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

[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?]

[ardent]

No, but she had a weapon with her. It was kind of a strange one; not one I'd imagine she'd pick without a reason.

[diamondo]

...A hammer?

[That makes sense, but why would she use a hammer of all things? She must have gotten it once another floor opened up after the second trial, but why would the school have a hammer?]

So you think she did you in with that? Shit. Shit. I'm so sorry, kyoudai.

[ardent]

It wouldn't surprise me.

She...we got in a fight. It wasn't a physical fight, but it wasn't good, either.

[diamondo]

She tried to start shit with you? What did you say?

[ardent]

...It was...strange, I don't really remember what started it, but somehow I don't think she meant to? She got really upset, anyway.

[diamondo]

[Mondo tips his head slightly at that.]

She got upset? I've never seen her upset. Seems like she's always in control of the situation. Then what happened? She said something that pissed you off?

[ardent]

...No.

[He hesitates for a moment before continuing.]

She said she was sorry, but she never bothered telling us that because we wouldn't believe her anyway. And that she didn't understand why we accept Kuwata-kun and...you, but treat her like a monster. It wasn't backhanded, she seemed really upset.

And I...I don't know, I got to a point where I couldn't react to it anymore. I yelled at her, and then I just...stopped, and I couldn't really feel anything for a while.