geophile | cerealia

I'm not sure where you heard that, but I wouldn't be quick to say that it's true. You won't sleep properly.

[ DAD SENSES TINGLING. he doesn't like the sound of this, not one bit. he'll be staying right where he is, thanks. ]

Are you sure that's what you're going to do?

Heard it on TV... I think? But s'okay. 'M not good at sleeping, anyways.

[Saying this like it's supposed to make Steven worry less. It's... not very effective.]

Said it's what I'm gonna do, so... it's what I'm gonna do. I'm hungry.

[... It's technically true. Sort of.]

[ don't believe everything you see on tv, child.

but he won't be letting them go just yet. he can worry about their sleep cycle on another occasion - right now, he has a bad feeling nagging at him. ]

Forgive me for being intrusive, but I've noticed you've been acting aloof lately. Is everything all right?

[They open their mouth to say yes, everything's fine.

Snap it shut.

Open it again.

... Sigh.

Okay. Maybe they're not so good at lying for prolonged periods of time. It makes them feel gross.]

... Papyrus went home.

[Or, maybe they're good at telling half-truths. Papyrus leaving worries them a lot; it's just as (if not more) upsetting as the time Chara left. But is that what's making them act like Shady McShade?]

[ at least that's something! and while steven doesn't believe for one bit that it's the complete truth of why frisk is acting the way they are, it's a start. he can work off of that, but right now he needs to be understanding. ]

I'm sorry to hear that. You two were close friends, weren't you?

Huh. So that's what it's been beepin' about?

[ ... Oh. Whoopsie. ]

And that was ya the whole time? Sorry 'bout that ...

[ She actually does feel kinda bad if she's been ignoring him, OOPS. ]

That's understandable.

Just let me know whenever is good for you guys, and I'll clear out my schedule.

[Because he's SO busy.]

[They're nodding, but not making any eye contact.]

Yeah...

[They were close. Maybe closer than Frisk deserved?]

He was— Mm, is a really, really good friend. I think... he'll be okay, though. People come back here. That's what I keep hearing.

[Carbink is the name Neji knows, and he represses the urge to let the chill wash over him in a shudder at the memory of the thing. --it'd been possessed after all, so. He nods. Alright. Pokemon, then.] In my world they'd be referred to as summons, I suppose. However the summons work through a contract between the ninja and the animal not--

[Rocks??] the creatures your Pokemon are. [It's dawning on him... and he's looking confused... samurai frogs were tolerable but rocks with cute or angry faces were just. Weird.

Stone's a weird guy and with a name like that Neji wonders if he should even be surprised.

Moving on! Again. Job's done, so with a small pause Neji will bow again. Slightly, this time, just 'politely' this time. He can't help the freeze the other must be feeling if he's so covered in the summer heat.] If that's all then I should take my leave, Steven. [And he's sorry but they knew that meant jack shit.]

Yes, it was.

[ he sighs, but seeing as she wasn't purposefully ignoring him, he can't bring himself to be mad. ]

It's all right, but I would appreciate it if you answered in the future.

You've heard correctly. It's not unheard of for someone to disappear from here, only to reappear some time after. You can be rest assured that you will see each other again, whether it be here or back home.

[ but that doesn't seem to help their expression much, and he's still suspicious of that lack of eye contact... he's not sure if he should pry more, but it's worth a shot. ]

Is that the only thing that's troubling you?

Then the difference is clear already. No contract between my Pokémon and I exists.

[ just good ol' fashioned bonds of friendship here! but that's a story for another day - right now, his focus is on neji and his well-being. they had all met the same fate, but the young man facing him had reached it in a particularly violent way. ]

Very well. But before you do... I feel as though I owe you an apology of my own.

[ there's a pause. ]

I feel as though I am at least in part to blame for what happened to us. I should have used my position to a more practical degree, and I regret not being able to do more.

Steven, hello. If you have the time, there's something I wanted to discuss with you.

[ Someone sure sounds oddly level. ]

[ hm. that tone sounds a little flatter than otome usually is... he's fairly good at reading the atmosphere, so steven is equally as such in his answer. ]

I do, yes. Go ahead.

Around the time when there were... those robotic versions of us running around, do you remember encountering a dark-haired boy in a pink cape?

I do; quite vividly, as a matter of fact. He was being attacked by two robots simultaneously and seemed to be cornered, so Metagross, Cradily and I stepped in to assist.

[ and he was terribly mannered in steven's opinion, but he doesn't say that. otome's posed an oddly specific question - she must know him somehow, but that still begs an obvious question lf his own: ]

Why do you ask?

Edited 2016-07-04 19:11 (UTC)

He'd mentioned it to me. Something about an unpleasant run-in.

[ Among other things, but... ]

I wouldn't hesitate to call it that. He wasn't exactly receptive to assistance, despite being close to being quite literally ripped apart.

[ he can understand having a bruised ego, but... come on, man. ]

Can you tell me what happened, exactly?

[ Because if it was just that, she wouldn't have been concerned. ]

Each robot had a hold on him on each side, fighting over which one would be able to kill him. I had Metagross and Cradily seperate the three of them, and intended to have them destroy the robots until the young man stopped me. He said that it was his responsibility, so I allowed him to do the honours.

[ and he was fine with that, but it was concerning to see how he had hesitated for a moment. ]

He seemed quite hostile towards me for whatever reason, despite us never having met before. I didn't engage him more than that - any attempt at goodwill didn't seem to get through.

Steven, [ SAID VERY GENTLY... ] at any point, did any of your Pokémon act threateningly towards him? And did you tell him to remember that the both of you were on the same side?

Cradily hissed at him, but that's in her nature towards strangers that get close to me. If you recall, she did the same to you before she knew who you were. Naturally, I called her off.

[ it's something that is usually unneeded, but cradily's protectiveness has saved him before. it's not a behaviour that he's going to discourage. ]

I did. He spoke to us as if we were going to attack him ourselves; it was meant as a friendly reminder, not as a threat. I'm not sure how it could be taken otherwise.

Probably because Cradily hissed at him first. I understand that's how she is, but Leon doesn't, and likely also wouldn't understand why she would react that way if he didn't actually make a physically threatening gesture towards you.

[ Being rude verbally? Well, yes, that's just how he is. ]

So, you have an unknown creature hissing at you and then someone saying something like that-- I know you didn't mean it as a threat, but anyone who doesn't know you or Cradily wouldn't know how to take it in a friendly way. It would sound more like a display of power.

[ And a sigh. ]

People come from different circumstances, and I'm sorry that the both of you got off on the wrong foot, but I thought I should tell you how it could have been seen to him.

[ And, honestly, anyone else who had never really dealt with Cradily before and didn't have the best socialization skills. ]

I'd normally understand that if his behaviour began after she hissed, but he was particularly disrespectful from the moment I stepped in. I offered a hand and an apology, and he refused to take either. I don't appreciate such behaviour from anyone, much less someone who is a complete stranger.

[ steven is a man who's firm in his ideals. it may be a product of his position and upbringing, but he's equally as firm in his distaste for people who don't offer him or his partners basic respect and decency.

so that's leon. he didn't catch his name before for obvious reasons, but now he sees that he's someone that otome cares for... still, that doesn't change much. ]

On that subject, I'm a bit confused as to why you're speaking on his behalf.

Edited 2016-07-05 04:07 (UTC)

...

[ There's a very long silence, and then Otome quietly clears her throat. ]

Because I care about Leon, and you're my friend, and in a situation where one felt threatened by the other, it's not something I can avoid bringing up. I doubt either of us will be mentioning this again.

But let me just say that as a doctor, I've seen my fair share of incredibly rude and upset patients. Ill, in pain, scared, sometimes perfectly fine and just being there for a check-up. Some very young, others older than me. Because there are circumstances I can and can't understand, there are always times when they'll refuse my assistance or speak rudely, no matter what I say. To judge them, complete strangers, and to compromise my own values of being compassionate and considerate to everyone I treat, isn't something I can do.

And in no circumstances would I let a child feel threatened because I or someone else didn't appreciate the tone they took with me or their refusal to accept a helping hand. But perhaps that's just me.

[ another sigh, a quick one. ]

Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. Please enjoy the rest of your day.

[ Because she's hanging up now. ]

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