18 [Action x2, Video x1]

[niepokonany]

[Action A: Mountains -- OPEN to CR]

[It's been months now.]

[His boots are getting holes in the bottom. Every item of clothing he owns is getting threadbare. And deep down, he knows -- with every day that goes by, his chances of finding the Flourite boys alive and well gets smaller and smaller.]

[Honestly, that's half the reason he's so reluctant to go home for even a full day recently. Someone's bound to bring it up, sooner or later, and the weight of that knowledge on him is an awful lot to smile and bluff his way past. It's exhausting, all the effort it takes to act like he's doing okay lately.]

[There aren't really any leads. They just disappeared all of a sudden, and any trail Emilia had picked up in the early days has long since gone cold.]

[He just keeps trying anyway, switching between the two Rapidashes and the Flying types he's bonded with to cover all the ground he can without any of them getting tired, going over and over every place he can think to look. Today, he's taken to the high reaches of the mountains, near the Ice Rock. He and his team are strong compared to the local Pokemon, but the winter itself is more formidable -- the relentless wind, the blinding droves of snow, the cold itself cutting to the bone, leading him to send his Pokemon back to the Habitat for their own safety and press on alone.]

[Finally, near exhaustion, he starts coming down the Union side of the mountain. Staying out here until it kills him won't save them, and he needs to get a little distance between him and the storm before calling out a Flying type to bring him home will do much good.]

[As he makes his way down, he comes across a certain overlook, with the Forest and Union spread out in the distance. Under the blanket of snow, he recognizes the place -- recognizes the way it looked in the spring, the day he brought Fai here.]

[Somehow, it's standing in that same place that finally hits him so hard he can't go on standing. He just sort of collapses into the snow, wrapping his traveling cloak around him, fingers drawn to the warmth of the Fire Stone necklace he wears.]

[He's tired. He's really, incredibly tired.]

[Even now, though, when he feels his chest crushed and his breath choked by the nearly physical weight of grief, when every part of his body feels heavy, he can't lie there forever. When he closes his eyes, he can see the adoring way Fai looked at him every morning, can feel gentle fingers brushing back his hair. He can hear Yuui in the kitchen, singing to himself as he cooks breakfast.]

[He can't give up on them.]

[A sudden rush of determination takes hold of him -- and as it does, as he pushes himself up out of the snow, the light of evolution starts to shine from him.]

[Action B: Union, that evening - OPEN to anybody]

[It's well past sunset by the time he makes it home -- though, as deep into the winter as they are, it's not really terribly late. A Noctowl swoops down from over the walls and makes for the nearest open area, landing with a soft, rather concerned hoot.]

[And off of his back climbs Feliks, looking rather the worse for wear -- and slightly different than before, the red at the tips of his hair having spread upwards and grown darker, more vivid. There's also the little thing where little red flames spring up at his heels -- though they burn out quickly, and don't appear to be hurting anything.]

[He blinks a little, then gives the Noctowl a grateful hug and starts sort of exhaustedly limping his way back toward the building where his mostly-abandoned flat is. It's not like he needs a medic or anything, right?]

[Video, the next day]

[Feliks is dressed in his warmest pajamas, with a very protective-looking Ninetales and Houndoom joining him in his pile of blankets and pillows.]

So, like--

[Wow, no, that isn't working. He clears his throat, trying to force away some of the hoarseness.]

Hahaha, lame. Can you believe that? Like, I evolve and look super cool, but then I go and get a cold the same day!

[A cold, possible pneumonia -- same thing really, right??]

I think Jadwiga's gonna stalk me around and teleport me back here if I don't stay put for a couple days, but I'm seriously gonna die of boredom. Who wants to help me escape?

[He laughs, and cuts off the camera when it turns into a coughing fit. Yeah, helping him escape might not be the best of plans.]

Comments

Video

[niepokonany]

[And a big worrywart, he thinks, but he knows it's unfair to lash out at Jadwiga of all people, after all of her endless patience and love. She's suffered with him, lately, and doesn't deserve him talking bad about her.]

...Yeah, she is.

Video

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

If you ever want to talk to someone else about anything that's bothering you, though, I'll gladly listen.

[There's a short, thoughtful pause here while Lenna considers whether or not to add to that sentiment.]

...I think I can understand how you must be feeling.

[It's no secret among the nobles, at least, how Feliks and Fai felt for one another. And it's also no secret that Lenna's father has been missing under mysterious circumstances since just before the events in Caldera. Her sympathy might be misplaced or unwanted, but Lenna just can't bring herself to have this conversation without at least offering it.]

Video

[niepokonany]

[Feliks looks a little like he's been struck, eyes wide with surprise for a moment.]

[The first thing he wants to say is but Fai's coming back, but even he has more tact than that. Still, it's a hard instinct to get past -- he and the other nobles have all known about what Lenna's going through for months, all felt bad for her, and it's... It's hard to swallow the thought that people see him with the same pity now, like he's half-delusional, chasing after a shadow.]

[He can't give up. He won't, not if it kills him. But he feels a little sick from the unexpected strike to his pride.]

I... I'm fine.

Video

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

All right.

[She's content to leave the Fai matter at that. From the look on his face, her point has been made. If he doesn't want to talk about it, Lenna will respect that.]

Is there anything you'd like me to bring over?

Video

[niepokonany]

[He curls up a little, seeming much smaller than usual in a way that really doesn't have much at all to do with the weight that months on end of stubbornly refusing to stay put long enough to eat and sleep properly has taken off of him.]

...I don't know?

[He really doesn't. He just feels lost, and in an odd way, both relieved and sort of upset that she isn't pushing him.]

Video

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I'll bring some soup.

[By god, she is going to mother hen you, Feliks.]

[niepokonany]

. . .

With mushrooms?

[Look, his Pokémon aren't that good at cooking. Most of them eat raw things, and/or don't have opposable thumbs, and they won't let him get up long enough to work in the kitchen!]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Of course. And whatever else you like.

[niepokonany]

Whatever's good, I guess?

[He's way too hungry to be picky, honestly.]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Okay. I'll make something quick and easy and bring it over.

[niepokonany]

...I mean, if you feel like it.

[He doesn't really want to be alone. It's just kind of embarrassing to accept so much help, lately.]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Of course, it's no trouble at all.

[niepokonany]

'Kay.

...I'm at the twins' and my place, not my parents' or my grandparents'.

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I thought you might be. I'll just be a little while.

[niepokonany]

I'm not going anywhere, so...

[He shrugs a little.]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

All right. I'll see you soon.

[And in a little while, there is a soft knock at the door.]

[niepokonany]

[It takes a few moments for someone to open the door, largely because the Pokemon have to find the only one of them that has opposable thumbs and convince him to help.]

[A rather overly-serious Geodude pulls the door back, hopping back enough to look at Lenna. He looks her over, judging, then nods towards the living room.]

Dude.

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Thankfully, Lenna probably couldn't look any less threatening than she does with her small frame, motherly smile, and piping hot container of vegetable stew. She gratefully inclines her head to the Geodude, thanking it briefly before stepping inside.]

Feliks, I'm here!

[niepokonany]

In here!

[There's a definite little croak in his voice, a clear hint of soreness. In the living room, he's cuddled up on a blanket pile on the floor with a handful of Pokémon-- a Snorlax and and Altaria, for their squishiness and fluffiness respectively; a Ninetales, for heat; an Eevee, because she's just a baby; a Dragonair, because she's jealous of the new baby; and Jadwiga the Gardevoir, slightly off to the side with a book in her lap. She nods respectfully to Lenna as she comes in.]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Lenna greets each Pokemon in turn with a friendly smile as she makes her way over to the blanket pile. Setting the stew down on the side table, she sits down next to where Feliks is huddled.]

Hi, Feliks.

[niepokonany]

Hey. How's it going?

[This would sound all nice and casual if he weren't so obviously mostly-incapacitated.]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I'm fine.

[The 'how are you' is implied.]

[niepokonany]

Cool, cool.

[Yep. Definitely lucid!]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Do you want the soup now, or should I put it away for you? It's better when it's fresh.

[niepokonany]

...Either? I don't know, you pick.