bravenewworld | 18 [Action x2, Video x1]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No one's discarding anything, don't be a drama queen! I just don't need people worrying and trying to keep me here and acting like they know what's good for me better than I do!

I don't even know what to say to you, Feliks. I'm the one being dramatic now?

You're telling me to fight you, and you're the one who doesn't know what to say?

[He tries to step around her.]

It's hard when you're talking to someone who won't listen to a word you say.

[She finally steps aside with a huff.]

So, fine. Go.

[He doesn't want to go immediately, knows that it would basically be suicide, but what is he supposed to do when she's pushing him like this? Back down?]

[He keeps his back straight as he walks to the door and pulls on his winter coat, but he hardly makes it more than half a dozen steps outside before the fever makes him stumble, dizzy and faint and far too aware of the cold. He goes to the wall for support, and sort of sinks down it a bit, wrapping his coat around himself and shivering.]

[That's exactly what he's supposed to do!

Lenna gives it a few minutes before she follows him outside, knowing he isn't likely to make it far. She stops briefly in front of him, holding out her hand and channeling a bit of her healing power. There's a point to prove here, but she isn't about to let him freeze to death from exhaustion.]

[He bats her hand away lightly, and tries again to stand and walk away. He doesn't even make it as far as the last time before another wave of faintness hits him. Honestly, he shouldn't be out of bed at all right now, and should probably be in the medical center, but he refused to go.]

[He has to sit down, curling up a bit, still pulling at his coat like it's a blanket.]

I'm fine...

[The shaking isn't just from the cold, now. He's finally at the point where all he can do is try not to cry, and he's losing that battle, too.]

[Lenna shakes her head and sits down next to him. She's done arguing, but she isn't going to leave him like this, either.]

[Feliks curls up as tight as he can, wrapping his arms around his knees. A few moments pass in silence, before a little choking sound gets out.]

[Jadwiga hurries to his side, and he shakes his head, trying to shoo her away.]

Go away -- go away, you don't have to feel this!

[He doesn't want any psychic types with empathic abilities near him right now, because they don't deserve that. Jadwiga makes a very distinct sound of protest, though, and wraps her arms insistently around him. She's not having his nonsense -- she's celebrated and suffered everything with him until now, hasn't she?]

[Feliks clings to her, and finally, after months of holding it in, he just sobs.]

[At this point, Lenna doesn't feel that she has much to add either verbally or physically. Feliks seems well tended with Jadwiga taking care of him. She does scoot to the side a bit to give them room, but she's at least going to stick around long enough to let him cry himself dry.]

[It takes a while. He's got a lot to cry out.]

[But once he's started, he finds it impossible to stop again. It's noisy at first, interspersed with coughing fits as his breathing is interrupted. Gradually, as the minutes pass, it winds down until he's completely silent and all but still, feeling like everything's been drained out of him.]

[Once he's done, Lenna tentatively reaches for his hand, hoping he's not too sour with her for forcing all of that out of him.]

[With the emotional exhaustion layered on top of the physical exhaustion, Feliks can hardly move or hold himself up. He doesn't push her hand away, but doesn't take it, either.]

...Is that what you wanted?

I think it's what you needed.

Yeah, there's nothing I like as much as crying so hard I don't think I can get up. It's the hobby everyone'll be getting into next month.

[Sigh.]

You really are stubborn.

Come on. You knew that.

I did.

[She manages a small smile.]

It's both why Fai is lucky to have you, and why I've no doubt you'll find him. But first, you need to rest. If you don't do it because you believe me, do it to shut me up so I'll leave you alone.

Look, I know I'm not going anywhere like this. I just...

I just have to get back out there as soon as I can.

I know.

[She nods, squeezing at his hand just a bit.]

Just... take care of yourself too, okay? That's all I'm asking.

Yeah...

[He lets out a frustrated sigh. He doesn't want to wait and recover, not while Fai and Yuui are out there somewhere.]

[And here comes the biggest sigh of relief ever from Lenna as she stands.]

Do you want some help getting back inside, or should I let Jadwiga take things from here?

She can teleport me.

[And getting him to his feet is going to be a lot of work, right now. Probably best to just skip that step and drop him straight into bed.]

All right, I'll leave you both to it then. But if there's anything you need, or any way I can help... please don't hesitate to ask. I won't judge you for it at all.

[Squeezing that hand as she stands the rest of the way up.]

[He gives her a very small wave, then looks at Jadwiga.]

Jadwiga? ...Could you, please?

[She touches his hair with a worried noise, and they both disappear. A moment later, Jadwiga is back to see Lenna off with a respectful bow.]

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