serperiority | [S1 Trip and younger Gold, closed to gold

The warm colours of autumnal leaves and the crisp, cool air of the changing season was similar, but not the same as it was in Unova, but even if it was, without him here, it simply wasn’t going be the same. The festival, too, for all the nostalgia it invoked in him, if it wasn’t going to lead him any closer to Alder or defeating him, it wasn’t something he should concern himself with now. He needed to train.
Things like eating sweets or enjoying the sights and sounds of a festival was for children and had no place on an adult’s world, Trip decided, and walked on.

… even with these thoughts, he still paused, briefly, here and there, to take photographs. The beauty of this season was ephemeral and while he no longer had any place here, he couldn’t ignore it or the way it made him feel, even as pursuing his goal overtook anything else…

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From:

serperiority

Then, he could only be carried?

"Honestly, you're so troublesome..."

He went off to a room, seemingly abandoning Gold there (but truthfully, he was just bringing a blanket).

From:

gold_drum

Gold does have a little spike of panic when Trip leaves the room, but he squishes it down and keeps curled up. He trusts Trip. Trip won't leave because he's a little bit troublesome, right?

Mycen decides to sit by and keep watch, just like last time when Gold fell asleep. He got praised and given food for doing that last time, after all, so maybe that'll work this time too!

From:

serperiority

Nope, Gold won’t be abandoned so easily, Trip just needed to bring a blanket.

“Good job, Mycen, but might want to back up a little.”

He shook out the blanket, then lay it over Gold, but tugged back a corner to avoid knocking over or burying Mycen.

After pausing a moment, he decided he could possibly bundle up Gold and carry him like that, even if it’s a lot messier than swathing a baby (which he didn’t know how to do, anyway!), the blanket trailing lopsidedly.

From:

gold_drum

Gold knew it, but it's still a relief when Trip returns. Gold still keeps his eyes closed and pretends to sleep. After Trip puts the blanket on him, he starts to nod off for real, finally comfortable and relaxed enough to sleep. Meanwhile Mycen, relieved from his mission, salutes Trip with a chitter and heads off to explore the room.

When Trip picks Gold up to carry him, a buried instinct every kid is born with flares up, and Gold, half asleep, snuggles closer and throws his arms around Trip's shoulders the best he can, hugging him. Sorry for your touch aversion, Trip, but this kid's touch-starved and that's your problem now.

From:

serperiority

... he's a cute Pokemon, Trip decided silently. For a Bug type, anyway.

The rooms are tasteful, with queen size beds with plenty of pillows (the blanket is, of course, missing from Gold's bed.) The windows are tall and have room to sit and view the city below. There are lace curtains and darker, solid curtains to block out the light. They can drawn and hooked to the side to keep them open. There's a closet and vanity, too. Would Mycen like to explore anything?

Gold seemed more comfortable now, so that was a relief.

Snuggling closer and tying arms around him was. Not so much. Trip briefly froze, but with the blanket adding some distance, at least, and the hug restricted to his shoulders, which he'd already mentally prepared himself to support Gold with earlier... he didn't mind it so much.

"Alright, let's get you to bed..."

From:

gold_drum

Mycen's pretty excited by how much room there is, and how smooth the floor is, so the first thing he does is start scooting along the floor at high speeds ~~like he's little buddy from splatoon 3~~ and having fun with it.

Gold mumbles incoherently in response to Trip, before his body relaxes and his breathing evens, finally falling into a restful sleep.

From:

serperiority

Even if Trip didn't care for the closeness, Gold relaxing, nestled in his arms felt strangely... warm and touching. How much Gold trusted him. Was this really the same boy who tried to steal his wallet just yesterday?

Moreover, was it alright for him to be this moved by it? Would it make him too soft? Would it get in the way of his beating Alder and becoming Champion? He hadn't had any need for friendship, wasn't something like this even more a liability...?

No, Gold was different, similar to the way he was. Caring for another outcast of a monster, whose own mother couldn't love, wouldn't make him any less of a ruthless monster. If he couldn't find a family that would accept Gold, he would have no one else. It had to be Trip to take him in.

... it was just hard to see Gold as anything but an innocent little boy, looking like that.

Trip was going to have to change his pace and make accommodations, at least until Gold can keep up, but in a world where his journey's on hold and his goal's presently out of reach... it was doable. It won't change him, he'd still be a monster, and he'd still only care about his goal, it's just another change of course. Momentary setback. There was no way of knowing when or how he might get back, anyway, or even if they'll both be here for very long.

With that, he turned to go to his own room, passing Mycen by with a simple statement, without making eye contact; "Don't stay up too late—unless you're nocturnal, anyway— and don't make noise. Gold's had a long day."

From:

gold_drum

Unaware of Trip's worries and introspection, Gold sleeps peacefully, possibly for the first time in a while.

Mycen pauses when he hears Trip, looking up at him, then continues sliding around, but slower this time. Eventually, he, too, looks for a place to sleep, which turns out to be under Gold's bed. Mycen, too, takes a moment to muse on his change of lifestyle, and ends up deciding it's pretty cool and he has good food, which will help him grow up into a fine mushroom one day in the future. Then he curls up and goes to sleep.

From:

serperiority

The next day, Trip will be up early, as always, to train his Serperior.

Mycen’s a good and loyal lookout, but until he’s grown up enough and become more reliable, Trip will keep another lookout. Gold won’t wake to Lampent hanging around, this time, and even Trip could tell Frillish’s unpleasant sneers aren’t a welcome morning sight for anyone… Conkelderr’s been relieved of his task yesterday, but (unfortunately for Gold) Serperior’s too busy training… today’s lookout (and reassurance Trip hasn’t abandoned Gold) is Vanillite!

Who is doing her very best not to draw too near sleeping Gold or wake him, because she’s constantly scattering snowflakes and frosting over surfaces she’s near!

From:

gold_drum

Mycen wakes up with a start. It's cold? It's cold! He must hurry and eat as much as he can before it's time to hibernate for winter! Mycen's scrambling wakes up Gold, who blinks, burrowing into his blankets. Why is it so cold? He looks around, wondering for a moment where he is, before spotting Vanillite.

"...That's a fucking ice cream cone," Gold mumbles in disbelief. Slowly, he starts remembering. Right, he's with Trip, and this is the hotel. Now that he's more awake and less irritated, he's able to appreciate the fancy, big room. Was this really a bedroom just for him? It was too grand, too nice. It was more fit for Trip.

Since it's cold, Gold brings the blanket with him, and it trails behind him as he climbs down from the bed and heads to the other room, where Mycen is trying to get into Trip's bag. Gold goes to help him out, opening the bag, and finding the food stash. He takes out another tin of Pokemon food and opens it for Mycen, and then spots the sandwich he got from Trip when they first met. He takes it out, takes a moment to stare at it, sitting on the sofa, and remembering everything that happened back then, and everything that happened since. He'd never have imagined he'd be somewhere like this just one day later.

~~a soft pastel flashback scene of Trip throwing the food on the ground and calling Gold a dirty thief goes here~~

Gold smiles to himself, then opens the package and starts eating the sandwich.

From:

serperiority

Somewhere outside, Trip felt a sense of worry grip his heart and decided to finish up for the morning so he could go check on Vanillite. Vanillite went through the same harsh training as the others, but it was also the one he doted upon...

Vanillite, meanwhile, blinked at the unfamiliar word and tilted her head.

When Gold ventured out to have his sandwich, Vanillite floated happily after him.

"Vani, vani!"

From:

gold_drum

"Quit following me around, it's cold!" Gold snaps at Vanillite, burrowing deeper into his blankets. He's trying to have a heart-warming ~~recap episode~~ introspective moment here!

Seems like Gold just has a hard time liking any of Trip's Pokemon, unfortunately.

Meanwhile, Mycen's just shoveling food into his mouth at high speeds next to Gold.

From:

serperiority

Vanillite did not like being snapped at, looked shocked, then started to bawl.

Great going, Gold.

From:

gold_drum

Gold stares, shocked. He kind of bluescreens for a moment, not knowing what he should do here. Mycen panics too, making little upset chittering noises.

What does somebody do when someone starts wailing out loud? Well, Gold's first instinct is, unfortunately, to copy the person he's spent the most time around: His mother.

"Quit fucking crying, you brat!!" he screams. "Nobody cares if you're sad! You're just tiring yourself out!"

From:

serperiority

That… was the worst possible thing for Trip to hear, returning to the room.

Trip loved his Vanillite, even if he tried to distance himself from his Pokemon and even his own emotions, he couldn’t take anyone hurting Vanillite’s feelings, much less screaming filth at her and making her cry…!

In a blind fury, he stormed in and did something he would regret immediately after: he raised his hand to slap Gold.

From:

gold_drum

When Gold realizes Trip entered, he immediately notices the shift in his mood. He knows what's coming, even if he doesn't understand why. So when Trip storms towards him, Gold flinches and curls up into himself before Trip's even raised his hand, bracing for a hit. The empty sandwich wrapper falls from his hands and onto the floor.

From:

serperiority

Seeing the genuine fear, fortunately, was enough to call Trip back to reality and force him to look at what he was doing.

He felt sick, but still furious at Gold, shaking as he tried to suppress the anger.

A cold, unpleasant fury.

Vanillite flew into his arms and clung there, still weeping.

From:

gold_drum

Gold stays curled up, eyes closed, but when the hit he expects doesn't come at all, he wonders why. He carefully opens an eye, and sees the anger in Trip's eyes, and the crying Vanillite, and has a sudden, cold realization.

This was why nobody would ever love Gold. Because he wasn't like Trip. Trip was kind, loving, and didn't hit people even when he was angry. And Gold wasn't like that. Gold was like his mother, and he'd get mad and hit people and yell at them, just like her. Even though he hated her so much.

Now Trip was finally going to realize Gold wasn't worth anything. And Gold couldn't even blame him for it, because Gold hurt somebody Trip loves.

Gold says nothing, since there's nothing he can say to make things better. He doesn't cry, because he doesn't deserve to. He just closes his eyes and waits, resigned.

From:

serperiority

Trip focused on Vanillite until Vanillite's crying quieted into sniffles.

"... what Gold said wasn't true. He just doesn't know how treat you. It was my fault. I shouldn't have left you two alone before seeing if you'd get along. You can go inside, now, Vanillite. Thank you for your hard work."

Vanillite nodded a bit, feeling a bit better, but still not her usual energetic self, before being sent away.

Trip did not know how to deal with Gold yet, although he was trying his best to stay calm. The rage subsided and was replaced with some sort of dull apathy.

He went off to his own room, not sure yet how to handle this situation and having nothing kind to say to Gold right now.

From:

gold_drum

Gold waits, and waits, in silence where there's no sound but Vanillite's sniffles, and Mycen's worried, quiet chirps, as he pokes gently at Gold. When Trip starts talking, Gold flinches reflexively, but relaxes when he realizes Trip's not even talking to him.

He stays still even after Trip leaves the room.

Gold knows he was in the wrong. He knows it was wrong to shout at Vanillite. If it was Trip, he'd have been kind and understanding, just like he was towards Gold every time he did something wrong until now. Once again, Gold is awed by how great of a person Trip is.

He finally opens his eyes, looking at Mycen, who's been prodding at him this whole time. Gold gathers Mycen in his arms and hugs him, emotionally worn and hollow.

"I wish I was like Trip," Gold says quietly. Saying it out loud opens the dam and he starts crying, making barely any noise. After all, crying loudly is bad and annoying, and he doesn't want to bother Trip any more than he already has.

Mycen hugs Gold. He doesn't really understand what went wrong, but he knows how to offer comfort.

From:

serperiority

He was going to hit Gold. He was going to hit a child. A child he thought he could save, a child he KNEW came from a bad home.
He was an adult alright, every bit as cruel, scummy, and unclean as the rest of them. He wasn't any better than Gold's mother. Is this how she felt? Is this all it took to become just like them? He thought he could save him. He thought he could be just a little better than the rest, he really thought he wouldn't be like this.
What an idiot. How could he be kind and gentle if a cold and calculating monster's all he's been?

No, even cold isn't right... if he were calm and cold like he tried to be, he wouldn't have lost control like that, wouldn't have been consumed with anger.

He looked to his bag—oh, it had been unzipped... probably to take out the food Gold ate, the wrapper of the sandwich he bought for him that Gold dropped on the floor when he was about to hit him.

He was the worst. It wasn't a surprise, really, but the depth of it was new.

He rummaged through his things to find a map, scowled and studied it with blurry vision, furious at his own weakness and cruelty. What, was he seriously going to cry now? Suck it up.

There weren't any churches here, nor orphanages... there were plenty of temples. Did temples take abandoned children? Trip had no idea.

He knew enough not to drop him on some stranger's doorstep, but leaving him at a temple, maybe, after buying him some clean clothes and a backpack... should he write a note? An explanation, so he'd be taken by someone who could treat him better than he could...

"My name is Gold. I had to steal to survive. I come from a bad home. I'm still learning right from wrong. Please be patient with me and treat me kindly."

Would that really be enough? The cynical side of him didn't think it would be. They could hide the note if they wanted him adopted faster or people could promise to take care of him, then just kick him out when they were sick of him...

He crumpled the note and buried it in his jacket pocket. He left the map by his feet.

Not wanting to scare Gold with a loud and heavy sigh he might mistake for one of anger, he just buried his face in his arms, knees drawn up to his chest, and tried to bury his feelings, stubbornly refusing to shed a tear, even if his throat was knotted, and stayed on the floor, behind the bed, so anyone who opened the door only to glance inside wouldn't see him.

From:

gold_drum

((Gold: wow i love how trip doesn't hit or abandon me! he's so nice!
Trip: i almost hit him so i'd better abandon him))

After some time spent crying and cuddling Mycen, Gold decides, kind of abruptly, that he's had enough of this. He doesn't deserve to sit around feeling sorry for himself. He was the one in the wrong, so he has to at least try to apologize. It was scary, but Trip wasn't like Gold's mother, so it should be fine.

Gold sets Mycen down and wipes his face on his blanket, and then, after some consideration, leaves the blanket behind. He doesn't need it for safety or to hide in. He has to face Trip head on.

He heads to the door to Trip's bedroom, Mycen's claws softly clicking against the floor as he follows him. Stopping in front of the door, Gold takes a deep breath, before opening the door.

"...Trip?" he asks, surprised when he doesn't see the older boy inside. He looks around, a bit worried. Trip didn't escape through the window or anything, right? He wouldn't have abandoned Gold here that suddenly, right? Gold stays at the door, a cold anxiety gathering at his throat, eyes flitting around as he tries to will Trip into appearing out of nowhere.

From:

serperiority

He froze. Did he have to come find him so soon?

Well, maybe it was about time to get going, he couldn't sit here forever...

Trip slowly rose, after taking the map, as if nothing were wrong.

"We're going to the market, aren't we? We should get going."

He didn't seem to want to discuss anything that happened. Brushing it under the rug wasn't the right thing to do, but... if Gold wanted to say something, he might have to say it quickly.

From:

gold_drum

Gold breathes a sigh of relief when Trip rises up. But why was he on the floor? Gold stares as Trip just takes the map and talks like it's nothing, kind of unnerved.

"Why were you on the floor? Are you okay?" he finds himself asking. Then he realizes, no, that's not the first thing he should've said. "I'm sorry." There. It's too late, but at least he said it. He waits for Trip's response, nervous.

From:

serperiority

“… I tripped,” Trip said, failing to come up with something more convincing in time.

He hadn’t expected to be asked and the concern was so alien to him, he felt embarrassed.