Eighth Sacrament: Birth

[11121_assumption]

[ The immediate scene on the screen is a very frozen Walter sitting on his bed, clearly trying to breathe very slowly, as a Flareon sits on him and is watching him very happily, wagging it's flame-like tail. It leans even closer and Walter tenses, hands curled up at his side. He doesn't relax even as the Flareon presses it's face against his chest, looking up at him with pitch black eyes.

On the floor is the remains of an egg and on the table is a Fire Stone.

Eileen chirps to him, signaling that the gear is on. She goes over and doesn't get the Flareon off him, simply smiling and checking the Flareon and clearly squeeing a little. Her first egg hatching! Walter swallows, clearly still locked up with nerves. He needs Help. Which is why Eileen was supposed to have called Manka... ]

Manaka. This isn't a Ponyta.

Comments

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

She's...she's warm. [ Which is nice. He does want to like this Pokemon. She was a gift to him, and she was meant to have been a fire type. But he's still tense and nervous.

When he calls her warm, the Flareon beamed and glowed a deep red, becoming even warmer. ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

Sharing body heat is efficient and mutually beneficial for humans and other living things.

I don't think she's going to bite you.

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

You really like hugs, don't you Wrath? [ This is the second time he's educated him on the science of hugs and sharing body heat. ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

I do.

They're very important.

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

I...haven't been hugged. Before I came here. [ Which is why he was so confused by his Pokemon constantly doing it to him. Upon hearing that, his Flareon chirped and pressed harder against him. He tensed up again. ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

Hm. That's not good.

_{[He'd gotten hugs-- until the humans realized what he was, anyway. After that, only Mommy had given him hugs. But that had been good enough for him.]}

Are you getting enough now?

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

Urm. I don't...know? [ How many hugs is enough, Dr. Wrath? ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

_{[Dr. Wrath has no medical license and should probably be sued for malpractice BUT]}

Do you feel happy and safe?

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

Not...no. Not often.

[ Sometimes he feels happy but most of the time he's empty. And he's not safe. His Pokemon protect him but Valtiel will find him. ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

Hm. Then probably not enough hugs, no.

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

People don't- there's no reason for anyone to hug me. [ He didn't have any family. And while he had people he liked and were somewhat close to, why would they hug him?

He tensed as the Flareon placed her front paws on his leg, still coddling up to him. ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath puffs. Come on, Walter, you're supposed to be smart!]}

Do I have to explain body heat to you again?

It's not that strange.

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

Wrath, people aren't like that. Strangers don't hug each other. Friends don't hug each other. People only hug their family and I never had one!

[ He's not talking about Pokemon anymore. He can't help the frustration in his voice because you know what? He would love to just accept being hugged. He would really, really like to be held by someone who cares about him, who would keep him safe. But he's never had that, never will have that and even if he did, he wouldn't know how to even accept it.

At his side, the Flareon's ears fell sadly. Her trainer sounded so...she settled half on his lap, glowing warmly. ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

_{[Walter come on WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE...]}

Homunculi don't have families either, but my friends still hug me.

I see friendly humans hug all the time.

Humans love hugging!

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

Wrath. [ His tone is just. Flat. ]

My parents left me at birth. I didn't have friends. Nobody hugged me before I came here. I lived and died without hugs.

Since I have been here, I have been hugged once by a human. Humans do like hugs, and hug each other. But they don't hug me.

[Video]

[garbagechild]

Well, fine, I'll hug you. I'm good at it, for a Homunculus. And I have body heat now that I have a human body, so it will be practical too.

_{[He rolls his eyes, because really, it's a VERY simple solution!]}

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

[ ...Ur. He just expected Wrath to accept that nobody hugs him. Not offer to be the person to hug him. And it shows as Walter clearly pauses, blindsided by Wrath's suggestion. It takes him a few long moments to figure out what to say and even then it's all very hesitant and unsure. ]

You don't. Have to. I'm not going to be good at it. And I know you have other people to hug. [ How does one accept affection. WALTER DOESN'T KNOW. ]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath shrugs.]}

That's okay.

I had to learn about a lot of human things, too.

And anyway, hugging is pretty easy. It doesn't require much effort, which is part of why it's so nice.