[AU]

[rivalappeared]

Good morning, every one! This is Green, one of your RA's. Just want to remind everyone going into the weekend to stay safe. I know some of you guys really like to party. Just be careful, okay? Also a reminder that if anyone needs anything, I'll be right here, as always. I know I'm not much help, but it is my job...


A-also! Squirt! Spear! What do you guys want for lunch today?


That applies to you too, Kerosene! What are you in the mood to eat today? I'll bring it right over!

Comments

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[He has to think about this one for a second.]

... My sister is very kind. Always looking to help. My parents are... really impressive. They're skilled.

[He feels sad talking about them. Something's pulling at him, demanding to stop. He has no idea why he wouldn't want to talk about his parents, so he ignores it.]

They expect a lot from me, so I try to make them proud. I don't know if I'm really the way they wanted me to turn out, but... I'll keep trying.

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

...I think you turned out pretty good.

You've got a really big heart, I mean. You're always doing nice things for people, and you remember my name and that I like spicy food and all that stuff. Your Pokemon are so happy to be yours... uh, not that I know them all that well. They seem happy about it, anyway. I don't know how humans raise their kids, but I think anybody would be happy to have a kid like that.

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[Green sets down his fork, giving Kerosene a weak smile.]

... Thank you, Kerosene.

[He seems to think for a moment, then makes a decision, taking his necklace off from around his neck.]

I mean, I think they are proud of me? I mean, sometimes...

[He opens the pendant, revealing it to be a locket. Inside there is a scrap of paper folded impossibly small.]

They wrote this note for me, right before they--

[Left. For the market. Right? He lets the sentence hang, he's not really sure how to end it for some reason. He unfolds the paper, and read the note aloud.]

Kids-- Going out. Keep the house clean. Don't cause any trouble. -Mom and Dad.

[He pauses, looking a little confused. He knew this was in his locket, but for some reason he couldn't remember when they had written the note.]

Uh, well, I mean Daisy and I are really good with keeping everything in order. I guess that's what they meant. I think it's a compliment if you think about it... I do get into trouble a lot though, 'cause I don't pay attention...

[Suddenly he didn't feel like eating. He folded the paper back up, slowly, still raking through his memories.]

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

[For some reason, he's quiet too. He can't quite see the significance behind a note that basically seems to amount to "brb, be good", but he feels like he's just witnessed something incredibly important, and... maybe a little sad? He feels a little sad, somehow. He fiddles with his fork, gnawing on the empty tines.]

Green... they really do love you. Even if you do get in trouble.

[Not that he even knows Green's parents at all. He just... really, really wants to let Green know he's loved.]

Re: [Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[He just sits there for a moment after he closes the necklace back up, letting Kerosene's words hang in the air. He looks at his own plate. He felt like... crying. Like wrapping his arms around the humanized Charmander and never letting go. He felt like... cleaning, oddly enough. He looks back up at Kerosene, gentle smile back on his face.]

Yeah... they do. No question. I should call them later.

[He swoops his plate up, heading back to the kitchen area.]

I guess my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

Lemme help you out, Green.

[Oh. Kerosene scarfs down what's left of his omlette and rises from the table, bringing his plate too.]

It's kind of funny how human families work, anyway. It's so different from the way we do it.

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[Green smiles as Kerosene walks up next to him, a bit glad to have the topic off his family.]

How do you do it?

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

Well... we don't ever meet our dads, and our mom's only supposed to let us stay with her for a week or so. We live with our brothers and sisters until we're ready to evolve, and then we're by ourselves for the rest of our lives.

...It's a bit different when you come from the lab, though. It's kind of embarrassing, so let's keep it between you and me, but I spent a lot of time with my mom even after I was a week old.

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

That's nice, though! Does she still live with my grandad? Or do you know?

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd hope so. She was his starter.

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[Green has to stop his movements at this.]

Wh- Your mom is that Charizard?! That's so cool! I've known her my whole life, obviously! Do you ever see her any more?

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

Not since Aiden picked me. I... do kind of miss her sometimes, but that's the way it's supposed to be, right? Charmanders wouldn't get strong if they never left the nest.

Re: [Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

That's true. I wouldn't want to tell you to go against the Charmander grain or anything, but maybe someday... I bet she'd be really proud of you.

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Maybe someday. Pallet Town and Fuchsia City aren't all that far away, if you think about it.

I'm... not so sure she'd be proud, though. I mean... all that time away from her, and I haven't changed at all.

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[Green finishes washing the plates, and puts them up on the drying rack.]

I mean... I guess I didn't know you when you were really little, but I think you're pretty great, so there's plenty to be proud of.

[Action]

[neverblazed.livejournal.com]

[There's a happy little twitch of the tail. Green thinks he's pretty great! It's not like it's the first time Green's complimented him, but just hearing that Green likes him always seems to get a warm, happy feeling going in his chest.]

Do you ever wish I was a Charizard?

[He's not quite sure where the question even came from, but he goes still as soon as it comes out, eyes on Green.

Really, his life was just a progression from one isolated place to another; his mother and Aiden were really the only ones he'd formed any bonds with before coming here. He'd always wanted to be a Charizard like his mother -- grow up into something strong and admirable. She probably didn't mind what road her hatchlings took, but... there was still a vague sense of having fallen short somehow. And Aiden... well, he'd always talked about Kerosene as a Charizard-to-be, not a Charmander.]

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[The question catches him off guard. He's actually a little confused of how off guard it caught him. The thought of Kerosene being a Charizard... hard to imagine, but for some reason, also...

He gives Kerosene a long look before responding, matter of fact.]

... Not if you don't.

[Action]

[notblazingyet.livejournal.com]

...Um...

[He didn't know how much the answer meant to him until he heard it. He let go of a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and looked away, struck by a sudden fit of shyness.

Kerosene's never really had a problem with doling out affection as a human, so he's not quite sure why he makes the switch back to his tiny little lizard-self. Whatever the reason for it, instead of a short kid, it's a knee-high Charmander wrapping his stubby little arms around Green's leg.

It's not much of a hug, but he figures that Green's long overdue for one.]

[Action]

[greenisaloser.livejournal.com]

[Green blinks at the little lizard now wrapping his tiny arms around his leg in one of the most adorable displays he's ever seen. Since he had just finished drying his hands off, he figured he could do Kerosene one better, and after a moment of consideration scoops the Charmander up into his arms, giving the Pokemon a proper hug.]

Thank you, Kerosene.