[ It's not a surprise. It was already there in the way Garrus spoke before he confirmed it, and the position of a police officer fits with what Red imagined. His story is big and would be a source to awe in places and plenty of questions everywhere, but here -- here wasn't the time.
A long moment sits after Garrus finishes before Red speaks. ]
When you're a soldier in a war, there's going to be casualties. People get killed.... and pokémon too. [ ... ] I met a man once when I was on a journey back home to help a professor. He was a gym leader, a person who took on challenges and gave people who defeated him a badge of proof. He said he was a lieutenant in a war, and he and his pokémon fought be each other's side and kept each other safe. Half of everyone in his gym was a soldier once.
I didn't really think about it back then. When he said he fought in a war and his pokémon had been there with him, I just thought... of how strong of a bond they must have, and how tough they must be.
[ Not: What was it like to be in a war?Did they ever lose anyone?How did you cope? ]
I keep thinking about him now. What he had to do. How did he fight? What was it like for him and his pokémon? I wish I could talk to him now. [ He faces Garrus, and his voice grows with his words. ] I don't know weapons, I don't know about armour -- I know pokémon. I know how to take care of them. What should I do? What did he tell his pokémon?
[ He stops himself, looking away. A hand raises to brush through his hair, deliberately blocking his face with the way his arm bends and lingers after the hand grows still. Did he have to say anything to his pokémon? Why they were seeing the things they saw now? ]
We went up against those neraki... we fought the flying creatures. He took them down because they wouldn't stay down. I don't know if any survived.
[ Red breathes, sucking in the air through his nose, and his eyes close for a time with the tip of his head. ]
We have to do it because there's no other choice. We love where we come from too much. [ Wherever his words were meant to lead him, the reason for originally asking Garrus about his history with killing is already lost from his mind. Somewhere, it was meant to help. Achieve something. ]
I don't intend to have him fight alone. He won't carry all the weight.
no subject
A long moment sits after Garrus finishes before Red speaks. ]
When you're a soldier in a war, there's going to be casualties. People get killed.... and pokémon too. [ ... ] I met a man once when I was on a journey back home to help a professor. He was a gym leader, a person who took on challenges and gave people who defeated him a badge of proof. He said he was a lieutenant in a war, and he and his pokémon fought be each other's side and kept each other safe. Half of everyone in his gym was a soldier once.
I didn't really think about it back then. When he said he fought in a war and his pokémon had been there with him, I just thought... of how strong of a bond they must have, and how tough they must be.
[ Not: What was it like to be in a war? Did they ever lose anyone? How did you cope? ]
I keep thinking about him now. What he had to do. How did he fight? What was it like for him and his pokémon? I wish I could talk to him now. [ He faces Garrus, and his voice grows with his words. ] I don't know weapons, I don't know about armour -- I know pokémon. I know how to take care of them. What should I do? What did he tell his pokémon?
[ He stops himself, looking away. A hand raises to brush through his hair, deliberately blocking his face with the way his arm bends and lingers after the hand grows still. Did he have to say anything to his pokémon? Why they were seeing the things they saw now? ]
We went up against those neraki... we fought the flying creatures. He took them down because they wouldn't stay down. I don't know if any survived.
[ Red breathes, sucking in the air through his nose, and his eyes close for a time with the tip of his head. ]
We have to do it because there's no other choice. We love where we come from too much. [ Wherever his words were meant to lead him, the reason for originally asking Garrus about his history with killing is already lost from his mind. Somewhere, it was meant to help. Achieve something. ]
I don't intend to have him fight alone. He won't carry all the weight.