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Meeting Team Crossroads: An Encounter With Rene Part2
Second part up! Even breaking it down into these parts, this story is still going to be looong. I'd grab a sandwich or something before sitting down to read.
This time: Rene get's some leadership advice from Meghan [© Kompy] the magmar, leader of Team Crossroads. Stay tuned for more!
This time: Rene get's some leadership advice from Meghan [© Kompy] the magmar, leader of Team Crossroads. Stay tuned for more!
Category Story / Pokemon
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 57 kB
Meeting Team Crossroads: An Encounter with René Vulpes
&&&
Nigel nodded when René gave his affirmation. “Good, then. Away we go, then. Knowing Miss DeCinder, she should be in our usual spot...”
Said usual spot looked to be one of the training corners in the school Gym. Meghan was over near the bleachers wiping her claws with a towel and conversing with Floritt about something. The Smeargle also has a towel, but she's using it to rub at her apparently sore bare feet.
Nigel, with René in tow, strolled up to them. “Ah, Meg? You got a sec?”
”So really, it's just a matter of working on the timing on that twist and you should be okay -- hm?” Meghan paused when Nigel called. “Oh hey Nigel. What's going on?”
”Well, ah, you know René from Team Turquoise? We just got acquainted recently and I was wondering if you could help him out with something?”
“'Ey, René!” Floritt waved happily, ever an enthusiastic mon.
Meghan nodded. “Oh hey, not a problem. We were just finishing up on today's practices...you know, the one you missed out on? Again?” She added with annoyance.
“Oh bugger off Meg, not like I'm the only one who sinned in that aspect. Unless you forget we're short one Luxray!” Nigel pointed out.
“And I assure you she'll get yelled at once I see her too, but in the meantime I want you to catch up on your drills A. S. A. P. Or did you forget we have a test next week?”
Nigel seethed. “And I assure you, Meghan, you WILL see me at my best for that battle, so you needn't worry about that from me.”
”Yipes, 'mon, what's witchu? You lookin' like you sat onna Beedrill!” Floritt observed.
Meg was a bit taken aback at Nigel’s behavior. “...Well, that's new. Fine, then, I'll hold you to that - you can prove it to me tomorrow, even. For now, though...” She scooted along the bench to meet up with the younger Fire-type. “Hey, René. What can I do for you?” René was a bit nervous.
“Oh, uh, hi! I'm the--reluctant--team leader of the Turquoises and well...I need some pointers. I have no idea what I'm doing and really aren't respected by my teammates. They’re my friends and we're pretty close but as a leader...” He shrugged.
“Oooh, ooh!” Floritt exclaimed as she leanined over Meg's lap to meet with René, grinning like a little kid. “Can I say somethin' t' th' cute lil' 'mon, Meg? Pleeeeease?”
“Err, uh...go ahead?” Meghan grunted. “And hurry it up, you're heavy!”
“Am not. So a'ight, mon! So yer problem's yer afraid yer team'll get their feelings hirt if you stop treatin' 'em like friends, am I close?”
“Clearly, Floritt.” Meghan remarked.
“I'm gettin' dere, Meg, promise!” Floritt assured her as she cleared her throat. “When yer not doin' team stuff, then it's coo' 'ta just be friends! But you got to remember da diffoence b'tween the time yo' hangin' wit' yo' group and hangin' with teammates. Yo posse is yo posse, but teams are school tings! And school is just as impohtant as friendship!”
“Ok, I'm taking it from here. Mind?” Meghan asked.
“'k.” Floritt said as she slumped back on her side.
Meghan turned to René. “Floritt's right. Friend-time is friend-time, team-time means you deal with them as a team. This means you're going to have to deal with the fact that you've got to be firm with them if you want to get them to cooperate with you. This won't always be fun and won't always be easy.” She gave a quick sidelong glance tossed Nigel's way, which he pretended not to notice. “In the end though, you'll find it's easier for your friends to treat you like a leader if they see you at least trying to act like one. With me so far?”
“I am!” Floritt called.
“Flor...”
“I'm kiddin', Meg. Kiddin'.”
René on the other hand barely heard a word past Floritt calling him 'cute.' “Um...” He blushed.
Floritt winced when she realized that René wasn’t listening to Meg. “Wuh oh, mon.”
“...Lesson one on being a good leader.” Meghan stated severely as she stood up and got right beside René, her flame-tipped tail slowly sliding underneath the base of his six tails. “Pay. Attention.”
René’s reaction was instantaneous. “YEE--OWW!” He grabbed at his backside and leapt up. “OW! OW! OW! OW! I GET THE MESSAGE! Water! PLEASE!”
Meghan shook her head. “He might want to look into improving his defense with his own elemental type while he's at it. Floritt, Nigel, you mind?”
“Bloody 'ell...” Nigel groaned.
“On it!” Floritt said. Nigel quickly closed his eyes and stretched out his arm dramatically as he summoned forth Grass Rope. René found himself quickly entangled by an assortment of vines erupting from the ground below him, pinning him on the spot. Floritt, meanwhile, digs up a Burn Heal from her duffel bag and offers to spray it on the Vulpix's burnt butt. “This'll only take a sec!” With a flourish, she pulls back on René's trousers and sprays the Burn Heal inside, letting go with a snap once that's done. René was freed of the Grass Rope only after he calmed down.
René winced and tried not to whine. “Was that REALLY necessary?” He asked, mortified.
“Better than havin' t' go visit th' nurse ev'ry time we get bern'd trainin', mon!” Floritt answered.
“I think René was referring to me, Floritt.” Meg corrected her. “Nigel, if you please?”
After another sway of Nigel’s arm, the Grass Rope vanished. “Should have warned you 'bout that, René. Sorry 'bout that.” Nigel apologized.
“Now then, let's try this again.” Meghan said as went up to René, arms crossed. “Let me ask you something. Are you serious about wanting to have a working team? Answer me honestly, because if you don't then I can't help you. And I want to help, I really do.”
“We all do!” Floritt added encouragingly.
“Right.” Nigel added.
“Well?” Meghan asked.
René took a deep breath and fought back tears. “Yes 'em.”
“Good.” Meghan gave him a faint smile. “And trust in yourself. You won't go scaring off your friends for wanting to be a better leader I assure you.”
“Of course, some folks are stuck on a team no matter what, so not like it matters in the en--OW!” Nigel yelped and started massaging his injured elbow.
Floritt, who had hit him, warned him. “Fo' yer own good, Nige.”
“Think you can sit down now, René?” Meghan asked. René slowly lowered himself down, wincing and hissing, but finally sat on the bench.
“Sorry.” He sighed. “But how do I deal with the fact that One; we weren't friends before the team got together so I don't know that I CAN seperate friendship from the team, Two; Sam has an authority problem. She's been bounced from other teams because she couldn't put up with obnoxious leaders who thought they knew her better than she did, Three; I know next to nothing about strategy and stuff--I'm only an average fighter, and Four; They've all seen me at my most embarrassing un-leadership like self. How can they respect me?”
Meghan joined René on the bench along with Floritt and Nigel, the latter looking strangely distracted. “Okay,” Meghan said. “Let's go over this one at a time...First. Talk to your team. Talk to them gently, yet firmly, that you are concerned you guys aren't pulling your weight around as a team should be doing. Make them realize that this isn't anything personal. If any object, then remind them that they can always asks for a transfer if they don't like it.”
“Bit too harsh, isn't it?” Nigel questioned. “Just remind 'em that what you do for school and what you do in your off time should be taken as two different things.”
“Right. What next...” Meghan thought for a second. “Right, second. Funny you should say that, since Charla can be pretty persistent herself in that way as well. We've come to terms by letting her help choreograph strategies for us and I review them, then we compromise with the rest of the team. You could try making Sam an unnofficial co-leader of sorts, so long as you make it clear that you're the one with the final say in the end. And again, if that's not good enough for her? Well I hate to say it, but you're going to have to face it -- it's not going to work out.”
“Don't be discouragin' th' poor mon already, Meg!” Floritt chastised her.
“Fine, I'm just giving that warning now in case it SHOULD happen. I'm not claiming it will.” Meghan defended.
“What else?” Nigel asked Meghan.
“Getting there, Nige. Three. That, is what we go to school for, René. We learn. We improvise. We acknowledge out strengths as a team as well as our weaknesses. I tell you what, you ever need more extra help with that, you let me know, I'll tutor you. I'm no pro either, but we could help each other learn.”
“Seen one too many kiddy educational shows on the tele while growin' up, Meg?” Nigel smirked.
Meghan gave him a nasty-looking grin. “Maybe I did, Nigel. Maybe if you've done the same, you'd be skipped ahead like your brother.” Nigel said nothing, the hit had clearly landed. “Moving on.” She continued. “Number four. I'm going to level with you, René: a Vulpix shouldn't be worrying about getting burned. You have bigger things to worry about than having your dignity hurt out there in the arena! You want them to respect you, start by respecting yourself, improving on yourself! You do that and the rest will come naturally!”
“She says, assuming self-esteem is an easy goal to reach.” Nigel commented.
“I know it isn't, Nigel! I know it very well. I already get plenty of grief from people assuming I have it easy for having inherited an entire Gym at my age! The truth is, I don't. I have to work twice as hard now just so Mom's old customers will grant me the same respect as they gave her, a task I can assure you all is NOT easy to do. That's why I fight so hard to keep my respect as a leader, because I don't want to let all of Mom's hard work die wirh her!” Meghan snapped at him before turning to René. “What about you, René? Are you willing to do the same for the sake of your team?”
He licked his lips before answering. “I...I want to help the team but...I never had a choice in being a leader. That was my father's doing. I-I just don't want to be like he is. He's an important buisnessmon, everyone listens to him, respects him...but he's a horrible person. But I don't WANT them to transfer. I've never had friends before and that, well, friendship should last longer than a four-year school team right?”
“And I'm not afraid of being burned or anything. Or getting beaten in the ring. It's that...well they've seen me lean on them, cry on their shoulders...heck I've even crashed in Sam's room and cuddled with her! I need them more than they need me and they know it as well as I do.”
Meg looked upwards and muttered. “Fire, give me strength...look, René. Contrary to what you may think, being a good leader doesn't mean you have to be a bad friend. And yes, friendship should indeed last longer than a school year...but let's be realist here. Not all friends are good teammates. If that is the case, you HAVE to know your limits and let them go. That doesn't mean you can't remain friends afterwards, it just means you guys aren't cut out for working together like that.”
Nigel sighed. “This isn't gettin' us anywhere. Look, René, we've all had embarrassing experiences in the past, but dwelling on 'em isn't going to help you none, especially if you're asking for respect. You want to earn that, start by bloody goin' past 'em!”
“And 'e should know, 'h e sees th' future!” Floritt commented.
“...to a degree.” Nigel corrected. “And it's not relevant to this, the point is all you're doing is giving yourself excuses to not take your role seriously because you're afraid of becoming like your da. But you're forgettin' one very important detail. You. ain't. Yo. Dad.”
Meghan blinked in surprise at Nigel. “…Right...what he said.”
René looked shaken. “I...I see your points. And you’re right. But there is one last thing.” He took a deep breath. “I'm just a kid. And I don't mean that in the way you think I do. Most of the time I'm not that much different than anyone else--well, except for being transgender. I can function in the real world, I do well in classes...heck, I do BRILLIANTLY in most of them all modesty aside.
But the fact is that I'm as emotionally mature as an eight year-old. The rest of the time--outside of school, I'm just a scared little kid who sleeps with stuffed animals, likes playing dress-up, and wants his mom to come in and snuggle with me and make everything better.” He sniffed. “Ask Nigel. He can tell you what I'm like when that happens.” Tears started coursing down his cheeks and René buried his face in his hands.
Floritt reached over to offer René a hug while Nigel is forced to nod in agreement to the Vulpix's words. Meghan stood up to catch her breath, a bit uncertain as to how to speak to René now.
“Dere dere, 'mon...” Floritt said comfortingly.
Meghan licked her lips and then started again. “...René. I understand...what it is to feel like you're being put under pressure, to be put into a spot you really don't wish to be in. Remember, I didn't pick to be my Gym's owner, I inherited it when my mother died when I was really young. That's not the kind of responsibility a kid should have, let alone a kid with no parents.
But the problem is, life doesn't care about being fair to people. It cares about how we overcome these obstacles, and like it or not you're going to have to do just that if you want to pull through. Now I know, I know it's not easy. It takes time for it to even remotely get easier...but if you let this hold you back now, what will that say about you? Or worse, what will it say about your team?”
René rests his head against Floritt's arm. “It's just that my teammates are just so, well, more MATURE than I am. It's not even a question of age though. Rahne's mom is dead, her dad's an alcoholic, she WORKS in addition to school yet she bears it up better than I ever could. My mom, at least, is still alive (technically) and my dad's rich. Sam's mom is a power hungry figure in a political faction in her home hive and manipulates Sam towards her own purposes—Sam doesn't even know who her dad was. And Romano...well, her fixation on Zeke aside, she's still more grown up than I am. They all are.”
“Then you work on learning from their maturity so you can mature enough to be their leader! There you go again belittling yourself! You keep doing that, then of course you're not going to improve—” Meghan started up again until Floritt intervened.
“'mon, dat's enuff!”
“Floritt, if René continues acting like this—”
“And yo right, dat's improhtant ta werk on, but no need ta cram it into da min's 'ead like dat! Ya made yer point, now it René's tur ta pick if 'e wants ta follow it or not. Ain't dat roight, Nige?” Floritt turned to Nigel for support but the gardevoir said nothing. “...Well, Nige?”
Nigel suddenly got up, pocketing his hands in his jacket pockets. “I'm going home early.” He announced.
“Uh huh, and your training for the test?” Meghan asked.
“I'll be here first thing. I need to talk to Charla then, anyway.”
“Where IS she, anywae?” Floritt asked him.
“Sparrin'. With Team Pearl's leader.”
“She's WHAT?!” Meghan exclaimed.
“And now you know why I won't fail to be here tomorrow. See you around, René. Cheerio, girls.” Nigel waved as he departed.
Meghan looked flabbergasted. “Oh you have got to be kidding me...Charla, of all people, flirting with the enemy like this...”
Floritt patted René on the head. “Sorry 'bout all dis, mon...”
“It's okay...I actually feel better for having said all that. And I already know about Nigel and his deal.” He told her. “I’m going to try to do better. I really am. It's just...Meghan do you think you could watch me talk to my team and point out what I'm doing wrong?” He looked past them. “Here they come now. Hey girls!” René waved as he headed over to them. “Since we're going up against Team 16 soon we need to get in some more team practice time. I reserved the gym this Saturday at nine in the morning--
“That early? Oh man I hate getting up early on the weekend—” Sam complained.
“I actually have to pull another shift at work—” Rahne explained.
“I already made plans to spend time with my folks—” Romano added.
“Gals, this is important!” René urged them. “We really haven't been functioning well as a team as we ought to be and I for one don't think we should allow ourselves to go down without so much as a fighting chance—”
“Oh come off it René,” Sam snorted. “We all know the only reason you got your panties in a bunch over this match is that you don't want to look bad in front of Nicole.”
“What? No, that's not it—” René protested, not that anyone was listening.
“You think she'd seen enough of René already his pants caught fire that one time and she accidentally grabbed his—”
“GIRLS! Come on!” René blushed and couldn’t help let a note of whining into his tone. It got worse when Rahne noticed his awkward gait.
“Did you burn yourself again? I should probably check the affected area.”
Sam nodded in agreement. “Right standard procedure then. Romano, help me get his pants off.”
“WHAT?! Girls, that's enough!” René protested.
“Quit struggling!” Romano chided him.
Floritt winced when she saw Meghan’s reaction to the scene. “Oh, damn.”
The Magmar stormed up to René's team like a Heatran awaken from its slumber, the flames on her head and tail burning intensely. “EXCUSE ME, ladies, but I believe your leader was trying to talk to you right now. Not your friend, not your doll, not your pet, the leader of Team Turquoise! So let the poor Vulpix go and pay attention.” Floritt cringed from her seat at the spectacle. “René, if you would?” Meghan continued flatly.
René was dropped unceremoniously on the floor. “Um, uh...” He took a deep breath but all that came out was a startled squeak.
“Hooboy. Dis ain't lookin' too good...” Floritt sighed.
“Come on, René, you can do it.” Meghan encouraged him, softening up a bit. “Look, it's great you guys are so close to one another -- heck knows I wish I were that way with my own group...”
“Awwww....” Floritt said, touched.
Meghan continued. “ ...but that shouldn't have to stop you from being a competent team. Now, René is your leader now, and as your leader you should offer him the respect of authority he deserves. That said...it DOES go both ways, so René? Would you mind trying that again?”
René slowly climbed to his feet, looking red, humiliated and more furious than he's ever been. Something in him snapped. René got up and stared at Sam, Rahne, and Romano.
“First off girls, I like to think that I'm a fairly accommodating vulpix. I try to bend MY team and MY energy around your various schedules and issues even to point where I let myself by used by you. Rahne: I let you practice your healing skills on me, turning me into a medical dummy. I even covered shifts for you at your jobs. Romano: I let you make me into your dress up doll. Sam: I let you just generally tease the day-lights out of me. And frankly, I don't have a problem with any of this.”
Ever since I met you three freshman year I like to think of us as friends more than teammates. I have no problem letting you treat me as a "pet" or "doll" as Meghan put it...when we're alone, when we're not working. The fact that you would do what you just did to me in PUBLIC says that you don't give a damn about my dignity or me as a whole. Apparently, my humiliation isn't important to you. It's just good fun, right?”
We WILL be meeting this Saturday for practice. I don't really care if we win or lose come our match with Team 16 or any of the matches that follow. If we practice, go in and give it our all and still lose...fine. I can handle that. I want us to practice for OURSELVES. Even if we lose, I want to know what my capabilities are. I want to KNOW how far we can go. I don't want to put in a half-assed effort and then spend the rest of my life wondering what "could have been" if only we'd tried a little better and practiced a little more.
I don't want us to practice for the sake of looking good in the ring. I don't give a damn what everyone else thinks of me...I never have. Almost everyone in this schools thinks of me as a freak anyway. I don't care what they think about me...I care about what I think about me.”
“Second off let me just thank you.”
For the last couple of months I have been adrift in a sea of my own troubles, my own worries, and let’s face it...mediocre leadership. And you three were kind enough to WALK all over me AND all over practicing the teamwork that could determine whether we pass or fail this grade. Now that reminded me of something that I wanted to remind you of. Because you see I am ACCOUNTABLE.”
Whether or not I like it—to say nothing of you three—I’m the team’s leader. So when Feliduce or someone comes by and asks why we’re failing, guess what? It’s ME they’re going to be asking. I am accountable for the continuous, crashing, undeniable amateurism that you people drag into the ring day in and day out. And believe you me when I tell you that the next time one of you perpetual disappointments doesn't even have the common decency to try and do better at something you supposedly do, I will go ahead and toss your sorry ass off of this team in about ten seconds and then I will forget you forever in the next five.” (*)
“Are we clear?”
Neither Floritt the Smeargle or Meghan the Magmar could utter a word after that very, VERY impressive speech. Meg soon found her claws slowly joining together to form a slow-growing clap to honor the little Vulpix's bravado, while Floritt makes due with one drawn-out whistle in awe.
Beyond that, though, they had no room to speak. At this point it was up to the rest of Team Turquoise to decide if they're ready to take in René's words seriously this time. Floritt crosses her fingers in anticipation.
Rahne, Romano, and Sam looked stunned and abashed. “...I'm sorry.” Rahne uttered.
“Me too.” Romano sighed. “I'll be there.” Sam just grunted and nodded once. Without another word the three of them slowly headed out of the arena, looking a little stunned.
René didn’t move or speak for a good two minutes after he finished. His knees started to tremble and his face grew pale and sweaty. “Uh, Meghan? Can I lean on you? I don't just mean that figuratively. I think...I'm gonna fall over.”
Meghan gave René a nod, approaching the little fire fox just as the girls leave, bracing herself for when he fell over. Floritt just let out a very long sigh in relief. No sooner had Meghan arrived than René’s knees gave out and he slide down onto the floor.
“That was the SCARIEST thing I've ever done in my life...I thought I was going to need a change of underwear there for a while.” He panted.
Floritt giggled. “TMI, mon.”
Meghan tried to catch the smaller fire-type before he fell completely to the ground, slipping her arms under his and trying to lift him back up. “You did good, René. You did very good.”
René groaned and let Meghan take him back to the bench. “Uhh, I feel exhausted.” Floritt scooted over on the bench so that Meg can seat René there. She then held up her tail towards his face and made the tip spin, converting a simple, low-powered Tailwind move into an effective and, thankfully, non-messy fan.
“You should also be feeling proud.” Meghan said to René. “I know that wasn't easy to do, but hopefully some good will come from this in the long run.”
“Altho'...” Floritt said before trailing off.
“Yeah, Flo?”
“ ...ya dun tink we should be worryin' 'bout how da Scyther gal reacted? She 'specially didn't look happy 'bout dis.”
“Well obviously this isn't going to be the end of it. But for now, I think we're making some progress.” Meghan peered over at René. “Feeling any better yet?”
René was having trouble keeping his eyes open. “I think I'm gonna take a nap.” He announced just before he, unable to himself, laid himself down on the bench, laying his head in Florrit's lap. “G'night....” He mumbled before he started to snore.
“--eep!” Floritt exclaimed.
“Uh...” Meghan looked at her. The two girls blinked in surprise at that. Floritt, though...decided not to give it much mind. She gently caressed the little fox's hair and the back of his ears.
“Poor lil' ting. Braver dan 'e looks, tho'.”
“Mmm-hmm. Flo, you mind if we stop here for today? I need to go pick up Maggie from school.”
“I'm coo' wit dat. Sides, taut we 'ready quit practice fo' today anyway.”
“Did we? Heh, now I'm the confused one.” Meghan said as she pushed herself off the bench and reached for her bag. “Hey, if he asks, feel free to let him have my cel number.” Floritt just let her raised eyebrow speak for her. “...in case he wants more tips on leading his team!” Meghan added emphatically.
Floritt smiled and in a singsong voice said, “I didn't say a tiiiiiiiing!”
“Oh, very funny. See you tomorrow.”
“S'long, Meg.” Floritt waved as Meghan left. Then she went back to curiously watching René sleep.
To Be Continued!
&&&
(*) Inspired by a Dr. Cox rant from Scrubs. I just couldn’t do any better rant than his!
&&&
Nigel nodded when René gave his affirmation. “Good, then. Away we go, then. Knowing Miss DeCinder, she should be in our usual spot...”
Said usual spot looked to be one of the training corners in the school Gym. Meghan was over near the bleachers wiping her claws with a towel and conversing with Floritt about something. The Smeargle also has a towel, but she's using it to rub at her apparently sore bare feet.
Nigel, with René in tow, strolled up to them. “Ah, Meg? You got a sec?”
”So really, it's just a matter of working on the timing on that twist and you should be okay -- hm?” Meghan paused when Nigel called. “Oh hey Nigel. What's going on?”
”Well, ah, you know René from Team Turquoise? We just got acquainted recently and I was wondering if you could help him out with something?”
“'Ey, René!” Floritt waved happily, ever an enthusiastic mon.
Meghan nodded. “Oh hey, not a problem. We were just finishing up on today's practices...you know, the one you missed out on? Again?” She added with annoyance.
“Oh bugger off Meg, not like I'm the only one who sinned in that aspect. Unless you forget we're short one Luxray!” Nigel pointed out.
“And I assure you she'll get yelled at once I see her too, but in the meantime I want you to catch up on your drills A. S. A. P. Or did you forget we have a test next week?”
Nigel seethed. “And I assure you, Meghan, you WILL see me at my best for that battle, so you needn't worry about that from me.”
”Yipes, 'mon, what's witchu? You lookin' like you sat onna Beedrill!” Floritt observed.
Meg was a bit taken aback at Nigel’s behavior. “...Well, that's new. Fine, then, I'll hold you to that - you can prove it to me tomorrow, even. For now, though...” She scooted along the bench to meet up with the younger Fire-type. “Hey, René. What can I do for you?” René was a bit nervous.
“Oh, uh, hi! I'm the--reluctant--team leader of the Turquoises and well...I need some pointers. I have no idea what I'm doing and really aren't respected by my teammates. They’re my friends and we're pretty close but as a leader...” He shrugged.
“Oooh, ooh!” Floritt exclaimed as she leanined over Meg's lap to meet with René, grinning like a little kid. “Can I say somethin' t' th' cute lil' 'mon, Meg? Pleeeeease?”
“Err, uh...go ahead?” Meghan grunted. “And hurry it up, you're heavy!”
“Am not. So a'ight, mon! So yer problem's yer afraid yer team'll get their feelings hirt if you stop treatin' 'em like friends, am I close?”
“Clearly, Floritt.” Meghan remarked.
“I'm gettin' dere, Meg, promise!” Floritt assured her as she cleared her throat. “When yer not doin' team stuff, then it's coo' 'ta just be friends! But you got to remember da diffoence b'tween the time yo' hangin' wit' yo' group and hangin' with teammates. Yo posse is yo posse, but teams are school tings! And school is just as impohtant as friendship!”
“Ok, I'm taking it from here. Mind?” Meghan asked.
“'k.” Floritt said as she slumped back on her side.
Meghan turned to René. “Floritt's right. Friend-time is friend-time, team-time means you deal with them as a team. This means you're going to have to deal with the fact that you've got to be firm with them if you want to get them to cooperate with you. This won't always be fun and won't always be easy.” She gave a quick sidelong glance tossed Nigel's way, which he pretended not to notice. “In the end though, you'll find it's easier for your friends to treat you like a leader if they see you at least trying to act like one. With me so far?”
“I am!” Floritt called.
“Flor...”
“I'm kiddin', Meg. Kiddin'.”
René on the other hand barely heard a word past Floritt calling him 'cute.' “Um...” He blushed.
Floritt winced when she realized that René wasn’t listening to Meg. “Wuh oh, mon.”
“...Lesson one on being a good leader.” Meghan stated severely as she stood up and got right beside René, her flame-tipped tail slowly sliding underneath the base of his six tails. “Pay. Attention.”
René’s reaction was instantaneous. “YEE--OWW!” He grabbed at his backside and leapt up. “OW! OW! OW! OW! I GET THE MESSAGE! Water! PLEASE!”
Meghan shook her head. “He might want to look into improving his defense with his own elemental type while he's at it. Floritt, Nigel, you mind?”
“Bloody 'ell...” Nigel groaned.
“On it!” Floritt said. Nigel quickly closed his eyes and stretched out his arm dramatically as he summoned forth Grass Rope. René found himself quickly entangled by an assortment of vines erupting from the ground below him, pinning him on the spot. Floritt, meanwhile, digs up a Burn Heal from her duffel bag and offers to spray it on the Vulpix's burnt butt. “This'll only take a sec!” With a flourish, she pulls back on René's trousers and sprays the Burn Heal inside, letting go with a snap once that's done. René was freed of the Grass Rope only after he calmed down.
René winced and tried not to whine. “Was that REALLY necessary?” He asked, mortified.
“Better than havin' t' go visit th' nurse ev'ry time we get bern'd trainin', mon!” Floritt answered.
“I think René was referring to me, Floritt.” Meg corrected her. “Nigel, if you please?”
After another sway of Nigel’s arm, the Grass Rope vanished. “Should have warned you 'bout that, René. Sorry 'bout that.” Nigel apologized.
“Now then, let's try this again.” Meghan said as went up to René, arms crossed. “Let me ask you something. Are you serious about wanting to have a working team? Answer me honestly, because if you don't then I can't help you. And I want to help, I really do.”
“We all do!” Floritt added encouragingly.
“Right.” Nigel added.
“Well?” Meghan asked.
René took a deep breath and fought back tears. “Yes 'em.”
“Good.” Meghan gave him a faint smile. “And trust in yourself. You won't go scaring off your friends for wanting to be a better leader I assure you.”
“Of course, some folks are stuck on a team no matter what, so not like it matters in the en--OW!” Nigel yelped and started massaging his injured elbow.
Floritt, who had hit him, warned him. “Fo' yer own good, Nige.”
“Think you can sit down now, René?” Meghan asked. René slowly lowered himself down, wincing and hissing, but finally sat on the bench.
“Sorry.” He sighed. “But how do I deal with the fact that One; we weren't friends before the team got together so I don't know that I CAN seperate friendship from the team, Two; Sam has an authority problem. She's been bounced from other teams because she couldn't put up with obnoxious leaders who thought they knew her better than she did, Three; I know next to nothing about strategy and stuff--I'm only an average fighter, and Four; They've all seen me at my most embarrassing un-leadership like self. How can they respect me?”
Meghan joined René on the bench along with Floritt and Nigel, the latter looking strangely distracted. “Okay,” Meghan said. “Let's go over this one at a time...First. Talk to your team. Talk to them gently, yet firmly, that you are concerned you guys aren't pulling your weight around as a team should be doing. Make them realize that this isn't anything personal. If any object, then remind them that they can always asks for a transfer if they don't like it.”
“Bit too harsh, isn't it?” Nigel questioned. “Just remind 'em that what you do for school and what you do in your off time should be taken as two different things.”
“Right. What next...” Meghan thought for a second. “Right, second. Funny you should say that, since Charla can be pretty persistent herself in that way as well. We've come to terms by letting her help choreograph strategies for us and I review them, then we compromise with the rest of the team. You could try making Sam an unnofficial co-leader of sorts, so long as you make it clear that you're the one with the final say in the end. And again, if that's not good enough for her? Well I hate to say it, but you're going to have to face it -- it's not going to work out.”
“Don't be discouragin' th' poor mon already, Meg!” Floritt chastised her.
“Fine, I'm just giving that warning now in case it SHOULD happen. I'm not claiming it will.” Meghan defended.
“What else?” Nigel asked Meghan.
“Getting there, Nige. Three. That, is what we go to school for, René. We learn. We improvise. We acknowledge out strengths as a team as well as our weaknesses. I tell you what, you ever need more extra help with that, you let me know, I'll tutor you. I'm no pro either, but we could help each other learn.”
“Seen one too many kiddy educational shows on the tele while growin' up, Meg?” Nigel smirked.
Meghan gave him a nasty-looking grin. “Maybe I did, Nigel. Maybe if you've done the same, you'd be skipped ahead like your brother.” Nigel said nothing, the hit had clearly landed. “Moving on.” She continued. “Number four. I'm going to level with you, René: a Vulpix shouldn't be worrying about getting burned. You have bigger things to worry about than having your dignity hurt out there in the arena! You want them to respect you, start by respecting yourself, improving on yourself! You do that and the rest will come naturally!”
“She says, assuming self-esteem is an easy goal to reach.” Nigel commented.
“I know it isn't, Nigel! I know it very well. I already get plenty of grief from people assuming I have it easy for having inherited an entire Gym at my age! The truth is, I don't. I have to work twice as hard now just so Mom's old customers will grant me the same respect as they gave her, a task I can assure you all is NOT easy to do. That's why I fight so hard to keep my respect as a leader, because I don't want to let all of Mom's hard work die wirh her!” Meghan snapped at him before turning to René. “What about you, René? Are you willing to do the same for the sake of your team?”
He licked his lips before answering. “I...I want to help the team but...I never had a choice in being a leader. That was my father's doing. I-I just don't want to be like he is. He's an important buisnessmon, everyone listens to him, respects him...but he's a horrible person. But I don't WANT them to transfer. I've never had friends before and that, well, friendship should last longer than a four-year school team right?”
“And I'm not afraid of being burned or anything. Or getting beaten in the ring. It's that...well they've seen me lean on them, cry on their shoulders...heck I've even crashed in Sam's room and cuddled with her! I need them more than they need me and they know it as well as I do.”
Meg looked upwards and muttered. “Fire, give me strength...look, René. Contrary to what you may think, being a good leader doesn't mean you have to be a bad friend. And yes, friendship should indeed last longer than a school year...but let's be realist here. Not all friends are good teammates. If that is the case, you HAVE to know your limits and let them go. That doesn't mean you can't remain friends afterwards, it just means you guys aren't cut out for working together like that.”
Nigel sighed. “This isn't gettin' us anywhere. Look, René, we've all had embarrassing experiences in the past, but dwelling on 'em isn't going to help you none, especially if you're asking for respect. You want to earn that, start by bloody goin' past 'em!”
“And 'e should know, 'h e sees th' future!” Floritt commented.
“...to a degree.” Nigel corrected. “And it's not relevant to this, the point is all you're doing is giving yourself excuses to not take your role seriously because you're afraid of becoming like your da. But you're forgettin' one very important detail. You. ain't. Yo. Dad.”
Meghan blinked in surprise at Nigel. “…Right...what he said.”
René looked shaken. “I...I see your points. And you’re right. But there is one last thing.” He took a deep breath. “I'm just a kid. And I don't mean that in the way you think I do. Most of the time I'm not that much different than anyone else--well, except for being transgender. I can function in the real world, I do well in classes...heck, I do BRILLIANTLY in most of them all modesty aside.
But the fact is that I'm as emotionally mature as an eight year-old. The rest of the time--outside of school, I'm just a scared little kid who sleeps with stuffed animals, likes playing dress-up, and wants his mom to come in and snuggle with me and make everything better.” He sniffed. “Ask Nigel. He can tell you what I'm like when that happens.” Tears started coursing down his cheeks and René buried his face in his hands.
Floritt reached over to offer René a hug while Nigel is forced to nod in agreement to the Vulpix's words. Meghan stood up to catch her breath, a bit uncertain as to how to speak to René now.
“Dere dere, 'mon...” Floritt said comfortingly.
Meghan licked her lips and then started again. “...René. I understand...what it is to feel like you're being put under pressure, to be put into a spot you really don't wish to be in. Remember, I didn't pick to be my Gym's owner, I inherited it when my mother died when I was really young. That's not the kind of responsibility a kid should have, let alone a kid with no parents.
But the problem is, life doesn't care about being fair to people. It cares about how we overcome these obstacles, and like it or not you're going to have to do just that if you want to pull through. Now I know, I know it's not easy. It takes time for it to even remotely get easier...but if you let this hold you back now, what will that say about you? Or worse, what will it say about your team?”
René rests his head against Floritt's arm. “It's just that my teammates are just so, well, more MATURE than I am. It's not even a question of age though. Rahne's mom is dead, her dad's an alcoholic, she WORKS in addition to school yet she bears it up better than I ever could. My mom, at least, is still alive (technically) and my dad's rich. Sam's mom is a power hungry figure in a political faction in her home hive and manipulates Sam towards her own purposes—Sam doesn't even know who her dad was. And Romano...well, her fixation on Zeke aside, she's still more grown up than I am. They all are.”
“Then you work on learning from their maturity so you can mature enough to be their leader! There you go again belittling yourself! You keep doing that, then of course you're not going to improve—” Meghan started up again until Floritt intervened.
“'mon, dat's enuff!”
“Floritt, if René continues acting like this—”
“And yo right, dat's improhtant ta werk on, but no need ta cram it into da min's 'ead like dat! Ya made yer point, now it René's tur ta pick if 'e wants ta follow it or not. Ain't dat roight, Nige?” Floritt turned to Nigel for support but the gardevoir said nothing. “...Well, Nige?”
Nigel suddenly got up, pocketing his hands in his jacket pockets. “I'm going home early.” He announced.
“Uh huh, and your training for the test?” Meghan asked.
“I'll be here first thing. I need to talk to Charla then, anyway.”
“Where IS she, anywae?” Floritt asked him.
“Sparrin'. With Team Pearl's leader.”
“She's WHAT?!” Meghan exclaimed.
“And now you know why I won't fail to be here tomorrow. See you around, René. Cheerio, girls.” Nigel waved as he departed.
Meghan looked flabbergasted. “Oh you have got to be kidding me...Charla, of all people, flirting with the enemy like this...”
Floritt patted René on the head. “Sorry 'bout all dis, mon...”
“It's okay...I actually feel better for having said all that. And I already know about Nigel and his deal.” He told her. “I’m going to try to do better. I really am. It's just...Meghan do you think you could watch me talk to my team and point out what I'm doing wrong?” He looked past them. “Here they come now. Hey girls!” René waved as he headed over to them. “Since we're going up against Team 16 soon we need to get in some more team practice time. I reserved the gym this Saturday at nine in the morning--
“That early? Oh man I hate getting up early on the weekend—” Sam complained.
“I actually have to pull another shift at work—” Rahne explained.
“I already made plans to spend time with my folks—” Romano added.
“Gals, this is important!” René urged them. “We really haven't been functioning well as a team as we ought to be and I for one don't think we should allow ourselves to go down without so much as a fighting chance—”
“Oh come off it René,” Sam snorted. “We all know the only reason you got your panties in a bunch over this match is that you don't want to look bad in front of Nicole.”
“What? No, that's not it—” René protested, not that anyone was listening.
“You think she'd seen enough of René already his pants caught fire that one time and she accidentally grabbed his—”
“GIRLS! Come on!” René blushed and couldn’t help let a note of whining into his tone. It got worse when Rahne noticed his awkward gait.
“Did you burn yourself again? I should probably check the affected area.”
Sam nodded in agreement. “Right standard procedure then. Romano, help me get his pants off.”
“WHAT?! Girls, that's enough!” René protested.
“Quit struggling!” Romano chided him.
Floritt winced when she saw Meghan’s reaction to the scene. “Oh, damn.”
The Magmar stormed up to René's team like a Heatran awaken from its slumber, the flames on her head and tail burning intensely. “EXCUSE ME, ladies, but I believe your leader was trying to talk to you right now. Not your friend, not your doll, not your pet, the leader of Team Turquoise! So let the poor Vulpix go and pay attention.” Floritt cringed from her seat at the spectacle. “René, if you would?” Meghan continued flatly.
René was dropped unceremoniously on the floor. “Um, uh...” He took a deep breath but all that came out was a startled squeak.
“Hooboy. Dis ain't lookin' too good...” Floritt sighed.
“Come on, René, you can do it.” Meghan encouraged him, softening up a bit. “Look, it's great you guys are so close to one another -- heck knows I wish I were that way with my own group...”
“Awwww....” Floritt said, touched.
Meghan continued. “ ...but that shouldn't have to stop you from being a competent team. Now, René is your leader now, and as your leader you should offer him the respect of authority he deserves. That said...it DOES go both ways, so René? Would you mind trying that again?”
René slowly climbed to his feet, looking red, humiliated and more furious than he's ever been. Something in him snapped. René got up and stared at Sam, Rahne, and Romano.
“First off girls, I like to think that I'm a fairly accommodating vulpix. I try to bend MY team and MY energy around your various schedules and issues even to point where I let myself by used by you. Rahne: I let you practice your healing skills on me, turning me into a medical dummy. I even covered shifts for you at your jobs. Romano: I let you make me into your dress up doll. Sam: I let you just generally tease the day-lights out of me. And frankly, I don't have a problem with any of this.”
Ever since I met you three freshman year I like to think of us as friends more than teammates. I have no problem letting you treat me as a "pet" or "doll" as Meghan put it...when we're alone, when we're not working. The fact that you would do what you just did to me in PUBLIC says that you don't give a damn about my dignity or me as a whole. Apparently, my humiliation isn't important to you. It's just good fun, right?”
We WILL be meeting this Saturday for practice. I don't really care if we win or lose come our match with Team 16 or any of the matches that follow. If we practice, go in and give it our all and still lose...fine. I can handle that. I want us to practice for OURSELVES. Even if we lose, I want to know what my capabilities are. I want to KNOW how far we can go. I don't want to put in a half-assed effort and then spend the rest of my life wondering what "could have been" if only we'd tried a little better and practiced a little more.
I don't want us to practice for the sake of looking good in the ring. I don't give a damn what everyone else thinks of me...I never have. Almost everyone in this schools thinks of me as a freak anyway. I don't care what they think about me...I care about what I think about me.”
“Second off let me just thank you.”
For the last couple of months I have been adrift in a sea of my own troubles, my own worries, and let’s face it...mediocre leadership. And you three were kind enough to WALK all over me AND all over practicing the teamwork that could determine whether we pass or fail this grade. Now that reminded me of something that I wanted to remind you of. Because you see I am ACCOUNTABLE.”
Whether or not I like it—to say nothing of you three—I’m the team’s leader. So when Feliduce or someone comes by and asks why we’re failing, guess what? It’s ME they’re going to be asking. I am accountable for the continuous, crashing, undeniable amateurism that you people drag into the ring day in and day out. And believe you me when I tell you that the next time one of you perpetual disappointments doesn't even have the common decency to try and do better at something you supposedly do, I will go ahead and toss your sorry ass off of this team in about ten seconds and then I will forget you forever in the next five.” (*)
“Are we clear?”
Neither Floritt the Smeargle or Meghan the Magmar could utter a word after that very, VERY impressive speech. Meg soon found her claws slowly joining together to form a slow-growing clap to honor the little Vulpix's bravado, while Floritt makes due with one drawn-out whistle in awe.
Beyond that, though, they had no room to speak. At this point it was up to the rest of Team Turquoise to decide if they're ready to take in René's words seriously this time. Floritt crosses her fingers in anticipation.
Rahne, Romano, and Sam looked stunned and abashed. “...I'm sorry.” Rahne uttered.
“Me too.” Romano sighed. “I'll be there.” Sam just grunted and nodded once. Without another word the three of them slowly headed out of the arena, looking a little stunned.
René didn’t move or speak for a good two minutes after he finished. His knees started to tremble and his face grew pale and sweaty. “Uh, Meghan? Can I lean on you? I don't just mean that figuratively. I think...I'm gonna fall over.”
Meghan gave René a nod, approaching the little fire fox just as the girls leave, bracing herself for when he fell over. Floritt just let out a very long sigh in relief. No sooner had Meghan arrived than René’s knees gave out and he slide down onto the floor.
“That was the SCARIEST thing I've ever done in my life...I thought I was going to need a change of underwear there for a while.” He panted.
Floritt giggled. “TMI, mon.”
Meghan tried to catch the smaller fire-type before he fell completely to the ground, slipping her arms under his and trying to lift him back up. “You did good, René. You did very good.”
René groaned and let Meghan take him back to the bench. “Uhh, I feel exhausted.” Floritt scooted over on the bench so that Meg can seat René there. She then held up her tail towards his face and made the tip spin, converting a simple, low-powered Tailwind move into an effective and, thankfully, non-messy fan.
“You should also be feeling proud.” Meghan said to René. “I know that wasn't easy to do, but hopefully some good will come from this in the long run.”
“Altho'...” Floritt said before trailing off.
“Yeah, Flo?”
“ ...ya dun tink we should be worryin' 'bout how da Scyther gal reacted? She 'specially didn't look happy 'bout dis.”
“Well obviously this isn't going to be the end of it. But for now, I think we're making some progress.” Meghan peered over at René. “Feeling any better yet?”
René was having trouble keeping his eyes open. “I think I'm gonna take a nap.” He announced just before he, unable to himself, laid himself down on the bench, laying his head in Florrit's lap. “G'night....” He mumbled before he started to snore.
“--eep!” Floritt exclaimed.
“Uh...” Meghan looked at her. The two girls blinked in surprise at that. Floritt, though...decided not to give it much mind. She gently caressed the little fox's hair and the back of his ears.
“Poor lil' ting. Braver dan 'e looks, tho'.”
“Mmm-hmm. Flo, you mind if we stop here for today? I need to go pick up Maggie from school.”
“I'm coo' wit dat. Sides, taut we 'ready quit practice fo' today anyway.”
“Did we? Heh, now I'm the confused one.” Meghan said as she pushed herself off the bench and reached for her bag. “Hey, if he asks, feel free to let him have my cel number.” Floritt just let her raised eyebrow speak for her. “...in case he wants more tips on leading his team!” Meghan added emphatically.
Floritt smiled and in a singsong voice said, “I didn't say a tiiiiiiiing!”
“Oh, very funny. See you tomorrow.”
“S'long, Meg.” Floritt waved as Meghan left. Then she went back to curiously watching René sleep.
To Be Continued!
&&&
(*) Inspired by a Dr. Cox rant from Scrubs. I just couldn’t do any better rant than his!
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