02 - [Action] We all have to say goodbye eventually

[iamthatis]

Who: Matthias and anyone who might want to run into him
Where: Near the Pokemon Habitat
When: 2/8, Afternoon
What: Every leaf must eventually fall from it's tree
Warnings: Mentions of death and the sadness that encompasses

[Matthias was resting in his bunk after finally being given leave to return to his housing when he got the news. An old friend of Methuselah's by the name of Mortimer had knocked on the door to his room and it only took a few brief words between them before he was grabbing his staff and hobbling out as fast as his ribs would allow him to while telling Basil to stay behind. He couldn't bare to have his friend see him in such distress.

At first he was hopeful, as any young man might be. All he'd been told was that Methuselah had fallen ill suddenly and was bedridden. Surely his adoptive father would pull through, right? When he'd finally arrived, the elderly man seemed to be in good enough spirits even if he seemed weaker and less lively than his usual self, it was only to be expected with someone being sick; as the night went on though, Methuselah's spirits seemed to dim more and more even if they weren't any less warm. Matthias slowly began to see that it wasn't a show of good health Methuselah was displaying, but an acceptance of the situation at hand and no amount of encouragement, pleading or otherwise, was going to forestall what was happening.

Matthias would have known better than anyone on that, for all he tried.

But, unfortunately, the Savior couldn't answer every prayer and that morning, just as the sun began to rise, Old Wise Methuselah breathed his last breath surrounded by the people he cared about with a smile on his face.

Matthias couldn't rightly say he felt anything at the time but proud. Proud to have known the man, proud to have been adopted and raised by him, proud to have been given all of the kindly man's wisdom over the years, and proud to have seen all the good work he'd done for the people and Pokemon of Union. He had held his hand right up until the end and they had said their goodbyes, until Savior willing, they met once more on the other side. From there, Mortimer had taken over the preparations and Methuselah received a proper burial, right outside his little shack, just as he'd wanted.

The service was a small and quiet event the next day. A few close friends and Matthias arrived to pay their final respects and to each plant a single flower above the kindly man's grave. They'd all done so, said their piece in Methuselah's honor, given one another condolences, and then parted ways; though before he left, Mortimer handed Matthias a small, leather bound notebook. He took it graciously and departed, still feeling nothing but a slight twinging sensation in his chest as he moved through the streets of Union. He'd gotten about as much closure as he could have hoped for...said his goodbyes and given his respects, he could be content with that, right?

It seemed that even in his unfocused state, his feet had guided him towards the Pokemon Habitat...probably out of mere auto-guided instinct from how often he traveled the route, but it was enough to give him pause. He stopped and placed his staff against a nearby wall before leaning against it himself so he could pull out the notebook he'd been given. He stared at it intently for a few moments, taking the time to run his fingers over the binding and noted how old the book itself must be. He felt some trepidation, but he eventually undid the clasp holding it shut and opened to the first page where he could see a rather freshly written sentence etched into the parchment.

"Matthias, my son. If you are reading this, I have likely gone to meet the Savior, or you've simply gone rooting through my things as your curiosity makes you wont to do. In either case, I want you to know that I am so very proud of you. The man you're becoming and the person I know you'll be. You've done so much in such a short amount of time, it does my old heart good to see you flourish so heartily with the Swords of the Savior. Whatever you do with your life, no matter what road you choose or decision you make, please stay true to that kind heart of yours.

Your father who loves you very much,
Methuselah"

The twinging feeling in Matthias' chest began to grow in intensity, as if his heart were beginning to pound against his ribcage and he'd unknowingly been gripping the book so tightly that his knuckles had turned white...but with a shaky breath he turned to the second page. The recipe Methuselah had been using all these years for his Tomato Basil Soup stared back at Matthias as a raindrop struck the page. Startled, Matthias quickly shut the book and looked up, but only saw the blue sky and radiant sun above; he slowly brought a hand up to his face and felt a wetness running along his cheek as another drop hit the leather binding of the book. The twinging in his chest suddenly snapped from an uncomfortable throbbing into a tearing emptiness that made it feel as if his chest had become an empty cavity, causing him to give a choked cry.

His emotions, the one's he'd been holding on to since yesterday hit him like a battering ram as he began to shake, his sobs forcing themselves out in strangled gasps as his legs gave way, forcing him to haphazardly slide down the wall he was resting his back against. He tried to clutch the book to his chest, as if it would melt through and fill the hole that had just been made inside of him, but soon his hands were shaking so hard it slipped from his grasp and fell into his lap as he placed his face into his palms.

He hadn't seen any passersby when he'd stopped to read the book, nor did he really have a mind to care if anyone saw him as he was now; dressed in black, half sobbing into his hands in painfully choked cries as he sat with his back to a wall and shook as if he were caught in a stiff breeze. If anyone might stop to check on him, it might take a short while before they could get anything cohesive out of him, but a friendly face would eventually be most welcome.]

Comments

[iamthatis]

[He heard his name...from where? From whom? He couldn't tell, nor did he really want to find out at the moment. He knew for a fact that the one voice he wanted to say his name was never going to say his name ever again and it made his sobs sound even more painful, maybe even physically so, like someone was scraping the inside of his throat with something rough.

At Sunflash's nosing, his legs pushed themselves up into his chest as far as they would go and he practically attempted to shrink into a ball. He even wrapped his arms around his legs to hold them there as he placed his face into them, his teeth grit painfully as he did his best...and failed spectacularly to bring himself back under control.

It would probably be a bit before anything like that happened.]

[warriormouse]

[Something is wrong. Something is very wrong--he doesn't see Basil around. Something is very wrong.

Martin sits down next to Matthias, unable to really stand much himself right now.]

Matthias. Matthias, it's me, Martin. What's wrong?

[iamthatis]

[The voice was there again, speaking to him. Martin? Someone who could potentially help...he wanted the help, he wanted the pain in his chest to go away, to just stop feeling altogether maybe, but Martin might know something? He was a hero, wasn't he? He could put his trust in that...or at least he could try.

Slowly, very slowly, Matthias raised his head and the true wear of his ordeals could be seen in his sunken gaze. There wasn't a confident warrior, cunning tactician, or kindly Sword of the Savior in his gaze, only a kid who'd lost one of the most important things in his life. All that weight, all the pressure, all the responsibility he'd taken on, plainly evident in a single glance, even in his hoarse voice as he tried to speak.]

H...h-he's gone. M-m-my father...he...Savior help me...please...this pain...this pressure...it's too much to bear!

[His voice cracked at the end, as if his vocal cords had shattered like glass. How could he find the strength in this situation when his strength was gone? How could anyone expect such a monumental task from one so young? Could anyone truly blame him for his reaction?]

[warriormouse]

[...oh no.

Martin pulls Matthias into a hug as soon as he says "my father". Martin was young when Luke went away and never came back, much younger than Matthias, and he was about the boy's age when Windred died and he became a workaholic.

He knows exactly what Matthias is going through.]

I know, Matthias. I know.

[iamthatis]

[There was no resistance from Matthias as he was drawn into the hug, even if his arms hung uselessly at his side. He did bury his face into Martin's shoulder, tears unabated and continued to shake hard.]

What do I do...?

[His words were muffled and almost silent, but poignantly discernible all the same.]

[warriormouse]

...well, I'm not the best person to ask, really.

[He never really handled Windred's death or Luke's disappearance, in retrospect. Hm]

But you aren't alone. Do you and Basil need a place to stay?

[iamthatis]

[It was a clear question. It gave him something to latch on to, to focus on, something in the here and now that he could use to ground himself. He thought on it, he allowed himself to breath, allowed as much calm to enter him as he could. Slowly the shaking seemed to abate and the tears stopped flowing, but he didn't move from where he was and his voice still sounded horrid and raspy when he finally spoke again.]

I...no. We...we stay in our...in our bunk, at the headquarters. It's...not that big but...it's...

[He couldn't say home. Home was with Methuselah. Home...it didn't exist anymore.]

[warriormouse]

It's not going to do at all. You and Basil can move in with me and mine. There's a small yard that's shared with another apartment and we'll have to tell Brigadier to stop snoring, but there's space for a boy and a Buneary.

[iamthatis]

[There was a shock that rippled through his system, enough that he was able to regain control of his body, at least enough so he could pull his head up to look at Martin.

That shock was equally as evident on his face as everything else had been today.]

What...? W-why...?

[warriormouse]

Because I was your age when I lost my grandmother and younger than you when my father went missing. Boar was my only companion. Granted, I had a tiny apartment but I was never there so it was like I had no home. I know how that feels.

[iamthatis]

[Matthias was silent for a long while. What was there that he could really say to that? Was there anything? If there was, he didn't know and he was even less sure how to comprehend what was happening. Two days ago he might have hit the moon, but today...the realization was more sobering than anything else.

Martin was a hero...but he was also a human and they had similarities Matthias might never have bothered considering. As well, Matthias learned that no matter how much responsibility he took on or how much he achieved...there was still so much more for him to learn and still so much room for him to grow.

He was a kid, with the best years of his life ahead of him and an infinite number of possibilities stretched out in front of him. This...must have been what Methuselah had wanted him to realize all along...that he didn't have to be a hero. That maybe...the world didn't need any more heroes; it just needed people with the drive and desire to follow the path they set for themselves no matter how hard that path was to follow sometimes.

That was how Methuselah had lived every day of his life...it was how Matthias decided, then and there, he would live his.]

...Alright. I'll accept your offer...on the condition that I'm allowed to earn my keep. And I would still like...I want to go with you, when you leave. I want to see the world...when I was a baby they found me...on the outskirts of Union, so I've always wondered...just where I came from, and what's out there beyond this city. If you'll have me, I'd like to take that first step with you.

[warriormouse]

[Martin nods. He can't begrudge Matthias for wanting to earn his keep...and he frankly thinks he's going to need it. He's seen how Basil treats food.]

Of course you're going. I saw how you handled Prisca's problem, remember? I'd be honored to have you and Basil with me.

[iamthatis]

[Matthias finally smiled and used a sleeve to wipe the rest of his tears from his eyes as he begrudgingly removed himself from the hug and rose to his feet. He looked awfully tired and haggard considering what he'd just been through...but there seemed to be a new found strength holding him up just a little straighter, a little more confidently as he offered a hand to help Martin up.]

...I just...did what I thought was right. She was someone who needed our help...I could hardly fault her friends for being so jumpy, considering what we knew.

[His voice still sounded awful though, he was likely going to be looking for some water soon with how dry and cracked his throat felt.]

[warriormouse]

[Martin takes Matthias's hand, wincing at how he still aches from his accident. Ugh. He tosses his purse down to Sunflash, who catches it.]

Sunflash, go get two water bottles, please.

[She nods and runs off]

Did you hear the proposal from Team Evolution?

[iamthatis]

I did...I think it would be a good idea...so long as it's monitored closely.

[He was overjoyed to hear his friend would get the chance to stay...and that they might be able to help other enhanced that might want to come here, but that didn't mean other problems couldn't come up if they weren't careful. Still, even cautious optimism was still optimism.]

So long as Prisca and her friends don't have to go back to...to that hell they were in, I think Union can manage it.

[warriormouse]

I would hope Union would want to manage it. I'm almost certain Prisca doesn't think of herself as a human and that is just sickening.

[iamthatis]

Indeed...

[He'd almost been at a loss when that realization hit him, but he hoped being away from that hellish environment and some help, she could start to see what a wonderful person she actually was.]

We'll help her, and all of them. After all...

[Matthias coughed a little to help clear his throat...as much as it could be at any rate, before he continued.]

Tenant 13 of the Swords of the Savior -
"Provide aid to those without, and protect those who cannot do so themselves."

[warriormouse]

[That makes Martin laugh as Sunflash returns with the water bottles.]

Oh, I remember having to memorize those things. I was the worst.

[iamthatis]

R-really, you don't say? I may have been...a little overzealous in retrospect.

[That was being kind with it too.]

[warriormouse]

Oh, Savior, yes. I am the worst student. I hate sitting still and reading and--well, there is a reason Yuuna and Elly are so exasperated with me. I don't do well doing nothing.

[iamthatis]

[Matthias gratefully took the water bottle he was offered and took a large drink of it; the soothing coolness felt like a boon from the Savior herself as it rushed down his throat.]

Ahhhh...~ I can...understand that. Everyone handles their problems differently, the best we can do is expand on our strengths to better aid our weaknesses.

[warriormouse]

In my case, that meant beating everyone at swordplay. By the time I finished training, no one would fight me.

[iamthatis]

That's...less like following a different route to the same end...and more like just smashing down walls until you've cleared the maze.

[A little unorthodox but undeniably effective.]

[warriormouse]

[Martin has the decency to look sheepish]

I know what I'm good at. It isn't writing or paperwork.

[iamthatis]

Well...being a good person doesn't always require papers or writing.

[Sometimes it helped...but it wasn't always a necessity.]