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 Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:30 pm
It had been nearly a week since the incident in Motterossa, and Ridley had struck out into the wilds of Zatao, not yet returned to the city, Katarina, and his apartment, nor the Rocket Base within the inhospitable desert, though he made no plans to make his way towards either one. He needed to think, and he needed to stay the hell out of dodge until the organisation cleaned up this latest mess and it was safe to show his face in decent society again. So the dark-haired Rocket kept to remote areas, known to only God and Pokemon.
He'd set out light, so he traveled light, breaching deep into the unexplored mountains to the west of Motterossa and the Seatence Valley over the course of the first few days, sitting astride Soulcrusher. The spotted Tauros might be bulky, much like his well-muscled trainer, but he was built to endure, and he didn't complain that he was put to so much work. He had excellent footing and a cool-headed temperament, unless he spooked or was attacked, and had never let Ridley down since his journey to the abandoned mines when they had met.
Thus Ridley passed his exile into unexplored lands with some measure of comfort and ease at the beginning. For although the terrain was not always perfect, Zatao was still a beautiful land. Setting eyes upon these places, where few people, if any, had come before, thrilled Ridley a little bit. He did not so much mind the solitude.
For Ridley was not entirely alone; he had Soulcrusher, of course, but one additional traveling companion that he had not set out with, and that was the Vaporeon. He'd finally managed to convince it to enter a Pokeball, and things had gotten easier after that. It was distrustful and nervous and shied at the slightest thing, but Ridley had been working with the abused creature, slowly regaining its trust. He had nothing else to do, but he also liked it, and thought it was a great shame that the Pokemon, which would probably a great asset in battle, was as of yet too damaged by what had happened to it to take commands or go willingly into battle.
So, he had determined its gender, somewhat awkwardly (male), and given it a name (Henri, which is what his favorite cousin growing up had been called), and kept it well-fed and happy, calling it out while he was camping or sometimes just traveling to keep him company. It had taken to sleeping on top of his sleeping roll, between his legs when he rested, and he was grateful for the extra Pokemon food he'd brought, since Henri seemed taken with it. It was the first adequate nutrition and tasty food it had been offered in its short, brutal life, and Ridley monitored its diet carefully as it returned to full health. It almost seemed a shame to the grunt that he'd have to return it when he reported in.
The Rocket was currently camping in the mountains, having chosen a largish clearing in a valley, near a source of running water and a set of natural hot springs, which suggested the existence of a nearby hotspot of vulcanism. But if there were any volcanoes, they were quiet ones, though he looked with suspicion at the mountain he slept in the shadow of, its cone-like shape belying the warm ocean of magma that it sat upon.
The forest in the area was lush, deciduous down in the valley, coniferous in the higher reaches, and he could tell that deeper in the range, the peaks would rise higher than the treeline could support softwoods. It was also absolutely teeming with Pokemon life. He had already stumbled upon a pack of marauding Poochyena, though they had departed when Soulcrusher's hooves and Ridley banging some pots and pans sent them on their way. This is what he'd always wanted to do as a boy growing up-- adventure across the land, search far and wide, camp out under the stars, cook outside over an open fire.
So he did all of those things and liberally, so that by the fifth day he had set up a veritable command station out there in the woods, with a sheltered area for sleeping and for fire, keeping his food tied up and hanging from a tree, which deterred all but some very persistent and hungry species, washed his clothes in the river and his body in the hot spring, and went about largely barefoot and half-naked. He did not, however, stoop to the loincloth.
Today, he set out with Henri walking beside him, having let Soulcrusher out on a field lower in the valley, letting him graze and just be a Pokemon for a while. He was heading back now, the noontime sun arcing high overhead, carrying a number of edible berries and fruits in a large makeshift rucksack over his shoulder, naked from the waist up, sweaty. There were a few days of growth along his jaw, left unchecked, though no more than stubble in most places. He'd gone from scruffy cowboy to clean-shaven youth to lumberjack in little more than a week.
Ridley was sharing the berries with Henri, one at a time, and making jokes with the stubborn little Vaporeon, but his mind was miles and miles away, reaching back into Motterossa, the Trotting Turtwig Inn, into bakeries and restaurants in Katarina, in certain bedrooms under sweaty sheets, where he'd really longed to be the entire goddamn time.
"Well, I ******** that one up, didn't I, Henri?" he sighed to the Vaporeon. The Eeveelution made a little crooning noise and looked up at him as it munched on a berry, waiting for the next one to come. He tossed it, without looking, into the Pokemon's mouth as he began to chew another. Liam was probably a thousand miles away from here by now. s**t.
Well, at least he still had that cask of beer left.
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:09 pm
It had been nearly a week since the incident in Motterossa, and Liam had not yet left the tiny, sparsely populated town, making no efforts to meander his way back to Katarina. The majority of the other trainers had left, most by way of the Pokemon Express caravan, some individually as they lost interest in the woods and it's peaceful, simple culture, until all that was left was a handful of them remaining. It didn't seem to be a problem -- the people of Motterossa were exceptionally pleasant about their presence, even before the ordeal. Since their effective rescue, they had become even more hospitable from before, offering them free rooms at the Trotting Turtwig and complimentary meals, telling them they could stay as long as they pleased. As they had seen on their trip into the mountains, there were plenty of pokemon for aspiring trainers, and the those lingering responded enthusiastically to the opportunity, their morale boosted and their attention drawn away from the injuries that kept some of them from leaving.
As for Liam... well... his behavior could most accurately be described as sulking. The drug-like, infectious calm from the Lucario had slowly worn off over the days following the Rocket's attack, and the pink-haired healer had become more and more restless, and more surly because of it. Ridley's departure had not helped the matter much. As reality began to set in, so had the ache that reminded him that the ebony-haired youth was not there, and likely would not be for quite some time, if ever. It had been hard the first time, despite how short their meeting had been and how flippant he had acted. The second time it was just as hard, if not worse. It had only been the blue canine pokemon's mysterious effects that had kept the latest ordeal from ending on bad terms, something he was reluctantly (and extremely) grateful for, but did not seem to soften the blow.
Especially since the healer knew Ridley wouldn't go into town. He wouldn't risk being caught. Even if he was hurt. Even if...
'Must you sulk?'
The deep, arrogant voice brought Liam back from his reverie, pale blue eyes snapping to the form that lay curled up regally on his bed. They immediately found purchase on the deep crimson ones staring back at him, unamusement and disinterest lingering within it's gaze, and the healer scowled a little. Restlessness had not helped his surly attitude, and neither had the Lucario's presence. The pokemon didn't deign to lift his head, unmoving from where he lay.
'You've been at it for days.'
"Yes, well, at least I don't try to destroy all humanity when I do it," he responded testily, pouting a little. The Lucario responded with a sharp narrowing of his eyes, and Liam felt a tiny bit of regret that he had said that, glancing away and pulling strands of his pink bangs out from beneath the white bandages around his head to evade the stare. A few days after waking from the pokemon center, the healer had stirred from his bed in the Trotting Turtwig (the same bed, in fact) to find the those same sharp eyes staring at him from across the room, the canine sitting ramrod straight by the door. He hadn't stayed long, leaving as soon as the healer had awoken fully, leaving Liam puzzled. The second day it happened again, and again the third, each time the Lucario staying longer than the day before, until he had just taken to sleeping there in his room and, since the day before, offering his own opinions.
'If you're that distraught, get up and find him.'
Liam rolled his eyes from where he sat slumped in a recliner, looking no more pacified by that comment than he had been by the first comment.
"Easier said than done."
'Not really.'
"Oh, so you think YOU could find him?"
Liam's voice rose a bit, and he leaned up from where he sat in one of the reclining chairs in the room, resting his forearms on his knees. The blue pokemon gave him a deadpan look in response, burying his nose under his tail dismissively.
'I can.'
"... will you?"
'... If I must.'
~~~
'Watch your step.'
Liam heeded the pokemon's warning, stepping over the rock he had just about put his foot on, knocking it with his toe and watching it roll away easily, making a face. He couldn't deny it -- the pokemon seemed to know exactly where to go.
It was hard to tell how long it had been since they had started walking, the Lucario leading at a pace that Liam could keep up with, Liam following much less gracefully behind. The path had been a long and tough one, but for the most part they had kept a relatively straight line as they moved, changing course only to avoid streams and rivers that would be troublesome. It had been two days since they had set out from the Trotting Turtwig, sleeping where ever they grew weary, every step taking them further and further away from what little civilization Motterossa had provided.
The canine pokemon didn't have to ask whether or not he had wanted to go back.
It was movement up ahead of them that caused first the canine, then the healer to pause, both sets of eyes settling on the form just a few feet away. Unbidden, Liam's muscles tensed, a jolt of adrenaline washing through him, and for a second he stayed quiet, wondering not for the first time if perhaps they shouldn't have done this.
Well, too late now.
"...Ridley?"
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:22 pm
Ridley heard his name called, but he didn't quite believe he had. He paused nevertheless, peering intently ahead, confused. Was his mind playing tricks on him? Perhaps he was not truly strong enough to survive isolation from other human beings. He had only been out here a few days, though. He'd had longer periods of time spent in solitude.
His second indication was the Vaporeon, whose fins were flared open, its eyes wide as well. It was standing stock-still, looking nervously into the forest ahead. Henri had paused when Ridley did, but now he whimpered and cowered behind Ridley's legs. The Rocket glanced down at him, frowning.
"What's gotten into you?" he asked it, furrowing his brow. Then he felt it, distantly. The vaguely familiar, powerful psychic presence of that legendary Pokemon. The Lucario. It might be nearby, if Henri's state was any indication. Ridley swallowed, looking ahead again, and started forward, each step marked by great trepidation and caution. He still remembered the destruction the legendary creature had wrought, and indeed had not fully healed from his own injuries. Why it would have followed him out here, he had no earthly clue. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"Hello?" he called, his voice deep and loud, controlled and without fear, as he scanned the brush and the further side of the nearby mountain. The truth was that he was a bit afraid. After all, besides his hunting knife and smoke bombs he'd ripped off during the attack on the trainers, he really didn't have any weapons among his myriad supplies. Nothing that could repell a sufficiently angry and powerful legendary Pokemon, anyway. "Is someone out there?"
s**t man. He didn't want to be secluded in the mountains with some crazy violent wild Pokemon. He had considered the possibility, but was hoping anything in these mountains would amount to no more than an angry, hungry wild Ursaring back in neighboring Johto. Zatao, however, was a different animal. And Pokemon were always unpredictable. Ridley looked back at Vaporeon, which had followed him from his spot and was peering nervously around his bare feet, its fins lowered, head slightly raised. It was not so much afraid as wary anymore. More than Ridley could say for himself!
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:39 pm
The Lucario, too, seemed to know more of what was going on than Liam did. Crouching down a little, the blue canine bared its teeth a little in that direction, a soft, low growl emitted from deep within its throat, audible in the quiet of the forest. If there had been any pokemon around, they didn't make themselves known now -- in fact, the healer had seen a surprising lack of pokemon since the time they had set out. He knew it couldn't have been the Lucario itself, at least not unconsciously -- it had met Chai, on one of the visits from Lumina, and the eevee had seemed fine around the legendary dog-like creature.
Then again, he wasn't wondering too hard about it. Not now.
Liam sucked in a slow breath at the sound of Ridley's voice, both relief and more anxiety flooding through him, churning his stomach a little. If he hadn't been sure before that the movement had been his missing friend, he was definitely sure now, and he felt that restlessness increase ten-fold. The first sight of the Rocket coming through the trees prompted the pink-haired healer forward, moving past the Lucario as it stood as equally distrustful as the Vaporeon, Liam's stride faster than it had before. He stopped only after he was directly in front of him, wasting no time in grabbing the front of his pants, using them as leverage to jerk him forward roughly...
...upon which he promptly connected fist to jaw.
'Smooth.'
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:51 pm
Ridley squinted, spotting something pink. Oh, but it wasn't just pink. It was Joy pink. Liam. The Rocket pushed through the trees, disbelieving as he came upon Liam, the healer coming right up to him and grabbing his pants. He blinked, surprised as Liam pulled him in closer. The last thing he saw was that fist headed towards his jaw, the healer having moved too quickly for him to react or dodge, and he felt the blow connect, his head snapping to the side, stumbling back a few steps and catching himself against a tree, reaching up to gingerly cup his jaw, staring at Liam in a mixture of pain and amazement. Even more surprising was the sound of that voice echoing in his head, though he realized it was directed at Liam, and he stared at the Lucario.
Holy ******** felt his jaw, wincing a little, and paused to turn his head to the side, pursing his lips and spitting out some blood before he pushed himself away from the tree. Although he knew he probably deserved that, he was pissed, and though the Lucario was still there, he felt the potential for violence simmering just under the surface. He wanted to ask him any number of things, he wanted to punch him back, and he almost did, coming at him and grabbing the front of his shirt. But he knew that the greater part of him was delighted to see him, though he strove to hide it for now.
His voice was low and tense as he spoke, not bringing up the Lucario for now. "Liam, what the ******** are you doing out here? You decided not to come with me," He eyed him hard, his fingers tightening on his shirt, the punch having reopened the slash on his cheek and his face was now oozing blood. His expression remained stern, though his eyes were searching the healer's, honestly wishing to know what had driven Liam out here with that Lucario, though he was not such a fool that he didn't already suspect the answer.
Slowly, he loosened his hold on the healer. "You came all the way out here to punch me in the face? That's a real d**k move."
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:10 am
Panting a little, Liam stared, watching Ridley stumble back to come to settle against a nearby tree, fists still clenched tightly enough to turn his knuckles white.
To be fair, he definitely hadn't thought that all the way through before he had done that. He hadn't been planned, that was for sure. He'd had two days to think of what he was going to do when he saw Ridley (and it had been a when -- Lucario was pretty convincing) but each time his mind had been blank when he had thought about it, the list of what he wanted to do quite long and the things he could realistically do remarkably short. But in the end, emotion had won out -- there mere sight of him had sent him into a tailspin, and all the rage that had been there before the attack, during the attack, had come back in an overwhelming flood.
Liam didn't miss the look Ridley had given the Lucario, and neither had the pokemon, the canine's eyes narrowing in warning. In many different ways, the healer felt almost relieved at how Ridley recovered quickly, not bothering to jerk back as he felt that fist tighten in his shirt, so easily shoving him around, lifting him a little so he had to stand straighter. His eyes met the other's unwavering, mirroring the Rocket's, fully expecting a violent response in return, and his teeth clenched a little tighter when it didn't come. Just like at the inn.
"I changed my ******** mind," he hissed back, grabbing the wrist at his neck to fling it off, his eyes shifting just a little to the cut he had reopened, not letting his eyes linger on it for too long. His expression tightened further at Ridley's jab, and it looked for a minute like he might just tell him to screw off.
Reaching forward again, this time his hand reached back to cup the back of his head, pulling the Rocket down to crush their lips together in a rough kiss.
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:34 am
Ridley saw Liam's jaw tighten when he didn't get the angry response he wanted. What was wrong with this man? He didn't understand him sometimes. It made him angry. And yet he was still so pleased to see him. He wanted to hug him and make him promise to at least spend a few days out here with him before he made him go back home, out of the elements. But instead Liam threw his hand off and the Rocket took a step back. He knew this mood. It was a dangerous one.
What he didn't expect, however, was for Liam to grab the back of his head and start to kiss him, his eyes wide as he did so, finding his mouth pressed tightly to Liam's pliant, eager one, but he didn't resist, answering it, just as hurt and lonely and angry and frustrated as Liam. He needed this as much as the healer did, and he didn't care if Henri and that terrifying as ******** Lucario were standing there. He kissed Liam well and thoroughly and his face was flushed when he pulled back for breath, his hands on Liam's waist where they had managed to settle themselves, and brushed his lips against the healer's kiss-swollen ones, squeezing him. Ridley was not gentle with him. He wanted more.
The grunt shoved Liam back against the tree he'd fallen against, kissing him again, his hands pawing at him, sliding over and under his clothes as he thrust a knee between his thighs, pinning him there, groaning against Liam's mouth as he grabbed his wrists, not wanting another punch to the face, though he doubted the healer was able to at that point. There was a certain amount of violence mingled with little tenderness in their meeting, playing an aggressive game of give-and-take, and even at this juncture Ridley would tease the healer to his limit before he took what he wanted from him. By the end, spent and sweaty and sticky, Ridley leaned over Liam, having coaxed him back to the camp, the long shadows of evening stretching their fingers across the clearing he had settled.
He was not entirely sure, but as far as he knew, there was no happier man in Zatao at that moment.
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:50 am
Liam consented to coming back to the camp with little effort on Ridley's part, much too exhausted to argue even if he had wanted to. There was no way that he could travel tonight -- even the short distance to the camp, the rocket had to lend the pink-haired youth a hand, the smaller body leaning heavily on Ridley's solid form. As it was, they almost didn't get a campfire up before the night had turned completely black, and the last reaches of twilight disappeared from the sky, stars just starting to glitter as he collapsed down by it.
"I can't believe you did this..." Liam murmured in amazement, his eyes drifting around him at the elaborate setup. It was much more detailed and functional than any of the campsites they had set up on the caravan, as well as much more permanent looking, and he felt the corner of his mouth tug downward a little in a frown, eyebrows furrowing together.
"... how long are you planning on staying here?"
A few feet away, the Lucario had settled easily a few feet away from the crackle of the fire, the orange glow just barely able to lick across his form. The canine pokemon had followed at a distance when they had made their way back to camp, saying no more than he had after that first punch -- he had disappeared soon after, into the recesses of the forest, returning only after they had sat resting at the base of the tree. Now, he didn't bother to look at the two, settling his tail over his nose, eyes closing.
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 1:00 am
Ridley looked up from Liam's face to look around his campsite. By now it had become banal to him, boring, everyday. He had survived survival training among the Rockets and he knew how to set up a permanent campsite. Liam's wonder amused him, and he propped himself up on one elbow, resting his chin in his palm and glancing back down at him when he asked him how long he was planning on staying. He looked away, sighing, his eyes falling on the shape of the sleeping Lucario. He had seen it return. It didn't seem to care about their presence one way or the other, unlike Henri.
"I don't know. Until it feels as though things have died down, I guess," Ridley shrugged, reaching over to stroke the Vaporeon. Though he could not share the sleeping roll with two sets of legs, to his chagrin, Henri was instead nesting in the bra that Ridley had tamed it with, and it purred when he stroked it.
The Rocket removed his hand from the Pokemon, returning it to his lap, leaning a little closer to the cheering campfire. The air was cooler up in the mountains, but in the dead heat of early summer it was pleasant, and he could almost pretend this was one of those camping trips he wished he'd been able to go on as a kid. He was happy, feeling buzzed, but he knew that Liam was concerned by the look on his face.
"I don't expect you to stay. I should be back in a few weeks, so if you head in in a few days it won't be so long," he looked back at Liam. "I'll come find you."
Ridley paused, frowning a little and looking into the tongues of flame licking at the dry wood they'd collected for the campfire. "That is.. if you want me to."
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