strategicnaps | IC INBOX FOR CONSIGNMENT

[ wait what Hanbei. We're going we're going but seriously. What. ]

How do you scoop up oil? Is it flammable? [ This is quite worrying. ] And what do you mean take a hot bath? Are we going to be okay?

Oh, the dyum plants leak oil all the time. They grow over the stream. Don't worry, the oil and the berry is edible!

[But then, he had to be infected some way.]

And there's some parasites here. It's easy to get rid of them with a hot bath! As long as we don't run into trouble, we'll be okay.

[As long as we don't run into trouble?!]

Oh...

[ The words coming out of Hanbei's mouth are concerning but not with his tone of voice. This is -- odd. Is this actually no big deal? ]

Are there even baths around camp? I guess Charizard will be okay... are the parasites tiny?

Well, there's a shower in the rovers-- by the time we come back, curfew should be off, so you'll be able to enter them!

[But they should totally use Charizard to make a hot spring anyway.] There's a lot of big lakes and small streams too, and we won't be bothered if we bathe there!

[Because they killed the Khasatsa around here. So.]

They're really tiny. You won't even notice if you go eat them! But if we take a nice hot bath, there's nothing to worry about.

Maybe not that, but... [ Mmm. ] That sound; it hasn't stopped at all, has it?

[ The sound of death in the air. Sort of hard to ignore. ]

[No. It hasn't.

But Hanbei doesn't seem to be too bothered by it. Not outwardly.] It won't help to dwell on it, right?

[Even though Hanbei can't sleep for any reason other than utter exhaustion now, since he keeps running through possible scenarios in his head, after the Neraki ran through the camp, used strategies that showed they were so, so like human-- but he doesn't know enough. He doesn't know what to do so many times.

So he'll just do this.]

Trust me, you'll be distracted from it.

[ Red doubts that.

And he knows dwelling won't help, but it's not easy shake off. He doesn't want to ignore it either (and how can he), but the questions he does has about it are ones that this time... he doesn't actually want to ask. He doesn't want to theorise the whys and whats.

So he'll swallow the topic after a moment of a hard silence. ]

...Will anyone get mad if we leave camp?

[ Let's move on, then. ]

Unless something big happens while we're gone, I don't think so.

[And 'something big' happens every other day in this damn organization. Of course, if something big does seriously happen, Hanbei will probably rush back at lightning speed. While complaining the whole way.]

Follow me! We go this way, through the rovers and the tents. Sorry, excuse me...

[It's take some time to weave their way out of the crowded RV point, but eventually, they'll start hitting the untouched wilderness and spotting oily black trees.]

[ Well, if Hanbei says so - and Red has no reason to think the guy would get him if trouble if it would get himself in it. Unless he was that type of guy all along.

If so then Red stays unaware, and once they've left the camp behind them and come closer to the wilderness, Red still remains conscious of the howling in the background but as well seemingly distracted enough by the emergence of the trees in their path. He had been much the same on the travelling to the Rakista clan's location, but there's not much to admire once it all starts to burn.

Fortunately that isn't on Red's mind. Red now sees what Hanbei meant by the oils, the liquid coming from the large bulb-like parts oozing down.

How close are we getting, Hanbei? Can we get super close?? ]

What did you call them? Duyooms?

[Hell yeah, we can so get super-close.] That's right! Be careful, the oil takes some time to wash out. If you want to eat any, I'll grab them first.

[If only he has an oil-proof outfit. Is that even a thing? He suddenly breaks into a run and jumps over the stream, narrowly landing on the other side.

--At least the CDC's forced him to be more agile in ways his weapon can't help with.]

Come over this side!

[Hanbei stretches his land out, as if he'll pull Red in if he hits the stream instead. He's barely 160cm and bony as hell, how can be possibly pull Red onto the other side?]

[ Woah what is this guy? A doduo??? He watches as Hanbei runs, jumps, and then just stares when he holds out a flimsy hand. Uhhh- ]

What? You want me to jump too? [ Wait just let him examine this stream and compare it to himself and his own shorter legs... ] I'll fall straight in!

Don't worry, I'll catch you!

[His compass is at his feet, and he's pretty close to the dyum tree-- not closed enough to have oil all over him, but don't worry. He has a plan.]

I can't carry you over, can I?

[ Is his compass that big ol' thing that looks like a wooden wheel.

Also, are we really sure about this Hanbei? Red's not so sure. He's thinking about it, b-but... ]

I can get Charizard to give me a lift.

[ He's too young to be stained head to toe in berry oil...!! ]

That's no fun. You can't rely on your Pokémon for everything, you know!

[Getting stained in berry oil is a bonding experience!! Maybe.]

But if you say so. Just flying over this tiny little stream is a bit of a waste, isn't it? Can he fly the both of us, then?

[ Why would it be a waste...! ]

Sure, probably- we've never carried another person before. But... [ Except-- ugggh, now he's doubting his own decision. Should he try jumping after all?

He's conflicted! ]

H-hey, if I jump -- do you promise you'll try and grab me?

[Calling someone to just carry you over a little stream... like, seriously, why....... they're probably sleeping or something in the Pokéball, man--]

I won't try. [WOW] I definitely will! That's a promise!

[Okay, that's marginally better.]

[ DON'T GIVE HIM A HALF SECOND HEART ATTACK THERE, DUDE. Why is he deciding to put his life and future in the hands of this person he barely knows who is kinda weird too and calls that thing with him a weapon if he even knows that (so what if it has better range than Zhen Ji's flute and also isn't a dang flute in the battlefield)--

Red is not a boy made out of good decisions. This is just the type he is.

Which is exactly why he takes those steps back even when he still doesn't look completely sure that he won't just miss the end. Red gives the stream one last look over (that oil will stain him, h-huh...), swallows for good luck, and-

Runs and jumps. ]

Aahhhh-!

[ Hanbei... Red's fate is in your hands. Permission granted to do with him as you please. ]

[There is the temptation to just let Red fall into the stream and laugh.

But Hanbei isn't (that) horrible. Not today, at least, and he reaches out to grab Red's hand-- with only his right arm. His foot suddenly kicks his compass while Red was running to jump, activating it and making it swing right across the trunk of a Dyum tree before its blade stick itself into the bark. What's important is that the string is tied to his left wrist, so when Hanbei grabs Red's hand and the compass goes flying--

--he basically gets lifted off the ground like a pendulum too, with enough momentum to swing Red onto the other bank.]

Wow! I can't believe that worked!

[He's also dangling in the air. Hold on, let him climb up and grab his compass.]

[ He trusted you, bro-

Oh, wait. No.

Why didn't he just use Charizard instead?

It isn't exactly what Red expected (but a large portion of him expected to hit the water anyway), and once it's all done the boy is left dazed. Not the same type of dazed he had been in the other day, but still afterwards hosting a blank faced dumbfoundery on his face at whatever clever(???) stunt Hanbei just pulled. ]

What was-- what is that thing anyway!?

[ At least he... survived...? But he's patting at his pocket, making sure Charizard is still there. Okay, good. ]

Oh, it's a compass.

[You'll have to ask Nouhime to explain what it actually is, okay??? His world is full of magic and shit. He may have better range than Zhen Ji, but he sure as hell can't fight people with flute songs.]

And that wasn't so bad, was it? You've got to be creative with what you have to overcome obstacles! After all, you might not have Charizard forever.

[--That may have come out a little too bluntly. Hanbei hops off the tree, a new slice in the tree trunk obvious.]

Ahh, but now's not the time for that, I guess. Come on, the lothlo are this way!

[ That did hit a nerve.

And not the comfortable kind, either. It's on his face the moment Hanbei brings up Charizard, eyes rising and then falling with his brow and his lips pursing along with them.

He doesn't speak up right away, so there's room for them to continue their walk for some steps, but Red can't keep himself quiet. ]

You didn't have to say that, you know. About Charizard.

[Hanbei does turn around to face Red, at the very least. He doesn't seem to be smiling.]

Don't worry, I'm not saying to knock on wood or anything. But the CDC likes to push us to our limits.

[He taps the side of his head.]

And you'll only have your wits and your body to fight with. It might not happen, but it's definitely possible.

[ It's still not right. He never thought about it even after the fighting, but why would he? But it's that exact carnage that makes it sting now. ]

But he's not just a tool. He's still alive. He's not like your compass or a gun.

[ And he can't brush that aside, regardless if what the guy is trying to say would be considered more important. ]

[Darling, we're all tools here--]

That's true, too. So you'll protect him more than a compass or a gun, right?

[He's back to smiling, if that means anything.] If you're careful, things might never come to that. Prevention is better than the cure, or something.

[ DON'T GET DEEP ON US. ]

Of course I will! [ Bro don't even try him. There's no question about it.

But if it means anything either, Red isn't as bothered as he was to begin with. (Despite the face on his icon.) ]

I don't know what you mean by that. [ Is it a saying? ] But what did you mean about the CDC pushing us to our limits in the first place?

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