hatesviolence | ☣ message box ☣ empatheias

Yeah sure. [And he nods as well in agreement.

But right, the question.]

So what's up?

Well, I remembered you were with Lu Meng when he went to see Sosyne, and you were there too when she showed up at Lake Niras... I don't know what your relationship is like with her, but me and a small group are going to visit some lands we're sure are connected to her, and I wanted to know if you wanted to come too.

[.......Aaaah. Sosyne. Something like a small frown forms, but he's not angry. Just. Deep in thought.]

We don't really get along that well... [SHE DESTROYED GOOD CUPCAKES. Although let's face it, of course they wouldn't get along.] But I can understand her a bit. Or at least be one of the few willing to punch her in the face when she needs it.

[And he says it in such a normal, calm voice it may sound as if he was going to shake her flipper instead. But yeah, he means it.]

Who else are you taking along?

[ 'Punch her in the face' might be a weird thing to hear, but it makes Red curious more than anything, mouth pulling briefly in his own thought, but not settling enough to turn into a frown. ]

Rei, Usagi, and... Eikichi. Do you know them?

[..................Thinks.]

Not really, no. I think I've heard of Usagi [Because of all those various announcements and she talks a lot.] and was Eikichi the guy who did that friendship thing?

Friendship thing? [ Uhhh.... ] He works at the spa outside the city. Usagi runs a wedding business, and Rei...she doesn't do anything like that, but she's a priestess. We've worked a couple time on trips.

...That's an interesting group.

[Like the start of a bad joke—]

[ Is it? Red looks to the side, but then he's smiling with the more he thinks about it. Sure, it must sound strange. ]

Usagi wants to help the Arehtei and I know her and Rei pretty well, and I need non-aligned to come along as well for some checks I wanna make. But Rei knows how to keep her cool and use dunamis, Eikichi's some kind of trainer like me with creatures he can summon, and Usagi's been on the surface a few times and had successful trips.

[ Cheerfully: ] You can't know everything about a person just by their job, right?

[ You're getting invited to a potentially hazardous location by a kid anyway, Shizuo-- ]

[Of all the aligned to invite, Shizuo is like the worst pick.]

Hm. Yeah, guess that's true. [And another small pause, that frown returning.] And I am curious to see what her place was like...

[But he's frowning a bit because he's questioning if he'd really be good for this. For many reasons.]

You said you visit it? What for? [Like. Just VISIT or...dungeon diving or what he has no idea what to expect for these things, really.]

I haven't visit it yet, but the main reason I want to go is to see what the land is like. I went to Elios's last month with a group, and we saw plants were growing there, yet nothing grows in the land outside Shaarnath.

I want to compare all the lands connected to the Arehtei and see just how different they are. [ ... ] If you did come, it would help out if you took park in a small test I want to do, just to see how easy it is to make things grow emotionally, but if we find anything where we end up, I'm okay with checking it out!

[ He'd be more than okay, heck yeah he wants to explore. ]

[Hm...

...Hmmmm....]

Well... If you think it would really be okay for me to join. Since—you know. [Half shoulder shrug.] I'm gettin' better at it, but I do get pissed off easily. So if her place is bad then... I might be dangerous.

[At least he has the foresight to think about this.]

[ He's silent a moment, head tilting and his arms folding. Hmm. ]

To be honest...I wonder if her lands aren't some of the worst out there. Or close to it. [ Truthfully, he's been thinking about it a lot. ] But I want to go there anyway. If it's too bad, then we'll only stay for as long as we can, then leave.

But... [ His arms unfold. ] Thras knows what I'm doing. I can ask him if he can help with protection, and then Rei and me know how to use dunamis to keep off emotional effects for a good amount of time. We all just have to watch where we step or what we touch, and not go off on our own.

[ Especially what they touch, after everything in Thera. Oh boy. Red looks back behind his shoulder, speaking again. ]

I'm worried for my own reasons... but I won't let anyone be at risk on this trip, and I expect everyone to say if they don't feel they can stick around any longer than keep it to themselves. [ By now, he's looking straight at Shizuo. ]

If you promise to be honest about how you're feeling and if you need help, I'm fine with you coming. [ A beat. ] We're leaving on [ this day ], so you can think about it if you need to.

[...Whoa. This kid has really thought a lot about this. And that is definitely a determined look. A look that Shizuo can't help but feel some admiration and respect for, and that in turns actually helps him think less of his insecurities and more determined himself.

His expression becoming more resolute, he gives a nod.]

All right.

[That's. That's all he says. Is he saying "all right" to needing to think? "All right" that he's going?? "All right" to give himself his own reassurance!?]

--Eh? [ Well there goes that determined face, blinked away in a moment. ]

All right?

[Just another nod.]

I'll go along. After seeing how determined you are, wouldn't feel right if I chickened out because of my own problems.

[ Another blink, but this time his face grows into a more excited look. Not so much since it doesn't entirely matter whether the guy comes along or not, but hey. ]

Alright! [ A pause, and then-- ] We're gonna take your problems seriously, but I don't want you to miss out when we can cover it, if that's the only thing holding you back.

Yeah, don't worry. [...Okay.] Well, a little. But I'll be working hard on my end, too.

If anything I'll just punch myself out before it gets too bad.

[Would. That work. Would that really work, no one knows. But as incredulous as that sounds, he is sincere about it. And probably really would do that.]

[ Ah- ]

I have partners who can do it for you! How good are you at resisting psychic powers?

[ This is currently a conversation taking place. ]

Resisting what? Psychic powers?

...Like... With the crystal ball or something?

[Question marks. Actual question marks are popping up around him.]

[ He should totally be answering that question.

And he would be!! ...if not for those question marks. His mouth opens, ready to try and explain, but as they pop up and make his eyes flicker between them all and then go back, they first bring out a scoff.

And then giggling-- that turns into a laughter. Nothing coming from the belly up, but arceus do those look silly as heck. He rubs at the back of his neck, the porrings on the bench stirring from their nap. Red's trying his best to compose himself here, the air warming and an electricity flickering off his feet. ]

It's-- heheh there's no crystal ball! It's all power! No crystals or spoons!

[ he may explain better in the next tag ]

[...

Red, dude, Shizuo thinks you're an okay but why are you laughing.]

Was something funny about what I asked?

[Were this two, three years ago and in Ikebukuro, anyone who witnessed Red laughing at Shizuo would probably panic as surely the man wouldn't tolerate it and be instantly pissed off. As it is, however, Shizuo is just looking at Red still confused...but also not amused. Not mad just...not amused.]

[ His humour had already died down to small chuckles by then, but the amusement was still on his face as his brings his hands up close to around his own head. ]

I've never seen anyone make symbols appear around them like that! Didn't you see them? The ones for questions!

[ Are they all gone now? ]

[There might be one or two still around but most of them kind of darkened and broke when he turned "unamused." However, a few new ones are popping up, and with brows furrowing, Shizuo looks around and—]

...Oh. [.........Huh.] Never really noticed before.

They're fun. [ Fun, funny-- an odd clash against the seemingly cool guy that Shizuo is, but is that so bad? Not to Red!! ]

My friend makes sparkles appear when he's happy. Even love hearts! I don't do anything like that.

[ Behind him, one of the porrings is making noises-- the more goofy looking of the trio, with one shoving the other to hush down, a tough expression on his face afterwards. Don't say hi to Shizuo like a dummy!! ]

Oh, I think they remember you.

[ Maybe?? Or maybe they remember Mochi...! ]

[Shizuo is still kind of. Looking at those question marks and actually tempted to try and poke one—actually, he is. That is definitely a hand raised to see if he can poke it.

But he glances over to the porrings, and sure enough, when they make eye contact they kind of bounce around making both noises and shushing sounds.]

They probably remember Mochi. [Just gonna say it out loud since that's exactly what he's thinking. He'll walk over to give them some friendly pets, though.]

So what were you talking about psychic powers?

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