victory_road | mall rats gym rats (closed)

Entry tags:

mall rats gym rats (closed)

Who: Marco, Jean & Armin/Marco & Annie

Where: Goldenrod Mall

When: 12/13 and 12/21/18

Summary: Christmas shopping, post-Gym talking, trekking and more!

Rating: PG?

Log:

Gym Rats, 12/13

Just outside Violet City, there's the familiar sounds of battle on one of the routes. There's the very excited sounds of a Meowth working her way through some Pidgey's, and the sound of Marco congratulating her when she defeats them.

He scratches behind her ears, getting a little purr. Sushi is still touch and go some days, but today is a good day. Viola is tucked into his backpack, paws on his shoulder, and she gives a bark as she sees someone.

Marco looks up, and immediately smiles, because he recognizes them. "Annie!"

Mall Rats, 12/21/18

After picking up their eggs from Connor and Hank, the three have ended up in the Goldenrod mall. Marco is trailed by Viola, who has her tail up high and proud from her recent Gym victory, and his new Pikipek, who has taken an interest in Armin's hair and keeps poking at it.

Marco keeps shooing Niles away and giving Armin and Jean odd looks. It might be because he has an idea he wants to float with the both of them, but he's not bringing it up yet. For now, they're stopped in front of a fashion store, mostly by virtue of Viola, but Marco points at one of the travel jackets.

"You think that would work for when it gets colder?"

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"I don't think there is anything wrong with checking things out." After all, they have the whole of the day left to shop. And Armin, for one, has a list in mind already, so he'll know exactly where to get the things he's looking for. He glances back at Jean for a moment, letting him know he can either join him and Marco while they take a quick detour through the shop, or he can chill outside.

"I didn't know you were looking to buy a new jacket too. Is it for our trip to Blackthorn?" You know, when they go and celebrate Bertolt's ~~bert~~birthday later in the month.

"A little. I realized when I was walking to Violet City, too, that I didn't really have the appropriate clothes for the trip, even though I made do."

He gives a little frown to himself, looking over at Armin and then Jean.

"I mean, what if I decide to travel and the weather turns? I can't count on there being a place to stay nearby."

"You could always borrow from Bertolt or me."

Because Marco is going to stay with them, right? Of course he is, and after being here for over two years, they've both built up quite the little wardrobe. Anything Marco needs, he can grab from their closets.

Jean shrugs, taking a step forward and peering at the jacket through the glass. "This'll be fine for quick trips in Blackthorn, but if you're going to do stuff outside, you'll need something warmer."

Armin glances at Jean for a moment. He isn't wrong about Marco being able to borrow something from them --they certainly both have outgrown Marco, so anything of theirs should be able to fit him-- but still. "I think, sometimes, it's nice to just own something yourself too."

Not having to worry about asking to borrow something, not feeling like you are living on other people's charity.

"I could, but if I'm gone for a while, that'd put you both out. And - I can afford it, since we just beat the gym."

A little pleased bark from Viola at that - heck yes they did, Falkner went down - and Marco smiles back at Jean and Armin.

"Something warmer. There was a travel store near the entrance I could check out?"

"Why would you be gone for awhile?" As far as Jean is concerned, you've been gone for long enough, buddy; you kept him waiting for two damn years, and now you're going to be traipsing off somewhere else? Absolutely not.

Jean can appreciate wanting to spend some of that gym money, though, and gestures back towards the entrance. "Yeah, it's up front. You guys go ahead, I'll catch up."

He saw those foxy little eyes checking out the Vulpix hat, and needs to know if it's available in purple.

"What if I wanted to take on a different Gym, further away?" Marco points it out pragmatically, but when Jean suggests they go check it out, he disengages with a sigh and moves forwards the other store, waiting for Armin to come along.

Once Armin does, Viola following them after a last look at the hat, Marco's shoulders drop. He waits until they're out of earshot to speak, though.

"Armin, can I talk to you about something?"

Armin's eyebrows rise at the request, and for just a moment, his eyes flick towards Jean's back --something going on between them?-- but he quickly looks back at Marco.

"You know you can always talk to me."

Okay, maybe not talk to him while he is reading because he cannot guarantee a listening ear then, but all the other times, go right ahead.

"I'm thinking about travelling for a while." If that wasn't obvious already, Marco raises a hand to scrub through his hair.

"I mean, without Jean and Bertolt, or FCAB. I want to go exploring and see what this place is like, and Jean seems... very stubborn about the idea of me going anywhere alone."

He hasn't quite been hovering, but as close to it as he can get. And there's a part of Marco that slightly resents what he views as being babied, although he'll never voice it as such.

"I... can understand why Jean wouldn't want to leave you alone."

After all, from Jean's point of view, Marco was someone he hadn't seen for two whole years. And not just that, but he had also been dead; something which couldn't be blamed on Jean at all, but Armin wonders if Jean doesn't blame himself for it - for not being there when Marco needed him, for losing sight of his best friend like that. Would Armin feel any different if it was Eren in Marco's position?

But just because he understands where Jean is coming from, doesn't mean he also doesn't understand Marco's wishes. Travelling in this world is great. Travelling itself is great, but doing so in a world where everybody is expected to travel and there are few, if any, barriers is especially wonderful. And hadn't they all learned so much while travelling? Little things about this world, things about their own skills and the skills of the pokemon they were travelling with? All of that couldn't be gotten from just any book. Sometimes you really needed the experience. That experience was vital in finding what they wanted to do with their time here, however short or long it would be.

So.

"But I think, on the whole, I don't agree with him. Travelling here is amazing. You should definitely do it."

Edited 2019-01-09 01:35 (UTC)

"I get it, I do..."

Marco does - but he will never get it the way the others, who lived it, had to. He understands what happened, he has felt that horror in his chest, fresh from losing so many classmates in Trost.

But he is also here, alive. And does he not deserve time to explore on his own? To get to know people.

Still, Armin's words bring a smile to his face.

"I want to. It's why I want to take a look at some travelling supplies. And how else will I find the time to teach Viola how to do contests?" She gives an approving bark at this, dancing between them. "I don't want to disappear for a while, either. Given the things we have, I am sure I can check in with everyone."

"Well, I can't help with learning about contests, but we still have a ton of camping gear you could borrow. I don't mean clothes or anything, but things like a tent or a sleeping bag. There shouldn't be a need for you to buy those when we've got perfectly good ones stored away."

See, buying clothes is just sensible. You'd want something to call your own. But a tent could easily be borrowed. It's not like Jean or Bertolt are using their old one now they've got Jean's... coffee-vehicle. Armin's got one tucked away in his closet too. So does Sasha.

"And I could show you some places you should definitely visit." Armin's eyes get bright and excited as he thinks about all the cool places he has seen and that Marco hasn't yet had a chance to see. Okay, maybe he saw a picture of them somewhere, but that is nothing like seeing them in real life.

Though, crap, isn't he doing the same thing as Jean now, trying to live Marco's life for him?

"I mean, if you want. You could also travel around any way you'd want. It is up to you."

"Borrowing those would make the money I have go further," Marco says, considering it out loud and raising a hand to tap at his chin. When Armin gets excited and then backs it up, Marco waves the hand.

"I would love some suggestions of places to go. Especially if you can help me convince Jean... I don't think I'll be able to do it alone."

See, Marco can be just as sneaky.

"Of course I'll help. He's gotten a lot better about that. He just... needs to be reminded of the fact that he's the one overthinking things for once."

Oh, how the turn tables, Mr Jean Kirschtein. Who is the one fretting too much now?

"Though, if you want to buy any camping stuff during this trip, we should probably talk to him sooner rather than later."

"Yeah, I think we'll have to talk to him today," Marco acknowledges with a slight grimace. He knows that's not a lot of time to ease Jean into the idea - but maybe it's like removing a bandage, where fast is sometimes good. Don't give him too long to agonize over it, right?

They reach the store, where some thicker jackets are on display, and he leans down to scoop Viola up, Niles having settled onto Armin's shoulder and giving a soft cooing noise.

"Thank you, though, for helping me talk to him. I want him to know I'll be safe."

In Armin's mind, Marco has already been giving out several subtle hints about wanting to do a bit of travelling --wanting to buy proper travelling clothes certainly was a bit of a hint-- but Jean seems keen on ignoring them. If so, better he be shocked into it. Rather than ease yourself into the cold water, Armin knows sometimes you just have to drop in all at once.

"I think deep down inside he knows you'll be absolutely safe. We were safe when we travelled around. And, really, they send ten-year-olds out on journeys here. You are far more capable than that." Quite the stellar assessment of Marco's skills there. " He'll just need to admit that to himself too."

Armin glances at Jean, a bit ahead of them still. "Maybe it is best if we go to one of the little cafes after this. Tell him we want something warm to drink. We can corner him there. He won't be able to dodge the conversation there. I can bring up some of the travelling we did and we can... sort of ease him into the subject."

What do you mean, conversations don't need strategy plans?

Stop plotting against him, you nerds.

Jean rejoins them, having given Gulliver some money and very specific instructions about what to buy. He's probably still going to come back with no change and a new keychain dangling off him, but that's okay; it's the price of doing business with a Klefki.

"Hey, are either of you guys hungry? Because one of the ladies at the last shop told me about a place around here with good burritos."

"That sounds like a good idea. Food always makes people more amenable."

Marco says this to Armin with a knowing smile. Conversations so need strategy plans! Although planning is cut short by Jean re-appearing, Niles giving a faint cry and then deciding to fly up and investigate Jean's blonde hair.

Marco gives Viola a little squeeze, sharing a look with Armin.

"I could eat. Someone gave me some recommendations about hot sauce recently."

Armin wrinkles his nose at the mention of hot sauce. "You should be careful with those. Some are really strong."

Armin is absolutely a wimp when it comes to spicy things. He doesn't mind a bit for flavouring, but he has a pretty low threshold. Comes from growing up in a world where the most exotic spice is salt.

"Hi, Nile." Jean simply accepts the sudden addition of a Pokemon in his hair, and starts leading the way towards the food court.

"Don't listen to Armin, hot sauce is great. You should go easy at first, though; it can sneak up on you when you're not expecting it."

This is why Niles likes you, Jean. He begins grooming Jean's hair into a position he likes it. Marco, meanwhile, is listening to both of them.

"That's what the other person suggested - to take it easy until I found what I liked."

"It still feels a bit masochistic to eat something that you know hurts."

Because that is what hot sauce does to him. It just hurts. And while Annie might call him a masochist, he's not the 'drown my food in hot sauce' masochist. Only deeply upsetting information for him, thank you very much.

"That's half the fun!"

That, and watching your friends agonize over how hot something is. That's also pretty entertaining.

"Even if you don't like the hot sauce, burritos are full of meat, cheese, and sauce. There's nothing to not like about them."

"Sasha took me out to a burrito place a little while ago. They are very tasty," he agrees with a grin. And for Armin, he shrugs a little bit.

"I guess it depends on how bad it hurts. Like, the days when we trained and were used to it, so the ache was just a small thing."

"I think that is a different sort of situation..." Like, the ache there had been unavoidable. Hot sauce though? Totally avoidable. Honestly, Armin feels food in general in this world tastes ridiculously good (probably has something to do with having fresh ingredients and meat that isn't old and chewy and no yeasting everything) so he doesn't feel the need for something that hurts, makes his entire face turn red and makes his eyes water like crazy.

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here comes Jean the fun-killer

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you killed all the fun jean

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i went making icons

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