iamthatis: (Thinking)
iamthatis ([personal profile] iamthatis) wrote in [community profile] bravenewworld2015-02-08 11:10 am

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

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.]

rainsrespite: (Down)

[personal profile] rainsrespite 2015-02-10 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
[That. That's all he needs to say. The tone, the tension in his body, that look about him. It's all suddenly much clearer now. Her hand inches slightly on his shoulder and she inches closer, moving the arm around him. She has not lost a father, her own still lives, but her grandparents had passed just over a year ago. It strikes a chord with her, to be certain.

Her eyes find Barako, and the little baby hops down and waddles over, concern clearly on her face as well. What can she do to make the human happy?]


I'm sorry, Matthias. I'm so, so sorry.
rainsrespite: (Anxious and Unsure)

[personal profile] rainsrespite 2015-02-10 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Her arm tightens around him slightly, pulling him up to her and doing what she can. She is not a counselor, but she likes the kid well enough to try. And he's Martin's friend at that, so she can't even begin to ignore that if she wanted. Basically, he's a good boy, and he doesn't deserve this. He's not that much older than Rei, after all, but he feels so much younger.]

You can make it stop by moving forward, and do what your father would've wanted you to do. You can be the best Sword of the Savior you can be. You can keep protecting people. Do what you did for that woman in the Old City. [She leans her head against his slightly, trying to show that she's there.]

And you can remember your father. But you have to keep moving forward.
rainsrespite: (Glare)

[personal profile] rainsrespite 2015-02-10 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[She looks back at him, steady and solid. She hadn't know this Methuselah, but he'd clearly done a good job of raising some earnest, eager kids. Matthias was a hard worker, he had his head on straighter than she had at that age, and he'd already done something right in picking a guy like Martin as a role model. A ghostly smile crosses her lips, her hand hugging his shoulder fiercely. If it's hope he needs, then she'll give him what she can.]

Getting out into the world is a big step. You don't have to go alone though. Basil's still there for you. And there's a whole network of people who'll help you. That's what Rangers do. That's what Union does.

[About now, the little Budew decides it's tired of being ignored. She waddles over and hops up onto Matthias' foot, just like her mom did.]

If you want someone to guide you on your first trip, I'm more than willing.