Ramen sung 'Feliz Navidad' in vc for my birthday
THAT SYLVEON
I'm very grateful for the feedback from the previous chapter. Hence, I got onto typing straight away, as soon as the chapter was posted. I do read your reviews, and to emphasize this point, I'll respond to your reviews (if applicable) at the bottom of the chapter. Oh yeah, ummm... I didn't mean to disappear for so long. I've just been ultra busy for the past couple of weeks.
Thanks so much to my patrons for the motivation! Big thanks to SavageCalibre22 for the cover art as well. I'm still overwhelmed by it.
LuanOTP doesn't own anything.
"Yeah, just through here." guided Brendan, escorting his friends of a decade and a half long through his fortress of a house. On the second floor, he stood in front of a door across from another unused door. "I think there's bedding in there already, but if not, just let me or Jasmine know. Julius should be sleeping with my other two tykes in my room, but I'll check on him."
Julley looked up from the incredible rouge carpeting that hugged his paws and refused to let go. "T-Thanks a lot, Brendan. We really appreciate it."
Cassidy followed her husband into the spacious room that was certainly bigger than their own chambers across the over side of town. She was astounded at the 5 beige walls that cornered them so comfortably. The available window elucidated a view of the moonlit field that was the Bursyamo's garden.
"Wow… Yeah, Brendan, we really appreciate it." mused the Glaceon, still taking in the beauty of the room. "Gosh, what'd I'd give to be you."
"Aha, it's not a problem for you guys." the Blaziken said, leaning on the frame of the door. "Umm… Also, sorry about Jasmin-"
"No, don't apologise. It's really fine."
It wasn't often that he was interrupted by the Glaceon. In fact, Brendan wasn't entirely sure he had ever experienced such. Despite the fact that it had come as a surprise, the battling extraordinaire collected his will to get walking, and shrugged his shoulders.
"Well… 'Spose I'll let you guys sleep. I'll talk to Jasmine, and hopefully make her feel better." said the Blaziken, winking on his way out. "Goodnight you two."
Slammed shut was the door. Brendan left the room but gave a wave upon departure. Cassidy took the time to immediately flop onto the bed, while Julley proceeded to take off the vest that swore to keep him safe. The ice type watched her husband struggle with the kevlar material that hugged his chest - with wonder, mind you.
"Hey, Julley…" began the Glaceon, curling up in the soft, satin blankets. "Are you alright? You've been looking really… Like, you've had a far out gaze since we came back."
There was a time for honesty - and in some cases, toxic masculinity, yet Julley thought that today wouldn't be very appropriate. Withholding nothing, he threw the vest on a nearby radiator, and walked over to the bed to join his wife.
"I've been a little bit s-shaky since we returned. J-Just… My eyes have seen a lot today, and I wouldn't mind sleeping it off. Just… Ugh… It feels so weird."
Cassidy engaged her listening organs, as she rolled onto her front while making room for the Umbreon to lay under the covers. "Feels weird?"
"Yeah, don't you feel it? Like, I've witnessed some things t-that no normal person would see i-in their entire lifetime, even. And, well… Is everything just supposed to return to n-normal all of a sudden? I just feel so strange…" expounded the Umbreon, looking up at the ceiling. "But, don't you know what I mean?"
Wrapped in satin, Cassidy thought back. Far back. To times where things were just as complicated, if not more. Her husband's question unnerved her ease, that was falsely built on the foundation of alcoholic influence. A vivid memory that held the answer to his question.
...
Some footsteps came from the doorway to the kitchen. The Glaceon kept her loopy ears alive just to make sure her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. A Zoroark emerged from the entrance, carrying a box of chocolates and a smile to boot. Two out of the three things to make anyone happy.
"Zoey!" Cassidy yelled, gawking at the box that she held in her paws. "I don't believe you're here!"
"I know, right. I hate having to come here because of the traffic, but today's different." she happily joked, hopping into the deckchair on the grass right next to the tanning Glaceon's. "How're you holding up?"
"I'm okay. I just can't get that stupid Flygon out of my head… Aren't you afraid for Cooper?" The dark type's smile flattened out a little, but didn't completely disappear.
"I mean... I suppose a little. But you know. Gotta keep up hope somehow." She then presented the now open box toward the needy ice type. "Hey, care for a bit of choc? All girls need some choc once in a while, right?"
Cassidy's icy scowl had thawed into a warm beam. "I suppose you're right." Reaching over, the ice type mother fed herself with some caramel filled delights to uplift her mood. She'd be a liar if she said it didn't work. Though, the Eastern clouds that covered the sky beckoned her in their direction. Taunting her, even. She turned back to Zoey, who had a mouth chock full of chocolate. "But Zoey, haven't you thought, if there's anything you could do? At all?"
Chew. Chew. Swallow. Cassidy's hopeful gaze met her unprepared stare.
"I don't know. I suppose there's something we could do. But, it's way too dangerous, and-"
"But that's my daughter!" Zoey froze, stupefied. In all of her life, never had she seen the Glaceon yell back at her. Meanwhile, Cassidy felt her cheeks flare up.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you, or anything, but…" The ice-type's glare dropped to the mint carpet. "That's my own daughter there. I can't just sit here and just hope! I want… I want to know if there's something I could do to just… stop all of this senseless violence! It's so stupid!"
The Zoroark gleaming garnets evaded eye contact with the frustrated mother, before having them settle upon her again. However, they released a more confident aura. "Ugh... I could never say no to you, Cass, could I?"
…
The memory was vivid for sure. In the sense that the Glaceon couldn't erase the poor Zoroark's words from her mind. Or rather, what turned out to be her final words. From then on, it was a quiet car journey toward her demise. Cassidy shuffled about, before turning over to face away from her husband.
"I-I'm sorry, Julley, could we just sleep for now? All this talk is really starting to get me to remember. I think that's the last thing we should be doing now."
Dejected at his rejection, the Umbreon huffed, getting out of bed to turn the lights off. "M-Maybe you're right. Sorry."
"It's okay. I'll see you in the morning."
Click. The room lost it's colour, and plunged into an era of darkness.
"Goodnight, Cassidy."
"Mmm. Goodnight, Julley."
…
...
Of course, she knew that she was in bed with a fire type. That wasn't quite the reason she felt so hot under the sheets.
Anais blinked again and again, allowing the rays of the morning sun to make her it's acquaintance. Her eyes felt worn and strained. Ironic, since they had spent the better part of four hours closed.
She could hear gentle snoring coming from beside her. In a bout to check her slumbering cousin's status, the Sylveon saw the state of the pillow that she had lended for the night. It was stained and dampened with her own tears. The view on it's own behoved Anais to forget all efforts she had undergone to acquit herself properly, and let loose another tirade of toiling tears.
Looking away, she knew that she was better than that. Was it increasingly getting hot in here? No, it felt freezing instead. What happened to all the oxygen in here? Whatever was going on, Anais knew the answer lied in finally getting out of this Arceus-forsaken bed.
The bedsheets were gently set aside her body, and the fairy was able escape her eternal grief by exiting via the foot of the bed.
Now on her four paws, Anais took to the sole window in the room, opening it desperately to feel the cool wind brush the fur on her face that was matted with her own wet weakness.
On the horizon miles away, that big ball of fusion had only just shown it's tip. It was more than enough to dazzle the skies a keen cornflower blue, and lift the Sylveon's spirits a little as well.
Every time she thought she was
I just… I have no words, I don't know what to say. I… I just don't know what to do!
Hey, just chill out, Anais. It's over.
That's what I thought too. Then there went Nester. A-And now? Arceus, it's just too surreal.
It'll take time to get over it, I think. This is usually the part where I'd recommend some sort of drug, but I won't ruin your life just yet. Go do something to take your mind off things. Otherwise, you'll go crazy.
Maybe some better advice would help.
I really dunno why you guys think I'm your therapist or whatever.
Taking a vast breath of fresh air, Anais closed the window slightly, taking in the Blaziken's interior design. Things were much easier to see when things were illuminated as they were. With her back to the window, the expansive room was all in reach of her panoramic sight. A door to the right, the sleeping Pokemon to her left. The Sylveon hadn't acknowledged the neatly tucked desk beside a drawer.
Anything worthwhile and entertaining was enough to part the clouds and drive away the rainy days. Anais' eyes targeted a chapped book that was left below a maths sheet. She approached it, and brushed away the cursed homework paper to the side - she wasn't afraid of a measly detention. The book had a beige jacket with a spine the colour of a poker table. On the front, black ink read out 'JOURNAL' in some boring font. Probably the Blaziken's handwriting.
Anais checked over her shoulder. Barry was still asleep. It wouldn't hurt just to have a gander, right?
Flip. The first page spread open like a Beautifly opening its wings. Turns out, it was blank. Anais flipped to the next page, and she saw, jotted down in very neat handwriting, a date and time. Indented below it, a scribbly paragraph of subjects and their corresponding homeworks and due dates throughout the entire academic year so far. The rather full page made the Sylveon queasy. Aforementioned she'd never be afraid of detention, although she had no idea how far behind she was. Her heart dropped at the mere thought of having to sit down and play the menial catch-up game.
This had continued on for the next substantial amount of pages - due dates, check marks and the occasional line put through a word spelled incorrectly.
On page forty-something, the sheet was blank aside from some scribbles centre-left on the page. Clearly an address, but wasn't quite recognised by the fairy. On the reverse side, it was a note written by the same person, yet with much more time on their hands for intricacy.
"Manu's New No. - 147 849-00347"
That fucker. I can't believe I forgot.
C'mon, I get you hate Barry, but it's not a bad thing if he writes down his contacts. It's a bit traditional, but you know…
What? No, not Barry, I mean Manu! He's spreading lies about me!
Oh. I'll be honest, I've been high the past seven chappies. I don't know what's going on.
Sounds about right. Fuckin' Giratina.
Words that were uttered by her cousin last night rang in her ears again. Anais closed to book with a fierce slam. Not like there was anything there useful anyway. Wait, no. Anais, use your brain.
Immediately, the Sylveon used a ribbon to open the book back to the page where she had left off, while her paws went looking for her phone. This was quite opportune, and the fairy scrunched her muzzle while taking down the number and committing it to memory. That Zeraora was gonna get it.
The journal was closed once and for all, albeit a bit loudly. The Blaziken behind her had his eyes shoot open once he had heard the unnatural sound.
"H-Huh? Good morning, Anais." murmured Barry, rubbing his eyes while he sat up in bed. "Did you sleep well?"
"Ugh. You scared me a little. And yeah, my sleep was okay, I guess." replied the Sylveon, slipping her phone back into her fur. "What are you doing up so early?"
"Huh? I always get up at seven on a weekday!" the Blaziken jostled, throwing the sheets off his long legs. "Although, I know you generally sleep in. What are you up to?"
"Umm… What? It's a Friday?"
Barry scratched his feathery noggin. "Uh, yeah… Do you think you'll come to school today?"
Taking a deep breath, Anais hesitated only for a moment before sitting back on her rear end. "No… I like, really, really don't feel like going out anywhere today."
"I understand. I'll let you know if there's any homework due when I get back in the afternoon."
"Thanks a lot. Maybe I'll send a harsh message to Manu to take my mind off things." she mused, gently caressing her forehead with one of her ribbon-like appendages. "And you know what? Maybe I'll give someone else a message while I'm at it."
"Who?"
…
...
"R-Raidon."
"Sorry, what did you say your name was?"
The meeting was bound to be awkward, considering that Raidon had never met this Jolteon before in his entire life. It didn't help that the Girafarig police officer constantly breathed down the back of his furry collar. Under a massive amount of pressure, the electric teen gathered his social strength, and answered again.
"Atos - Raidon."
It brought him great relief to see the Jolteon's expression change from a face of confusion to that of immediate understanding. The elder, matured electric type nodded his head, glancing back at the police officer.
"Yeah, officer. My wife and I'll accept to bring him in, if that's what she wanted for 'im."
The Girafarig nodded her head, giving assuring glances to the suffering Luxray. "Thank you Dr. Blizzards. I'll sort out the rest of the paperwork and get back with you as soon as possible. Take care, kid."
Cooper had bid the police officer goodbye, allowing Raidon to finally breathe. The second the cruiser took off, the friendly upwards curve on the Eeveelution's mouth creased into an ugly scowl. It was only until the door was shut to the larger-than-average house, that the teen quadrupedal noticed how awful the Jolteon smelled. Sort of like a wet lawn flavour.
Azure irises set on his frame. Cooper had exhaled noisily at the jet black luggage who appeared at his doorstep at stupid o'clock. Otherwise known as seven in the morning.
"So… Raidon… Well, I don't really know what to tell you. Make yourself at home, I suppose?" the grouchy adult grumbled, scratching the fur above his head. "I know it's not ideal, given the… circumstances. We'll make the most of it, though."
"Y-Yeah, it's alright, mister… Uhhh…"
Raidon's stumbling speech was stopped by the signalling of a paw.
"Hey, Uncle Cooper will do for now."
"Oh. W-Well, thanks, Uncle Cooper. I really appreciate you letting me stay here." said Raidon, staring at the fairly big foyer. A staircase to the left - the lounge to the right. The beige and red interior colours stood out to him even in the dimly lit hallway lights. Better than the bungalow he had once called home, that's for sure.
The Jolteon closed his eyes, shaking his head. "No worries, kid. I'll pick up the rest of your stuff tomorrow, but for now, guess you'll be staying at chez moi." Cooper then turned to look at the peak of the staircase. "My daughter's room is just up the stairs and on your left. She shouldn't mind you staying on her bunk bed. Feel free to go have a look while I get your bedding sorted. She'll be awake anyway."
"Oh, alright. Thanks, Uncle." told Raidon. It felt a little off calling a Jolteon he had just met for the first time his uncle, though if this is what his mother wanted for him, who was he to complain? He stayed close to the banister, and began to climb the stairs toward his new life, starting today.
"Hey, Raidon?"
The Luxray stopped in his tracks. The deep voice belonged to Cooper. He turned where he was on the step and diverted his attention to the electric type who had called for him.
"Yeah?"
"I'm uh… I'm really sorry about what happened to your mother, man." the lightning Pokemon admitted cumbersomely, not able to bear the sight of eye contact with the young man. "Offering you a place to stay is the least I could do for you, because I know there was much more I could've done."
Raidon's head fell. However, he had shed no tears. He fought the urges valiantly, and lifted his gaze back at the Jolteon. A smile forcibly waged war with his previous defeated frown over custody of his profile.
"I-It's alright. Thank you."
Cooper had twinkled a tad bit too. It was only a small amount, yet it was enough to restore a bit of hope back into the Luxray's dwindling heart. Onwards, he continued onto the first floor of the building. He looked to what the right had in store for him. Three unfamiliar doors stood out to him. None seemed to be of his business though. Be that as it may, he could certainly do with a bathroom break sooner or later.
The left-most door had many posters decorating it's surface. A few boybands here and there, as well as the occasional gaming advertisement glued neatly to the wood. Raidon wasn't sure he had heard of 'PTS' before, but all of their members seemed to be very winsome.
He was about to rap on the door. Before he had done so, he noticed a faint white light trickle from beneath the entrance. Maybe Uncle Cooper was right. Maybe she was awake.
His paw went to work. His paws knocked against the wooden surface a couple times. Raidon hoped that it wasn't any more than necessary.
An audible groan came from the other side of the door. He had certainly heard that, confirming his fears that his knocks were indeed superfluous to an unknown degree.
The door swung open. A Zoroark, of ripe, young and slightly below average stature opened the door, surely around the same age as the quadrupedal who couldn't stop staring at her fearsome stature. They stood a couple inches above Raidon's tallest pinch of hair. Their colours seemed to be standard issue; charcoal black with garnet highlights in the correct spots. However, there hadn't seemed to be anything putting their messy hair in any sort of order. Lavender headphones - with a microphone attached - sat atop their head, indenting their disorderly hair with the arch that connected the two speakers. Their pair of addled amethyst irises dawned on the embarrassed Luxray.
"Uhhh… Who are you?"
"Umm… Umm…" stammered the Luxray, not ready to acknowledge the softness in the dark type's tone. There didn't seem to be a nice way of telling someone that you were moving in with them without their knowledge and/or their consent.
"Umm? What kind of name is 'Umm'? How'd a muppet like you pass selection? Dad!? Who is this guy?"
Cooper's voice rumbled from downstairs. "That's Raidon! He'll be staying with us from now on. Make him feel welcome, 'n' don't give him any damn trouble!"
"What? He's moving in?! Why wasn't I told about this!?"
"Don't make me repeat myself, Chloe!"
That seemed to shut her up. Raidon took a note of the name 'Chloe'. Might just come in useful once he ends up inevitably socialising with her.
"Fine, fine!" shouted back the Zoroark, substantially decreasing her volume following the reply. "Well. I guess that means you can come in."
The female opened her door a bit more, allowing Raidon not only to view the rest of her room, but also enter inside. Dauntlessly, he entered the chambers of the vexed bipedal vixen. It was then that he had realised how the posters he had seen on the door's exterior were merely a precursor to what was to come.
The peach walls were littered with more posters, fairy lights (that were a dim blue) and pins of some printed pictures of the same Zoroark in the presence of some other Pokemon he hadn't recognised. In the corner of the room, his weary eyes settled on a masterclass in machinery. A computer, designed for gaming purposes, glowed many different and vibrant colours. The monitor above it displayed the first person perspective of someone holding a crowbar. The graphics were unlike anything he had ever seen before.
"This… This is a really nice room." gasped Raidon, dragging his poor soul - and the lifeless body that encompassed it - further toward the bunk bed that resided across the computer. "Is that your computer? I-It looks incredible."
"Yeah, 'spose so." Chloe boasted proudly, taking a seat at the desk that carried her monitor. "I stream and play games a bunch, so gotta have something that can handle the intensity."
"For sure." Around now, Raidon felt like he was beginning to lose his people skills. The Zoroark had already spun in her chair to resume her video game. "So, anyway, where you playing video games the whole ni-"
"Ugh. You call them 'video games'? Boomer." deadpanned the gaming dark type, who began clicking buttons erratically. "Anyway, I'm streaming with a few friends, so a bit of quiet might be nice. You can have the bottom bunk. Don't walk in the sight of the facecam, either."
"Oh… Sorry?"
What the heck did it even mean to be a boomer? Raidon's brain wasn't at it's peak with the sun rising so early in the day. He needed some sleep, and soon.
Creeping slowly behind the illusion Pokemon's leather chair, the Luxray snuck into the bed, sighing exhaustedly. His shivering body cried of overuse, yet his brain hadn't yet the peace of mind to be going to sleep at all. Flashbacks of an Absol chained in dreadful acceptance strobed in the darkness of his imagination. That clicking sound from Chloe's computer didn't seem to help much, either.
"Thanks for the donation, MaleHammer20k. Uh, what? The one who came into my room?" spoke the Zoroark, out of nowhere. "Uhhh… No. Mind your own business."
Raidon reacted a little frightened at first; it sounded like she was talking to him, when actually, she was talking about him. There were only so many ways to feel better about that though.
"I mean… Maybe a little? Voice-wise, yes. Looks-wise? Maybe. Aw fuck. Some little shit is camping in Gramma's house."
Now, her conversation was beginning to sound like gibberish. It wasn't quite eavesdropping if the person was knowingly talking within his proximity, right?
"Thanks for the do-no, uhh... CCwazhere. Nah, just never had the time for it. Also, thanks for the twenty, TheLattyQueen."
Over time, the Luxray was able to just deafen himself from the sporadic comments coming from his newest roommate. Instead, he allowed his subconscious to recount his entire day. The whole mess. From start to beginning. To believe this all began from the fact that he had decided to spend an hour or two with his fire type friend.
He rolled onto his other side.
To blame himself for his mother's incarceration would be selfish. He was already aware how cruel a mistress hindsight could be when it suited her. Nonetheless, a prodding feeling from the bottom of his heart bore it's way into his sensitive emotions, ill-convincing him that nothing was going to be alright. Arceus give him strength.
*Bzzt!* *Bzzt!*
His phone rang from beneath his body - lost to his own depression. Raidon had completely forgotten that he had it. It was pulled out from his tangled fur so he could get a better look at the screen.
Three messages from Anais.
Involuntarily, the electric type's natural frown had inverted itself. Only just barely, but still.
Maybe this was Arceus' way of sending him the strength he needed.
Thanks for the read. I know, it's been awhile. I also know that it's fairly short. Hopefully this'll stand as my personal 'Luan' redemption chapter of sorts. As an apology letter, I present to you the below. A minor tid-bit to keep you entertained, and hopefully to convey to you guys how much I am still committed to getting this story done. But anyways, big thanks to SavageCalibre for the inspiration. Enjoy!
The best way to finish a savage gym session that involved a major injury? Of course, it was lunch. Crappy, school lunch to be specific.
Raidon Atos stretched his arms after gnawing off a chunk of his steak. Protein was his favourite part of any meal. Sharing the same lunch table with him were Barrágan Bursyamo and Frasier Furble. The latter had ordered a vegetarian sandwich, while the former settled for a standard bottle of a banana milkshake.
"Man, I can't even feel my legs anymore." wheezed the Luxray, looking at the Blaziken who sat beside him. "But hey, at least that's how you know it was a heck of a good workout."
"I-I-I'd say…" muttered Fraiser, showing off his arm - wrapped in the white of a cast, after fracturing his forearm while attempting to push a little more than thirty pounds of weights. Evidently, it hadn't ended well.
Barry took a sip of his milkshake, shivering from the delight of the taste. "I hope you'll be okay, Frasier. Three reps is better than no reps, I'd say."
*SLAM*
The entire table shook with the force of Manuel Valverde, teen hearthrob and high school sensation (or so he believed), slamming his tray of cake and custard onto the undeserving plastic table. His paws clasped and rubbed together. "Okay. Guys. checkit, 'cuz I just had an idea."
"Is it the toilet paper camera lens thing?" questioned Barry, genuinely curious. "I mean, it's a good idea, I just don't see how it'd be very practical…"
"I could f-find a couple uses…" the Furfrou mumbled to himself. Thankfully, no one had heard it aside from himself and the Pokemon above.
"C'mon, Barry! Don't rat out my ingenuity to da world! Issa a stingy place out there, I'll tell ya dat." Manu took his seat next to Fraiser, across from Raidon and Barry. "'Kay fellas, how 'bout dis - Would'ya consider jackin' off to be a sport?"
Right off the bat, Raidon and Fraiser became rouge like ripe Cheri berries.
"W-Would I consider WHAT to be a sport?" exclaimed the Luxray in pure disbelief. He was then met with a reassuring exhale from the Blaziken beside him.
"It's okay, Raidon. I dunno what that means either."
Manu spread his arms, shrugging his shoulders. "Fellas, fellas! Be reasonable! Foist of all, we gotta understand what makes sumthin' a sport to begin with."
Leaning toward the table, a red-faced Furfrou input his two cents. "W-Well, sports are usually two opposing competitors contesting in something… physical, to beat the other."
Shoulders were shrugged again, as Manuel further elaborated. "So, I think ya'll will agree all day long that JOing is physical, eh? So, all we need are two knuckleheads wanting to go off on each otha - see what I did there? - at badabing, badaboom! We got ourselves a rippah!"
It felt like Raidon was the only one at the table who remembered to bring their brain to school. "W-What? Manu, isn't that like…"
"Gay? Sawwy, were you gonna say GAY!? To have two dudes yankin' it to see who's da faster gunslinga? Donnie, I don't believe my ears. Jackin' off is cool but homophobia ain't, man."
The Luxray shook his head at the Zeraora's antics. "Hey, dude! I-I wasn't going to say that! I was just kinda thinking; it's just… sorta indecent to publicize a sport based on uhh… masturbation, y'know what I mean?"
"Wait, what?" exclaimed Barry, close to choking on his milkshake. "That's what 'jacking off' means? I thought you were talking about two people seeing who could use a car jack the fastest!"
All eyes fell on the Blaziken, who now felt singled out due to his innocence.
"No. Heckin'. Suh."
Alrighty, that should wrap things up. Short and sweet, just how I like it. Just watching Sav's speedpaint right now, and I'm kinda realising that I need sleep. Maybe I'll sleep when this piece is done. Thanks Sav!
-LuanOTP