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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:09 pm
Jayme was stubborn, and despite all he'd been put through in his life he tended to not rely on others to help him when hurt or other wise anything less than perfect. He'd learned early on Reese could care less about his well being, so long as he could earn money it was the most important thing. Which meant only actual illnesses that prevented performances were ever really treated anyhow. If he couldn't sing he couldn't earn money or his keep. So unless it turned out he'd broken a rib he wouldn't be telling anyone else about this little moment in time. They had more important things to worry about.
"Which? The first one, or this second one?" there was a faintly amused tone to his voice despite the situation he was in. He did have a sense of humor when he wasn't so emotionally beaten down. There was even something of a wry twist to his lips at his question.
"Oh...good...you sounded mad...the tone of your voice...well it's one I'm used to hearing and usually it means the person using it is unhappy with me." far too often he heard that tone directed at him, and for the stupidest, smallest of thing. So to be told the other wasn't mad...it was a relief that had him visibly sagging as he relaxed. He hadn't done something to anger or offend this stranger, good! One less worry off his mind at present.
It was probably best Kyran hadn't offered his help. Jayme might not have known if he should...or really could accept it. Urban he knew he could, Ghede was another who's help he could accept...Solange as well...and he was sure he could add Endymion to the expanding group of those he could trust.
But of course Reese was the rotten apple spoiling it all, having shunned Jayme's need for help other times, or offered it only to yank it away, like dangling candy in front of a child and tugging it away last minute and handing them a brussel sprout instead. It was wholly unpleasant and left a bad taste in ones mouth truly. So Jayme would have agonized over any help offered, wondering if it was okay, and safe to accept it or if he was better off doing it on his own.
Needless to say he was very surprised at the hand wrapping around his uninjured arm helping him to his feet once he'd wrapped the cut up one, and his eyes flicked up at the darkness. He knew someone was there obviously, but couldn't see them at all, but he could sense them, feel them...the help had been wholly unexpected, and it made him flush suddenly at the contact from the stranger. "Thank you for the help...and uhm...well...I'm sorry for apologizing so much....something of a habit....makes my life easier when I apologize." his words were quiet, but honest. Reese did seem to go easier on him when he apologized quickly and earnestly.
"Back...which way?" the hand was still on his arm for the moment so he began to walk in the direction the hand moved, and he reached out suddenly with his hand and quickly grasped at fingertips lightly, to keep contact. He couldn't see, and didn't want to get separated and lost. He couldn't even see the hand he was holding at this point, but still, seemed the other person could. "Thank you...for helping me back to camp...I wouldn't have found my way in the dark. I can't see anything...." his voice was low, no need to be loud the other was close after all. "I'm Jayme..even if you don't want to tell me your name, I wanted to tell you mine."
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:02 pm
Kyran was slightly taken aback by the response he received for his blunt remark, not realizing that Jayme had a sense of humor, let alone one so dry. Despite the confusion, the lost feeling he was scrounging up in his attempts to understand this guy, the statement caused the slightest smirk to emerge. Jayme was too complex, and the more Kyran thought he was getting somewhere in relating, in understanding, the more he was proven wrong. As frustrated as he may have been with it, it wasn't unusual or unexpected a phenomenon. "The one that resulted in finding yourself at the bottom of a pit," he replied simply, an unintentional jab. He wasn't very good at returning the sentiment of a joke, it seemed.
While irritation could easily be linked to anger to some extent in most people, Kyran was well familiarized with the feeling void of the rash behaviors. Well, he still retained some of the bipolar whims attached to curiosity, perhaps... He didn't want to hint that he knew more than what Jayme thought he did, being merely the passerby that happened to stumble upon the teen in the middle of the night, but he was far from careful; he wasn't a liar, and allowed the teddiursa's imagination run away with him if it so wanted. "You must know some angry people," he tossed the remark; he already knew the answer.
Maybe if he wasn't so eager to hide, so uncertain about being in a conversation outside of the recesses of someone else's mind, he may have been more apt to say something -- anything -- a little more. For now, he was merely buying his time by seeing if he could incite some other reaction out of the teen without outright saying he knew more than he was letting on, poking at the fear that Jayme was already exhibiting and trying to repress once more. Or was the teen more comfortable, now that he was in the presence of another? Even a stranger he knew nothing about?
The darkrai knew from experience that there were very few individuals that were very similar at dealing with their problems or those around them. Despite knowing that there was no real winning formula for deciphering how one would handle a situation, considering so many variables and the state of one's mind, he had the need to try. Maybe it was just to pass the time, it was so rare that he actually ran into anyone. Especially another pokémon-turned-human, he noted as an afterthought. As frequently as he was drawn by such curiosity of the social aspects of others, he was similarly repelled by it in his unsure ignorance.
He also didn't expect to be thanked for the actions he took to help Jayme to his feet, and flinched at it, an action he rarely did outside of the presence of his sister. He tended to be much more confident with his actions when he wasn't following Kiara's direction, despite the nagging feeling he was messing most things up, for it didn't matter if he was damaging the views others had. Gratitude, and in a true sense... he pulled his hand quickly away once he was sure Jayme caught his balance, considering it almost stung. He didn't know how to accept it, or even if he wanted to. "Well it didn't much look like you could stand up yourself without injuring yourself further," he stated, voice once again flat, once again hinting at the frustration he had partially buried. It was a defense mechanism, as though he felt the need to put up such a barrier, to cut off any relief he may feel for this injured teen, and as if he had to tell himself that he didn't like Jayme. He didn't like him! Too many things were hitting too close; he didn't want to be feeling pity, or gratitude, or... any emotion!
Kyran's hand didn't remain pulled away for long, realizing that he had to keep it there for Jayme to be able to follow along. The darkrai was practically leading the blind here, after all. There was an inaudible sigh, and he stepped back from the clutter in his mind to focus on only what was happening at present. He could sort through that mess later. "I'll show you, it's this way. Not that far at all," he explained with a light tug, allowing the teddiursa to grab onto whatever made him the most comfortable as long as Kyran could still make a quick escape when they neared camp. It was easier not to flinch at the thank you now that he kept his bearings about himself, "It's alright. I'm sure you would have done the same if you could." He didn't even think about that statement before it had slipped out, intent on keeping attention to his own strides, heavily placed on his own staff. They could make it back to the campsite in a few moments if he remained focused.
There was a pause in step when Jayme said his name. "Why... would you tell me that?" he asked, perplexed. It wasn't as if they were likely to ever meet again, let alone to the extent where Jayme would even recognize the child in the off-chance that they did. Such representations of common courtesy were lost on Kyran without logical support behind it. At least the teen gave him the option of backing out of the need to return the sentiment, but there was a cold sort of anxiety that came from it, as though there was some ulterior motive to giving Kyran his name. To make sure he didn't forget... it almost scared him that that notion had been planted.
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Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:09 am
Oh to be sure Jayme had a sense of humor, it just didn't often get any sort of use but given the sort of night he'd been having it was no wonder that dry wit had suddenly surfaced. He was chagrined at falling not once, but twice really.
"That was a pretty bad fall...it sure felt like a long fall, and that I'd break something. Not fully convinced I didn't break something." well his ribs ached so it was possible, he just hoped they weren't.
That comment earned a light snort of amusement. "I sure do...my manager and a coworker are both angry individuals and both scare me for different reasons. I feel like I walk on eggshells around them, so I tend to have my ears perked for any hint of anger or displeasure." how better to brace ones self or try to head it off before it got worse?
There was an almost weary sigh from Jayme then. Not weary from being woken in the night and running in fright. No this was a deeper sigh, a long suffering sound really. It was his life he was weary of really. The woods were supposed to have been a nice retreat and it wasn't. He supposed it was no surprise. There was a slight downcast air to him for a few moments before he shook it off, not allowing himself to wallow in self pity too long.
It was a good thing it was too dark for Jayme to see the other flinch, he very likely would have apologized for that too. As was he felt the other tug his hand away and he immediately stuck his good arm out to feel for anything that might be around them. He didn't want to run into a tree after all! "You might be right about that actually. So as I said, thank you. The help is appreciated."
When he felt Kyran's hand return to guide him there was a relieved sigh from him and his fingers curled securely around the other holding it just tight enough that he felt safe in following without fear of losing the other in some way. Jayme realized the other could see and was awed. "You must be very good at seeing in the dark! I can't even see my hand in front of my face." the awed note was in his words as well.
"You're right if the situation were reversed I would help. I don't like it when others are hurting, or in trouble. Though I can't usually do anything to help them. I can't even help myself most of the time." there was another sigh as he realized the truth of that.
He also didn't pay attention to the fact the other had paused and he bumped up against his invisible savior, and quickly stepped back. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know you stopped! Are you okay? true concern for the others well being evident in his voice.
Though the question made him pause, confused and surprised. "It's the polite thing to do really...you found me and helped me. Without you, I'd probably be laying where I was...or wandering lost. You saved me....and well..I just wanted to tell you my name...so I was more than just some nameless stranger in the dark. I...shouldn't I have told you? I'm sorry..." his words trailed off softly, and the tight grip he'd had on the others hand started to falter and loosen feeling suddenly foolish.
He was having a severe attack of uncertainty and it made him tremble suddenly. He didn't know anything about this person who'd saved him, what they were capable of doing. The last thing he wanted to do was upset the other! Jayme was so used to living in a crippling shadow of fear that what ever easement he'd felt was now evaporating, quickly at the thought he'd some how messed up. Again.
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Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:49 am
At least Jayme was being more truthful with his observations on how he was feeling at the moment, but it wasn't any less discouraging of an answer to receive, it was just aimed in a different direction on the scale. A break... if that were the case, how was the teddiursa suppose to make it back home after this little excursion? How was he suppose to survive out here? This was so aggravating... no amount of curiosity was worth this much trouble. "Any idea how to check?" he asked. First aid was not his strong point; all he knew to determine was to prod at the sore spots, but he wasn't so intent on hearing that sort of physical torment.
It seemed that Kyran's remarks weren't earning him any scrutiny. While it was slightly unexpected, it wasn't unwelcome. In fact, Jayme was being strangely open about what scared him. The darkrai remained silent for a bit after the teen informed him of the short-fused individuals he worked with, curious to know whether the teddiursa was always so open to his fears, or if it were an effect of everything the kid had gone through that evening. Funny... the way he was describing them paralleled how he tended to feel at home much of the time. He continued playing ignorant, though, "You should get yourself a better job, if that's the case." With his track of thought, it was no wonder that Kyran took Jayme's sigh as one caused by physical pain, or maybe he merely fooled himself into believing that to remove himself from the vague sense of sympathy.
He was back behind his shielded emotions once more before Jayme had the chance to explain his reasoning for thanking the invisible stranger in the shadows. They were just words, and who was to say what frame of mind the person using them was in? If Kyran just stopped thinking everything was so sincere, it became easier to distance himself further. He barely even registered it when Jayme had grasped hold of his hand, other than the fact he hadn't the need to be concerned about leaving the teen behind anymore, so made sure the hand wouldn't slip.
When the teddiursa voiced his conclusions on Kyran's capabilities of seeing in the dark, it was then that the darkrai realized Jayme probably didn't even know he was talking to another pokémon. He caught himself before mentioning anything that alluded to that fact, noting that it would make him harder to trace... and that Jayme couldn't ask what pokémon he was. "I tend to be more active at night," he explained through omission, "You do that for long enough, and it becomes easy for your eyes to adjust to the dark." It also helped that his eye was trained to be that way for as long as he could remember, but that seemed like an unnecessary bit of information to add.
Noting that it seemed as though Jayme was quick to put himself down despite the vague compliment, Kyran almost hazarded a glance back in disbelief. Jayme would have seen him do that, though, for that seemed to be the only part about him that couldn't hide. Briefly, he scanned his mind for something to say to that, for Jayme to retract the statement... but he realized there was nothing the child could say that would sound more than a simple and empty cheer. He didn't know Jayme, so how could he say that that wasn't true?
Perhaps the part about the conversation that was digging so deep was the fact that Kyran was altogether too unfamiliar with any degree of submission in the very few he chanced a talk with. Kiara was a powerful force to be reckoned with... Ilia was trigger-happy... and Jayme? The complete opposite. The only other time he had such a nagging sense of commiseration was towards Kiara having to deal with Kyran's own incompetence.
This train of thought was also what initiated Kyran's abrupt response to Jayme bumping into him, waving the apology off with a quick, "It's alright. I'm okay, settle down." The concern in Jayme's voice was starting to rub him in what he perceived was the wrong way; he just wasn't used to blatant kindness, and wasn't suppose to be cared for, in any sense of the word -- he was meant to be forgotten. Why couldn't Jayme just realize that?
He listened to the teen's explanation of introductions, but still was not able to fully grasp the concept as to why it was considered 'polite.' There were some points made that may have been good if storing the name for later would have been beneficial, but he highly doubted the chances they would meet again to be any substantial percentage. Unless Jayme came looking for him... which was kind of a creepy thought, honestly. His annoyance was beginning to show up again, welling from the uncertainty. Just because Kyran didn't understand basic concepts didn't mean it was Jayme's fault! And...
And now he was shaking? What was this, he was actually trying to keep the teen's head on his shoulders, now that he had to lead him back to camp, and he was still scared? His comprehension of the situation seemed to be slipping despite the subconscious knowledge of what was going on. Pressured by his own anxiety, Kyran began speaking without fully thinking once again as he tugged the teddiursa along, "Why are you apologizing? If you thought it was something that you should do, then that's fine." He hadn't yet realized the sharp questions in response were probably not helping matters, and his irritation was only jolted with the quivering of Jayme's fingers in his hand. The child sighed, "And why are you afraid? What do you think I'm going to do to you? Do more damage than you've already done? Hit you? Pin you against th--" He bit his tongue, covering his misstep with a harsh sigh.
Averting his attention back to what was in front of him, he had never felt so glad to smell the diminishing traces of a campsite fire. The boy slowed his steps once he felt himself almost stumble again, catching the staff on a semi-familiar root. His tone lowered, finally realizing he probably wasn't helping the teen feel any better about the way he was conversing with the apparition of a poké-child. "Um... we're back, it's just over this way. Watch your step," he attempted, keeping hold of his hand in case Jayme tripped despite warning -- the teddiursa was pretty shaken as it was, after all.
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Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:53 pm
"Nope, no idea. Not without going somewhere. Pressing on it just tells me it hurts." nothing but honesty there. He didn't know how to check, but he could breathe okay and all, so he didn't think anything was broken. Just deeply bruised and sore.
Jayme didn't really realize he was being overly open. Perhaps part of that was brought on by sheer relief that his rescuer wasn't the one person in this world he feared more than anyone, or anything else...even ice type pokemon didn't quite reach the same level of fear as his fear of Reese!
"A better job...that would be nice. I'm sort of stuck. My manager has control over my money. I could leave but I'd have no money to get somewhere to stay, or food, or anything." he was more or less being held prisoner in this way. He wished he could get out...and he was reaching the point he'd have to...somehow. Someway. Even if it was a less than pleasant way. He'd had suicidal thoughts once or twice when things got bad....but it hadn't seemed bad enough to die. Yet.
"Oh okay! Well I imagine that would do it yes." there was a quick bob of his head in understanding, a light tone to his words. Kyran could have been lying through his teeth and Jayme wouldn't have realized it. It sounded believable enough to the teen he saw no reason to question what he was told. He was a bit naive that way sadly.
Of course he was quick to put himself down, he didn't see anything special about himself in any way. He'd been raised "well" in that respect. He had no pride in himself, for anything. He was a nuisance, a pain, a...thousand other negative things that Reese had hurled at him verbally over the years. So of course praise was quickly negated. He couldn't see it, was merely trying to set the record as he saw it, straight.
The fact he was unaware of Kyran's own dealings with strong minded individuals, and how he reacted to them didn't help matters. That Kyran was seeing and ignoring any parallels between them didn't help either, but he didn't know of those either.
He could hear the annoyance welling up in Kyran's voice though, and he recoiled as much as he could from the other. Not necessarily afraid of him, but of angering him. Jayme felt he had a knack for irritating people in record time. This didn't seem to be any exception.
Though the words being flung at him, the sharpness of the others tone had him flinching and hunching a little. "I....I don't honestly know...and that's what scares me..." his words a soft whisper of a reply. But he knew it would be heard. It was too quiet around them to not be heard.
There was a soft sniffle from Jayme as he was pointed to the campsite, though he managed amazingly, to not trip and fall on anything. He could just barely make out the outline of his tent, see the near dead embers of the fire, and he pulled his hand free with another sniffle. "Thank you for helping me....and I'm sorry for making you mad. I'm good at making people mad even when I'm not trying to."
He didn't turn when he stepped away from Kyran, and and merely held his hurt arm tighter to his hurting ribs and shuffled into his tent. It was probably a good thing he didn't know who his savior was. It didn't seem as if the other cared for him very much, and really he didn't blame the other. He didn't care for himself much either so why would anyone else? On the off chance the other was still there he turned back in the direction he'd come from, good hand wiping the tears from his face though the tracks still glittered just barely in the scant light, and whispered one word.
"Good night...."
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:45 am
From what Jayme was conveying through his examinations of his own well-being, it didn't sound like anything was broken. Pressing on the injuries likely would have caused more than just a strained voice had the contrary been true. That was good, that meant there wouldn't be any unnecessary worry he would have to endure considering he wouldn't have known what to do about it himself and the nearest human-riddled place that may have a medical unit was outside Kyran's range of knowledge. Not that Jayme couldn't last the night, but Kyran wasn't in the business of torture.
He still didn't understand what the importance of money was, living the feral pokémon's life and having little to no contact with societal aspects such as bartering value, or a price put on anything. Kyran knew of the strange coexistence some pokémon had with their human counterparts in this world, but that was about as far as the knowledge touched. However, at this point, it was likely Jayme still thought he was some camper, likely mostly-human, and didn't want to raise suspicions on anything other than that, let alone incite any long-winded explanation. He was curious, yes, but he was also entirely uncomfortable with this excursion, so played along, "Ah. Must be rough."
The darkrai was quick to notice how little Jayme actually asked of the child, all things considered. The teen would respond to questions, perhaps ask something less prying in return if it directly related to the situation, and that was it. Kyran was not used to directing the way conversations played out, so his verbal responses died down in return. This whole ordeal was getting more awkward by the moment, and the child was doing a great job at perpetuating that outcome, oblivious as he was to this fact.
The truth was that Kyran could scarcely remember a time he was ever angry. Frustrated, yes -- he tended to be frustrated most of the time -- but that was more of a temperament turned inward. In the forefront of his mind, he had a habit of blaming others for the negative swerves in conversation, for it was their own reactions that told of the direction an encounter would head. It was more or less a defense mechanism, for it was the opposite where Kiara was concerned, but under the layer of blame when outside the confines of home, that nagging worry was still there. Callous attitudes, they always seemed to be hiding something deeper, and he knew that conversation was a two-way street -- it was never one side that was to blame for an outcome, but both.
Jayme wore his heart on his sleeve, a stark contrast to Kyran. The teen couldn't hide his emotions, it seemed, and knowing what they were so openly like this... it just wasn't something he was used to. He didn't like seeing the mirrored reflection of how he tended to feel. The child tended to counter these thoughts with acceptance, but coming from someone else, that didn't seem like an adequate possibility. He didn't want to correct it either, though, for that would only lead to an atmosphere that much more uncomfortable for the dark-type child. Silence was all he could offer as a mediator, but even that was suffocating...
A correction was almost offered, that he still wasn't mad, but even he could see that Jayme was too upset to really take something like that to heart. Kyran sighed; well, he accomplished what he had set out to do, more than once, but he... really didn't feel like it was worth it. Carefully maneuvering back around, Kyran righted himself in the direction of home. He briefly considered leaving in silence to calm Jayme's distress, but felt compelled to offer some sort of response. He was listening... "Good night," he offered back before setting on his way.
The darkrai would remain forgotten, a bad dream in both the conscious and subconscious planes of existence. It was for the best.
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