Counselor's Office 01

[punchicebergs]

Who: Kojiro and YOU
What: Counseling and comforting
Where: Kojiro's Office
When: November Sunday, 13th - Saturday, 19th
Warnings: TBA but there shouldn't be any besides language.

Comments

13th; 8 am

[punchtheflowers]

Vinnie was well acquainted enough with Kojiro's sleeping habits that he knew he could burst into his office not too long after dawn to see him. Between himself, the Lapras and the Charizard, it seemed like Red Team was just full of early risers.

So here he was. Barging in with nary a knock to the door. "Did you see that network post." The Venusaur's eyes were even more red than usual, and he looked like he hadn't slept a wink that night. "That bastard's back. He's teaching here again."

[punchicebergs]

"Hn?" Kojiro looked up. He was about to stand up when he realized it was just Vinnie. Who else would come barging in at a time like this?

"You are referring to Yevgeny Volgin, yes?"

[punchtheflowers]

"'Course I fuckin' am," he snapped, and immediately regretted it. Vinnie shook his head and sighed, trying to compose himself again.

With one hand rubbing his burning eyes and the other closing the door behind him, he trudged towards the kotetsu muttering, "He's supposed t'be fuckin' gone. Now he's got his old fuckin' job?"

[punchicebergs]

"I'm sure the Hands will be keeping an eye on him, seeing as they know what he is capable of." Kojiro closed his eyes. "Do not let him get to you. He is not worth the effort."

[punchtheflowers]

Vinnie could only respond to his serenity with a scream of frustration. "The hands won't do shit! They're the ones who FUCKIN' HIRED HIM! When've they ever done ANYTHING 'bout the freakshows around here?"

Yevgeny was responsible for the total sum of all of Vinnie's miseries in the past year, of this he knew abundantly well. Kojiro couldn't have been so naive as to think that everything would be okay if he just ignored him.

"Chika has no idea how bad this guy is, or how strong. Red can't even remember what happened last year. How can you just say it's not worth the effort?!"

[punchicebergs]

That was true. He wanted to put more faith in the headmasters but they... sure didn't do much. Especially with the fiasco last year. It looked like they were going to have to handle things themselves.

The Lapras sighed, looking at Vinnie. "Then we will have to fill them in on what happened, especially to Chika. At least it seems as though Mr. Raikov's opinion on us has improved. Perhaps he can keep Mr. Volgin more calm this time around. I heard rumors that he owns a Pokemon now?"

[punchtheflowers]

For a second time in the past minute, Vinnie huffed and tried to calm himself down. He trudged over to the kotetsu and flopped down at the opposite end, head in hands.

"Yeah, some bug-thing I don't recognize. I still don't trust him," he growled before sighing again.

There was a pause. His shoulders slumped. "...I'm tired, Ko."

[punchicebergs]

It was understandable. Vinnie had been through a lot. Once bitten, twice shy, as they say.

"Everyone deserves a second chance. People are capable of changing. However, in this case, it would be best not to let our guard down. We should observe their behavior before making any big decisions.

"For now though, you should rest."

[punchtheflowers]

Vinnie shook his head, though his hands still blocked his face from view. He couldn't quite meet eyes with Kojiro, not like this. Fear and rage and shame all squirmed inside him, burning away at his resolve.

"I'm tired of all've this. Everything about that asshole and what he did." Voice going quieter, he confessed, "I dunno if I can handle it anymore."

[punchicebergs]

"But he's been gone for quite some time." Koji took a sip of his drink. "You still can't come to terms with what happened...? You are quite lucky to be alive today, you know..."

[punchtheflowers]

"Lucky?" The Venusaur gave an incredulous scoff. "How the hell would I be lucky? Would you feel lucky if someone ripped your goddamn shell off your back? Not like you need it t'live, right? An' if you were told you'd drown the next time you tried t'swim, that's fine too?"

He was snapping again, but this time he didn't care. Rather than anger and impatience, there was a crushing sense of sadness behind his voice. Even Kojiro expected him to be better by now - the most patient member of the team by far. Everyone had simply... moved on. Except him.

[punchicebergs]

"My shell is not needed, actually. It just provides comfort for passengers... If I were told I would drown the next time I swam, I suppose my only alternative would be to remain human... or to attempt to strengthen myself so I could swim once again."

[punchtheflowers]

"You think I haven't been doing that?" Vinnie's response was an agitated growl. His fingers tightened, clenching. Even if his physique had bulked up since Kojiro saw him last, his confidence was still wounded.

"That's all I've been doing. S'why I took the job from Max, s'why I've been busting my ass t'get stronger... so why's it feel like I'm even weaker than when I started?"

[punchicebergs]

Hmm. Kojiro was starting to understand what was wrong.

"Physical strength is one thing. The ability to grow mentally and become happy with who you are is another."

[punchtheflowers]

Vinnie's eyes narrowed a little as he stared down at the table. Being happy with himself sounded like it should've been so easy. He'd wanted to be a Venusaur for so, so long - but the more he dwelled on his present state, the more he felt like a failure.

"So what the hell'm I supposed t'do about that?" The accusatory edge was replaced by turmoil. He was confused, and had been for a long time. "I know what it means t'be strong. T'be a real Venusaur..."

So how was he supposed to feel happy with himself when he couldn't live up to any of his responsibilities? He thought he'd already grown enough. He'd matured past his Ivysaur way of thinking. Where was he even supposed to go from here?

[punchicebergs]

A real Venusaur, huh? Kojiro raised an eyebrow to that.

"Do you?" He asked, folding his hands in his lap. "Tell me then."