victory_road | [closed] March Catch All

Once they’re basically settled in Olivine, and nobody is suffering the consequences of getting vaccinated for the first time ever anymore… Grant and Chip have something to talk about. Something that Grant actually goes to the effort of getting everyone together for, because this isn’t a talk that he wants Chip to have to deal with more than once. They’re already clinging to him before it’s even gotten started, curled up in his lap while he sits on the floor, as if they're trying to disappear into his torso. Chip's Furret, Patty, has coiled herself around Grant in turn, sitting with her paws on Grant's leg so she can lean against Chip.

“So, uh-- we can try and make this pretty quick, since I know some of you probably don’t want to sit through another hour-long group meeting, but it is… important. Chip and I need to make sure you all know something about them, though I know it may seem sudden to those of you who don't know them well yet. It’s a bit of a sensitive topic, especially back home - but I trust that it won’t change how any of you feel about them.”

His tone is still gentle and even as he says that, trying as he is to make sure his influence can keep Chip calm for this, but… also, make no mistake, that’s almost as much an instruction and warning as it is a genuine statement of trust. Patty isn't quite as subtle, herself, casting a warning glare around the room.

If Grant weren’t confident that it was safe to tell everyone here the truth of Chip’s lineage, this conversation wouldn’t be happening - but, for their sake, he can’t afford to let his guard down completely, even now.

He looks down at Chip, giving their shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Do you want to tell them?"

They try, without a doubt - but all they can seem to get out is a quiet, shaking "I-- I'm--" before they clam up again, clinging to Grant's shirt all the tighter. He whispers a brief reassurance to them before looking up at the others, giving Patty space to lean over further and comfort them.

"...Chip is part demon. They were... treated very badly over this back in our world, and we're telling you now because the effects of those experiences are a big part of why they ran away. It seems they became afraid that the recent... misfortune among the group was a product of their presence, and that the rest of us 'knew'. That you all knew of their heritage.

"What we need you to understand is... first of all, that this shouldn't change any of your view of who they are. It's just a part of their history, one that's impacted their life so far, but most of you have already seen the consequences of that impact in some capacity. Second, in the instance of them running away, and if they've seemed skittish with you before, it may not have been anything any of you did. It's not that they consider you the kinds of people to harm an innocent child, it's their view of themself that's been... affected. We would have told you sooner, but, like I said, this is hugely sensitive and personal information. Chip has long had reason to hide it, when they can, and it wouldn't have been fair to them for me to talk about it without their knowledge. Which is also why nobody else should be hearing about this unless it's from Chip, or with their express permission."

Dimitri already knows some of this, thanks to Grant explaining before. That does not mean he pays any less attention as he sits down in the room where Grant has gathered them; hopefully it feels less like looming for Chip. Their comfort is the important thing, here.

That's also why he has Gremlin out, waiting on his shoulder with his little ears perked up right in Chip's direction and his whiskers quivering in concern. Even he can tell this is a very serious situation, although 'demon discrimination' is a bit beyond him. He is but a simple rat, and also the concept of demons doesn't really exist to Pokemon.

Dimitri glances up to Grant, just to double check that it's alright to speak up, and looks to Chip when it's clear he's finished. "I will never treat you badly for that, Chip," Dimitri promises, all quiet sincerity. "I will do my best to never treat you badly at all. I know none of that was your fault."

Besides the running away, but Dimitri considers that a different thing.

Ashe listened to Grant's explanation while Ky leaned against him. Ky knew it was a serious situation and that something was going on, but he wasn't too sure. He looked over at Chip in concern then up at Ashe who softened when he looked over at Chip. He hoped they could comfort Chip and let them know that they had more people on their side now. Ashe nodded in agreement to Dimitri's words.

"Yeah I'll never treat you badly for that Chip. It's not your fault."

Ashe knows he'll never lose his temper at Chip, but if he's having an off day he'll take some time to cool down before talking to them.

Felix sits near the back of the room, listening. He didn't bring any of his Pokemon, not wanting to crowd Chip any more than they already are--he understands why Grant is doing this, but watching Chip curl up into an obviously uncomfortable and terrified little ball with all eyes on them is making Felix uncomfortable.

He arches a brow when Grant delivers his passive-aggressive threat, but considering a) why he's making it and b) the fact that Felix already knows it's totally unnecessary for everyone in the room, he lets it slide.

He frowns thoughtfully once Grant finishes speaking. Chip clearly thought Felix wouldn't hesitate to cut them down once he found out about this, and he can see why. Moreover, he thinks he understands now why Chip said what they did to him on the day before Sylvain woke up--if they thought Sylvain's sleep was their own fault somehow, then by extension Felix didn't protect Sylvain from them. It settles something that's been lurking around in his mind ever since that day.

"Your world seems to have a habit of judging by all the wrong things. Not that ours is any better, I suppose. Only your actions matter, Chip. And you haven't done anything wrong. Taking responsibility for things that are out of your control and have nothing to do with you makes no sense, regardless of what people told you at home. Besides, even if that were somehow true, how could any of what happens here possibly have been your fault when this world takes away all magic?"

They're terrified. Terrified of being honest, terrified of what the others will think, terrified that Grant will be wrong and him or Chip or both of them will be hurt. Part of them knows that it's not the same here, that everyone knows about Grant and don't care, but...demons are different. They prey on humans, toy with them and hurt them for no reason except that it's fun. To have your soul, your very self able to be torn apart and put back together into some grotesque shape...

That's worth being scared, right?

"Evil doesn't--" Chip hiccups, their voice muffled against Grant's chest. (They can't look, if they look then they'll see their real feelings and they'll know and--) "Evil doesn't...go away. You don't know what we do."

"You're not evil, Chip."

Claude's been listening to and watching all of this, his eyes full of sympathy. Now he steps forward a little.

"Evil isn't some...intrinsic thing you can be born as, some inextricable part of who you are. Just the same way that good isn't. People are good and evil based on what they do, not who and what they are. And there's no reason that shouldn't go for demons, or anything else. I don't know too much about what demons in your world do, Chip, but I know the kinds of things you do. I've been traveling with you for awhile, now. And I've never seen you do anything I'd describe as evil. On the contrary - I've seen you do a lot of good things, and mischievous things, maybe some misguided things, but mostly just normal kid things. If other demons do evil things, well, that's them. But you're you. And you've never done anything to hurt me, or make me hate you.

"So I don't really care what other demons are like. The Chip I know is a good kid that means a lot to me. And if they're part demon, well, why should that matter to me? It doesn't change who you've been up until now. I didn't like you because I thought you were human - I liked the person you are. You're still that person, human or demon or anywhere in between."

Claude takes the words right out of his mouth, and weaved together far better than Dimitri thinks he could have done. Still, he nods along with those words, and adds some of his own.

"In the months I have spent with you, Chip... You have helped me understand new things in this world. You have taken care of your Paliens. You made a friend, and listened when he was upset." Even when that upset was expressed in honks. "I see no evil, there."

Between Dimitri and Claude, Ashe isn't sure if there's something else he can add since he agreed with their words. He looked over at Chip and hoped he could help them calm down. Ashe gave his best reassuring smile while he rubbed Ky's head. "You've been a wonderful travel companion. You're funny and kind I don't see anything evil about you. We're here for you, if you need anything."

Ashe would be sure to show Chip how important they are to all of them. He knew the others would do the same without hesitation.

Their shoulders tense slightly, and a prickle of anger wells up in the back of their throat.

"And if I tore out your soul? Or ripped it apart and turned you into some--some freak?" They finally turn their head just so slightly, glaring fearfully at the group with tear-stained cheeks. "Would you still say I was good if I could do that?!"

Grant notices that tensing an instant before Chip speaks, and he's quick to smooth their hair back with one hand, gently squeezing their shoulder again with the other. But he won't say anything just yet - all he can do is try to keep them calm, as much as possible. It's the others they need to hear reassurance from right now.

Felix frowns. "What a preposterous argument." Dammit, they're a child and they're upset, don't word things like that... He tries to soften his tone at least a little; it sort of works. But he's annoyed with whoever told Chip these things.

"Back in our world, all of us have a lot more power than we do here. Dimitri's strong enough to uproot a damn tree and crush human skulls in one hand, not to mention the ruler of a whole nation and soon a whole continent. Claude rules a country as well. I've seen Lysithea obliterate enemies in seconds with her magic, and Annette commands the winds. Sylvain can throw fire and impale a man from horseback at a full gallop. Even I can call lightning out of the sky, and you've seen my swordplay. Not to mention that we're all battle veterans who have been fighting a war for the last five years. Dimitri, Sylvain, and I learned to wield weapons before we learned to read or write. Everyone in this room other than Grant is a bigger threat than you."

He shakes his head. "A threat is a threat. Most people I know are threats to one degree or another. Anyone can be a threat, handed a weapon or power over other people. Power and strength are nothing but tools. The question we're talking about here isn't can you do those things, but would you. And you wouldn't, just as Lysithea would never obliterate her friends."

Claude nods in agreement with Felix. "It's not what kind of potential for harm anyone has, Chip, demon or not," he murmurs. "That's exactly why it doesn't matter that you're part demon, or what kind of powers that gives you. You wouldn't intentionally hurt the people you care about, and those examples you gave are so extreme that I can't see you somehow stealing somebody's soul by accident, either. So why should we worry about that?" He almost says 'you might as well worry about Dimitri hurting you, because he never would', but then he remembers that...actually, Chip did worry about that. Damn.

Well, then, time to reframe that. "You were worried we were going to hurt you when we caught up with you, weren't you? But I don't think that means you've stopped liking us. So even when you know we can hurt you, and you actually thought we might...you still care about us. You don't hate us for that. So why should we hate you? Especially when none of us do believe you'd ever try to hurt us?"

Thanks for mentioning that he can normally crush a human being's skull, Felix. Dimitri doesn't make any commentary on that, however. All of his attention remains on Chip, the way they tense and lash out angrily. It's a familiar reaction, honestly... One he thinks he knows all too well.

"Felix and Claude are right, Chip," Dimitri says gently. "I do not believe you would ever hurt any of us on purpose... And that is the important thing to me. Even if you did hurt us, I do not think that is any reason to abandon you."

It's a slow thing, the way their expression changes. Confusion softening the furrow of their brow, the tension finally starting to properly release it's hold. They look around at everyone one in the room--far more than they had ever thought would care for a person like them.

They still can't understand why. But...

A few soft hiccups shake Chip's body before they bury their face against Grant's chest yet again, trying hard to keep their tears silent.

[closed] March Catch All

THE CHIP TALK - after the 14th but before the 20th

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