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Post by `jαzz on Jan 27, 2009 22:47:15 GMT -5
Not really a prompt. I just thought I'd type up some stuff from Kahale's perspective, since I haven't really explained his confusing background that much. I'm not guaranteeing that anything I write here will be good...
I'm just trying to combat this awful case of writer's block I seem to have come down with. :[
Blehh.
So..um, yeah! Enjoy?
A strange noise awakens me from a restless sleep. What is that? My stomach. I'm starving... I haven't even opened my eyes, and already my head is pounding. I shrink back into the pillow, my face contorted in a grimace. The sunlight streaming into my bedroom is brutal. I want complete, utter darkness. I yank the covers over my head, trying to lie perfectly still. The lack of fresh air slowly suffocates me, and I throw the covers from my body. It seems I have no choice. I am forced to rise and unwillingly greet the day.
Slowly, I pull myself into a sitting position. The sheets are pooled around my lap, restricting my legs. I can't move. I feel trapped. I kick furiously, but that doesn't do me any justice. I only make things worse. Finally, I untangle myself from the damned cotton sheets. The horrible feeling does not pass. In fact, I think I'm feeling worse than before. It feels as if I just got hit by a tractor trailer. The room is spinning, and I feel nauseated. Gripping my nightstand, I slowly get to my feet. With unsteady steps, I find my way to the door, and eventually, to the bathroom.
Who is that man staring back at me? Dark skin, chocolate-colored hair... That certainly doesn't look like anyone I've ever seen before. I splash water on my face, but when I look back up to the mirror, the reflection remains the same. I cry out, flinging a fistful of water at the glass. What is wrong with me? Maybe this is just a dream. I'll wake up like I do every morning, to the sounds of clanging pots and pans and the delicious smell of my mother's banana pancakes and maple sausage. Maybe my brother will rush into my room and pull me from the warmth and safety of my bed, begging me to go play pranks on the neighbors or spend the day surfing.
No.
I haven't heard from my brother in months. The Kanto region investigators have confirmed my worst nightmare. He's dead. Things will never be the same. I am alone. I have nothing. No guidance, no peace of mind. My brother has abandoned me, and I in turn have abandoned my family. I vowed to follow in my brother's footsteps; I will pick up where he so suddenly left off. But how can I be expected to do that, especially when I have not a dime to my name? I was lucky enough to be able to afford a room in this mediocre motel. Slateport is a busy town... Perhaps I'll be able to find some work.
- - -
It's been six months now. Six months since I deserted my family in Pacifidlog. They haven't called, nor have they come looking for me. I wasn't expecting them to. In fact, that actually makes things...easier. One less thing for me to deal with.
My job at the shipyard pays well. I'm responsible for repairing boat parts that have ceased to function correctly. Funny. I wish I could fix my life the way I so effortlessly fix machine components. I suppose it doesn't work that way. But I've managed to save a good deal of money. I've had to make some sacrifices, but I think it's been worth it. With all the people drifting in and out of Slateport, I've come across a man who's selling tickets to a region known as Kairuu. Never heard of it, personally. But hell..I don't have anything here to look forward to. Might as well check it out. See what it's all about.
I'm on my way to Kairuu. I was able to fit all of my worldly possessions into a single khaki-colored satchel. The cool ocean spray buffeting my face offers no consolation; I'm more nervous now then I've ever been in my entire life. I am to become a Pok?mon trainer. I am to resume my brother's legacy. My biggest fear is that I will not be able to live up to his name, and I'll fail.
The laboratory looms before me. Menacing, even though I know it shouldn't be. My heart flutters in my chest, and a cold sweat envelops me. Strange..it's rather warm outside. I am greeted by the professor. I am too indecisive, and when he asks me what Pok?mon I desire, I tell him I'd rather take a shot in the dark and go for a random Pok?mon. Damn.. There's certainly no guarantee with that option. But, things don't turn out all bad. I get a Corsola! Cute creatures. My hometown of Pacifidlog was surrounded by them. ...Pacifidlog. Wow, that brings back a flood of memories..
The next few hours pass in a blur. I gather some lunch, organize my belongings... I think I'm ready for route one. Hopefully. My Corsola seems more eager than I am to set off on this so-called journey. So eager, in fact, that I lose sight of my companion over a grassy knoll. Damn. I'm not even a trainer for a day and already I've lost my beginner. Wait..what is that noise? I reach the top of the hill, peering down at the strange sight before me. Another boy and his Pok?mon. A wave of relief washes over me. I didn't think I'd meet another person so early in my travels. I jog down to my Pok?mon's side, greeting the boy with a friendly smile and a wave. He seems nice enough.
I learn the boy's name is Atticus. We've been traveling together for some time now. I think I've taken a liking to him. He's easy enough to get along with. Besides, my Pok?mon seem to like his well enough; that's a good sign, right? It's getting late now, and we've come upon a Pok?mon Center. I think we'll rest here for the night...
Morning comes. It's the first time in a long time that I haven't awoken to a migraine. I feel renewed, I feel like a new person. I think meeting Atticus was fate. His presence is the perfect remedy to my sorrow. When I'm with him, I feel like my old self again. I open my eyes, glancing around the room. Only my belongings remain. Atticus, his Pokémon, his things...all are missing. I am alone. Again. Grief overtakes me, and I cannot contain it any longer. I cry.
- - -
It's been a while. A while since my friend abandoned me. Like my brother abandoned me. I've found my way to another unfamiliar land. Soaeniin, I think it's called. My old memories were too painful to hold on to, so I've given up my Pokémon and have decided to start fresh. Well...most all of my memories. I kept some of my companions...but I did send my Corsola back to Pacifidlog. Perhaps my family would realize that I still did care about them.
I began my travels as I did in Kairuu. The first route was beautiful. So calming...all those sunflowers... Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to discover nestled amongst all those swaying yellow flowers. Atticus. My friend. My soul-mate. Well, in my eyes he was my soul-mate. Arceus only knows if he felt the same. At that point, I doubted it. He had ditched me, after all.
But I couldn't deny what my heart was screaming at me. Staring down at him, laying amongst all of those sunflowers, realization struck me hard and true. He looked so handsome. I was falling in love. But the feeling was bittersweet. My love was surely unrequited.
When he awoke, Atticus explained to me that his leaving was not of his doing, but rather his caretaker's. That cleared up so much! I felt like a fool, for believing that he would just up and leave like that. How much trust had I actually invested in him? He was my friend. But how could I begin to trust him, if I couldn't even trust myself?
- - -
In a strange turn of events, the two of us wound up back here, in Kairuu. I think that someone or something is trying to tell us that this is our chance to start anew. I just pray that I can finally get my life on track, not just for my sake, but for the sake of others as well. Especially Atticus.
People are supposed to support the ones they love. And I love him.
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Post by `jαzz on Jan 31, 2009 23:08:01 GMT -5
Heh.
Alli's Beach Vacation featuring Kahale and Atti inspired me to write a little adventure of my own. So, this time around, these guys are going to be on a ski vacation. Fun times, fun times. x3'
Er..yeah. I don't know how many parts this will be. I'm guessing no more than three. Trilogy. Yey.
αℓℓı - D; I tried to do the best I could with Atticus. I'm sorry if I completely screwed things up. -/shot-
- - -
It's so cold.
I'm not yet awake, nor am I entirely asleep. However, I am aware enough to know that my body was freezing. I hugged the sheets and comforter closer to myself, trying to keep warm. No use. I'm too awake to possibly fall back asleep. I groaned softly, pulling myself into a sitting position.
I glanced down to my right and saw Atticus sleeping peacefully beside me. I smile. He looks so cute when he sleeps. I can't help but remember the time we spent at the beach not long ago. A flood of warmth invaded my cheeks, and I quickly averted my gaze. I slipped out of the bed as quietly as possibly, then made my way over to the dresser on the other side of the room. The chilly wooden floor offered no comfort to the soles of my feet.
I didn't know whether or not Atticus wanted to go outdoors today, so I would wait to put on any snow gear. Instead, I opted for a pair of red flannel pants and a large black sweatshirt. My next destination was the bathroom. After I brushed my teeth, I splashed warm water on my face. Looking up, I noticed that my reflection in the mirror looked somehow different that before. The realization hit me suddenly. Boyfriends... Atticus and I. It felt right, but yet it was somehow still so strange. I never would have guessed that something like this could happen to me, of all people.
I exited the bathroom, my eyes immediately drawn to the flashing green numbers of the digital clock that sat on the nightstand. 8:45 AM. It was still somewhat early, but that was fine. I would have enough time to prepare a nice breakfast for Atticus and myself. Besides, he'd probably be up by the time the food was ready.
Sure enough, I had guessed correctly.
He appeared at the door to the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. I smiled at him.
"Good morning. Hungry?"
"What are you doing?" Atticus asked. He had a puzzled look on his face.
"..Uh, making breakfast. French toast. I wanted to cook something nice. Don't you get tired of cereal?" I joked, grinning playfully at him.
He just shrugged.
"Well, pull up a chair. I have your plate here." I stacked the french toast onto the plate, adding a few berries as a topping. I also poured him a glass of orange juice.
Atticus postioned himself on the barstool and I set the plate in front of him. He only manages to eat half of what I served him, but he seems to like it. I must've done an okay job at cooking. That, or he was merely picking at it out of sympathy. I have to admit I'm no gourmet chef, that's for sure.
"What do you want to do today? I heard on the news yesterday that it's supposed to snow heavily later... We'll probably have to come back to the cabin early, but I think we could get in some skiing if you're up for it."
I couldn't particularly decipher is expression. Hesitant, maybe? Understandable for someone who had never skiied before, or who had only tried it once or twice. I wouldn't force him to do something he didn't want to do. Never. There were other things to do around the resort.
"That's okay, we don't have--" I began, but he cut me off mid-sentence.
"I'll go. I'll probably end up watching, though," he said, flashing me a small grin.
I'm not convinced. I opened my mouth to object, but Atticus held up a hand to silence me. He looked determined. Well, at least I think that's what his expression meant. Hard to say for certain. He pushed his plate towards me, signifying that he was finished with his food. He really didn't eat much. I sighed softly. Atticus makes me worry sometimes.
He got up from his seat, announcing that he was going to go get dressed. We had gone shopping the previous day for warmer clothes. It wasn't easy finding sizes that fit Atticus, so we had to settle for kids clothing. Even then, some of the stuff was a little big. I had to use safety pins to cinch up his pants so they wouldn't fall off.
He emerged from the room sometime after I finished cleaning up from breakfast. I stifled a laugh. His face was hardly visible underneath the fur-lined hood. The puffy jacket seemed to be swallowing him. I stood, then walked over to where he was at. I shook my head.
"You don't have to put the jacket on right now, you know. You'll burn up in here with it on."
He unzips it, but doesn't entirely remove the jacket.
"It's alright, I'm not hot. Besides, we're going to be leaving soon anyway, right?"
I nod slowly. Might as well get dressed myself. I didn't want to keep Atticus waiting. I picked out a black pullover and a dark orange trooper vest, as well as a pair of black insulated cargo pants. They were rather similar to Atticus'.
It was a quick hike from our cabin to the ski lodge where we could rent ski equipment for the day. I helped Atticus get outfitted in his gear as he sat on the chair lift. He looked rather uncomfortable.
"Are you sure about this? You know you don't have to do it if you don't want to," I reminded him.
"No, it's not that...it's just... I'm just kind of nervous, that's all," he mumbled.
I offered him a kind smile. "Don't worry about a thing. I'll be right by your side. This is the easiest slope of them all. That's why they call it the 'bunny slope'."
I think that calmed his nerves a bit. I quickly finished strapping on his skis, then started on my own equipment. In no time we were riding up to the top of the small slope. I motioned to the wintery scene below us. It was amazing. Evergreens dotted the slope, and the snow glowed a bright white under the morning sun. Everything looked so perfect, so pristine. I glanced over at Atticus. He seemed to be enjoying things so far.
I hardly noticed when the chair lift slowed down slightly. Oh! We'd reached the top of the slope, and it was time to dismount from our seat. I slid off of the lift, then turned around to face Atticus. I positioned my arms under his own and helped him slide off. His arms wrapped around my torso, and his fingers dug into my side. Even through all of these layers of clothing, I could still feel his fingernails. He might as well be hanging on to me for dear life. I merely shook my head and grinned.
It was a bit of a challenge keeping my own balance and supporting Atticus as he held onto me, especially when we started moving. When we reached a flat part of the slope, I gently pried his arms off of my body. I took his hands in my own in order to keep him from tumbling over completely.
"You're doing great so far. Are you ready to keep moving?" I asked him, running my thumb over the tops of his gloved fingers.
He nodded, peering up at me through his bangs. I blushed. That look of his got me every time.
"Kahale? How come your face is so dark? It's not hot out here like it was at the beach. You sure do get sick a lot!" he commented casually. He pressed the back of his hand against my cheek. "I can even feel the heat through my glove."
I shrugged, but then bring the hand I'm not using to support Atticus up to my face. I interlocked my fingers with his own then ease his hand down to my lips. I give the back of his hand a quick kiss, then return my hand to his waist to keep him steady.
"I'm fine, believe me."
He looked confused, and I don't blame him. I don't really understand my own actions half the time either.
"..Uh...well, we should keep moving. Remember to keep your knees close together. And don't forget to bend them. You want to put your weight into the leg that's going into the turn, okay? Your legs are pretty much the key here."
I released my grip on him, letting him find his own balance. His knees are a bit shaky, but overall, I think he's getting hang of it. He starts down the slope, and I'm not far behind. This section of the trail is clear of trees, which is good. Crashing into a pine isn't exactly fun. Unfortunately, there are still rocks. His ski hits a small rock, and he looses his balance. Atti's skis flew out from underneath him, and he fell backward. A flurry of white powder erupted around him.
"Atticus! Are you alright? Does anything hurt?" I'm at his side in an instant, brushing the hair out of his face. He nodded, and his slightly dazed expression is quickly replaced with a smile. I help him sit up, and he pats my knee.
"I'm okay. This puffy jacket cushioned my fall, I think," he replied, nodding as-a-matter-of-factly.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn't bear to see Atticus get hurt, especially under my watch. Thank Arceus for that jacket. Atticus rested his head on my shoulder, nuzzling his face into my collar bone. His soft hair tickled my skin. He wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me backward into the snow with him.
Another flurry of snow flies into the air around us. I feel so calm, so relaxed. I completely ignore the nagging cold that's nipping at my skin through all of my protective clothing. It didn't really matter anyway. The warmth of our bodies was all I needed. I turned my head in Atticus' direction, my own arm snaking around his waist to pull him closer. My lips meet his forehead, and I let them linger there for a moment.
I sighed contentedly.
These were the moments that I wish could last forever.
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