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

[diamondo]

Yeah? Still having nightmares?

[That's all that thing in the castle was, right? It was just a nightmare. It couldn't have been anything else. It couldn't have been real.]

[ardent]

Well, I've never really stopped having nightmares, but what happened last week didn't help any!

[diamondo]

Oh, yeah, I imagine it didn't.

[He falls quiet for a moment before shoving his hands in his pockets and glancing at Ishimaru.]

Do you wanna talk about it?

[ardent]

[It takes him a moment to respond; he just sort of shrugs eventually, forcing a bit of a smile as he does so.]

There's nothing to discuss, kyoudai! They're just dreams, after all; I'll be fine.

[diamondo]

[Mondo isn't sure if he should just accept that. The dream was horrifying, but maybe Ishimaru's dream wasn't as bad. Ishimaru wouldn't lie to him about this, right? So if he's saying there's nothing to discuss, then that means there's really nothing to discuss.]

Alright. But if you change your mind you can always talk to me about this sorta shit!

[He claps a hand to Ishimaru's shoulder again, smiling.]

[ardent]

[He feels guilty almost immediately, but he manages to push it away; there's nothing good that can come from actually discussing it, after all.]

Have you been all right? What are you doing out here, anyway?

[diamondo]

Yeah, I've been fine.

[It's not really a lie since he has been fine. The nightmare was pretty bad, but that's all it was, a nightmare. He's moving past it.]

I was looking for you. I... just wanted to make sure nothing had happened to you, y'know?

[ardent]

What do you mean? I have Aiko with me, as always, and I have some of the others as well.

[...And Eeveemaru down there, who is pretty much useless, but five out of six ain't bad.]

Nothing's going to happen to me, kyoudai.

[diamondo]

W-Well, yeah, I know that! I just...

[He's not going to get away without talking about the dream, is he?]

...Well, in that nightmare you... you kinda passed out and wouldn't wake up, so I guess I've been a little on-edge since then, y'know? I just want to make sure you're okay and nothing like that happens. I don't see why it would, so I'm really just worrying over nothing.

[He sounds a bit agitated with that and he shifts his focus to the ground.]

[ardent]

...I remember that, sort of; I think it had something to do with that weird power I had.

[...this is really surreal, talking about it; he isn't sure what to think of the idea that he and Mondo remember the same damn things happening.]

[diamondo]

Ah? Yeah? I guess you were only able to use it for so long, then?

[Yeahhhh, this is really weird, kyoudai...]

[ardent]

I think so! It started tiring me out after a while, anyway.

[diamondo]

You shouldn't have kept pushing yourself then!

[ardent]

Well, I had to do something!

[diamondo]

You were doing more than enough as it was--!

[He cuts himself off there with a shake of his head. There's no point in arguing about this. It was just a dream after all.]

Well, it doesn't matter. I just don't want anything like that to happen to you here. Not that it will.

[ardent]

...Did you think that it killed me?

[It's blunt as hell, but there's nothing pointed or accusatory behind it; just a question.]

[diamondo]

[Mondo manages to keep himself from flinching, but his expression shifts a bit into something that looks somewhat angry, but isn't quite reaching it.]

I didn't know. I had no way of knowing. I mean you weren't responding, so I just sorta thought the worst...

[ardent]

[...oh, that's...that's not good, is it, um.]

Nothing's going to hurt me like that here, kyoudai.

[diamondo]

Yeah, I know. You've got your Pokémon here to protect you.

[After a moment of thought, he adds onto that.]

And you've got me! I won't let anything like that happen to you!

[ardent]

Of course I do, and you know I trust you on that! There's nothing wrong, I've just been thinking too much about that dream lately; it'll pass eventually!

[diamondo]

Yeah, I'm sure it will. But like I said, if you wanna talk about it, I'm here for you!

[ardent]

[He hesitates for a moment; he's tempted to reassure him again that everything's okay, that it was just a dream and it didn't matter, but this time, there's something stopping him.

He can't really explain what it is; maybe it's just the knowledge that they seem to remember the same things happening. It makes everything seem more like it could have actually been real; if that's the case...]

...Celes-kun was there. In the dream, I mean.

[diamondo]

...I saw her too. What happened? Did she say something!?

[Obviously she hadn't killed Ishimaru again, since he passed out while they were fighting the... whatever that thing was.]

[ardent]

[Gently caress, this was a mistake, wasn't it. He flinches sharply; he knows he shouldn't have said anything.]

...Sort of, kyoudai - it wasn't anything too bad, and she didn't...do anything to me, though I think I know how I died.

[diamondo]

[Mondo's not sure what that flinch is for - perhaps Ishimaru doesn't want to talk about this? - but he reaches out to touch Ishimaru's shoulder reassuringly.]

What happened? Did she tell you what happened in that fucking school?

[Or maybe... did he see her carrying around that hammer?]