keychained | 020; [action for Goldenrod/Route 34]

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020; [action for Goldenrod/Route 34]

[if one is brave enough to venture outside in the cold and snow and ice and onto Route 34 today, he or she may notice a feral child just outside the entrance to Goldenrod-- Johto's very own Mowgli is sitting cross-legged off to the side, hunched over with his arms wrapped tightly around himself. surprisingly enough, snow is pretty chilly when one lacks a winter coat.]

[it's not out of not owning one, however; Sora's coat is actually laid out on the ground in front of him. no... wait, it's haphazardly draped across about the top third of a Dratini, who is curled up with his head resting on Trainer's lap. the coat isn't much, but it's all Sora's got.]

C'mon... We're maybe ten minutes away from the Center. You can do it! We've made it this far together, right?

[a pitiful whine from the Dratini. Sora's momentarily defeated expression is obscured by his hair, and by the fact that he's staring down at the ground. though it's probably equally pitiful, that defeat hardens into steel determination-- he and Pokémon hadn't trudged around out in who-knows-where for two weeks, and finally back onto the route to wind up freezing to death now.]

All right. [his voice is unsteady, but warm.] I think you've pulled more than your own weight lately... I'll keep going for the both of us. Okay? Hold still; I'll carry you.

[... how Sora intends to pick up and carry what is essentially a 6-foot giant worm is questionable, but dangit, he's going to try-- once he picks himself up and actually gets going, anyway. good thing Dratinis are on the light side for their length.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No... I was thrown over it.

[HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY even if he hates it.]

... By who?

[ that someone is dead. ]

[that same person you're on your way to go rescue, big sis-- I mean.]

Vanitas.

[ rescuers are entitled to UPPERCUT the people they're saving. Totally. ]

Va--

[ Rise falls silent, her face clouding over until it's absolutely unreadable. There's a lot of things she'll forgive, but anyone laying a hand on Sora... that's not one of them. So when she speaks, it's in a disturbingly quiet voice. ]

He attacked you, Sora?

[Rise's turn for the private filter. he'd rather not have any old body listening in, and... it feels more like talking to big sis one-on-one, because they're not talking in person.]

Yeah. I couldn't call Ven in time, and Dartanian... He went with Vanitas.

Sora...

[ sis is PISSED. Dartanian's going to get a Dragonair-smackdown, too. ]

Are you sure you're okay? I mean, that sorta thing, and the ocean at this time of year...

Uh huh-- my Dratini took really good care of me. I just gotta sleep here for the night and get lots of food and stay warm for a while, and the nurse said I'll be good to go.

[a thoughtful pause, and:] M'gonna name him Hope.

[ there are a million things running through Rise's mind, but the first is that she's really really REALLY glad she left that egg on his bed forever ago. And she finally smiles. ]

That's a great name. Listen, I've gotta go-- but sit tight for about an hour, okay? I'll get back to you.

Huh? Okay...

[he's certainly not going anywhere-- if anything, he'll either be dozing or tearing through some takeout food during that hour.]

[ idol concern apparently makes an Onix go faster, so after dropping an exhausted Crystal off at the front to get some well-deserved rest, there'll be a snowy Rise poking her head in with three plastic bags filled with food. If he's dozing, she'll just drop them off near the bed and find a seat somewhere. ]

[he won't be dozing long, the smell of delicious food hits him and he blinks awake, and--]

Rise!! [he can't throw off the covers and scramble out of bed to hug her fast enough.] You're here! ... You cut your hair!

H-hey careful, you'll freeze all over again! [ but she can't resist hugging him tightly. It's always better to see Sora in-person. ] And Ven's Gengar cut it, actually-- but that's over and done with. How're you feeling?

It looks good! And, I feel better now. [and he may be cutting off an airway with his bone-crushing hug, sorry Rise.]

[ she'll endure temporary discomfort. Really. Though there may be a wheeze. ] I-I can tell!

[whoops, he'll loosen his grip a smidge, then. not letting go, though, sorry. he's missed Rise and everybody else too much.]

Part of it's 'cause I didn't have to see that giant nurse again.

[ like Rise minds, she's had hugs with Ven last for more than five minutes. And this is Sora, who's been MISSING, it'll take awhile before she lets go. ]

That'd do it. How's Hope doing? [ this is also so she can reassure Akari later that her baby is fine. She's such a fussy mom, her Dragonair. ]

Nurse Joy said he'll be just fine. He just needs to rest for a little while. [like Pokémon like Trainer! Sora plops his head on Rise's shoulder.]

I'm glad he was with you... [ have a hand on your head, Sora. She doesn't mind being a forehead rest. ]

Me too...

[he's going to fall asleep standing up at this rate, but he doesn't mind if Rise doesn't.]

[ well, he's a little heavier than she is, but she won't mind. She can handle it. ]

[this very tender scene goes on for another minute or so, before a stomach monster starts grumbling audibly and the owner of said stomach monster suddenly looks awfully embarrassed.]

...

And that's exactly why I brought food. [ she might be giggling a little. ]

[let go and get food, or continue clinging to big sis? THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION-- though after a while his stomach wins over and he plops back down on the bed, poking through one of those plastic bags.]

All of this? Thanks, Rise!

[ Rise's a little tired from trekking back, so she's fine snagging a seat in a chair. ] No problem! I know your stomach pretty well by now.

Ah, so you're fluent in my stomach's language? -- What's it saying now?

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