APRIL CATCH-ALL

[dunchies]

Who: Laios, his fellow questers, and you!
What: Exploring the market and collecting some shrooms
Where: Bottlecap Bay, the Forest
When: Throughout April
Warnings: Will be added as needed

Comments

[telewarped]

Well, it's not, and how I eat is none of your business! I'm not some science specimen for you to study or whatever...!

[It's definitely an overreaction. The pure, vengeful fury in her voice seems to surprise even her, because she pauses for a moment then, breath catching in the throat she may or may not even have, and deflates with a huff.]

You don't wanna know, anyway. Trust me. [With rough, jerky movements, she pulls his bowl toward her and fills it with a generous helping of her order before shoving it back toward him.] So just give it up and eat your stupid food already.

[dunchies]

[ Oh, he really stepped over a line here. ] I know you're not a specimen, it's just—! [ The thought remains unsaid when his portion gets shoved over to him. Instinctively, he latches onto the bowl with his teeth, ] Mm.

[ He droops, until a few pieces start to slip out. Not ready to dirty up another meal, he puts it down softly. ] Do you... not like the Pokémon you are? [ That sort of just comes out before he can think. He gives her a pathetic look, moving on before she can respond. ] ... You can watch me eat. That's why you got the snack, right?

[telewarped]

Yeah, thanks but no thanks. [In fact, she's just going to sit back and stare into space instead of watching him eat.] You just do your thing and I'll do mine—no watching necessary. And I already told you why I got it, didn't I? I just wanted to try it.

[She did say that she needed a snack to keep watching him eat off the ground for her own entertainment, too... But he's done with that now, and it was a lie anyway. Truthfully, her main reason was just that she felt a little sorry for him, but she won't admit to this much.

Speaking of trying it... Reluctantly, she delicately scoops another bite from her bowl into her disguise rag, quick enough that she hopes Laios doesn't catch the glimpse of churning shadows beneath it. It's really good, as expected, to the point that instinct tells her to just hop on top of the bowl and chow down freely as nature intended—but she forces herself not to.]

... What does it matter, if I like being this or not?

[dunchies]

... Okay. [ Laios sits, tail curling close around his paws. Briefly, he waits, expecting to her leave, only to see her grab another bite. Immediately, his eyes dart away, very obviously looking at anything but her. Burning curiosity aside, he also knows how to learn his lessons the first time, enough to not even look at her when she's done. ]

Because it's hard not being what you like. You'll spend too much time thinking about what you could've been instead of appreciating what you are. [ Finally, he glances back at her, before sliding himself down fully. He takes a small bite from his bowl, his tail contentedly thumping against the ground. ] You shouldn't feel bad about it, if you do feel that way. I get it.

[telewarped]

[She glances briefly, subtly back at him, then away again.]

... Not a dog person?

[He really seemed like one, proud of his barking and fully prepared to eat scraps straight off the ground.]

[dunchies]

[ He eagerly finishes off another mouthful, almost like he didn't already have a whole meal to himself. ]

No, I love dogs! It's just... this wouldn't have been my first pick, is all. [ Head shake. ] But then I realized I could do so many new things even without wings or two heads. I mean, I'd rather be this than, uh. Hm. [ Human? He leaves that unsaid. ]

[telewarped]

... Than what you were before, you mean?

[dunchies]

... Yeah, I guess. [ A half-hearted response. He doesn’t even look at her. ] Did you ever want to be something else, too?

[telewarped]

Sure. When you've spent your whole life as a regular old human, having pretty much any actual power feels pretty sweet, right?

[She admits to it easily. That's how it had been for her, when she first chose to become a Reaper, complete with claws, fangs, and wings: powerful.

Contemplatively, she looks at the claws she has now, flexing them before herself.]

... I don't hate being this, to be honest. The problem's with everybody else.