[ She doesn't get messages like this very often. Memes from silly people like Jaune or Rose, maybe, but usually not messages that hit her in the gut like a sack of bricks when she reads them.
Aggron's company was both welcome and enlightening, and she's pretty sure Mikleo and Alisha fussed over him way more than necessary. Sorey and Rose were...their excitable selves, with the former unabashedly geeking out. There was no need to worry about whether their little family party would accept another member, albeit a temporary one. When he leaves however, she knows something must be up, and the message is only confirmation of what she thought would come to pass.
Grabbing her parasol (for some reason), she steps outside of their apartment door, and looks around, before her gaze settles on seeing the very much alive form of Aggron's trainer. She purses her lips and her grip on her parasol handle tightens. What is she even supposed to say? ]
[ nope, no memes here - only sadness. it's difficult for him, but he hopes that this hasn't taken too much of a toll on her. it's not fair that she was saddled with this kind of responsibility, and he intends to offer her an apology. ]
I didn't think I would be... But that appears to be so.
[ it's an awkward situation for everyone involved. ]
[ The grip on her umbrella tightens at those words. Inconvenienced? On a literal level, not really. It'd been a disturbingly familiar sight and situation. There were no dragon jaws involved, but the false bravado and complete idiocy to face an unknown enemy without stopping were certainly there. She'd gone through the motions of "caring" for yet another dead body, except this time it stings more because she'd actually known the one involved.
Edna doesn't like showing that she cares with a capital C. Caring is hard. Caring drains the energy out of her, drains the life out of her every time her fingers brush against the petals of another flower picked for the sole purpose of remembrance. Caring can dredge up those feelings of inadequacy and helplessness after seeing someone die in front of her for the nth time, even after swearing she wouldn't be. Why care, when those feelings won't do anything for her or them?
Caring is hard and troublesome, but...it's not like her to shy away from a task because it's difficult either, so she'll face him (and everything his standing here reminds her of) head on.
With one swift movement, she moves to bop Steven on the head (relatively lightly, no point in sending the poor man to his grave yet again) with her umbrella. ]
It's not me you should be apologizing to for getting killed for no reason, moron. What [ bop ] were [ bop ] you [ bop ] thinking?!
[ honestly, he's expecting some sort of lecture that he deserves. that seems to be in line with edna's personality, and he's prepared to accept responsibility.
what he isn't prepared for is to be hit on the head with a parasol. ]
[ This kind of situation hits a bit closer to home than she'd like, is what it is. ]
That depends on how you answer my next question. Just keep in mind that you've gotten off easy so far, and that I know way worse methods of punishment and torture.
[ The lecture will definitely come, just not now. ]
What on earth possessed you to do such a stupid, stupid thing?
[ It's not like Steven, who's usually very calm and calculated (unless rocks are involved) to rush head-on into a dangerous situation. She knows that much. ]
[ he runs his fingers through his hair a bit to fix whatever might have been put out of place from her (albeit gentle) hits, but he's not laughing. her question is a serious one, and it's something that he's been pondering since he came back. ]
I... wish I knew. [ from his expression, it's clear that thinking back on it has him feeling uneasy. ] It sounds strange, but I don't think I was in my right mind.
...That's not unbelievable. Others were acting strangely too.
[ She's not unreasonable, of course. Mikleo was suffering through some weird personality-alteration too, back then. Seeing him listless and convinced of his own worthlessness isn't something she's too keen to dwell on, but she has enough faith in his own strength to know that that's not the kind of person he is.
Same with Steven. Something funky was going on there. ]
Do you remember what kind of mind you were in, then?
With the type of situation we were put into, that's not surprising to hear.
[ still, it's relieving to hear that he wasn't the only one that was compelled to act in such an unorthodox way. ]
I don't recall much about my actions besides what became of them. [ ugh. ] Though what does stand out in my memories is some kind of need to... prove my strength.
[ "Humans", is what she wants to say, but Steven isn't like that normally. That's what she tells herself, in order to calm herself.
The silence that, in reality, spans only a few moments seems like it lasts an eternity in the wake of the tension that follows. Her grip on her umbrella handle is tight, but she gradually, very gradually, loosens it, and looks directly at him, letting out a long, audible sigh. ]
I know you're usually not that much of an utter moron, so I'm going to say this just once. If you ever get such a stupidly selfish and boneheaded idea in your head ever again, think as hard as you can about the ones you'd leave behind.
[ Caring is hard. The more she cares, the more she pretends not to. Her voice wobbles though, just a tiny bit (so she'd like to think), as this is a topic that hits way too close to home for her comfort. ]
...And how some people are tired of cleaning up after dead bodies. Bodies that belonged to people who also wanted to prove their strength.
I'd never do such a thing out of my own volition. I feel like I've made that clear.
[ just the thought of doing something so utterly reckless makes him want to bash his head against a wall. sure, he's had thoughts about trying to prove himself, but those were personal insecurities that he knows better than to act on. it wouldn't be rational.
but this isn't about him. not only has he inconvenienced edna, but something about the way she's speaking... it's as if she's trying to be brash, but the emotion is seeping through. he's observant enough to notice, and he lets out an audible sigh before he crouches down so that they're properly face to face. it doesn't seem proper to look down at her at a time like this. ]
But regardless... You have my word that I will. I won't allow this to happen again, no matter what.
[ he'll get stronger - mentally stronger. his insecurities can't be taken advantage of if they no longer exist. ]
[ despite the small smile playing on his lips, he honestly, truly doesn't. with a tongue as sharp as her's, he can tell that she has the force to back it up. ]
[ Good Steven. Bad Champion. Either way, she'll let that matter slide and try to...steer the conversation away from the fact that she was acting rather emotional (for her) a few moments ago. ]
Have you just been going around and groveling to everyone you know?
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Aggron's company was both welcome and enlightening, and she's pretty sure Mikleo and Alisha fussed over him way more than necessary. Sorey and Rose were...their excitable selves, with the former unabashedly geeking out. There was no need to worry about whether their little
familyparty would accept another member, albeit a temporary one. When he leaves however, she knows something must be up, and the message is only confirmation of what she thought would come to pass.Grabbing her parasol (for some reason), she steps outside of their apartment door, and looks around, before her gaze settles on seeing the very much alive form of Aggron's trainer. She purses her lips and her grip on her parasol handle tightens. What is she even supposed to say? ]
...You really are back.
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I didn't think I would be... But that appears to be so.
[ it's an awkward situation for everyone involved. ]
I'm sorry if all of this inconvenienced you.
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[ The grip on her umbrella tightens at those words. Inconvenienced? On a literal level, not really. It'd been a disturbingly familiar sight and situation. There were no dragon jaws involved, but the false bravado and complete idiocy to face an unknown enemy without stopping were certainly there. She'd gone through the motions of "caring" for yet another dead body, except this time it stings more because she'd actually known the one involved.
Edna doesn't like showing that she cares with a capital C. Caring is hard. Caring drains the energy out of her, drains the life out of her every time her fingers brush against the petals of another flower picked for the sole purpose of remembrance. Caring can dredge up those feelings of inadequacy and helplessness after seeing someone die in front of her for the nth time, even after swearing she wouldn't be. Why care, when those feelings won't do anything for her or them?
Caring is hard and troublesome, but...it's not like her to shy away from a task because it's difficult either, so she'll face him (and everything his standing here reminds her of) head on.
With one swift movement, she moves to bop Steven on the head (relatively lightly, no point in sending the poor man to his grave yet again) with her umbrella. ]
It's not me you should be apologizing to for getting killed for no reason, moron. What [ bop ] were [ bop ] you [ bop ] thinking?!
[ ...A last bop on the head for good measure. ]
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what he isn't prepared for is to be hit on the head with a parasol. ]
It wasn't- [ ow. ] Just- [ ow. ] Edna- [ ow. ] Please- [ ow. ]
[ what is his life. ]
Are you quite finished?
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That depends on how you answer my next question. Just keep in mind that you've gotten off easy so far, and that I know way worse methods of punishment and torture.
[ The lecture will definitely come, just not now. ]
What on earth possessed you to do such a stupid, stupid thing?
[ It's not like Steven, who's usually very calm and calculated (unless rocks are involved) to rush head-on into a dangerous situation. She knows that much. ]
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I... wish I knew. [ from his expression, it's clear that thinking back on it has him feeling uneasy. ] It sounds strange, but I don't think I was in my right mind.
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[ She's not unreasonable, of course. Mikleo was suffering through some weird personality-alteration too, back then. Seeing him listless and convinced of his own worthlessness isn't something she's too keen to dwell on, but she has enough faith in his own strength to know that that's not the kind of person he is.
Same with Steven. Something funky was going on there. ]
Do you remember what kind of mind you were in, then?
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[ still, it's relieving to hear that he wasn't the only one that was compelled to act in such an unorthodox way. ]
I don't recall much about my actions besides what became of them. [ ugh. ] Though what does stand out in my memories is some kind of need to... prove my strength.
[ and look how well that went. ]
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[ "Humans", is what she wants to say, but Steven isn't like that normally. That's what she tells herself, in order to calm herself.
The silence that, in reality, spans only a few moments seems like it lasts an eternity in the wake of the tension that follows. Her grip on her umbrella handle is tight, but she gradually, very gradually, loosens it, and looks directly at him, letting out a long, audible sigh. ]
I know you're usually not that much of an utter moron, so I'm going to say this just once. If you ever get such a stupidly selfish and boneheaded idea in your head ever again, think as hard as you can about the ones you'd leave behind.
[ Caring is hard. The more she cares, the more she pretends not to. Her voice wobbles though, just a tiny bit (so she'd like to think), as this is a topic that hits way too close to home for her comfort. ]
...And how some people are tired of cleaning up after dead bodies. Bodies that belonged to people who also wanted to prove their strength.
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[ just the thought of doing something so utterly reckless makes
him want to bash his head against a wall. sure, he's had thoughts about trying to prove himself, but those were personal insecurities that he knows better than to act on. it wouldn't be rational.
but this isn't about him. not only has he inconvenienced edna, but something about the way she's speaking... it's as if she's trying to be brash, but the emotion is seeping through. he's observant enough to notice, and he lets out an audible sigh before he crouches down so that they're properly face to face. it doesn't seem proper to look down at her at a time like this. ]
But regardless... You have my word that I will. I won't allow this to happen again, no matter what.
[ he'll get stronger - mentally stronger. his insecurities can't be taken advantage of if they no longer exist. ]
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[ A moment of silence is what it takes for her to calm down more after processing Steven's words. ]
Like I said, I know worse methods of punishment than mere parasol badonking.
[ And there she is back again, pulling herself together again to hide that crack in the rock solid wall. ]
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[ despite the small smile playing on his lips, he honestly, truly doesn't. with a tongue as sharp as her's, he can tell that she has the force to back it up. ]
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[ Good Steven. Bad Champion. Either way, she'll let that matter slide and try to...steer the conversation away from the fact that she was acting rather emotional (for her) a few moments ago. ]
Have you just been going around and groveling to everyone you know?
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[ way to kick a man when he's down, ed. ]
All of my Pokémon took refuge with different people in my absence, so I need to retrieve them. The least I can do is apologize for the inconvenience.