Nice Fireplace You've Got There [Elliot]

[232]

The idea that a fire in the wilderness of Nox territory could belong to invading Luxies had occurred to 232, really, it had. And, really, if you asked he'd probably tell you that was why he was approaching! Keeping the civilians safe! Making sure everything was okay! Completely altruistic in his intentions!

And, you know, then there was the whole "possibility of free food" thing.

It wasn't that he was starving, or anything, so much as it took a lot to feed an old rock that thought she was a dragon on top of an entire team, on top of yourself. So, hey, why not grab some free food when you can?

Besides, it turned out it was just one person, so what harm could it possibly be?

232 flopped down next to the stranger with a grin and a chipper, "So, what's cooking?" Soon after him, Micle hopped from the brush. No harm could possibly result, yeah? I mean, he means well so it's all good, right?

[Elliot]

The best part about having a Numel was that you were never too far from your fireplace.

It just took a bit of fire dribbling from Barrabas' back to get a nice, warm fire started, the centerpiece to Elliot's makeshift campsite. It was fairly simple: fire pit, shoddy little tent, and nothing else but wide, open space. Sometimes it was uncomfortable, but it was home for him. He was currently in the process of using this home, toasting some bread over the fire pit and humming contently to himself. There was also some skewered meat from the Olivine Pokemart (but he didn't like to think about where it came from.) It was nice and quiet, and besides his Numel he was all alone.

That is, of course, until 232 burst onto the scene. Elliot turned and looked up at him, scooting slightly away in surprise. Soon he found his voice, shyly asking 232 "Who are you?"

Barrabas looked up at the man and is Pokemon, snorting in recognition before chowing down on some nearby grass. Fuck yeah, grass.

[232]

Yeah, definitely seemed to be just some kid on his own. Not as weird as it should be, sadly enough.

"'Name's Alex. You?" The lie came smooth as butter, and hey, what's the harm? Names are just there to get your attention, anyway. Not like the kid was going to look him up or anything. Alex had been a strange man who'd let Kelpsy raid his berry stash, not someone 232 could be misidentified as, nah. He'd never known Proton by that name. Had anyone?

Dinner didn't look like much, that was too bad. Oh well. Micle was already rubbing against the kid's leg in hopes of a treat. 'Be a pity if the guy was allergic.

[Elliot]

"E-Elliot."

While not too uncomfortable around people his age, being approached by suspicious older people wasn't much Elliot's forte. The last time he trusted one of them, things went quite poorly for him. For this reason, Elliot's voice was soft and quiet and his eyes were focused more on the fire than on "Alex."

Of course, he was much more receptive to the Pokemon than the human. He looked down at the Skitty and smiled slightly, giving the cat a gentle pat on the head. His Swablu got similarly affectionate when food was on the line: maybe the poor thing was hungry? He took one of the skewers of meat, removing a chunk and offering it to the little cat.

He looked up at 232, a bit more at ease due to the friendliness of the Pokemon. "What brings you here?"

[232]

232 watched Elliot feed Micle, who was careful not to nick the kid's finger with one of his sharp teeth. When a question came to him, though, he just shrugged and grinned at the kid. "Not much, just got lost." He hesitated, glancing up at the sky. That happened often enough to be true. Wasn't exactly like Ganlon was too eager to carry him home, anyway.

Micle mewled at Elliot, dragging "Alex" back. "What about you?" The words came before he remembered that maybe it wasn't exactly polite to ask, maybe not too many kids were eager to tell complete strangers why they were out and about all alone.

[Elliot]

"Just taking a break."

The boy hated to admit it, but he was still somewhat guarded. Random people approaching him especially ones older than he was, never really worked out well. Still, he sounded pretty honest about getting lost, and his Pokemon were friendly. That was always a good sign to the boy: a bad trainer could turn a good Pokemon rotten, but it was very hard for a good person to do the same.

He sighed, wondering if he was about to make the right decision. Once more his conscience and mind were waging war, and that stupid voice won time and time again.

"Are you hungry?"

[232]

232 glances at the kid. What could you be taking a break from out in the wilderness? Maybe better he didn't ask. 'Kid seemed good enough, it couldn't be too much trouble. 232 had heard of child soldiers on both sides, but he just didn't strike him as the type. Not that the Rocket could even imagine child soldiers, really.

There was just something about hurting kids that would never really be able to sit right with him, and he'd come to consider that a good thing.

He shrugged, and looked at the fire. It was a pretty nice fire, even if it was apt to attract people like, well, him. Or worse. "Not sure I could take food from a kid. You've already spared some for Micle. I think that means you've done more than most, really." It was already bothering him enough to think of the kid out here alone.

Elliot

[Elliot]

Elliot shrugged and huddled a bit closer to the fire, still the slightest bit unnerved by being approached. If the man wasn't hungry, why was he here? It couldn't have just been to say hi. Nobody ever just randomly came up for that reason. No, when a bigger, stronger looking person came around, it was usually because they wanted something.

But that couldn't be right either. He had he opportunity to right there, but he didn't take it. In fact, he seemed downright friendly. The man's behavior was incredibly strange, and maybe Elliot would make more headway figuring things out if he wasn't still recovering from the fatigue of a long boat ride from Hoenn.

He fell silent, unsure what to say further.

[232]

There's caution and then there's curiosity and 232 has never been the best with staying true to the latter when it's a matter of the former.

Micle was calming down but 232 was glancing up into the night sky, always surprised when he could still see stars. Some days got so dark he was sure no one deserved to see them anymore. "You're not alone, are you?" He couldn't think of a way to phrase the question that would deliver it in a safe manner, so he stilled instead. The boy was no animal, seemed harmless enough, but there were other reasons to avoid sudden movements or making someone else feel threatened.

[Elliot]

What.

Elliot refused to answer the question. He simply turned his back, afraid of where this line of questioning was going. Sure, the man seemed nothing but affable . . . but so did Merope. And look where that got him. He huddled closer still to the fire, and with it the safety of his always-watchful Numel. Granted, it was too busy grazing right now to actually pay attention to the new stranger, but it was the thought that counted.

Occasionally he nervously turned to look at 232, gauging if the man represented a threat or if he was just bad with words, but it was never more than a quick, wary glance.