#adventourer

[skullkxd]

@adventourer, from here

… oh.

That’s not a funny ha-ha laugh.

Ree’s heart drops into the pit of their stomach, and for a split second, they worry. Is he mad at them for finding this? Is he going to yell at them? Is he going to tell Penny that they’re a bad kid?

But —

He’s hurt, their brain supplies, and even though Ree doesn’t quite know why he’s hurt — because he’s always made it quite clear how much he despises his brother — they know that he …

The little blond swallows hard, before moving to wrap their arms around Peony’s middle, pressing their face against his back. They’re shaking, but they want to do this.

“Well… I think you got him good.”

[skullkxd]

@adventourer

“Oi, Champ! Ah heard from a wee birdie that it's yer birthday t'day. So I got ye something." He holds out a box wrapped in red wrapping paper that has geodudes all over it. Inside the box is a black short sleeved hoodie with a white R hand sewn on the back except the top loop of the R has been made to look like a skull. There's also a small sewing kit wrapped up in the hoodie. "I wanted t' make ye a logo a yer own! So now when people see dat dey know der in the midst a' the great Champ of Alola themselves! Ah put a sewin' kit in t' so ye can add yer patches if ye like. Ah can show ye how to sew some on if ye need a guide."

“Woah, sick!”

Ree holds the hoodie up, and— it’s definitely a good, sensory friendly material. Ree can wear to the battle tree, or maybe even to tournaments abroad! They pause, before looking up to Peony, suddenly a little shy.

“you, uh… you really didn’ have to get me nothin, mister. I know you’re penny’s dad, an’ all, but… I mean…”

they trail off, before gently pulling off their Boss Hoodie to try this one on. It’s a little big, but that’s alright. Ree likes when they’re big.

They give a smile up to him.

“So. Whaddya think?”

[skullkxd]

(Totally not @adventourer)

A large Delibird mascot with a golden crown and red fake velvet cape stands before Ree. Per usual a white bag is slung over the Delibird's shoulder. Could it be.... It is! The King Delibird himself has come to visit Ree! It's totally the King Delibird and not Penny's dad in a costume. King Delibird drops the bag and digs in it for a moment before pulling out a box wrapped in red and gold glitter baby with a green bow atop. King Delibird sets the present in front of Ree before tossing his bag over his shoulder again. He waves to Ree over his shoulder as he walks off, leaving to deliver more presents. Inside the box is a hand sewn cozy for the top of Ree's cane in the design of a Mimikyu's costume along with a bunch of different pokemon stickers.

Wh — huh?

…

huh??????

Ree stares up at the King Delibird, frozen in place as he sets down the gift. That’s …what? Huh???

the confusion is plain across Ree’s face as their aipom pokes her head out of their jacket and retrieved the gift from the ground with her tail, holding it up for Ree. The blond takes it, though they can’t pull their eyes away from the King Delibird.

“… uhm. Thank … you.”

This guy is way too tall to be any of the skulls in a costume. And Boss is m out of commission, there’s no way he’d be able to hide casts under all that, and besides, he never dressed up as the king delibird before.

Ree holds the box as the king delibird slinks away, confused, but… grateful?

[skullkxd]

@adventourer came to check in:

"Ey, champ. How ye doing? Any better? I wanted t' check in on ye. N'.... I wanted to apologize. Fer grabbin' ye when ye were so upset. I got scared t' n' acted on impulse. Doin' what I thought would comfort one a my kids. But... Yer different from them n' I didnae think how I might've been upsetin' ye more. I'm sorry."

“Oh. Hi, Mr Penny’s dad.”

Ree’s cheeks go a little ruddy. They’re… a bit embarrassed by how they acted when Peony found them. How badly they freaked out. Things are okay now, but it really was tough and go, so they had a reason to be scared, but it’s…

“You don’t gotta apologize,” they say, shoulders straightening, tucking their hands in their lap (keeping the fresh scars hidden) and giving a nervous smile. “That’s what normal kids want. Th’ one who should be apologizing is me. I just…”

There’s a pause. Ree squeezes their eyes for a moment, before looking back to Peony.

“When I was little, somebody bigger’n me hit me. That’s why I don’t like bein’ touched. You were just tryin to do your best, an’ I don’t blame you for… for tryin’ to hold me when I was wiggin out. It’s okay.”

Okay! Vulnerability over! Ree moves to grab the wheels on their wheelchair.

“How about I get us some musubi an’ haupia?”

[skullkxd]

@adventourer is gonna give them a scolding /s:

"Heard my brother was havin' a beeper problem earlier." He's standing looking a little stern as though he's going to give Ree a talking too. He can't keep the charade up for long though as his lips twitch up and a big smiles breaks out onto his face. He ruffles their hair with a laugh. "Nice one, kid. If ya ever need help wit' somethin' like dat just let ol' Steel Peony know!"

“Ngh —!”

They flinch a little and grimace as his big hand clamps down on their sea salt bitten hair, but that’s — well, it’s a reaction that can’t be helped, after all the trauma they’ve been through. Ree tries to brush it off and straightens up, grinning wryly as they fidget with their cane.

“I’m a skull, Mister, I’m just gettin’ started. We’ve perfected this kinda stuff, yknow. Harmless but annoyin. I’m kinda pissed they found em so quick but I got ideas for later that will be easier to get away with.”

[exagides]

From @adventourer "It's interesting watching you. The way you carry yourself when you're in a battle." (Peony follows the various regions leagues closely & I think he'd like Wikstrom a lot. Steel type trainers gotta stick together)

party banter lines. @adventourer

Such a comment comes from one of two places, in Wikstrom’s experience — either a stranger is trying to ask him why he’s so archaic, or they truly see something of an equal in him for one reason or another.

Wikstrom gathers rather quickly that this man — he’s seen his face, he’s seen him, where has he seen him, again? his brain’s still running on battle-nerves after that match — is a part of the latter. 

“I thank you,” Wikstrom says, and out of politeness he offers a gesture of sincerity in a short half-bow, one hand to his chest. Beside him, Excalibur does a similar motion, though it’s with his shield pulled up close to his body. “I do try my very best to represent the Kalos League as best I can. Perhaps at some point we too shall meet in battle, Sir…?”

He allows the word to trail off. A name should jog the memory, right?

[skullkxd]

@adventourer said:

“Now isn't that something! That Meowth you got there's ultra-mega-special, you realize that youngster? Don't see many of them outside of Galar! Did you give it a fitting name?"

Who the fuck is this guy approaching them and just going off without missing a beat.

Ree is so startled by the guy that they almost don’t remember to answer — their Galarian Meowth perks up when she hears all the compliments about her, though, purring in Ree’s lap.

“I, uh…

her names … f u c k i n c a t, mister. I found her in the trash.”