Walter nodded, pulling out his wallet. He intended for this to be his treat. He had invited her here, so he should pay shouldn't he? "Two cinnamon rolls, and two...macarons, please." He did pronounce it incorrectly; like macaroni, without the 'e' sound at the end. But the server understood and gave them what he had asked for.
Thankfully there was seating outside and the weather was dry and only a little chilly.
[She frowned at his wallet, frowned that he was paying for it when she'd ordered extra. But... he didn't seem to be kicking up a fuss about it. She thanked both the cashier, then turned on her heel to lead him outside.]
[After settling down at the table, she offered Walter a tender smile.]
Walter smiled shyly. Reed hopped onto the back of a vacant chair, only now paying attention to Angel's Pokemon and hooting at them.
He ate his cinnamon bun quietly, savouring the taste and remembering Rhys. He glanced up at Angel, thinking. He trusted her. But, how did he ask her what she thought of what had happened to him. He tore a small piece of the bun and offered it to Reed, who accepted it eagerly.
"Did you- I mean, what was...no. Nothing. Sorry." He mumbled, shyly ducking his head.
[Smoosh sat beneath the chair, staring at up at the Dartrix with some curiosity. The rest of her brethren might have been tempted by such an obvious meal, but she was a proper lady. She preferred only finishing fights, and the Dartrix had not initiated one. She did lift a paw however, and bat playfully at him.]
[Skagbait, on the other hand, lifted a paw only to attempt to silence him. The less people paid attention to her, the better.]
Walter? [Angel tilted her head to the side, studying the man intently.] What is it?
Reed looked SHOCKED that he would be told to shut up! He would've kicked up a royal fuss and drawn a lot of attention to himself and their table but thankfully Smoosh provided a distraction from Skagbait's faux pas. He leaned forward, flapping his wings once at Smoosh.
Walter swallowed and tried again. "What was your world like?" They had rarely spoken about their pasts but he wanted to try. After talking with others about their worlds and their experiences, he wanted to know about Angel.
[And for that, Skagbait was thankful. There would have been quite the quarrel, if not for his resistance. She settled down, a significant distance away, glancing about warily as Smoosh mewled for his attention.]
[Angel's reaction might have been more befitting of having ice water poured down her head. She stiffened up, a spine forcing her into absolute rigidity. Her fingers clenched against against the table, knuckles showing white against already pale flesh.]
[Sensing her distress, Skagbait rushed over, paw resting on her thigh and a growl emanating from her throat. She looked to Walter, then the Dartrix, before ultimately being settled by a gentle pat to her head.]
Walter immediately regretted asking the question. He drew his hands close to himself, as if trying to make himself smaller. The growl from Skagbait didn't help - he half expected him to lunge at him, despite working on his fear of dogs and his experience with a gentle Riolu. He breathed in, clasping his hands together.
"I've told others about my past. About the things that have happened to me. And they've been telling me that it was wrong, even when they've had similar lives. And. I wanted to know about you. I hope you haven't had a life like mine." He explained quietly. Reed looked up and fluttered to his arm, cooing softly. Walter lowered his gaze, lifting a hand to pet Reed and focus on the feel of his feathers.
[Noting her perceived target backing down, and feeling Angel's reassuring hand on her head, Skagbait settled down beside her chair. Her paw lifted, clutching at trainer's fingers for the time being. Angel accepted the touch, and focused on Walter.]
[There was something troubling Walter, the siren shifted in the slightest. She didn't reach out to him, hesitating over what he had said. He'd done something wrong.]
[ Walter stayed focused on Reed. He took a few breaths, gathering up the courage. He kept his voice low and soft. ]
I grew up in an orphanage run by the Order, in the woods of a place called Silent Hill. We were never meant to go far. The guards would hit us if we went too far into the woods or towards the town, even if we had God's permission.
When we were bad, or had said our prayers wrong, or...or if it would please God, we would be sent to the Water Prison. I hated it there. I hated it so much...but if it pleased God, I would put up with it. [ He began to stroke Reed's wings. Reed allowed it, even spreading a wing for Walter to brush his fingers over the underside. ]
I was six the first time I was sent there. The cells were small and damp and cold, with grey walls and iron doors. They were always watching. The guards, from a small hole in the wall. They wouldn't let us out for days. For anything; for food or water. [ He was half there again, trapped in a small, horrid cell, so small and weak. The other half of him was entirely focused on his Pokemon, as a tether out of his thoughts. ] Not everyone would come back from the prison.
I- I thought it was how life was. But people have been saying it shouldn't have been t-that way. [ The words were catching in his throat, so he stopped there. He took more deep breaths. Thankfully Reed had come to know Walter's 'moments' like this and fluttered closer, cooing and pressing his head under Walter's chin. ]
[Angel listened quietly as Walter spoke. She did her best to maintain her composure, but the longer he went on, the more Angel tensed up. By the time he reached the end of his tale, she sat ramrod straight, with her fists clenched at her side. It was far too close to her own upbringing, too similar to the horrors that she had faced.]
[The more uncomfortable Angel grew, the closer the Riolu crept. Eventually, Skagbait pushed herself beneath one of Angel's hands -- if she couldn't attack whoever it was hurting Angel, then she could at least provide comfort.]
[It took her nearly a minute to speak after Walter was done. In that time, she couldn't meet his eyes. Instead, she stared out, willing herself not to tear up, not to draw her attention away from what she did not doubt was a painful revelation.]
They are right. It should not have been that way, Walter. [She drew in a deep breath.] But sometimes that is the way. People are cruel, and I think you and I know that better than anyone else out there.
You and I. Walter slowly lifted his head, managing to resurface from those awful memories. Another person he had grown...close to, admitting that they had suffered at the hands of others. When he was younger, he would've cried and said it wasn't fair and asked why. As an adult, he knew why. It was exactly as Angel had said; people are cruel by default.
Hesitantly, he rested his hand on the table between them. He didn't want to touch her in case that upset her - and he knew she was upset. She looked too similar to the other orphans, tense and staring into space when the priests walked past them. But he didn't know how to offer comfort. He didn't know what to say. The silence hung over them as the people around them went about their day, oblivious to their conversation.
"I didn't...want you to have gone through something like this. But..." He hesitated, only continuing when Reed gave him an encouraging nuzzle. "I'm glad you understand. That we're not alone, in knowing this. And, I'm glad that we're here." With Pokemon. Her Riolu was acting very much like Walter's own Pokemon, often pressing up against him and gently coaxing him to focus on them when the memories became too much. And with others who understood; Jimmy, and Anders, and Heather. And each other.
He didn't want to ask or press for Angel to tell him exactly what happened to her. What mattered was that it had happened.
[Angel noted his hand, and hesitated only a second before clenching it tightly within her own. She wouldn't have guessed at his own internal battle -- the offered hand was more than enough for her. In turn, she hoped that the tight grip of her own hand was enough for him -- the traumas were too close to the back of her mind for Angel to truly be able to vocalize any amount of comfort.]
No one wants anyone to go through something like this. [It was like her conversation with Heather the day prior -- it was awful to know that she wasn't the only one that suffered. She would have gladly suffered years more torture if it meant keeping her new friends from those lives.]
He turned his hand, holding her hand back just as tightly. A wave of relief and comfort spread from their hands and he didn't hide a soft sigh. He smiled, soft and shy, eyes lowered at their hands. "You too." It was still so much. To know that he had support like this. But there was also a warmth that came from it as well, like he was being bathed in the sun's light, and it was one that he wanted to be more familiar with.
Reed was also pleased. Feeling his trainer relax, he hopped onto their hands and looked incredibly smug, puffing up his chest. Obiviously he was to credit here! The Dartrix's silly behaviour emboldened Walter's smile. "Reed." Thankfully Reed chose to hop further along Walter's arm to seek his approval.
[Angel broke contact after a moment, just a few seconds after the Dartrix hopped away. Her hand extended just a little further, stroking the top of the creatures head with a gentle touch, before retracting back to her lap.]
[With the more difficult conversation out of the way, Angel quickly turned her attention to the collection of treats that they had, then smiled up at Walter.]
Walter nodded, feeling more at ease with Angel now. He still felt nervous when he thought about how to be a 'good friend' to her. How to repay her kindness and consideration towards him. But right now, it was okay. He scratched under Reed's chin, before having more of his bun. Reed hopped back to the chair, so he could resume his playful back and forth with Smoosh.
It was only as he went to try the macaroon while watching the Pokemon play that Walter remembered what else he had. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, fluffy Mareep keychain, putting it beside Angel's plate. "I. I saw this, and thought of you. For your birthday." Hopefully it wasn't weird or creepy or too much-
[Smoosh, having felt just a little ignored in the midst of the revelations, was delighted to have someone's attention back on her. She reached up, paws batting playfully at the creature. Skagbait, on the other hand, took the sudden motion of the other Pokemon to mean that things were more relaxed, and retreated to her earlier vantage point.]
[Angel glanced down at the keychain passed off to her. She picked it up, showing it to both Smoosh (who attempted to bat at it) and Skagbait (who gave it a look and then glanced away). Her smile was wide and excited, and she quickly clipped it onto her gear.]
Walter bashfully smiled to himself. That went better than expected. "I'm glad you like it." Glad and relieved. He tried the macaron curiously. And had to pause. He thought it would've been crunchy or crumbly, with most of the flavour from the icing in the middle but it was soft and flavoursome throughout. It showed on his face.
Reed happily played with Smoosh, although when she successfully batted at his bang he hooted and fluffed up his feathers in offense. How dare she!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
brokencode) wrote2016-08-22 05:17 am
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Thankfully there was seating outside and the weather was dry and only a little chilly.
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[After settling down at the table, she offered Walter a tender smile.]
Thank you for this.
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He ate his cinnamon bun quietly, savouring the taste and remembering Rhys. He glanced up at Angel, thinking. He trusted her. But, how did he ask her what she thought of what had happened to him. He tore a small piece of the bun and offered it to Reed, who accepted it eagerly.
"Did you- I mean, what was...no. Nothing. Sorry." He mumbled, shyly ducking his head.
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[Skagbait, on the other hand, lifted a paw only to attempt to silence him. The less people paid attention to her, the better.]
Walter? [Angel tilted her head to the side, studying the man intently.] What is it?
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Walter swallowed and tried again. "What was your world like?" They had rarely spoken about their pasts but he wanted to try. After talking with others about their worlds and their experiences, he wanted to know about Angel.
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[Angel's reaction might have been more befitting of having ice water poured down her head. She stiffened up, a spine forcing her into absolute rigidity. Her fingers clenched against against the table, knuckles showing white against already pale flesh.]
[Sensing her distress, Skagbait rushed over, paw resting on her thigh and a growl emanating from her throat. She looked to Walter, then the Dartrix, before ultimately being settled by a gentle pat to her head.]
Why... Why do you ask?
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"I've told others about my past. About the things that have happened to me. And they've been telling me that it was wrong, even when they've had similar lives. And. I wanted to know about you. I hope you haven't had a life like mine." He explained quietly. Reed looked up and fluttered to his arm, cooing softly. Walter lowered his gaze, lifting a hand to pet Reed and focus on the feel of his feathers.
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[There was something troubling Walter, the siren shifted in the slightest. She didn't reach out to him, hesitating over what he had said. He'd done something wrong.]
What... happened, Walter?
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I grew up in an orphanage run by the Order, in the woods of a place called Silent Hill. We were never meant to go far. The guards would hit us if we went too far into the woods or towards the town, even if we had God's permission.
When we were bad, or had said our prayers wrong, or...or if it would please God, we would be sent to the Water Prison. I hated it there. I hated it so much...but if it pleased God, I would put up with it. [ He began to stroke Reed's wings. Reed allowed it, even spreading a wing for Walter to brush his fingers over the underside. ]
I was six the first time I was sent there. The cells were small and damp and cold, with grey walls and iron doors. They were always watching. The guards, from a small hole in the wall. They wouldn't let us out for days. For anything; for food or water. [ He was half there again, trapped in a small, horrid cell, so small and weak. The other half of him was entirely focused on his Pokemon, as a tether out of his thoughts. ] Not everyone would come back from the prison.
I- I thought it was how life was. But people have been saying it shouldn't have been t-that way. [ The words were catching in his throat, so he stopped there. He took more deep breaths. Thankfully Reed had come to know Walter's 'moments' like this and fluttered closer, cooing and pressing his head under Walter's chin. ]
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[The more uncomfortable Angel grew, the closer the Riolu crept. Eventually, Skagbait pushed herself beneath one of Angel's hands -- if she couldn't attack whoever it was hurting Angel, then she could at least provide comfort.]
[It took her nearly a minute to speak after Walter was done. In that time, she couldn't meet his eyes. Instead, she stared out, willing herself not to tear up, not to draw her attention away from what she did not doubt was a painful revelation.]
They are right. It should not have been that way, Walter. [She drew in a deep breath.] But sometimes that is the way. People are cruel, and I think you and I know that better than anyone else out there.
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Hesitantly, he rested his hand on the table between them. He didn't want to touch her in case that upset her - and he knew she was upset. She looked too similar to the other orphans, tense and staring into space when the priests walked past them. But he didn't know how to offer comfort. He didn't know what to say. The silence hung over them as the people around them went about their day, oblivious to their conversation.
"I didn't...want you to have gone through something like this. But..." He hesitated, only continuing when Reed gave him an encouraging nuzzle. "I'm glad you understand. That we're not alone, in knowing this. And, I'm glad that we're here." With Pokemon. Her Riolu was acting very much like Walter's own Pokemon, often pressing up against him and gently coaxing him to focus on them when the memories became too much. And with others who understood; Jimmy, and Anders, and Heather. And each other.
He didn't want to ask or press for Angel to tell him exactly what happened to her. What mattered was that it had happened.
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No one wants anyone to go through something like this. [It was like her conversation with Heather the day prior -- it was awful to know that she wasn't the only one that suffered. She would have gladly suffered years more torture if it meant keeping her new friends from those lives.]
We aren't alone. And... I'm here for you, Walter.
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Reed was also pleased. Feeling his trainer relax, he hopped onto their hands and looked incredibly smug, puffing up his chest. Obiviously he was to credit here! The Dartrix's silly behaviour emboldened Walter's smile. "Reed." Thankfully Reed chose to hop further along Walter's arm to seek his approval.
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[With the more difficult conversation out of the way, Angel quickly turned her attention to the collection of treats that they had, then smiled up at Walter.]
Shall we?
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It was only as he went to try the macaroon while watching the Pokemon play that Walter remembered what else he had. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, fluffy Mareep keychain, putting it beside Angel's plate.
"I. I saw this, and thought of you. For your birthday." Hopefully it wasn't weird or creepy or too much-
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[Angel glanced down at the keychain passed off to her. She picked it up, showing it to both Smoosh (who attempted to bat at it) and Skagbait (who gave it a look and then glanced away). Her smile was wide and excited, and she quickly clipped it onto her gear.]
It's perfect, Walter, thank you!
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Reed happily played with Smoosh, although when she successfully batted at his bang he hooted and fluffed up his feathers in offense. How dare she!