Good morning, Angel. There's someone who can't wait to meet you.
[Guess what's small, white, fuzzy, and a pleasant subject of conversation though his voice doesn't sound nearly enthusiastic enough? The precious little Vulpix taking up most of the frame!]
I'm sorry I haven't contacted you about her sooner. Things have been... busy here.
[The tone of Anders' voice coming through her 'Gear was both startling and concerning. She approached it quickly, a thousand questions as to his well-being on her lips, but quickly found herself enamored by the creature waiting for her.]
[Anders used distract, it was super effective!]
It's precious, Anders. She's like a little cloud! [And so much less menacing than the one she'd met before. Funny how that worked out.]
[He should probably check up on people who were also stuck in that shithole. Don't mind the bloody bandages on his arm, the important thing here is everyone else's safety.]
Angel? Are you alright? Were any of your team injured? [Or worse, but he doesn't want to venture that out loud unless necessary.]
[Hi, Anders, guess who's paying more attention to the bloody bandages on his arm rather than what it was that Anders was saying. She had the decency to let him finish speaking, though she didn't actually listen to the words.]
Anders, what happened to you? Do you need assistance? Have you been to the Pokemon Center?
[It's early. Armin knows it is early, but he cannot really wait much longer.
He's still sleep-touseled and wearing his jammies, but there is not a trace of sleepiness in him. He's keeping his voice pitched low, but that is mostly so he won't be waking anyone else that might still be sleeping.]
Angel! Angel, I hope I'm not waking you up, but look.
[He presents his hands and there is a small, newly hatched Baile Oricorio sitting there, still blinking around slightly befuddled. There is a dark shaping moving behind Armin, Amadeus leaning in over his shoulder to hoot softly at his new daughter.]
[It had been nearly a year since her last day on Pandora, and while it had put her mind at ease, it hadn't blunted her instincts. The frantic beeping from her 'gear was not unlike the alerts that had roused her from her feverish naps in the control core. Upon hearing the noise, Angel jolted up, wide-awake or close to it.
The downside to her quick, instinctive reaction was that she was on high-alert. As she held her gear out, the panic on her face would be clear. When she spoke, there was a sense of urgency in her words.]
Armin, what's wr-- [She wasn't able to finish speaking before the little bird was presented to her. Her eyes went wide, chasing away those Pandoran ghosts that still haunted the girl.]
[He would have tried contacting her sooner, but this is the first time since he's regained consciousness in the hospital in Goldenrod that he's been strong enough to sit up long enough to compose a message.]
[ The message was read almost immediately, in the cave between Ecruteak and Mahogany town. It was swiped away almost immediately, the siren unwilling to deal with its implications just yet.
He was alive at least. it was a small comfort, if nothing else.
It took her another few days to finally leave the cave. Her journey was perilous to keep her mind off of the message. The journey had taken its toll on her, enough to put her to bed for a day and a half.
Blackthorn was likely 2 weeks out, the bulk of which would be spent in the cold. She needed all the rest she could get.
Which unfortunately meant that she finally had time to think. ]
You should have. I thought I would lose you forever. I cannot make that mistake again. I am sorry.
Attachment: 07121455.jpg [The image is of a small Aron, nestled in a pink blanket that is pretty clearly situated at the foot of Krieg's hospital bed. The little Pokémon is staring brightly at the camera with round blue eyes.]
Attachment: 08121930.jpg [The image is of a small, red, egg-shaped 'mon wrapped in a yellow blanket with white polka-dots. It seems to be sitting on Krieg's lap, which is covered by his hospital blanket. It's a rough-looking Darumaka. Its little yellow eyebrows are pretty ragged, and it's missing an eye. It's mostly covered by its blanket, and seems to be staring pretty vacantly at nothing.]
Attachment: 10121142.jpg [The photo is of Krieg's hand, resting on one of his blanket-covered knees. The Darumaka has both of its little hands on Krieg's thumb, as if holding it in place, and seems to be studying it intently. There's no accompanying text.]
Attachment: 11121301.jpg [This picture is an awkward selfie of Krieg's chin, shoulders, and part of his chest. He's sitting up in the reclining hospital bed, and the Darumaka has apparently decided his pecs make nice pillows because it has basically flattened itself against them.]
Attachment: 13121617.jpg [Another picture of the Darumaka and the baby Aron - this time they're both awake. The Aron is in the midst of affectionately headbutting the Darumaka, which seems pretty expressionless still. It does, however, look much less ragged than in all the previous photos Krieg has sent.]
It finally let the nurses take it for healing. THe IRon SKull went with.
Attachment: 14120614.jpg [A second awkward not!selfie with the Darumaka sleeping comfortably on Krieg's chest. His mouth and chin are all that can be seen of his face.]
I Don't know what to do with it. IT still doesn't like the nurses. It feels wrong to keep it.
Attachment: 15121505.jpg [The picture is of the back of Krieg's hand. The Darumaka has wrapped both of its little hands around either side of his and clung on, pressing its face into his palm.]
Attachment: 16120708.jpg [Another selfie, this time of Krieg's face. The light in the photo isn't the best, because it's still early. Krieg is laying down, and the Darumaka is curled up on his pillow in the crook of his neck and shoulder. His expression is somewhere between puzzled and resigned.]
THEy're letting me out today. I guess I have a new monster.]
[ Between the icy path set before her and the guilt she still carried, it wasn't untul she made it to Blackthorn City several days later that she even stopped to look at her gear, let alone respond.
Her message is clipped, and there are no accompanying images. ]
[It had been way too long since she'd spoken to Angel and honestly it was largely Cissnei's own fault. She'd been so caught up in tracking Walter down and making sure he was alright and then heading back to the islands with him in tow that she'd just put everything else on hold.
And she felt horrible because of it.
Being back on the islands allowed her to relax again and she finally started to reach out to everyone she hadn't heard from in awhile starting with the young woman in question. She's got her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, sunglasses perched on her head as she sits on the beach with Reno flopped over her shoulder batting at a very displeased Jangmo-o in her lap.]
[Where the blame fell depended largely on who you talked to. While Cissnei might have felt that it was her fault, Angel hadn't made much of an effort either. The prospect of their eventual hike had lifted her mood for a time, but like most things in Angel's life, it hadn't lasted.
Still, seeing Cissnei's face brought back the slightest hint of that hopeful glimmer. The smile that crossed her lips, small as it might have been, was genuine.]
I'm here. [Unlike Cissnei, however, Angel was alone. The Pokemon that usually gathered around her seemed strangely absent.] It is good to see you, my friend.
[Jack's response comes later in the day, delayed by distraction rather than anything else. She sends him a photo, and while she isn't smiling -- hasn't smiled in what feels like ages -- she's wearing the necklace proudly.]
[Apparently today is the day that Jean is going to barf his feelings all over the place. How he managed for over a year to keep everything in check and then have it erupt today is anyone's guess, but here it is: all his gooshy, confusing feelings.]
Hi, Angel. Happy Valentine's Day. I, uh... I love you.
[Gods, this is mortifying.]
I love you as a friend, and I'm also in love with you, but I know I'm not good enough for you. You deserve everything in the world and I can't give that to you, so I really, really hope you find someone who can. I know you don't feel the same way, and that's okay. I get it, I really do. More than anything, I want you to be happy.
[It's either a delivery or a snuck-into-her-bedroom-in-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning sort of Valentine's day surprise, depending on where these two are at in relation to each other on the actual day. Like last year, there is a box of one dozen chocolate cupcakes and a bouquet of flowers. Alongside the gifts is a note, handwritten, on a piece of cute stationery featuring a pair of adorable clefaries.]
The sun and the stars And the moon in the sky Can never compare To the light in your eyes
There is one (1) package in adorable wrapping paper underneath the tree for Angel.
To Angel
I hope you'll end joy this and that it will help keep you warm.
Yours sincerely, Armin
Angel's gift is soft and squishy and once the paper is off, it'll reveal a cute Meowth-printed hoodie/cloak, made of soft, soft fabrics, perfect for snuggling into.
[Angel also gets a gift from the Local Dorito Man. Guess what it is. It's an adorable Sylveon Kigu. Or pajamas. Whichever she feels like using it for. Plus the matching slippers.]
Angel, I know we don't talk much, but -- I figured you could use something to relax in. We all could. I hope it's all right.
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