laconism | IC Contact

[ the morning after their journey to the castle... kokichi should have been kinder and let red sleep in, considering the events that happened the previous night, but he's not that nice at all. in fact, he kneels down next to red sleeping on the floor and, cupping his hands, he shouts. ]

Good morningggggg!

[Fucking r u d e, Kokichi??? Well, joke's on him because the only response he gets from Red is a very soft groan in his sleep. Although Pikachu, who is curled up against Red's side and is a much lighter sleeper, does jolt awake (not literally, fortunately) from the sudden shouting and looks crankily up at Kokichi.]

Chuuuuuu...

[Why'd you wake him up!]

[ sorry, pikachu, you're a causality in this rude morning awakening. kokichi reaches over to just pat him on the head but then leans in closer to red. ]

Hey hey, are you just going to waste the entire day away? C'mon, get up!

[This time Red's eyes squeeze shut even tighter out of annoyance and he rolls over onto his side, back facing Kokichi. Yes, he is absolutely going to waste the entire day away. What's Kokichi going to do about it?]

[ he's going to grab the blankets underneath red and pull them right out in one big tug. hope you like the rough GROUND ]

[And there Red goes, eating shit as the blankets are yanked out from underneath him. Kokichi made the very grave mistake of not moving Pikachu first, though. He manages to jump up right when he pulls the blankets, but he's pretty pissed now. The fact that he just rudely woke his trainer up from his very much-needed sleep makes him doubly pissed off.]

Pi-KAAAA!

[Electricity loudly crackles from his cheeks, charging up a Thunderbolt — but Red quickly sits up and grabs Pikachu, pulling him close and petting him to calm him down. The two of them still glare at Kokichi though, Red very groggily, because what the fuck, dude.]

[ this is what you get for having a dumb trainer, pikachu. if you were kokichi's pokemon, he would treat you a lot better than red would! ]

Good, you're now up! [ not because of kokichi, of course! ] How do you feel? Better than last night?

[Red treats Pikachu just fine, Kokichi is the one who woke him up and took his blankets away!]

...No.

[He feels like death because someone woke him up far earlier than his body was prepared for. His voice is weak and he can barely even keep his eyes open. Red sees his backpack laying a few feet away, so he puts Pikachu down and crawls over to it so he can pull out his sleeping bag.]

[ and kokichi moves to block red's path. he literally takes a few steps and continues to kneel in front of red. ]

That's probably because you didn't get enough rest. [ hahaha ] Are you also hungry? When was the last time you ate?

[Red's internal response right now. Outwardly, he just deadeyes Kokichi, ignoring his questions. Fine then. If he can't have the blankets or his sleeping bag, then he'll just sleep on the filthy ground. He has a strong immune system, there's no way it could possibly get him sick or anything. So he just lays down right there, using his arm as a pillow and curling up as he closes his eyes again.]

[ hmph! fine, he supposes that if red is that determined to sleep then he can't really do anything. he's bored of trying to keep him awake so he'll leave him alone for a few hours. when red wakes back up, the blanket will be put over him and kokichi will just be somewhere nearby. ]

[ ... when will red wake back up. can kokichi at least play with pikachu if the pokemon is awake and he's not bored out of his mind :T ]

[Yes, Pikachu will play with Kokichi if it'll keep him from bothering his sleepy trainer anymore. But before he does that, he'll get into Red's backpack himself and pull out a pillow, dragging it over next to the back of Red's head so he can roll onto it at some point. Or maybe Kokichi can be extra nice and carefully lift his head up so Pikachu can slide it under there because Red is already out like a light again. Unbelievable.

Blastoise, who was already awake and went to take a (nice and slow) walk when all this was going on, eventually returns and joins Pikachu and Kokichi in their games as well, doing everything they can to keep him entertained because thanks to the comfort of his blanket and pillow, Red sleeps all the way until.... 3pm. When he finally stirs and sits up, stretching and letting out a yawn, Pikachu's ears go straight up and looks over at Red.]

Pi-ka~!

[ nice, kokichi gets to play with the pokemon! that is definitely something that would keep him actually kind of happy. he's been playing with a crow that he befriended a little while back, karasu-chan, and although it's been fun playing with him, it's a little lonesome. so, until then, kokichi will pass the time with pikachu, blastoise, and karasu-chan when he comes to visit a bit later. ]

[ when red finally wakes up, kokichi turns his head over to him. ]

Ah, someone's finally awake.

[ he stands up. karasu-chan perches himself on kokichi's shoulder as he moves. ]

Feeling better?

[A few days ago, some little pals came to Akira. He recognized at least two as being Red's Pokémon, his friends — and after a short attempt at communication, he discovered that the Trainer had in fact been hospitalized. He was asleep and therefore could take no visitors... so Akira just had to figure out how to take care of the Pokémon himself, with no assistance except for the Pokémon themselves.]

[It's been a challenging couple of days. Arsène has been complaining bitterly about all the extra menial tasks, as if his life is impacted in any way by Akira having more work to do.]

[But this morning, he's been informed by the nurse that Red is in fact awake again, and by this point he's managed to secure the Pokéballs that he knows the creatures can be kept in. So they're all safely tucked away inside his pocket as he walks into the hospital room. (He would have let them come in freely, but they were turned away at the door, so he had to just hide them.) Red's state is alarming to put it mildly, even though the nurse had told him ahead of time what injuries the boy had sustained — it still makes Akira's stomach lurch painfully, seeing his friend lying prone like that, covered in bandaged-up injuries. What the hell did this to him?]

[But his eyes are open. He's awake. Akira steels himself, and talks.]

...Hey, Red.

[And once he feels like he's got Red's attention:]

Everyone's safe. They're right here.

[He taps his pocket.]

Edited 2019-08-15 16:33 (UTC)

[When Akira enters the room, Red is laying on his side, a pillow in between his legs, IV hooked up to his left arm and staring blankly at the wall in front of him through half-lidded eyes. The TV mounted near the top of the wall is currently playing some shounen anime — the nurse must have figured that he'd like to watch anime since he's a kid, but clearly he finds the wall more interesting. Or maybe he's just that high on medication.

The blanket on his bed is completely pulled down (by Red's own doing), indeed allowing a clear view of his injuries that aren't hidden under his blue hospital gown. The majority of Red's visible injuries are just minor cuts and bruises on his face, arms and legs, simple bandaids covering up the cuts. His right arm, however... a good chunk of it has some nice hospital-grade bandages masking the very deep, grotesque wounds underneath. It's a miracle that he even still has that arm. ~~He wouldn't if Amarok didn't have early game stats.~~ The remaining serious, unseen injuries are all on his back, which is why he was given an extra pillow to put in between his legs. Gotta relieve that back as much as possible.

Red is slowly pulled out of his trance as Akira appears in front of him and starts talking. His gaze shifts up to his tall friend, expression remaining just as vacant as before. Then his eyes follow Akira's hand as he taps his pocket. His Pokémon are in there? That's a relief... even if his face doesn't express it.]

...Thanks.

[For taking care of his friends. Red's voice is weak and hoarse — there's a cup of water on the small table next to his bed, but it's still completely full.]

Not a problem.

[Awful. Awful. Awful. Who did this to him, Akira wonders again, and not with benevolent intent.]

[—But he's got to keep a lid on it, because that's secondary in importance to making sure that Red is comfortable and okay. He thinks that pointing out the Pokémon was a good idea, considering the creatures mean a lot to him. But between his natural stoicism and whatever they have him drugged on to ease the pain, Red's not giving much in the way of a reply. So Akira moves closer to his bedside table and keeps talking.]

You should drink this.

[He holds up the cup of water, offering it for Red to take with his good hand. If he takes it.]

I know you feel like shit, but it'll help.

[Red stares at the cup. Come to think of it, when the nurse brought that water in, there was ice in it. Now, there isn't a single trace of any ice cubes left. Was he really zoned out for that long? He really doesn't want to move, but he knows he should... Even if part of himself keeps telling him otherwise, he needs to get better as quickly as possible. For his Pokémon's sake. Knowing that they're in the same room as him again, even if they're all inside their balls in Akira's pocket, gives him a boost of motivation.

Ever so slowly, Red uses his good hand to carefully push himself up, trying not to re-open any of his wounds or dislodge the IV drip in the process. Once he finally manages to sit up, he takes the cup from Akira's hand and takes a few sips. There's still some lingering coolness in the water, which makes it even more refreshing.

He lowers the cup, resting the base of it against his thigh and gaze focusing on Akira once more, looking a little more awake now. Akira probably doesn't want to just sit here in awkward silence, so... Red forces himself to talk again. Thankfully his voice has made a slight improvement as well.]

Did... Terry tell you?

[About him being here.]

The Pokémon found me and led me here, because they weren't allowed inside. You were asleep, so I tried to take care of them.

[Terry. His first instinct is to conclude that Terry did this, it's all Terry's fault, he did this, the squirrely little bastard — but no. He's just itching for a fight. If Terry did it, why would he ever think to tell Akira about Red in the first place? So a bystander, maybe. Maybe he was hurt in the dungeon. Actually, that seems likely. If no one was around to heal... but wouldn't Red have woken up the next morning?]

[Akira sits down, heavily, taking care not to sit on any of the Pokéballs. Letting Charizard out right now would be a fucking mess.]

If you feel well enough... can you tell me what happened?

[He's trying not to sound too much like he wants to know who to throttle.]

[Honestly, Red doesn't really want to tell him, but... he supposes that it would be better for Akira to hear it from him than from Terry. So he gives a single nod and takes another sip of water, staring down into the cup as he speaks reluctantly and slowly.]

...Um... in the castle, Amarok... my Persona... he just appeared behind me and started attacking me. Terry came in soon after. He and my Pokémon were trying to rescue me, and... I guess I passed out... and woke up here.

[It all happened so quickly that his shocked and severely fatigued brain could barely keep up with it all. Sorry he can't provide many more details than that, but well. Akira can clearly see what kind of wounds Amarok inflicted on him.]

Am—

[For a time, Akira is stunned into silence, looking at Red with genuine fear behind his glasses. It's not a face he wears very often — he actively tries to avoid it whenever he can. But... what... wha...]

...

[What does that even mean? Was something taking Amarok out of Red's control? Or. (If such a thing is possible, Akira now looks even more scared.) Or. Is Red actually in such a state, mentally, where his Persona is trying to tear him down? Is that what the inside of his head looks like?]

[Akira winds a hand into his hair, and starts spinning locks of it between his fingers.]

Red, that's...

[Red's in no state to work through it now. But even beyond the damage his body sustained, he's obviously not okay.]

...That shouldn't be happening.

We're going to fix it. Not right now. But later. Okay?

[Hearing Akira cut himself off like that, Red quickly looks up at him with concern. The look on his face causes a pit to form in Red's stomach. He already had a pretty good idea of what the significance of his Persona attacking him like that was, but Akira's face confirms it. This is why he didn't want to tell him. He shouldn't be freaking out this much over someone like Red...

A flash of pain runs through his head. No. Stop that. He winces and lowers his head again.]

How...?

[How does Akira plan on fixing this?]

Well firstly you're going to talk to Amarok. Me and Arsène will be there.

Either that, or...

[Augh, he didn't want to say it like this, but Red asked what his plan is and Akira doesn't think it's gonna help anyone to lie to him.]

...Or we figure out what inside you made him want to hurt you so much.

[So... he basically needs to overcome his inner issues, huh? Red was hoping that there would be an easier solution than that. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. He frowns.]

...I... I know what it is. So, I'll... take care of this myself.

[After all, the only person who can truly help you anyway is yourself, right?]

What is it then?

[Akira doesn't sound aggressive, but he's not going to back down here.]

I'm not leaving you by yourself. Not like this.

[Red just... goes quiet, staring sadly into his water cup. Explaining the dark, shameful part of himself to Akira... He absolutely can't do that. No way. He's not ready for that. He wouldn't even know where to begin.

After a long while, he just shakes his head. Sorry, buddy.]

[ ... ]

Alright.

[He doesn't want to do this. Leaving it in Red's hands alone is a bad idea -- but Akira's only thinking that, he knows, because he's scared for the smaller boy's wellbeing, and wants to take all the responsibility upon himself when really it's not his place at all.]

Just... be careful, Red, okay?

I don't-- I don't want to lose you, and neither do they.

[Meaning, of course, Red's partners.]

[Akira... Red feels so bad that he's making his friend this worried over him, but that's all the more reason he needs to overcome this, right? Running away, or doing something even more permanent, will just make Akira and Red's Pokémon suffer more. The only way for all of them to be happy is for Red to come to terms with all the negativity he feels towards himself and make it better so they won't have to worry about him anymore. He still isn't confident that he's up to such a daunting task, but...]

...I'll... I'll try.

[He's starting to get tired, so he sets his cup back on the table and lays down on his side again.]

[Akira stands up. He moves over to Red's bedside, waits a second -- like he's interacting with a cat, to let Red know what his intentions are -- and then gently reaches a hand onto Red's head. Somewhere without bandages. He would do the shoulder or the arm, but he can't, for obvious reasons. If Red flinches or shows any sign of pain, he'll take it off immediately.]

You don't have to do this alone.

Just tell me you understand that.

[There are fractures in his voice. He's trying really hard to sound firm and strong.]

I know it might seem like doing this by yourself is the only option. Easier to cut out the middleman, easier to hide everything from everyone, easier to look strong so that no one will doubt you or worry about you.

But you don't have to do it alone.

[Red’s always out in the woods, training with the team and actively trying to kill himself of hypothermia. So guess what Akira did to solve this problem?]

[If you guessed commission a villager at the beginning of the month to knit an ugly Pikachu sweater to keep him warm, you’re absolutely correct.]

[It’s wrapped up neatly but with little decoration, and left on Red’s bed sometime he’s not looking on December 25th.]

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7/23

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8/18, evening

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12/25