~02

[tinytactician]

[Action]

[((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.

Comments

[comparative_insanity]

[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.

[tinytactician]

[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.

[comparative_insanity]

[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.

[tinytactician]

[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.]

[comparative_insanity]

[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.]

[tinytactician]

[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.

[comparative_insanity]

[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."

[tinytactician]

[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?