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 Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:05 pm
Guy wore a contented smile as he continued to pet the affectionate Flareon. Mieu was rather similar to Anonymes, the blond realized, in the fact that both were particularly attached to their trainers - Anonymes especially. Guy wasn't even sure what to call the bond that the Lampent had towards him. It almost bordered on infatuation, which made Guy extremely uncomfortable to think about. Best not to dwell on that too much at the moment.
Guy's own train of thought was derailed by Luke's indirect questioning. He listened quietly as his friend thought aloud, unsure as to whether or not Luke was addressing him for an answer. Guy pulled back his hand and let his gaze wander away from his companion beside him. He faced away from Luke as he spoke. "...Everyone has the right to defend themselves," he began carefully. "In a dangerous situation, every person involved runs the risk of getting hurt, or... worse."
Guy knew that Luke was still torn up over what had happened, and he could not blame his friend for that in the least. He took a deep breath of air before pressing onward, more directly this time. "Think of it this way, Luke: do you think you would have felt any better if you had not acted when you did and Emil or Yuri had gotten hurt?"
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:47 pm
Was it an individual's responsibility, then, to be able to defend themselves in such dangerous situations? What if they were civilians and could fight with neither weapons nor pokemon? What if they were unfairly outnumbered? Was it someone's own fault if they were harmed by another in battle? Was it permissible to harm an aggressor just because the dealt the first blow? Luke couldn't imagine raising his sword in combat again, knowing what the blade had done and could easily do again, but did that invite harm unto himself?
The presented question was a familiar one, and Luke drew a deep breath and exhaled it as a long sigh before responding, "Of course not, but that's because Emil and Yuri are my friends." He frowned slightly. "That guy probably had friends too, and family - people that care about him the same way I care about my friends. I don't even know his name, though. He's just 'the guy I killed.'"
He turned to Guy with a certain resolve, almost excitement, to his expression and tone, "I think I could be a good trainer. Mieu and everyone are good at battling. Maybe, if I can be a good trainer, then maybe I could protect people. Really protect people, and everyone - not just my friends, and not by just waving around a sword until one side can't stand up anymore." If there was a way to protect everyone, it wasn't by cutting down those that instigated conflict, and Luke was absolutely determined to find out what it was. If there was a way to prevent anyone from having to die, he would find it.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 2:41 pm
Thinking about 'the guy Luke killed' did make Guy's stomach churn slightly, despite Guy himself having witnessed firsthand what damage a sword [his own, as well] could do. What Luke said had a valid point, and thoughts and questions about 'the guy's' past and his relationships and family swarmed about in the back of Guy's mind, and he had to forcibly fight them away so he did not dwell on them for too long. Focusing on the hypothetical and what could have or might have happened wouldn't do anyone any good, and it most assuredly would not bring back the dead.
Guy blinked in slight bemusement as Luke began his enthusiasm-filled declaration, then a pleased smile rose on his features. "Y'know, that's a really good idea, Luke. Practicing and improving with your Pokemon will do all of you good, I think, especially if you feel that you truly want to use your strengths to protect people." Strengthening his bonds with his Pokemon would serve Luke well, Guy mused. They might even be able to use their combined efforts to make more trouble for Team Rocket... Guy made a quick mental note to start training his own Pokemon more before a sudden thought came to him.
"So... With all that's happened, will you be hanging up your sword for good?" he asked as he cast a curious glance over to his friend.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 8:51 pm
As his words met with Guy's approval, Luke produced a smile of his own, one far more genuine than his last. He made a brief sound of affirmation, paired with a nod. "Yeah, definitely," he confirmed. There was a way to protect everyone; there had to be.
The question was disarming, and Luke's resolve quickly dissolved, leaving in its wake a distinct uncertainty. He moved an absent hand to stroke the Flareon still contentedly lying in his lap. "I... I don't want to," he said with a vague defiance. "I've been working so hard at it for so long, and to just give up all of a sudden is like..." He frowned. "But even thinking about it, like going over the forms and drills, it's like it's hard to breathe, or..." He paused to sigh, making his confession only through great and obvious reluctance, "I'm just really terrified of it. I don't think I could even hold my sword right now, let alone fight with it." But all those years of study and practice, and to sacrifice his one real skill...
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 11:16 am
The shift between elation and hesitation was obvious and brought some concern to Guy as his friend struggled and grappled for a concrete answer to his query. The frown on the blond's face was laden with troubled worry. "If you want my opinion on the matter, I don't think you should give it up completely. I agree that a break from the sword would be advisable, but..." He didn't exactly want to say that the sword was part of Luke, which he believed, because he wasn't confident in how Luke would react to that. Guy's eyes flicked away as he fought to find the words. In the end, he conceded defeat and turned to fully face Luke.
"In the end, it's your choice if you want to give up the sword forever or for a short while or whatever you want to do. You're smart; you can make your own decisions." Guy just wasn't sure if he could even imagine Luke without his sword at his side.
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 11:35 am
He drew and held a long breath, exhaling the sigh quietly. "I'll... I'll figure it out." He didn't have all of the answers right away. In fact, it was frustrating, but he felt more and more like he didn't have any of the answers. He wasn't terribly confident in his own decisions, but it wasn't the sort of thing that someone else could choose for him. When he spoke again, it was in quieter tones that suggested he was again speaking to himself, "Yeah, I'll figure it out somehow..." He had to believe in that, if nothing else.
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 12:35 pm
"I'm sure that you will," Guy said quietly, nodding his head in agreement. Everything was so different and convoluted now; it seemed like everyone had changed over the last year. With that logic in mind, Guy wondered if he had changed much as well.
Guy brought himself to his feet, sighing lightly as he did. He glanced back down at Luke with a smile on his face as he attempted to look as reassuring as possible. "At the risk of sounding like a broken record, just remember that I'm always happy to help you if you ever need it." That said, he turned and began to walk back towards the city, glancing back at his friend. "I'm going to head back to the hotel. You can come along, if you want."
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 10:00 am
He nodded, "Thanks." Even if they were indeed words he'd heard before, he still appreciated hearing them. Maybe in the future he'd even remember them without being told and they could just skip all this avoidance nonsense that kept springing up.
"I'll hang out here a while longer," he said, exchanging a glance with Mieu. "I won't be too far behind, though."
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Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 2:16 pm
"All right, then. I'll catch up with you later." Guy gave his friend a small wave goodbye as he turned around and began his trek back to home base. He certainly hoped that Luke would remember that he was his friend in times of crisis such as this. He had to have faith, though. Guy had to trust Luke to do what was best.
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