(no subject)

[miracle_miko]

[ The days prior to Kyurem's attack on the city left Sanae out of sorts. While she was no stranger to fending off gods by this point--a thought that was still strange and a bit chilling to her--this was different.

Heatran never made it to Citadel. These attacks never struck so close to home before, figuratively and literally.

There was so much that went wrong during that short amount of time. The theater was in shambles, and there were injured among the staff; innocent people who knew nothing about battle, caught up in the shuffle and hurt due to the Divine Defense Force's oversight. Takuto was hurt, badly, and while he seemed to be healing up just fine, the fact that he sustained his injuries defending her... stung, to say the least.

More than that, she had actions to answer to. Mercy killing was not something that was looked down upon in the Citadel, especially on the battlefield. It was seen as a sign of respect, an act of charity for one suffering to end their life. But Union was different, and yet...

And yet...

During her work restoring the theater, or helping those who were unfortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire, the young priestess seemed distracted at best. She didn't speak much, and many of her actions were executed purely from muscle memory. She made few mistakes, but even in her daze, she was likely to miss something.

Even around town, fetching supplies, shopping for food--even just getting away--she was almost like a ghost of her usual, chipper self. She paid her respects at the Hikawa shrine often, praying for those lost that day. It still stung. From time to time, she would seek out familiar faces, be they people from Citadel, or those familiar faces from the city that welcomed her and called her one of them. Could she still say she was?

She felt like she could do nothing; and what she did do cast her as an outsider, someone who was not welcome here. She wasn't sure what to do... ]

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[miracle_miko]

[ This was wrong. This was all wrong. She didn't want this to turn into an argument. Bowing her head deeply, the young priestess stood there, processing her own thoughts. She wanted to be strong. She wanted to not run away from anything. She looked up to Haruka for that reason--that was the woman she perceived her to be. Haruka was strong, she had conviction, and she never ran away from or was scared of anything.

Looking up suddenly when her captain spoke, Sanae looked surprised. The thought that she wouldn't have a home to come back to never crossed her mind, but there was still a bit of relief when Haruka invited her to follow her back to the theater. So she could still accept her, even after all that?

The tears stung in her eyes, and Sanae took another deep, hard breath to keep them at bay before nodding. ]

Okay.

[ She wanted this to be easy. She wanted to be told what to do, how she should feel about all of this, and how others felt. That uncertainty scared her. Knowing that things weren't always so simple or easy to understand scared her. It was so much different than back in Citadel, back in her sheltered convent, where she was told how to train, what she was training for, and the expectations for her were clear.

Nothing was clear here.

Following at a bit of a distance, Sanae walked in physical silence; her mind was a battlefield. Left with her thoughts, the walk back home felt much longer than it usually was. ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka listens abstractly as the snow crunches to slush beneath her feet, walking at her standard pace (so at least she's not rushing to avoid this moment). She'd have to be completely oblivious not to know that, from where Sanae's standing, this conversation was a failure. But Haruka isn't going to count Sanae out just yet.

There are plenty of other people with other ways of living - and grieving, and sympathizing - surrounding them both, after all. Sanae has to take them all in and then find her own. Nobody can give that to her.

Most of the debris has been cleared from around the dorms, now, though there's still some damaged wings blocked off and plenty of aesthetic damage. The theater, being a historic site, will take even longer to repair. But it's home. And it's theirs.

And so is the Jolteon running out to greet them, slipping, and hitting his nose in the muck on the street. You're back! Did you have a goo---

Oh. His ears go down and he looks up at Sanae. ] Jolt?

[miracle_miko]

[ She walked slowly, following Haruka's footprints. It was an uncomfortable walk, at least for her, and as they came into the courtyard of the theater, the young woman finally looked up. Everyone was working so hard to put things back together. This shouldn't have happened in the first place. But they carried on regardless, left with no other alternative.

But would things go back to the way they used to be? Now that Union had learned the harshness of the world outside their walls, could the people still adhere to those ideals that she looked up to so much? Or would they strike back?

She didn't notice the Jolteon at first, even after the dazzling display of dexterity. It wasn't until the small whimper that Sanae snapped out of her thoughts, looking toward the Eeveelution in the snow. ]

Hmm?

[ You've got a bit of slush on your nose, friend. That gets a small smile from Sanae, as she crouches down and wipes it away with her sleeve. Seeing the imprint there, she managed to add two and two together. ]

You okay there? You've gotta be careful, it's slippery out here.

[actsmagnificent]

Eon, eee. [ Gold paws his nose. He's building up a callous from how often that happens; he's used to it.

But, more importantly, you have seemed down. And now you seem downer. That makes him sad. He rests that paw, slush and all (sorry) on Sanae's knee. Is everything okay? ] Jolteon?

[ Haruka just keeps walking. Sanae is in other hands - er, paws - now. ]

[miracle_miko]

[ It's okay, she doesn't mind the cold paws, although she never was good at understanding Pokemon. She even struggled with her own sometimes, unless she had her Warp Band to help her. But Gold seemed upset about something, and while she wasn't sure what, Sanae did her best to try to push through. ]

Is something the matter? Come on, let's go inside, it's cold out here.

[ Giving the Electric-type a gentle pat on the head, Sanae slowly rose, continuing to look down toward the Jolteon. ]

I'll go grab Kodama, and you can tell me all about it, okay?

[ It would probably be best to have a mediator. The Warp Bands weren't functioning quite right, but she might be able to get some kind of understanding going. ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Oh dear. He did the thing where he forgets humans don't speak Pokémon that well again. Natto has this same problem but Natto can usually manage because Natto has arms, and can make gestures humans can recognize.

Gold waggles the tuft of fur that serves as his tail and follows Sanae. Too many of the humans here have been sad lately - first Rise, then this terrible thing happened, and now Sanae. He is an utterly useless Pokémon, but maybe him listening can help. ] Jolt.

[miracle_miko]

[ It was hard seeing the theater like this, but she had grown surprisingly used to it. Routing the Jolteon through the halls toward the prop room, she opened the door. Kodama, floating about the various pieces, appeared to be dusting.

When you have a few giant balls of fluff attached to you, you get a certain affection for dusting, apparently. Which is what she seems to be doing. ]

Still at it, huh?

[ Looking over from her work, the Jumpluff sways in the air. ] Pluff plu.

[ Of course she is! She got kicked out of the construction zone, so where else is she supposed to go.

Oh, hello Gold. She waves a puffy appendage. ]

[actsmagnificent]

Jolt jolt. [ Gold smiles a doggy smile. He likes all of his theater friends. And he will be careful not to get *too* close to Kodama, lest his static cling act up - she looks like the kind of Pokémon that might get stuck to him. And this place looks great!

...Will they be intruding? ] Ee?

[miracle_miko]

[ Much appreciated, Kodama cooed in relief. She didn't relish the idea of static cling. ]

Jumpluff jum.

[ Of course not. Did you need something here? All the tools the humans needed had already been taken out of here. ]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Gold looks from Sanae to her Pokémon and back again. Then, ears down, he makes his embarrassing confession: his Trainer made your Trainer cry. He is very sorry, and if there's anything he can do to help her, even if it's just listening, he is here. ] Jolt jolte jolt jolteon.

[ This isn't even the first time in months this has happened. Gold loves Trainer, and has come to learn a few things about how she works. But it was all through trial and error, and error, and error, and more error....she's not very good, sometimes, at being honest with people. ]

[miracle_miko]

[ His trainer made Miss Sanae cry? What happened? The girl was prone to being emotional at times, it was true, but this didn't seem like the normal outburst. ] Pluff jumplu pluff?

[actsmagnificent]

[ Gold covers his snout with first one paw, then the other. He wasn't there. But. They went out for a walk, and when they came back, Trainer was wearing the "It's For Your Own Good" face and Sanae was crying. Gold is very used to the "It's For Your Own Good" face, so he knows he's not wrong about that part.

He is so, so sorry. ] Eeeeeee....

[miracle_miko]

[ That doesn't sound good. Looking toward her partner, Kodama began to speak with her, explaining Gold's dilemma and what he assumed happened.

The Warp Band managed to translate enough, and Sanae looked at Gold, her expression a mix of surprise and slight embarrassment. ]

Oh--well that's not... totally untrue.

But it's okay! Really, it's okay! Haruka just gave me a lot to think about, and I was overwhelmed. So it's really all right, Gold, I promise! Don't be sad, please.

[actsmagnificent]

Jolteon. [ His friends being sad always makes him sad, but he appreciates that Sanae is being kind about this. He is so appreciative that he decides he's going to risk a cuddle.

His smile is stiff in concentration. Don't discharge static. Don't discharge static. Don't -

A spark flies off his cheek towards Sanae.

Nooooo. ]

[miracle_miko]

[ Sanae winces a bit at the shock, but still lets the Jolteon cuddle. It's okay, friend, it might smart a little, but she doesn't mind. ]

Gold, you're sweet. Thank you.

[actsmagnificent]

[ He was complimented! But that's not as important as letting Sanae know that no matter what it is Trainer thinks she has to do For Her Own Good, she has people who will support her. So cuddles are go. He even ventures a lick, and manages not to zap her again. What a relief! ] Eee.