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More from GammaEradon
A series of short scenes of Rene saying good-bye to some of his closest friends before he has to move.
Category Story / Pokemon
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 101.5 kB
This part is actually several short scenes of RP sessions with Rene saying goodbye to some of his closest friends. Special thanks to Kompy, Chupi, Carlito, and Jazzfox for working on me with these scenes. Their characters are © to themselves. The PCA is created by EbonyLeopard. Rene is mine.
FLORITT
&&&
René was walking along, not long after getting the news from his dad of their impending move when he saw a familiar smeargle in front of him. Creeping up slowly, he hugged the girl from behind, burying his face in the purple footprint mark on her back. "Hi Flo!"
She let out one of her usual "Smee!" yelps as she was caught unawares. "'Ey, René! S'up?"
He felt a miserable twinge as he realized he'd never here that sound again. He gave her another tight squeeze. "Hey smeargirl. I---I have to talk to you." Flo took note on his change in 'tude and turned around to face him fully.
"You a'ight, René mon?"
"I--have some bad news, Flo." He confessed.
“Eh? Wut kaind of bad nuus?”
"...the worst." René bit his lip. "My dad found out I was dating Nicole, a poison-type."
“Aw, no....dun tell me 'e gave ya a 'ard taim about dat!”
He nodded. "He did. He...doesn't like non-elemental types. He told me to break up with her and---I refused."
Floritt leaned in, concern clouding her eyes. “....wut'd 'e do, René?”
René's eyes started brimming. "He--he wanted to take me where I could be molded into a mon like him so he---he's moving us to Johto!" He cried.
“WHAAA?!” Floritt exclaimed, taken aback. “Ah, no, no dat can't be rait! Wen?”
The vulpix looked down. "Soon...about a week after school starts up again...I won't even be going back for that." He hugged Floritt again, knowing it could be the very last time. "I--I'm going to miss you so much Flo..."
“Ahh René mon...” Floritt sniffed her own eyes starting to shimmer with unshed tears. “Dat jest not rait...no no, issin der anyting you can do ta change 'is maind?”
René sadly shook his head as he buried his face into her shoulder. "I tried Flo, I really did...I was willing to give up SO much for him...but I couldn't give up Nicole. So..." He sighed miserably. "and so..." Floritt started shaking her head, trying to deny the reality of it all.
“No...no, René...” Her voice trembled.
That's when he started crying, burying his face against Flo. "I'm SO sorry Flo! I--I'm gonna miss you especially badly. I--I'm gonna miss your accent, your happy face, your SMEE!, and I'm gonna miss your painting...I love you like a sister." Flo hugged the Vulpix just as tightly if not more, burying her face in his hair.
"Nah, mon...I'm sorreh fer not bein' abul ta 'elp you outta dis!"
"T-there's nothing you could have done." René trembled slightly, feeling comforted by her presence. "--and I wish I could help you with the new principle, and your art work, and, and---everything."
Flo sniffed. “Now dun you be worrein' about me, René mon. I'll be faine...but you promise me ya won't ferget me, 'k?” She asked lowly. René's response was to hug her even tighter.
"I could never forget you! You're the nicest, sweetest girl I know at school!"
“An' yer da naicest, cutest gerl-boi I've evah known, too!” Flo returned with a hug of her own.
René gave a weak laugh. "I'm the ONLY girl-boi you know Flo! ...Unless we wanna drag Nigel into this." He added with a giggle.
“Nah, 'e's not dat bad...usualleh.” She looked down at him. “René, mon? Promise me anotha ting?”
He looked up at her. "For you Flo? Anything..."
“Tew tings. One, ya promise not ta ler yer papa tern ya into someting yer not.” René nuzzled his face against Flo's side, murmuring:
"Never. He'll never do it."
“Good. Den...dat othah promise? Dun geev up on Nicole. If yew geev up, yer papa wins.”
Then René lifted his face from Floritt's side and stared up at her, his eyes wet. "I'll never let Nicole go." He swears. "Can I ask something of you too?"
She nodded. “Sure.”
"First off," René started. "You're free to release those pictures from when you painted me. Use them...do what you have to; if it helps you become the great artist you want to be."
“...ya sure 'bout dat?” She blinked.
"Positive." He gave her a sad but proud smile. "You can turn anything into something beautiful. It's one of your greatest abilities. Never hide that away. Okay?"
Flo smirked. “Ya jest admitted dat yer byootiful. Aftah all, all I did was give ya sum extra color. Everyting else wus alreadeh dere.” René hugged her tight.
"...Thank you Flo. And the second thing? Look after Maggie for me. Meg will need the help now that I'm gone and...I know she likes you best of your teammates. But after me of course." He added with a slight grin.
“Of cerse.” She nodded. “An' I'll see wut I can do.”
"...One other thing.” René looked around at her back. “I know how you got your back mark, but how come it stays like that? I thought it's just paint."
Floritt explained, “Da paint is maine, but fer da rituul it gets mixed wit' anotha leequid dat's realleh stinkeh an' is guarantee ta alwaes steek to wuteva serface it's paintid on. It onleh weks with Smeargle paint, tho', fer sum reasun.” She went on. “An' apparentleh most Pokemon are realleh allergeek ta it or someting an' dat's why ya dun see pepul jest usin' dis instead of gettin' painful tattoos.” René licked his lips.
"Do...do you think you could try it on me?" He asked hopefully. "I--I'd really like something to help remember you by..."
“...ya sure? I meen...dis stuff REALLEH stinks! An' ya cud risk gettin' a nasteh rash...”
René gave her a weak grin. "Flo, I hug Myra on a regular basis AND eat her cooking. I can handle 'stink' And besides...a rash I can deal with." He smirked. "I can just have you apply the proper salve..." He teased.
“...der is no salve. If dis weks it's gonna be stingin' fer at leest a week. I 'ope yer tinkin' of someting small.”
"I thought I'd let you be....creative." He smiled. "Maybe something you could paint on my arm, like Nicole's brother does. Or perhaps on my chest...I'm not sure. Whatever you think is best. I really want to carry a little piece of your art with me wherever I go. Besides," he gave another rueful grin. "I'm dating a Nido. I can handle stinging. Can I come over to your place sometime later so you can do your thing?"
“A'ight.” She agreed.
René gave Floritt one more big hug. "I love you Flo...you've been so wonderful to me." He gave her a sloppy wet kiss on the cheek.
Flo blushed. "Alwaes, René mon. Alwaes." She returned the hug. René gave her ears one last scritching, for old times sake.
"Hee, you're even cuter when you blush." He teased, finally bringing himself to let go. And even though he knows he'll see her again before he moves...this feels like the big goodbye to him. "Good-bye Flo...."
But Flo firmly shook her head. “No. No goodbyes. See ya soon.”
René paused, then nodded. "...Yeah. See you soon Flo."
&&&
MAGGIE
René made his way over to the DeCinder Gym, his feet and heart feeling so heavy he wondered if he hadn't somehow transformed into a steel type without knowing it. Meg have given him a call while he was at the library, asking him to come over to babysit Maggie. He was glad to do it; he loved the rugrat and wanted to see her one more time...before he had to tell her the bad news.
Sighing, he knocked at the door of the DeCinder residence. To René's surprise, though, it was Maggie who answered. "Who issit?"
A little sad and--scared?--at the same time, René replied. “It's me princess.”
Maggie looked up through the peephole and, sure enough, it WAS René! Quickly she jumped off the stool she used to get on and unlocked the door for him. "Hey René!"
He gave a bittersweet smile. “Hey Maggie!” The vulpix swooped her off her feet and gave her a big squeeze of a hug. “How've you been sweetie?”
Maggie giggled and hugged him back, a hug as warm as her type. "I'm okay! What's up?"
His smile faltered. “Honey....we have to talk.”
She blinked. “Huh?”
René carried Maggie over to the couch and had a seat. “I---I don't know how to say this sweetie, but I have some bad news.”
She settled herself in and looked to René oddly. "'Bout what?"
“...Maggie? Do you remember Nicole?”
“'Course I do! I train her every times she comes over! She's really good!”
René hugged Maggie tightly as he sat next to her. “Yeah, I know you do!” He paused, licking his lips. “The thing is....my dad doesn't really like poison-types. He doesn't want me to be Nicole's boyfriend any more.”
“Aaaaw....how come?”
“My dad is.....well, has a lot of really bad ideas. Ideas like that certain mon aren't as good or as smart or whatever as other mon, just because of how they were born or what type they are. It's...it's VERY wrong but that's how my dad is.”
Maggie slowly nodded her head, though only half of what René says really looked to click with her. "....your daddy's a meanie-head."
“....yeah. Yeah he is Maggie.” It's all he could say without introducing a few words he wasn't eager for her to learn. “And he wanted me to break up with Nicole....so I said no.”
“Good! I like Nicole. You two are nice together.”
René bit his lower lip. “Y-yeah....I know....” He sniffled.
“René? What's wrong?”
He tried to hold it together, he really dis. His voice cracked and he hiccuped as he got the next part out. “My d-dad....he was so mad that I wouldn't break up with Nicole that he--he--”
This got the Magby's brow furrowing and her eyes look like Meg's when she shows worry. "René?"
“...Maggie, I'm moving away!
“Wh-whaaaa?”
He looked down. “My dad wants to take me away from here...back to Johto where he came from. He-He thinks that if I'm away from Nicole and everyone I know....then maybe I'll be more like him, instead of being more like me. I'm.....Maggie, I'm going to miss you, SO much....”
“Then don't go! Why's your dad such a meanie he has to make you go!”
“I wish I knew Maggie....and I wish I had a choice. He's my dad and I'm too young to be allowed to live on my own.”
“But...but...but Johto is so far away! You can't come visit if you're that far away!”
René nodded sadly in confirmation, his eyes tearing up. “--I know.”
“He can't do that! I'm gonna go tell your daddy he's being a meaniehead right now!” She blew out an angry puff of smoke from her bill.
Hugging Maggie and sat her gently in his lap, René nodded. “I know he is...and I'd love to see you do that, but I'm afaid it won't change anything. I'm still going away and I--” His voice catches. “I'm gonna miss you..I'm sorry we can't keep our plans....I really wanted to be there when you finally started to go to the PCA but...”
Maggie sniffled loudly. "Then you stay here! You can hide in my room and I'll dress you like one of my dolloes so your daddy can't find you!"
René looked torn between laughing and crying and instead just hugged the little magby tightly. “I want to baby, I really do. But you can't hide me in your room forever. And if I ran away my dad would just make trouble for whoever tried to help me. I'm so sorry Maggie....but I'm afraid this really *is* good-bye”
“Noooo, René! Don't go! You're my brother-sister! You're family!”
That's when René started crying in earnest, notably, before Maggie did. “I know, I know! You're part of my family more than my jerk of a dad ever was or will be! I...I don't have a choice though, I wish that I did! He held her up to face level. “That you think I'm you're brother-sister is the sweetest, kindest, and best thing I've ever heard in my life. I love you Maggie.” He hugged her.
She hugged him possessively, clinging to him as tight as she could with her little claws. "I love you too, bro-sis!"
René hugged her tight, not wanting to ever let go. He absently rubbed his muzzle against the top of her head. “You be good for Meghan princess....okay? For me?”
Maggie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You too, René. You be good, better than your daddy!”
“I will....” He kissed her cheek. “Oooh, I'm going to miss you so!”
“You leaving now?” She sniff.
René shook his head. “I-I leave in a week. And I want to stay with you a little while longer before I go tonight.” He reached into his bag. “I, um, I have something for you Maggie.”
“O-ok...” She looked at him inquisitively.
He pulled out of his bag a familiar looking growlithe plushy, Maggie should remember it. “Do you remember Rosa, Maggie? I-I want you to have her.” He offered it to the magby. “I know I can count on you to take good care of her....my mom would've liked that. Okay sweetie?”
Maggie stared on at the plushie, too shocked for words. "You sure, René?"
René nodded. “Very sure princess. I want you to have her. Okay?”
“'K...but she's gonna miss you, so you better come visit soon!”
René nodded again, solemnly. “I promise. Will also look after Nicole when you train her? It's a big responsibility but I trust you...okay honey?” Maggie nodded so sincerely, that René couldn't help but smile. “Now....wanna have one last night of fun?”
“Yes please.” She sniffed. René smiled.
“Awww....no more frowny face tonight sweetie!” He said as he started to tickle the little magby.
Maggie squealed as she got caught by the tickle assault. "Nooooo! Heeheeehee!"
René giggled. “What's this? Are you ticklish Maggie? Why didn't you ever tell me?” He asked in pretend shock as he scritchied her foot.
“Noooo eheheheheh stop tickling meeeee heheheeeheheheh!” Maggie pleaded.
He paused and seemed to think about it. “Hmmm why should I?” René asked as he paused. Maggie then bopped René on the nose with her short little tail.
"Silly René!" She giggled.
The stunned fox blinked and rubbed his nose. “What? I'M silly? And don't wave that little tail at me missy! Or else I'll gobble it up!”
“Noooooo!” She protested, hugging her tail close. René just grinned toothily. Then he stopped.
“Hmmm....is Meghan home?”
Maggie shook her head. “Uh-uh, she's still out with fishyfriend.”
“Hmmm....then there's nothing to stop us from having a pillow fight in her room, is there?” René asked with a grin.
Maggie gave a giggle. “Noooo....!”
“Climb on!” René laughed as he leaned down to let Maggie onto his shoulders. “Winner gets an icecream sunday!”
“'k!” She climbed on and grabbed his ears, steering him to the room! René made for Meg's room, opening the door and making vrooming noises as Maggie steered him. He stopped at the foot of Meg's bed. “Here we are!” He said as he let Maggie on the bed. Then he grabbed one of Meg's pillows and buffeting the little magby.
“EEEE!” Maggie squealed as a fluffy pillow landed on her. She grabbed one of her own and wholloped him in the face. Blinking René, crawled onto the bed and started jumping on it, making the bed quake and the little magby fell on her tush. “-OOOF! No fair!” She complained.
René stuck out his tongue at her. “Alls fair in pillow fights squirt.”
“Oh yeah?” Maggie let a grin curl around her bill as she tackled his leg. Overbalanced, René flailed his arms and collapsed back onto the bed. Giggling, the little magby perched on his stomach and sat down. Rene whuffed and lifted his head to stare at the magby on his belly.
“Um, can you please move honey? You're heavy...” He wheezed.
“Am not!” Maggie said as she started scratching her claws across Rene's belly. “Tickie tickie!” Rene started giggling
“H-hey! No, no Maggie d-don't...” He laughed as Maggie tickled faster. The fox squeaked and tried curling in a ball. “I give up, I give up! You win!”
“Yaaay!” Maggie cheered as she waved her arms.
Rene sat up and gave her a squeeze. “Yup, you're the winner! C'mon. Let's go spoil your supper with some ice cream.” Maggie let out a cheer as Rene went into the kitchen and came back with two bowls of ice cream...one with extra scoops and whip cream and sprinkles. “For the Princess,” Rene bowed as he offered it to her. He sat down on the bed next to her with his own bowl. “Ready?”
Maggie nodded as she held her spoon. Then her face fell. “I'm gonna miss you bro-sis....”
Rene sighed and nodded. “Me too Maggie...” Then he managed a weak smile. “Wanna see who can eat the most ice cream before getting a headache or bellyache?” That perked Maggie up.
“Yeah!” She readied her spoon. “On your marks...”
Rene held his own spoon at the ready. “Get set...”
“GO!” The two fire-types started scoffing down as much ice cream as they could, as fast as they could. Within fifteen minutes the two were laying prone on the bed, groaning and clutching their stomachs. That was how Meghan found them when she came back from her date.
She balled her fists on her hips. “Well, I hope you two had a good time!” She said. Maggie and Rene let out a moan of agreement as they lay next to one another.
“...Rene?”
“...Yeah Maggie?”
“...Wanna do this again when you visit?”
“...You're on...” The fox agreed.
&&&
NEVE
As René was walking through the park, he spied a familiar looking sneasel approaching “Neve? Hey la burrita...you okay?”
Neve shrugged. “Yeah I'm fine, just tired. Been at my sister's weddin' all week, takes a lot outta you.” She answered. Then she added: “An' no, I didn't catch the bouquet.”
“Heh. Would've loved to see you in a bride's maid's gown...” René smirked as he hugged her.
“Gyah...” Neve grunted as he hugged her. “Wasn't that special. Damn thing didn't fit.”
“That would've just made it better.” He teased, gently flicking her big ear. Then René's face fell. “So, I hear you're moving into your uncle's place?”
She nodded. “Yeah, already did. I had a free ride in th' dorms, but with th' new principle that dried up.”
René growled slightly at the mention of the new principle. “Yeah well, he's an asshole. I'm just sorry I'm not going to be able to help you put up with him next year.” Neve sighed.
“Yeah I heard, sorry about that chica, that really sucks.” She said gruffly, feeling a twinge of...something at the thought of René moving. Dominic had told her when she got back to town from the wedding—Dominic had heard it from René himself at Jenn's Party.
Tears welled up in the vulpix's face. “Neve I--I'm gonna miss you.”
“Yeah, I'm gonna miss you too.” She admitted. “I know I tease a lot, but I liked havin' you around. Reminded me of the members of my family I didn't wanna kill. Mosta th' time.” René's response was to hug her again.
“I'm gonna miss your accent, your attitude, the way you torment me....” He sniffled.
She patted him on the back as she tried to comfort him. “It's okay René, there's always th' phone.” But he just bit his lower lip as he buried his face into her shoulder.
“hones don't do this....” He shuddered as he started sobbing.
Neve frowned as she chided him, somewhat sternly “René! This ain't helpin'! You can't be doin' this kinda stuff.”
“I--I can't?” He sniffed. “But I'm moving away a-and I won't be seeing you again!”
“Maybe not for a while no.” She admitted. “But remember I know what it's like ta pick up an' move somewhere new, you gotta be strong or they'll eat you alive. Why you think I act all th' way I do?”
In one of his less thoughtful remarks, René blurted out: “Because you're overcompensating for being short?” He winced, realizing right off the bat that it was a stupid remark. “Sorry...”
Neve glared at him but didn't freeze his tails into a block of ice. “No, it's because you're only as big and strong as people think you are.”
A little incredulous, René looked at himself. “B-but....I'm short and cute looking! No one's going to think I'm big or strong!”
“Not until you do, no. Hell, I'm shorter than you, and cuter!” Neve pointed out.
René snorted, wiping his wet cheeks. “That's what I like about you...you're smart, funny, sexy, and cute all at the same time. I can usually only manage one or two of those things at a time.”
“Yeah, well, you better work at it.”
“I will---can I ask you something personal?”
“I guess. Don' mean I'm gonna answer.”
René hesitated before asking, “---W-what was your reaction when Dom, I guess, told you I was moving?”
Neve shrugged. “Kinda sad I guess. You're th' closest thing I have to a little brother... sister... whatever here. Even though you're older than me.”
This was apparently news to René...on a couple of counts. He blinked “You're--how old?”
“Fifteen. My birthday's in a couple months.”
“I---I guess I don't act like I'm older than you, huh?” René blushed.
She just smirked. “That's why I said little.”
With no small appreciation of the irony, René pointed out: “Meghan's little sister Maggie calls me her 'brother-sister'. With you, I'm your little-big brother-sister.” Neve rolled her eyes.
“Seriously though... first guy that gives you crap? Just grab his junk and set it on fire. An' just 'cause it's on fire ain't no reason ta let go.”
René pulled a face. “But...I don't WANT to touch a guy's junk. He shuddered. “But your point is taken.”
“ I know you don't.” Neve said. “Sometimes you gotta do lotsa things you don' wanna do . An' he might totally kick your ass for it, who knows? But either way, you're crazy. An' one thing I learned growin' up where I did? Ain't nobody wants to fuck around with crazy people.”
“....Thank you Neve. I'll remember that. Really, I will.” The fox fidgeted. “I just wanted to say that....well, I'm really going to miss you. I mean, a lot. And...just in case you don't hear this often enough I just wanted to say that you're a very pretty, very lovely girl. In the top ten of sexiness, in my book.”
Neve laughed. “Well you got a really weird book then. But thanks.”
Blushing, René went on: “...and since I'm not going to get the chance to see you again...” He hugged her tight and quickly gave her a good-bye kiss.
“Yeah okay René...” Neve half-laughed, half-snorted as she pulled him off her. “But you come back an' visit. An' if you do or not, I'm still trackin' you down when you turn eighteen and draggin' you to a strip club...”
“That'll be one night of humiliation and awkwardness I'd actually look forward to Neve...provided you're there sitting through it with me.” René replied.
The sneasel smirked. ”I'll make sure to tell my cousin to give you th' works.” Now René started to look nervous.
“C-cousin? What does 'the works' mean?” He gulped.
“She's a stripper.” Neve explained. “Means she's gonna give you a lap dance. Th' kind she saves for the regulars that tip really good.” She grinned in a way that made René's neckfur stand on end.
“L-lap dance?” He gulped, going red.
“Yep.” Neve snickered, lightly poking his nose with a claw. “Tits in your face an' everything.”
René went cross-eyed. “B-but she'll still be wearing a bottom---won't she?” Neve thought about it, then shook her head.
“Nah probably not. She'll probably be pretty nekkid.”
“...Nicole would kill me...” René squeaked, pale.
Neve shook her head. “Nah, she'll be there too. She'll just laugh at you.”
René blushed and moaned...“She would...” He hugged Neve again, mostly out of embarrassment. “You're the best friend a girl could have....but I think my blush is going to burn in now.”
“Thanks. I try.” Neve patted his head. “Sometimes.”
“You're a better friend than you give yourself credit for...” René said warmly, then gave a weak, embarrassed chuckle. “...and you have nice taste in underwear.”
“You just had to bring that up...” She sighed. “Besides I'm not wearin' any right now.” René blushed and abruptly let go of Neve.
“Um, why?”
“...'cause I forgot to do laundry?”
René couldn't repress a giggle. “I guess doing laundry at your uncle's house might be a bit awkward.” Neve shrugged.
“Why? I wash my stuff, he washes his.”
“Just picturing the inevitable when he finds a pair of your undies lying around someplace.” He smirked.
Neve rolled her eyes and deadpaned. “Oh no, underwear.... shocking...”
“Well, SOME of us care about the importance of underpants!” He defended himself, sticking out his tongue.
She sighed heavily. “Yeah, we know...”
”I'll give you some nice new pairs for your birthday. I'll fly in just to give them to you in person.” René gave her a gentle hug, this one sentimental. “Heh, we've gotten a bit off track. I---I really am going to miss you the most out of your teammates...no offense to Skylar. You're the one I...well, had a bit of a crush on, truth be told.”
That made her laugh, albeit not cruelly. “That's new. But who'd be my knight in shining panties if we were dating?”
René somehow managed to blush and preen at the same time. “Heh...well, you certainly can't do without your knight! Anyway...I'm pretty sure I've whipped John into shape enough for me to leave for a little while. But I'll always be your knight in shining panties.” He gave her a squeeze.
Neve laughed and hugged him back. “Thanks, you take care of yourself alright? An' call if you need to. But if you get too weepy I'll just set th' phone down an' go watch TV.”
“All right...I promise to be no more weepy and emo than your telanovelas.” He smirked.
“Deal.” She agreed. René hugged her tightly one last time.
“Adios Neve. I don't care how big your family is, you're still one in a million to me. I'll miss you.”
“I'll miss you too chica. You keep in touch.”
“I will. I'll call you lots. Bye Neve.”
“Adios chica!”
&&&
FAITH
About a day after his dad dropped the bombshell that would destroy his life, René had the fortune of running into his newfound cousin and good friend--Faith Sumisu. "Oh Faith, hey." He said, sounding down.
The girl seemed to be balancing a good deal of books in one arm, her crutch busy with the other, as she blinked above her pile of tomes, a smile at first, but slowly registering something was wrong, "Hey, René... could you lend a paw?"
"Oh, oh sure!" René nodded as he grabbed the top half of the pile and took it into his own arms. "What're you up doing, planning to write a thesis paper?"
"Sophomore medical is a lot harder than freshman," She explained with a small smirk, balancing a little better now at least, "It means a lot more study than before!"
"Well, I'm sure you'll do great." René said with a touch of sad pride, knowing he wouldn't be around to see it. "You know I'm proud of you, right?"
"Well... sure!" She blinked, again, her mood seeming to fall along with his, as if part of her were already trying to see everything was okay, something she was certain, was less and less likely... "...René, everything okay?"
René looked away. "Faith--I--no, Faith. It isn't. I'm...I'm moving away." She stopped dead, as if wondering she'd heard him right or not, while at the same time, knowing exactly what he said meant.
"Moving?" She finally echoed.
He nodded miserably. "My dad's moving us to Johto...practically as soon as school starts up." His lower lip starts to tremble until he bites down on it. "I just found out I had a family---and now I'm going to lose it. Again."
The girl's mind seemed to be racing, retracing each word that came out of his mouth, her expression blank, as if she didn't know what to say or feel, instead blurting out more words and questions that found their way to her mouth, "What about your Mom?"
"...she'll be staying here." René barely manages to choke out, his fists clenching in fury at his father's callousness
The girl's grip on her books seemed to slip, and only perhaps a reflex of holding her crutch made her stop from falling over, as she let it hit her, she was wordless, as her ears and tails slowly began to wither, "...Moving...as in permanently?" René said nothing, letting his silence answer for him. True, there was the chance of moving back when he turned eighteen in two years; but he didn't know if he would be able to sustain himself on his own. The girl held the silence, and it continued for many more moments, until she took a deep breath, collecting herself and nodding finally, sure of herself. "Things will work out." A half-smile returned to her face as always, as she looked to him reassuring as possible, "Somehow."
It was clear that René wasn't so sanguine about it. "Think so? Then you can be the one to tell Nicole and Maggie and the others about this....because I don't know if *I* can." He snapped, then immediately regretted it.
She seemed to falter, if only for a moment, but slowly, moving forward, took the load he'd taken from her and placed them back on top of her own load, despite how hard it was for her, "I'll do my best."
"I know you will...I wish you all the best in the world Faith." He gently patted her back. "I love you cousin."
She just kept her smile there, as he patted her, and as cumbered as she was, she didn't stop, even bowing to him in her always accustomed manner, "And I, you. Remember Ohana?" She said, still trying to keep that smile on her face for him.
He smiled sadly..."Ohana means family. I'll never forget that. I think we'll be in town long enough for your family to get one chance to meet me..." Faith had discussed that her parents would be visiting soon to check up on her...and their newly found nephew.
Faith nodded. "Ohana also means, nobody is left behind." She held that smile, somehow, as she nodded to him, just one last time, hobbling her way to turn, "...It'll turn out for the best...don't worry."
"I wish I was so confident as you--" René sighed as he chuckled. "That must be why they call you Faith." He looks down. "I should probably go tell the others. Then I'm going to go to Jenn's party and try to forget everything...Take care."
"Take care," She gave her parting word, watching him head off, that half-smile, as she kept moving her turned off direction, which seemed to strangely lead to a dead end.
Only there, did the books fall out of her hand, and she fell back against the wall...clutching her chest...Why did René's father have to do this, to René and Vera? It was a pain that she remembered, the day Darius declared his vendetta against the fox...yet now, knowing she might lose the new family member. She didn't want René to see her like this, he needed as much strength as he could hold, while she broke into tears, sitting there in the dead-end hallway and hugging her legs against her.
&&&
PENNY
“enny? Can I have a word with you?” The scizor in question paused and turned away from her locker when she heard the diminutive vulpix. The two had been only barely on speaking terms with one another after a prank Penny had pulled had soured things between them. She knew that René would forgive her and go back to tormenting her with hugs...eventually, she was still surprised by the sad tone he used.
Penny turned away from her locker. “Hm?”
René turned to make sure no one was around. “enny I---I don't know how to say this...” He took a deep breath. “...I'm....not going to be seeing you anymore.”
She arched a brow.. “What now, Browser?”
“I-I mean...” He blurted out. “I'm moving away!”
“Over the egg thing?” Penny asked, looking a little sad and a little disappointed. “René...”
He quickly shook his head ,“I....no that's not it Penny! My dad is moving us to Johto...it's because he found out I'm dating a poison-type.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I see, so we have some similar issues after all...” The scizor mused, recalling her own problems with Joshua Garkirl's narrow minded family.
“Yeah...” René nodded sympathetically. “My dad is a garkirl in spirit--the bad ones, not Destine and her boys obviously. I wish I could stay and help you out but--”
“René... Don't worry about it.” She sighed and shook her head. “In this world... We all have our own problems, the question is whether or not we can man up and do something about it, or simply tuck our abdomens in and run away. ... I wish you the best of luck, and hope this is indeed not the last time we meet...”
“Look, that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I just....I hate leaving things between us the way they are....”
“... Yes?”
“I---I don't know! I'm still SO mad at you for what you did---but I don't want to be mad!”
“Well if it counts for anything, I meant what I said. René, I'd never go looking to hurt you.”
“I know...but you did.”
“And if there was something I could do to make it up to you other than REALLY getting pregnant and naming the child after you, I'd do it.”
René took a deep breath. “It was that part, more than anything else, that really hurt Penny.” He bit his lip. “So um, what ARE those two weird things of yours?”
“They're miniature box bots, from LaRousse... Multi-purpose, quite helpful little things. Joshua got them for me. As... Weird as it might sound... *Scratches the back of her head.* For the time being I have actually taken to considering them our children...
“...What did you call them again? Namewise?”
“Linguis and, wellll...Browser Version 2.0..?”
“....You're KIDDING.”
“BV2, for short.” She tapped her foot. “I did not lie, I actually named one after you.”
“...I have no idea what to feel about that. What do they do?”
“For the most part, hang around me a lot and make faces. But they're good for getting information, occasional aid of various types, and Linguis is even my official translator. Back at the Garkirls' villa, they even showed that they can become little mirrors.”
René blinked. “Anyway....in spite of everything---I am going to miss you Penny. I just wish our last time together didn't end like...it did.”
Penny patted him on the back. “I'll miss you too, Browser. And I can't exactly say I'm pleased with how that went myself.“ René hugged the scizor girl. Penny twitched an eye, but just let it happen. "Told Nicole yet..?"
He shook his head. “I----I CAN'T...”
“René...You have to. It won't be fair for you to just disappear on her, then have somebody else give her the news.”
“I know but....” He paused. “How can I tell her without making her feel guilty? My dad is using HER as the reason for us to move!”
“Don't tell her that part, then. Tell her he's a bigoted asshole, and that he hates the school you're in and the people you're associating with.”
The young fox sighed and looked up at her, his eyes watering. “I couldn't lie to her either...Why does this have to happen?...Why do I keep having to lose people I care about?”
“Because the world is wrong? Because we need people to actually stand up and change things, not to just abandon them for their own quick pleasure? ... Because there's a good reason I told you what I did about Joshua's situation, and my intentions if I really get in the way of his future..?René, you're sixteen... And he will not control your life for much longer. Take solace in that fact at least...” Burying his face in Penny's side, René murmured:
“C-can I have a hug?”
Penny winced. “What, now..?” She looked around for a moment before finally sighing, content that at least there was no one around. “... Alright.” She gave him a light hug. He hugged her back, his tail wagging happily. “... Oh, I'll bet you're real proud of this.”
“...I'm proud of you.”
“Whutnow?”
“I'm proud of you. You're so strong, and tough....and standing up to Josh's family is just--wow. And....you're strong enough to hug me!” Penny just brought up an open claw and buried her face in it at that remark, prompting a snort from René. “I'm gonna miss you....who else can I joke about with about Faith's ginormous bloomers?”
“It disturbs me that she's started wearing things more riske than mine...” She admitted.
René giggled again. “That's my cousin!”
“Well for the time being she's practically my adopted sister, so how do you think I feel about it?”
“Hey! Doesn't that make us practically related?”
“... No.” Penny affirmed simply. Then her face seemed to imperceptibly soften. “But we ARE friends. And as a friend, here's my advice: You know your father. You know his dirty little secrets. Use them.” She couldn't read the expression on René's face after that. It looked like a cross between fear, desperation, and the possible beginnings of an idea. She couldn't be sure. Fleshy expressions were still not the easiest things for her to read. “...Take care Browser.” She said at last, patting him awkwardly with her claw. “Good luck.”
&&&
FLORITT
&&&
René was walking along, not long after getting the news from his dad of their impending move when he saw a familiar smeargle in front of him. Creeping up slowly, he hugged the girl from behind, burying his face in the purple footprint mark on her back. "Hi Flo!"
She let out one of her usual "Smee!" yelps as she was caught unawares. "'Ey, René! S'up?"
He felt a miserable twinge as he realized he'd never here that sound again. He gave her another tight squeeze. "Hey smeargirl. I---I have to talk to you." Flo took note on his change in 'tude and turned around to face him fully.
"You a'ight, René mon?"
"I--have some bad news, Flo." He confessed.
“Eh? Wut kaind of bad nuus?”
"...the worst." René bit his lip. "My dad found out I was dating Nicole, a poison-type."
“Aw, no....dun tell me 'e gave ya a 'ard taim about dat!”
He nodded. "He did. He...doesn't like non-elemental types. He told me to break up with her and---I refused."
Floritt leaned in, concern clouding her eyes. “....wut'd 'e do, René?”
René's eyes started brimming. "He--he wanted to take me where I could be molded into a mon like him so he---he's moving us to Johto!" He cried.
“WHAAA?!” Floritt exclaimed, taken aback. “Ah, no, no dat can't be rait! Wen?”
The vulpix looked down. "Soon...about a week after school starts up again...I won't even be going back for that." He hugged Floritt again, knowing it could be the very last time. "I--I'm going to miss you so much Flo..."
“Ahh René mon...” Floritt sniffed her own eyes starting to shimmer with unshed tears. “Dat jest not rait...no no, issin der anyting you can do ta change 'is maind?”
René sadly shook his head as he buried his face into her shoulder. "I tried Flo, I really did...I was willing to give up SO much for him...but I couldn't give up Nicole. So..." He sighed miserably. "and so..." Floritt started shaking her head, trying to deny the reality of it all.
“No...no, René...” Her voice trembled.
That's when he started crying, burying his face against Flo. "I'm SO sorry Flo! I--I'm gonna miss you especially badly. I--I'm gonna miss your accent, your happy face, your SMEE!, and I'm gonna miss your painting...I love you like a sister." Flo hugged the Vulpix just as tightly if not more, burying her face in his hair.
"Nah, mon...I'm sorreh fer not bein' abul ta 'elp you outta dis!"
"T-there's nothing you could have done." René trembled slightly, feeling comforted by her presence. "--and I wish I could help you with the new principle, and your art work, and, and---everything."
Flo sniffed. “Now dun you be worrein' about me, René mon. I'll be faine...but you promise me ya won't ferget me, 'k?” She asked lowly. René's response was to hug her even tighter.
"I could never forget you! You're the nicest, sweetest girl I know at school!"
“An' yer da naicest, cutest gerl-boi I've evah known, too!” Flo returned with a hug of her own.
René gave a weak laugh. "I'm the ONLY girl-boi you know Flo! ...Unless we wanna drag Nigel into this." He added with a giggle.
“Nah, 'e's not dat bad...usualleh.” She looked down at him. “René, mon? Promise me anotha ting?”
He looked up at her. "For you Flo? Anything..."
“Tew tings. One, ya promise not ta ler yer papa tern ya into someting yer not.” René nuzzled his face against Flo's side, murmuring:
"Never. He'll never do it."
“Good. Den...dat othah promise? Dun geev up on Nicole. If yew geev up, yer papa wins.”
Then René lifted his face from Floritt's side and stared up at her, his eyes wet. "I'll never let Nicole go." He swears. "Can I ask something of you too?"
She nodded. “Sure.”
"First off," René started. "You're free to release those pictures from when you painted me. Use them...do what you have to; if it helps you become the great artist you want to be."
“...ya sure 'bout dat?” She blinked.
"Positive." He gave her a sad but proud smile. "You can turn anything into something beautiful. It's one of your greatest abilities. Never hide that away. Okay?"
Flo smirked. “Ya jest admitted dat yer byootiful. Aftah all, all I did was give ya sum extra color. Everyting else wus alreadeh dere.” René hugged her tight.
"...Thank you Flo. And the second thing? Look after Maggie for me. Meg will need the help now that I'm gone and...I know she likes you best of your teammates. But after me of course." He added with a slight grin.
“Of cerse.” She nodded. “An' I'll see wut I can do.”
"...One other thing.” René looked around at her back. “I know how you got your back mark, but how come it stays like that? I thought it's just paint."
Floritt explained, “Da paint is maine, but fer da rituul it gets mixed wit' anotha leequid dat's realleh stinkeh an' is guarantee ta alwaes steek to wuteva serface it's paintid on. It onleh weks with Smeargle paint, tho', fer sum reasun.” She went on. “An' apparentleh most Pokemon are realleh allergeek ta it or someting an' dat's why ya dun see pepul jest usin' dis instead of gettin' painful tattoos.” René licked his lips.
"Do...do you think you could try it on me?" He asked hopefully. "I--I'd really like something to help remember you by..."
“...ya sure? I meen...dis stuff REALLEH stinks! An' ya cud risk gettin' a nasteh rash...”
René gave her a weak grin. "Flo, I hug Myra on a regular basis AND eat her cooking. I can handle 'stink' And besides...a rash I can deal with." He smirked. "I can just have you apply the proper salve..." He teased.
“...der is no salve. If dis weks it's gonna be stingin' fer at leest a week. I 'ope yer tinkin' of someting small.”
"I thought I'd let you be....creative." He smiled. "Maybe something you could paint on my arm, like Nicole's brother does. Or perhaps on my chest...I'm not sure. Whatever you think is best. I really want to carry a little piece of your art with me wherever I go. Besides," he gave another rueful grin. "I'm dating a Nido. I can handle stinging. Can I come over to your place sometime later so you can do your thing?"
“A'ight.” She agreed.
René gave Floritt one more big hug. "I love you Flo...you've been so wonderful to me." He gave her a sloppy wet kiss on the cheek.
Flo blushed. "Alwaes, René mon. Alwaes." She returned the hug. René gave her ears one last scritching, for old times sake.
"Hee, you're even cuter when you blush." He teased, finally bringing himself to let go. And even though he knows he'll see her again before he moves...this feels like the big goodbye to him. "Good-bye Flo...."
But Flo firmly shook her head. “No. No goodbyes. See ya soon.”
René paused, then nodded. "...Yeah. See you soon Flo."
&&&
MAGGIE
René made his way over to the DeCinder Gym, his feet and heart feeling so heavy he wondered if he hadn't somehow transformed into a steel type without knowing it. Meg have given him a call while he was at the library, asking him to come over to babysit Maggie. He was glad to do it; he loved the rugrat and wanted to see her one more time...before he had to tell her the bad news.
Sighing, he knocked at the door of the DeCinder residence. To René's surprise, though, it was Maggie who answered. "Who issit?"
A little sad and--scared?--at the same time, René replied. “It's me princess.”
Maggie looked up through the peephole and, sure enough, it WAS René! Quickly she jumped off the stool she used to get on and unlocked the door for him. "Hey René!"
He gave a bittersweet smile. “Hey Maggie!” The vulpix swooped her off her feet and gave her a big squeeze of a hug. “How've you been sweetie?”
Maggie giggled and hugged him back, a hug as warm as her type. "I'm okay! What's up?"
His smile faltered. “Honey....we have to talk.”
She blinked. “Huh?”
René carried Maggie over to the couch and had a seat. “I---I don't know how to say this sweetie, but I have some bad news.”
She settled herself in and looked to René oddly. "'Bout what?"
“...Maggie? Do you remember Nicole?”
“'Course I do! I train her every times she comes over! She's really good!”
René hugged Maggie tightly as he sat next to her. “Yeah, I know you do!” He paused, licking his lips. “The thing is....my dad doesn't really like poison-types. He doesn't want me to be Nicole's boyfriend any more.”
“Aaaaw....how come?”
“My dad is.....well, has a lot of really bad ideas. Ideas like that certain mon aren't as good or as smart or whatever as other mon, just because of how they were born or what type they are. It's...it's VERY wrong but that's how my dad is.”
Maggie slowly nodded her head, though only half of what René says really looked to click with her. "....your daddy's a meanie-head."
“....yeah. Yeah he is Maggie.” It's all he could say without introducing a few words he wasn't eager for her to learn. “And he wanted me to break up with Nicole....so I said no.”
“Good! I like Nicole. You two are nice together.”
René bit his lower lip. “Y-yeah....I know....” He sniffled.
“René? What's wrong?”
He tried to hold it together, he really dis. His voice cracked and he hiccuped as he got the next part out. “My d-dad....he was so mad that I wouldn't break up with Nicole that he--he--”
This got the Magby's brow furrowing and her eyes look like Meg's when she shows worry. "René?"
“...Maggie, I'm moving away!
“Wh-whaaaa?”
He looked down. “My dad wants to take me away from here...back to Johto where he came from. He-He thinks that if I'm away from Nicole and everyone I know....then maybe I'll be more like him, instead of being more like me. I'm.....Maggie, I'm going to miss you, SO much....”
“Then don't go! Why's your dad such a meanie he has to make you go!”
“I wish I knew Maggie....and I wish I had a choice. He's my dad and I'm too young to be allowed to live on my own.”
“But...but...but Johto is so far away! You can't come visit if you're that far away!”
René nodded sadly in confirmation, his eyes tearing up. “--I know.”
“He can't do that! I'm gonna go tell your daddy he's being a meaniehead right now!” She blew out an angry puff of smoke from her bill.
Hugging Maggie and sat her gently in his lap, René nodded. “I know he is...and I'd love to see you do that, but I'm afaid it won't change anything. I'm still going away and I--” His voice catches. “I'm gonna miss you..I'm sorry we can't keep our plans....I really wanted to be there when you finally started to go to the PCA but...”
Maggie sniffled loudly. "Then you stay here! You can hide in my room and I'll dress you like one of my dolloes so your daddy can't find you!"
René looked torn between laughing and crying and instead just hugged the little magby tightly. “I want to baby, I really do. But you can't hide me in your room forever. And if I ran away my dad would just make trouble for whoever tried to help me. I'm so sorry Maggie....but I'm afraid this really *is* good-bye”
“Noooo, René! Don't go! You're my brother-sister! You're family!”
That's when René started crying in earnest, notably, before Maggie did. “I know, I know! You're part of my family more than my jerk of a dad ever was or will be! I...I don't have a choice though, I wish that I did! He held her up to face level. “That you think I'm you're brother-sister is the sweetest, kindest, and best thing I've ever heard in my life. I love you Maggie.” He hugged her.
She hugged him possessively, clinging to him as tight as she could with her little claws. "I love you too, bro-sis!"
René hugged her tight, not wanting to ever let go. He absently rubbed his muzzle against the top of her head. “You be good for Meghan princess....okay? For me?”
Maggie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You too, René. You be good, better than your daddy!”
“I will....” He kissed her cheek. “Oooh, I'm going to miss you so!”
“You leaving now?” She sniff.
René shook his head. “I-I leave in a week. And I want to stay with you a little while longer before I go tonight.” He reached into his bag. “I, um, I have something for you Maggie.”
“O-ok...” She looked at him inquisitively.
He pulled out of his bag a familiar looking growlithe plushy, Maggie should remember it. “Do you remember Rosa, Maggie? I-I want you to have her.” He offered it to the magby. “I know I can count on you to take good care of her....my mom would've liked that. Okay sweetie?”
Maggie stared on at the plushie, too shocked for words. "You sure, René?"
René nodded. “Very sure princess. I want you to have her. Okay?”
“'K...but she's gonna miss you, so you better come visit soon!”
René nodded again, solemnly. “I promise. Will also look after Nicole when you train her? It's a big responsibility but I trust you...okay honey?” Maggie nodded so sincerely, that René couldn't help but smile. “Now....wanna have one last night of fun?”
“Yes please.” She sniffed. René smiled.
“Awww....no more frowny face tonight sweetie!” He said as he started to tickle the little magby.
Maggie squealed as she got caught by the tickle assault. "Nooooo! Heeheeehee!"
René giggled. “What's this? Are you ticklish Maggie? Why didn't you ever tell me?” He asked in pretend shock as he scritchied her foot.
“Noooo eheheheheh stop tickling meeeee heheheeeheheheh!” Maggie pleaded.
He paused and seemed to think about it. “Hmmm why should I?” René asked as he paused. Maggie then bopped René on the nose with her short little tail.
"Silly René!" She giggled.
The stunned fox blinked and rubbed his nose. “What? I'M silly? And don't wave that little tail at me missy! Or else I'll gobble it up!”
“Noooooo!” She protested, hugging her tail close. René just grinned toothily. Then he stopped.
“Hmmm....is Meghan home?”
Maggie shook her head. “Uh-uh, she's still out with fishyfriend.”
“Hmmm....then there's nothing to stop us from having a pillow fight in her room, is there?” René asked with a grin.
Maggie gave a giggle. “Noooo....!”
“Climb on!” René laughed as he leaned down to let Maggie onto his shoulders. “Winner gets an icecream sunday!”
“'k!” She climbed on and grabbed his ears, steering him to the room! René made for Meg's room, opening the door and making vrooming noises as Maggie steered him. He stopped at the foot of Meg's bed. “Here we are!” He said as he let Maggie on the bed. Then he grabbed one of Meg's pillows and buffeting the little magby.
“EEEE!” Maggie squealed as a fluffy pillow landed on her. She grabbed one of her own and wholloped him in the face. Blinking René, crawled onto the bed and started jumping on it, making the bed quake and the little magby fell on her tush. “-OOOF! No fair!” She complained.
René stuck out his tongue at her. “Alls fair in pillow fights squirt.”
“Oh yeah?” Maggie let a grin curl around her bill as she tackled his leg. Overbalanced, René flailed his arms and collapsed back onto the bed. Giggling, the little magby perched on his stomach and sat down. Rene whuffed and lifted his head to stare at the magby on his belly.
“Um, can you please move honey? You're heavy...” He wheezed.
“Am not!” Maggie said as she started scratching her claws across Rene's belly. “Tickie tickie!” Rene started giggling
“H-hey! No, no Maggie d-don't...” He laughed as Maggie tickled faster. The fox squeaked and tried curling in a ball. “I give up, I give up! You win!”
“Yaaay!” Maggie cheered as she waved her arms.
Rene sat up and gave her a squeeze. “Yup, you're the winner! C'mon. Let's go spoil your supper with some ice cream.” Maggie let out a cheer as Rene went into the kitchen and came back with two bowls of ice cream...one with extra scoops and whip cream and sprinkles. “For the Princess,” Rene bowed as he offered it to her. He sat down on the bed next to her with his own bowl. “Ready?”
Maggie nodded as she held her spoon. Then her face fell. “I'm gonna miss you bro-sis....”
Rene sighed and nodded. “Me too Maggie...” Then he managed a weak smile. “Wanna see who can eat the most ice cream before getting a headache or bellyache?” That perked Maggie up.
“Yeah!” She readied her spoon. “On your marks...”
Rene held his own spoon at the ready. “Get set...”
“GO!” The two fire-types started scoffing down as much ice cream as they could, as fast as they could. Within fifteen minutes the two were laying prone on the bed, groaning and clutching their stomachs. That was how Meghan found them when she came back from her date.
She balled her fists on her hips. “Well, I hope you two had a good time!” She said. Maggie and Rene let out a moan of agreement as they lay next to one another.
“...Rene?”
“...Yeah Maggie?”
“...Wanna do this again when you visit?”
“...You're on...” The fox agreed.
&&&
NEVE
As René was walking through the park, he spied a familiar looking sneasel approaching “Neve? Hey la burrita...you okay?”
Neve shrugged. “Yeah I'm fine, just tired. Been at my sister's weddin' all week, takes a lot outta you.” She answered. Then she added: “An' no, I didn't catch the bouquet.”
“Heh. Would've loved to see you in a bride's maid's gown...” René smirked as he hugged her.
“Gyah...” Neve grunted as he hugged her. “Wasn't that special. Damn thing didn't fit.”
“That would've just made it better.” He teased, gently flicking her big ear. Then René's face fell. “So, I hear you're moving into your uncle's place?”
She nodded. “Yeah, already did. I had a free ride in th' dorms, but with th' new principle that dried up.”
René growled slightly at the mention of the new principle. “Yeah well, he's an asshole. I'm just sorry I'm not going to be able to help you put up with him next year.” Neve sighed.
“Yeah I heard, sorry about that chica, that really sucks.” She said gruffly, feeling a twinge of...something at the thought of René moving. Dominic had told her when she got back to town from the wedding—Dominic had heard it from René himself at Jenn's Party.
Tears welled up in the vulpix's face. “Neve I--I'm gonna miss you.”
“Yeah, I'm gonna miss you too.” She admitted. “I know I tease a lot, but I liked havin' you around. Reminded me of the members of my family I didn't wanna kill. Mosta th' time.” René's response was to hug her again.
“I'm gonna miss your accent, your attitude, the way you torment me....” He sniffled.
She patted him on the back as she tried to comfort him. “It's okay René, there's always th' phone.” But he just bit his lower lip as he buried his face into her shoulder.
“hones don't do this....” He shuddered as he started sobbing.
Neve frowned as she chided him, somewhat sternly “René! This ain't helpin'! You can't be doin' this kinda stuff.”
“I--I can't?” He sniffed. “But I'm moving away a-and I won't be seeing you again!”
“Maybe not for a while no.” She admitted. “But remember I know what it's like ta pick up an' move somewhere new, you gotta be strong or they'll eat you alive. Why you think I act all th' way I do?”
In one of his less thoughtful remarks, René blurted out: “Because you're overcompensating for being short?” He winced, realizing right off the bat that it was a stupid remark. “Sorry...”
Neve glared at him but didn't freeze his tails into a block of ice. “No, it's because you're only as big and strong as people think you are.”
A little incredulous, René looked at himself. “B-but....I'm short and cute looking! No one's going to think I'm big or strong!”
“Not until you do, no. Hell, I'm shorter than you, and cuter!” Neve pointed out.
René snorted, wiping his wet cheeks. “That's what I like about you...you're smart, funny, sexy, and cute all at the same time. I can usually only manage one or two of those things at a time.”
“Yeah, well, you better work at it.”
“I will---can I ask you something personal?”
“I guess. Don' mean I'm gonna answer.”
René hesitated before asking, “---W-what was your reaction when Dom, I guess, told you I was moving?”
Neve shrugged. “Kinda sad I guess. You're th' closest thing I have to a little brother... sister... whatever here. Even though you're older than me.”
This was apparently news to René...on a couple of counts. He blinked “You're--how old?”
“Fifteen. My birthday's in a couple months.”
“I---I guess I don't act like I'm older than you, huh?” René blushed.
She just smirked. “That's why I said little.”
With no small appreciation of the irony, René pointed out: “Meghan's little sister Maggie calls me her 'brother-sister'. With you, I'm your little-big brother-sister.” Neve rolled her eyes.
“Seriously though... first guy that gives you crap? Just grab his junk and set it on fire. An' just 'cause it's on fire ain't no reason ta let go.”
René pulled a face. “But...I don't WANT to touch a guy's junk. He shuddered. “But your point is taken.”
“ I know you don't.” Neve said. “Sometimes you gotta do lotsa things you don' wanna do . An' he might totally kick your ass for it, who knows? But either way, you're crazy. An' one thing I learned growin' up where I did? Ain't nobody wants to fuck around with crazy people.”
“....Thank you Neve. I'll remember that. Really, I will.” The fox fidgeted. “I just wanted to say that....well, I'm really going to miss you. I mean, a lot. And...just in case you don't hear this often enough I just wanted to say that you're a very pretty, very lovely girl. In the top ten of sexiness, in my book.”
Neve laughed. “Well you got a really weird book then. But thanks.”
Blushing, René went on: “...and since I'm not going to get the chance to see you again...” He hugged her tight and quickly gave her a good-bye kiss.
“Yeah okay René...” Neve half-laughed, half-snorted as she pulled him off her. “But you come back an' visit. An' if you do or not, I'm still trackin' you down when you turn eighteen and draggin' you to a strip club...”
“That'll be one night of humiliation and awkwardness I'd actually look forward to Neve...provided you're there sitting through it with me.” René replied.
The sneasel smirked. ”I'll make sure to tell my cousin to give you th' works.” Now René started to look nervous.
“C-cousin? What does 'the works' mean?” He gulped.
“She's a stripper.” Neve explained. “Means she's gonna give you a lap dance. Th' kind she saves for the regulars that tip really good.” She grinned in a way that made René's neckfur stand on end.
“L-lap dance?” He gulped, going red.
“Yep.” Neve snickered, lightly poking his nose with a claw. “Tits in your face an' everything.”
René went cross-eyed. “B-but she'll still be wearing a bottom---won't she?” Neve thought about it, then shook her head.
“Nah probably not. She'll probably be pretty nekkid.”
“...Nicole would kill me...” René squeaked, pale.
Neve shook her head. “Nah, she'll be there too. She'll just laugh at you.”
René blushed and moaned...“She would...” He hugged Neve again, mostly out of embarrassment. “You're the best friend a girl could have....but I think my blush is going to burn in now.”
“Thanks. I try.” Neve patted his head. “Sometimes.”
“You're a better friend than you give yourself credit for...” René said warmly, then gave a weak, embarrassed chuckle. “...and you have nice taste in underwear.”
“You just had to bring that up...” She sighed. “Besides I'm not wearin' any right now.” René blushed and abruptly let go of Neve.
“Um, why?”
“...'cause I forgot to do laundry?”
René couldn't repress a giggle. “I guess doing laundry at your uncle's house might be a bit awkward.” Neve shrugged.
“Why? I wash my stuff, he washes his.”
“Just picturing the inevitable when he finds a pair of your undies lying around someplace.” He smirked.
Neve rolled her eyes and deadpaned. “Oh no, underwear.... shocking...”
“Well, SOME of us care about the importance of underpants!” He defended himself, sticking out his tongue.
She sighed heavily. “Yeah, we know...”
”I'll give you some nice new pairs for your birthday. I'll fly in just to give them to you in person.” René gave her a gentle hug, this one sentimental. “Heh, we've gotten a bit off track. I---I really am going to miss you the most out of your teammates...no offense to Skylar. You're the one I...well, had a bit of a crush on, truth be told.”
That made her laugh, albeit not cruelly. “That's new. But who'd be my knight in shining panties if we were dating?”
René somehow managed to blush and preen at the same time. “Heh...well, you certainly can't do without your knight! Anyway...I'm pretty sure I've whipped John into shape enough for me to leave for a little while. But I'll always be your knight in shining panties.” He gave her a squeeze.
Neve laughed and hugged him back. “Thanks, you take care of yourself alright? An' call if you need to. But if you get too weepy I'll just set th' phone down an' go watch TV.”
“All right...I promise to be no more weepy and emo than your telanovelas.” He smirked.
“Deal.” She agreed. René hugged her tightly one last time.
“Adios Neve. I don't care how big your family is, you're still one in a million to me. I'll miss you.”
“I'll miss you too chica. You keep in touch.”
“I will. I'll call you lots. Bye Neve.”
“Adios chica!”
&&&
FAITH
About a day after his dad dropped the bombshell that would destroy his life, René had the fortune of running into his newfound cousin and good friend--Faith Sumisu. "Oh Faith, hey." He said, sounding down.
The girl seemed to be balancing a good deal of books in one arm, her crutch busy with the other, as she blinked above her pile of tomes, a smile at first, but slowly registering something was wrong, "Hey, René... could you lend a paw?"
"Oh, oh sure!" René nodded as he grabbed the top half of the pile and took it into his own arms. "What're you up doing, planning to write a thesis paper?"
"Sophomore medical is a lot harder than freshman," She explained with a small smirk, balancing a little better now at least, "It means a lot more study than before!"
"Well, I'm sure you'll do great." René said with a touch of sad pride, knowing he wouldn't be around to see it. "You know I'm proud of you, right?"
"Well... sure!" She blinked, again, her mood seeming to fall along with his, as if part of her were already trying to see everything was okay, something she was certain, was less and less likely... "...René, everything okay?"
René looked away. "Faith--I--no, Faith. It isn't. I'm...I'm moving away." She stopped dead, as if wondering she'd heard him right or not, while at the same time, knowing exactly what he said meant.
"Moving?" She finally echoed.
He nodded miserably. "My dad's moving us to Johto...practically as soon as school starts up." His lower lip starts to tremble until he bites down on it. "I just found out I had a family---and now I'm going to lose it. Again."
The girl's mind seemed to be racing, retracing each word that came out of his mouth, her expression blank, as if she didn't know what to say or feel, instead blurting out more words and questions that found their way to her mouth, "What about your Mom?"
"...she'll be staying here." René barely manages to choke out, his fists clenching in fury at his father's callousness
The girl's grip on her books seemed to slip, and only perhaps a reflex of holding her crutch made her stop from falling over, as she let it hit her, she was wordless, as her ears and tails slowly began to wither, "...Moving...as in permanently?" René said nothing, letting his silence answer for him. True, there was the chance of moving back when he turned eighteen in two years; but he didn't know if he would be able to sustain himself on his own. The girl held the silence, and it continued for many more moments, until she took a deep breath, collecting herself and nodding finally, sure of herself. "Things will work out." A half-smile returned to her face as always, as she looked to him reassuring as possible, "Somehow."
It was clear that René wasn't so sanguine about it. "Think so? Then you can be the one to tell Nicole and Maggie and the others about this....because I don't know if *I* can." He snapped, then immediately regretted it.
She seemed to falter, if only for a moment, but slowly, moving forward, took the load he'd taken from her and placed them back on top of her own load, despite how hard it was for her, "I'll do my best."
"I know you will...I wish you all the best in the world Faith." He gently patted her back. "I love you cousin."
She just kept her smile there, as he patted her, and as cumbered as she was, she didn't stop, even bowing to him in her always accustomed manner, "And I, you. Remember Ohana?" She said, still trying to keep that smile on her face for him.
He smiled sadly..."Ohana means family. I'll never forget that. I think we'll be in town long enough for your family to get one chance to meet me..." Faith had discussed that her parents would be visiting soon to check up on her...and their newly found nephew.
Faith nodded. "Ohana also means, nobody is left behind." She held that smile, somehow, as she nodded to him, just one last time, hobbling her way to turn, "...It'll turn out for the best...don't worry."
"I wish I was so confident as you--" René sighed as he chuckled. "That must be why they call you Faith." He looks down. "I should probably go tell the others. Then I'm going to go to Jenn's party and try to forget everything...Take care."
"Take care," She gave her parting word, watching him head off, that half-smile, as she kept moving her turned off direction, which seemed to strangely lead to a dead end.
Only there, did the books fall out of her hand, and she fell back against the wall...clutching her chest...Why did René's father have to do this, to René and Vera? It was a pain that she remembered, the day Darius declared his vendetta against the fox...yet now, knowing she might lose the new family member. She didn't want René to see her like this, he needed as much strength as he could hold, while she broke into tears, sitting there in the dead-end hallway and hugging her legs against her.
&&&
PENNY
“enny? Can I have a word with you?” The scizor in question paused and turned away from her locker when she heard the diminutive vulpix. The two had been only barely on speaking terms with one another after a prank Penny had pulled had soured things between them. She knew that René would forgive her and go back to tormenting her with hugs...eventually, she was still surprised by the sad tone he used.
Penny turned away from her locker. “Hm?”
René turned to make sure no one was around. “enny I---I don't know how to say this...” He took a deep breath. “...I'm....not going to be seeing you anymore.”
She arched a brow.. “What now, Browser?”
“I-I mean...” He blurted out. “I'm moving away!”
“Over the egg thing?” Penny asked, looking a little sad and a little disappointed. “René...”
He quickly shook his head ,“I....no that's not it Penny! My dad is moving us to Johto...it's because he found out I'm dating a poison-type.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I see, so we have some similar issues after all...” The scizor mused, recalling her own problems with Joshua Garkirl's narrow minded family.
“Yeah...” René nodded sympathetically. “My dad is a garkirl in spirit--the bad ones, not Destine and her boys obviously. I wish I could stay and help you out but--”
“René... Don't worry about it.” She sighed and shook her head. “In this world... We all have our own problems, the question is whether or not we can man up and do something about it, or simply tuck our abdomens in and run away. ... I wish you the best of luck, and hope this is indeed not the last time we meet...”
“Look, that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I just....I hate leaving things between us the way they are....”
“... Yes?”
“I---I don't know! I'm still SO mad at you for what you did---but I don't want to be mad!”
“Well if it counts for anything, I meant what I said. René, I'd never go looking to hurt you.”
“I know...but you did.”
“And if there was something I could do to make it up to you other than REALLY getting pregnant and naming the child after you, I'd do it.”
René took a deep breath. “It was that part, more than anything else, that really hurt Penny.” He bit his lip. “So um, what ARE those two weird things of yours?”
“They're miniature box bots, from LaRousse... Multi-purpose, quite helpful little things. Joshua got them for me. As... Weird as it might sound... *Scratches the back of her head.* For the time being I have actually taken to considering them our children...
“...What did you call them again? Namewise?”
“Linguis and, wellll...Browser Version 2.0..?”
“....You're KIDDING.”
“BV2, for short.” She tapped her foot. “I did not lie, I actually named one after you.”
“...I have no idea what to feel about that. What do they do?”
“For the most part, hang around me a lot and make faces. But they're good for getting information, occasional aid of various types, and Linguis is even my official translator. Back at the Garkirls' villa, they even showed that they can become little mirrors.”
René blinked. “Anyway....in spite of everything---I am going to miss you Penny. I just wish our last time together didn't end like...it did.”
Penny patted him on the back. “I'll miss you too, Browser. And I can't exactly say I'm pleased with how that went myself.“ René hugged the scizor girl. Penny twitched an eye, but just let it happen. "Told Nicole yet..?"
He shook his head. “I----I CAN'T...”
“René...You have to. It won't be fair for you to just disappear on her, then have somebody else give her the news.”
“I know but....” He paused. “How can I tell her without making her feel guilty? My dad is using HER as the reason for us to move!”
“Don't tell her that part, then. Tell her he's a bigoted asshole, and that he hates the school you're in and the people you're associating with.”
The young fox sighed and looked up at her, his eyes watering. “I couldn't lie to her either...Why does this have to happen?...Why do I keep having to lose people I care about?”
“Because the world is wrong? Because we need people to actually stand up and change things, not to just abandon them for their own quick pleasure? ... Because there's a good reason I told you what I did about Joshua's situation, and my intentions if I really get in the way of his future..?René, you're sixteen... And he will not control your life for much longer. Take solace in that fact at least...” Burying his face in Penny's side, René murmured:
“C-can I have a hug?”
Penny winced. “What, now..?” She looked around for a moment before finally sighing, content that at least there was no one around. “... Alright.” She gave him a light hug. He hugged her back, his tail wagging happily. “... Oh, I'll bet you're real proud of this.”
“...I'm proud of you.”
“Whutnow?”
“I'm proud of you. You're so strong, and tough....and standing up to Josh's family is just--wow. And....you're strong enough to hug me!” Penny just brought up an open claw and buried her face in it at that remark, prompting a snort from René. “I'm gonna miss you....who else can I joke about with about Faith's ginormous bloomers?”
“It disturbs me that she's started wearing things more riske than mine...” She admitted.
René giggled again. “That's my cousin!”
“Well for the time being she's practically my adopted sister, so how do you think I feel about it?”
“Hey! Doesn't that make us practically related?”
“... No.” Penny affirmed simply. Then her face seemed to imperceptibly soften. “But we ARE friends. And as a friend, here's my advice: You know your father. You know his dirty little secrets. Use them.” She couldn't read the expression on René's face after that. It looked like a cross between fear, desperation, and the possible beginnings of an idea. She couldn't be sure. Fleshy expressions were still not the easiest things for her to read. “...Take care Browser.” She said at last, patting him awkwardly with her claw. “Good luck.”
&&&
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