forgivetheinsubordination | IC Contact

[ Did you see your life flash before your eyes, Garrus?? Welcome to the CDC. Charizard brings down Garrus as gently as he can when he lands, though the man is the most largest weight he's ever had on his back. The fact that he's heavier than him means nothing, but it's something Red notices for the small time that they both hover up, and he tucks the idea that he should get the pokémon to practice supporting larger weights from above.

Later. The boy catches as well how uncomfortable Garrus appears with the idea, and when Charizard goes to take his basket again, Red gives Garrus a small smile. ]

We can walk out as far as you wanted to go for today. Thirty minutes is still pretty far.

If you're sure.

[Garrus doesn't want to make the boy feel like he's breaking his word to whomever he promised to bring back a lot of food to. Yes, he's nervous about the flying, but he can get over that. Charizard could manage. Though he's also not going to rush it.

The ground feels good under his feet when he climbs off the pokemon's back, and Garrus takes a short second to enjoy that before nodding toward the area outside of camp.]

So how big of a thing can Charizard take down? And watch your step to the right there, the purple flowers. Not something we're gonna want to stop near, though the flowers are tasty enough. The vine likes eating people.

[ Red gives Garrus a reassuring nod. It wasn't like they couldn't maybe go out again, or Red could go with another person. He'd read the file on how much time until it'd eventually get dark, and then everything would be lit by the lights of the wildlife (not a time he intended to go out in, but he was curious about it).

He planned to do as much as he could, one way or another.

Red watches his feet first before getting to the question, and then the information distracts him further to his blackglass, booting it back up. ] Oh, I read about them... Charizard, you watch your feet.

[ A sound comes behind them, and Red brings his attention back to Garrus. ]

It doesn't matter how big it is really - just how strong it is and if we can figure out a strategy to take it down. He could probably knock the hydrocoose over, if we tried. We found out how they can't stand flashing lights when the stampede happened, so [ and he gestures now with his hand holding the black glass, making a circular motion ] if we confused the heads and then attacked the legs, we could make it trip itself up.

[ That was one idea, anyway. He brings his arm in again to glance at the blackglass and then around them, back to those purple flowers and vines. ]

Are you worried about whatever's still around after the stampede?

If there's gerol, yeah. The others... If you think we can take a hydrocus down safely, then we'll do so. But they're not aggressive right off the bat. Haisuna, we know what they look like and we can take them out fast, before they can latch on.

[Garrus shrugs. He's had a bad experience with the gerol, and he's not looking for a repeat. They're not even edible. There's nothing worthwhile about that animal.]

Optimally, we run into a solo kyrie. Though we're gonna have to be careful with what it can project. What sort of mental defenses does Charizard have? Anything?

[ Honestly, if they don't have to touch any of the hydrocus at all, that would be the best option. He nods to the comment of the haisunae. ]

Right, keep a distance. Do the haisuna scare easy? [ It worked during the stampede; hopefully it would work when they were calmer too.

Red considers Garrus's question however. ] Well... if it's the same, he's gone up against psychic attacks -- they're more mental than physical. [ He's guessing, anyway. ] He's not weak to them, but they can still get to him.

[ A pause. ] Would attacking from a distance help keep out of the range at all?

They might scare easy. I don't know. I haven't run into any, personally, outside of the stampede when everything was panicked. Unless you count the things in the camp that might or might not be haisuna.

[He still doesn't know. It worries him when he considers who is bonding with them and might lose those bonds, too. But there's nothing he can do except be around and support if things come to the worst-case scenario.]

Distance is a good idea with the kyrie. When I ran into one before, I didn't feel anything until we were close. Might not mean anything, but I can snipe from a distance, and if Charizard can do fire from a distance we could do well.

[ He had been wondering about those in the camp, mistaking them on arrival for those from the stampede and that leading to a near-unfortunate incident with a group of them later on. The file spoke that they shouldn't be allowed to get too close, but then there were those in the camp kept as companions.

There was still the want to learn more about them, but- later on. Red follows the conversation taking place now. ]

Sure, yeah -- Charizard can aim his fire from a distance. If it's safe enough he can trap them in a ring of fire too but [ he shakes his head a little ] I don't want to risk that if we get caught in a dense forest. I don't want to burn the trees.

[ Hard to put out fires with no water pokémon on hand. He thinks after saying that though, back to all the creatures he had read about. ]

Won't the bigger problems be the gerols? I remember reading they're meant to be hostile, and there were plenty of them during the rush before. [ A pause. ] There was another entry about nests in the forests about another creature too. Do you remember that one? [ What was it... ] Something like... asshu, kesshu...

That'd be why I said if there are gerol remaining, I'd be worried. The other, the...

[Garrus trails off as he looks through the bestiary.]

Khesau. We could bring some of those back. Might be much easier than a kyrie. Eggs, smaller in size, no empathy issues going on. I can take them out with headshots easily enough, and Charizard can likely flip them over. Should we see if we can track some of those?

[Not burning the forest down might be a rather good idea. Especially since they're in it.]

W-- wait. [ Red stops in his steps at that, Charizard doing the same with a small huff as he watches his trainer curiously who stares at Garrus with wide eyes. ] You want to kill them? Why? I thought...

[ He thought they were talking about keeping up a defence, but then suddenly, with that, it clicks to Red the answer as to why without Garrus needing to say it. Why else, and there's a muffled sound as Red looks down, feeling all at once stupid for not getting it sooner, and unsure about what he wants to do. ]

[Garrus stops too, surprised, confused, and then he gets it. Red had meant to gather plants for food, not hunt animals. There's a long beat, and then Garrus looks back the way they'd came.]

...Let's backtrack to the vines, pick the flowers there. There should be plenty of plants to gather that can be eaten in this area, and we shouldn't have to kill anything to eat.

[Red is going to have to face killing soon, seeing as he's on Green, but they can take slow steps.]

[ It's a smooth and easy solution to the issue. Red could agree, and they could head back to the vines and the flowers, and he could bring up about the berries he'd seen in the catalogue and search for them as he'd intended. There were all sorts, and if they were lucky they could find enough the fill the entire basket to the brim.

But his feet stick stubbornly to the ground, his eyes not staring into the ground any less. He remembers the supply of kraken that had helped to feed Charizard before, and the creatures brought in from the stampede. His world wasn't a world that lived only on vegetation, but there were stores where food could be brought, where hunting wasn't a necessity.

Except there was no store to go down the road to, no trainer was recommended to feed only greens to all their pokémon. Not enough nutrients, or something. Charizard was like that too. ]

...Should we? [ The hesitation doesn't leave him any less, not in his words or his silence. ] If we don't... others will. Right? People need more than flowers...

[ It's still a hard thing to convince himself over. ]

[Garrus takes a breath before kneeling in front of the boy, bringing them to about eye-level. Or it would be eye-level if Red wasn't staring at the ground. He reaches over and rests his hand on Red's shoulder.]

Back on the last world, Green was-- Green team was assigned a mission to kill the local wildlife along with Red team.

[He'll... omit that the wildlife was the apex species. That can come later. He's probably going to do enough damage to Red here. Garrus' voice and subharmonics are as gentle as possible.]

There isn't any avoiding it. And we will be destroying this planet. Maybe it's better that more animals die now, are given the chance to be useful, rather than wind up panicking as the gravity on this world goes haywire before it's disintegrated. But I'm gonna leave it up to you for this particular errand. If you want, we'll gather plants instead.

[ Red doesn't ignore Garrus. When he lowers the boy meets him, but there's a struggle to find the best place to keep his gaze where they can stay still and not flicker away at the mention of death, to not lower again completely just so Red can keep his emotions in check and not tremble from how too defenceless the turian's gaze on him makes him feel.

It doesn't work. All of that happens, and Red head tips before Garrus even continues again. They're words he wants to fight against in the same way each reminder of the goals of the CDC still makes him want to scream and lash out, yet it's the implication that any of those creatures are useless if they were to be allowed to continue their lives that gnaws on him the most. They're not the only words, and the scene painted by Garrus of each life left suffering before the complete end is a reminder of the cruelty that will be inflicted on everyone on the planet, and by them.

A choice they don't have, but still those deaths will be on their hands.

It doesn't give him an answer, and there's a wait until Red speaks, his voice low. ]

If we let them live... even if we can't save this planet... is it really a waste? [ He shouldn't continue, but he can't stop himself, eyes set down on the curve of armour. ] That's still time... their life, on this planet. We can't save them, but...

[ Red turns his head away in the direction that won't show him anything but bark and dirt. The picture shows itself to him once more and he can't get it out; he's never known what happens at the end, only that it comes with the planet and everything no longer existing.

He doesn't want them to suffer, but he can't see the difference between a death now and a death later.

How was he going to keep everyone safe? ]

I won't get a choice one day... [ A day fast approaching in his mind. ] But how am I going to make it?

Guess that depends on how you view a waste.

[He's still being quiet. There's no reason to put more pressure on the boy than Red is already dealing with. Slow and easy are the key words here. There isn't a rush, nobody in camp is in danger of starving and there's been no urgent messages of threats at the camp. They're not even that far out yet.]

More life versus being useful in death. It's all about what you prioritize, what you see as important. And that's how you make the choice, too. Take into account what you know and what you value. Work from there.

[What's most important is Red knowing himself, and acting from that knowledge.]

[ The advice doesn't answer everything circling around in his brain, perhaps the fault of the fog of his emotions or there being too much choice where he believes it to be limited. However, they each play their part in his decision that comes, cemented it nearly from the very start.

Charizard waits patiently, eyes set upon his trainer and then the black glass that he brings out. The boy doesn't speak until he's found what he was looking for, and then it comes out slow and steady. ]

...There's gnelit fruit... they're big. If we find some, Charizard can get me up... [ He uses his arm to wipe at his face. ] There's fern-head onions too.

[ Red pauses for a long beat. ] We can go by ourselves if you wanted to look for something else.

[ Because his choice may not mean a difference at all, but it was the one he wanted to make. ]

Let's look for gnelit fruit.

[So it will be a gathering trip more than a hunting trip, but that's all right. They're still bringing back food. He'll let Red make this choice, and he'll back the boy up instead of abandoning him. Garrus stands up.]

If we come across anything medicinal, we'll grab that too. Medical's doing better on supplies, but they could always use more. This way.

[He'd helped map this sector, and he vaguely remembers the direction of a few good flora locations. After inclining his head to indicate the right direction, Garrus starts walking as if they'd never been interrupted with a personal crisis.]

[ Red doesn't know why Garrus continues on when it's apparent their objectives hadn't entirely been on the same level, when he deemed a creature more useful in death than spared a little extra time to live; he watches his back a good moment before accepting to continue on, picking up in a pace that lets him keep up with the turian, but not parallel to him.

Charizard sticks with his trainer. There's less apparent enthusiasm in the boy, but gathering the fruit is still in his plans, and when a thought comes to mind he doesn't hold it back out of some felt necessity to walk in silence. ]

Are we going straight this way? Charizard can go ahead in the air and see if he spots anything moving nearby.

[It stings a little that Red isn't walking with him, instead lagging behind and letting Garrus lead. But nothing Garrus has said was wrong. They'll have to kill, and he believes that most of the animals would be better served fulfilling some use rather than panicking and dying. After Red sees the end of Macha, Garrus has a feeling his view might change a little. Hopefully not too much, but enough that he won't break next time a hunting trip happens.

He turns slightly when Red talks.]

Yeah, that'd be a good plan, if he doesn't mind. Send him up, scout for possible plants too. What we can see we can avoid or head for. Though that might mean you'd be walking with me instead of him. Promise I don't kill animals for fun, if that helps at all.

I wasn't thinking that.

[ It comes out defensively with how he hurries it, Red stopping in his tracks and Charizard following suit. But it's not (entirely) to do with his words, and instead the device he pulls out to show the photos of fauna and flora to show Charizard. He skims through the images of fauna first to pick out ones worth watching out for, particularly the gerol, then swaps over to the flora, naming out the gnelit trees and their fruit.

Then he approaches Garrus, Charizard with him - and still with the basket held awkwardly, yet effortlessly, outward in one claw - as he holds the device for Garrus to take. ]

Show him which ones you want him to find. Tell him anything that you think will be helpful to watch out for.

[The denial is a little strong there. Garrus wouldn't be surprised at all to be judged, he judges plenty himself. But he does think that he's trying to do his best for the crew and for Red.

The request gets a nod as Garrus turns on his own blackglass.]

Don't feel bad, but yours isn't gonna work in my hands. They're keyed in to their owner. Let's see. Dyum, we can go for those, fern-headed onion, gnelit, huskberry... does he have all of those?

[ Oh, right. Red brings the device back to himself, and with the names picked out, he balances his attention between it and Charizard, the creature's head looking over Red's shoulder. ]

Okay, dyum... do you remember those, Charizard? We had our trip with Hanbei, and those were near the stream on the way back. [ He pokes at the black glass. ] Gnelit are the big fruits you ate a lot of, and huskberries are the smaller ones. Look, here-- you want to look for a pile like that, okay? If you find anything strange don't touch it, just in case.

[ Red's turned to face Charizard completely by then, device by his side. ] Call if you get in any trouble and need help. I don't want you going too far.

[ The pokémon gives his little signals that he understands, a head bowing and a huff through his snout, and then he side steps them to get to a patch of ground where he doesn't stand directly beside him. With a push of his legs and a flap of his wings, Charizard raises off the ground, claws fixing into both hands and a neck curling for him to look to his trainer one more time; the boy nods to him, Charizard makes a sound of acknowledgement, then glances at Garrus almost expectantly, as if wanting some sort of reassurance from him too.

(That he can be trusted with his trainer.)

But he won't wait for long, and if he isn't stopped, Charizard will go first in the direction they're already headed, to search out for the items shown. ]

[Garrus looks back at Charizard, a little unsure as to what it's waiting for.]

Uh, yeah. Good luck, do well, we'll respond quickly if you get into trouble.

[He's encouraging an animal now. This is what his life has become. Granted, an animal that has some intelligence and agency if it can remember those things and spot them, but it's still a small dragon.

Once it's departed, he turns to Red.]

So. Until he comes back, you wanna walk? Want to talk guns or weapons training? Because if Green's anything to go by, you haven't really had much. And clearly you're used to sending Charizard off to do missions on his own, which means you could use a backup option.

[ He's not going to keep still even without the question. With Charizard heading off first, the boy's going to pick up into a walking pace again. ]

Someone showed me how to use the weapon I got when I arrived here. Anyway, I'm not leaving him on his own; he's just checking things out first for us. He won't go too far. I don't usually let him go off like this when we're together.

Would you like further training? Him being able to go off to run things could be a useful option in tight circumstances. Like the one you arrived in.

[If they'd had Charizard able to fly over camps quickly, to see where the captives were being held, maybe they could have gotten there sooner. It's yet another thing that doesn't retroactively change anything but could be useful for future situations.]

Mm, hold up.

[There's another Fingerling vine up ahead. Garrus had been deliberate in not naming the vine to Charizard, he hadn't wanted to risk the dragon landing and getting tangled, but the flowers are edible for everyone and he's liked these.]

Let me know if it starts reaching for my head with another vine?

[Everything except his head is covered, which means picking several of these off is relatively safe.]

[ The answer gets put on hold, Red pausing at Garrus's word. And... is this guy just using his body to get to the flowers? He'd read up on them and knows what they can do. What a way to go about it.

He looks around himself (no two will be close together, but how far apart was enough?), but returns back to Garrus at the request. ]

Uh-- sure. [ ... ] Are you trying not to damage the vine?

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