02 ‡ [Video]

[vitavampire]

[At first all that can be heard is a few clicking noises, almost like the sound of pecking. As the video function finally flickers on it can be seen that it was pecking judging by the Pidgey ruffling it's feathers in annoyance at the Pokegear. The bird nudges the device so the video feed is right side up instead of the sideways it initially was.

Comments

[Action - He's actually just outside Cherrygrove too, waiting for someone]

[thisdesertrose]

[For once, Wild Rose let herself be taken into her Pokeball as Firion approached the camp. She was rather large and Firion didn't want her accidentally scaring the young man. He's steps are soft as he draws closer before crouching down, he is still a good distance away.]

Are you alright?

[Action]

[vitavampire]

[The Growlithe in Clair's arms started growling at the approach, letting Clair know someone was coming. Though he didn't move when first addressed after a while he slowly raised his head to glare at the intruder, his eyes looking a bit more than crazed.]

...What do you want?

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

[He simply raised his hands in a placating manner, showing that he wasn't going to do anything and hoping to let the Growlithe know the same.]

I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You seemed a bit... sad.

[Action]

[vitavampire]

[The Growlithe immediately relaxed, but sadly the trainer isn't nearly as complacent as his Pokemon. Firion should just count himself lucky Clair doesn't have his grenades anymore, otherwise the pin would already be pulled. As he doesn't, he just tightens his grip on his precious Growlithe instead.]

What does it matter to you?

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

[Firion gave a small smile, lowering his arms to rest them on his knees.]

Because you are not the only one who misses his family, I suppose. I also merely want to help.

[It's what he does and yes, Firion would have counted himself lucky if he knew.]

[Action]

[vitavampire]

[The anger seems to melt away as he realizes this one isn't a threat, but only to be replaced with that sort of emptiness again.]

Family..? I didn't have a family. Papa left me. Giovanni... He was my bodyguard.

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

[He wasn't one to have experienced abandonment, but he does know what loss feels like.]

My parents died when I was very young. My family are the friends I stayed with, along with those I met on my journey to defeat the Palamecian Empire.

[He sighed softly.]

Perhaps your bodyguard will arrive here as well?

[Action]

[vitavampire]

[He buries his face into the Growlithe's fur, his voice becoming a little muffled.]

False hopes are a waste of time. Papa... He died a few months ago. Ian... Mitchal... My other two bodyguards... They died only a couple weeks before I came here... Protecting me... With them gone, and then me disappearing... Giovanni's probably dead by now too.

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

But we do not know how we have come to be here, so there is still a chance.

[After all, Clair was not the only one to disappear. And many arrived with people they already knew.]

[Action]

[vitavampire]

[His head snaps up to glare, his eyes filled with so many different emotions they seem a bit wild and crazed.]

Don't bother trying to lie! It's never going to happen and it's pathetic for someone to be forced to hold onto something like false hopes! It's a weakness and all weakness must never be held out for anyone to see!

[Clair. Perfect example of why it's not a good idea to mentally and physically abuse your child to train them to be a future mafia boss.]

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

[He sighed softly, almost used to hear that.]

Sometimes... hope is all we have. False or not.

[Action]

[vitavampire]

[And once again, the emptiness seems to take over rather quickly in the boy's eyes. Though there is a flicker of something there, as his mind begins to wander to the past.]

Once... Giovanni told me I needed to live, even if it means crawling through Hell. My other two bodyguards were dead, my caretaker betrayed me, my company was taken over because of it, the other mafia bosses turned on me... And still, Giovanni was there for me, telling me I needed to show everyone that I could still shine...

I wonder... if he believed in hope?

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

From the sound of that... I believe he did. He believed in hope and in you.

[Action]

[vitavampire]

[Clair's body begins to shake a little, but he won't cry. He hasn't since he was a very small child and he wasn't going to start now if he could help it.]

Giovanni... I can't remember what happened after that. I... blacked out. Giovanni told me I was catatonic for almost a week... What woke me up... He was gone. He wasn't by my side anymore... So I went to find him. I... don't know why. I can barely remember it... It was like a dream, wandering through the streets like some ghost even knowing that every lowlife in the city was out to get me because of the price on my head... I had to find Giovanni... I was scared he left me like everyone else...

[Action]

[thisdesertrose]

[He sighs softly.]

Being here will not help your search then. I know what you mean, but, even if you think it is weak, having hope may help you. False hope or not... it's something to believe in.

[He smiles ruefully.]

It was all I had left for quite some time.

[Action]

[vitavampire]

I found him... Eventually... It was hearing his scream that made me snap back to myself. After that, I pulled myself together again and got revenge for Mitchal and Ian's deaths.

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pair of pink casino dice and what looks like a silver class ring with a blue gem set in it. For a moment he just stares at them before speaking up again.]

And then I woke up here. I had nothing, I knew I was alone but I had to pull myself together. Giovanni wouldn't have wanted me to panic, he would have wanted me to do my best and just deal with it. So I have been. But... it's hard without him.