I'll have some too if you have any leftovers.". Jasmine gave him a small smile as she passed to fetch Bastion.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 28, 2021 2:11:35 GMT
"I know you said that the cold and the wet makes you ache, and hurt... don't push yourself, okay?" Thel says, gently. "Just.... rest there. I'll bring you breakfast." It hurts him to see her like this. And to know that he can't do anything about it at all. He chokes back emotions, and moves to get up. That's the best thing he can do for her now, try and get a warm belly, like Jasmine'd said yesterday.
"And of course, I'll make sure there's some for you," he says, looking at Jasmine, as she passes, before crouching back down next to Patience. "If you need anything - anything - please ask. And I'll see what I can do..."
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