[closed to Tobias]

[espio]

[There were some times when you had to say "screw this, I'm going out." And then there were times when you had to add "and you're coming with me" to that statement.

Which was why Espio had pushed aside all the things he had to do or wanted to do, and gone to find Tobias. It didn't really feel like they'd been spending enough time together - although, Espio had to admit, that wasn't actually the case, and he was just used to having Tobias as his roommate and therefore always around.

Maybe the space between them was a good thing, though. He kind of liked getting to surprise Toby.

Which was why he was rapping on his dormitory door at 9pm, with a tiny gift tucked into his hand.]

You coming out?

Comments

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias had actually been studying most of today. Even with the fractured memories of his other times in Garden getting him slightly ahead, he still wanted to know as much as he could about... well, everything he was going to specialize in, really. He had to, if he wanted to be an effective medic.

As such, the knock surprises him, though he smiles when he hears the voice, moving over to answer it.]

Hi, Espio!

[espio]

Hey!

[When the door opens, Espio grins.]

Come on. I'm bored - let's go get some fresh air. It's not that cloudy out tonight, and... well, stargazing sounds kinda dull, but I wanted to talk, as well.

[corruptedsouls]

Oh, okay.

[Studying could always wait, after all! Tobias disappears back into the room for a moment, putting the papers away so they don't get knocked around before coming outside his room again.]

Let's go!

[espio]

[YAY. Espio leads the way towards the front gate, figuring that it would be quieter than the Quad. It was a while before curfew, and for the time being it was still light outside, so he expected there'd be people hanging around.

At least if they got outside onto the fields, they'd have plenty of space.

He held out the tiny gift.]

Hold this, too. You can look through it in a minute.

Just don't let anyone else see it, okay?

[It was a tiny notebook. A really tiny notebook, full of little comments and doodles that were generally kind of sappy - he figured that if any of the other saw it, he wouldn't hear the end of it.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias takes a deep breath as they go outside, stretching much like a cat who was just let out of the house in a while. He really was more at ease outside, even now.

He takes the notebook with a blink, smiling again and holding it tightly.]

I won't! Promise!

[espio]

Good!

[And with that, Espio flomped down on the grass, lying back a little.]

Speaking of... [he indicated for Tobias to come and sit by him] What did you make of the whole family thing? The meeting, I mean. Now that we're away from them all.

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias lays down a bit more gracefully, putting the little notebook on his chest and staring up at the sky.]

...I don't know. I think I said the wrong thing, but... I don't really understand how they feel...

[espio]

Don't worry about it. They're old men - or, well, oldish men. Compared to us. They forgot what idealism was like years ago - forgot how to see things positively.

At least Grell had the right idea.

[Even if she did put it in a way that bugged him - she just sounded kind of self-important. But eh, whatever.]

Not every memory can or should be a good one. We should appreciate what we had and what we have alike.

[corruptedsouls]

If you say so.

[And Tobias meant it, really. If Espio was telling him, seriously, not to worry, then he wouldn't. It would be okay. He had hope and faith in his family, and... well, Marco had told him before he was important. Something to hold things together. So he had to keep that.

Tobias leaves it at that, then, just looking up to count the stars. After a moment, he raises an arm, beginning to "trace" along them with a finger.]

[espio]

I... got a little emotional, but only because the atmosphere in there was a bit charged. I ended up thinking about everyone I've lost. I still kind of hope that maybe I can go back and fix everything, but... there's no way.

[Sighs, tolts his head a little, and watches Toby connect stars.]

You know, I never considered Chaotix to be my family until a long time after I met Marco. I kind of wouldn't even call them friends. They were just acquaintances - colleagues. People I worked with.

I kinda regret never being able to realise what they were to me.

[corruptedsouls]

[It's only tracing in the air, so it's hard to see what picture Tobias is trying to form. But whatever it is, he's concentrating intently on it.]

Maybe there is. Time Compression is weird... I bet you can do it.

[He says that with all the hope in his voice, clearly believing it.]

And then you can tell them, so you don't have to regret it.

[espio]

Mm...

[Espio doesn't sound assured. After all... he's had a chance. And he can't beat Shadow in a fight...]

No. I can't just keep hoping for the impossible. I have to live in the now. With you. With everyone. If I keep holding on to them, I won't be able to go forwards.

I know what they were to me now. That will have to be good enough.

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias doesn't really understand, but if that's what Espio feels, he won't press it.]

Alright.

[And silence again, as he keeps drawing random patterns.]

...It is bad to miss a something?

[espio]

What kind of something?

[corruptedsouls]

I miss my badges. I used to play around with them when I still had them. They were smooth and reminded me of the Gym Leaders.

[espio]

Badges, huh?

[Sounded like a small trivial thing, a few physical items, but in a way... it was kind of cute.]

They're nice to have! So it's not weird to miss them.

I'm gonna guess that they meant something more than a few shiny things, though, if they reminded you of people. Were the gym leaders important?

[corruptedsouls]

Yeah. A Pokemon journey is you and your Pokemon traveling to get strong enough to beat all the Gym Leaders, then the Elite 4. It's so you and your Pokemon can get strong and grow up together, and the Gym Leaders are there to help you with a competition. They're always really nice and made sure I could get to the Pokemon Center quickly when I lost to a couple.

[espio]

Ah, I see.

[So, they were competition and support, both at the same time.]

So the badges were... prizes?

[corruptedsouls]

Um... yeah, you could think of it like that. They were also identification -- because of... certain people, a lot of police officers checked Pokedexs or badges to make sure you really were on a journey and not trying to mess things up.

You also had to show each badge at checkpoints to get into the Elite 4.

[espio]

Ahh, gotcha.

[And yet, for some reason, he's wondering what these badges looked like...]

Can you draw them for me, later?

[corruptedsouls]

Sure, I can. I remember them really clearly.

[The tracing stops, Tobias leaning over to try to "draw" the badges in the dirt.]

[espio]

Haha - I said later - I don't need to see them now.

[He sits up and reaches for Toby's hand as if to stop him, fingers interlacing a little.]

You still got the ring on you?

[He seems to remember Toby being a little worried about it falling off, and maybe looking for a chain.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias pauses when his hand is taken, looking at it curiously. He tries to lace his fingers more into Espio's, slowly but surely, as if experimenting with something new.

As Espio's question, he starts a bit, using his free hand to reach into his shirt and pull out the ring in question, a -- perhaps far too simple -- iron chain laced through it.]

Mhm!

[espio]

Uh.

[What - what is that. Seriously. Espio knows the ring isn't made out of conventional materials, but a crude iron chain like that? Really?]

Why don't you ask Grell if she's got a little silver chain? One that's for jewellery?

[corruptedsouls]

Because those break easily. This one's cold, but it's hard to break.

[Tobias' logic: Unbeatable.]