ACTION

[all_onis_are_true]

[There seems to be a bit of a scene in front of the Pokemon Habitat today. Some other teens seem to be accosting another one, who is standing with a stony expression on his face. If you move closer to the group, you might overhear the conversation; they're not exactly quiet about it.

"Hey, we should contact the authorities. Some idiot let the Murder Nerd have Pokemon, ha ha."

"Hey little Axew, how about you come be my Pokemon instead? You'll live longer. Ha ha ha ha.

Man, where'd you get this Smeargle? It's WAY too cool looking for you -- hey, the little bastard just ruined my shirt! Lousy --"

You might know the one standing by saying nothing, although he does seem to stand up for his own Pokemon here and there. When people say terrible things to HIM, however, he shuts up for some reason. Is this something you even want to get in the middle of?]

Comments

[all_onis_are_true]

It... progresses. Though... I suppose Guertena at least seems to be warming to me. Possibly through Takuro's guidance.

[Guertena gives a tiny little salute which splatters a bit of paint around.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh! - I've never seen a Pokemon like this before.

[Lucas will bend down.]

How do you do? ...I'm Lucas.

[all_onis_are_true]

[Guertena looks at Lucas thoughtfully. ...then paints a handlebar moustache on him.]

Guertena!

[a_gentle_boy]

......Um.

[Lucas dabs at his upper lip for a moment or two before blinking.]

Does its tail always have paint on it? That's pretty neat...

I think, if I want facial hair, though, it should be a beard - like my dad!

[all_onis_are_true]

Ah, yeah, that's a standard feature for Smeargles.

[Ask and ye shall receive, Lucas. Guertena has now added a nice beard to accompany the moustache.]

You... probably should not encourage him on that.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Says you Hiroshi Lucas has an awesome new beard. He stands up straight and puts on what he thinks is a masculine expression which mostly consists of puffing up his chest and squinting.]

What do you think, Ferro?

[........The Steelix leans down and stares for a second or two before snorting.]

[all_onis_are_true]

At least he seems to use easy to remove paint substitutes for the most part.

[Although also occasionally mildly poisonous.]

[a_gentle_boy]

He's very lively...

[just like hiroshi isn't]

...Was he the one you were having trouble with before?

[all_onis_are_true]

If I had to be honest, most of them give me trouble. It's Takuro over here who seems to be able to pacify them.

[Takuro has an "aw shucks" look on his face as he toes a few pebbles.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Takuro...?

[Lucas will offer the small Axew a smile and reach out with his mind to brush briefly against the Pokemon's. He conveys a general expression of friendliness.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[There's something rather distinctive about Takuro. Like he's very intelligent, and yet fiercely loyal. He seems to want to take care of Hiroshi, but it's not out of pity...?]

Yes, I... Do you think the name is in bad taste?

[a_gentle_boy]

[There is enough now that Lucas can begin to approximate what had happened, and he will pause. He... certainly would not have chosen to name any Pokemon after a dead friend, but then, people had different ways of accepting great tragedy.]

If he likes the name, then no one should complain...

[Lucas draws his mind away after a moment or two. ...It felt almost like...]

...He believes in you, you know.

[all_onis_are_true]

...

[That makes one of them.]

I see. ...Curious.

[a_gentle_boy]

Maybe that's all you need to do, too.

[Lucas will offer another soft smile.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[Ha. Easy for other people to say. They weren't there. They didn't see the way he constantly seemed to make decisions that mostly only benefited himself. How apathetic he seemed, how lacking in sympathy. And then everybody died.

Believing in himself would require not knowing how much of a lie "Hiroshi Yamane" was.

Of course, instead of saying any of this, he simply smiles wanely.]

...is there anything else you can suggest?

[a_gentle_boy]

Anything else...?

[Lucas pauses for a moment or two.]

Not to be rude, but I think whatever it is you just thought is probably exactly the reason you're having trouble.

There's not much good asking for advice if you don't want to hear it.

[all_onis_are_true]

[He starts.]

You... could hear that?

[a_gentle_boy]

No.

But you wouldn't be asking me for something else if you were OK with what I just said, right?

[all_onis_are_true]

...

[Damn. He had a point. He wasn't sure what to say. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the sentiment, but...]

...sorry.

[He just wanted someone he could talk to about it. Someone who wasn't getting paid to do it. Not that the therapist hadn't helped him get to where he is now, but it wasn't enough.]

[a_gentle_boy]

It's alright.

I just mean... No advice I give you will be worth too much, since I don't fully understand what's happened. And I think you probably know, too, what it is that's stopping you.

[all_onis_are_true]

[He supposes he does. Both externally and internally.]

...I wonder... What I would do if my Pokemon got hurt as a result of a poor decision by myself...

[a_gentle_boy]

...

I'm afraid of that, too. But... maybe, too, they'll get hurt if we're too afraid to be able to be good trainers to them.

[all_onis_are_true]

...

Fear, huh...

...Thank you. I am... sorry I am not more receptive right now. But perhaps some day, I can be.

[a_gentle_boy]

That's fine.

[Lucas responds simply.]

...
...

Do you want to ride on Ferro? It makes you feel really excited. ...Well. It makes me feel excited, anyway.

[all_onis_are_true]

[He stares up at the large creature. A bit of an odd turn occurs in his stomach. Something about larger Pokemon...]

Perhaps some other time. Thank you, though.