Post 24||
Post 26
Pyrite Town||Night "Owe me- What? No no, nothing like that. What an odd question. Hmm, how to explain it." Well, that was reassuring, at least. Though, Wes couldn't see how it was "an odd question". Then again, maybe this kid wasn't used to hunting down reprobates? That was likely, given how this kid conducted himself. But still. Wes hadn't made a big effort on keeping his shenanigans out of the public eye. Who the hell was this kid to know him, but not... you know,
him?"Remember that Shadow Pokemon bit I mentioned? If you even know what they are, well, that's why. I have to know how he purified them when he first took on Cipher because my way....my way isn't possible any more. If I can't find out how he did it something really bad is going to happen to a pokemon I care about. Please, if you do know him, could you take me to where he lived so I can check it out?"The long-winded explanation took Wes by surprise. Shadow pokemon? He shared a look with Whiskey, who seemed to be just as shocked as his trainer. Were they back? No, they... they couldn't be. That was completely impossible.
~How would Cipher even be operating?~ Whiskey reasoned in Wes' mind. He couldn't reply without tipping the others off that they were communicating, so Wes simply let Whiskey talk in his head.
~Why would they even bother with Shadows if they were behind the plague? That's why they kept you chained in Indigo Plateau, right? Because Cipher had something to do with the epidemic? If not, this has to be a trap. No, I don't know what the trap would be for, but it has to be a trap. That's the only explanation I have.~Wes mulled on Whiskey's paranoia a moment, tilting his head to the side as he considered the stranger's words. "A pokemon he cared about"... The kid seemed genuine, however, and Wes couldn't shake that. Maybe the kid was wrong and it was just a slow infection? Maybe he'd seen the Shadow stuff on the news as a kid and put it together that the Infection looked a lot like the aggression Shadow pokemon displayed? Who knew. All that mattered was that Wes' Gut told him to trust the weirdo and Wes' Gut was usually right.
His contemplative frown was quickly erased by a broad, welcoming grin. Wes strode forward, slinging the gun to his back and held out a hand for the ginger to shake once he got close enough to the other man. Whiskey flinched and said a few choice words in Wes' head, but the latter made no move to reply.
"Oh. Well in that case, hi, I'm Wes." The kid nearly lost his mind.
"Y-You're really him? Holy cow how did I not see that!? I've seen you so many times on tv I can't believe I didn't- Yes." Wes' own grin grew, happy to finally reveal himself.
Not like that, pervert. At least not yet. Plus, you know, the endearing adoration was certainly a plus.
"To be fair, I'm not wearing anything remotely close to what I used to. Anyway, sorry for all the caution. Can't be too careful, you know. But if you wanna talk shop, I suggest we get out of the street. Come on, let's head up to my place and we can talk there; I have some food and water and I gotta say I'm pretty fucking starved." ~I tell you that something doesn't sound right and is probably a trap and you waltz right in? Ass. Good to know my council means something to you.~Ignoring the ire of his Espeon, Wes continued to fill the stranger in as they ascended.
"There's some company up there too, if you don't mind. Somehow all of us just decided to come to Pyrite today, for whatever reason. Weird, right?" God, he was starving. He just wanted that terrible food. His stomach certainly agreed, its angry rumble loud enough for Phenac to hear.
"I guess it's okay? Haven't been around many people lately." Wes chuckled at the reply, occassionally glancing back at the ginger to make sure the labyrinth of debris hadn't deterred him. And you know, those legs were nice to look at, too.
"Not for much longer, I assure you." They were soon down in his hallway, where his bike blocked the majority of the space.
"We're here, though mind the bike? She's survived this long; I'd hate for her to go down to clumsiness.""Is that a CR500?" Genuinely surprised, Wes turned to stare at the guy a moment. What, was this kid a gearhead too?
"I've always wanted to ride one but never got the chance. When I was younger all I had was my scooter and that thing was a menace."Wes snorted at the image of the lanky ginger on a tiny scooter.
"I'm sorry," he chuckled, making his way past the bike and into his loft again. He turned as he entered, a bright grin plastered on his tanned face.
"Hey, sorry about taking so long-- all's well! Guy was looking for me, strangely enough." He stepped aside and gestured to the ginger before turning and going back to his seat and his neglected dinner. Man, he was hungry for some salty cardboard.
"Anyway this is... uh..." He tilted his head as he tried to dig up a name from their conversation and... came up empty.
"Holy shit, I didn't get your name. Super rude, I'm sorry."
"You're just hopeless, aren't you?" Justy looked to the other man, still in a bout of anxiety, but the softer tones in the other man's voice lent some stability to his frayed mind.
"Don't cry, okay? I don't handle other people crying well. I'm sorry I got upset but you were being very rude and I just...It's been a really long day. I didn't mean to snap at you like that, I could have handled it better. I'm sorry.""I didn't... I didn't mean to be rude, I...." He stared at his hands a moment, the tears occasionally falling on them as he contemplated the memories that bubbled up.
"I just wanted to help... I've always just wanted to help. But... I never..." When had any of his endeavors lately been fruitful? Oh sure, he could help out individual people in the beginning. But when it came down to the wire, when it really mattered, he could do nothing. Phenac fell three times under his watch... Three. Twice to the same people, even!
How could he have possibly thought he could do something right?
Another small sob struck him and his hands trembled under the weight of the rolling emotional tide.
"S-Sorry. I should just... shut up. I'll stop. Sorry." He hung his head, unwilling and unable to make eye contact with Dean. The man had been willing and gracious enough to share his roof and food and all Justy did was fuck it all up.
In the meantime, Asche noticed Phoe's silent gestures and quietly made his way past and away from the men to her, eager to be hidden away from the strange drama.
"Are they gonna be ok?" he whispered in a low voice, his body curling in like a cat's to reduce the space his otherwise large body used.
[[Permission given to manipulate Mike]]