fortitude

“I’m sure you’ll make it, uh, on time buddy.”  Whit gave Cilan a friendly pat on the back.  “I believe in you, otherwise I’d, like, just wander to class on my own and, uh, hope for the best.”  He could feel Cilan losing hope.  “You don’t have to, like, run, just, uh, walk very quickly.  Besides, you, like, don’t want Lucy to catch you running–”  He noticed the other hall monitor making his way towards them just as Cilan had.  Whit put on a friendly smile as Yoichi stalked up to them.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Zubat and Plant Boy.”

“You always have such good nicknames for people, you, like, know that Yoich?”

“Don’t even try to butter me up.” Yoichi looked at Cilan.  “Well I expect this human train wreck to be wandering the halls, but you surprise me.”  Whit took zero offense; he was a human train wreck.  He didn’t want Cilan to get upset by Yoichi’s infamous hallway roasts, so he attempted to explain the situation after sliding in front of the other.

“Well, you see Mr. Oshiro.  I don’t have my, uh, seeing eye Pokémon with me, so–”

“That’s because you don’t need one.  You’re supposed to just wear your glasses.”

Whit held up a finger.  “I don’t have my seeing eye Pokémon with me, so, like, Cilan is offering to, uh, walk me to class, cause, like, they changed all the lockers over the summer so I, uh, don’t know where I’m going.”

“As you, can, like, see, it’s perfectly valid for us to, uh, roam the halls at this very moment because, like, we’re trying to, uh, get to class.”  At this point Whit was mostly relying on Yoichi getting irritated enough with him that he’d let them pass without saying anything.  There was a moment of silence before Yoichi spoke again.

“Are you really taking him to class?”

✿ ｀ Zubat and Plant Boy? 

A hesitant smile flickers across his lips at the nicknames, unsure at how to react but that quickly changed as he stared with wide eyes at Whit’s next nickname. 

That’s a little mean. 

Though it bothered didn’t bother the recipient. Cilan, on the other hand, looked offended for the two of them, doubled at the fact that Whit was content at just letting it slide like it happened often, and he thought to speak up about it but was cut off, leaving the senior to bite back whatever scolding brewing within him. It did give him some time to review- the more he thought about it... from the neutral, almost bored, tone of the hall monitor, it wasn’t said as a way to be hurtful. 

But still! 

It was clear the two had moved on past name calling, even though Cilan still felt the need to address it, but he responds to Yoichi’s question with a nod and a quiet “Yes”. He continues to speak, though his volume remained low and careful.

“ It’s hard to be, er, it can be challenging to do normal things without our service pokemon. I forgot to submit paperwork so... I don’t have my Jumpluff. We really are trying to get to class! ” He pats his chest, searching for the hall pass. 

“ Whit almost ran into a wall on the way,” he tries to appeal to yoichi’s pathos. “ and I couldn’t... it’s worrying? To leave him alone. And he helped with mu- my anxiety attack. Uhm, o-oh uh.” 

“ Whit? ” The blood drains from his face and Cilan looks an unhealthy color. “ I ca-can’t find my hall pass. “ He casts a fearful look at Yoichi and hurriedly adds. “ That’s my fault I-I, I’m sorry, I can try to find it by retracing our steps... if that’s okay. You can give me a citation, but Whit had a valid reason for-” He remembers the glasses comment and wince. Maybe not. Now he was getting guilt sweat for no reason!

“ Ah, maybe it’s best to,” To what? He breathes in, thinking what a terrible idea this was. “ Let this... go? Once, it’s the first... day... not that big.. ofvadeal.” 

Rubbing her hands together, taking moments of deep breath and pausing—especially any time she had to be in the hall, desperately remembering where the body had been found, not wanting to accidentally turn a corner into it—, Viola was high-strung, to say the least. She had never come face to face with a body before, and for her first to be so… cruelly disfigured, eyes removed, empty sockets staring into nothing, with nothing—

She had to breathe, to force the image out of her mind, to do anything else than to think about it! But what was there to do in this house she couldn’t leave from, where the party food no longer interested her, where talking about anything but the murder seemed too—crass?

To check on the other party guests seemed like the only other thing. Dressed as a witch, hat remove with the fun of the night now gone, camera hanging off her neck, Viola enters each room slowly, smiling politely, skin somehow pale under the tan; and she asks, trying not to make anyone jump, hands drawn over her stomach,

The sight of a body in what was supposed to be a festive and safe environment had Cilan in major shock. He was one of the first to excuse himself out the room, flying to the nearest restroom with his mouth covered with shaking hands- sure, he didn’t have any personal connections with the owner of this mansion, but seeing a lifeless body, a life ended like it was nothing... who could do such a thing like that?

He mostly stayed slumped on the cold, porcelain bathroom floor. Unresponsive to the muffled voices of others outside, wanting to be as far away from the body as possible. His flip phone rested in his loose grip, forgotten and void of signal. It felt the Mansion itself was haunted, trying to trap all within its walls.  

Cilan flinched when the creaked open. It’s slow movement had Cilan thinking the murderer was behind it trying to sneak up on him, and that thought doesn’t leave him even when a kind voice presents him with a question.

“Oh...uh,” Thinking and speaking seemed to have left the stage as Cilan slowly rose from the floor, grimacing at the pain from sitting on one place for so long. “I can make... the tea if you’d like.” He was simply a guest here but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help those around him in anyway he could. Initial suspicion turned to worry at the hunch form of the women, wincing at the state she was in, and offered his arm.

“I can accompany you there.” His eyes were glued to the ground but he walked with his back straight as if trying to hold some sanity together. He let out a soft, nervous laugh because, what else could he do to dispel some of the nervous tension?

“Your accent is beautiful. Kalos region, yes?” Though there is adoration in his voice, his usual cherry energy is absent for obvious reasons. Would they even get out of here alive? He shakes his head to clear the depressing thought and his Celebi antennas swayed along with him. “We haven’t meet before, my name is Cilan and uhm...” He trails off, distracted more so than usual and just not knowing how to finish his sentence.

@grassytuft

It wasn’t very often she got personal visitors, usually she kept her shop open for longer business hours than most. This week had been quite slow however, she decided to shut down shop to conserve costs, if clients needed something personal they were free to contact her personally and pick up the items from her home. 

With extra free time on her hand, she found herself looking through her contacts for a little bit of company. Stumbling upon a long time connection, she gave it a shot. Inviting over a Gym Leader of all people would be a first for her. Sephy coolly invited Cilan over with a quick phone call. He seemed excited to see her cottage for the first time. 

– A few days passed and suddenly he was at her doors. Her cabin door, made of solid wood creaked open loudly. She was showing her age.

“Cilan! I’m glad you made it to Kalos safely.” 

Stepping out of his way, she allowed him access into her cozy cottage. Fall was hitting Kalos earlier this season so she made sure it was nice and warm for them indoors. 

“Did you bring anything with you, I didn’t bother asking how long you’d like to stay so feel free to get as comfortable as possible.” a cheerful pumpkabook began to make its approach towards him, it bounced happily at the new visitor.

✿ ｀  

A call from an old friend took Cilan by total surprise, the invitation to visit their shop in Kalos seeming to come out of nowhere but the idea was not unwelcomed- he scanned his planner, crossing his fingers, and hoping his week was free. Besides errands, which his brothers could easily handle for a few days, he was free to go out! 

"I'd love to! I'll be there this weekend." He confirmed. The week passed by like a snap and, before he knew it, he was lugging his suitcase up Sephy's quaint cabin door.  Upon seeing the friendly face of a friend from an passed convention, he opened his arms and gave her a light smooches on her cheeks with a ‘Thank you for inviting me, ah~ it’s been so long!’ greeting of his own.

"Aha, well, as much as I'd love to stay for as long as possible in your garden palace,” he hangs his heavy coat, and shoulders a wicket basket into his arm with a laugh. “I’m afraid my brothers will need me back at the cafe, can’t leave them alone for too long. But for this weekend, I brought you...”

He offered the basket, a soft smile hidden behind an assorted array of flowers native to the Unova region.