with knowledge comes great responsibility

[anythingforyou]

[What an absolute ordeal all of that was.

Today was certainly one hell of a day, that's for sure; they've managed to take care of another Guardian and gain it's trust (or at the very least, something resembling it), they managed to find Candice and manage to...well, maybe not get her back in a state that's altogether wanted, but ensure they managed to get her at least into a place where she could possibly regain herself. It will likely be a process, as such things are, but they've done their best, and they should have no regrets.

The center is definitely going to be a welcome reprieve for all of their suffering, at the very least. The Kompot is certainly more than enough to likely get everyone warmed back up and in a stable condition, along with the copious amount of blankets the locals have provided. They've got the time to rest and get ready for their next adventure.

Rest well, ye merry band of travelers. You've earned it.]

Comments

[fatalstrikes]

[i can't believe >FIGHT >PKMN >ITEM >RUN aren't options smh

This is not exactly what he signed up for, but Yuri can't just leave her here. He hesitates for a moment, looking at the sword like maybe it'll have some kind of advice on what the hell he should do here, but as usual the sword just stares at him. Thanks buddy, you're real helpful.

He approaches, then; he's not trying to be sneaky about it or anything so she can probably hear him before he speaks up.]

...I'd tell you to head inside, but I'm guessing you don't want to deal with everyone else right now.

[that probably includes you too, yuri?? but okay. sure.]

[heritrix]

[Oh god you're right, I had one job and I failed. TIME TO CAST MYSELF INTO THE OCEAN AS PENANCE.

But yes, Yuri's hit the nail on the head. She didn't exactly mean to break down sobbing like this, but now that she is she doesn't want anyone to see her, and that includes Yuri too. That she could hear him approaching gave her a little time to prepare herself. It's not enough to stop the uncontrollable waterworks, but she can at least get out an intelligible sentence, even if her voice is wobbly.]

Don't worry about me. [She sniffs, and swipes hard at her nose, peeking at him from where she's dropped her head against her knees.] I'll—I'll head back inside in a minute.

[fatalstrikes]

Yeah. I know you will.

[She'll head inside once she's ready to be seen again, no matter how long that takes.

Yuri moves after a moment, not to touch Rin or anything, but to sit down nearby. He's not looking at her, just staring up at the sky.]

...If you want to talk, I'll listen.

[heritrix]

[She wants to tell him to leave already, but that's her misery talking, and the hot shame of not being able to pull herself together. It's nothing against him. Does she want to talk, though? It's kind of hard to through the tears, but putting that aside she doesn't even know where to begin.

It takes several seconds for her to speak up, voice small, but encouraged by his presence. He's not looking at her, so she's... She's grateful for that; for allowing her to keep even a little of her dignity.]

...I don't know what to say. I don't even know why I'm crying like this.

[fatalstrikes]

[Yeah, he thought she might appreciate that much.]

Today was really hard on everyone. Seeing the people and Pokémon frozen like that, nearly being frozen... and then Candice and Uxie... I don't think anyone's handling it well.

[He's quiet for a moment.]

It's all bad, but is there some part of it that's bothering you more than the rest?

[heritrix]

[There is, and she's quiet again for the space of a few breaths.

...]

Candice. [Fingers trembling, Rin runs them over the fabric of her pants, brushing snow from her knees.] Or rather, her condition... Seeing her like that brought back some uncomfortable memories.

[fatalstrikes]

Memories...?

[Rin's seen something like this before? It's something that's so out there for Yuri he's still trying to process it, but if Rin's seen or experienced something like that... Yeah, he can definitely see how it'd mess her up.]

...Can I ask what those memories were?

[...you kinda just did, yuri...]

[heritrix]

[She can hear the gears in his head stalling, trying to make sense of it. It earns a prompter reply, bitten out and frustrated (though not necessarily with him).]

It's not the same thing, if that's what you're thinking. I don't know anyone who's had to start over from scratch like that, their previous identity and memories completely wiped out.

[fatalstrikes]

It's good that it's not exactly the same. That sort of thing...

[He trails off there, considering his words carefully before eventually lifting his shoulders a bit in a shrug, but not continuing.]

[heritrix]

[She gets the meaning behind his words; it's definitely disturbing. But she can't help but narrow her eyes at that, staring down at her shoes... and a million miles away in her own thoughts.]

It's terrible, yes... But I wouldn't call what happened to my mother good by comparison.

[fatalstrikes]

[Yuri tips his head a bit, waiting to see if Rin will elaborate on that. When she doesn't, he speaks up again.]

...What happened to your mother?

[heritrix]

[From the way she glances away, grimacing, it's clear mentioning her was an accidental slip. But she won't take it back now that it's out.]

There are plenty of other ways a person can be left incapable of taking care of themselves, like Candice was.

[And geez. It's been so long since she's thought about this; maybe that's why it's hitting her so hard. Finding the words to explain it to Yuri makes her chest ache all over again, so she keeps her face turned away from him.]

Accidents happen... And sometimes, things that aren't accidents at all. It doesn't matter. When a human brain doesn't get enough oxygen, the results can be just as damning either way.