garbagechild | IC Contact

[Delivered directly to you by a friendly flying-type is a nicely wrapped package containing three very fluffy and warm sweaters!

Attached is a handwritten note:

Have a Merry Christmas! Stay warm, okay?
~Alphonse Elric]

_{[Wrath cannot read A SINGLE WORD so he legitimately has no idea who this is from-- only that the paper is pretty, and the things inside are SOFT AND WARM and he LIKES them.]

[Which is probably for the best, since if he knew they were from Al, he might have shredded them to pieces. But instead he's tying one around Mama's neck like a tiny cape and wrapping another around him like a blanket.]

[A+ GIFT CHOICES, ALPHONSE!]}

[Sometime in the afternoon, Wrath receives a card and a small box of inexpensive chocolate cream filled candies. The signature is a messy scrawl that probably says 'Jimmy'.]

_{[WRATH IS DELIGHTED! And immediately runs to his friend Ralph to find out what the card says!]}

Edited 2015-02-16 04:45 (UTC)

[It's more or less the middle of the night in the Goldenrod base. It's not exactly a time where most people are awake, unless they're doing guard duty or they're insomniacs.]

[For Micchy, it's the latter, though not by choice. He's managed to find a more secluded corner of the base, far away from prying eyes or ears, and he's curled up with his Vulpix and Ponyta. He'd curl up with his Absol, but she doesn't really like this kind of situation or know what to deal with it.]

[It's easy enough to overlook him, with just the flickering light of his Ponyta's mane to illuminate the group, but he's sniffling - and in this part of the base it echoes more than he'd like. He's also glaring at what appears to be an empty space in the air.]

... Stop it.

[Pause.]

I said go away!

[Another pause.]

Stop haunting me, dammit!

[His sharp tone echoes in the silence, but he doesn't seem to notice. He's too intent on whatever he's looking at.]

_{[Wrath doesn't exactly have any organized sleep structure. In fact, calling it a 'structure' at all is overly kind.]

[In any case, running around at night suits him just as easily as running around in the daytime, so he is in fact out and about, scuttling through the hallways to see what abandoned odds and ends he can find. That's when the sound of a sharp voice snapping at something catches his ear.]

[No one ever taught Wrath about curiosity and what it did to cats, so he doesn't hesitate at all before peeking around the corner at the huddled Micchy and his Pokemon, head tilted to the side inquisitively.]

[8(?????]}

[He doesn't really notice the small homunculus, but his Pokemon do. Hotaru the Vulpix wiggles out of Micchy's lap and wanders over towards Wrath, flicking her tail towards Micchy. Help him? She can't speak human...]

Stop it stop it stop it stop it...

[Micchy's voice is almost pleading. He just wants him to go away. He knows. He knows what he's done.]

_{[Wrath has seen one or two breakdowns in his time. He's also HAD a couple. But he's no closer to understanding them now than he was when he first clawed his way out of the Gate.]

[He also isn't the sort of person to whom it would even occur to pretend not to have seen anything and wander off, though, so by the time Hotaru's coming his way, he's already inched out from behind the corner and started to approach, swaying on his heels.]}

Stop what?

[The voice causes his head to jerk to the side, attention pulled away from... well, what he was looking at previously. He tries to ignore the voice that he hears and focus on Wrath instead. Hotaru walks beside him, tails down a bit in fear.]

... It's... it's complicated to explain.

[He's not sure if he can explain it, especially not to someone who's so young. Even if he does show flashes of something very unchildlike, it's hard to think of Wrath as anything but a child.]

_{[Wrath IS a child, when you get right down to it-- even taking his true nature into account, his existence has been brief and confusing. Even briefer than a normal boy of his physical maturity.]

[He draws up alongside the fellow Rocket, tipping his head the other way and looking around for what might have been bothering him.]}

Is someone being mean to you?

I don't see anybody.

... I know you don't. It's... do you know what a hallucination is?

[Hotaru noses at Wrath's legs. ... He smells funny. But baths are scary.]

[Yuko the Ponyta nuzzles against Micchy a little more, trying to comfort him. She doesn't know what to do...]

No.

_{[The answer comes matter-of-factly, as he bends down a little to awkwardly pat Hotaru. He's gotten the hang of petting Pokemon a little more than when he started, but he's still a bit clumsy.]}

What is it?

[Pettings! She nuzzles into his hand. Pettings are always good as long as fur isn't being pulled.]

It's when you see or hear something that's not really there. There's a lot of reasons why people have them, but they're not usually... good reasons.

[He strokes Yuko's side a bit, trying to think.]

I keep seeing and hearing my brother. But he's dead. I know he's dead. I... I killed him.

[His voice breaks a bit on the last sentence, and he tilts his head down. It's not something he's exactly proud of.]

_{[In all honesty, Wrath is probably one of the better people to tell things like this to when you're in the middle of an emotional breakdown. Because he doesn't look fazed at all.]

[His only question is an inquisitive chirp of--]}

Why?

Was he bad?

It's... it's hard to put it simply. But he was... standing in the way of what I thought was best to protect the people I thought were most important. I thought that his way was... was foolish. Was stupid. That he didn't think things through enough.

I wanted to be the one that people listened to. The one that saved people. I wanted... I wanted to be looked at as important not because of the family I was born in but because of what I did with that power.

_{[Whoa. That's a lot of words. Wrath's eyes... kind of glaze over after a moment, but he gets the general idea.]}

... Well, if you think you did the right thing, then what's wrong?

Stupid people get killed all the time.

... He wasn't stupid, though. Just in the way.

[He just has to ignore the voice in his ear. 'Are these the kinds of people you associate with now, Mitsuzane? I knew you hung around with street trash.' He glances to the side and huffs, turning his focus back on Wrath.]

He was smart and capable... but he was just wrong. But it's... I killed my own family. That's... wrong, isn't it?

[Is it? He can hear Redyue's voice, a memory rather than a hallucination, telling him about the first 'toys' she broke. ... But he's not her. He's human, not a monster twisted by the Forest.]

[... Isn't he?]

_{[... Micchy, honey... you are so barking up the wrong tree when it comes to asking the difference between right and wrong.]

[Which might occur to him when Wrath shrugs, almost nonchalantly.]}

I tried to kill the lady who was supposed to be my mommy.

I wasn't wrong.

Even SHE said I wasn't wrong.

So...

[Yeah he's. He's realizing that. Hotaru pads over to Micchy, who scoops her up.]

'Supposed to be'?

_{[Wrath doesn't normally like discussing Izumi. At all. But well, hey, if it makes Micchy stop being so sad!]

[Wrath plops down, pressing his bare feet together, and rocks back and forth a little as he talks.]}

I died before I was born, and she tried to bring me back.

But she didn't like what she got, so she left me in the Gate.

When I escaped, I found her and she brought me back to the place where it happened and put her hands around my neck. She was weak, though, so she gave up.

I was about to kill her when we were interrupted by some idiots and I had to leave.

She's not my mommy. Not my REAL one.

A real mommy doesn't abandon their baby.

If I see her again, I'll kill her for real!

_{[No, he wouldn't. He couldn't. But he doesn't realize that. Not yet.]}

[... Okay so. Wrath is some kind of zombie. This 'Gate' is... some other world? He can understand the other world part but he can't really say what counts as 'normal' given his... situation.]

... Wrath...

[He carefully reaches out and puts a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. Maybe... maybe he can't take back what he's done or who he's killed. But... Kouta would want him to help Wrath, wouldn't he? ... Probably. Kouta always saw the good in everyone.]

_{[Wrath doesn't shy away from the touch (as long as they're not the hurting kind of touches, he likes touch!) but he does cock his head questioningly again.]}

Yeah?

... I'm sorry that happened to you.

[Hotaru turns around and noses at Wrath again. Friend? Friend.]

_{[... That's probably the friendliest, most heartfelt thing that Micchy's said to Wrath since the kid got here. Not that Wrath has interpreted any of the older boy's behavior as particularly not-nice, but it's still, you know, different.]

[He blinks, reaching out clumsily to ruffle the Vulpix's fur with both hands again.]}

Why're you sorry?

It wasn't your fault.

No, but... when something bad happens to someone and you wish it didn't, that's something you say. Like, 'I'm sorry, I feel badly that I couldn't be there to help you'.

[He smiles very slightly, and gives Wrath's shoulder a gentle squeeze.]

[He's not even sure which persona he's showing right now and... he can't really bring himself to mind.]

... Oh!

_{[He... did not know that. Chalk up one for 'Things Wrath learned today'!]}

Okay.

What do you say, um, when somebody is sorry and feels badly about something?

_{[What Micchy tells him may or may not determine how Wrath handles any and all future interactions in which someone tells him 'Sorry'.]}

Well... it... depends how you feel about it.

[He is not ready for the responsibility of dealing with children but here he is.]

I feel nice.

'Cuz there wasn't anybody else who wanted to be there and help me.

... I'll help you. If you want me to.

[He's not really sure how to handle Wrath, but... he can't help but feel a little bad for him.]

['Those who own power and privilege have a duty they must fulfill. That's what noblesse oblige means. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty in order to do that.' That's what Takatora, the real Takatora, had said. Not this phantom. His brother, the real flesh and blood person who had practically raised him. Even if this wasn't on as big of a scale, even if Wrath was more like the 'street trash' his brother had once discarded as being frivolous and useless... small changes added up, didn't they?]

What do you mean? You already help me.

_{[By telling him in plain, simple English what was to be expected of him, by giving him advice and approval when he needed it... even if it had mostly been a front, Wrath doesn't know that.]}

... I'm not as good at it as my - ... as some other people I knew.

[Can he still call Kouta a friend when he killed him? He pushes that thought away as much as he can and carefully reaches to put an arm around Wrath's shoulders.]

But I'll try.

_{[Wrath beams. For the occasional glimpses of something sinister behind his wide blue eyes, his sharp-toothed smile sure does have a way of lighting up a room.]

[He's been fairly good about not physically clinging to anybody so far... but Micchy's careful initiation of something that could be construed as a hug pretty much makes any hesitation on Wrath's part fly out the window.]

[The boy promptly throws his arms around his fellow Rocket, squeezing him hard. Not painfully, but still tight.]

[He doesn't say anything, but... the hug probably speaks for itself.]}

[He's drawn away from hugs in recent years. The clingy affection of his youth had been replaced with careful planning and a hesitance to get close. But the feeling of Wrath's arms around him brings it back, and he gives the boy a gentle squeeze.]

It'll be okay. We both have new lives here, right? We can be whatever we want to be.

[It doesn't matter what he was in the past here. No one cares, no one really asks, and no one from home is here to tell him what he should be. So this really is a second chance - one he can use how he wants. There's no Inves here, so... maybe he can live a somewhat normal life. Or as normal as you can get in Team Rocket.]

Edited 2015-03-11 13:35 (UTC)

_{[Wrath spent eight years in a void of everything and nothing all at once, and never felt the touch of another human being until he wrestled his way out into the world. Hugs are great. He loves hugs. He wants all the hugs that he missed out on in those eight years.]}

Yeah!

We could be ANYTHING!

Anything we want!

Exactly. As long as you're careful about it, you can do whatever you want here.

[... More or less, but the justice system here is pretty lax. He should probably not be encouraging this kind of behavior, but... still.]

_{[Wrath nods.]}

I already got what I wanted, too.

I always wanted to be human, and here, I am.

_{[He wrinkles his nose thoughtfully for a second or two.]}

... It's not really what I expected it to be, though.

... Life usually isn't, I think. As far as I've seen.

Yeah.

Pretty much nothing's ever turned out like I expected it to.

But... here it's been pretty good.

_{[He pauses thoughtfully... then rests his head on Micchy's shoulder.]}

Yeah... pretty good.

[He just... rubs Wrath's back gently like Takatora used to do for him.]

I think... it's been pretty good for me here, too.

_{[Well, if Micchy thought at any point that Wrath was clingy already, he's sure in for a surprise. Because it's safe to say that the kid's gonna be Micchy's shadow EVEN MORE from this point on.]

[No one's embraced him like this since he got here-- nobody besides Mama, anyway.]

[The only PERSON he's used to receiving this kind of quiet affection from is Sloth. And he misses Sloth dearly.]}

D'you think maybe it can stay like that forever?

Stay good?

[It's hard for him to answer at first, because his instinct is to say 'no' - but who says that it can't be? He nods slightly, before he's finally able to move past the block in his throat.]

Yeah. Yeah, I think... maybe it can be. Or at least as close to it as we can get.

[It'll never be perfect. He can never take back what he did, he can't bring back the dead, and he can't exactly get past his own sins. But he can try to help other people. That's his duty... and more than that it's what he wants to do. At least with Wrath. At the very least, he'll do what he can.]

_{[Jack assumes Wrath is quite young so he foregoes the loopy script for block letters.]}

LITTLE MONSTER,

I must leave for now. I hope to see you again one day! Remember to dress warmly. Always say please and thank-you, and if you ever need a safe place to stay, knock on my door. It is the big black house on the north end of Goldenrod. Someone will let you in on my orders.

-A BIG MONSTER

_{[Ralph appears on Wrath's screen. He's holding up Hungry by the little knot at the top of his weird trash bag body. He's not happy.]}

Hey, kid, keep this thing on a leash, will ya? He just ate the only pair of shoes I have!

Oh!

_{[He'd been wondering where Hungry wandered off to.]}

You found him!

--I can't keep him on a leash, he needs his freedom.

I NEED MY SHOES.

Well... I guess we could cut him open, and get them back for you.

They're probably not digested yet.

_{[--???]

[!!!!!!!]}

What is WRONG with you, kid?

_{[It isn't often that Wrath does the hot and cold thing, but boy howdy when he does it, he does it.]}

Just--keep a better eye on 'em!

_{[Wrath simply blinks and tilts his head, looking remarkably like a little owl.]}

What?

I've seen him get cut open before. He was fine afterwards.

_{[BUT OKAY RALPH. WRATH JUST DOESN'T GET YOU SOMETIMES.]}

Are you gonna make me pay for your shoes?

_{[It's a threat that's been levied at him once or twice by other Rockets, usually as a preventative measure. He is not the most popular individual to hang out with in HQ.]}

_{[The wrecker's face fills the screen.]}

YES

_{[Wrath doesn't really look INTIMIDATED, just a little put-out. He has quickly learned that money goes away very quickly and that they don't really get a whole lot of it. 8[ Awh.]}

Oh... okay.

I already spent mine this week on pudding cups. Do you want some pudding cups instead?

_{[He drags his hand down his face and rests his fingers over the bridge of his nose. He feels another one of those 'struggling with reality' headaches coming on that he used to get a lot when he first showed up.]}

No, I don't want your pudding cups. Just...just make it an IOU, alright?

_{[Wrath looks a little relieved. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, he'd rather give up money that he knows he'll be re-earning than pudding cups he already spent his money on. There's... basically no difference, but he can't really conceptualize that.]}

Oh, okay!

_{[IT'S IN THE FUTURE, AND THEREFORE ISN'T REAL.]}

_{[Sheesh. This kid and his pudding. He wonders if he can somehow convince Wrath that sugar is evil...]}

Right, right. So come and get your trashbag.

_{[... Well, considering someone already convinced him that BREAD was evil, it probably wouldn't be too hard.]}

Okay.

Are you in your room?

Yeah, I don't have anywhere to be for an hour.

_{[The screen turns ceiling-ward as Wrath simply DROPS THE GEAR ON HIS BED and goes romping off to Ralph's room.]

[He shows up in person a couple minutes later, leaning into the room. c8 HELLO.]}

I'm here for my trash friend.

_{[Said trash friend is shoved right into Wrath's face which, in turn, shoves him back out the door into the hall.]}

Here. Now scram!

_{[Hungry lets out an alarmed gurgle as he is thrust at his trainer, grabbing on with his garbagey tentacles. Wrath stumbles backwards, peeking over the Pokemon's crinkly plastic... ears?]}

Um, I was going to go to the cafeteria and get some bottles out of the ree-sy-kul bins for Hungry to eat.

Want to come?

_{[Someone teach this child how to take a hint.]}

No.

_[SLAM.]

Wrath! I found the weirdest food ever! You gotta see!

_{[For the first time since he'd arrived and been made aware of Al's presence in Johto, Wrath finds himself hesitant to answer for reasons other than sheer, unadulterated disgust.]

[Wrath's hands lingers over the 'Gear's buttons for a second or two before he hits the one to pick up the call.]

[And then he doesn't say anything. Just kind of... leans into view, inquisitively.]

[Okay, Elric.]

[He's listening.]}

[Al's grin spreads when Wrath pops up on the Gear. Oh man, he is gonna get a kick out of this!]

Look.

[He flips it around, showing Wrath the weird, slimy thing sitting on some rice and seaweed on his plate.] They called it 'Oo-nee'.

_{[Wrath observes this... 'oo-nee' with a look of serious skepticism on his face.]

[It's worth noting here that Wrath's threshold for food-related disgust is... very, very high. He eats things off the ground on a regular basis. He has put a number of objects in his mouth that are not actually edible and swallowed them.]

[But sure as he knows that the sky is blue, he can say one thing for sure upon looking at... that.]}

That's not a food.

[Again the camera flips, and Al shakes his head.]

No, it is, really! It's part of a really weird fish, they said it's supposed to be very sweet!

_{[Wrath wrinkles his nose.]}

That is definitely not a fish.

I've seen at least five fish.

That is not a fish.

It's part of a fish! [An important distinction to make!]

Will you believe me if I eat it?

_{[There's a long, skeptical pause.]

[He strokes his chin.]}

... Maybe.

[He laughs and picks up the sushi, waggling it closer to the camera before he takes a deep breath and pops it into his mouth.]

[Mistakes have been made...]

--I told you!

I told you it wasn't a food!!!

_{[BUT DID YOU BELIEVE HIM? NOOOOOOO...]}

'M not--I'm not dying!

[The narrative would like to point out to Wrath that Al is covering his mouth while there's food in it. SEE, THESE ARE MANNERS, CHILD.]

It's just weird!

_{[What are manners? Wrath is pretty sure that Alphonse is just covering up his mouth to keep all his organs inside, in case the not-a-food makes them come bursting out or something.]}

No, you're probably going to die.

Can I have your coat if you do?

I said I'm not dying!

[Al swallows the rest of it down and chugs down about half of his glass of water, then shakes his head. UGH.] Oh man, I'm not doing that ever again.

If you'd listened to me, you would NEVER have done it.

Ugh...fine, fine, you were right this time. But you never learn if you don't try new things, you know?

I'll think I'll try new things that DON'T look like they already went into and came out of somebody.

You eat stuff that people have walked on, that's hardly any better!

[He doesn't actually sound annoyed, more amused than anything else.]

I do NOT!

.... Why shouldn't I do that?

Is it bad?

If it's been on the ground and walked all over, you don't know what all has happened to it. People don't pay much attention to what they walk on, and if they stepped on something super gross before they stepped on the food, there might still be residue of the gross thing on their shoe.

What do you mean, people don't pay attention to what they walk on?

I ALWAYS pay attention to what I'm walking on?

_{[That would be because you're like... allergic to shoes, Wrath.]}

That's because you walk around barefoot. If you have shoes on, you don't have to worry about stepping on most things, because you have that layer of protection between something hot or cold or sharp and your foot. So people's attention is called elsewhere, and they don't think about it.

... Well THAT'S stupid!

There's so MUCH going on on the ground!

Everyone should pay attention to the ground.

They're missing out.

[Oh, Wrath. Please never change.]

But they have a lot to pay attention to around them, as well! You can't pay attention to everything all at once, you'd wind up missing things that way.

Hmf.

Well.

I think that if I can't eat things off the ground, that's a lot of good things being wasted.

Hey Kiddo.

Do you want to go out to lunch today?

Edited 2015-08-11 07:06 (UTC)

--do I!

_{[Poor kid. He doesn't suspect a thing.]}

[Greed.... feels a little bad about this, but they need to undo the brainwashing somehow.]

Where do you want to go for lunch?

[He... might as well let Wrath pick, because this is going to be unpleasant.]

UMM...

_{[He has to think about that for a minute. Pretty much any time he's invited ANYWHERE is a great big deal, and the excitement has a way of overloading his imagination with possibilities. They could get HOT DOGS! Or try the BAGELS, for REAL! Or maybe get those tasty-smelling meat sticks that Wrath always sees people buying in the park.]

[So many options!]}

Um, how about those twisty brown things with the big white salt pieces?

_{[He means pretzels, and shhh. He doesn't know they're made of bread.]}

[It takes him a moment to realize Wrath is talking about pretzels.]

Sure, okay.

[He can do that.

This is... going to be tough. He likes this kid.]

I know a place. Think we could meet up if I gave you some directions? Or do you want to meet somewhere first?

_{[Wrath's uncurbed, puppylike eagerness isn't really going to make it any easier. He beams excitedly.]}

I'm good at directions! Give me ALL the directions!

[He's such a cute kid...]

Alright then.

[So he gives some directions. The place should be pretty easy to find!

It's also actually a bakery, so while Greed may be an asshole, he's not a complete asshole.]

Continued here!

[This goes to Homunculus House, since that's Joker's best bet on where Wrath will be, and there are two things addressed to him. The first is a postcard from the Museum in Pewter. The second?]

[It's a sucker. But not any sucker. It has what looks like a bug entombed inside all that sugar. Fortunately, it isn't identifiable as any sort of Pokemon bug, which is... good? It's definitely disgusting, probably.]

[Which is honestly why Joker thought Wrath would love it.]

[The post card has written on it in Joker's surprisingly neat handwriting, "Made it to Pewter! Lots of rocks. Going to fight Brock, wish me luck. Hope you enjoy the candy. Love, Joker."]

_{[YOU BET WRATH IS GOING TO ENJOY THE CANDY!]

[As a matter of fact, it is immediately going into his mouth and he is going to wander through the house with it, possibly giving heart attacks to anyone who asks him what he's eating.]}

[The delivery on the third has a gift card from Cerulean's Aquarium, plus a Sharpedo designed hat that clearly indicates Wrath should stuff his head into its gaping plush mouth.]

["Cerulean! Don't know how they can stand all the water in this weather. Can't see my hand in front of my face. Bought a hat for you, hope it amuses. Vermillion not too far off, see another letter soon. Love, Joker"]

[And, sure enough, less than a week later comes another postcard and box. This time, it's from Lt Surge's Survival Camp, which features a very muscular man roasting some sort of unidentifiable meat over a campfire in the middle of the woods. The gift is small, and is a swiss army knife of some sort.]

["Mate built like a truck tried to convince me to join a survival camp sort of thing. Told me I'd do fine myself. This thing has all sorts of little tools you can use. Ask someone older how to use it right, and be careful not to put out your eye with it. Love, Joker"]

Edited 2015-12-08 20:48 (UTC)

_{[WRATH ADORES ALL OF THE PRESENTS, although it perhaps was not very wise to give him a knife.]

[The only thing he knows to do with knives is murder.]

[FORTUNATELY HE HASN'T HAD ANY REASON TO MURDER ANYONE IN AWHILE...]}

[Envy snuck back to the house to check on Henry, and then that conversation went a whole lot more intensely than he'd expected. But at least he knows that Heather isn't at home, so he's got free run of the house without having to sneak.]

[It's when he passes by the half-open door to the laundry room that he catches sight of a mess of black hair that is definitely not one of the Pokemon. He slows, poking his head in to see whether Wrath's asleep or tying all of the socks into knots.]

[You really NEVER KNOW with Wrath.]

[Fortunately for everybody's wardrobes, he doesn't appear to be in the act of destroying any clothes.]

[He's seated in front of the washing machine, palms flat on the floor and legs out in front of him, just. Watching the clothing inside go round and round.]

[It's mesmerizing.]

[Envy's not quite as worried about talking to Wrath, today.]

[He's already made that promise, after all.]

[So instead of slinking off, he chuckles.]

Have you tried standing on your head and looking at it upside down?

[--OR MAYBE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORRIED that was a really bad idea suggestion, even for him.]

_{[Wrath looks up, not startled at Envy's sudden appearance but surprised at the suggestion.]

[8U HE HADN'T TRIED THAT!]

[He immediately clambers upright and then onto his hands he goes. He might not have his perfect Homunculus reflexes and strength anymore, but he's still a limber little thing, and he manages it without even a wobble. His hair drags on the floor.]}

--it's even BETTER this way!

[WHOOPS.]

[Envy holds out his hands to either side of Wrath's ankles, not grabbing on yet, but spotting for him.]

Uh--yeah, it's pretty great, right? You should really only watch it this way when there's someone else around, though.

[Re...sponsibility.....?]

_{[NICE SAVE.]

[Wrath shrugs this off. He doesn't see anything wrong with doing this by himself! What could go wrong?]

[He grins broadly, tipping his head slightly in time with the rhythm of the machine, not caring how his baggy shirt is bunching up under his arms and chin.]}

There's so many colors!

Envy, you should look at it this way too!

_{[JOIN HIM.]}

[Envy is really not sure about this plan.]

[At all.]

[But Wrath sounds so enthusiastic, and he does seem to have his balance. And really, it's kind of nice to have the younger homunculus invite him to join in on anything. Things between them have already been changing so much from what they were before.]

[So he sighs and pulls his arms back from Wrath's ankles, looking for the best place on the floor to do this.]

If you're asking, I guess I can try it.

[The circus comes in handy, as do the four hundred years of acrobatic practice beforehand. He goes up on his hands next to Wrath like it's as easy as breathing.]

_{[The contents of the washing machine tumbling around really aren't any more interesting to watch upside-down than they are right-side up, but Wrath certainly seems over the moon about it.]

[Mostly because Envy doing something with him at all is NEW and NEAT.]

[He BEAMS as the older Homunculus copies his pose. Now both of them are upside down, and BOTH of them are collecting a floor's worth of dust with their hair. This is great.]}

What if people walked upside-down like this all the time, and did everything with their feet?

If we still had our powers we could turn our hands into feet and our feet into hands and do it even better!

... Well, YOU could do that. I could only do it with one each. But I'd still be better than the humans.

[Envy can't help but laugh, but it's not a snide or mocking sound.]

[He's honestly fielded enough questions from Henry in the middle of the night that he can take things like this in stride. And Wrath on a normal day can sometimes be a whole lot like Henry in the middle of the night.]

Yeah, doing it with half is still better than not being able to do it at all.

We'd be the only ones with any thumbs that weren't on the ground. Imagine the possibilities.

[Talking to a stoned Henry at 3AM is honestly remarkably like talking to a troubled eight-year-old.]

[His grin only grows wider when Envy plays along. Back in Amestris, Wrath knows from experience that Envy would have just brushed him off with anywhere from irritation to outright disgust.]

... We'd be the only ones who could peel oranges!

We'd get to have every orange.

[Another amused snort.]

[Wrath is right about that, Envy would have had exactly no patience for this back in Amestris. None of them ever did, really. But things are different now, five years later.]

Every single one. But why stop there?

You can't unwrap chocolate bars with just your toes, either.

_{[WRATH LIKES THE SOUND OF THIS SCENARIO.]}

... We'd get to have all the oranges AND all the chocolate!!

_{[Envy ALWAYS thinks of the best ideas!]}

Everyone would be so jealous!

_{[He sways in his enthusiasm, overbalancing slightly to the side before catching himself.]}

All those humans, jealous of us. How great would that be?

[As much as he doesn't have a problem with humanity anymore, there's still something of a disconnect there and probably always will be. He doesn't even sound bitter, like he would have making that same joke a few years back.]

[He does see that wobble though. He decides to give it a little longer before he tries to stop the game. For now, he's enjoying it.]

SO jealous! SO great!

_{[Wrath really has no problem with humans at this point, either-- even if he doesn't remotely buy that he truly IS one, he's still FRIENDS with plenty of them, and very few humans have actually hurt or mistreated him here.]

[But some things just can't ever be completely unlearned.]

[Of course, now that he's getting REALLY enthusiastic, and he starts to sway, awkwardly stepping forward and back on his hands to compensate. DON'T STEP ON YOUR HAIR WRATH]}

[Envy lets out a full on Evil Cackle in response, before he notices that Wrath is starting to have some trouble. Whoops, time to prevent disaster. RESPONSIBILITY???]

[He comes down from his handstand, a little red in the face, and stands back up to hold onto Wrath's ankles, keeping him upright.]

Hey, careful, you won't be able to have any foot-hand oranges with a broken leg.

[Would he actually break a leg? Maybe? Humans are fragile, it could happen.]

_{[Just in time-- right as Envy's getting to his feet, one of Wrath's hands stamps straight down on his trailing disaster-mop of hair and he starts to topple with a yelp, only to be halted by the saving grace of Envy's support.]}

--oh! Thank you!

I don't want a broken leg.

Those don't go away here so it would just be broken forever.

_{[Human healing has in fact been explained to Wrath but to a Homunculus, the thought of having to deal with a serious injury for more than about five seconds might as WELL be 'forever'.]}

[Wrath had said thank you! To him! Envy feels a completely involuntary grin coming on, and that line of thought is what gets this to come out of his mouth instead of just laughing and agreeing that yes, it would be broken 'forever':]

Well, I'm your brother, I have to look out for you.

[...OH.]

[Honestly, it's not like Envy had thought of this as a secret. It was just...the sort of thing he doesn't really mention or talk about, especially when the alliance with Wrath was still so relatively new and possibly just as fragile as a human bone. But it's out there now, no unsaying it.]

_{[It catches Wrath by surprise, hearing that word out of Envy's mouth-- and he presses his chin to his chest to look up at the older Homunculus with wide eyes.]}

--you are?

... You are!

_{[There was always some sort of sibling-like camaraderie between Dante's servants, even if it was dysfunctional and... very rarely positive. But no one ever said it, ever.]}

We are brothers! Yes.

[Envy's almost nervous for a moment, in case Wrath rejects the term brother completely, but then he agrees and there's an odd tight feeling in his chest. He grins down at the younger homunculus, because he kind of can't help it.]

Yeah, yeah we are. That's what we are.

[...hey. Hey, he's still got Wrath's ankles and has had a sudden idea that will maybe keep him from sounding more like an idiot.]

[So he lifts Wrath up off the floor, turning so that he can carry him upside down against his back, swinging him lightly from side to side, laughing.]

Ha, and I've got you!

--AAAAH!

_{[OH NO he's been CAPTURED]

[This time last year, Wrath would have turned on Envy like an enraged wolverine, but he knows how to play pretend now, and they are BROTHERS so there's no reason to actually be worried.]

[He flops against Envy's back, arms dangling over his head.]}

OH NO!

Something's missing.

After turning in his quota of nabbed purse Pokemon for the day, Ralph made his way back through the base hallways feeling like something was off. His shirt was on right-side out. He'd brushed his teeth that morning. He'd locked up before leaving his dorm. What could it be?

It was when he entered the Rocket cafeteria and spotted the droopy little mop at the far end of the table with an uneaten pudding cup at his elbow that it registered. There'd been no barrage of questions when he set foot inside the base. No weird drawings or 'gear messages needing translation were shoved into his face. Huh.

Slowly Ralph sidled over to where Wrath sat, brows knitted in something like concern. Was he sick?

"Hey, kid...what's eatin' ya?"

When a pudding cup exists within five feet of Wrath and doesn't get eaten instantly, you know something's wrong.

Wrath tilts his head where it sits on the edge of the table so that his hair falls away from his face enough to peer up at Ralph with one eye. His mouth is tugged down in a morose little frown. He has no reason to keep his feelings on the matter hidden-- he doesn't even know the meaning of the word of discretion. When the Homunculus Wrath is upset, everyone gets to know why.

"Lust and Alphonse are away and I'm sad. Alphonse was going to show me how to ride a bi-cycle but then he left."

The bench creaked loudly as Ralph sat down next to him and the entire table tipped up just slightly.

"Aw,squirt, I'm sorry..."

He had been wondering why Lust wasn't showing up at the gym. He didn't know this Alphonse too well and he had a terrible growing feeling in the pit of his stomach. His hand started to reach for his gear...but stopped. Instead, he rested an elbow on the table.

"How long have they been gone?"

Edited 2016-03-27 22:48 (UTC)

Smart, Ralph.

The little boy sits up a bit and sighs, counting quietly on his fingers.

"... At least five days."

A few people had told him Al was gone for good-- he didn't believe it. The older boy had already established a tendency to sometimes leave for extended periods of time without saying anything and Wrath just knew that was what had happened this time.

As for Lust, she left sometimes too, to go to her little Violet City getaway, and didn't like to be bothered in that time.

But he was still upset.

Five days. That was creeping up on a week. He didn't really like the sound of that. Ralph hummed and shifted his shoulders where he sat slouching and eventually came to a decision.

"Well...I may not be an expert, but if they don't show up soon, I could show you how to ride a bike."

That makes the boy perk up.

It doesn't change the real underlying issue, of course, but Wrath is at the very least easily distracted.

"Really? You'd do that? For me?"

The boy's surprise really makes Ralph realize that he's gone and done it now. He's committed to this. He was gonna cheer this little kid up and that meant actively teaching wolfboy something.

That he had never actually done.

They don't make bikes that are Ralph-sized.

"Course! We're teammates after all!"

Poor Ralph.

You tried and now you're paying for it.

Looking quite a bit less droopy than he had a moment ago, Wrath turns in his seat to face Ralph, positively lit up.

"Thank you! Thank you, Ralph! You are--"

A pause, as he's clearly thinking.

"... a medium-temperature cat!"

The wrecker opened his mouth. And then shut it. There really was no end to Wrath-isms, was there? Instead of asking him what on earth that could mean or offering a slightly more correct substitute, he just pointed both index fingers at the kid.

"Right back at ya."

Looking over the moon, Wrath lifted both hands and, after a quick comparison glance to make sure he was doing it right, parroted the motion.

[Getting years' worth of memories (and the personality changes to go with them) back all at once had been an experience.]

[And he'd had a lot to deal with just with the people who were actually present when he finally got them back. So maybe he can be forgiven for not calling Wrath until the next morning. But he knows he needed to, as soon as possible, after the way yesterday had gone.]

Hey, Wrath. You there?

...I'm back to normal.

_{[Yes, yes, Envy can be forgiven.]

[But he might have to work for it.]

[The video pops on, and there's Wrath. He's squinting a little at the screen, mouth a flat line. He doesn't say anything at first. But there's something expectant about his silence.]}

[Envy scratches at the back of his head, actually managing to look contrite.]

Look, I'm...sorry. About yesterday.

It was one of those weird days, like how it was with the flowers. Except yesterday made people forget things, and I forgot everything all the way back to when we were in Amestris. I didn't know about this place at all.

_{[At this point, Wrath can tell when Envy is genuinely sorry for something. Mostly because he would never actually lower himself to looking sorry for something unless he actually was.]

[But he's not going to let the older Homunculus off that easy.]}

You promised to stop changing your mind on things.

_{[IT'S TOTALLY UNFAIR TO HOLD HIM TO THAT WHEN HE LITERALLY LOST HIS MEMORY but let Wrath milk this a little, okay.]}

[Probably a big sign of the difference between yesterday's Envy and today's is that, while he still feels a surge of frustration that Wrath is holding him to a promise he couldn't remember, he doesn't snap at him or hang up the phone. Instead, he just sighs.]

I know. That's why I'm saying sorry, because you had to deal with...that yesterday.

[...]

Hey, you know what?

_{[It is a big sign.]

[Wrath doesn't say anything, but he does look back over at the screen (he'd turned his head away in a snooty "hmph" posture) questioningly.]}

If I ever lose my memory again?

You can stick me in the basement until I cooperate and turn back into a traitor. How about that?

_{[... It's a sign of just how dark the average Homunculus' sense of humor is that the idea of stuffing a mean, original-flavor Envy into the basement brings a smile to Wrath's face despite his greatest efforts to stay looking mad.]}

Even if it was dark and full of spiders?

[For a second, Envy wonders if he's possibly made a mistake in offering that...but on the other hand, he also now has a very fresh and clear memory of just what he used to be like.]

[No, it wouldn't be a mistake. He snorts.]

Yeah, even if it was dark and full of spiders.

Or even if it was infested with Rattata or smelled terrible. Your choice of basement.

What if it was always wet and you could hear scary whispers from the walls at night?

_{[HE'S REALLY GETTING INTO THIS SPOOKY BASEMENT IDEA]}

Oh damn, I think that I'd have to start cooperating really fast if it was like that.

So maybe that would be the best kind of basement to stick old me in.

[Honestly it's kind of cathartic to think about, after having been the old him for a day.]

_{[Unable to stick to his guns any longer, Wrath throws back his head and lets out one of his awful little hyena cackles.]}

YEAH.

'Cause old you was a... brat!

_{[Do you see what he did there Envy. Do you see it.]}

Edited 2016-08-11 06:34 (UTC)

[Yes, he does see what Wrath did there. It gets him to let out a snicker of his own.]

Old me sure was.

But I don't know if he'll ever show up again for you to stick in an awful basement. So I'd better get you some ice cream next time I get back to the house.

_{[Act abandoned, he's now just sitting there snickering wildly. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE NEW ENVY BACK. New Envy gives him things.]}

Ice cream is acceptable.

Can it be chocolate?

_{[At least he's not calling it 'sweet dirt' anymore.]}

_{[It's time for lunch and Ralph knows exactly where to find the little goblin. He's had a lot on his mind and shoulders lately...and this is possibly one of the biggest things. He shuffles into the cafeteria, one huge arm behind his back. When he spots the kid he makes his way over with the disposition of somebody trying to take up as little space as possible.]}

Heeeey, kiddo. How's it goin'?

_{[Wrath is, in many ways, very predictable.]

[He's at the same table he always is, and is sharing a bowl of some kind of beef (?) stew with Truck, who is lying faithfully on the floor next to the table (even though he's the SIZE of the table), stubby tail wiggling as he waits for the spoon to be held down for him to lick.]

[Wrath looks up brightly when Ralph sidles over, though.]}

Ralph!

_{[Okay, good, he seems like he's in a good mood. Ralph sits down next to him, causing the long table to tilt ever so slightly.]

[And then he reveals the goods--a little plastic tray with four cupcakes decked out in colorful sprinkles.]}

Broughtcha somethin'!

... Oh!

_{[Wrath's eyes widen and he scoots around on the bench to ogle the cupcakes. He's used to getting handouts from several of the people he knows, but Ralph has never been one of them.]

[These are nicer than anything the cafeteria has to offer, too. Team Rocket doesn't believe in sprinkles.]}

For me?

Sure are! All of 'em!

_{[He places the tray down and scoots it towards Wrath. Then he wrings his huge hands together. Man. Where did all of those people skills he'd been learning go?]}

So, ah, hey Wrath. Lil buddy. I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be really nice to just...play all day?

_{[ALL of them?! THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER.]

[Wrath has gotten good at keeping his hands to himself unless he's actively told he can have something, but Ralph has stated explicitly that these are For Him, so he doesn't hesitate before snatching up one of the cupcakes and biting off half of it in one go, little paper wrapper and all.]}

F'hur! I wof p'waying!

_{[That's 'Sure! I love playing!' in mouthfulese.]}

_{[So far so good....]

[Ralph leans an elbow on the table and props his chin in his hand.]}

And wouldn't it be nice to not have to make other people sad or get yelled at?

_{[Wrath swallows what's in his mouth, then tilts his head. Ralph's not so subtle message hasn't quite landed yet, but he's starting to gather that he wasn't handed these cupcakes out of the goodness of his team-mate's heart.]}

What do you mean?

_{[He sucks in a breath. Hoo boy. Here it comes.]}

I mean...what if--stop me if this sounds too crazy-- but what if we weren't bad guys anymore? We just...walked away?

_{[There's a long silence.]

[One so thick you could cut it with a knife.]

[Then Wrath, slowly and pointedly, puts down the half-eaten cupcake.]}

Ralph.

That's the sort of thing that a traitor would say.

_{[He's giving you an out, Ralph. He really wants you to take it.]}

_{[OH....oh jeez. Did. Somebody leave the air conditioner on or something? Because Ralph feels pretty chilly right now.]

[He pats his hands at the air and tries to fight off the feeling of panic creeping up his back.]}

Now now now now, hear me out, okay? Just think about it. Wouldn't you wanna be a Good Guy? Like...like Envy!

_{[Said Ralph who had no idea what the fuck he was talking about.]}

_{[Oh, no. Ralph. Oh no.]

[Wrath's eyes narrow, and he pushes the plate of cupcakes away from himself.]}

Envy's not a good guy.

And I like it here.

_{[Envy, Lust, and the rest had, at long last, more or less convinced Wrath that their treatment under Master's stern hand was wrong and undeserved, but Wrath has no such beliefs about Team Rocket. He gets a bed, free food, and they hadn't even punished him for getting himself kidnapped and held captive for two whole months! Paycuts and getting yelled at or occasionally sprayed with a hose are so pale in comparison to what he's used to that they don't even faze him.]

[As far as Wrath is concerned, the place is basically a discipline-free playground.]}

_{[Ralph withdraws his hands as though he's been bitten and sucks his lips inwards.]

[Oh.]

[Oh whups. Maybe that...wasn't the best example. His mind races and he hunches down, trying his best to whisper and not cause a scene.]}

But Wrath! Think about it! What we do here--this is wrong.

_{[Wrath chuffs in exasperation. GOD, Ralph! You're so dramatic!]}

It's not like we kill people.

_{[To a former assassin, that's a pretty big downgrade on the 'bad' scale!]}

_{[Ralph stumbles over his words.]}

W-well! No! But! That doesn't mean we're not hurting people.

You shouldn't question the team.

That's being disloyal.

_{[His tone makes it clear that he is giving Ralph a STERN WARNING. Surprisingly stern for someone who is usually just kind of making sounds and running around.]}

_{[Ralph leans back, his huge hands now resting on the table. Oooooh boy this did not go how he planned. He had to look for an out and fast.]}

Ah...er...right. Right. Forget I ever brought it up.

_{[Wrath grunts by way of reply. He doesn't forget anything >:(]

[At the edge of the table, Truck had been sniffing curiously at the plate of cupcakes, and now he licks at the edge of the plate with a whine.]

[Wrath yanks the plate away.]}

Truck, no. We don't eat traitor food.

_{[It's been quite a few weeks since their little blow-up when Ralph turned over a new leaf. SURELY the little guy's gotten over it by now. Ralph rings him up on his lunch break, leaning outside the SECURITY door for the Poke'Mart in Violet City. He is wearing a blue uniform with his name on it and everything.]}

Heeeey, kiddo, you got a minute? It's me!

_{[Oh boy.]

[If Ralph expected Wrath to be over it... he's got a big storm coming.]

[The video turns on, and the answering face is NOT the face of a kid happy to see their old buddy.]}

YOU.

_{[Ralph nearly drops his gear at the burst of sound coming from it. Once he's stopped juggling it and hunches over it to turn down the volume, he gives the boy a little scowl.]}

Well that's a fine how'dyado!

_{[Wrath, meanwhile, gives Ralph a BIG scowl.]}

What do you want?

Well I was gonna see how my buddy was doing, but I guess he's not around. Could ya give 'em a message?

I don't take messages from traitors!

I should hang up on you.

Yeah? Well GO AHEAD! It won't hurt my feelings, not one bit!

_{[He's gonna wait and watch you do it.]}

_{[For a second, Wrath just glares, visibly simmering.]

[Then he takes the bait and hangs up.]}

_{[It wasn't terribly hard to find Wrath when he was home. All one had to do was follow the path of destruction and scuffling sounds. When Henry does happen upon the boy, he takes a moment to observe what he's doing with the same caution one might when approaching a porcupine before clearing his throat.]}

Hey, uh. Wrath. Are you busy?

_{[The Little Wolf Prince in question is hunkered down in the upstairs hallway, determinedly scratching a hole in the carpet. The hole had probably been started by one of the Pokemon, but by golly, Wrath is gonna finish it.]

[He looks up at Henry wordlessly, most of his hair hanging in his face.]

[YES, HUMAN?]}

_{[Henry takes a moment to be thankful for his semi-permant blank stare. Otherwise he'd be curling a lip. Wrath was probably going to bury something gross there.]}

Hey, I was wondering...what would you like for Christmas? You've seemed kind of...down. And I thought. I could help.

_{[EXCUSE you, he only buries things in the yard and the blankets at the end of unmade beds.]

[His head tilts.]

[He is not used to Henry expressing generosity that isn't along the lines of offering him candy to make him leave.]}

Um.

You mean like a present?

Yeah, a Christmas Present.

_{[He doesn't feel like Wrath will have a very complicated request but he still finds himself weirdly on-edge. Henry is going to blame it on the season in general because it requires a lot of Peopling.]}

_{[He can't help it. He sort of squints at Henry for a moment.]

[Normally, just about anybody could hand Wrath something and he'd be like WOW THANKS!!!!!! but most of his interactions with Henry lately have involved fighting over the Ogre Hut, or occasionally being hollered at when he gets too close to all those candles.]}

... Something that I can eat, but that isn't poison.

I can't have poison in this body, or I will die.

_{[Henry blinks. Twice. Wow, that was easier than he thought! But just as creepy as he thought.]}

Okay. I'm the same way.

_{[Wrath had gone back to scratching at the carpet, but he looked back up for a second, almost looking impressed.]}

It's brave to admit that.

_{[... It's a compliment, but well, coming from Wrath, it's as ominous as anything else he says.]}

_{[OK Wrath time for a basic biology lesson.]}

Wrath...I think every living thing will die if it eats enough poison.

Well, yes.

But saying it out loud seems like tempting fate if you ask me.

_{[Henry leans away, his chin ducking against his neck, giving him several more chins. That is probably the most eloquent thing he's ever heard Wrath say and he isn't sure he likes it.]}

Oh. Ok.

[ Walter's not confident in doing this but. He's fond of Wrath. He knows he cares about his Pokemon (the ones he's seen anyway). Wrath did give him a gift - a very weird gift but it was a gift - so he wanted to return that gesture. He sent Darkness ahead to get him, to lead him over to Walter; his house was not a safe place for Walter to approach, given he now knew who lived there. He turned as Darkness returned to him, perching on his shoulder and nodding to the younger Rocket. ]

Wrath.

_{[Wrath's sense of curiosity was a surefire way to get him to do almost anything-- it wasn't often that Walter actually went out of his way to seek out his company, so something interesting must be afoot!]

[He arrives on the back of his Granbull, who has in all likelihood at this point learned that Walter does NOT appreciate big slobbery bulldog kisses, and keeps his distance. Wrath, however, leaps right off and hops over to Walter excitedly.]}

Hello!

Did you want to see me?

I did. There's something I wanted to give you. [ Walter was glad the Granbull stayed away from him. Seeing 'Truth' the Riolu and 'Guardian' the Vulpix was helping his canine fears but anything larger than them still frightened him. He nodded to Darkness, who gave a loud, deep cry, summoning a flock of Murkrows. Some perched on Walter, others in nearby trees. ]

These are Darkness' children with Lyra. They're very capable Pokemon but I can't train them all or provide a proper nesting place right now... so, pick one to keep.

_{[OH BOY! A PRESENT! Wrath loves presents!]

[His eyes grow huge, and he looks around at the flurry of small dark birds in awe.]}

I can have one? For me?

_{[He frequently gets handouts from those who know him (or just those who know it's a good way to temporarily get him out of their hair), but the handouts are not usually Pokemon.]}

Yes. You gave me a present and you're kind to your Pokemon.

[ It's not outright said but...he trusts Wrath to look after one of the Murkrow well. If he didn't, Darkness would be extremely unhappy with him giving him one. The Honchkrow would still be keeping an eye on him of course.

As he spoke, the little murder began to whisper to themselves, bobbing their heads curiously. ]

"Trainer?"
"Trainer!"

[ Four fluttered down around Wrath. One immediately started preening itself, to make sure they looked their best for a possible trainer. One was swaying, shaking it's tail feathers from side to side. One hopped closer, taking the direct route and tugging on Wrath's trouser leg for attention. And the last just watched him very intensely.

_{[Oh boy. HERE THEY COME.]

[But despite looking a little awed and apprehensive as the crows come fluttering down around him, Wrath's decision-making process isn't exactly complicated.]

[He immediately reaches down and picks up the one who was forward enough to yank on his pants.]}

I like this one.

"Then it's yours." The chosen Murkrow cawed victoriously.
"YES!! TRAINER!" It flapped it's wings so it could flutter on top of Wrath's head, swaying and flapping it's wings like it was doing a victory dance. Look at it's trainer!! "Trainer trainer traineeeer!"

Darkness laughed - as much as a Honchkrow could laugh - at his child's antics, before cawing to tell it to calm down. It still swayed from side to side however, clearly very happy with the outcome.
"Take good care of it. Darkness is a protective father." Walter warned. He really didn't want to deal with Darkness trying to attack Wrath because he felt his child was being mishandled.

Not quite used to holding onto birds (his team largely consists of mammals of various shapes and sizes), Wrath lets go in surprise. The little Murkrow will find Wrath's disastrous shock of hair a very nest-like place to roost.

Wrath looks delighted.

"Oh, I will! I take very good care of my beasts. I share everything I eat, and also the bed."

Darkness nodded his approval. Good! He approves of this and let's Walter know, tugging on his collar a little.

"Then it's sorted." Walter smiled, reaching up and petting Darkness. The Murkrows decided to linger around them however, comfortable with their current company. Several fluttered or hopped closer to Wrath, still curious about this trainer - they had seen him around the house but this was a very new circumstance to see him in. Others decided to try and perch with their father on Walter, who stretched out an arm to give them a place to land.

With the birds and just Wrath, Walter felt incredibly calm and relaxed. He did wonder however, if Wrath knew about...everything. If Envy had raised the alarm, so to speak.
"...Have they told you about me?" He asked quietly, focusing on the birds instead of looking at Wrath.

Still smiling, Wrath tilts his head-- possibly making his new bird readjust for balance.

"Who is 'they'?"

He HAD been warned about Walter-- in vague terms that never quite mentioned any true details about this mystery man who was after Envy's human. Because for all that worrying, Henry hadn't actually told anyone what the killer looked like, aside from occasionally "like France".

Having never met France, this meant nothing to Wrath.

He hadn't paid the adults' concerns any particular mind.

"Henry and his friends." Walter didn't look over. Darkness tightened his talon's grip on Walter's shoulders, watching Envy as Walter avoided seeing his reaction. One of them had to be alert, in case this meeting turned sour.

The bird on him readjusted by just leaning, holding onto his hair with his own little talons. The pair looked like a silly jenga tower.

"... Oh, you mean Envy's human. The tired man."

He says this matter-of-factly, reaching up to clumsily pat the bird on his head.

"No, they don't know about my team-mates. I keep Team Rocket things a secret, because that's the rules. They warned me about a killer who was after Envy's human, who did bad things to other humans. But I'm a monster and I've killed many humans myself. I think if a human killer attacked me, I would probably win. My teeth are very sharp."

The long and short of it?

Wrath received a warning, but has no idea his quiet and usually kind team-mate is the one they were warning about.

... And also Wrath never fully made the connection between 'being physically human right now' meaning 'whatever powers you had back home NOT MATTERING'. Survival instincts? PSH. Those are for humans.

Well. Time to make it clear. Walter slowly sat down, back against a tree trunk and lowered his arm. Some birds stayed settled, some fluttered back up to the lower branches. It seemed some misinformation was spreading about him, if they were warning Wrath that he would attack other humans. He thought he had made his intentions and motives clear. But at the end of the day, Henry was human. He would allow his anger and hate to blind him to the Truth, or even willingly tell others lies about him. It was disappointing coming from the Receiver of Wisdom but entirely unexpected.

"They were talking about me." He put his hands together, looking down at them. "Back where we came from, our world is extremely cruel and stained by human sin and evil. When I was young, I was bound to an angel and Blessed with certain powers of theirs. I hoped for a long, long time, that humans would be better than what I had been taught. But I was wrong. So I began a ritual; the 21 Sacraments; to bring the corrupt world to an end and open the gates of Paradise."

He was explaining very patiently, like a teacher talking to a student. "Twenty-one people must die for the ritual to be complete, to save millions of others and grant them eternity in Heaven. I was the eleventh to die. Henry is to the twenty-first, the last."

Well, Walter, telling people that you're a killer isn't... exactly... misinformation...

Wrath tilted his head again, this time the other way.

The religious screed was mostly lost on him-- Wrath did have some rudimentary knowledge of the universe's design beyond simple science. After all, he was a being that shouldn't exist, an unholy escapee from the closest thing his world had to a Hell.

But the only rituals he's familiar with are alchemy.

He doesn't appear perturbed by what Walter is saying... just not particularly moved by it, either. So Walter is the looming threat that they were all so worried about! It's true that Walter is a rather large human, and probably could kill other humans quite easily, now that Wrath thinks about it. But he can't be frightened of his team-mate. They're team-mates!

In fact, when Walter finishes, Wrath simply replies, good-naturedly, "Oh. Well, Henry can't die. He's Envy's human, and Envy wants him alive. We like Henry. So, we will protect him."

"I don't intend to hurt him here. The ritual cannot be completed here. If he would to die here, the ritual would fail and it would all have been for nothing. It's in my interests to keep him alive here." Walter replied, calmly. Wrath's tone is...odd. He looks up at him, still wary, trying to find any clues in his expression or body language.

"And I don't intend to kill anyone else. I know I don't have the powers I had - the angel isn't here to guide my hand and I'm not dead. I can't 'redo' the ritual. So there's no point in killing anyone."

Wrath himself is odd.

He doesn't seem to be upset in the slightest-- his posture and expression are just as casual and relaxed as when he bounced over to receive his mystery gift to begin with.

"It's probably for the best. Lust says killing humans isn't a good thing to do anymore, even if we all did it once or twice in the past."

He speaks about it the same way someone might talk about jaywalking or downloading illegal mp3's.

Walter couldn't help tilting his head, genuinely confused.

"You're not...angry?" So far everyone had reacted with rage. Anyone connected to Henry had threatened him, warned him, avoided him at all costs. But Wrath wasn't. They were just calmly talking. Wrath had even confessed to killing people in the past too. Was that part of what connected everyone who was brought here? Did they all have some blood on their hands? But that didn't make sense, so he discarded the thought in an instant.

Poor Walter. WELCOME TO THE CONUNDRUM THAT IS WRATH.

"Why would I be angry? You're on my team, and you're not going to hurt any of our humans."

He giggles a little bit, spinning idly on one heel with his arms out, seeing if his new Murkrow friend will hop onto one of them.

"I guess if we were in your world, we would have to be enemies. Because you would still be trying to kill Henry, and we would stop you since he's ours now. And if we were in mine, we would probably just use you like we did the scarred man, to complete Master's plan."

Twenty-one people probably wasn't anywhere near enough to make a Philosopher's Stone, but the ritual Walter speaks of sounds enough like something Dante would cook up to fool unsuspecting alchemists into doing her dirty work for her that Wrath figures Walter would be a prime candidate for manipulation, just as Scar had been.

"But we're not, we're here, without our Masters, and we wound up on the same team! So instead of fighting or killing, we can be friends!"

He finishes off that thoughtful musing with a big, guileless smile up at the ex-ghost.

The Murkrow happily hopped down to one arm. Then fluttered to the other, trying to stay in the same 'place' while Wrath spun around. Like jump rope! Jump Arm!

There's several things that Walter doesn't like about what Wrath said. First was claiming that Henry was 'their's' now. Henry was his Receiver of Wisdom before he was anyone else's. Second was the casual, weak ties that meant Wrath would easily turn on him when it came down to him or Henry. Third, the admittance that he would simply use him in different circumstances. He couldn't be sure that those circumstances weren't so different ot their current standings with each other.

None of this changed that Wrath was still a good candidate to care for one of the Murkrow. Nor did it change that they were on the same team, as he had happily proclaimed. But it meant he would have to be careful - if Wrath thought that Henry was in danger, he could be used against him or to lure him into some kind of trap. He had seen it happen often enough in his childhood. Loyalty was a weak concept among humans, or human-like beings. And now there was complete clarity; Wrath's loyalty was flimsy and entirely likely to change.

Which meant they weren't going to be friends.

But Walter didn't voice those thoughts. He merely stood, brushing down his pants.

Wrath's loyalty was a very funny thing.

It was strong, but also particular.

Just as Walter's devotion to the Order had compelled him to kill two young children, Wrath's own Master still held far more sway over him than any of the friendships he'd managed to cultivate. He didn't like it. But fear is a powerful motivator-- especially to a child. Even an undead one. Would he stand between Dante and one of his new friends, if it came down to it? Until it actually happened... he probably wouldn't know.

And as for Henry... well, that was simple. Envy's humans were untouchable! Pack rules!

Either way, if he picked up on Walter's sudden chilliness, Wrath sure didn't show it.

Just continued to laugh and spin.

"Does he have a name?"

... He's referring to the Murkrow, but he doesn't exactly... clarify...

Sadly, while Wrath might have an inkling of how corrupted and unhealthy his tie to his Dante was, Walter was still...conflicted in his views of the Order. In the very pit of his heart, he loathed them. He hated the suffering they had inflicted on him and the few...friends? Allies? Fellow children he had been raised alongside in the orphanage. He had no remorse for what he had done to any of the priests he'd killed, men responsible in part for his upbringing and the running of the Wish House. But he was still loyal. He still wholeheartedly believed in the faith they had taught him. Still believed he owed them for the most basic care they had given him, food, water, shelter. Still couldn't comprehend just how wrong it all was.

He wasn't sure what he was being asked to name. "My Masters?" He had to think. Who was his 'Master'? "I was raised by Father George. He taught me what I needed to know about the ritual. But after...it was Valtiel."

"Masters?" Wrath laughs. Not meanly, just with his usual childish delight. "No, I meant the nice shadow bird! Does he have a name? Or should I pick one?"

Humming, he tugged lightly at his new friend's bushy tailfeathers.

"He's very dark, just like Darkness. Maybe he should have a dark name, too!"

Oh. Walter hummed thoughtfully, approaching them to get a better look at the bird who was clacking it's beak at Wrath, giving as good as he gave and tugging back on his hair playfully. There were several feisty ones among the Murkrow (no doubt taking after their mother) but this was definitely the most physically mischievous one. He had tugged at Walter's hair before, although Walter hadn't pulled on his tail feathers first.

"I gave them each names but you can name him if you like. I called him Blackout."

"Blackout? Oh, I like that!"

He laughed, continuing to play with his new buddy. Wrath-style play was particularly rough and grabby, but fortunately this bird seemed to be a kindred spirit.

"He's very good!"

Yep, Blackout and Wrath were a perfect match, as the Murkrow eagerly bit and grabbed onto Wrath with his talons. If he was truly hurt, he'd squawk out or fly out of reach.

Walter watched them play, bringing his hands together. At least they were happy. Darkness was also pleased with this outcome; while he didn't encourage rough-housing, if both Pokemon and trainer were fine with it then there wasn't any harm, was there? Finally he nodded and turned to leave.

"Take care."

Hey, Wrath, are you there? It's me, Mabel! Listen, I don't know where you are right now but I think we should meet up at some point!

I got something for you...!

_{[OH! OH BOY! THOSE ARE HIS FAVORITE WORDS TO HEAR EVER!!]

[Wrath answers very quickly, popping onto the screen and looking very excited.]}

You do? You have something? For me?

_{[WRATH LOVES PRESENTS, pretty much no matter who they're coming from.]}

But of course! Who else would I be giving it to? It's definitely not for anyone else!

[She said with a giggle]

Just wait until you see it! Trust me, you're going to love it!

_{[OH BOY OH BOY HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS]}

Where are you?

I can come get it!

_{[For the record? This is EXACTLY how Wrath once got kidnapped, and he clearly hasn't learned a thing.]}

I'm in Goldenrod right now! Think you can come on over?

[That and he was one of the only kids around her age in this place. MIGHT AS WELL GO AND HANG OUT WITH HIM!]

_{[It's true! He's a little younger-- hovering in that sort of nebulous "could be 9???? 10 maybe??? or maybe just the filthiest hobo 11 year old in existence" range-- but still, close enough!]}

I'm in Goldenrod too!

My family has a house there!

There's sharks in the pool.

_{[... okay, Wrath, that was definitely a necessary detail to add.]}

[For a moment, Mabel didn't respond back. That wasn't quite what she was expecting but...]

...Why sharks?

[Seriously, why sharks??]

I dunno.

They're just the pool sharks.

_{[WHO KNOWS? HE DOESN'T.]}

Where do you wanna meet?

Uh...

[There were a lot of things that Mabel had heard or seen in Gravity Falls. But a place with a pool of sharks? Congrats, Wrath. Now Mabel thinks you're living in some kind of dungeon]

I'm in Goldenrod? We can meet up at the department store...?

_{[WOULD IT HELP OR HURT TO MENTION THAT HE DID IN FACT SPEND THE FIRST TWO MONTHS IN THIS BUILDING LIVING IN THE BASEMENT...]}

Oh, yes! I know where that is!

I've been kicked out of there so many times!

_{[And yet, he sounds perfectly cheery about this.]}

I'm on my way!

[YES THAT WOULD HELP. MABEL CAN FREE THIS POOR CHILD FROM WHATEVER HE'S DEALING WITH]

Kicked out? You were okay, right? I mean, you didn’t do anything too bad in there, right?

[Said the girl who was banned from petting zoos]

Well, to be fair, I can't read very well.

I didn't know you were supposed to pay for things before eating them.

_{[In the background, wind blowing and footsteps can be heard. Sounds like he's makin his way downtown!]}

[Again, Mabel just couldn't help but wonder. If he didn't know you were suppose to pay for things first, just what kind of place did he grow up in?

Either way?]

Well, that just means I'll need to come with you next time around! I don't know about you but Mabel Pines will definitely make sure you don't get kicked out again! That's for sure!

_{[The answer is 'not a good one', Mabel. Also, 'partially in the wild'.]}

You'd do that?

That's very nice of you.

It's not a problem! I mean, we kids gotta stick together no matter what! Especially when we're in some weirdo place we're stuck at anyway!

[Said the girl who had to deal with supernatural entities on a daily basis]

But anyway, I'm at the store right now! Where you are?

_{[Wrath tilts his head a little on the other side-- it's the first time he's ever heard someone say something like "we kids gotta" in reference to him.]

[He's never had any particularly great relationships with those his own apparent age, though not for lack of trying.]

[If he was a dog, his tail would be doing that tentative, hopeful wag.]}

I can see the building from here, I'll be there soon!

_{[And LO AND BEHOLD, about five minutes later... uh, well, whatever Mabel was expecting her new buddy to look like, what shows up is a scrawny, lanky thing with a wild mane of only-semi-kempt hair. Who is riding on the back of a big, drooly purple bulldog.]}

[The moment that Mabel arrived, she wasn't expecting a whole lot. In her mind, for a boy to be living in a place with a pool of sharks? Well, how bad could it be anyway? Although, when she finally saw him?

Well.

She was expecting something worse but that wasn't the point. The first thing that Mabel spotted right away on seeing him?]

Oh my gosh, is that you Wrath? I love your hair! How did you get it get it like that?!

_{[He looks around at the sound of his name, and spots her pretty much immediately. Hard not to-- Mabel stands out in a crowd. His face lights up, and the Granbull's little nub tail starts wiggling.]}

It's me!

And-- oh.

_{[For a second, he kind of looks at his hair in surprise. Most people usually just brandish a hairbrush at him or recoil in horror. And in all fairness, there's probably sticks and small animals in there. But he does have that heavy metal aesthetic, even if it's unintentional.]

[He hops down from his mighty steed, who is already making a beeline to sniff at Mabel's shoes, which are comically tiny compared to the Granbull's enormous head.]}

Um, I don't do anything to it.

Except wash it sometimes.

Because the humans and also Lust all get upset if I don't.

You really love it?

[Humans? Lust? Well, that only made Mabel raise her eyebrows even more. Sure, his name probably might have given him away that he wasn't human but still! He looked and acted like one too! What would make him not be human anyway?

Although, that wasn't something she was going to think about too much. Instead, she figured that this was a happy time! She should be focusing more of her energy into hanging out with him!]

Of course I do! It's so wild and poofy! I know I want hair like that!

[Even if Mabel's hair was long and can be a giant mess too]

_{[There is honestly so much Mabel could raise her eyebrows about.]

[Wrath had first looked a little tentative-- meeting people his own age doesn't always go well-- but who doesn't like compliments? Mabel's approval makes him break out into a grin. ... Incidentally, it's a very... sharp-toothed grin.]}

You want hair like mine?

Wow, nobody's ever said that before!

_{[Of course, all he does is Not Take Care of It (tm), but HA, look Lust, a human likes it! #validated.]

[... Oh, wait. He should pay a compliment too, right. That's human social convention.]}

Your hair is also, um, very nice.

Edited 2017-02-10 20:20 (UTC)

Then people should say it more! It's pretty and awesome too!

[Granted, it probably does need some brushing here and there but she meant what she said. Wrath's hair is pretty and not a lot of people have long hair like his. Although, she may or may not attempt to clean it up a bit.

But until then? She simply just giggled right back]

Well, I'm glad you do! Us long haired people gotta stick together, it can be quite difficult to manage hair like ours!

[And she looks so proud of it too!]

_{[It's entirely justified to want to clean Wrath up a bit. He kind of has that perpetual rolled-in-the-dirt look going on.]

[But he seems pleased as punch that this human who he's met in person only once so far seems to like him so much.]}

Yeah!

We gotta!

Oh-- also, this is my large purple canine, Truck.

_{[The Granbull boofs, and accordingly begins to sniff at Mabel's hair.]}

[On the day of February 14th, should they look at their communicator, they might see a message from one young Mabel Pines!]

Hey, you! You there! Yes, I’m talking to you! I’m just here to wish you a super duper Happy Valentine’s Day! May you a lot of fun and candy from everyone around you!

Because I know you definitely deserve it!

???

what is a valentime

What do you mean you don't know what Valentine's Day is?! You know we gotta fix this right away, right?!

[No seriously, how does he not know???]

sory i have nott heared of it

is it 1 of thos holly days??

_{[Wrath had only started getting familiar with the concept of holidays after arriving here. And so far the only ones he's been told of are Halloween and Christmas.]}

Yes, yes it is! And it's one of those holidays that you should definitely remember! And especially for the ones you love too!

[BECAUSE LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP ARE SUPER IMPORTANT OKAY???]

tel me mor

is it a dress up holly day or a get presents holly day

Neither! It's a day where you give people a bunch of chocolate and sweets until they start puking! And it's all in the name of friendship and love!

[Just saying]

_{[Well, he does like chocolate and sweets! But...]}

what is puking

_{[This is not a word he's heard used before. By some miracle, he's avoided getting sick beyond catching the usual winter crud.]}

[ . . . . . . . . . .

There are not enough dots in the world for Mabel to comprehend what she just read]

Hey, Wrath, can I ask you a question? You weren't home schooled, were you?

[No, seriously, he wasn't that sheltered was he???]

_{[Oh Mabel you sweet summer child]}

um i supose i was at home when i lerned how 2 rede and wryte if that is what u mean

but that waznt vere long ago

like

mayb 5 months ago

y??

[ . . . . . . . . . . ]

And what did you do before that?

[Was she talking to a wild child here?]

_{[SHE CERTAINLY IS]}

i ran arownd with my pokymon and did important work lyk helping 2 clean the cafyteria

_{[... and stealing OTHER peoples' Pokemon, but he knows THAT job is a secret. And he doesn't want to tell Mabel that and get himself in a big ol' heap of trouble.]

[On the other hand, he's willing to tell her:]}

and ran away from the polyse alot

haha

they r slow

[again, Mabel just kept on raising her eyebrows at him]

Well, the important thing is that you're now safe and sound right? And you got some friends that wouldn't mind helping you out now!

[....Or at least, she really hopes his 'friends' are really his friends]

_{[By some miracle, Wrath has actually managed to fall into a pretty good crop of real, genuine friends.]

[Which, well, HE NEVER MANAGED TO DO IN CANON, SO, HE'S IN A PRETTY GOOD PLACE NOW ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.]}

o yes i hav mane vere good friends!

lyk u!

[And here, Mabel really has no idea exactly how Wrath managed to survive with friends like those but...!]

Awww, now you're making me blush! You really know how to woo a girl, don't you?

_{[Well, in the long run... he didn't.]}

i am good at wooing

_{[After all, he howls a lot.]}

[Envy's not planning on staying in this city long. But since it wasn't like they'd been told they had to leave Ecruteak once the battle was over...]

[The Burned Tower looms over the two of them. Not as much as it would if it were whole, but it's...a pretty darkly 'looming' sort of building, even in the daylight.]

[Which makes it the perfect cool place to show Wrath while the younger homunculus is outside of Goldenrod for once.]

Okay, so watch the floor. Remember that mission where we had to set that fire and then check through the house after? I think it's worse than that in here.

If we fall through the floor and die, Lust'd kill me again when we came back.

_{[Wrath nods, standing on the tips of his toes to peep into one of the broken windows. He remembers that mission. And he ALSO remembers:]}

Lust already killed me once.

Has she ever killed you before?

It's not very nice.

Well...once or twice. If I was having to fake my own death she could help out with that.

Never because she was pissed off, but that doesn't mean she couldn't. Although I guess she'd be more likely to not share any of her choco-woah!

[As he'd started in through the door, pulling his flashlight out of his bag (even in the daytime, this place is pretty gloomy), he'd very nearly tripped over a Rattata. Which, luckily, decides to scurry back into the darkness rather than attach itself to his leg with its teeth. Balance regained, he shines the beam around.]

I haven't been in here in years.

_{[Wrath sniffs slightly. He's long since 'gotten over' his and Lust's brief but violent time spent as enemies, but Homunculi are nothing if not petty grudge-holders. >:c Of course she never killed Envy because she was mad at him...]

[But he swaps the pout out for laughing as the Rattata skitters over Envy's feet and disappears into the shadows.]}

What was it like last time?

Were you the one who set it on fire?

[Envy lets out a bark of a laugh, bending one arm up and flipping his hand in an Elaborate Envy Shrug. He grins at Wrath over his shoulder.]

Maybe I did.

But nah, place has been burned down for like a hundred years. Last time I was here...it was in the fall, I think, and there were leaves everywhere. It hasn't changed much on the inside.

There's some ladders further in, you wanna see the basement?

Yeah!

_{[You'd think he'd dislike basements more, after having been locked in one for the better part of two months.]

[But he pretty much bounced back from that like a rubber band.]

[If only ALL his bad experiences went away so quickly.]}

Maybe there's abandoned human treasures down there.

Who knows? I didn't find any last time, but I wasn't really looking for it.

This place was important, I bet we could find something.

[Homunculi: not exactly respectful of potentially sacred artifacts.]

[Envy picks his way across the creaking floor, figuring Wrath will follow as he heads towards the back, where a somewhat precarious ladder leads down towards the basement.]

[Something that sounds almost like fabric rustles nearby, but Envy doesn't pay it much mind. Probably another Rattata building a nest or something, not even worth shining the flashlight at.]

[But the two homunculi are being WATCHED.]

_{[Wrath does indeed follow, matching Envy step for step. Not so unlike he always had just after joining the other Homunculi in the first place.]

[He does, however, stop and tilt his head at the rustle. He's always had a sharp sense for out-of-place sounds.]

[He lingers at the top of the ladder for a second or two before continuing on after Envy.]}

[For the moment, nothing comes of the rustling sound.]

[Although if Wrath keeps listening...it seems to follow them down the ladder, a minute or so behind.]

[Not that whatever it is is visible. Once they're down in the basement, there's even less sunlight filtering in, and it already wasn't a whole lot. Envy sweeps the beam around at the floor and walls, but not back at the ladder.]

Okay, so now that we're down, where d'you think we'd find some treasure?

_{[Wrath loves chasing Rattatas, but he loves doing things with big brother even more, so although he occasionally catches the rustling, his interest is mostly in whatever Envy illuminates with the flashlight beam.]

[He's excited!]}

In the dirt!

_{[Which he promptly throws himself down and starts to dig in. It's thick and silty-- mostly undisturbed by trainer presence. Even if the place is open to the public, not that many people actually go down to mess around in the basement.]}

[Envy had tried to call Lust. No answer.]

[He had tried to call Henry. No answer.]

[It's taking forever to dial all these numbers, but there's one more person who might be at the house and who might be able to answer.]

[One...button...at a time....THERE.]

Wrath, Wrath are you there? C'mon, I need someone to be able to answer!

[The camera is pointed directly up at the sky, and Envy's very small head and shoulders are in the frame. He can't get much more of himself into it while still being able to see the screen. He's not looking particularly happy.]

_{[FORTUNATELY, Wrath happens to have his 'Gear on hand.]

[I say 'fortunately' because half the time, calling Wrath is gambling with fate. He leaves it behind while running off to play constantly.]

[But today... fate is in Envy's favor.]

[The video blips on, and there's Wrath!]

[He is distinctly NOT tiny, and he squints and tilts his head. He's already encountered Lust this morning, so he knows what's going on... but you never know over the tiny 'Gear screen!]}

Are you small or just far away?

[While it's a relief to see Wrath not tiny--who KNOWS what would happen?--it'd be a lie to say that Envy's not a little jealous.]

[This has been a hell of a morning already, and that's just from getting out of the sleeping bag.]

What--of course I'm small, if I wasn't I'd be holding the 'Gear like normal.

What's going on over there?

_{[A tiny Wrath would probably just straight up NEVER BE FOUND until everyone turned back to normal and suddenly there would be a thrashing lump clawing its way upwards out of the lawn or something. Or jammed into a vent somewhere in the house.]

[Either way, he seems surprisingly calm given what's been happening, and as he's speaking, there's a crackle of plastic as he very nonchalantly unwraps a stick of string-cheese.]}

Lust is small too.

She doesn't like it very much.

I'm still big, though.

She told me to sit here for awhile to make sure I don't step on her.

_{[He bites off the top of the string cheese without bothering to peel any strips off. Like an animal.]}

Yeah, do that. Sit right there.

What about Henry? Was he at the house when this happened?

[Hopefully he hadn't been walking home from work in the middle of the night when it hit--when had it hit?]

Edited 2017-07-13 02:31 (UTC)

Oh, yeah.

Your fat yellow rat went by with him awhile ago.

_{[Guglhopf ate Henry, Envy.]}

[...oh god what if Guglhopf did eat Henry. What if he'd decided he looked like a cookie or something??]

...was he hurt or anything? Did you talk to him?

Mm... no.

He seemed busy.

_{[He polishes off the rest of the cheese stick, then reaches for another one.]}

[ It had been two days since he had returned from his badge trip and returned to the Rocket Labs. Two days since he had seen that the Volcarona, the Sun Pokemon, being held there had worsened since his departure.

He owed Team Rocket for giving him his Pokemon. But his faith taught him of the divine nature of the Sun, and beings born from it. Even if it was a moth, the Volcarona was a Blessed creature. To see it in such conditions...every time it looked at him, he felt God's eyes fix upon him. He had never feared God before. Even when Valtiel possessed him he hadn't been afraid of Her judgement, even when he knew She would punish him for the suffering he caused - She would punish him but She would be understanding. But whenever the Volcarona looked at him, in between it's pained thrashing and screaming, he felt cold dread grip his heart.

It had taken a while, to try and figure out what to say to Wrath. Wrath had claimed him as 'his human'...but had stressed the importance of being a part of the team. When they spoke on it quietly after meetings, Wrath didn't seem to really...think too greatly about what Team Rocket did. He simply followed and did as he was told. At least, that's what Walter hoped. Ignorance was one thing. If Wrath knew and simply didn't care, then that was an entirely different problem.

Walter was still the Conjurer. He still believed, unshakably, that God was sleeping, aware of the world. And that if he served Her well, She would love him and protect him. But to stand by as Her emissary, Her representative in this world, was tortured and tormented...it was worse than any murder he had committed. ]

Wrath.

I need to ask you some questions.

Edited 2017-07-22 00:18 (UTC)

_{[Wrath's availability on the 'Gear is erratic at best. He frequently leaves it in his room, or in Sharkhaus.]

[Or hears it going off but is too busy playing with something else to bother answering.]

[Today, though, he picks up pretty quick.]}

What kinds of questions?

Questions about teams. [ He paused, thinking of what words to use. ]

What is so important, about being in a team?

There's strength and safety in numbers, and when you have a team, you're taken care of. You belong.

What if you do not trust the majority of the team. Or you have a different team, who you trust in more.

_{[Wrath thinks about it for a minute.]

[He's not actually sure 'trust' has ever really been part of the equation... after all, backstabbing one another to various degrees for points with the Master had SORT of been an expectation. If you screwed something up, there was no guarantee you'd be covered for. Any time that happened, it was a huge favor and you'd better damn well be grateful.]}

Well, you should never trust a majority of people anyway.

Humans are very fickle.

So loyalty is not part of being in a team.

You're not cared for. And you cannot rely on them. [ Being in a team...was sounding more like being in the Order. ]

_{[Wrath blinks his big baby-blue eyes at Walter as though they're talking about cloud shapes and not the intricacies of social relationships in homo sapiens.]}

What does loyalty have to do with trust?

_{[Wrath likes being able to trust people.]

[But the way he learned loyalty was through fear.]}

Team Rocket does take care of me and I do rely on them.

_{[The eyes narrow a little. He doesn't quite have the eloquence to put his finger on it verbally, but he doesn't like the way Walter says "them" when talking about the Team. Is he not a Rocket too?]}

[ Walter hummed thoughtfully. ]

How do you trust someone without loyalty? My Pokemon are loyal to me, so I trust them to do as I ask and to protect me.

Other Rockets are not loyal. I've heard them talk. And one has attempted to steal my Pokemon from me in the base. Why should I trust them to do anything, should I need them?

[ The Order he had been loyal to, from fear and brainwashing. But he knew, he had always known that they wouldn't protect him. It's why he saw no reason to spare them from their own teachings. He had served Team Rocket as commanded since he had arrived, and it was similar. The fear and brainwashing were gone but there was nothing else to otherwise bond him to them, and certain members; Handsome Jack, Felix, Vanitas; had taught him that just being a Rocket didn't promise anything.

In their place, he had learned a different kind of loyalty from his Pokemon. They liked him. They fought for him. And when he was in need, they protected him. He wasn't taken care of by Team Rocket. He didn't rely on them. His Pokemon did that. ]

What do you rely on them for, Wrath?

_{[Wrath wrinkles his nose. He doesn't. Like the way Walter is talking. At all.]

[He doesn't like the questions he's being asked.]

[He doesn't like thinking about these sorts of things at all.]}

Walter.

You're talking like a traitor.

[ He knows this tone. It's the same tone he'd heard when he'd questioned the priests. There's a pause that hangs in the air. ]

Are you going to answer my questions, Wrath?

[ Or was he going to try and punish him. He felt eerily calm. ]

_{[He folds his arms, stubbornly.]}

No.

I don't like your questions.

[ Walter remained calm and thoughtful. ]

It does not matter if you like them or not.

But refusing to answer is also telling.

_{[Wrath, meanwhile, is growing red in the face and visibly more agitated.]}

I don't have to answer anything.

I got a promotion.

I outrank you!

You do.

And what will you do to me?

[ He's still calm. Eeriely so. Would Wrath try to hurt him? Turn his back on him? He felt something in his chest. His heart was beating but there was something else, something familiar in his mind.

Don't trust them. They'll disappoint. ]

Edited 2017-08-15 23:18 (UTC)

I order you to not ask me any more questions!

I'M the one who should ask questions!

So there!

_{[And then he folds his arms.]

[That settles it!]}

Very well.

[ And he cut off the call. There was no point continuing it. He'd asked his questions and had gotten...a response. And although the response he had gotten had done nothing to actually answer what he had asked, it opened his eyes in a different way. He saw Wrath in a different, harsher light. ]

You still hanging around base?

I just got back to Goldenrod. Anything interesting going on?

ya i am heer!!!!!!!

i fownd a rely grate rokk the othr day!!!!!!!!!!!!

do u want 2 c it

[A really 'grate rokk' huh?]

Definitely.

Let's see this rock.

_{[A picture comes through-- a blurry shot of, yes, a rock. It's got lots of pointy bits and a splash of yellow paint on it, and some moss.]}

do u c it

Is that an arts and crafts project or something?

no i fownd it

it mite b worth alot of mone

but mostle i just thynk its nice

did u find ane nice thyngs on yor travls

Huh.

Fair enough.

Outside of some Pokemon, no. I did steal a few Great Balls but most of the stuff people had was kind of lame.

aw

what pokymons did u get

r they gud 1s

Yeah I got some really good ones.

Hold on.

[After a moment Wrath will receive several pictures. A Gible, Salazzle, Typhlosion, Steenee, Totodile, Croagunk, Gloom, Diggersby and Zorua.

He's been a busy boy in the weeks he was gone.]

_{[Wrath excitedly opens the picture, and while his excitement isn't immediately visible due to the fact that they're texting and not on video, oh boy, he IS excited to see that selection!]}

WAO!!!!!

U STOLL SOM RELY GOOD 1S!!!!!

THAT IS A LOTT

[To be honest only a couple where stolen; the rest he actually battled.

But he's content to let Wrath think otherwise.]

What can I say? I'm dedicated to the cause!

_{[As a PROMOTED INDIVIDUAL, Wrath knows exactly what he should do! You're supposed to praise people when they do a good job. It keeps morale up!]}

VARY GOOD JOB

U R AN ASSETT 2 THE TEME

_{[A pause.]}

IM PROWD OF U

_{[Hey, he's just saying what he always wished somebody would tell him...]}

[Oh man this is one of the most hilarious things Vanitas has ever had said to him!...

And also the first time he's ever had someone be proud of him. That's..weird.

Why does..no. That's stupid. He doesn't care if someone is proud of him.]

Aw you're too kind, boss~

_{[Yeah it's def. stupid Vanitas, no need to think on it further.]}

I AM JUST KIND ENUF THANK U

[Emotions are gross and useless okay.]

You up to anything interesting? Need an extra pair of hands?

I HAV 2 GO ON A TRIP SOON

MAYB U CAN COM WITH ME WHEN I DO

(ITS 4 THE PLAN)

I'd totally be down for that.

Just let me know when and where, boss~

Hello Wrath. Do you know what happens to the Pokemon we steal for Team Rocket?

[ As usual, Walter didn't beat around the bush after the initial nicities. He wanted...well, he wanted to free Alessa. But in the meantime, he wanted to be doing something. He wanted to cause trouble for the Rockets. He wanted to upset them. He wanted to cause delays and to trip them up. And the closest Rocket he knew of authority was Wrath.

In another life, he would have recognised this as wanting to be difficult. Maybe a touch defiant. ]

We steal strong Pokemon to make us stronger.

_{[His (vague, because no, of course he doesn't actually know what's done with the majority of stolen Pokemon aside from the ones that are given to team members to train and battle with) answer comes fairly fast, but he doesn't quite seem to be under any pretenses like he was last time. He's been getting slowly more aware that Walter doesn't seem to like the Team very much.]}

And the weak Pokemon? Or the ones we do not use in battle?

Those get given to the Grunts. The higher you rank, the better Pokemon you get.

_{[Even he knows that the goons get Rattatas and Zubats.]}

Why are you asking me these questions?

The new recruits get the same species of Pokemon. But the variety we steal is much more than those basic species.

Have you been in the Labs?

[ He couldn't lie...but he could ignore the question. A grand achievement for Walter ]

No. I work in the field.

Tell me why you're asking these questions!

_{[He remembers how it was when Lust turned traitor. It started with questions. Sloth told him so.]}

You're my superior. If I have questions, I was told to ask you.

You couldn't answer all that I asked last time, so I thought I would keep my questions simpler this time.

Well, I'm not an Admin.

I don't have the answer to everything.

_{[He sounds defensive, because he kind of is. In many ways Wrath is a naiive boy. But he knows Walter isn't asking him these questions out of innocent curiosity.]}

I'm aware. You will refuse to answer, if I ask the same questions I did last time.

Why do you keep certain Pokemon for yourself, Wrath, instead of handing them all over to the Admins and to the team? [ He knows that Wrath has kept Pokemon for himself. But was there any rhyme or reason to it? ]

I keep the ones I like! Or the ones that the Admins give to me!

_{[Because he hadn't exactly chosen to keep Dirty.]}

I see.

[ He gives Wrath a moment as he thinks that over. It fitted with what he had seen of Wrath's team. ]

You do not ask many questions of Team Rocket yourself. You simply do as told.

Yes!

_{[He says this emphatically, as though Walter had finally gotten the correct answer to a math question.]}

I do what I'm told!

That's what you do in a team! You all do what you're told and everything works out!

And if you don't, you get punished because that's not what you do in a team!

So you do not think about what you want, unless it is what Pokemon you keep for yourself. Nor do you think about what it is we do.

If they asked you to take my Pokemon as a punishment, or to steal Envy's Pokemon, you would do it. For the Team.

They wouldn't.

They wouldn't tell us to steal from ourselves.

_{[And Envy... well... well... Wrath has never been commanded to steal from any one specific person. He's always been able to choose who, even if he couldn't simply choose not to steal.]

[The fact that he has to think about it at all rankles him, though, and he's scowling now.]}

That wouldn't make any sense.

Yet, a Team Rocket member have attempted to steal my Pokemon, in the Headquarters. When I last brought that up, you ignored it.

And Envy?

[ He didn't cover that part at all. ]

_{[The boy's nostrils flare. He doesn't really have the vocabulary to put words to what he knows Walter is doing. It's frustrating-- because Wrath has a lot of strong feelings about things, and not a whole lot of language to describe them with.]

[The curse of being technically being a three year old with little to no understanding of the world.]}

Did the admins tell that Team Rocket member to steal your Pokemon? Or were they just being mean? Some team members are mean, you know. That doesn't mean that we're supposed to steal from each other.

And I can steal from Envy.

I've done it before.

_{[He'd been caught and forced to give back the wallet pretty much immediately. Which is actually a big reason why he's not worried about it-- the thought of Team Rocket being able to actually harm Envy or his Pokemon doesn't even compute in his head. Envy's just too powerful.]}

But they wouldn't ask me to.

Why would they? There are plenty of strong Pokemon out there to steal without going to ONE specific person!

And anyway, you're not even listening to me. You're just asking questions you already decided you know! Because-- _{[He pauses, searching for a reason why Walter could possibly have decided to hate Team Rocket. The 'hurting and mistreating Pokemon and people' bit doesn't occur to him-- that's all he's ever known and all he's ever been used for. So instead...]} --because you don't like me anymore!

_{[Yeah that's totally it.]}

[ Walter shook his head. ]

I do not dislike you, Wrath. I still enjoy your company. You're not mean to me. But I want you to think about what we do for Team Rocket, and if it is what you want to do.

[ If he truly disliked Wrath, he wouldn't be pushing him like this. He'd be finding loopholes to annoy and anger the Admins themselves. Which he was but in a more subtle way. He thinks, choosing his next words carefully. ]

You never answered why I should be loyal to people who would be mean to me. I was loyal to a group once who were like that. They hurt me often. They put me into very small cells. And they hurt every person I'd known. So I repaid them for both their kindness, and their cruelty. [ He completed the ritual in return for them providing him with food and shelter at the orphanage. And he used them for it, to repay for his suffering at their hands. ]

_{[The boy puffs as Walter speaks. He looks livid, but he doesn't interrupt. Walter has a calm and decisive way of talking that makes it difficult to.]

[The things Walter describes are not alien to him-- no, those words make perfect sense to Wrath, he already knew that they both came from cruel masters. The part he doesn't understand is why Walter would choose to dislike their new team when it was comparatively so much better! HOW????]

[When he does speak, it's short and angry, breathless. He pauses sometimes, struggling with the words.]}

Because if you're not loyal, they're even meaner. Why would you want that?

Here they don't put us in small cells or hurt us. They don't even ask us to kill humans!

They take care of me and tell me I'm good when I do my missions. It's not like the team I was in before-- we were always hurting.

But to them I'm good. They say so. They say, 'Good job, Private Wrath!' sometimes. That's not like my old team either-- even if we did as we were told, we were still bad and not real. I was always scared. So I don't give them a reason to do that! It's not hard! I just do my job!

THAT'S why I'm loyal.

Because maybe I was good all along and my old master was wrong and Team Rocket is right.

Why would I give that up?

That would be stupid!

Disloyalty is stupid!

[ Walter paid clear attention to Wrath, still remaining calm. When he spoke, his voice was soft, and he was clearly taking time to think his words carefully. ]

Wrath, I can't speak for how you were before I met you. I do not mean that you were bad, or not real - but because I was the same. I killed other people. For most, I felt nothing. For others... [ He shook his head slowly. This wasn't the time. He continued, a little slower as this was still difficult for him to say. ] But...I think you are good. You care for your Pokemon, and treat them well. And...you have been good company with me. I'm not...good, at this. At expressing this. But I told you before that your memories are yours. I think you are real. ...You matter. If you didn't matter to me, I wouldn't talk to you about this.

Team Rocket are like our old masters. Not to us. To the Pokemon we steal for them. They hurt them greatly, Wrath. They put them in little cells for months. It does not matter, if a Pokemon is obedient or loyal. When they cannot use it anymore, when it is too broken to give them anything, they maim it so they can sell it's body parts and abandon what is left.

I'm tired of it. Of being told to hurt things, because I 'have to', or because I might be punished. And there is another way.

WHA-THUD!

Sometimes Wrath was just hard to see. He wore dark clothes and he had a huge mass of dark hair and when you're wheeling out of the office in a blind dissociative panic because you dreamed about your neighbor's giant warped face taking up the entirety of the back room of the Pokemon Center, it can be hard to see someone who looks like that crouching in the fucking hallway like a goblin.

And so Henry promptly appeared and then hit the floor, joining Wrath down in the below with a loud groan. He didn't have to guess who he tripped over.

"Sorry, Wrath."

It's true.

Wrath is perfectly camouflaged in the darkness.

That perfect camouflage can be a double-edged sword. Case in point: this exact situation.

The little monster lets out something between a grunt and a shrill, indignant note, skittering to the side of the hall with his back arched like a cat. He no longer has his weird, awful Homunculus eyes, so they thankfully do not turn into two balefully glowing ORBS as they're directed back at Henry.

He does, however, say "That's okay."

But it's in that kind of ominous Wrath way where you can't really tell if it's actually okay or not.

Henry remained on the floor. His head was spinning and his heart was still thumping and Wrath's ominous reassurance wasn't very...reassuring.

"What are you doing out in the middle of the hall? It's d--" Henry stopped speaking and blinked into the dark. "I was going to say dangerous. Wow."

Dangerous?

_{[He considers that for a moment... then shakes his head dismissively. Because this hallway is super NOT dangerous. :T]

[He does, however, answer Henry's question.]}

I saw terrible things downstairs in front of my closed eyes.

So I was going to scratch at Lust's door until she let me in.

You had a bad dream too, huh?

_{[He never really thought about what Wrath might dream about. Still reeling from his own terrible visions in front of his closed eyes, he propped himself up on his hands and actually looked in the direction of the living mop's voice.]}

You okay? Do you, uh, want to talk about it? I mean...I'm already awake.

_{[Whatever snake-filled breadscape Wrath would describe to him would be a welcome thought to chase away his own nightmare.]}

_{[Tired of standing there in that weird arch, Wrath finally sits down. His head is still tilted.]}

If we talk up here, Lust will wake up and be cross.

_{[But scratching at the door until she let him in was okay, apparently.]}

Edited 2017-10-07 07:03 (UTC)

_{[Henry makes a humming sound. That was true. He doubted Lust would be that annoyed but Wrath didn't seem to be too into the idea. Henry finally stands and fumbles around for the hallway light. He didn't want to trip again.]}

You wanna go downstairs? I can make waffle sandwiches.

_{[Honestly, she probably wouldn't be.]

[But Wrath has probably driven Lust to scolding more than once during his 'it's 3 AM time to run up and down the upstairs hallway at breakneck speed' sessions.]

[He does, however, perk right up at the offer of FOOD.]}

Mm, yes.

_{[AND HE GOES RIGHT DOWN THE STAIRS. On all fours.]}

_{[Henry jumps a little when Wrath SCAMPERS by. He leans to watch and make sure he makes it to the bottom of the stairs before carefully following. He heads over to the freezer to grab some frozen waffles and chocolate syrup.]}

What did you dream about, Wrath?

_{[Once successfully on the lower floor, Wrath hops right into one of the kitchen chairs. He's definitely been acquainted with the freezer waffles-- they work the same way as toast does!]}

The Gate.

_{[He answers this matter-of-factly, almost as though Henry should just... know what he's talking about, but his voice is a little smaller than normal. He's still got a a little of that nightmare in him, making his heart race and muscles tense.]}

_{[With a ca-CHUNK the first set of waffles disappears into the toaster. Henry occupies himself by squeezing the syrup bottle and causing it to make little farting sounds. It was the little things that could ground him and keep him from drifting off into that other world.]

[Henry glances over his shoulder at Wrath, his brows scrunched in sleepy confusion.]}

The backyard gate?

_{[Wrath shakes his head, digging at a smudge of something-or-other that had been left on the table after whatever Lust had made for dinner earlier. She was always very tidy, but some had escaped her notice.]}

No.

The Gate.

I escaped from it a few times.

But it always wants me back.

_{[Henry's brows peak up in confusion. This sounded like something he should know. The Gate. The Gate...he thought...he had snatched those words out of the air once when his friends were talking. So long ago. But he had to be honest.]}

I'm sorry. I don't understand...is it a place back--

_{[He started to say home but he has a feeling that his friends consider THIS home now.]}

--back where you're from? The other world without Pokemon?

_{[He's right.]

[The Homunculi didn't have a 'home' back there-- they never had.]

[Here was the first place that had ever happened.]

[But Wrath shakes his head again. It didn't feel like it was from "back" there... it was from a space beyond it, beyond all places, between all places. Coming here had allowed him to eventually lull himself into a sense of security from Master and some of the other particularly frightening aspects of that world...]

[... But never from the Gate.]

[The Gate feels as close as ever.]}

No.

It's where I was before I was born.

I wasn't supposed to leave.

It will take me back, if it ever finds me again.

_{[He sighs, slouching over the table with his bony elbows bent out, chin resting on his arms.]}

I see it sometimes when my eyes are closed at night.

_{[Henry listens. He honestly hasn't asked Wrath too many questions. He just...didn't do well with kids. He never had things to ask before but now...how could you not ask questions when somebody tells you they remember the time before they were born?]

[The toaster popped up suddenly and Henry's spine stiffened like a pole. He fetched up the waffles, slapped one on a plate, smothered it with the chocolate syrup, and placed the other on top. The plate is scooted Wrath's way and Henry readies his own sandwich.]}

That sounds...scary.

_{[It sounded dumb to say something so blunt as he toed the very edge of a very deep pit of curiosity.]}

I don't remember anything from before I was born...

_{[The snap of the toaster startles them BOTH-- Wrath nearly pops up in the chair just like the waffle did in the toaster itself.]

[But the food being pushed over in front of him is enough to placate his jangling nerves for the moment, and he wastes no time before taking a big crunchy bite out of it. He'd honestly eat these things frozen if you let him, but toasty and covered in sweet stuff is a big upgrade.]}

Ith scary.

_{[He agrees through a mouthful of chocolate goo and waffle, fortunately swallowing before he continues.]}

The first time I was born, she didn't want me, so she put me back.

It's so dark.

I hate it.

_{[Henry drums his fingers on the counter, his eyes going from Wrath to the toaster, determined not to be startled again.]}

The first time...

_{[Right. Envy had explained a little about what he was. Like a Frankenstein. Or a zombie almost. But. Different. And clearly able to turn into a dragon because why not. But Envy never talked about it like this.]}

I'm sorry, Wrath...I have nightmares like that too--about bad places I've been. I wish we could both get away from that stuff.

_{[He steals another quick glance back at the toaster.]}

For the record, I'm glad you were born.

_{[Thank god Wrath can't turn into a dragon. There would be no survivors.]

[The boy is still munching away on his 'sandwich', but he looks surprised at Henry's compassionate declaration.]}

Why?

I upset you most of the time.

_{[He doesn't sound accusatory or defensive, just matter-of-fact. It doesn't take the sharpest tack to be able to tell that Henry is often on edge while speaking to the street urchin/wolverine fusion who comes and goes in the house. Not that they haven't come to an understanding and had generally good interactions ranging from neutral to positive, but still.]

[This is, ironically, one of the first times they've ever truly sat down and talked about something.]}

_{[Henry gives a helpless little shrug.]}

Just because we don't get along sometimes doesn't mean I don't like you or think you don't deserve to be here. Being alive is...really special.

_{[Henry runs his hand over a small lump of wax from one of his many frenzied rituals that was left behind on the counter.]}

I'm still learning to get along with people. It can be scary.

_{[Wrath listens, and for the VERY FIRST TIME... seems to intensely relate to exactly what Henry is saying.]

[He straightens up, rolling his shoulders in an expressive shrug and shaking his head.]}

Yeah, half the time I have no idea what anybody wants.

_{[Henry, in turn, snaps to attention. That was...such a human thing to say. Of course Henry considers all his housemates human but the conversations he's had with Wrath tend to be pretty stilted. He's never been around kids enough to watch that incredible transition take place where they stop spurting out random statements and then start sharing thoughts.]

[He's never really thought about what Wrath thinks about--specifically him considering other people's wants and needs.]

[The toaster pops up and startles a small strangled noise out of Henry.]}

Me neither...I think that's part of it. I won't know the right thing to say, they'll get angry, they'll laugh at me, or they'll just be one more person who thinks I'm too weird or stupid to talk to.

_{[Wrath generally doesn't spend a whole lot of time thinking about other peoples' wants and needs... mostly because they're always so confusing, and never seem to make a whole lot of sense.]

[It's so easy to get frustrated trying to untangle the ridiculous bundled web of "what humans want".]}

Most of the time people get angry at me.

When they laugh it isn't so bad.

I'd rather be mad than scared.

_{[Henry assembles his own sandwich in silence before joining Wrath at the table, sitting across from him.]}

Maybe...they just expect you to know things. And they don't know about...you know. How things are just different for you. And it's not fair for them to do that.

_{[He rubs an arm self-consciously, smearing chocolate syrup up one sleeve.]}

I'm guilty of that sometimes. I've been scared a lot lately and it's easy to get mad when I'm scared but that's not an excuse.

_{[Wrath nods again. He's noticed the way Henry's temper had gone from mild simmering irritation that was easily ignored to shouting more and more lately. Hadn't thought about it a whole lot, but he'd definitely stayed out of Henry's way more.]}

Sometimes when people think I should know things that I don't know, they ask me if I was raised in a barn.

But I wasn't.

I was raised from the dead and also there weren't any buildings.

_{[He pauses, mid-bite, and nearly snorts due to just...how blunt Wrath's little add-on to that statement is. Once he swallows, he shakes his head.]}

If they can tell you're a new-comer to this world they shouldn't expect you to grow up just like them. I met someone once who used to be a pony. Now she might have been raised in a barn but...the barn's not the thing.

_{[Henry stops himself before he makes things confusing.]}

It's just a thing people say when they're so sure everyone else thinks just like them that they think the only reason you wouldn't know the rules is because you grew up in a place without any. In a barn. Like an animal.

_{[He frowns down at his plate.]}

What a mean thing to say to a kid...I never thought about it that much.

_{[Wrath watches Henry muse, jaw working with mindless rhythm at his snack. It could be spooky, but weirdly enough they seem to be reaching some kind of understanding here, even if it seems to take the human awhile to reach his meandering point.]

[Once he finally does, Wrath nods slightly and shrugs his bony shoulders-- yeah, mm, that sounds about par for the course.]}

I guess some humans here are the same as back home after all.

_{[He says this mildly-- because truth be told, being compared to an animal is pretty flattering after the things he'd been told he was in the past. Nothing like looking up into the revolted eyes of a grown woman and hearing the words "This is my mistake to fix" in reference to you.]}

If I've learned anything from meeting so many people from so many worlds, I think humans are about the same no matter where you go.

_{[Henry stares down at the goo pooling in his plate.]}

I'll try to be easier to understand from now on. Maybe...maybe I can let you in on some human secrets too. Make them think you're a super expert.

_{[That doesn't seem so surprising either. A little depressing, but...]}

Human secrets?

Most human secrets I know are about when humans do bad things.

_{[:T like FORBIDDEN TRANSMUTATIONS THAT RAISE THE DEAD.]}

_{[Henry shakes his head and puffs out a hollow little laugh. While he isn't thinking of the same things Wrath is, he kind of gets it.]}

The secrets I'm talking about are how to pretend you've been paying attention to an entire conversation when someone asks you a question. Or how to keep people from asking you questions when you're busy. Or how much of a tip to leave at a restaurant.

Oh.

I could use some of that knowledge.

_{[He pauses, briefly wondering why Henry specified 'restaurants'. The only context he'd heard the word 'tip' used in was getting a hot tip from some informant somewhere.]}

_{[Finally there's a little smile from the scruffy photographer.]}

I got your back. Which means--I'll be looking out for you, making sure to help if it looks like you need it.

_{[Wrath smiles back. It's not one of his wild rabid goblin grins, it's a smaller one.]

[Henry is being nice. He likes Henry!]}

Me too.

I've already told the other human you don't like that he's not allowed to hurt you.

But I'll look out for you from other enemies, too, if you have any.

[ Outside his now abandoned home, empty of his possessions and Pokemon in readiness for this day, Walter calls in that area between the very early morning and dawn, when he knows it's extremely unlikely he will be answered. He doesn't want to talk directly to Wrath for this. It's easier to speak to static. Even then, his voice is soft and his words are chosen deliberately. ]

Wrath. There are some things I had to say to you before...what happens. We've talked a lot about teams and the humans we served. Or, we have mentioned the humans we were controlled by.

You serve team Rocket because you feel safe with them. A team will protect you, as long as you do what you are told. And they will punish you for disobedience, or for questioning their orders. When I was younger...I was raised by men who were like that. If I did not listen, they would imprison me, or beat me. I was too young and small to resist back then. Had I been that age when I was brought here, I would have been loyal to Team Rocket as well. Their punishments are weak, to what I have already endured, and they offer food and protection.

But I am not a child anymore. So I am not loyal to Team Rocket. They cannot offer me anything I cannot obtain for myself. When I first came here, I was confused and weak. Over time, I have learned. I trained my Pokemon. I obtained others and trained them. I have found a means to obtain a home and food. I do not need Team Rocket to protect me or to provide for me. I do not need them anymore. And their punishments do not frighten me.

But this does not mean that I don't want you. I would be loyal to you, Wrath. I do not dislike, or distrust you. What is about to happen is an act against Team Rocket. It is not against you. I think...I think, you have more potential than you realise, Wrath. I think that you do not truly need Team Rocket either. Your Pokemon like you for a reason; I have seen them with you. They would protect you. And you have a people in your home who would protect you as well.

I know that you will be angry with me but I need you to know this, Wrath. If you were in danger and called for my help, I would answer. If you called to talk, I would listen and respond.

...you're my friend. Not because we were both in Team Rocket. Because I like you. Even when people say you are a monster, or do not have memories. I think you are a person. And you matter. You matter to me.

[ That was extremely difficult to say. But it's been so long since he met and befriended Wrath and there were so many others he had lost before he had gotten to say this to them, and with this moment that was hung between him and the stars above, he could say it. He breathed. ]

But I know you are loyal to Team Rocket before you are loyal to me. But I want you to also know this; any Pokemon you have been given from Team Rocket has a chip inside it. The chip allows them to find you at any moment, and slightly alters the behaviour of those Pokemon. Do not forget this message.

Goodbye, Wrath. Take care.

[ He turned off the Gear and, as Wrath was the last person to contact, he dropped it and smashed it underfoot. He lit a cigarette (he'd picked up the habit due to the stress of "handling" Alessa) and lit it, taking a drag and watching the sky. He would trace the constellations until dawn, and then he would head to Goldenrod... ]

Edited 2017-12-04 21:56 (UTC)

IC Contact

Christmas Day Pidgey Post!

no subject

Valentine's Pidgey Post

no subject

[Backdated to the 21st]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[LETTER]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

Re: [Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video] ---> [Action]

no subject

no subject

no subject

[video]

[video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject