bottlecaplogs | August Catch-all

[He might as well rip the bandage off eventually. Siffrin and Flowey can't avoid each other forever; they share a stupid guild, after all. To everyone's surprise, he volunteers for the Carts Before Charts quest when he hears Siffrin is already on board. If he's going to face them again, it might as well be while earning points and showing Ribombee how much of a good sport he is. ("See? I patched things up with Firepaw and Siffrin! Aren't I a peach?")]

Hey, buddy, you missed one. [From his throne atop the cart, Flowey uses a leaf to point at some salvageable wood that Siffrin missed. He never said he was going to be a complete sweetheart or anything.] Go on, fetch! I'll keep supervising the stuff we already gathered!

[The past little while in the Canopy has been... gloomy, with Firepaw gone. Everywhere around the Canopy, really, but particularly in the corner of it where most of the non-native Pokemon have ended up. Siffrin hasn't really wanted to spend time there! Stumbling around the woods gathering things and then dragging them even further away from the Canopy and getting too tired to think sounds kind of perfect, actually!]

[But while they knew they'd end up with someone else - the forest still isn't safe alone - they weren't necessarily expecting Flowey.]

[They are currently reminding themself that a. Flowey is a child (probably?? They're pretty sure, at this point??) and b. Flowey is also upset about Firepaw. They are having to remind themself of it a lot.]

Supervising. [Right.] ...you don't think a wild Pokemon will be more interested in a seed by himself than a bunch of logs?

[Despite what they say, they're resignedly unfastening themself from the cart anyway...]

Don't you know me by now? If something happens, then I'll just... Make them wish they were never born! Hee hee.

[...Usually, he would put on a scary face and a dramatic voice. He's half-assing it. He didn't even have bold, shaking text in his dialogue box.]

... Hey.

[He seems oddly serious.]

I was messing with you. Don't work too hard, idiot. It's not like Ribombee is going to give you a raise. You'll just end up getting... hurt.

[Don't say anything about definitely being good at making Siffrin wish they were never born, don't say -]

[Hang on.]

[Siffrin turns their head to look at Flowey, trying belatedly not to look too startled. Something about his expression settles their hackles down. Now they feel kind of embarrassed about letting him wind them up...]

[...they're not sure how to respond to that, actually? So they fall back on the usual:] Don't worry about me! I'm too good at taking naps to overwork myself.

[They haven't been good at taking naps in a long time. They don't like dreaming. It almost makes them miss the Tears, haha!!]

[But! They really are fine! If they couldn't handle the time loops, they can at least handle some totally normal hard work. And if Firepaw ended up in the clinic like that, and they haven't, then they're clearly still slacking plenty.]

And anyway, you're doing a lot too, aren't you?

[They've seen Flowey's name on quite a few sheets on the questboard this month already, even if he snuck in after Siffrin on this one.]

What do you care? [Of course, by voicing that, now it's easy for them to turn back on himself.]

Ha... It doesn't matter what happens to me. [This statement is presented neutrally-- as fact.] People would miss you. Some stupid people, I'm sure. But that's better than nothing.

[People would miss them...? Siffrin's first instinct is to think that obviously that's wrong, but -]

[Weirdly, maybe, a couple people would...?]

[...Flowey's right, though. They really shouldn't miss Siffrin. He would know; they're pretty sure he saw their wish, how Siffrin just can't~ manage~ to hold on to people~ even if they tell themself they care. Aaaand they don't want to think about this!]

...but. Firepaw would be upset, if he woke up and something had happened to you. [It's not that they weren't vaguely aware of Flowey and Firepaw's Big Fight, even if they were stuck in the clinic when it happened - kind of hard to miss the tension around the Canopy afterward! But they'd gotten the impression the two of them were patching it up?] And Lusamine, and Emporio...?

[And plenty of other people! They know they've seen Flowey palling around with other folks, even if their terrible memory means they aren't getting more names coming to mind. So if it's better than nothing, shouldn't it also matter for him? (...honestly, they'd kind of been assuming that Flowey was having a way easier time than them making friends, fights and tantrums aside.)]

Did you hit your head or something? [How far has he fallen that someone like Siffrin is offering him words of comfort?] Why are you being nice to ME? Did you forget that I did the unthinkable? ... I was only was warning you because you'd probably FORGET to ever rest if nobody told you.

[... They were wrong, anyway. Lusamine would find another project. Emporio would feel sad for a bit, because he's stupid, but he'd move on. And Firepaw...

... he's not waking up. Flowey isn't stupid enough to hope for otherwise.]

[...]

Maybe I did! Since I have such a bad memory!

But it'd be pretty embarrassing if you ended up in the clinic after warning me, right?

[Then Siffrin has to be silent for a few moments as they latch on to the piece of wood Flowey spotted. They haul it into the cart with their teeth - the lumber drops in with a dull thunk - and start harnessing themself back up.]

... you know, I figured you out.

You're struggling. Firepaw was your friend and now he's in a coma. And you CAN'T just loop back this time. Everything that happens is permanent now. You can't do ANYTHING! The time loop was hell, but it was hell you KNEW!

[Thus, he talks about his feelings the only way he knows how-- projection.]

Ha ha... isn't that sick? You never should've left it. Your friends... your 'family'. They were all right within your reach. And you let them go! And you're NEVER going to see them--

[He's losing steam. He drops the 'scary voice'.]

... again.

[...]

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Don't worry! I'll always remember that. [Even with their terrible memory! They're smiling, or maybe baring their teeth? Their face hurts, either way.]

[But... ~~unlike the other Siffrin~~ they never got called family. So that phrasing of Flowey's stands out. They crack their eye open and stare at him.]

...are we talking about your family now? Awkward!

[....urgh. It really is hard to remind themself that Flowey is a child. Deep breath in, deep breath out, Siffrin... look away. They heave themself forward against their harness, starting the cart rolling again with a creak.]

['Family'... he's sure there's something more there, but Siffrin deflects it. Very interesting.

He knows he's reaching, now, digging through hazy half-memories that aren't his, but the reaction he gets out of Siffrin is just so precious. Did he tell Firepaw he wants to be a better person? Perhaps. Does pissing someone off feel really good? Absolutely.]

Hee hee. You tried so hard to protect them... and you left them all behind. [He remembers their first meeting-- Siffrin couldn't handle the loop anymore. They gave up. Pathetic.] Do any of them even still exist?

Nope! They're gone forever! [Of course, he doesn't know this. But Siffrin won't like hearing it. His faux-cheerful tone, with that clearly fake cartoon character voice he puts on, is even annoying himself. But it's worth it if Siffrin's getting mad.] And the best part? YOUR version of them is gone. But they still exist! They just love ANOTHER Siffrin. They'll NEVER love you.

[He laughs maniacally. The other Siffrin hasn't mentioned their friends at all, actually... but he can infer.] Oh, isn't that hilarious? What a loser! All alone in the world! Oh, but don't worry~! You're still useful!

[He knocks some materials out of the cart.] Oops, silly me! Go fetch, loser!

[...huh?]

[...no, really, huh?]

[The rest is just... more of the same, it's nothing new, it's not even worse than what they've told themself (they know their friends don't exist anymore), but -]

[What other Siffrin. What in the stars is Flowey talking about. (There definitely isn't a weird feeling in their stomach they're not examining, under the confusion, something uneasy, something about someone else making the same mistakes they did -)]

[Is this... about other loops being other Siffrins, or something? They don't get it. Well, yeah, obviously, in another loop they were still loved, and in the one where they opted out and vanished their friends would have realized to hate them, just before the end, but...]

[No, this still feels so out of nowhere that they can't figure out why Flowey expects this to be so cutting?]

[...]

And here I thought you of all people would know how time loops worked! Dummy.

[Other Siffrins. Ha. They ~~wish~~ - if it meant their friends still existed, that would almost be a nice thought, haha! But they know better.]

[They sit down and scratch at their ear with a back foot.] You should definitely know that the more you repeat the same thing, the more people zone out! [Isn't that what they both did, after all?]

[The tip of their tail is twitching, agitated with annoyance, but they just stretch like a cat and flop down on their side.] You know what, though? You're right, I could use a nap right now.

[Flowey can just clean up his own mess!!]

...

[... What the heck? Why didn't that work? Are they stupid, or is their denial that strong? Flowey is so bewildered he forgets to keep up the whole 'evil' thing.

Nearby, he can feel Mudsdale glowering at him. Slowly, silently, Flowey gathers the materials he scattered with his vines.]

... Really? Well, believe whatever you want.

[Coming down from the rush of being cruel is what he imagines a hangover is like. He just feels stupid, now. His master insult didn't even work. Ugh!]

... You look just like him when you're like that. Firepaw, I mean.

[~~Are they stupid, or is their denial that strong? Yes~~.]

[Siffrin's ear twitches when they hear Mudsdale's heavy footsteps approaching. They lift their head, a pang of anxiety jolting through their chest - did Mudsdale hear them say anything about time loops? ...if so, Mudsdale isn't commenting. But Siffrin can still feel their heart rate kicking up; while they're continuing to face away from Flowey, they take another deep breath in and let it out.]

[It doesn't stop them from tensing their shoulders.]

[Siffrin just ignores Flowey's first comment, but the flat look they give him at the second one is pretty clearly them waiting for the punchline to drop. When Flowey doesn't follow it up with another attempt to dig at them, their expression becomes more unsure.]

[...]

[They look away again, but this time it's for a different reason.] I guess... it must just be a cat thing...?

[Or they picked it up from him, without realizing. Unlike some of the other things Firepaw taught them on purpose.]

[. . .]

The Canopy feels like... ["like it's missing something," they almost want to say, but that's really obvious, isn't it, Siffrin? Stupid. They settle on,] ...it's weirder not to have him running around than it would be if - if even Ribombee disappeared, all of a sudden.

[They actually have a more positive opinion of their guild leader than most, but at the same time, it's not like they've talked to Ribombee a lot!]

Heh... heh heh. You're telling me. When's the last time I spoke to our benevolent guildmaster? It must've been the festival.

[...]

... It's quiet back there. [He hates the quiet. His mind wanders. Memories come crawling back.] You didn't want to be there either. [An observation, plainly stated-- but also, an admission.]

... you know. Ha ha.

When I first got here, this place sure didn't make a good first impression! I was lost underground with Diglett and Dugtrio hunting me down and that stupid fog everywhere! I almost died! [Which maybe Siffrin would've preferred. He moves on, not giving them the satisfaction of a snarky comment.]

And then that idiot showed up. Defended me. Guided me. He was the first one to...

[Come when he called for help.]

...

That's what I was trying to say, you stupid moron. It should've been me. I know better than to think that bad things shouldn't happen to good people. Bad things happen to good people all the time! I've seen it! I've caused it!

... So, why...?

[He doesn't expect an answer. When his mind catches up with his mouth, he'll be embarrassed for having been vulnerable around Siffrin, of all people. It doesn't escape him that, in his attempt to process his feelings (or seeming lack thereof), he was just tormenting them a minute ago. In his mind, it only proves his point.]

[Siffrin's not sure they have an answer to give! Most of it is definitely that, infuriating as he is, Flowey isn't an adult... but they're pretty confident Flowey will just explode at them again if they say anything about that!]

[There's a lot they're failing or refusing to process about Flowey themself, because of what it would require thinking about. But they can't really treat him like they would Bo - other kids. Maybe Lusamine or Emporio could keep Flowey talking from here, or Firepaw could have... but Siffrin doubts they can.]

[They're not exactly good at being vulnerable either, anyway.]

[...so, maybe it's fine to go with their second impulse? Even if it's not entirely true anymore.] If I have to stay healthy, so do you~

[...]

The Universe has a sick sense of humor, doesn't it...? Really likes tragedies. [Something something a kid definitely shouldn't be feeling that way, but another time looper? Yeah. It should've been them instead of Firepaw too. (Neither of them should still exist, really, but Siffrin so much more so - they don't have the excuse of being a child.)]

[...oh well.]

[They stand up and shake themself off, straps of the harness jingling, then tug the cart the rest of the way toward the impatiently waiting Mudsdale. She has a much larger wagon, set up where the path through the trees is wider and she can carry a much heavier load - time to transfer!]

[... He'll be damned if he dies before Siffrin. He might not have love, but he has spite.

That's an interesting turn of phrase, though-- 'the universe'. He files that away for later.]

It could be a comedy if your sense of humor didn't go out back and stab itself to death. [And the little asshole's back! Thank goodness!

With Mudsdale watching, he actually makes a token effort to help transfer the materials. He doesn't say that Siffrin did most of the work, of course.]

August Catch-all

Carts Before Charts

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pushes the "make em talk about Firepaw" button

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[1/2]

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[1/2, again.......]

[2/2]

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wrapped?