53 (Boat Builders)

[her_mouse_jesty]

[Video/Action for Olivine, especially the home that has definitely seen better days by this point. Minnie is quite busy at their hand-made house. With what, you may ask? Well, as typical, Yen Sid the Medicham is playing with the Pokegear, so when it flickers on, you see...





Well, the human version, anyway.]

All right, everyone! We've got a lot of work to do, and I won't have any slacking. We're going to have lots of guests staying over in the future, so we need to return this place to tip-top shape! Understand?

[There's a small bustle of growls - The smaller 'mons are out to help - Azumarril, Kirlia, Jolteon, Noctowl, and Seel. They all have cleaning equipment saddled on, such as rags, brushes, mops, buckets, soap, etc.]

Now, Mickey and Clarabelle will handle the washing, but we've got some flooding to clear out, and that'll be... Yen Sid!

[Uh-oh, he's been caught. She storms over, and snatches the Pokegear out of his hand, tsking.]

You're not going to slack off this time, mister! Now go join everyone else.

[Booo :| But off he goes. Minnie sighs, and looks at the Pokegear. It's hard to tell, but she's smiling.]

Well, hello everyone. I hope everyone's faring well now that the disasters are over. As you can see, we're going to clean up the damage as best we can. Once it's all spruced up, you're welcome to come and visit us and stay here in Olivine anytime. Heehee, is this what you call free advertising?

((OOC: art by mi amiga widdlez))

Comments

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

[This text comes hours later. Someone's spilled the beans.]

Is it about my name on the list?

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

[Whereas this text is an almost real-time response.]

You already know. How?

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

So it is.

Do you know why my name is there?

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

It is all Cobra Commander's doing, I am afraid.

I have *tried* to get you removed, Minnie. But I could not. And yet, someone within our ranks is already protecting you, having told Cobra Commander that he will "take care of you" while I believe he means those words far more literally than the Commander thinks. Personally, I suspect Ivan.

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

All I did was yell at him. If that's all it takes, then half of Johto should be under that list.

Ivan has already contacted me, saying he wants to come here and visit me and my friends. I'm allowing him that.

That said, if your continuance of trying to get me removed brings you under suspicion or harm from your superiors, then I'll have to insist you stop. I don't want you getting in trouble for my sake.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

Maybe *I* want to get in trouble for your sake. It would be worth it.

No matter. Ivan will protect you now. And if *he* gets in trouble because of it, then I will protect *him*.

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

[You can't see it, but she's all smiles now. You big softie.]

I feel very fortunate to have such brave knights protecting me. Thank you.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

[And you can't see it - nor can anyone, unless you're one of his Pokémon in his room - but he's crying his eyes out now.]

Please don't thank me.

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

You're a good man, Gorthan. You always prove it to me, even when you don't intend to.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

Please, Minnie. Don't.

I am not a man, and I am certainly not good.

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

You didn't have to try and warn me. You've made mistakes, you've caused damage, but that doesn't mean you can't earn redemption. I'm always going to see you as my dear friend, no matter what.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

You place way too much faith in me, Minnie. Way too much.

For one like me, there is no redemption. The dissonant music of chaos, the alluring contradictions of cruelty hold too much power over me.

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

I have no regrets with you. You'll find I am very stubborn when it comes to my beliefs. No matter what you say of yourself, I will continue to see you as a good man. You'll just have to accept that I like you.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

Trust me, Minnie. If I so much as I shared my daily schedule with you, you would soon grow to hate me.

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

We're both very stubborn when it comes to each other, it seems.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

So we are.

Minnie. How can you always see the good in everyone?

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

We were raised differently in worlds that valued different things. I want to have a life that ensures the happiness of everyone, not just my own. For that to happen, I must keep this faith. True happiness comes from the bonds we make with others.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

Even with those who were born to destroy happiness itself?

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

Who and what you were born as does not define your entire life. That is ultimately up to you.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

While I *could* change my life, my brothers and children do not enjoy the same luxury. To change in such a way would be a selfish act on my part. And I would lose them forever.

[Hell, he's already lost them, in a way.]

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

It is not selfish to desire happiness. A life without happiness is not much of a life at all. If you could be saved, I don't see why your brothers and children can't someday follow in your footsteps.

Private text.

[shakespearealien]

... I should not keep arguing with you, when in my heart, I agree with you entirely.

I'll get out of this, someday. Soon. Surely this cannot be a worse prison than the one I risk. And no body injury can hurt as deeply as those in my heart right now. And when I return to Evron, I will work on a different future for our race.

Private text.

[her_mouse_jesty]

That is the happiest news I could ever hear.