courage, olimar !

Antares squatted down next to the box to take a look at it. No dents (as usual), no moist spots (he had been specifically informed that the package should remain dry at all costs), looked all good to him.

"And gotcha..." he replied. "Must be rough for you guys too, huh?"

Despite being in a very different line of work (or at least he assumed the other was, he could empathise. Even as a supervillain, laying low was usually preferable. The local police force may be corrupt, with questionable competency, and mostly staffed with regular folk but letting one's guard down was how some of his former coworkers had ended up behind bars.

Even he had changed into his work clothes only when he'd arrived at the dockside to avoid drawing attention.

He looked up at the freighter. Oh. Now that's a guy who's been under a lot of pressure, if he ever saw one.

And he'd seen a lot of them.

The question that the other man posed was one he'd heard before from newer recruits, and some not so new employees of The Agency as well.

“Fewer shipments is never a good thing, no.” He feels horrible for wishing the police would not try to be better about actually doing their jobs.

The question makes him laugh, a strangled, choked-off sound.

"How kind of you to offer, and no thank you. Surprised your little ones are stopping you from enjoying a drink or two at home every once in a while but hey, not my house," she raised her hands in defense, still lingering on his earlier question of why hadn't she taken him hostage. But, his answer would lie in his future questions, and since she'd given him the benefit of the doubt the first time, Selina would make good use of the time they had together.

"Why aren't you my hostage? Well, let's see. Two-Face would make it 50/50, and everyone else I can think of would have you dead by now. I know you're not from here, so I wanted to give you a special welcome of my own. It's only fair, right? And just cause you haven't met them yet, doesn't exactly mean you're on their good side either."

Wow, when was the last time she was openly talking about Gotham's villains like this? Maybe with Ivy or Harley, after a heist gone wrong or worse, but those were her friends in the same boat as her. A civillian, though? Never a dull moment around here, she figured.

His attempt at a compromise only caused her to scoff, resting her chin on her elbows as she shook her head, "I'm trying to help you here, and you just want to throw money at me? I have better places to do that, you know."

Their conversation was certainly taking some hits on her ego, but, all she could think about was the fact that he couldn't even take a guess at her moniker.

"Wait, hold on. You said you don't even know what to call me?" Selina gasped, looking even more visibly betrayed than when he had mentioned getting her arrested. She pointed one gloved claw each to the pronounced ears of her purple suit.

“You’re saying you’re giving me a chance since I’m new? That’s very kind of you.” What’s the catch?

“…so it’s not about the money.” That complicates things. “I’m guessing you enjoy the thrill? It’s sort of a game to you, is that right? There’s nothing fun about being given money to buy these things yourself when you can show off your skills and steal them instead.”

This sucks. What is Olimar supposed to do now? He’ll have to fall back on his Plan B, which is needlessly risky for all involved. The rogue will be arrested, surely, but Olimar might find himself in lock-up too. Sacho will use him as a fall guy, he’ll be fired, and he’ll never work again. Why is she being so stubborn and forcing his hand? Just take the pay-off!

Olimar is startled out of his spiral by the look of absolute betrayal on her half-masked face.

“Um— I just meant—“ Gracious! He didn’t intend to hurt her feelings.

“Yes, yes, of course! A cat! And there’s Batman, and Two-Face, as you said. And the Joker.” Everyone knows him.

“If it helps, I think theming yourself after a cat makes you the classiest of all of them. You look… you look purrfect.” It’s almost painful how hard he’s trying.

Can they get back on topic?

That was until a chirp of a whistle disturbed her moment. Zelda's prayers were often accompanied by nearby animals, but she just couldn't seem to recognize the sound. Plus, these moments were especially private to her, so she couldn't think of anyone, or even find anyone nearby, who was looking for her. She sat up from her knees and looked around, only for her eyes to fixate on a being whose height barely reached her calves.

"Huh?" Zelda questioned, sinking down into a crouch until her eyes widened once she got a better look, "What... what are you?"

Oh, if only she had her Purah Pad to take a photo! The princess grew increasingly curious, head tilted to the side as she was oh so tempted to pick up the one who had visited her.

Goddesses… how interesting. Olimar doesn’t consider himself a deeply religious man, but he has strong spiritual beliefs about space, as most Hocotatians do. For example, he knows in his heart that when his people die, they become one with the vast oceans of stars above. He speculated briefly about the spirituality of Pikmin as well during his first stay on their planet, giving thought to the differences between his kind and a species so tied to the soil. He can’t help but wonder now about Hylia and the other goddesses; do Hylians feel more connected to the ground below or to the sky above?

“I am very grateful to you, your friends, and— and the goddesses of this land.” He’s trying very hard to be polite despite his inexperience with Zelda’s customs.

He points over at the crash site. The ship is half-buried in weeds (no wonder she couldn’t find it at first!) and appears to be fully inoperable.

“I’m not missing any parts, thankfully, but most of them are too broken to fly. I… would need some help transporting the ship to your mechanics, though.”

If only every planet had Pikmin ready to lend a hand.

Psychology Sentences, Vol. 9

(Sentences for interactions with therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists - or even just friends supporting each other. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"Being frightened is a normal, natural human function, just like breathing. It's how you react to fright that really counts."

"You feel used. Angry. Now we need to figure out whether if you're mad at me or yourself."

"You've spent so long wallowing in the past, wishing time would go backwards, but that is not how reality works."

"Isn't it all just a bit busy inside your head?"

"It can't be easy always having to prove that you belong."

"Most people's memories are unreliable. The things we see and that people say, they change over time. Your past is an illusion."

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? Are you happy?"

"You have to be careful fighting monsters or you might turn into one yourself."

"In such uncertain times, there is a great comfort to be found in the familiar."

"Just because something seems inevitable doesn't mean there isn't hope."

"Who are we if not the stories we tell ourselves?"

"In my experience, I find that when you set out to change the world, the world changes you instead."

"You solve everyone else's problems, but never your own."

"For me to help you, you're going to have to talk to me at some point."

"Do you ever wonder if all of this is just a dream?"

"You have an unquiet mind, and so you war with yourself like a dog trying to chew off its own tail."

"Only one person has a need to know what's the things inside my head, and that person is me."

"The truth doesn't care if you believe in it. It simply exists, whether we want it to or not."

"Does it hurt? The truth you keep hidden?"

"Human memory is sensory-based. Vision alone is not the strongest trigger. Sound and smell actually work better."

"I think if you could go back and go down a different path, you would."

"Human nature is interesting, don't you think? If you understand what makes someone tick, they become predictable."

"I think you're all about your work, and you don't know when to stop."

"Beware of ideas that are not your own."

"You said "you people". Is that because you don't think you're one of us?"

"Who teaches us to be normal when we're one of a kind?"

"Do you believe that I'm a good person? That a deserve just like everybody else?"

"What we are is as much where destiny takes us as it is what we do with the journey."

"You really don't have to save me from my own life, you know?"

"You can usually find a 'hidden' meaning in anything if you want it badly enough."

"You're not allowing yourself to feel things that you should be feeling."

“Huh. Lucky, I guess.” Does that mean the place has oxygen? “I’m from a planet from Earth. I don’t know if that really means anything. I didn’t even realize there was like, life on other planets. Well, until I met all you guys.”

The Pikmin let out little sounds of protest, continuing to swarm Nadine, and a few give up and begin to climb Olimar instead. He, too, nearly falls; they’re practically his own size, after all.

Most of the Pikmin appear more interested in the Leafling than in the stranger; he steps back as Nadine steps forward to keep their focus on the newcomer.

One of the creatures wanders over with a questioning coo, reaching out to touch the offered hand.

“You’re supposed to lead them,” Olimar finally replies, but there’s no real force behind his words. How could he blame Nadine for wanting to treat these incredible creatures with kindness? For wanting to get to know them before ordering them into danger?

(There is a part of them wondering if they’re gonna have to whistle for the Pikmin, and wondering if they even can whistle, but they’ll get there later.)

“Holy shit! You really do know what you’re doing.” He’s got a whole plan, and Nadine still doesn’t know what half of the shit surrounding them is. They watch the Pikmin move, and then jump a little when sprouts come from the… thing Olimar had tried to put them in. Had he called it an onion at one point?

“In a way. Castaways accepted by the Onion become like me.” Related to the Pikmin, certainly, but not exactly one of them.

“…usually… that is necessary because it allows lost travelers to breathe the deadly oxygen of this atmosphere. But… you appear to be able to breathe here without Leaves. May I ask where you are from?”

Most of the Pikmin appear more interested in the Leafling than in the stranger; he steps back as Nadine steps forward to keep their focus on the newcomer.

One of the creatures wanders over with a questioning coo, reaching out to touch the offered hand.

“You’re supposed to lead them,” Olimar finally replies, but there’s no real force behind his words. How could he blame Nadine for wanting to treat these incredible creatures with kindness? For wanting to get to know them before ordering them into danger?

“But satisfaction works for now. So we get more little guys? That’s fine with me.” Nadine heads back over to him, not even realizing as the group of Pikmin follow. They do, however, make sure to put a hand on the one on their shoulder, so they don’t fall.

Olimar perks up even more as Nadine continues.

“You are unfamiliar with dandori.” No wonder they’re so strange!

“It is the art of strategic planning and efficiency in one’s actions. It is the basis of survival for us here.” So Nadine can surely understand, now, why “fun” isn’t part of the picture. Rest is necessary, and leisure can be useful, but there’s simply too much to be done in a day for fun to be a staple of Olimar’s life. He always has more important things to focus on.

“I will show you.” There’s genuine excitement beneath his flat expression.

With a sharp whistle, he rounds up Nadine’s Pikmin and runs off, gesturing for the alien to follow.

Most of the Pikmin appear more interested in the Leafling than in the stranger; he steps back as Nadine steps forward to keep their focus on the newcomer.

One of the creatures wanders over with a questioning coo, reaching out to touch the offered hand.

“You’re supposed to lead them,” Olimar finally replies, but there’s no real force behind his words. How could he blame Nadine for wanting to treat these incredible creatures with kindness? For wanting to get to know them before ordering them into danger?

“But like, and maybe this is too longterm, but what’s the eventual goal there? Or what if there isn’t a castaway to find? What do you do for like… fun?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

They’re teasing him. This sort of interaction feels so strange. Olimar hasn’t actually just… spoken to another person for so long. He doesn’t know how to react.

“…”

A Pikmin comes to comfort Olimar as he falls silent, thinking.

“The goal is to survive and increase our numbers. You’re asking what the goal of life is. I cannot answer that.”

Fun.

“I do not have time for fun. I find satisfaction in perfect planning and execution. Dandori is… all there is.”

Most of the Pikmin appear more interested in the Leafling than in the stranger; he steps back as Nadine steps forward to keep their focus on the newcomer.

One of the creatures wanders over with a questioning coo, reaching out to touch the offered hand.

“You’re supposed to lead them,” Olimar finally replies, but there’s no real force behind his words. How could he blame Nadine for wanting to treat these incredible creatures with kindness? For wanting to get to know them before ordering them into danger?

There’s a giggle that comes from Nadine, giving each of the little guys some attention. They even lift one up and let it rest on their shoulder. They do want attention, and something else, but Nadine can’t quite tell what it is. It’s hard to translate something they can’t even understand.

The Pikmin continue to coo and cheer and wah!. The one on their shoulder looks very, very proud of itself. A few others continue to watch Olimar, and he waves to them.

“They are cool.” Maybe Nadine isn’t a good survivor; maybe the Onion just likes them because they like Pikmin. Wouldn’t that be something!