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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[Armin is lost in his own little black raincloud, so it takes him a moment to even realize Fai is there. It's the cheerfulness that tips him off -- that and Meredith tugging at his hair and forcibly turning his head to the side. Then Armin jumps a little, which makes the heavy emotion lift a little, dissipated by surprise.]

I -- like smoke? Really? Do they look like smoke? Can you see them? What?

[Fai just smiles blithely, either unaware that he just startled Armin - unlikely, given the situation - or simply pretending not to have noticed.]

Well, no, not see. I can probably just notice and find the source a bit better than the people who just get affected without knowing why. Had a bad day?

Oh. Oh no, I'm so sorry. I-I had no idea other people could feel it. [Armin hides his face in his hands, thoroughly embarrassed now. Meredith pats his head in a bored, but affectionate way, really more interested in poking the awkward Pidove.]

[That causes Fai's smile to dim a little bit, because he definitely hadn't meant to cause such discomfort. Once it comes back it's a bit softer, and he shakes his head a bit.] Don't worry about it, okay? It's not an easy thing to notice if you're in the middle of it, right? I'm sure no one would blame you.

[Dotty, meanwhile, is now hanging at an almost horizontal angle from Fai's arm in an attempt to get a better look at Meredith.]

[Armin shakes his head woefully, wincing unconsciously at the persistent pulsing pain of the headache so many people usually brings on.] I should've been more careful. I didn't mean to cause anyone pain, not at all...

[Meredith is bemused by this, reaching out with a blobby little arm and trying to poke Dotty in the belly. Will it squeak if it is poked? A science experiment.]

[Fai bites his lower lip, unsure of how to fix the damage he's caused. After a moment of hesitation, he focuses, pushing his power outwards and creating a sort of bubble around the two of them. It can't hold out everything, but should at least hold out some of the mental white noise and also keep in some of Armin's emotional leakage.]

There you go, does that feel a little bit better?

[Dotty makes a sound which is quite probably some kind of bird giggle, tilting his head until it looks like it might fall off.]

[Armin blinks a couple times, feeling much like...like a big fluffy blanket has been draped around him, muting the constant noise he's all but gotten used to. It's both eerie and blissful, and he smiles in pure gratitude at Fai.]

Yes...yes, that feels wonderful. How did you do that?

[Meredith is paying exactly zero attention to anything except this contortionist bird, reaching out and cooing at it affectionately.]

[Fai once again beams, happy to have managed to help, and pokes the almost completely invisible barrier around them with a laugh. It bends the air funny when he does so, painting a faint rainbow against his wrist.]

It's like... I can do these to sort protect from attacks, right? Even Psychic ones. So I just sort of made one that would protect you from being "attacked" by everyone else's thoughts and feelings, if that makes sense? And it also keeps yours in.

[Armin's expression is very much a war between alarm and curiosity, though the latter wins out for Meredith, who hops down and toddles over to poke at the barrier, making happy little Ralts-y sounds.]

That's...that's very kind of you. Thank you.

[Fai just bounces a little bit where he stands, looking cautiously proud of himself and a little bemused.]

It's nothing, really. It must be tough trying to learn to control something like you've got.

[Dotty, on the other hand, seems completely unaware of what is going on, which is why, when he takes wing to follow Meredith, he of course runs headfirst into the barrier. He flops backwards onto his back and blinks a couple of times, but is apparently otherwise completely unruffled by the incident, cooing happily up at the sky.]

Oh dear, not again...

It's very tiring, just keeping it all under control...I don't usually go out, though, and that helps. [No, it doesn't, it sucks absolutely and Armin hates it with a passion.

But we aren't getting into that, because Dotty is in distress! Meredith scurries over, standing above the Pidove with a curious look, before reaching out to smooth any ruffled feathers. There. All better.] O-Oh! Is...is he all right?

Oh yes, he's... fine, I'm pretty sure. He keeps doing that, but it doesn't seem to bother him very much.

[Fai shrugs pretty easily. No, Dotty isn't exactly the brightest pokémon of all, but he doesn't see what's wrong with that. Being clever doesn't make you better than anyone. But this time around he's not going to freak out when Dotty appears completely unhurt, flopping on the ground a bit until he can rest his head on Meredith's feet.]

And that's all very well, but you can't just stay inside your entire life. I mean, that sounds like punishment, and you haven't done anything wrong. There has to be a way to learn how to control it with less effort.

Oh. Well, provided it doesn't hurt him...

[Meredith will provide you aid, Dotty, in this your hour of floppitude. Have some pats on the head. Armin is still hunched down, making sure everything's all right -- and conveniently avoiding eye contact.]

I don't mind it, really. It's more convenient for everyone involved. I like quiet.

[Dotty is having a great time, to be honest. Meredith is the nicest thing ever, and the sky is blue, and why wouldn't anyone want to be on their back on the cold pavement anyway? Fai smiles fondly, but Armin's words make him shake his head adamantly.]

Convenient? Like it was "convenient" in the old days to carry pokémon around in little prisons, you mean? People aren't supposed to be convenient, they're supposed to be free. Fine if you don't mind being alone, but you're at least supposed to have the choice.

[Meredith is curious about the merits of lying on one's back on the sidewalk, so pretty soon there'll be a Pidove and a Ralts sprawled on the pavement, which is actually a very amusing sight.

It's lost on Armin though, who wants to argue, but honestly has no logical comeback. He knows Fai's right, and that he'd be outraged if anyone else was in his position, but...it's complicated.

So he'll change the subject:] Were you on your way somewhere?

[Dotty has very kindly put a wing under Meredith's head so she'll at least be resting against something soft, and now seems to be humming happily and staring up at the clouds. Perfectly content with life.]

[And Fai won't push Armin to talk about something that clearly makes him uncomfortable, because he knows all too well that sometimes things are complicated and hard to explain to others. Armin isn't the only one with a complicated family situation.]

Not really, I was really just shopping. And you?

Oh, yes, there are some nice shops around here, aren't there? [He knows to say this simply because he's actively looking across the street at one of the aforementioned nice shops. But he's also ducking down to absently pat Meredith's tummy, prompted by a silent request.]

We were on our way to the Habitat, to visit our friend Gertrude. She's a Steelix.

Mmm, oh yes, they sell a lot of practical things, but the dresses they stock are unbelievably frumpy.

[Practical < fabulous in Fai's world, even now. He grins at the peaceful picture that their two pokémon make, sending a small breeze towards them to ruffle Meredith's fringe and Dotty's feathers.

But then that sinks in and Fai's eyes widen.] A Steelix? Savior, that is amazing! I've never even seen one before, you're so lucky.

I wouldn't know, I'm afraid, but that seems logical. Beauty and aesthetics seem to fall by the wayside in Union.

[With a few exceptions -- mostly Meredith. Meredith is the most beautiful, and will preen under the little breeze, making little chirpy cooing sounds.]

You haven't? Would you like to come along and meet her? She's very nice.

Well, if you know where to look, you can definitely find beautiful things. But I guess practical things are kind of useful too.

[Yes Fai, that is sort of what defines something being practical, well done.

There is a veritable chorus of cooing from the two pokémon, and if some people passing by are turning around to look with amused smiles or confused expressions, they obviously are completely out of fucks to give.]

Wow, really? [Now Fai is practically bouncing where he stands.] I would love to, if you don't mind.

I think Pokemon are beautiful. They're strong and can be ferocious, but they're all so different and amazing...people are amazing too, but in more subtle ways.

[All right you cuties, Armin has places to be, so he'll scoop up Meredith -- who hums happily and permits the princess carrying.] Of course! She'd love to meet you, I'm sure. I wish she could stay at home with Meredith and I, but our house just couldn't manage it.

[Fai laughs lightly at that, but there is warmth in his voice.] Well, that's a rather different kind of beauty than that of a pretty skirt or a beautiful vase, isn't it? It's the sort of beauty that you can't really match. It's like asking someone to make a hat as beautiful as a mother holding her child - it just can't be done.

[He mimics Armin and scoops Dotty up in his arms, allowing him to settle comfortably there while he coos softly and fluffs his feathers. Fai runs two fingers softly over his head, smiling fondly, before he's back to beaming excitedly.] Then I'd be delighted to come along. Wait, hold on...

[Fai darts sideways towards one of the market stands holding some rather promising scarves and other knickknacks. When he comes back he has used a diaphnous scarf and a corsage of silk flowers to fashion a sort of Steelix-sizes headband with a bow.] I make a habit of never being formall introduced to a lady for the first time without bringing her a gift. [No seriously.]

Oh yes, exactly. I think even those Pokemon who seem frightening or unapproachable are lovely. Like the ones you only see in drawings in the old books.

[But Meredith is the most lovely, right? The prettiest Pokemon of all? Hey, pay attention, Armin, or you'll have a Ralts pulling on your hair. Dotty, tell Meredith they're pretty.

Armin looks somewhat startled when Fai bounds off to do some impromptu fashion design, but he breaks into a smile of delight when he sees the makeshift headband.] Oh, it's wonderful! She'll love it!

[These nerds, istg.]

Oh yes, the old drawings have always been so intriguing to me. Some are terrifying, and yet... I can't imagine anything more beautiful. It was seeing one of those pictures in a book that sort of... convinced me that being a Flying type wasn't so bad at all.

[Dotty definitely thinks that Meredith is the prettiest thing ever - ~~possibly helped by his short-term memory spanning about an hour at most~~ - and he coos expressively to convey this.]

[Fai's entire face is just one great big YAY right now.] I really hope so! [He'll just tag along with Armin, actually skipping while doing so.]

The Legendary ones, the divine ones...we live in an amazing world. I just wish we could see more of it. [A pause, a little bit of a headtilt and:] You're a Flying type?

[Meredith likes Dotty, Dotty can stay. Armin is trotting along to keep up with Fai's ~~incredibly long CLAMP legs~~ skipping, secretly pleased to have found a companion, as he's never actually been to the Habitats before.] Is Dotty your only Pokemon friend?

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