feistytrader | empatheias IC CONTACT

[Pibu's so glad he's up here, especially when that ice starts to crack and steam really blows out, heat starting to wear at it. Gold's voice is pretty even though.]

Just because he hasn't doesn't mean he won't, you know that. And frankly speakin'? You a huge step above the damn creatures here, so I'm a liiittle more focused on that than what the rest of those bastards think.

[Not that he doesn't care about it -- he does, because that's wrong? Don't hurt things you don't understand? It's their land and stuff. -- but Silver's well-being is so much more important.]

Which is why I'm talking to you, [a jab,] about the psycho you talk to once in a while, who sounds like he oughta be taken care of before he does something you regret let happen just because he's "like everyone else"!

[And-- that's a small geyser burst behind him.]

I can take care of myself, Gold. I've been doing it for over a year, and I don't need your help now.

[The ice isn't stopping, but it's different; instead of sharp and jagged, it climbs its way up anything it can reach- possibly including Gold's shoes.]

If he does something, I'll take care of him, or you can do whatever you want. Until then, back off.

[Absolutely including Gold's shoes, until it's breaking off because he's stepping forward to grab Silver by the collar pretty damn roughly. The fair bit of ice is very quickly skipping the water part of its cycle entirely.]

You can forget about me backin' off, because I don't know if you've forgotten in the year you've been here but it's still pretty damn fresh in my mind that we're a team -- you, me, and Crys -- and that I'm gonna be in your business whether you want me to be or not!

[Because Silver's important to him, because he knows Silver gets in over his head and doesn't tell anyone because he doesn't want them getting hurt because he thinks it's his responsibility, because because because--]

I don't know what's happened you this past year. I've got a feelin' you wouldn't tell me all of it even if I had enough hours in the day to ask. But I am not lettin' you deal with shit alone.

You weren't there when I needed you.

[He's saying it, and he's saying it to hurt him, and he doesn't know why that's suddenly on top of our list of priorities today but it is; Gold wasn't here when Elios showed up or when Peromei put him through a crisis or when Sosyne drove him insane or when Ludger killed his Gyarados or for anything else, he wasn't here, he wasn't here and he should have been here because when they deal with things together everything is fine and they can conquer anything and they can face god but they weren't together and it's not fair.]

[It does its part in hurting him, but it's true; there's been a lot of other people who've been here for Silver instead. A year between them, between the memories that're fresh in Gold's mind and the millions more that don't include him in Silver's (that people like Ryuunosuke and White and whoever the hell else has made their home in that list of "important people" includes), and he pushes his friend away just in time for lava to crack its way between them, slow-moving and searingly hot even at a distance.]

You don't need anyone but yourself. Just like good ol' pops.

[That's-- wrong, on so many levels, because there's nothing alike between Giovanni and Silver, but it's out there and he's mad enough that he's not regretting it.]

[You know, despite the actual lava, the temperature around Silver just keeps dropping, and that ice keeps coming back to combat with it. The result is a hell of a lot of steam, and not a lot of anything good.]

Dad needed his entire organization, actually. A whole lot more than he needed me.

[Because if he's going to say he's like his dad he might as well be accurate about it.]

Not that that makes me any different from him. I need to have people around too. And I made my own family here.

[It's a little crazy, but it's his, it's his and no one else's and Milla is his family and Ludger is his family and Tsukiyama is his family and-]

But you wouldn't understand something like that, would you? You've always had a loving family. You've always had somewhere you belong that isn't Team Rocket.

[You know who's scared and who's stopping this?

Pibu.

You know what Pibu does best?

Deliver a huge amount of electricity to things. These things happen to be Gold and Silver right now, along with the steam and lava and ice and-- you get the idea, there's a big scorch mark from the Thunderbolt.]

[...God dammit that fucking hurt.

But it definitely gets Silver to slow his damn roll? There is nothing like a lot of electricity and pain to get you to shut the hell up.

...

What about you, Gold?]

[... Well, he's kind of used to being shocked -- Pibu does it enough -- but a bolt that strong is a stinger, especially since the Pichu was on him.

But yeah, it's enough stop his arguing at least, mostly because Gold's aware that Pichu hurt themselves when they do that kind of shit and he's gonna focus on his little friend rather than Silver for a long moment. Pibu's a little dizzy, but seems fine enough. Just needs some rest.]

... I'm sorry I wasn't here for you before.

[It's a little quieter than his usual bravado. Not quite sulky or griping, but he knows he's said shit he shouldn't have. It's a little stronger when he speaks again.]

But I am now. Let me stand with you, Silver. [...] Or at least talk to me, if you can still do that. Tell what's happened so I'm not hearin' it from someone else.

[He can't promise he won't want to still beat up whoever the hell's threatening his friend, but it's slightly more important that he's still in Silver's life somehow than locked out the way he feels.]

[...He's quiet for a moment, then moves away from the icy and lava filled mess they have going on in favor of standing next to Gold instead.]

It's not your fault you weren't around. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be holding that against you.

[He can't just blame those pangs of envy, either. He needs to knock it the hell off.]

I don't always make the best decisions, and I'm not good at letting people in, but I'll try to go to you if I really think there's a problem, or if I'm in over my head.

[Let's get that out of the way first; that's the real issue here, isn't it?]

What do you want to know? I'll tell you whatever you want.

[It is the real issue, and Gold rolls his shoulders, tucking Pibu back into his hoodie for a nice rest and tilting his head at Silver's words.

Well, fuck, what's he ask first? Something stupid and silly to lighten the mood? Dig in deep? Shoulder? Guy who blows stuff up?]

Dude, you're askin' me that after my brain was literally fried.

[#nailedit]

I'm not doing much better.

[Gold wasn't the only one that got fried. ...The one that got most intensely fried, maybe, but god damn.]

You can ask me anytime. It doesn't have to be now. There isn't much that I'd keep from you. [...] I trust you, and I know you'll look out for me.

[... Literal fire flowers, Silver. Flowers made of fire. They've got the general shape of Gracideas and they're helping to melt what ice there is, since the lava's cooling back down.]

Honestly? Not sure where to begin. I mean, a ton's happened, right? What's your best memory?

[Good one? Who knows. C'mon, he's dragging Silver away from the... mess... oh god, Milla's gonna kill them.]

Becauuuuse it might be your last, lookin' at this place.

[Hahaha ha Milla's totally going to kill them. Or ask what the hell happened, at least.]

When Milla and I first met, she didn't think you could reason with monsters. So I bet that I could calm one down without killing it, and if I won, she had to take care of feeding me for as long as I was here.

[Naturally, he won that bet.]

That bird should still be in the mountains, if you ever want to meet her. There was the time we took care of all the giant rock bugs, too. And the flower festival is always nice. You just missed it, but maybe we can go together next year.

[...Actual gracideas are starting to show up as well. Which is good, because... We're supposed to be appreciating, not giving Aiada more problems.]

["Teenage boy problems" will solve everything, probably.

Also of course he won. It's Silver!]

A flower festival? No thanks, sounds girly. I'll totally meet your bird friend though.

The flower festival is great. Just because you can't appreciate flowers doesn't mean that it's just for girls.

[.................. wait]

That's where you got your girlfriend! On second thought, I'll totally go with you next year, dude!

...I'd give you advice, but I've got no idea why she decided she likes me.

[So uh. Good luck getting a girlfriend, buddy.]

Maybe Crys will let you take her if you ask nicely.

[WELL

THAT SURE IS SOMETHING HE IS IGNORING.]

You never thought to ask?

...Not really. If she likes me, she likes me.

[Shrug--!]

[silver......... buddy........... he'd put an arm around your shoulder but his good arm is his right one and that would go onto your bad shoulder so they're a pair of fuckin winners today]

You can't be serious. Ask her! See what she says!

[Get fuckin embarrassed by it.]

...It's okay. I don't want to know.

[White would absolutely embarrass the shit out of him.]

Did you ever figure out where you're taking your date?

[She would. She would and she'd take the greatest pleasure in it..]

I think I'm gonna take her to the lake this weekend? Maybe, eh, by the docks. They're not that bad and if she ends up liking swimming then that'll be nice. I'm gonna buy some tea and cake for us.

[He's all confidence now but just wait until the day of.]

...Do you need money?

[Gold you just got here do you even have enough money for tea and cake-]

[HE HAS

SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY

BUT SOMETHING TELLS HIM HE'S GONNA BE PAYING MILLA IT.]

Could probably use a little. It's weird that you're the one who's got it between us.

[Seeing as he's the wealthy one between them, even if Crys is The Richest, probably.]

empatheias IC CONTACT

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