ϡ - Chapter FiftyThree; recovery [action|voice]

[folklorist]

[ Action ]

[ The draft had left everyone feeling disoriented and he was no exception. It might also have to do with the fact that his right wing was broken, along with his arm and a few ribs. His arm and ribs have healed quite a bit since then. The injuries now only light sprains that he wears a brace on his arm for. His wing, however, is taking much longer to heal and it's left him bed ridden for several days since the draft ended. Despite his general and easy return to almost full healthy Helios has been resting in the clinic for a few days. But today he's probably well enough to get up and have a short stroll around the village, maybe even play a little with Luminair and Maggir who are in Saori's care for the time being. Helios can be found at the bakery, library and then the clinic (when he's finally yelled at and dragged back there for being a bad patient) for most of the day. He looks better than he has been and he's not nearly as tired as he was, so overall he's making a pretty good recovery.

It's later into the evening when everything is winding down that he'll make a voice post over the network. ]

[ Voice ]

I know it-it's been rather rough on most of us these last few days. So I was w-wondering if anyone would like to do a potluck sort of endeavor at-at the welcome center? It could help us all wind down from the obvious thing. But, ah, it's-it's just a suggestion of course.

[ Because food makes everything better, right? ] Also if-if it's not too much trouble would anyone be willing to, ah, talk for a bit? It doesn't have to be about anything in particular, really. I-I've just been having a hard time sleeping lately- [ pain does that to you and of course the creeping sensations he gets when he dreams. Like he's being watched by something and it doesn't go away, it just never seems to go away.] -so perhaps I'll start off with a question. What's your favorite memory of home? It doesn't have to be one specific memory or event. I remember when I was little of going to the town near the castle and getting this fantastic ice cream from the ice cream parlor there. It was homemade, sweet and creamy, absolutely delicious; I haven't had ice cream that lived up to those standards yet. I've always tried to make it myself but it just never tasted quite like that type. [ Helios supposed that was a good thing. It would ruin the true artistry of the ice cream back home. ]

So if you want to talk, feel free to answer. Otherwise I hope you all have a good night.

Comments

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[pokeboy]

[ Red catches him just as he's about to leave, having been staying at the housecastletowerthing for some days with Saori's encouragement. Pikachu's on his shoulder, his other two pokémon safely in their balls. ]

Helios? Where are you going?

[ CAUGHT YOU SNEAKING OFF no he's just curious. ]

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[folklorist]

[ Luminair and Maggir are following Helios around too. The dragons will stop in place and look back at Red and Pikachu. They'll both reply in kind with chirps and happy tail wags. Helios will pause when he's halfway out the door though. ] Ah. I-I was just going to the bakery and to check on the-the library for awhile. Did you want to come along?

[ HE HAS BEEN CAUGHT. Don't tell Saori she would be displeased. ]

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[pokeboy]

[ Pikachu makes short chirp-like sounds in turn (pu-pu-pu-pu-pu-pu) to the two dragons. Red nods to the question though, walking up closer. ] Yeah.

[ it will be their secret!! (except Saori has tracking devices on them both doesn't she...) ]

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[folklorist]

[ That will definitely make the two of them smile their toothy dragon grins. Well if it can be called a smile. Maggir's looks more like a glare but her tail is wagging happily behind her.

Helios smiles back at the other. ] Good good! I could use some company. Where to first though? The library or the bakery. Let's not tell Saori about this either, hm? I-I'm supposed to be resting but I just get so...restless.

[ Even with the tracking devices he is trying to be sneaky, okay? Helios doesn't look too bad but there are signs of fatigue on his features. ]

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[pokeboy]

[ That's okay Maggir. Not all pokémon have the most friendly looking appearances to them either, despite whatever big softies they may be inside. Red puts on a smile at that. ]

Okay, I won't. But if you don't feel good, Saur can give you a ride. [ Ridin' around on a plant, how about that. ]

Um... what did you want to get from the bakery? If you wanted to bring something back, we could go to the bakery after.

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[folklorist]

I'd appreciate it. I think if I stop to rest every once in awhile I should be fine though. [ But you can always force him to ride on Saur if he's being difficult. Helios is a derp and thick headed that way! ]

Cookies. Donuts. Brownies. Maybe a cake or a pie or both. [ He'll count them off on his fingers as he lets everyone walk outside before closing and locking the door. ]

I'm not quite sure! I'm in the mood for everything, really. Sweets always tend to...cheer me up. So I thought maybe I should get a good amount.

[pokeboy]

[ He absolutely will! Or maybe he'll ask Snorlax for help. ]

So you want to eat the whole bakery? [ He smiles at that, humming an amused sound. ] I don't know if you'll make it to the library after all that.

[folklorist]

Something like that, yes. [ Helios laughs heartily at that. ] I'm probably pushing myself a bit too hard if a few sweets puts me out of commission though.

[ He'll chuckle as he continues to walk towards the town square. Luminair and Maggir on either side of him. ]

[pokeboy]

It didn't sound like a few sweets to me. [ Hmm! ] Have you got a stomach like Snorlax's?

[ No on can ever have a stomach like Snorlax but you know. ]

[folklorist]

[ Helios blinks and then laugh. ] Oh heavens no! I-I don't even know some dragons back home who have stomachs like Snorlax. But when it comes to sweets I just can't help myself! [ He smiles back at Red. ]

You can never have too many sweets.

[pokeboy]

[ Red chuckles a little himself. ] Do you think we should bring Saori anything back? We can say it's from me. [ Saying that though... ] But, she doesn't seem to eat a lot...

[folklorist]

I think she'd be appreciative if we did. [ Helios taps his chin thoughtfully. ] True, but we should bring her something just in case. She might get hungry later and decide she wants some.

[ Even if Saori is a goddess and doesn't need to eat. The gesture is kind enough to extend towards her. ]

[pokeboy]

Yeah. But you can pick what we get her, since you know her better than me. Do you know what she'll like best?

[folklorist]

Hm. Probably something like cheesecake. I do know she likes mine quite a bit, so, there is that. [ You could never go wrong with cheesecake. ]

[pokeboy]

Okay, cheesecake it is. [ Not like Red has any other better suggestions. Anyyywaay. ]

By the way, Helios... can I ask you a question -- about magic?

[folklorist]

[ Helios will look back at Red with an inquiring raise of his brow at that. ] Oh? Go right ahead. I'll definitely try to answer it as best I can.

[ Helios is the right person to ask about magic, usually. ]

[pokeboy]

[ He thinks for a moment, trying to decide where he wants to start, until he remembers the most important one that had come to it. ]

Do the... shift hunters know how to track it? [ He looks up at Helios. ] Like they can filial magic?

[folklorist]

[ That might cause Helios to stiffen a bit. He has a bad past with shift hunters, don't mind him. ] Ah, well, they can sense filial magic but I'm not sure if they can sense our native magics. I-I don't think they can from what I know of how shift hunters work. They seem to hone in on those who have filial magic though.

[pokeboy]

[ Shift hunters suck it's cool Helios. ]

So- when you used magic out there, they never came after you? [ Red just wants to clarify that, since Helios doesn't seem entirely certain. But it's important to Red. ]

[folklorist]

No. They still track you even if you don't tap into the filial's magic. I think they have a sense for anyone who has contacted the filial spirits. Or-or who know how to summon things, or are affected by a shift in general.

[pokeboy]

[ He takes that in, giving some thought to it. ]

... I started contacting Nala so I could heal my pokémon if we ever went out there, but I didn't know about the shift hunters being drawn to the spirits. But... Helios. [ his voice takes a more serious tone to it as his walking comes to a halt ] Can anybody learn your magic? Could I? If there's ever another fight, I want to be able to help them and other people.

[folklorist]

[ Oh dear Red. Helios looks a little worried with that information. It's not that he doesn't think Red capable of protecting himself and his pokemon but...shift hunters were terrifying. Even now he has nightmares sometimes where they surround him and rip his wings apart. The scars on his back are proof of how terrible they could be in a draft. To see someone like Red be exposed to that...it made him ill to even think about it. ]

I-I don't know. I could try to teach you? It didn't seem to work for my friend whose world had no magic whatsoever in it. But it...it might work for you? We could give it a shot if you'd like?

[pokeboy]

[ Red nods his head, sure and firm. ] Please. I need to try.

[ He didn't want to be the weak point in his team, unable to support them the most in a time when they needed it. He was going to learn to use a weapon from Saori, but - anything he could learn and use mattered. ]

I won't waste your time.

[folklorist]

[ Helios looks honestly conflicted about this. Red was young, so very young, and the damn Malnosso didn't care about that at all! It made him angry to think that someone like Red would have to learn how to fight, how to survive life or death situations. But...keeping him from learning wouldn't help either. ]

I-I know, I know. [ He'll sigh as he closes his eyes for a moment. Reluctantly he'll nod his head in agreement. ] Alright. I'll...teach you magic. It won't be easy, but I know you'll be able to do it. I have the utmost confidence in you.

[pokeboy]

[ To Red, it looks like worry for teaching him or wasting his time. If he couldn't learn the magic at all, that would pretty much be a waste for the both of them. But that he could contact the spirits and learn from them, he was hoping that it would something.

But when that approval comes, there's that relief that comes after the wait from a decision. ]

Thank you. We can start whenever you want.

[ Which for a hasty-hearted kid, he can't help but want it now now now, but he know that won't be the case. A thought does come to him though. ]

By the way, about the spirits -- do you think it's better if I don't contact them?