bravenewworld

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~02

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[((Dated to post-cave exploration))

Tiny recluse is still tiny, but not so reclusive -- especially not now that he has a new friend to visit and care for (new friend is a Steelix named Gertrude, fyi). Armin thinks it rude to leave his buddy all alone in the Habitats all the time, so an escape attempt has been performed!

Granted, his grandfather has been extra-busy with council-y business in the wake of the ore crisis, so it wasn't that hard for Armin and Meredith to sneak out. But still, they're free! They're out! He should be feeling very proud of himself, walking along the streets like a normal civilian. He should be all but skipping along the sidewalk, perhaps whistling a cheery tune.

Except he's not. Because, as it turns out, bonding with an enormous Pokemon sort of leaves you drained, mentally, physically and emotionally, and Armin doesn't have much emotion strength to spare. So he's sort of creeping along the street, frowning, radiating a tangible -- literally; if any passers-by aren't psychically prepared, his emotions are going to bleed over onto them -- aura of discomfort, nausea and exhaustion.

This also means that if anyone with a particularly potent emotional state passes by, it's going to hit Armin like a ton of bricks. Case in point: the loving couple who sidesteps boy and Ralts, drawing an uncharacteristic scowl from both.]

Ug. Indecent.

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Probably? Like, I was covered in feathers when I was born, though they fell off after about a day, but sometimes I find like a small feather growing in my hair? So I'm probably going to start looking more bird-like. [Fai, honey, you have no idea. But he's managing to feel less intimidated with so much sparkling amazement directed at him.]

Well, I'm pretty sure a Steelix would be able to show her displeasure if she doesn't like her nickname rather well, right? Besides, your Psychic gift seems to have a lot to do with feelings, so you could probably tell regardless. [Like no one ever was~.]

Covered in feathers? Like a bird? [This is so amazing to Armin, okay this is actually the greatest best thing he's ever heard in his entire life omg.]

She might be trying to be polite, though. And I try not to read other people's emotions without permission. It's not nice.

Well, more down than feathers, I suppose. I'm guessing that it was meant to be protective. My brother levitated slightly for about a month or so, and sometimes went slightly intangible, probably for the same reason. So they knew what typing we had pretty quick. [Not that they'd considered that a good thing.]

I'm sure that's not the case. If it's something you've picked out of care and affection, I can't imagine she feels anything but good feelings about it. It's the feelings behind that's the important thing, not the name in itself. [Which might explain why Fai's other two pokémon put up with "Babycakes" and "Mr Sunshine".]

You and your brother are both Enlightened? That's amazing! You have someone close to you who understands! [Armin frowns a little, trying to remember, then says in a very cheery voice -- obviously just trying to empathize --] My Grampa says I cried for days and days when I was first born. We used to live a lot closer to everyone, so I guess I was upset by all the people. It got better once we moved away.

She's lovely. Her and Meredith and -- and everything. [Have an absolutely blissful smile.] It's so nice to be with people.

We~ell, we are identical twins, so I suppose it only makes sense. Besides... well, everyone in my family has been Enlightened back to the time of the Savior on my father's side, and at least four generations back on my mother's. [He shrugs lightly, because while it's true that he's grateful for being able to share everything with Yuui, he doesn't feel like he has much in common with the rest of his family.]

[He grimaces slightly in sympathy.] Gosh, it must've been pretty hard, being a kid and constantly having a door in your head that people keep walking through. It's really brave of you to be out walking about now, then. [A small smile.] And I'm glad it makes you happy too.

Is it nice? Having a sibling, I mean. It seems like it would be, just having someone always there to talk to. [Armin considers Meredith a sibling, but that's sort of a secret, because he's awkward about it.] Your whole family is Enlightened? Really?

I don't remember it very well. My family did a good job of keeping it quiet for me once they figured it out. [Aka, of keeping him hidden. Armin doesn't really mind it too much -- he sees and understands the love and worry behind it.]

[It's evident from Fai's face that he wasn't prepared for that question at all, and for a moment he just stares at him in incomprehension. Then he slowly shakes his head, not in answer as much as confusion.] It's a bit like asking someone if it's nice to have legs when they've never been without, I think. I mean, I can't even imagine life without Yuui, and I couldn't live without him, but... if I hadn't been born a twin, perhaps I would've felt differently? But I'm not sure I would be me either.

[He shrugs a bit awkwardly.] And yes, I think so. If there's been anyone who wasn't, it's probably been hushed up. [Welcome to Fai's family's wonderful "standards", Armin.]

I can understand wanting to keep you safe, it must've been hard for you. But... wasn't it a bit lonely too?

That makes sense. You can't consider something nice that you've always had. I suppose people tend to...to not think about those things, huh? But objectively, I mean. Do you enjoy being a twin?

[Hey they can bond over dysfunctional families. Also have some pot calling the kettle black, while carefully ignoring the loneliness question:] Hushed up? That's horrible.

[He laughs.] I don't think I can be objective. But I can say that there's nothing in the world I'd rather be than Yuui's twin. He... Well, nothing will ever be more important to me than he is. [True to a rather scary degree.]

[Then Fai smiles rather sourly, nodding.] My family's always been obsessed with how they are the true scions of the Savior's blood, and the fact that everyone in the family has been born as a Psychic/Fairy enlightened is apparently "proof" of this. So I can't imagine they would suffer anyone to be born ordinary. [He smirks.] But then me and my brother ruined things anyway. Oops.

[Shhhh, codependency is touching. At least to Armin, who knows all about unhealthily insulated families~ He nods approvingly at this, turning one of the last corners on the way to the Habitats, which loom imposingly above them.

This next comment however, makes him stop short.] That's awful. That is awful that they think that. I mean, about you are your brother. That isn't fair.

[Codependency is the only kind of love that either of them understands, of course it's touching.]

[Fai stops too, turning around in surprise, and then he just shrugs.] It's how things have always been. They've been arranging suitable marriages to get children with the same typing forever, it's all they ever think about. That's why they choose for me to marry Lux, see? They're trying to fix it by marrying me to a Psychic/Fairy, make sure at least one of my kids will be able to carry on the line.

[Armin frowns deeply, trying to articulate his feelings -- that's so wrong to him, even though it's logical and on paper it makes sense. It just offends his sense of justice so deeply that he can't take another step until he communicates that.

Finally, after a long moment --] But...but what do you want?

[Fai makes a little helpless noise, shrugging. What does he want? To not marry a girl who feels like a sister to him. To not constantly have people leaning over his shoulder, criticizing everything he is and everything he wants to be. To not have to see Yuui bend himself out of shape to fit what the family wants, just to give Fai more freedom.

He wants all of this, but without disappointing his parents, without making them suffer for his sake, and he's not sure that's possible.]

What I want doesn't matter in the long run, see? [He smiles, bright and careless and in contrast to everything he feels about this. It should be pretty jarring for someone like Armin.] So for a few years, before I have to get married, I'm going to try to be as free and happy as I can. I'll see the world and become a pokémon researcher and make a lot of new friends. That's all I really want. After that, I can do what they need me to do.

[Armin is quiet for a moment, sorting quietly through the emotions Fai is demonstrating and the ones he's actually feeling, very gently so it isn't that noticeable. Then he exhales, slowly, projecting a soft pulse of sadness and empathy before starting to walk again.]

All right. If you say so.

[Fai feels a twinge of sympathy, feeling guilty over having brought their conversation to such an uncomfortable place. Armin was far too nice to have to deal with his family's stupidity and callousness, even as nothing more than an observer. He should've steered clear.

But he can't change what's been done, so instead he hooks his arm around the other boy's like he would with Lux or Yuui, smiling brightly and more genuinely.] So, how on earth did you meet Gertrude? I would've been rather scared to run into something so big at first.

[Omg human contact what do. Armin blinks a couple times, then hesitantly smiles because this is...a good thing? This is a good thing, yay.]

When we were searching for ore in the mountains. She and a friend of hers were bickering about berries. [And Armin was terrified and almost got crushed, but let's not mention that.]

[You say that now, Armin, but Fai has a very limited (Read: Nonexistent) idea of personal space, and soon he'll be draping all over you at the smallest provocation.]

Oh! [Fai laughs.] I suppose that's the kind of silly arguments that even pokémon have. So you actually met two of them? I would've peed my- been really frightened. [The classy nobility, ladies and gents.]

[Meredith fully encourages this potential of cuddles, because it makes it easier to reach up and smoosh at Fai's face in the friendly way only a Ralts's little blobby arms can. Armin's distracted and does not notice the affections of his Pokemon buddy.]

They were...very large. [There might have been a moment when Armin made his peace with the Savior and drafted his last will and testament.] But once we got them some replacement berries they were very kind.

[Who on earth can resist impromptu Ralts-snuggles? Certainly not Fai, who giggles quietly and prods Meredith teasingly with a long finger just in case she's ticklish.]

Well, I'm glad the situation was solvable. I would be dreadfully sad if I'd just made a friend only to have them crushed under two angry pokémon soon after. [Perhaps it sounds flippant, but his smile belies it, shows that he really means that he's glad Armin is okay.] Was there someone with you? I mean, I'm guessing you weren't wandering around there alone."

[Meredith ineffectually flails at Fai, then swats him on the nose. Fortunately, as Ralts's are 95% blob, it doesn't hurt at all.

Armin smiles happily at that -- he has FRIENDS, there are people who LIKE HIM omg -- and even attempts some teasing:] Do I not seem the type to run off on adventures at the drop of a hat?

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~02

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