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]

["Yeah? Well... Wait, the hell's happening around here?"

"Oh shit, I think he's one of those Enlightened guys!"

"Damnit! I won't forget this!"

Apparently that's enough to put them off, although one of them shoots off a "You got lucky today, Murder Nerd," before leaving. Hiroshi crosses his arms and looks down.]

...

[niepokonany]

[Feliks makes a face after them, then laughs a little, letting the atmosphere return to normal. He finally turns to Hiroshi, with a little smile.]

Hey, are you like hurt or anything?

Guys like that don't back off unless you show them you're gonna stand up for yourself.

[It's not hard to guess that someone as tiny, flamboyant, and, well, sort of weird as him has learned this first-hand.]

[all_onis_are_true]

I'm... fine. They had not reached any point of physical abuse yet.

[He smiles sadly.]

Standing up for myself would assume I did not think they had a point.

[niepokonany]

[He looks hard at Hiroshi, confused, trying to puzzle things out. Occasionally, he glances wordlessly towards his Ralts, like he's consulting with her, then back to Hiroshi again, for quite a little while.]

[If he's a killer, Feliks decides, he has the decency to feel so bad about it that he'd take that treatment without protest. And Jadwiga still pities him, still isn't scared.]

Well, like, I think probably you didn't wanna, or at least feel super bad, or Jadwiga here would be losing her shit trying to keep me away from you. She's not, though, so I've decided you're okay!

[...Yeah, sorry, Hiroshi, he's absolutely the sort of person who just... decides things.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[Part of Hiroshi wants to argue against the fact that he's a killer. He didn't kill any of them after all. But even with the therapy, he hasn't entirely considered the possibility of being indirectly responsible for their deaths either. And thus...]

I... thank you? You seem quite... decisive on the matter.

[niepokonany]

Yeah, well, what's the point of dithering about it, right?

I'm like, Feliks.

[all_onis_are_true]

...Hiroshi Yamane. The Smeargle is Guertena, and the Axew is Takuro.

[Guertena seems into painting something on the walls, but Takuro nods.]

[niepokonany]

Nice to meet you guys, too! Oh-- this is, like, Jadwiga, and Ludwik, and Krystyna.

[He points to the Ralts, Hoppip, and Vulpix in turn.]

[all_onis_are_true]

A pleasure. Have you been a trainer for a long time now?

[Might as well make small talk at this point. Sure. Why not.]

[niepokonany]

Well, I've been with Jadwiga for like, ages, but I just started going out and exploring and meeting new Pokemon. How about you?

[Feliks's social skills are poor enough that this doesn't even strike him as a weird time for small talk.]

[all_onis_are_true]

I have... only recently started working towards becoming a researcher myself.

[After years of practically hiding from every Pokemon he saw, anyway.]

It is proving much more difficult than I had realized.

[niepokonany]

God, I so know what you mean. Like, I met a wild Pokémon the other day that was just super aggro, you know?

[Possibly not actually what Hiroshi meant, but close enough, maybe!]

[all_onis_are_true]

"Super" aggro, huh? Sounds rough.

[How can this guy be so casual about someone he is or isn't sure is a murderer? Hiroshi doesn't get him.]

[niepokonany]

Oh my gods, you have no idea, it was super rough! But like, I got out, so whatever, I guess.

[Well, if you're trying to murder someone, then we'll have a problem, but Feliks isn't too worked up.]

[all_onis_are_true]

I suppose you would have gotten out if you're here. Was the Pokemon really that dangerous? And... where was this, anyway?

[niepokonany]

Oh, there are like, these ruins out in the swamps? They kinda didn't seem like they wanted humans to come bug them, though.

And they decided not to eat me, so could have been worse.

[all_onis_are_true]

[You have NO idea how hard Hiroshi is trying not to be triggered right now.]

That is certainly true, yes.

[niepokonany]

Right? Like a couple of people were--

[Jadwiga interrupts Feliks's unfortunately directed stream of consciousness babbling to inform him that he's upsetting someone and should stop. He stops, looking at Hiroshi in confusion.]

...What's up?

[all_onis_are_true]

Ah, if it is not too much trouble, could we maybe... change the subject? I am still relatively new to being a Trainer and I think I'd like to discuss less troubling subjects.

[Or ones that hit so blatantly close to home.]

[niepokonany]

Oh, sure, no big! Huh...


[What's less troubling, though? What does he talk about with the few friends he has?]

...So, wanna go shopping?

[all_onis_are_true]

[Is this guy for real?]

I appreciate the offer, but I am actually looking to meet up with somebody here. Perhaps some other time?

[niepokonany]

Oh.

...Okay, so I'll catch you you later, then!

[He leaves the same way he arrived: without warning, and rather awkwardly.]

[all_onis_are_true]

[...Well that was weird. At least the bullies got off his back.]