i feel the love, and i feel it burn, down this river every turn

[oyashiromama]

[The trial, as usual, was taxing. It's for different reasons every week, but what it all comes down to is there are fewer of them than there were, and that keeps on happening. The note comes, as it always does, earlier than last week, but still with some delay. There's a note slipped under everyone's door. ...One under Gold's door because of course Silver will be staying there, she knows.]

Please come to the dining room, if you would like not to be alone. There will be food, and there will be some cards and board games if you need a distraction.

- Hanyuu & Elda

[True to that, there are a variety of foods. It's nothing too fancy. Rice, grilled fish, eggs in various styles. ...No creampuffs this time, it seems Hanyuu thought that would be a little in poor taste. Also a bunch of fries? ...Really spicy fries, like incredibly so.

On a far table, board games brought from the games room have been left out, along with many decks of cards.]

Comments

Room 29

[acherontiastyx]

[...well, he's gonna knock at least.

...

he doesn't really think... of opening the door at first, but he kind of tries it on a whim, and...

...oh.]

...

Uh. Hey. I got hot cocoa.

[firstaid]

[Another knock, another person she's not going to get up for. Yet they come in. She's not annoyed at all, just she's not good when she's like this with other people.

Though she does end up hearing Guzma's voice, and to be honest, she's a little surprised. So she does peek out from the covers.

Yeah, she looks awful.]

You... didn't have to do that. But thank you.

[She doesn't even attempt to smile and her voice is almost monotone as she sits up on the edge of her bed and reaches out for the cocoa.]

[acherontiastyx]

I mean, I don't have to do anything if I don't want to. In fact, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't want to, so don't think I felt obligated or anything.

[...he's not good at this. but...]

Well, I guess if you need anything, I can go get it for you. You know, as an entirely voluntary action.

[firstaid]

[She can tell he is trying, and truthfully, that's all that matters to her.]

Can... you stay with me for a little bit then, Guzma?

[She pats her bed next to her, or he can sit in the chair.]

[acherontiastyx]

...Yeah, sure. I'm not really good at this beyond shoving hot cocoa at people, but... yeah. I'll stick around.

[Well, she patted the bed, so to the bed he goes! He feels a little awkward, but. You know.]

...you wanna hang with my Pokemon, I guess. Ariados likes laps, though I keep hearing that giant spiders are a little intimidating for a lot of people.

[firstaid]

Thank you.

[Even if he's rough around the edges, Estelle has decided she rather likes him.]

And I would like that. I'm sure Ariados is a rather kind Pokemon. I've never had any sort of creature wish to sit in my lap before.

[Repede sure did.]

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, he's a big softie.

[He pulls a Pokeball off his belt and lets the Ariados out, who looks curiously up at both of them.]

Hey, Boris. Say hi to the lady.

[...WAVE A FORELEG...]

[firstaid]

[Having been forewarned that it's a spider like creature, she's not surprised when he comes out of his Pokeball. If anything she gives the Ariados a small smile and wave back.]

It's nice to meet you, Boris.

[acherontiastyx]

You wanna come up here, man? We're needing a little emotional support at the moment.

[...WELL HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE ASKED TWICE, he just kind of climbs right up on the bed next to the two of them.

...of course he parks himself in Guzma's lap first.]

...yeah, okay, it's a start.

[firstaid]

[Just watching the Ariados is enough for her right now. It's a good distraction and a more sincere smile actually comes to her face as a result.]

He really seems fond of you.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, well, we've been together for ages. I caught a lot of my Pokemon when I was a kid, so we're all pretty tight.

[firstaid]

Oh wow, so you've been together for quite some team. I think that's rather amazing.

[Says a girl who just started making friends, so... it's something she wishes she could have done. Say she was with someone since she was a child.]

[acherontiastyx]

It's not really rare where I'm from, but it is nice. You never really feel that lonely, I guess, unless some piece of garbage takes them all and shoves them in a vending machine.

[firstaid]

[Yeah, that doesn't exactly sound so great.

While he's speaking, she'll try to move her hand to pet the Ariados because maybe spider creates like to be pet.]

It seems rather shameless that someone would take away your friends like that and do that to them.

[acherontiastyx]

[...Boris moves a little closer to Estelle expectantly because holy shit petting.]

Right? We're all real livid about it. The worst part is, we don't even know if he stuck 'em all in there or just a few.

[firstaid]

[Well, she won't say no to this. She'll pet him and is pretty thrilled that he allowed it? Yeah, the spider creature doesn't scare her at all. If anything, it seems like she's mellowed out some and it's really helping her.]

So you think you've been separated from some of your friends, then? Or perhaps they're safe at home...

[acherontiastyx]

[everyone is happy here. except not really. but they're trying.]

I'm gonna be honest. I think the Wordsmith just like. Has our extra Pokeballs on his desk to laugh over every so often.

[firstaid]

That... that's awful if he's doing that.

[Yeah, they are just... trying to do what they can, aren't they?]

I... wouldn't be surprised if he was doing that, either.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, it would be literally the least surprising thing in the world. It really sucks because if that's the case then he has my oldest Pokemon with him, and I...

[...]

Well, he ties everything together.

[firstaid]

Yeah, it does. He's the one... doing this to all of us.

[Making everyone feel... awful. One way or another.]

[acherontiastyx]

Oh. Uh. I was talking about my Golisopod. He brings all of us together as a team.

[firstaid]

[Oh... she completely misunderstood... That really only makes things worse.]

And the Wordsmith likely has it, doesn't he?

[Like keeping him as a way to bring down morale.]

[acherontiastyx]

I'd be really surprised if he didn't, since all of them should've been on me.

[firstaid]

I hope you can get them back then.

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah. So do I.

...I'm mostly just worried what'll happen to 'em if we all get taken out.