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 Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:59 pm
He had been wandering aimlessly for days now, stopping when needed for sleep or to locate something to eat but always in the woods. As a result he wasn't sure just where he was but it was better that way, he didn't trust himself to be in the towns yet. Not knowing when his dark side would decide to come out to play.
It was early morning, and it was cold, frost was in the air and he could see his breath as he exhaled. The ground was hard and unforgiving as he stretched from where he'd gone to sleep against a tree trunk and groaned some, drawing the coat he'd come to own closer to him. He could see the look on the man's face he'd killed in a Shadow fueled rage even now in his more lucid state and wiped a hand over his face realizing he had dried blood under his nails and grimacing.
Rising to his feet he found the water source he recalled being nearby glad it hadn't frozen over and plunged his hands into the icy depths, scrubbing his hands clean and picking the blood out. Once he pulled his hands free they were frozen and he quickly shoved them under his arm pits to warm them up.
Maybe he should try starting a fire. Gathering up some sticks and branches he made a small stack to light, then realized he didn't know how to start one on its own. He realized he hadn't checked the coat the night before and began to rummage in the pockets hopefully coming up with some cash and a lighter. The money was pocketed and the lighter held in numb fingers as he tried to light it fumbling thanks to the lack of feeling in his hands.
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:36 pm
Riley was more than happy to be out in the early hours of this chilly morning. It was a mundane task of fetching wood for the fires, but it was either this or train with his father. Neither male wanted that pleasure...
He took the scenic route to get to where his family usually took their firewood from, stretching out the trip as much as he could. The longer he was away, the less time he would be home to get pulled into training for one reason or another.
Strolling along the path, his glowing ears perked at the sound of shuffling around nearby. There wasn't usually anyone else out this way. He assumed it was a deer or other woodland critter, and headed off the path. Maybe it would let him pet it again! Of course, when he neared the edge of the small clearing where the noise was coming from, he tripped over himself in his attempt to stop, falling forward with a distressed yelp. Who was that?!
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:39 pm
The yelp caught his ears given it was an otherwise quiet morning not counting his frustrated mutters as he continued to fumble with the lighter. He'd dug through the pockets a second time, looking for matches maybe and turned up nothing.
So, he was still fighting with it, fingers too cold to spin the metal wheel properly. He'd even tried chafing his hands together and blowing on them some to warm them. It hadn't done a whole lot of good.
The yelp was a welcomed distraction and his red eyes lifted from the lighter and scanned his surroundings, looking for the source of the sound curiously. He hadn't expected to come across anyone out here!
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:43 pm
Impulse made him raise his hands protectively over his head, keeping himself face-down in the frost. When no shout of anger came, he raised his head back up. Immediately, his attitude changed when he got a better look at the stranger. "Do you want help with that?" he asked as he cautiously pushed himself up onto his knees. The guy looked like he was freezing!
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:50 pm
It's a child....
His surprise was evident as he looked at Riley face down on the ground wondering why he was behaving like that.
It was the first time he'd come into contact with a child, human or pokehuman either one so he was studying the boy a few moments, lighter held forgotten in his hand.
The question though as the other got back up made him smile and he held it out to him. "If you don't mind? My hands are a little too cold to get it to work."
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:58 pm
Sensing no malicious intent, Riley nodded and hurried over to take the lighter. It took him a couple times, but he finally got the lighter to strike and held it to the little pile. Without a second thought once the fire was lit, he set the lighter down and turned to take one of the strangers hands. "Why aren't you back in town, or someplace with more cover?" he asked as he checked over the cold fingers. They were like ice sticks! He frowned with concern, and held them in his own grasp. Of course, he looked up at the stranger and felt the heat rise to his face.
"I'm sorry!" he yelped as he yanked his hands back, shrinking slightly as though afraid of being swatted for his boldness. Most people didn't want strangers touching them!
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:03 pm
"Thank you." he released the lighter easily as it was reached for knowing he'd have been at it awhile yet or simply given up and continued to be cold. It was a lesson to remember to make a fire first.
Having his hand taken by the boy...who looked like a Riolu to him if he wasn't mistaken... was a surprise and he watched the inspection intently, the hands holding his own hand.
"I'm not in town because I feel uncomfortable being around large amounts of people. I find it safer to travel in the woods...though I'm not well equipped for this cold."
He smiled some as his hand was dropped. "It's alright, you did nothing wrong as far as I'm concerned." he wasn't used to being touched but he didn't feel any upset at the touch, in fact he felt...well relatively peaceful just then really. If cold.
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:08 pm
Lips pursing slightly, Riley gave a nod of understanding. "It might be warmer in town, but, you're right, it's not always safer." He didn't like being in town himself, but this guy looked like he could handle himself. What was the concern?
Seeing the teen's acceptance, he looked down at the cold hand again and picked it back up. "I still should have asked first," he said apologetically, rubbing his hands around the other's to help warm it back up. "You need gloves or mittens or something. Don't you have any of that?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:12 pm
"Bad experiences in towns?" his head was tipped some as he asked, though he did settle on the bit of rock he'd set the fire up near so he wasn't on the freezing ground. A spot large enough for the both of them really.
Having his hand picked up again he was once more staring at the hands touching his own with an intrigued look. It was so weird being touched and there being no pain!
"I'm afraid what you see is what I have. At least I have pants and a sweater as well." he was grinning some as he spoke. "I think my hands would be warmer if I hadn't needed to wash them in the water there." he waved his free hand in the direction of the water he'd used.
"Thank you...for your help I mean. I'm not used to others helping me." at all. This was....well a nice experience really. His eyes lifted from their hands to study the poke-child curiously.
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:23 pm
Red eyes shifting to the side, Riley slowly nodded his head. "You could say that. There have been some good ones, but.. the bad ones really stink."
His concern rose again, and a little sigh sounded. At least the guy was still smiling even though he was half frozen! That was a good sign. "Yeah, that explains a bit," he said with a little giggle as he looked over at the gestured water.
When the thanks came, he smiled brightly and shook his head. "You don't need to thank me. Everyone should be willing to help when someone needs it, don't you think?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:27 pm
"Well I'm guessing that's the reason they're called bad times...and not slightly less good times, or something." he was grinning slightly as he said that.
"Thought it might. The unfortunate necessity of washing my hands due to them being dirty." that was one way to put it, but it was true! He found himself relaxing around the other as he giggled, a smile on his face.
The question made him frown in thought. "I don't know. I have to admit, I'm not really used to being around those who don't have their own goals in mind...or don't have it in mind to cause me harm. So this is sort of a new situation for me. Still, it's appreciated."
His free hand was held out to the fire as it burned, wood popping lightly, and he let out a low sigh, though he sounded content as he started to warm up. "I'm Iah, by the way."
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:35 pm
Ears twitching, he giggled again at the other's words. He had a point! "I guess it makes it sound nicer than it is if you tried calling it a slightly less good time. ....Like washing your hands in cold water."
Brow lifting, Riley looked up at Iah a moment before another nod came. "Yeah. There are lots of people out there who care more for their own selves than others..." Still, the voiced appreciation made his smile light up. "You're welcome! My name's Riley." Letting Iah's hand fall, he reached for the other hand to help warm that one as well. "You know.. my house really isn't that far... I could go get some gloves from my trainer's papa. They'd probably fit you. He has lots of gloves, so he wouldn't miss a pair."
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:39 pm
"Now that is less than a good time, that freezing water!" he laughed some as he said that, and it felt strange to laugh, it wasn't something he'd had an opportunity to do....at least not in joy!
"Unfortunately. I've dealt with quite a few people like that for most of my lives." he was wary of adult humans as a result now! So when the other mentioned his trainer...and more specifically his father it made him frown in worry, even as his other hand was taken.
"You won't get into trouble will you? I'd hate for you to get in trouble trying to help me out." he wasn't sure what that feeling was...was that...worry? He'd never worried about someone that wasn't himself before!
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:54 pm
Iah's laugh brought out Riley's helping to further the riolu's ease around the teen.
He shook his head again quickly. "I'll be asking for them, not just taking. It won't be a problem. He can be stubborn, but even he isn't that mean." Now he frowned slightly. "Even if it is a problem.. you really need them. More than he does. Like I said; he has enough pairs for himself."
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:57 pm
"Well...so long as you won't get in trouble for asking." he recalled being yelled at....for being poked and prodded more than once when he'd asked for things. Generally could he go...could they stop.... things that obviously didn't work in the favor of those studying him, experimenting on him.
"It's nice of you to want to help me Riley. I'm not used to anyone being so nice to me." it was a very strange feeling honestly but one he was appreciating.
"I'm glad I'm....myself when you found me. I have bad moments and I'm not as easy to approach...or be around." to put it mildly.
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