[closed] May Catch All

[nastyboy]

Who: Dimitri, Grant, Claude, Dedue, Eri, and Shrike
What: After lots of loss, Dimitri manages to sheepdog herd the people he cares about into getting back onto the road. First stop: hitting up the Kanto gyms
When: May
Where: Saffron, Vermillion, Cerulean

Comments

[fayblood]

"Oh! That's--uh--I mean...!"

Being around large crowds was difficult, to be sure--Shrike still could barely handle visiting Goldenrod in particular--but a smaller group of people is different. Especially if it's always the same people instead of just random strangers. Even more so when these are people someone Shrike trusts and likes vouches for.

And, well, Shrike's recently discovered a how new level of loneliness he'd never experienced before, so there's that, too.

"I-t's fine. Um, that is, you don't have to stay away..."

... Shrike might be really bad at this.

[woofdad]

"Oh, really? Well, if you're sure, then." Grant smiles reassuringly; above all else, he wants to make sure Shrike knows that he doesn't have to force himself to hang around anyone if he doesn't want to - nor does he have to be alone, if he wants company.

"I would like to get to know you, if you'd like to talk - not necessarily right now, I can see where you might want to settle in."

[fayblood]

"How come?"

His insistence on hiding his face under a hood makes it hard to see Shrike's expressions, but his tone is definitely puzzled. Even if it's also not exactly clear which part he's questioning. But the idea of other people being interested in him as a person still isn't something Shrike's used to.

[woofdad]

Aw, buddy. Grant shrugs, trying to keep from looking too bemused; he doesn't want his sympathy coming across as condescension. "Well, you're a friend of Dimitri's, right? That's a mark in your favor to start with - and I just like meeting new people sometimes, besides."

[fayblood]

"Oh."

To his credit, Shrike's actually thinking that one over. Which might create a bit of an awkward pause in the conversation while he does so, but he doesn't seem to realize that.

"You want to know because you trust Dimitri a lot?"

That's kind of more or less the reason Shrike was willing to take up Dimitri's offer of traveling together. The loneliness had given him the push he'd needed, to be sure, but it was the assurance of someone he trusted that convinced him to take the chance on a group of more or less strangers.

[woofdad]

Grant nods. "Along those lines, yeah. He's one of the people I trust most; if he vouches for someone, I think it's a safe bet I'll want to know them."

[fayblood]

Shrike can't quite fully relate, but then again, he's still pretty young. And still getting used to the whole meeting people who aren't immediately judging him thing.

"Oh..."

He's also still struggling with the 'talking to strangers' thing, don't mind him.

[woofdad]

Honestly, fair - on both counts! Grant really can't judge, seeing as how... well, he still has trouble with those things in his thirties.

For now, it seems to him like the kid might need a bit of time to recover from... well. Meeting people. So: "I still got a couple Pokemon to round up before we go; if you wanna help out you're free to! Though, I also get it if you got your own stuff to see to."

[fayblood]

"Do you need help?"

Shrike may have misinterpreted that offer, there.

[woofdad]

Oh, hm. Okay. He'll try again. "Well-- I can do it on my own, yeah. Really, I'm asking whether you'd like to meet the Pokemon, and maybe talk more if you're up to it."

[fayblood]

"Oh..."

He's a little bit confused at how the previous comment was supposed to mean that, Shrike's still not all that experienced with socializing.

"Um, but just meeting them and talking is different from helping?"

Sorry, he's kind of bad at this.

[woofdad]

...Oh bud.

"Alright, uh - I'm sorry, I think I see what happened here." He smiles reassuringly. "The idea behind asking if you wanted to help was to give you an excuse to come meet them if you wanted to, without risking feeling like you were intruding, and while giving you an opening to back out if you didn't want to. Sorry about that, it was a little indirect; some people where I'm from think being too direct about what you're asking is rude, so I've gotten in the habit of talking around my actual point sometimes."

He's been working customer service for too long, man.

[fayblood]

On the one hand, Shrike did make at least one solid, lasting friendship during his time in Johto, that definitely helped a bit with his social skills. On the other hand, said closest friendship was with Sandalphon.

Which is to say, a lot of social nuance is still lost on him.

Fortunately, that also means he's not terribly bothered by the miscommunication once it's explained.

"Do people usually say things like that?"

It is making him wonder if that's something he should be keeping in mind in general. Again, a significant part of his social skills here was learned from a very prickly angel.

oh god i'm so sorry for the wait on this lol

[woofdad]

Interesting question, Grant thinks.

"Well, it depends on the person - but, sometimes, yes. Learning to pick up on when people are being literal and when they aren't can be pretty tough... I can try to be more direct with you, though, if that's easier for you."

I MEAN I kinda disappeared for almost 2 months myself there so XD

[fayblood]

The kid definitely has a lot to learn.

"Oh, um, I don't know? I mean, I didn't know about that before..."

Maybe it would be easier? But maybe this is the kind of thing that, had it come up before, Sandalphon would've insisted on him learning. Shrike isn't sure.

[woofdad]

"Hm... it is true that it's something you may run into again," Grant notes. "But, if that kind of communication isn't intuitive to you, insisting on talking to you that way may not do you much good, you know? It's up to you in the end, of course - so, you can think on it if you need to."

[fayblood]

"I guess so..."

Maybe it's something he ought to try to learn? Shrike honestly isn't sure. He just knows he's really not used to interacting with people much, even now.

[woofdad]

Grant regards the boy silently for a couple moments before speaking again.

"Alright, for now, I'll just ask this: Do you want to introduce some of our Pokemon to each other? Since we're going to be traveling together, it'll be good to get an idea of how some of 'em get along."

[fayblood]

"Oh!"

That's actually a good point, as well as a better topic to focus on right now.

"That's probably a good idea, yeah..."

approaching a wrap?

[woofdad]

"Great." Grant smiles brightly, and starts toward the yard where several of his Pokemon are playing, gesturing for Shrike to follow him. "C'mon, let's see how this goes."