Um. Someone - [probably one of the more perceptive NPC Cheri Berries, though who knows!] - mentioned to me that you miss grooming with other cats...?
I can try, if you'd like...?
[Siffrin feels very awkward and unsure about offering this, and even they can tell that's going to transfer over the pearl. As such they are... making a serious effort to convey their feelings that it isn't about Firepaw, or even about the tongue-grooming! They're pretty used to it by now, despite being kind of a mess last month. (It has everything to do with their Physical Contact Issues but they are absolutely not thinking that.)]
[It's the first message he's received privately, so he gets jump-scared by it. Just a little, but for a cat that's enough to make him fly up onto his feet.
It takes him a second to calm down, and actually listen to the message, but his ears perk up immediately.]
I thought you'd never ask! [Wait, be cool. He clears his throat.] I mean, yeah, it's... well, in ThunderClan we groom each other after meals. Everyone curls up in groups, and wash each others faces - we call it sharing tongues. I... figured that you and Ren would find it weird since you aren't cats.
[But he's buzzing with excitement, which is coming through the Grumpearl connection in waves.]
...maybe a little? But there were plenty of human things I found weird too. [They're thinking about all the traveling they did, and they're not bothering to hide it - but without context, it's probably just faint flashes of Humans Doing Stuff to Firepaw. The memories are pretty faded at this point, anyway - they feel years old.]
[The gist of the feeling seems to be: Siffrin's more used to finding things a bit weird than not. It hasn't always meant something was bad.]
And I'm cat-shaped now. So. [So wouldn't this actually be more normal? They think.]
[Firepaw, in fact, can't really make heads or tails out of Siffrin's memories. But it does stand out to him that their old party seems to spend a lot of time outdoors, which is very different from the humans he's used to.]
Then, maybe we should go get something to eat, and we can share tongues afterward. [He pauses.] How do you feel about fresh-kill?
[He's aware that not everyone wants to eat dead animals, although a surprising amount of folk are fine with Firepaw himself doing it. He's absolutely willing to switch gears and get them something cooked, though.]
[They sure did! As did Siffrin solo - some of the memories coming to mind are from before the party, and there's a lot more being outdoors or on the move than being indoors. Not a single one of these older, fuzzier memories appears to be in the same place.]
[Hmm. They've honestly been trying not to think about it very much - Firepaw and Laios hunting, and their Cheri Berry rations definitely having some kind of meat since they're at least partially a carnivore, and all of it. It's not like they had objections to eating meat or hunting before Bottlecap Bay - they wouldn't have made it to adulthood if they weren't willing to hunt. But... it feels different when you know that whatever you're eating is as smart as you...? Even if predation is clearly normal here, and there just seems to be a truce within Bottlecap Bay itself...]
[Maybe seafood is still fine. They haven't talked to any fish yet. Or seen any in town. Because they wouldn't be on land but let's just not think about that.] I can try to catch a fish...?
[They seem to be assuming Firepaw's asking if they're also okay with hunting. Yes they'd probably be in RiverClan; they also like swimming. Sorry Firepaw.]
[...what, really? Siffrin isn't offended, as such - not everyone likes seafood, and fish markets have a distinctive smell even for a human nose. But Firepaw gets back an (equally accidental) baffled vibe of, 'What cat doesn't like fish?']
[But hey, they've got no problem with malasadas! Sounds a lot less stressful. Even though now they're wondering if Firepaw might like some kind of non-fish seafood more, if they get him to try it...]
[Whenever Firepaw shows up, he's holding a bag with a few malasadas in it, a bottle of water and a bowl. He... usually doesn't actually have a plan for opening those bottles, but he trusts the ex-humans to have a better sense of how to get the water out. He tries to speak around the bag straps, but all that comes out is some awkward mumbling before he gives up and drops it.]
If there's one thing from here I wish I had back home, it's bags...
They're pretty handy, aren't they? [Especially when you don't have hands. Heh heh. Stealth pun...]
[Siffrin picked a spot to wait where they'd be easy to spot, but they weren't sure whether "sharing tongues" was a thing Firepaw would want privacy for or not, so they erred on the side of yes. They bite down on the bag straps and lead the way with their tail determinedly perked upward. (Their mood isn't truly improved quite that much... but they're making an Effort!)]
[It takes a few hops up buildings and roofs, but they're not expecting Firepaw to have any trouble. The spot they lead him to is a tiny rooftop, surrounded on three sides by slightly taller buildings. The "walls" have plants growing up the sides; the result feels like an enclosed alcove, albeit with open air instead of a ceiling.]
[Siffrin found it at some point, early on, and thought it would be a good spot for napping in the sun if they didn't want to head all the way back to the Canopy... not that they've ended up doing much napping. But now they're sharing it with Firepaw! They sit, looking at him for approval.]
[Unfortunately for Siffrin, the pun goes completely over his head. Oops.
This is a very cozy spot - Firepaw wouldn't have cared about privacy, but he does think a nice view is an important factor for a good grooming session. He immediately sits down and curls his tail around his paws, staying upright just so he can work on pulling out their malasadas and awkwardly figuring out a way to get water into the bowl. He... might need help with that part.]
It's really beautiful here... and warm.
did I go on a wikipedia spiral trying to figure out how they'd probably be sealing bottles? maybe
[Firepaw likes it! Siffrin flips their tail, pleased.] Nice place for a nap too, right?
[The smell of malasadas starts to spread, and Siffrin's whiskers twitch. But, seeing Firepaw start to struggle with the glass bottle and bowl, they bap the bottle over to themself.]
[They don't have thumbs any more than Firepaw does, but they are more familiar with dealing with bottles. If they just wedge it over the bowl, and... they pause, tilting their head to each side to make sure the bottle is positioned right, what with their lack of depth perception.]
[Okay, there. They clamp it in place between their paws and worry the cork free with their teeth, letting the water start pouring out.]
tbh technus needs to invent squeezy bottles for them
[Firepaw gives Siffrin space to work, and watches them with open fascination. That's much smarter than whatever he was planning to do. (He didn't actually have a plan at all.)]
Bottles might actually be the one thing I'd want to bring home with me... usually we soak moss with water to bring it places, but then it tastes like moss.
[Or they can go out and drink out of puddles and streams, but that's not always possible.]
they'd have to be smartbottles since it's technus. a curse is unleashed upon pokekind...
[Mossy water... well, it doesn't sound like the worst thing. Siffrin's done more than their fair sure of drinking out of streams themself!]
[Hmmm. Through the cork stopper, their voice muffled, they ask:] Do humans... not use bottles, where you're from?
[If Firepaw says yes, they might honestly believe him. They have a really weird idea about what the humans from his home are like at this point...]
[But yes they are implying that the Clans should just steal some water bottles.]
[Siffrin nudges the bottle with their nose to tilt it down when the water stops flowing - they don't trust repositioning it with their paws. When it's empty, they roll it back into the bag, and drop the stopper in with it.]
Oh, they do! I think they do. But the cats don't have anything like that - they don't like touching anything that belongs to humans.
[Should he feel bad about how little he paid attention to his owners' lives, to the point where he can't remember if they kept water bottles in the house? Maybe.
He doesn't, though.
Now that they're all set up, though, he folds himself into a loaf and starts eating his malasada. Which means... the conversation might be dead for a little bit, since Firepaw has developed an aggressive sweet tooth since gaining the ability to taste sweetness.]
[Siffrin tucks themself into a slightly less natural-looking loaf, near Firepaw, but not quite touching him. They're still not great at initiating contact.]
[They're noticing, somehow, that Firepaw is saying "they" about the cats rather than "we." But it feels odd to bring that up...]
...why not? [Maybe it's too dangerous to take something human, especially with the weird monster-riding humans Firepaw has?]
[Whatever it is, for now they pull over their malasada with one paw and munch on it too; they don't seem in a rush for an answer. They're probably done sooner than Firepaw, just because of their size difference.]
[His own wording fully escapes his notice - but he's definitely been feeling more distant from his cathood, the longer he stays here. And even more so, feeling like it's disingenuous to talk about ThunderClan like he belonged there - he didn't know any of them nearly as well as he knows the Cheri members, and he's known Emporio, Dark Heart and Shoka much longer than he knew Graypaw and Ravenpaw.
He does hesitate at the question - although he covers it up with another bite of his food.]
Humans set traps for them - load them into monsters and bring them to the cutter, or... shelters. If a human caught one of them, they might never see their kin again.
[He hesitates.]
I never saw anything like that, but... it's what the older cats told me. They didn't like me talking about humans too much, though.
[No one liked feeling like he was regretting his decision to join - least of all Firepaw himself. He's spoken much more about his owners and their house here than he ever did in ThunderClan.]
[(No Siffrin does not realize what Firepaw is talking about.)]
That sounds like a good reason!
[Forget whatever horror story the cutter is, even just being separated from family against your will... but they wouldn't know anything about that, hahaha!]
[They chomp down on the remains of their malasada with a bit more vigor, finishing it off.]
Yeah... but we have bottles here, and we don't have to steal them. So that's good.
[Unfortunately, the effect his choice of wording had is sort of lost on him. (He barely remembers that it's supposed to called a vet.)
Food, though! He's just about finished with his malasada, and afterward he rearranges himself to press his side against Siffrin's. There is a pause, as though he's hoping to put a little distance between them and the terrifying topic of the cutter, but eventually he leans over to start grooming behind Siffrin's ear.]
[While they're not good at initiating, Siffrin is pretty good about having Firepaw press up against them now - they lean back in response, lightly.]
[The lick is a bit more of a startling feeling; their ear instantly flicks a few times. One of their front paws twitches, too, as if they've just barely stopped themselves from reaching up and bapping with it.]
[...]
[Hesitantly, they tilt their head down more to make it easier for Firepaw to reach. They are notably taller, after all.]
[They're just! Going to let Firepaw show them what to do first! Before they try anything themself!!]
[Something has had Firepaw in a mood lately. This much was obvious to Shoka right away, even before she had any inkling as to what that something could have been. Now, thanks to an accidental mental bleed with a certain Sunkern, she thinks she may have an idea—but instead of asking Firepaw outright what the problem was, she opted to first employ him as her partner in Shedinja-battling.
Looks to me like you really need to blow off some steam, she told him. And I could use the warm-up.
The Shedinja are relentless in their attack when she and Firepaw arrive at the Archives, but fortunately they both have plenty of super effective moves at their disposal. Despite her recent, extended stay at the Pokéclinic, Shoka is already back to being fighting fit, effortlessly darting about and wildly swinging her tail-stick, while Firepaw burns Shedinja right out of the sky left and right. Somehow, this is the first official quest they've taken on together, but the times they've sparred with each other have apparently paid off; they're in nearly perfect sync (and it definitely also helps that the Shedinja all drop immediately after taking a single hit).
Eventually, however, the two of them inevitably start to get worn out. With vast numbers on their side, the Shedinja manage to get more lucky strikes in the more time passes, leaving Shoka's Disguise broken and Firepaw's fur mussed. At some point, one Shedinja appears behind Firepaw while he's occupied with another and bowls him over with a surprise, critical-hit Shadow Claw.]
Firepaw—!
[Shoka avenges him in an instant by tearing the Shedinja down with Shadow Sneak, but the damage is done, and she's tired, too. It's about time they took a break and let the other teams pick up the slack while they recover. Positioning herself protectively before Firepaw, she draws herself up with a catlike hiss and brandishes her tail-stick, warding the Shedinja off just long enough for another team to swoop in and draw the insects' attention away.
With that done, she deflates and turns to Firepaw.]
Hey—you good? [She nudges close to him, simultaneously offering him support (if he needs it) and guiding him away from the fray.] C'mon. We're taking a breather.
[Firepaw had been just as excited to get some energy out - mostly because fighting the actual people he's upset with isn't productive, for anyone. It's going fantastically, right up until he gets hit with a Shadow Claw that he should have dodged.
He ends up leaning heavily on Shoka, although his hackles are still raised and the smell of burnt fur is leaking from his mouth. He definitely still wants to fight... but he does know when it's time for a break.]
I'm- [no, correction] -I'll be fine. A breather sounds good.
[Really, he's just going to flop down as soon as they're out of immediate danger. If nothing else, he needs to groom the spot where he got hit until it stops aching.]
[Once they've taken shelter and Shoka has double checked that none of the Shedinja were daring enough to follow them, Shoka turns her attention back onto Firepaw. Her disguise is sagging a little and there's a new rip in it that she'll have to sew back up, but when she searches the hollow of her false head, she finds the Oran berries she brought along for this exact purpose fortunately undamaged.
She fishes one out and offers it to Firepaw.]
Here—try to eat this. It'll help.
[That hit he took was nasty, but it still looks like fairly typical battle damage—hopefully nothing a healing item and some rest won't fix.]
And when you're done... Maybe you can tell me what's got you extra fired up today.
[It still takes him a moment to remember that her disguise head isn't actually part of her - so she's fine, even if it looks like her head is gravely injured. He slow-blinks gratefully, and takes the Oran berry to eat it. Not his favorite flavor, but at least it comes with the feeling of his pain leaving.
His fur does bristle, though, when Shoka speaks up. For once, he sinks into the moody expression that Littens are known for.]
I'm just... frustrated. [He pauses.] Do you think I'm gullible?
[From his tone, it sounds like this question has a correct answer.]
[She probably should just say no, because the thought of someone calling Firepaw that (or calling him anything, really) naturally rankles her. Instead, she gives it some thought before deciding:]
You are pretty trusting. But if you weren't, you might not've bothered with me, so I dunno if I'd say that's a bad thing...
[Or that he's too trusting... Though he definitely could be. As far as she knows, it's never backfired on him before (in fact, that accepting nature of his seems to have brought out the kinder sides in those around him, for the most part), but she's not sure if she'd call him the best judge of character.]
[This is actually a much better answer than he was hoping for. His shoulders relax a little.]
I think so? I don't know. Flowey and I... got in a fight on my birthday.
[Which he thought he did a good job hiding, but he was definitely quieter after Flowey left. And he never picked up the flower crown that got thrown on the ground.]
I don't remember exactly what he said. But he thought I was gullible because I like him, and I like Dark Heart. But I like all the newcomers- well, most of them.
[Since he and Bigby have been fighting very publicly, there's no point in pretending everyone likes him.]
On your birthday? Just when I thought that little bottom feeder couldn't stoop any lower...
[Her tone is irritated, offended for Firepaw's sake, but lacking any true bite.]
Flowey's... Well, he can be a total asshole. And a creep. [Her voice softens.] But I think... sometimes he just says stuff. Even when he doesn't really mean it. So you can't take what he says too seriously, when he gets like that. Whatever he told you, chances are he already feels bad about it.
[She can say that with confidence because she already knows that Flowey feels bad about it and has apparently been stewing in that regret for weeks. Even if she didn't, however, she would likely still be able to suspect as much, considering how her own encounters with Flowey have turned out (and also considering the ways in which she can relate to him herself).]
... What do you like about him? [A pause.] Or what did you like, before he went and blew it?
[Even with all of his frustration, he still tenses when Shoka calls Flowey a bottom feeder. It's... a fresh wound, and maybe he wouldn't care nearly as much if he hadn't been so excited to share a den with Flowey before all of this.
The rest of what he says does relax him again, though. He mulls it over for a moment, buying himself some time by grooming a paw that already looks fine.]
I'm not sure. He just... seemed like he wanted to help. And I liked talking to someone who wasn't a human.
[She technically wasn't human either before Bottlecap Bay, but her sensibilities (for the most part) certainly were.]
I know he wasn't lying about that part at least. Not being human before, I mean. As for him wanting to help... [Her own first impression of Flowey was tinged with cruelty right from the beginning, but at the root of it all were good intentions. She thinks, deep down—] Maybe that part was real, too. But I'm not sure it matters to him—whether he's actually trustworthy or not. He'll call you gullible just because he thinks he's not worth trusting... or even being liked.
[It's self-sabotage, keeping people at arm's length. Just saying stuff. She knows the tactic well.
She pauses there, seeming deep in thought... And then she shrugs.]
Or maybe I'm completely off base. I only just met the guy. [But the rains back in May made things strange, of course. By the end of their first meeting, it felt as if she'd known Flowey for years.] Just... try not to let what he said get too far under your skin, okay? If he does something screwed-up, that's on him, not you. And if you want me to kick his ass for you, just say the word.
[His shoulders relax a bit, although he wasn't aware he was holding tension there. That... does make a lot of sense, even if it's a world-view he can't really understand. Firepaw has always been sure of himself and convinced that he's trustworthy, and he can only imagine it would take a lot of hardship to end up any other way.
(He also fully doesn't understand not having a soul, but, y'know.)
His whiskers don't twitch, but there is some approximation of a wry smile on his features.]
I don't think we need to do that... and I can shred his pelt myself, if I have to.
[Or whatever he has. It's empty words, anyway, he isn't sure he could actually justify it to himself.]
Thank you for the offer, though. [Said with an affectionate head-butt, for once actually aimed at her real body.]
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Um. Someone - [probably one of the more perceptive NPC Cheri Berries, though who knows!] - mentioned to me that you miss grooming with other cats...?
I can try, if you'd like...?
[Siffrin feels very awkward and unsure about offering this, and even they can tell that's going to transfer over the pearl. As such they are... making a serious effort to convey their feelings that it isn't about Firepaw, or even about the tongue-grooming! They're pretty used to it by now, despite being kind of a mess last month. (It has everything to do with their Physical Contact Issues but they are absolutely not thinking that.)]
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It takes him a second to calm down, and actually listen to the message, but his ears perk up immediately.]
I thought you'd never ask! [Wait, be cool. He clears his throat.] I mean, yeah, it's... well, in ThunderClan we groom each other after meals. Everyone curls up in groups, and wash each others faces - we call it sharing tongues. I... figured that you and Ren would find it weird since you aren't cats.
[But he's buzzing with excitement, which is coming through the Grumpearl connection in waves.]
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[They can't say anything for Ren, but...]
...maybe a little? But there were plenty of human things I found weird too. [They're thinking about all the traveling they did, and they're not bothering to hide it - but without context, it's probably just faint flashes of Humans Doing Stuff to Firepaw. The memories are pretty faded at this point, anyway - they feel years old.]
[The gist of the feeling seems to be: Siffrin's more used to finding things a bit weird than not. It hasn't always meant something was bad.]
And I'm cat-shaped now. So. [So wouldn't this actually be more normal? They think.]
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Then, maybe we should go get something to eat, and we can share tongues afterward. [He pauses.] How do you feel about fresh-kill?
[He's aware that not everyone wants to eat dead animals, although a surprising amount of folk are fine with Firepaw himself doing it. He's absolutely willing to switch gears and get them something cooked, though.]
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[Hmm. They've honestly been trying not to think about it very much - Firepaw and Laios hunting, and their Cheri Berry rations definitely having some kind of meat since they're at least partially a carnivore, and all of it. It's not like they had objections to eating meat or hunting before Bottlecap Bay - they wouldn't have made it to adulthood if they weren't willing to hunt. But... it feels different when you know that whatever you're eating is as smart as you...? Even if predation is clearly normal here, and there just seems to be a truce within Bottlecap Bay itself...]
[Maybe seafood is still fine. They haven't talked to any fish yet. Or seen any in town.
Because they wouldn't be on land but let's just not think about that.] I can try to catch a fish...?[They seem to be assuming Firepaw's asking if they're also okay with hunting.
Yes they'd probably be in RiverClan; they also like swimming. Sorry Firepaw.]PAINFULLY LATE OOPS...
Let's... just get something from the market instead. Like malasadas.
[That feels like a safe compromise - no fish, and no dead sentient creatures. Just donuts and kitty cuddles.]
ME TOO /trying to catch up
[But hey, they've got no problem with malasadas! Sounds a lot less stressful. Even though now they're wondering if Firepaw might like some kind of non-fish seafood more, if they get him to try it...]
Sure. I'll meet you there?
holds ur hand...
[Whenever Firepaw shows up, he's holding a bag with a few malasadas in it, a bottle of water and a bowl. He... usually doesn't actually have a plan for opening those bottles, but he trusts the ex-humans to have a better sense of how to get the water out. He tries to speak around the bag straps, but all that comes out is some awkward mumbling before he gives up and drops it.]
If there's one thing from here I wish I had back home, it's bags...
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[Siffrin picked a spot to wait where they'd be easy to spot, but they weren't sure whether "sharing tongues" was a thing Firepaw would want privacy for or not, so they erred on the side of yes. They bite down on the bag straps and lead the way with their tail determinedly perked upward. (Their mood isn't truly improved quite that much... but they're making an Effort!)]
[It takes a few hops up buildings and roofs, but they're not expecting Firepaw to have any trouble. The spot they lead him to is a tiny rooftop, surrounded on three sides by slightly taller buildings. The "walls" have plants growing up the sides; the result feels like an enclosed alcove, albeit with open air instead of a ceiling.]
[Siffrin found it at some point, early on, and thought it would be a good spot for napping in the sun if they didn't want to head all the way back to the Canopy... not that they've ended up doing much napping. But now they're sharing it with Firepaw! They sit, looking at him for approval.]
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This is a very cozy spot - Firepaw wouldn't have cared about privacy, but he does think a nice view is an important factor for a good grooming session. He immediately sits down and curls his tail around his paws, staying upright just so he can work on pulling out their malasadas and awkwardly figuring out a way to get water into the bowl. He... might need help with that part.]
It's really beautiful here... and warm.
did I go on a wikipedia spiral trying to figure out how they'd probably be sealing bottles? maybe
[The smell of malasadas starts to spread, and Siffrin's whiskers twitch. But, seeing Firepaw start to struggle with the glass bottle and bowl, they bap the bottle over to themself.]
[They don't have thumbs any more than Firepaw does, but they are more familiar with dealing with bottles. If they just wedge it over the bowl, and... they pause, tilting their head to each side to make sure the bottle is positioned right, what with their lack of depth perception.]
[Okay, there. They clamp it in place between their paws and worry the cork free with their teeth, letting the water start pouring out.]
tbh technus needs to invent squeezy bottles for them
Bottles might actually be the one thing I'd want to bring home with me... usually we soak moss with water to bring it places, but then it tastes like moss.
[Or they can go out and drink out of puddles and streams, but that's not always possible.]
they'd have to be smartbottles since it's technus. a curse is unleashed upon pokekind...
[Hmmm. Through the cork stopper, their voice muffled, they ask:] Do humans... not use bottles, where you're from?
[If Firepaw says yes, they might honestly believe him. They have a really weird idea about what the humans from his home are like at this point...]
[
But yes they are implying that the Clans should just steal some water bottles.][Siffrin nudges the bottle with their nose to tilt it down when the water stops flowing - they don't trust repositioning it with their paws. When it's empty, they roll it back into the bag, and drop the stopper in with it.]
no subject
[Should he feel bad about how little he paid attention to his owners' lives, to the point where he can't remember if they kept water bottles in the house? Maybe.
He doesn't, though.
Now that they're all set up, though, he folds himself into a loaf and starts eating his malasada. Which means... the conversation might be dead for a little bit, since Firepaw has developed an aggressive sweet tooth since gaining the ability to taste sweetness.]
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[They're noticing, somehow, that Firepaw is saying "they" about the cats rather than "we." But it feels odd to bring that up...]
...why not? [Maybe it's too dangerous to take something human, especially with the weird monster-riding humans Firepaw has?]
[Whatever it is, for now they pull over their malasada with one paw and munch on it too; they don't seem in a rush for an answer. They're probably done sooner than Firepaw, just because of their size difference.]
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He does hesitate at the question - although he covers it up with another bite of his food.]
Humans set traps for them - load them into monsters and bring them to the cutter, or... shelters. If a human caught one of them, they might never see their kin again.
[He hesitates.]
I never saw anything like that, but... it's what the older cats told me. They didn't like me talking about humans too much, though.
[No one liked feeling like he was regretting his decision to join - least of all Firepaw himself. He's spoken much more about his owners and their house here than he ever did in ThunderClan.]
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[(No Siffrin does not realize what Firepaw is talking about.)]
That sounds like a good reason!
[Forget whatever horror story the cutter is, even just being separated from family against your will... but they wouldn't know anything about that, hahaha!]
[They chomp down on the remains of their malasada with a bit more vigor, finishing it off.]
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[Unfortunately, the effect his choice of wording had is sort of lost on him. (He barely remembers that it's supposed to called a vet.)
Food, though! He's just about finished with his malasada, and afterward he rearranges himself to press his side against Siffrin's. There is a pause, as though he's hoping to put a little distance between them and the terrifying topic of the cutter, but eventually he leans over to start grooming behind Siffrin's ear.]
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[The lick is a bit more of a startling feeling; their ear instantly flicks a few times. One of their front paws twitches, too, as if they've just barely stopped themselves from reaching up and bapping with it.]
[...]
[Hesitantly, they tilt their head down more to make it easier for Firepaw to reach. They are notably taller, after all.]
[They're just! Going to let Firepaw show them what to do first! Before they try anything themself!!]
action
Looks to me like you really need to blow off some steam, she told him. And I could use the warm-up.
The Shedinja are relentless in their attack when she and Firepaw arrive at the Archives, but fortunately they both have plenty of super effective moves at their disposal. Despite her recent, extended stay at the Pokéclinic, Shoka is already back to being fighting fit, effortlessly darting about and wildly swinging her tail-stick, while Firepaw burns Shedinja right out of the sky left and right. Somehow, this is the first official quest they've taken on together, but the times they've sparred with each other have apparently paid off; they're in nearly perfect sync (and it definitely also helps that the Shedinja all drop immediately after taking a single hit).
Eventually, however, the two of them inevitably start to get worn out. With vast numbers on their side, the Shedinja manage to get more lucky strikes in the more time passes, leaving Shoka's Disguise broken and Firepaw's fur mussed. At some point, one Shedinja appears behind Firepaw while he's occupied with another and bowls him over with a surprise, critical-hit Shadow Claw.]
Firepaw—!
[Shoka avenges him in an instant by tearing the Shedinja down with Shadow Sneak, but the damage is done, and she's tired, too. It's about time they took a break and let the other teams pick up the slack while they recover. Positioning herself protectively before Firepaw, she draws herself up with a catlike hiss and brandishes her tail-stick, warding the Shedinja off just long enough for another team to swoop in and draw the insects' attention away.
With that done, she deflates and turns to Firepaw.]
Hey—you good? [She nudges close to him, simultaneously offering him support (if he needs it) and guiding him away from the fray.] C'mon. We're taking a breather.
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He ends up leaning heavily on Shoka, although his hackles are still raised and the smell of burnt fur is leaking from his mouth. He definitely still wants to fight... but he does know when it's time for a break.]
I'm- [no, correction] -I'll be fine. A breather sounds good.
[Really, he's just going to flop down as soon as they're out of immediate danger. If nothing else, he needs to groom the spot where he got hit until it stops aching.]
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She fishes one out and offers it to Firepaw.]
Here—try to eat this. It'll help.
[That hit he took was nasty, but it still looks like fairly typical battle damage—hopefully nothing a healing item and some rest won't fix.]
And when you're done... Maybe you can tell me what's got you extra fired up today.
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His fur does bristle, though, when Shoka speaks up. For once, he sinks into the moody expression that Littens are known for.]
I'm just... frustrated. [He pauses.] Do you think I'm gullible?
[From his tone, it sounds like this question has a correct answer.]
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You are pretty trusting. But if you weren't, you might not've bothered with me, so I dunno if I'd say that's a bad thing...
[Or that he's too trusting... Though he definitely could be. As far as she knows, it's never backfired on him before (in fact, that accepting nature of his seems to have brought out the kinder sides in those around him, for the most part), but she's not sure if she'd call him the best judge of character.]
Why? Did you trust someone you shouldn't have?
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I think so? I don't know. Flowey and I... got in a fight on my birthday.
[Which he thought he did a good job hiding, but he was definitely quieter after Flowey left. And he never picked up the flower crown that got thrown on the ground.]
I don't remember exactly what he said. But he thought I was gullible because I like him, and I like Dark Heart. But I like all the newcomers- well, most of them.
[Since he and Bigby have been fighting very publicly, there's no point in pretending everyone likes him.]
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On your birthday? Just when I thought that little bottom feeder couldn't stoop any lower...
[Her tone is irritated, offended for Firepaw's sake, but lacking any true bite.]
Flowey's... Well, he can be a total asshole. And a creep. [Her voice softens.] But I think... sometimes he just says stuff. Even when he doesn't really mean it. So you can't take what he says too seriously, when he gets like that. Whatever he told you, chances are he already feels bad about it.
[She can say that with confidence because she already knows that Flowey feels bad about it and has apparently been stewing in that regret for weeks. Even if she didn't, however, she would likely still be able to suspect as much, considering how her own encounters with Flowey have turned out (and also considering the ways in which she can relate to him herself).]
... What do you like about him? [A pause.] Or what did you like, before he went and blew it?
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The rest of what he says does relax him again, though. He mulls it over for a moment, buying himself some time by grooming a paw that already looks fine.]
I'm not sure. He just... seemed like he wanted to help. And I liked talking to someone who wasn't a human.
[A pause.]
No offense.
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[She technically wasn't human either before Bottlecap Bay, but her sensibilities (for the most part) certainly were.]
I know he wasn't lying about that part at least. Not being human before, I mean. As for him wanting to help... [Her own first impression of Flowey was tinged with cruelty right from the beginning, but at the root of it all were good intentions. She thinks, deep down—] Maybe that part was real, too. But I'm not sure it matters to him—whether he's actually trustworthy or not. He'll call you gullible just because he thinks he's not worth trusting... or even being liked.
[It's self-sabotage, keeping people at arm's length. Just saying stuff. She knows the tactic well.
She pauses there, seeming deep in thought... And then she shrugs.]
Or maybe I'm completely off base. I only just met the guy. [But the rains back in May made things strange, of course. By the end of their first meeting, it felt as if she'd known Flowey for years.] Just... try not to let what he said get too far under your skin, okay? If he does something screwed-up, that's on him, not you. And if you want me to kick his ass for you, just say the word.
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(He also fully doesn't understand not having a soul, but, y'know.)
His whiskers don't twitch, but there is some approximation of a wry smile on his features.]
I don't think we need to do that... and I can shred his pelt myself, if I have to.
[Or whatever he has. It's empty words, anyway, he isn't sure he could actually justify it to himself.]
Thank you for the offer, though. [Said with an affectionate head-butt, for once actually aimed at her real body.]