victory_road | Great googly moogly, it's all gone to [extremely loud incorrect buzzer]

HOO boy the direct question.

He absolutely does not want to be the one to tell Scar about this because he legitimately doesn't know what the reaction would be. And he doesn't want to be putting out any kind of a fire right now. Especially not after the man started talking in that weird quiet tone.

Thankfully, Envy has four centuries' practice at not skipping a beat.

"She owns the place, actually, I think she'd want to tell you about it when she gets here."

He's pretty certain she'll want to warp here as fast as possible once she knows. He pauses for a few seconds--this is actually a lot more awkward than something like manipulating a total stranger.

"She did miss you."

"Wine and sex," Scar concludes with a nod. Or one or the other or both. He knows what they think of him, he knows Lust, and he knows Envy is dodging in circles.

She owns the place.

That brings the ghost of a fond smile to Scar's face, no longer than a flash.

He pushes himself to his feet and pauses.

She did miss you.

Softly,

"I know."

Luckily for Envy, Scar is done talking. And he's headed toward Pizza Town (downstairs).

Envy actually snorts at the blunt answer. But hey! Not only was there not a garbage fire, the quick smile was unexpected and not a bad sign. And Scar actually even got up to start walking in the direction of pizza and persim zest tea. SUCCESS.

"I don't think brothels are a thing in this place. Not even if someone tried."

Not even not allowed. Just aren't. THIS IS A PG WORLD, SIR.

He follows behind, just on the off chance that Scar might decide to turn around and jump back out the window to walk all the way to Ecruteak. You never know with Scar. And he's pretty sure Lust would be mad at him if he left the opening for it to happen.

The kettle is on the stove.

In the middle of the kitchen is Henry's new starter Pokemon, known only as Sword. The Honedge floats and twirls, its sash trailing behind it. Sword loves meeting new people so it's showing off for Heather.

"--ing to the ground, so I think that's why I got him." Henry is saying, telling Heather a very cliffnotes version of his theory as to why he was given a floating magical sword instead of his clam. It was also nice to share a little with someone who had also been to the Otherworld.

He hears footfalls on the stairs and looks up to see Scar and Envy descending.

"The water's about to boil."

SWORD!

It's perfect for Henry, and at some point later Heather will have to introduce them both to Slashley and Stabitha. But, uh, later. Unleashing a bunch of Pokemon to run rampant would be adding too many extra layers of chaos to a situation that already has several too many-- and she already discreetly put Cujo, who'd been stone cold asleep in the laundry room like a massive fur rug, into his Pokeball because if he smelled Henry this would turn into a three-ring circus of slobber and flying fur.

She looks up too, shooting Envy a nod.

"Pizza's on its way, too. I, uh, got the usual plus a plain cheese."

Because... she doesn't know what Scar likes. She's not sure she's ever seen him eat.

Not if they... tried? That doesn't make any sense.

Scar doesn't linger on it.

He knows it's a wine and sex thing, Envy.

The moment conversation dissipates, lingering fear returns in spades. Scar lingers outside the kitchen, not really joining the group, crossing his arms and waiting on the boiling water.

Envy remains pleased with himself on the way down the stairs. He got giant man to leave his bedroom!

Unlike Scar, he's eager to join the group when he gets downstairs--it's been so long since he's gotten to see Henry. He does stop to admire the Honedge who's so clearly trying to show off.

"So this is your new one, huh? Fancy."

He continues farther over. Envy may not initiate hugs but he will enthusiastically be nearby! He's still having trouble fully believing that this is happening, it was such a sudden shift.

"Did you find the tea? I've still been putting it in the same box."

Henry gives Envy a little smile. "You've been making it..."

The thought of something he made being continued for seven years. It's touching.

The kettle whistles. Henry recalls Sword back into its Pokeball before hitching the ball back to his belt. It's a familiar motion that feels natural. He turns and starts pouring the hot water into the tea pot where he's placed the zest. Soon enough, there are four piping cups of Persim tea ready.

Henry holds his cup close to his face and breathes in the familiar bitter scent before taking a sip. It tastes just like he remembers it.

"It's good to be home."

Heather's first sip is a little too fast and she coughs, face scrunching as it scalds the whole way down. Bleeeheghgh. It's a little bitter for her liking, too-- she always forgets.

Automatically she moves towards the cupboard where she knows the honey jars and sugar are-- and then remembers, oh yeah. Scar is... here. Floating around the outskirts of an invisible circle in the middle of the kitchen.

"... We've, uh, got sugar n'honey n'stuff... And milk. If you-- ... if anybody wants it."

And then she goes ahead and dumps like four heaping spoonfuls of honey into her cup. Because seriously, how does anybody drink this shit plain.

It's only natural that Scar drinks it plain. For a moment, his frame looms over Heather and Envy as he reaches for his own cup on the counter to be taken back to his booboo corner outside their circle.

He peers into the mug, lets the steam dampen his nose.

She Summers in Ecruteak. She owns... whatever it is she does there.

He won’t insult how deeply she had cared with his own lingering insecurities. The inner voice chiding him for even considering the thought sounds suspiciously like her.

She had kept his things.

She had kept their home.

But, God, he’s afraid. Seven years is longer than they had even known of each other, in this lifetime. He could cope, if she wouldn't have him. He had coped when it had been a childish crush. He had coped when she was utterly unrecognizable, but for face and form. He would cope, now, if she’s through with him. A year and change out of three decades is already more than he was ever supposed to be privileged with.

He can live with one more receipt of regrets. He can put the ocean back between them and be relieved that she’s found something better than tying herself to a tired husk.

Not knowing, though, is turning him inside out.

Scar downs his tea in one very slow, very long pull. No, he doesn't taste it, yes, he burns his whole mouth.

"Yeah, well...I watched you make it often enough. And it's good."

He sounds very pleased that Henry noticed. That said, Envy absolutely wants sugar and milk in his. He has absolutely no idea what's going through Scar's head as he stares at the man just drinking the entire scalding cup like a shot.

He wonders if he maybe should have mentioned what kind of tea this was.

Nah.

A few minutes after his own first sips, that pleasant floating feeling is starting to creep in and soften the edges of all the tangled knots of feelings, make them more manageable. The shock of it all can settle in. Figuring out how to call Lust and deliver the news certainly feels less nerve-wracking. He glances down, patting at his pockets for his 'Gear. Did he remember to grab it on his way down?

Henry watches Scar down that Tea and opens his mouth to say something. But then he doesn't. It's fine. It'll be fine. He's a big guy!

He sips his tea and eventually his shoulders relax. The familiar floaty feeling returns to him, like it never left. He's safe. He's home. He's surrounded by friends. He can go back to his job and the occasional adventure. Speaking of adventure...

"I decided I'm going to try the Gym challenge. It's just not something I thought about when I was here before. My Pokemon have always been my pets, but...I know they'd be happier if they were battling and growing."

Heather also watches Scar take the literally boiling tea in a single drag.

Like the others, she does not comment on it.

She does, however, put another GIANT dollop of honey in hers, and takes a larger-than-wise gulp of it, herself. The sooner it kicks in, the better.

"That's great, Henry," she croaks after the brief coughing fit that follows this action. It's fully sincere, but distracted-- and she feels kind of bad about that. She wants to be completely present for this moment, this rare moment that she's gotten someone back-- just in case he gets taken away again, because it's happened before, SO many more times than once, and she wouldn't freaking put it past this place. This world is fickle, it's given her so much but it likes to yank the rug out from under her feet just as much. "If you need help training, or-- or the scoop on any Gym Leaders in particular-- I got your back. Havin' the badges is a real ego boost too, honestly--"

Then the doorbell rings.

"PIZZA."

She clonks her teacup down on the counter and vanishes past Envy and Scar into the hall to go get the door.

Scar isn't doing anything to bring himself into the conversation. In fact, he isn't doing much of anything at all. He stares down into his empty tea cup with the same frown that's been plastered on his forehead since he took up his post here.

Henry talks about his plans, Heather scampers for the door to grab the delivery, and Scar... stares at the bottom of his cup.

"Hm."

"Yeah, we can help out with training once you've gotten your guys back. I'm sure some of them'd probably like it..."

He trails off as Heather makes a beeline for the door. He's reached into the same pocket to check for a 'Gear that isn't there at least three times, but her shout breaks the absent loop long enough for him to realize that no, it's still upstairs. Probably playing the credits of the movie into the floor. He groans.

"Hang on, I'll be back. But we should go sit on the couch to eat before we wind up on the floor."

Especially Mr. Shots Shots Shots over in the corner.

BUT OFF HE GOES, hurrying up the stairs, grabbing the 'Gear off the floor, and heading back down. He holds it up as he approaches.

"Found it!"

The Lust contact device!

"Thanks...I'll need all the help I can get. I've never been to Kanto. I need to get a Pokemon I can ride on before I go."

The thought of more traveling makes him weak in the knees. But the smell of the pizza wafting from the door gives him strength.

"Right!" Henry makes his way to the couch and sits down in the middle so he can have his friends on either side of him. "Where's the Ogre Hut? Do you guys still have it?"

There's some muffled speaking from the doorway as Heather pays the deliveryman (or deliverymon), and then she shows back up in the kitchen entrance with a small stack of flat boxes. Because yeah, she ordered a stack. There's more people here at once than there has been in years, and also, The Tea (tm).

"We are gonna sit in the living room!"

What Envy just said, basically, but blunter. It's starting to kick in and she wants everybody to sit down and stop... looming.

She only answers Henry's question once she's plopped the pizzas down on the coffee table.

"--Oh fuck, yeah, of course we have it-- like we'd ever throw it out. It's--- um, in a closet somewhere."

Halfway through sitting down, she realizes she forgot her tea in the kitchen. So she ambles back in there to get it-- and if Scar and his empty mug haven't moved from their spot yet, she repeats: "We are gonna sit in the living room," in that same kind of dissociated way.

It's hitting her.

...before we wind up on the floor.

The phrase echoes around in Scar’s head when Heather comes and goes. He pushes off from the wall of the kitchen and feels... heavy?

From the kitchen, too quiet to be intended for everyone's ears but still audible:

"I don't want to be intoxicated right now."

Scar rounds the corner from the kitchen hallway looking like he's seen a ghost. Not the fun sexy one. He stares at the wretched device in Envy's hand. The one that calls the sexy ghost.

Barely more than a whisper, he poses a question that is anything but stated like one:

"Why would I want to be intoxicated right now."

What in the goddamn is an Ogre Hut.

It's hitting Envy for sure, because he actually puts a hand out to very lightly nudge Scar in the direction of the nearest living room chair as he passes by.

"Not intoxicated. It's not alcohol. It's...relaxed."

He's not dealing with whatever the hell happens when he calls Lust without a substance being involved.

When he reaches the couch he sits right down next to Henry, very heavily. Envy has never sat on a couch in a normal position before and he's not going to start now, leaning back into the cushion and pulling his feet up to sit crosslegged. Watch out for those bony knees, Henry, this is the price to pay for sitting in the middle.

"Okay. I'm calling her. I think...I think she's off work now?"

He takes one more large swig of his tea. Twists in his seat so that neither Henry or Scar would be potentially visible before he has a chance to say anything, holding the camera closer to his face than necessary. DIALING NOW...

"Lust. Lust. Lust. Pick up. You are never going to guess what is happening. This is so important."

Edited 2023-08-18 06:39 (UTC)

Through the fog, Henry hears the words of his new friend. He turns and looks at him, his eyes peer into Scar's eyes and he blinks.

"No, it's fine. It's just going to take the edge off, like a Benadryl."

He will apologize later, but right now he's Relaxing and trying not to think about God's screaming bald head emerging from the wall and ten foot tall belching statue women and that Bidoof with the upside down face. Wait. That wasn't the Otherworld, that was here.

Henry sips his tea, content that they could find the Ogre Hut later once everyone is settled in.

It most certainly is intoxicated, and it isn't like anything Scar has ever experienced. Moving is like striding through water. Thoughts trickle in through fog.

Then Envy pops his 'gear screen on to make a video call, and Scar bolts.

Making a call means using the telephone. It most certainly does not mean the instant film function he still can't pretend to understand, and it doesn't mean projecting its sound through the living room for all to hear.

Thus, Scar ends up in the kitchen, snapping the microwave open, then shut, and pushing defrost turkey.

And he doesn't hear a peep from the phone speaker one room over. Just as God intended.

Heather had started to sit down for the second time when Scar's frankly-horrified-sounding voice registers to her, and a wave of simultaneous realization and guilt cuts through the daze of the drug-- because yeah, it's a drug, they all knew it was a drug, and for some reason... she hadn't realized Scar didn't.

It had always been common knowledge in the house... but Scar had never quite been part of the house the same way they had.

Oh, hell...

Scar's already turned right back around and booked it into the kitchen by the time Envy's cry of "Heather, stop him!" hits her.

"Scar, wait--!"

He'd taken the entire cup of tea in ONE GULP and she's only ever tried it (or seen Henry and Envy) sipped over a long period of time. It's probably hitting him like a brick. He needs something that isn't that tea in his system. She stops and does a quick 180 back to the coffee table to grab the box with the cheese pizza in it-- and, a little ruefully, drops a hand onto Henry's head to give his hair a distracted but affectionate muss on her way past.

She'd really rather be spending time reuniting with her long-lost adopted brother than corralling a frightened and unpredictable home-intruder, but at least she knows Henry will still be there later.

He'd better still be there later.

"Scar, it'll feel less intense if you eat something. Eat some pizza."

SHE IS HOLDING OUT THE BOX.

Hello, Heather, welcome to Scar's Kitchen Haven. He has rapidly gone from having a pretty emotional time to having a pretty emotional time while having his first (and only) berry trip.

He turns away from the microwave, eyes sliding into focus on the pizza box that's been thrust into view by the tiny one who deeply dislikes him. He isn't naive. He knows how drugs work. He knows Heather is right. He also knows that he's fairly large, so it shouldn't be so awful for so long, but...

"Why would I want to be intoxicated right now?"

The question is horribly earnest, just like most other things Scar does, even if his stern delivery and general demeanor do an excellent job of masking it.

He takes the damn pizza box, though, prying it open to inspect the slop of bread and sauce and cheese that he has managed to avoid, until this moment.

Heather doesn't... wilt, exactly, but she does cringe.

"I thought you knew."

It's a DUMB answer, she realizes now, but... well, A WHOLE LOT HAD JUST HAPPENED IN A VERY SHORT SPAN OF TIME, and the obvious sincerely had not occurred to her.

"It's Henry's special... blend. It's like his whole thing. And everything is kind of all happening at the same time. Sorry."

A white woman has said 'Sorry' to Scar. Is this a first?

She lets him take the box-- it's not fancy pizza, but it's decent enough. Being Aurora Leaguers, she and Envy can afford the stuff that at least won't dump its toppings all over the floor when you try to pick up a slice.

Scar's only response to Heather's explanation is a tiny shake of his head, eyes darting to the corners of the ceiling in a in what world would I have just known that gesture.

He pulls a slice gradually from the box, gaze darting between it and Heather one last time before he maneuvers the end into his mouth, brow still furrowed as he calculates the ideal angle of entry in real time.

God, he feels like he's about to sink through the floor.

Perhaps that would be preferable, at the moment.

If she arrives, and he is still like this, Envy is going out the same window Scar came in.

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