Noelle's September Quest Ho-ho-home [Catch-All]

[holidaygirl1225]

Who: Noelle & Shoka, Archnemon, Bigby
What: Quests! (Scholastic Decisions, No Pain No Grain, A Dour Struggle)
Where: Icefall Lake, around Death Blood Murder Skull Town, the woods
When: Mid/Late September
Warnings: Pokemon battling (violence/injury), potential references to death/disassociation

Comments

[holidaygirl1225]

[She... actually doesn't know how she did that.] I mean... it's not that special. I just kicked them. I guess I'm just lucky I have strong legs...? Fahaha.

... Mostly, I didn't want to slow you down, and you said to hit them, so... I just kind of... moved automatically.

[Her legs are aching, and she feels bad still about hurting those Houndour... but she saved him. She was useful! She stood up for them!

... but her joy is tempered by the knowledge that she maybe enjoyed it a little too much, and it felt familiar in a way she doesn't understand.]

Umm, I thought you were the real hero of the hour, haha. You actually fought really well! [She backpedals on that immediately.] Not that I thought you wouldn't!

[wolfcut]

Lucky or not, I probably wouldn’t be here talking if it wasn’t for you. [ Even if she did need a quick reminder in the moment. Still, he gives her a half-smile, tired but appreciative. ] ... You knew exactly what to do. That’s what — nngh... that’s what matters.

[ He really wants to sit up while he’s at it, if they’re going to be here wating, but even the smallest of movements just make him wince in pain. His nose twitches in resignation instead as he listens.

Hero? That gets a rather amused huff. ] Eh. You just get used to it. I’ve dealt with scarier, anyway. [ A bit of a brag, but in all fairness, probably true. His tone is a lot lighter than usual anyway, not expecting her to take it too seriously.

But then, a possible realization. His expression falls flat again. ] ... Uh-huh. So... why did— [ Another wince. ] —ugh. Wh-why did you sign up for this, anyway?

[holidaygirl1225]

[Uh-oh... now she's done it. Noelle isn't the best liar, but she scrambles for a half-truth anyway.] I, um... I saw you were the only one signed up, and I was scared you were gonna have to go all by yourself. And I wanted to be, you know... stronger. You know?

[That probably wasn't very convincing. It's true that she thought that, even with his rugged voice and apparent confidence, Bigby would get eaten alive out there. She knows she was wrong, now. Even though he did get badly injured, it was protecting her... and those Houndour were outnumbering them several times over.]

[wolfcut]

[ That sure would be a kick to the ego if it wasn't practically hitting rock bottom already. Even with Noelle trying to talk around it, he can read between the lines well enough. Hard to forget their first interaction, after all.

He grumbles to himself, before eventually ending with a resounding sigh. As frustrated as he wants to be with her, Bigby also can't blame her when he's literally a fucking hamster. ]

... Yeah, yeah. I know. [ That probably comes across a lot harsher than intended. ] Next time just ask, okay? We could've practiced first. Or something.

[ Who is he kidding. Like he wouldn't have rushed into this with or without Noelle wanting to tag along for his sake. Just let him bury his head back into the ground. ]

ready to wrap?

[holidaygirl1225]

... You're right. I'm sorry. [At least he mentioned the possibility of a 'next time'-- that means she didn't completely ruin everything. At least not yet.

By the time their rescue arrives, ready to take them to the clinic, Noelle decides she can walk again. Maybe it's the Grassy Terrain, maybe it's just her wanting to push through.]

let's wrap!

[wolfcut]

[ Yet another reminder that his tone could still use some work. As if making her feel bad about wanting to help does anything for either of them. ]

... You're fine. As long as you feel stronger, right?

[ It's more rhetorical than anything, considering he already saw it firsthand, but better to shift the conversation back toward that direction than not.

When their rescue team arrives, he's greeted by a familiar face from the clinic. Their expression is entirely deadpan as they hoist him up, completely unsurprised that he's managed to get himself to this point yet again. Bigby's lucky they have some Rawst berries to tide him over until they all make it back, safe and (mostly) sound.

Maybe this time he'll remember to take it easy during the recovery period, but probably not, much to the eventual chagrin of whoever happens to be his nurse (and knowing his luck, that'll be Anasui). ]