009. Anonymous Text/Action for Goldenrod City

[ardent]

[ANONYMOUS TEXT]

[The anon text on the network tonight is simple and to-the-point, hitting at about eleven at night; it seems that somebody isn't sleeping easily.]

Is there a way to stop hating someone?

If not, is there at least a way to stop being so angry about it all the time?




[ACTION]

[While he's not straying too far from the house he and his classmates have more or less taken over (with the assistance of a ridiculous amount of Eevees), Ishimaru can be found wandering around outside tonight; he's staying close to the breeding center and the like, but he's definitely seeming more restless than usual, his actions aimless. He's been having difficulty sleeping for almost a week now; it probably shows in his mannerisms and his speech - everything has been seeming less enthusiastic than usual - but he's been trying to keep up appearances, if nothing else.

At least he's not alone for the time being; he's got Eeveemaru with him - one of the members of the great furball legion from the house, all decked out in what looks like a little replica of Ishimaru's coat and armband (because if Togami thinks he's getting any aspect of this back - Eevee or outfit - he's got another thought coming to him, apparently). The thing is just kind of chilling on his shoulders for now, seeming a bit bewildered at being outside at a reasonably late hour but not too bothered otherwise; once in a while it bats at something not visible to anyone but there nonetheless - seems he's got Aiko with him as well, though the Misdreavus isn't visible for now.

It's late, and he's tired, but at least the night is nice, if a bit overcast. Maybe it'll rain soon, who knows. He just doesn't feel like being inside.]

Comments

[nostabbing]

[So Parker's always had a habit of popping up randomly behind people. It's how she first met Ishimaru, after all, all those months ago here in Goldenrod City when he was out appreciating the sky and they ended up reflecting on the fact that potatoes are covered in ovaries. (Those were simpler, beautiful times.) And tonight is no exception — how she saw him leaving the house is open to anybody's guess, but presumably she did, and he's about halfway down the street (and under a streetlight, thankfully, because it'd be terrifying as hell if she'd done it in pitch darkness) when she pops up behind him with a takeaway cup in her hand and a piece of chocolate in her mouth.]

Hi, Ishimaru!

[Beat.]

Hi, Eeveemaru.

[It will hit her in a second, but for now she sees absolutely nothing weird about the little uniform-clad fuzzball on his shoulders, nope.]

What're you out walking around here for?

[ardent]

[Normally Aiko would, you know, warn a guy about something like this - but this is Parker we're talking about and Parker is family, even if Parker is not Kyoudai. So basically...yeah, thank god for the streetlight there, even if it is still enough to get Ishimaru to jump a bit anyway.

...Eeveemaru, however, just barks out a greeting because HI THERE.]

Aneki - I just couldn't sleep, that's all! I've been having some difficulty with it lately.

[nostabbing]

[HELLO TO YOU TOO, CUTE FUZZY UNIFORMED THING.]

My friend Eliot says you only need forty-five minutes a day. Or maybe he only gets forty-five minutes a day. Something like that.

[She shrugs.]

Can I walk with you? It's pretty dark out here. I don't want you to get jumped or something.

[ardent]

Of course you can! I have Aiko with me, but I wouldn't mind the company.

Ah, but make sure you get sleep tonight as well, eventually - forty-five minutes can't be good for anyone, despite what your friend said!

[Really, how is your friend still functioning.]

[nostabbing]

[He is fueled by rage and righteous justice, presumably.]

Oops. I didn't see her; hi, Aiko!

[For supposedly not seeing her, it's a little creepy how she manages to look right in the direction of his invisible Misdreavus as she says that, too.]

Oh, here.

[She holds out the takeaway cup, which surprisingly is as-yet-unopened; if he decides to pop the lid, he'll discover hot chocolate with whipped cream inside.]

[ardent]

[...that is uncanny, Parker, good god.

That says, he accepts the cup from her, though he looks at her a bit strangely as he does so.]

What are you doing out here, anyway?

[nostabbing]

Following you. Well, tonight, anyway. Sometimes I walk around and look at the security systems on the stores in the jewelry distri—

[WAIT. Wait. Waaaaaaaait, no, she should probably...not say that. Out loud.]

Are you okay? You were walking differently when you left the house.

[ardent]

Aneki...

[...you probably should not have said that, no.]

But I'm okay, I guess! I'm not sure what you mean.

[nostabbing]

I just look at them! They have makes and models here I've never seen before.

[Look, man, some people drop twenty thousand Pokedollars on dolls, some people appraise security systems...]

Usually you walk around like you've got somewhere to go. But right now you're not going anywhere, right?

[ardent]

[Oi. Oi. We leave the dolls out of it.]

...Not really, no.

[nostabbing]

So...?

[Meanwhile, she extends her arms, curious to see if Eeveemaru will hop into them if the offer is made.]

Something's bothering you, right?

[ardent]

[Well, Parker, you are going to get a uniformed bundle of fluff bouncing at you off of Ishimaru's shoulder (after the obligatory wiggling around to set up the jump is taken care of, of course); Ishimaru kind of smiles at that, though the expression is a vague one and it doesn't last very long before he resettles.]

I guess. I've been having a hard time sleeping since that incident last week.

[nostabbing]

[She is so delighted about this armful of fluff, too. Eeveemaru had best be prepared to be spoiled rotten, cradled like a precious baby, and occasionally the subject of adoring nose-boops.]

When we were all in that weird castle.

[...]

Are you still having nightmares, like before?

[ardent]

Not like the ones we were having before we were in the castle, like with Aiko and your cat - it's been nightmares about what happened in the school. And even when that's not happening, I've been having a hard time getting to sleep in the first place.

[nostabbing]

...Are you scared of someone hurting you?

[It seems like they always come back to questions like this sooner or later, but evidently it's a concern that isn't going away for Parker anytime soon.]

[ardent]

No, not really. I know I'll be okay here.

[It's not exactly a good answer, but it's the best one he has for now.]

[nostabbing]

It's just hard to be alone in the dark?

[ardent]

I think that's it. I mean, I have my brother with me usually, but...

[nostabbing]

But...it's not really the same, because you worry about him a lot. Right?

[ardent]

...Right. I can't really tell him about what's bothering me, either; it's just going to make him angry.

[nostabbing]

[She seems to process that a second, regarding him thoughtfully, and then sort of furrows her brow at Eeveemaru for another second while something kind of clicks.]

Is it something you can't tell me about either?

[ardent]

...it's not because I don't trust you. It's just something that can't really be discussed with people.

[nostabbing]

[She nods a little.]

I get that. And you're smart. I know you'll figure it out.

[She glances down at Eeveemaru again.]

Gloomy has sleep powder, if you still can't get to sleep.

[ardent]

Ah...no, I don't think that's necessary!

[Oh god.]

I have a few Pokémon with Hypnosis, if I really need it, though.

[nostabbing]

[Nothing says sweet dreams like chloroform!

—WAIT HOLD ON A MINUTE]

You mean like psychics?