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The Last of the Crossroaders: Charla Meets René (2)
Tempers flare when Rene finally meets the last Crossroader...and can't keep his trap shut.
Category Story / Pokemon
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 68.5 kB
The Last of the Crossroaders: Charla Meets René
&&&
When Floritt finally sats up she looked to the Vulpix with concern. “Uh...Charla, dis is René. René, Charla. Please dun't kill each otha'.”
“Wha...?” Charla asked, clearly confused.
In a strained voice René, said: “Hi. I know your mom.” It took a moment for Floritt's plea and René's greeting to click together, but once it did...and once René's image finally sunk in as to where she knew him from... it took her a great deal of power to do nothing more violent than just slap her face in frustration and look away in complete embarrassment.
“Oh...oh Gods...from the Kitsunegari story, right?” Charla realized.
“Hooboy.” Floritt groaned.
René looked away too. “Yeah. Price of fame I guess.” He mumbled.
Charla snarled as she replied. “WHAT price of fame? As far as she's concerned, she got a bargain! Weeks of being badgered by protesters, getting our house covered in graffiti, our car busted and at the end of the day? All she said was ‘No one else was going to get that shot’ before she conveniently goes and disappears on us for half a month and leaving dad and me to hold the fort while she goes to do that again.”
“I meant ME.” René elaborated, a touch crossly. “That being recognized was the price being 'famed' in one of your mother's shots.” He sighed. “Look, I know what it's like having a parent who...isn't the best role model in the world. And your teammates have all said good things about you and…and I know it's not your fault.”
“Oh, René, mon...” Floritt said softly.
“I've heard the rumors...” Charla said as she went to sit beside René. “But they were only that, rumors.I had no idea, René, I'm sorry.” She shook her head. “My dad...I love my dad, though I sometimes can't comprehend why he puts up with the things my mom does, knowing well she won't change. He's too much of a sheep for his own good, sometimes.”
René nodded. “As much as I distaste the witch that dressed up like a nurse and snuck into my mother's room while I was crying onto her shoulder...knowing that she would never stroke my head again...” He choked for a second then cleared his throat. “I have to say that I think I have the worse parent. I love my mom...but my dad is a jerk. He once compared my mother, after her accident, to a prostitute in that she lays in bed all day, costs him a ton of money, but he doesn't--and I quote—‘get any bang for his buck.’”
Charla looked appalled. “Oh, Gods, that's just sick...”
“Guys, dis ain't a contest 'bout whose parents are worse!” Floritt interjected. “...Tho René's dad beats yer mom by alot, tho', gotta admit.”
“I guess so.” Charla paused. “...so now what?”
“'Ere's a tought. Why not just say hello ta each otha, no talk o' parents dis time. Whatya say ta dat, René?”
He nodded. “Okaaay. Hello....” There was a pause that René just couldn’t think of a way to fill. “Well I'm out of conversation topics.” Then with all the subtlety of an onyx in a china shop, asked. “You girls got any? Oh, how about whatshisname...Nigel!”
Floritt buried her face in her palms. “Raneeee....”
“Wh-what...Nigel? What about him?” Charla covered weakly. Floritt just put both hands over her face.
“Hoooo boy....”
In an overly-innocent tone René replied. “Nothing. Just wondering what you thought of him. Why? Something the matter?”
Charla took a strange amount of time to answer him. “It's...a long story. A very long story...”
“Ya knew 'im back when he an' his bro were Kirlia still, right?” Floritt asked.
“Yeah, and back when I was still a Luxio.” Charla confirmed. “But we didn't really grow up together, though we did meet a few times. See mom did some work for his family prior to becoming a freelancer and I was still hanging with her, wanting to be a photographer when I grew up.”
“So yer mom wasn't a jerk always.” Floritt pointed out.
“...no, no she wasn't. Didn't YOU say you wanted us to avoid talking about how bad our parents were?” Charla asked.
“Sorry. Go on.”
“So yeah, during those times I got to go with her, I also made friends with the twins. It's funny, they looked so alike but even back then you could tell which was which by how they acted. I mean, you'd see them be these nice, perfect gentle 'mons and you'd notice Nigel struggling at it alot more than Josh did. I thought it was cute, so I ended up liking him more.”
“What 'bout aftahwards?”
“What, you mean nowadays? ...he's changed a bit, and I don't just mean the evolving part. Back when I first met him as a Kirlia, he didn't know any moves like Light Screen or Reflect or anything back then, so it was easier to approach him and stuff. Now it's almost like he has them on all the time even when you think he doesn't. And it's difficult to really relate to someone that closed up...I don't know.”
“And dat why you fight alot now? 'Cuz neither of you are like how ya used ta be when you were little?”
“I...” Charla went strangely silent after that.
René, who had kept quiet to note murmured. “It seems...kinda sad to let a childhood friendship devolve into pointless fighting like that.” Startlingly enough, he laid his head on Charla's shoulder. “He doesn't like it when you guys fight either.”
The kind gesture startled both girls. “...he doesn't? Well...it'd be nice if he told me that. Unlike him, I'm NOT Psychic.” Charla muttered. “...and I won't wait, either. I have a life. If he wants to be a part of it, he's more than welcome to say so.”
Floritt clamped up for once, her tail doing that knotting movement it does when she's not feeling too comfortable. “Nngh...”
René however was under no such compunctions to keep his trap shut. “He's used to having to close himself off from his up-tight family. It's not something he can just switch on and off. I mean have you ever MET them? His mom aside its snob central.”
“Of course I've met them. In fact, didn't he tell you? I was the very first non-Psychic type he's ever got to befriend. They never let him get out of the house back then! He was always shy and closeted...but he got to open up when I was with him. He was honest with me....which is why I'm so pissed off that he's back to that 'tude again, worse than ever! Never mind the shields, he just won't talk to me like he did before. And I don't know how to talk back.” Charla looked down.
“Maybe because his childhood feelings for you changed and he doesn't know how to tell you...” René guessed.
“…Changed? In what way?” She asked. René looked at her incredulously, how could she not have noticed this?
“I don't know...maybe he...LIKES you. Just a guess.”
In a deadpan tone, Charla said. “Funny way of showing it.”
“René, mon...” Floritt warned him. Realizing he might have said too much, René still felt obliged to say:
“Give him a break Charla. I mean if I can give you a chance I think you should give an old friend the same. Maybe he just doesn't want to be seen as the sensitive touchy-feely type that everyone assumes he is because he stayed in his rather feminine-looking form.”
“He was always a feminine form.” Charla noted. “Only difference now is that he has a bigger audience he has to put up with instead of a little Luxio who thought he and his brother looked "cute". And a longer skirt. But you're right, I guess...and I can respect that, to a point. I mean, it's not like people don't have the wrong idea about me, right?” She eyed René curiously.
“Yeah...” René admitted. “I'm sorry but there was a reason you were the last Crossroader I got to know. I mean, with you being into photojournalism and all I just felt that things would be...awkward...kinda like they are now in fact.”
Charla shrugged her shoulders before answering. “ ...Can't really blame you. But know, if I end up getting a career in this, I'm not going to let myself get swept up by whatever fame I might find along the way like mom did. You know what my mom wanted to do originally? She wanted to capture dreams. She was going to go out there and take photos of things that really mattered, that move people's heart, not their lust for gossip! But then she started taking questionable photos for the money and that's where she got her rep from. She killed her dream for the sake of money. And like hell am I doing that too.”
“I nevah knew dat...” Floritt whispered.
“Never asked.” Charla returned as she looked up to no particular spot, lost in thought.
“Sad thing, seeing dreams collapse...” René sighed. “I always dreamed of having my mom drive me to school on my first day at the PCA...be there when I got home to ask me what it was like...be there when I graduate in a few years.” He looked down. “I know you'll be a better person than your mom Charla. I just wish I could be a quarter of the person MY mom was—is.”
Charla looked at him. “…Call me crazy, but you're already there. Or at least closer than you were before we said hello.” She sighed. “After all, you're not the first I've met who's ever been hurt like this by my mom. Those guys ended up getting their sorry asses electro-shocked for their problems because they wanted to go after me. To do who-knows what to me just as a way to get back at her.” Floritt and René looked disgusted.
“Oh, ick...” Floritt went.
René turned green. “That's...just...SICK. What they tried to do I mean. I can't imagine how I would feel if someone tried to do something to me for all the crap my father’s done.”
“Thankfully, these guys weren't from our school. I'd be getting an ever worse rep if that were the case! Also...it was my dad doing the electro-shocking at the time, just so we're clear.” Charla added.
“Anyway,” René said, trying not to dwell on that point. “I think you give me too much credit. You owe Floritt and Nigel a lot for getting me to see you as something other than ‘THAT girl.’”
Charla shook her head, her practically-trademarked pigtails swaying off her shoulders, which she proceeded to fix before speaking. “I figured that. Floritt can be very, well...” She bent over to look to Floritt, who was grinning like an idiot. “As for Nigel...wait. How did Nigel convince you to give me a chance? How'd you even get him to talk to you?” Charla asked René.
“He spoke up in your defense when I talked about my fears about you.” René explained. “I guess we started talking one day...him looking as feminine as I wanted to be and he, well, being as uncomfortable with his appearance as I am. Plus we're both the only guys on an otherwise all girl team.
“He...he defended me? Wow, been so long since he's even done anything that nice for me, I almost forgot he was capable of it.” Charla said in surprise.
“Nigel can be actually pretty nice...if you ignore the macho act...and look too small and scrawny for him to waste a beating on. Seriously I started crying once or twice and he actually HUGGED me.” René told her.
“And that's kind of cute and funny, you guys being so alike—” Charla started to say before she heard that last part. Then both she AND Floritt almost shouted: “HE GAVE YOU A WHAT!?”
“Ya mean on PURPOSE, mon?” Floritt gaped.
Charla paused and then said, more mildly. “I'm going to have to absorb your super powers now, you realize.”
René winced. “Oh...he probably didn't want me to mention that he hugged me...twice. We were talking and my mom came up and well...I tend to get a little emotional. Okay, A LOT emotional. He was just being a decent guy.” He shook his head. “Heh, my only real power is to roast hot dogs at any given moment and appear vulnerable and emotional...I guess I just activate the nurturing instincts of anyone in a five-meter radius of me.”
“Ya TINK? Oh, we be goin' aftah him for diiiis—” Floritt grinned.
“No, we aren't.” Charla said flatly.
“--uh? I wuz kiddin' anyway...” Floritt said weekly.
“Just finding out about secrets like that isn't the same as having him, directly, tell us about them. So as far as that's concerned, we know nothing. We clear?” Charla demanded.
“Fine, fine...” Floritt assured her.
Charla went on. “Also, René, if that's the case, your mere existence may be one of the things keeping him from completely rejecting his species' behavior. After all, that's the funny thing about Gardevoirs. They're supposed to have an insatiable need to help others even at the cost of their own lives.”
Floritt blushed as she remembered the surprise sparring session from the other night - and what Nigel did afterwards. “Yeah, guess he just has a hard time admittin' it.”
“See? That's what I'm talking about!” René said. “Underneath the smugness and snarkiness and, well, being British, is a good mon. Also a nice hugger, provided you don't impale yourself on his chest horn. And I promise I wont go blabbing any of your secrets around or anything...though I AM curious as to why you're so, um, immodest around the hotsprings Charla.” René coughed.
“Whut, yer not? The hot springs are fun!” Floritt exclaimed.
“What she said. You're completely allowed to go nude there, why should I feel embarrassed doing what I'm supposed to there?” Charla answered. She gave an evil smirk. “And the chest horn's not that bad. Just need to be wary of where your own chest is before you go after him. And...it helps if you have extra padding to slip in between 'em.” She 'bounced' on her seat briefly before lying back fully.
Floritt whispered in René's ear. “Early in da year, she once caught 'im wit' his shield down an' freaked 'im out so much he fainted fer about ten minutes. We all made 'im tink he dreamed da whole ting.”
René nodded in lieu of replying to either statement. What he DID say was, “I don't really do the hot springs...wet fur is no fun and I have enough inner heat to last me quite a while thank you! Besides...I guess I'm just more uptight about my body than most people...especially since I don't really care for it…you mean Nigel’s mental shield. Right?”
Charla nodded. “Well it's a "mental" shield no matter how you slice it, so yes. We were training, I noticed he cued a Light Screen when he should have used Reflect—”
“Dat like 'im ziggy-ing when he shoulda been zaggy-ing.” Floritt whispered.
“Ah, right. Long story short, I took in a quick hug just to see how he'd react since I thought it'd be funny at the time.”
“You were hopin' he'd grope yer booty too, I bet.” Floritt grinned.
“Say that again, I dare you!” Charla challenged her.
“Nah-ah!” Floritt protested as she hid behind René's tails. “It true, admit it!”
“Flo, girl, you are SO getting your ass kicked right now, c'mere!”
Floritt just laughed hysterically. “Save me, René!”
“It would've been funnier if Nigel's chest horn had gotten stuck in your clevage.” René pointed out to Charla.
“Actually, René, It did get stuck.” Floritt giggled.
“Dammit Flo, he didn't need to know about that!” Charla fumed.
“Oh yes he di-id!” Floritt stuck her tongue out at her.
“Oh, THAT'S it! René, step aside so I can turn her tail into an electrical socket!” Charla snapped.
“Nuuuu!” Floritt whined as she clung to René’s tails.
“Charla...” René sighed. “How can I say no to that sweet puppy-dog face of Floritt's? It's too cuuute!”
“Easy.” Charla deadpanned. “Like this.” Then her voice turned disgustingly sweet. “Flo?”
“Ye-es?” Floritt asked, her voice just as sweet.
Charla’s sweetness suddenly left her voice. “Ass away from the ass, Flo.”
Floritt pouted. “Yer not gunna fry me, are you?”
“No...” Charla grinned. “But if you do we can do something extra fun at the expense of our new friend here!”
“...Ok!” Floritt chirped as she went to join the lioness. “Da usual?”
“As if there was any surprise there. GET 'IM!” Charla shouted as they both grabbed René and started tickling.
“GYAK! Yo-whohoo--you tra-haha-traitors! Hahahaha!” The poor fox guffawed.
“Say it, Foxy! Beg for mercy!” Charla ordered.
“Fer unca!” Floritt chimed in.
“Uncle.” Charla corrected her.
“No, René's got ta say it!”
“No, I was only...oh, nevermind!”
“B-beg? Meehehehe! Neva! Hahaahaa!” René squeaked.
“Well okaaay but if you don't, we might have to look into...other methods to get you to cooperate.” Charla smirked.
“Me tail usually werks!” Floritt offered.
“...hmm, yes, but let's not use it for the usual. Flo, you've been living with that Sneasel for a while, right?”
Floritt blinked “Yeh...”
“If memory serves, Sneasels are Ice-types. Any chance you've, ah, picked up any of his moves?”
“...I saw 'im do Icy Wind once, yeh...”
“Do it. Just a small one, though.”
“So he won't get harmed?”
“René will be fine, his type can resist it easily. Real reason I want you to make it small, though, is this.” Charla grabbed hold of René's shirt and lifted it up. “Aim in here!”
“Wait...what are you doing?” René demanded.
“Teaching you to chill out, of course! Flo?” Charla called.
“On it.” Floritt turned around, her tail-tip changed blue and spun in place like a tiny fan. As the name "Icy Wind" implies, a frost-forming breeze was aimed right at the target, this being René's now-exposed belly.
“What?! Why you evil-eeeeeeeek! Cold! COLD!” He squealed. Charla gave Flo the signal to stop, and then pulled René's shirt back down and patted his frozen belly in place.
“And that's how you do it.” Charla grinned.
“Teehee!”
“Y-you g-girls are EVIL!” René accused through chattering teeth.
“So I have been told.” The lioness grinned.
“Aww, I tink I got a Fire move I learned from Meg I could use ta help with dat...” Floritt offered.
René went wide eyed. “NO! I mean, no thank you Flo. I'll take care of it.” He got up and hugged his middle. “Oooh that's cold.” He glared at them with faux annoyance “And I thought you two were my FRIENDS...How would you like it if I used MY breathe on your chests?”
The girls looked at each other and then answered René in unison, grinning deviously. “You do that and then we'd be topless!”
“I'm sure you wouldn't mind it as much as I would...” He groaned.
Charla looked at him. “Okay, so I have to ask, is the very thought of nudity that offensive or...”
“Well you know he dun like his body much...so it make sense in dat way.” Floritt offered.
“Shame too, you look pretty cute to me.” Charla shrugged.
“Uh-oh.” Floritt said.
“"Uh-oh" What?” Floritt didn’t answer Charla, she just eyed René who, on cue, started blushing fiercly.
“Yeesh, prudish much?” The luxray asked.
“Charla, c'mon now.” Floritt chided her.
“I was only kidding.” Charla defended herself. “Look, kid, I'm sorry for calling you cute, okay?”
“Well, I don't really MIND being called cute...it’s a little embarrassing I guess. I just wish I knew why girls thought I was cute when all I really wanted was to look the way they did and...” René blinked. “Waitaminute…kid? You're ONE year older than me! If you call me kid I might as well call YOU ma'am!”
“The name's ‘Miss Rey’ if you're going to be calling me that. And until you can prove to me you're a m—” Charla started to say before Floritt cut her off.
“Uh, Charla, is dis yer "I'll stop callin' you a boy when you prove yerself a man" speech?” She asked.
“Well, yeah.” Charla nodded. Floritt silently just pointed at René.
Charla looked to René and then hit her forehead with the butt of her palm and groaned. “Right, I forgot. Fine. How 'bout just "René", then?” The more to herself than René Charla added. “Not like I won't let a "kid" slip out if you act too much like one, though...”
René heard her nonetheless and snorted angrily. “Don't you get off calling me a kid when you're the one interested in that Rayon sleezeball. I mean, you have a problem with NIGEL'S stand-offish nature so you go out with RAYON? Real mature!” René said in disgust. “Just WHAT you see in that machismo-reeking jock?”
“René...” Floritt tried, too late, to stop him.
“No, I think I WILL call you a "kid" after all.” Charla fumed. “Because I wouldn't have to explain to an older 'mon why they should keep out of someone else's damn business!” Then she sat up and started to walk off. Floritt got up and tried talking her around.
“--Charla, come on! Not like he ain't right 'bout dis, yanno!”
“That goes for you too, Floritt!” Charla snapped. “Who--and WHY--I decide to go out with him is my concern, not yours or anyone else's! Are we clear on this?!” Floritt flinched and said nothing. René however was still angry. Underneath all that fluff he had a temper too
“For crying out loud Rayon refers to girls as 'prey' and if you look up date-rapist in the dictionary his picture appears right next to it! Don’t you get what his type is like?” He demanded.
“I've dated the guy, René, I'm pretty sure I have a bit more say as to how he really is or not.” Charla said flatly. “Besides, he's a Luxray like me. If he doesn't intimidate people in some way or another, then he's a sad excuse for an electric lion!”
“Guys...” Floritt tried to get them to stop.
“You really ought to think THAT criteria for a boyfriend over.” Rene snorted.
“And why should I?” Charla snarled. “I don't take crud from anyone, you understand me…KID?”
“Fine!” René snarled back. “Call me a kid. Call me whatever you want. I can see it was a waste of time trying to talk sense to you.” As he turned to walk away he muttered arguably the dumbest thing he could’ve said. “I was right the first time. She IS like her mother.” She heard that.
“SAY THAT AGAIN?!” Charla roared at him, both of her hands crackled with electricity, with her body slowly following after.
“You guys, don't! Please!” Floritt begged again.
René turned around. “You want to electrocute me?” He demanded. “Fine. Go ahead. I'm too tired and upset to give a crap. Go on. Show me how tough and independent and whatever you are.”
“No no NO, I ain't allowin' dis!” The smeargle stomped right over between the two, which forced Charla to back down, the sparks dissipating. “René, dat was uncalled for. But Charla, ye be needin' ta calm down too! He was just being—”
“Flo, I don't care! Now you listen to me, you little runt. I gave you a chance because the others did, and 'cuz I needed to set the record straight about the thing with what happened with my mom and your folks. But if if you're just gonna keep on proddin' about how I do things with my own life and start crying when it doesn't match with yours, then forget it, I don't need that aggravation. But so help me, you dare say that about me and my mom ever again I'm plucking every single tail you have on that small ass of yours and making you eat it! You understand?!” Charla snarled.
“Charla, dat's ENOUGH! Both of you, just...just stop dis already! You were fine just a few moments ago, what went wrong 'ere?” Floritt pleaded.
René answered Floritt’s question bitterly. “Apparently, I went wrong when I showed her a little concern. Trust me, it won't happen again. Charla if you want to fry me for this fine, go ahead. But you ARE acting like your mom when you make everything about YOU. That's what she does. Maybe when people show concern for you, your first instinct shouldn't be to shove everyone away and make it all about you...your actions can hurt other people. Think about that.”
Charla’s electrical energy quickly came to life again, this time joined by the familiar glint of tears waiting to be shed. “Don't you ****in' dare assume you know a damn thing about me! Plenty of people have hurt me back, why should I allow myself to go through that again? Why!? Wh--aah!”
Floritt spun her tail to form an Icy Wind, this time it was far stronger than a breeze and aimed at both Charla and René. “That's ENOUGH!” Floritt shouted. The Icy Wind would, at best, knock them both down and cover them in frost, the actual damage being minimal (especially on a Vulpix, being a Fire-type and all). The real shock, however, was when both René and Charla looked up to see the one image neither one in their lifetimes could have EVER imagined on their own.
Floritt Baez the Smeargle, pissed off.
&&&
&&&
When Floritt finally sats up she looked to the Vulpix with concern. “Uh...Charla, dis is René. René, Charla. Please dun't kill each otha'.”
“Wha...?” Charla asked, clearly confused.
In a strained voice René, said: “Hi. I know your mom.” It took a moment for Floritt's plea and René's greeting to click together, but once it did...and once René's image finally sunk in as to where she knew him from... it took her a great deal of power to do nothing more violent than just slap her face in frustration and look away in complete embarrassment.
“Oh...oh Gods...from the Kitsunegari story, right?” Charla realized.
“Hooboy.” Floritt groaned.
René looked away too. “Yeah. Price of fame I guess.” He mumbled.
Charla snarled as she replied. “WHAT price of fame? As far as she's concerned, she got a bargain! Weeks of being badgered by protesters, getting our house covered in graffiti, our car busted and at the end of the day? All she said was ‘No one else was going to get that shot’ before she conveniently goes and disappears on us for half a month and leaving dad and me to hold the fort while she goes to do that again.”
“I meant ME.” René elaborated, a touch crossly. “That being recognized was the price being 'famed' in one of your mother's shots.” He sighed. “Look, I know what it's like having a parent who...isn't the best role model in the world. And your teammates have all said good things about you and…and I know it's not your fault.”
“Oh, René, mon...” Floritt said softly.
“I've heard the rumors...” Charla said as she went to sit beside René. “But they were only that, rumors.I had no idea, René, I'm sorry.” She shook her head. “My dad...I love my dad, though I sometimes can't comprehend why he puts up with the things my mom does, knowing well she won't change. He's too much of a sheep for his own good, sometimes.”
René nodded. “As much as I distaste the witch that dressed up like a nurse and snuck into my mother's room while I was crying onto her shoulder...knowing that she would never stroke my head again...” He choked for a second then cleared his throat. “I have to say that I think I have the worse parent. I love my mom...but my dad is a jerk. He once compared my mother, after her accident, to a prostitute in that she lays in bed all day, costs him a ton of money, but he doesn't--and I quote—‘get any bang for his buck.’”
Charla looked appalled. “Oh, Gods, that's just sick...”
“Guys, dis ain't a contest 'bout whose parents are worse!” Floritt interjected. “...Tho René's dad beats yer mom by alot, tho', gotta admit.”
“I guess so.” Charla paused. “...so now what?”
“'Ere's a tought. Why not just say hello ta each otha, no talk o' parents dis time. Whatya say ta dat, René?”
He nodded. “Okaaay. Hello....” There was a pause that René just couldn’t think of a way to fill. “Well I'm out of conversation topics.” Then with all the subtlety of an onyx in a china shop, asked. “You girls got any? Oh, how about whatshisname...Nigel!”
Floritt buried her face in her palms. “Raneeee....”
“Wh-what...Nigel? What about him?” Charla covered weakly. Floritt just put both hands over her face.
“Hoooo boy....”
In an overly-innocent tone René replied. “Nothing. Just wondering what you thought of him. Why? Something the matter?”
Charla took a strange amount of time to answer him. “It's...a long story. A very long story...”
“Ya knew 'im back when he an' his bro were Kirlia still, right?” Floritt asked.
“Yeah, and back when I was still a Luxio.” Charla confirmed. “But we didn't really grow up together, though we did meet a few times. See mom did some work for his family prior to becoming a freelancer and I was still hanging with her, wanting to be a photographer when I grew up.”
“So yer mom wasn't a jerk always.” Floritt pointed out.
“...no, no she wasn't. Didn't YOU say you wanted us to avoid talking about how bad our parents were?” Charla asked.
“Sorry. Go on.”
“So yeah, during those times I got to go with her, I also made friends with the twins. It's funny, they looked so alike but even back then you could tell which was which by how they acted. I mean, you'd see them be these nice, perfect gentle 'mons and you'd notice Nigel struggling at it alot more than Josh did. I thought it was cute, so I ended up liking him more.”
“What 'bout aftahwards?”
“What, you mean nowadays? ...he's changed a bit, and I don't just mean the evolving part. Back when I first met him as a Kirlia, he didn't know any moves like Light Screen or Reflect or anything back then, so it was easier to approach him and stuff. Now it's almost like he has them on all the time even when you think he doesn't. And it's difficult to really relate to someone that closed up...I don't know.”
“And dat why you fight alot now? 'Cuz neither of you are like how ya used ta be when you were little?”
“I...” Charla went strangely silent after that.
René, who had kept quiet to note murmured. “It seems...kinda sad to let a childhood friendship devolve into pointless fighting like that.” Startlingly enough, he laid his head on Charla's shoulder. “He doesn't like it when you guys fight either.”
The kind gesture startled both girls. “...he doesn't? Well...it'd be nice if he told me that. Unlike him, I'm NOT Psychic.” Charla muttered. “...and I won't wait, either. I have a life. If he wants to be a part of it, he's more than welcome to say so.”
Floritt clamped up for once, her tail doing that knotting movement it does when she's not feeling too comfortable. “Nngh...”
René however was under no such compunctions to keep his trap shut. “He's used to having to close himself off from his up-tight family. It's not something he can just switch on and off. I mean have you ever MET them? His mom aside its snob central.”
“Of course I've met them. In fact, didn't he tell you? I was the very first non-Psychic type he's ever got to befriend. They never let him get out of the house back then! He was always shy and closeted...but he got to open up when I was with him. He was honest with me....which is why I'm so pissed off that he's back to that 'tude again, worse than ever! Never mind the shields, he just won't talk to me like he did before. And I don't know how to talk back.” Charla looked down.
“Maybe because his childhood feelings for you changed and he doesn't know how to tell you...” René guessed.
“…Changed? In what way?” She asked. René looked at her incredulously, how could she not have noticed this?
“I don't know...maybe he...LIKES you. Just a guess.”
In a deadpan tone, Charla said. “Funny way of showing it.”
“René, mon...” Floritt warned him. Realizing he might have said too much, René still felt obliged to say:
“Give him a break Charla. I mean if I can give you a chance I think you should give an old friend the same. Maybe he just doesn't want to be seen as the sensitive touchy-feely type that everyone assumes he is because he stayed in his rather feminine-looking form.”
“He was always a feminine form.” Charla noted. “Only difference now is that he has a bigger audience he has to put up with instead of a little Luxio who thought he and his brother looked "cute". And a longer skirt. But you're right, I guess...and I can respect that, to a point. I mean, it's not like people don't have the wrong idea about me, right?” She eyed René curiously.
“Yeah...” René admitted. “I'm sorry but there was a reason you were the last Crossroader I got to know. I mean, with you being into photojournalism and all I just felt that things would be...awkward...kinda like they are now in fact.”
Charla shrugged her shoulders before answering. “ ...Can't really blame you. But know, if I end up getting a career in this, I'm not going to let myself get swept up by whatever fame I might find along the way like mom did. You know what my mom wanted to do originally? She wanted to capture dreams. She was going to go out there and take photos of things that really mattered, that move people's heart, not their lust for gossip! But then she started taking questionable photos for the money and that's where she got her rep from. She killed her dream for the sake of money. And like hell am I doing that too.”
“I nevah knew dat...” Floritt whispered.
“Never asked.” Charla returned as she looked up to no particular spot, lost in thought.
“Sad thing, seeing dreams collapse...” René sighed. “I always dreamed of having my mom drive me to school on my first day at the PCA...be there when I got home to ask me what it was like...be there when I graduate in a few years.” He looked down. “I know you'll be a better person than your mom Charla. I just wish I could be a quarter of the person MY mom was—is.”
Charla looked at him. “…Call me crazy, but you're already there. Or at least closer than you were before we said hello.” She sighed. “After all, you're not the first I've met who's ever been hurt like this by my mom. Those guys ended up getting their sorry asses electro-shocked for their problems because they wanted to go after me. To do who-knows what to me just as a way to get back at her.” Floritt and René looked disgusted.
“Oh, ick...” Floritt went.
René turned green. “That's...just...SICK. What they tried to do I mean. I can't imagine how I would feel if someone tried to do something to me for all the crap my father’s done.”
“Thankfully, these guys weren't from our school. I'd be getting an ever worse rep if that were the case! Also...it was my dad doing the electro-shocking at the time, just so we're clear.” Charla added.
“Anyway,” René said, trying not to dwell on that point. “I think you give me too much credit. You owe Floritt and Nigel a lot for getting me to see you as something other than ‘THAT girl.’”
Charla shook her head, her practically-trademarked pigtails swaying off her shoulders, which she proceeded to fix before speaking. “I figured that. Floritt can be very, well...” She bent over to look to Floritt, who was grinning like an idiot. “As for Nigel...wait. How did Nigel convince you to give me a chance? How'd you even get him to talk to you?” Charla asked René.
“He spoke up in your defense when I talked about my fears about you.” René explained. “I guess we started talking one day...him looking as feminine as I wanted to be and he, well, being as uncomfortable with his appearance as I am. Plus we're both the only guys on an otherwise all girl team.
“He...he defended me? Wow, been so long since he's even done anything that nice for me, I almost forgot he was capable of it.” Charla said in surprise.
“Nigel can be actually pretty nice...if you ignore the macho act...and look too small and scrawny for him to waste a beating on. Seriously I started crying once or twice and he actually HUGGED me.” René told her.
“And that's kind of cute and funny, you guys being so alike—” Charla started to say before she heard that last part. Then both she AND Floritt almost shouted: “HE GAVE YOU A WHAT!?”
“Ya mean on PURPOSE, mon?” Floritt gaped.
Charla paused and then said, more mildly. “I'm going to have to absorb your super powers now, you realize.”
René winced. “Oh...he probably didn't want me to mention that he hugged me...twice. We were talking and my mom came up and well...I tend to get a little emotional. Okay, A LOT emotional. He was just being a decent guy.” He shook his head. “Heh, my only real power is to roast hot dogs at any given moment and appear vulnerable and emotional...I guess I just activate the nurturing instincts of anyone in a five-meter radius of me.”
“Ya TINK? Oh, we be goin' aftah him for diiiis—” Floritt grinned.
“No, we aren't.” Charla said flatly.
“--uh? I wuz kiddin' anyway...” Floritt said weekly.
“Just finding out about secrets like that isn't the same as having him, directly, tell us about them. So as far as that's concerned, we know nothing. We clear?” Charla demanded.
“Fine, fine...” Floritt assured her.
Charla went on. “Also, René, if that's the case, your mere existence may be one of the things keeping him from completely rejecting his species' behavior. After all, that's the funny thing about Gardevoirs. They're supposed to have an insatiable need to help others even at the cost of their own lives.”
Floritt blushed as she remembered the surprise sparring session from the other night - and what Nigel did afterwards. “Yeah, guess he just has a hard time admittin' it.”
“See? That's what I'm talking about!” René said. “Underneath the smugness and snarkiness and, well, being British, is a good mon. Also a nice hugger, provided you don't impale yourself on his chest horn. And I promise I wont go blabbing any of your secrets around or anything...though I AM curious as to why you're so, um, immodest around the hotsprings Charla.” René coughed.
“Whut, yer not? The hot springs are fun!” Floritt exclaimed.
“What she said. You're completely allowed to go nude there, why should I feel embarrassed doing what I'm supposed to there?” Charla answered. She gave an evil smirk. “And the chest horn's not that bad. Just need to be wary of where your own chest is before you go after him. And...it helps if you have extra padding to slip in between 'em.” She 'bounced' on her seat briefly before lying back fully.
Floritt whispered in René's ear. “Early in da year, she once caught 'im wit' his shield down an' freaked 'im out so much he fainted fer about ten minutes. We all made 'im tink he dreamed da whole ting.”
René nodded in lieu of replying to either statement. What he DID say was, “I don't really do the hot springs...wet fur is no fun and I have enough inner heat to last me quite a while thank you! Besides...I guess I'm just more uptight about my body than most people...especially since I don't really care for it…you mean Nigel’s mental shield. Right?”
Charla nodded. “Well it's a "mental" shield no matter how you slice it, so yes. We were training, I noticed he cued a Light Screen when he should have used Reflect—”
“Dat like 'im ziggy-ing when he shoulda been zaggy-ing.” Floritt whispered.
“Ah, right. Long story short, I took in a quick hug just to see how he'd react since I thought it'd be funny at the time.”
“You were hopin' he'd grope yer booty too, I bet.” Floritt grinned.
“Say that again, I dare you!” Charla challenged her.
“Nah-ah!” Floritt protested as she hid behind René's tails. “It true, admit it!”
“Flo, girl, you are SO getting your ass kicked right now, c'mere!”
Floritt just laughed hysterically. “Save me, René!”
“It would've been funnier if Nigel's chest horn had gotten stuck in your clevage.” René pointed out to Charla.
“Actually, René, It did get stuck.” Floritt giggled.
“Dammit Flo, he didn't need to know about that!” Charla fumed.
“Oh yes he di-id!” Floritt stuck her tongue out at her.
“Oh, THAT'S it! René, step aside so I can turn her tail into an electrical socket!” Charla snapped.
“Nuuuu!” Floritt whined as she clung to René’s tails.
“Charla...” René sighed. “How can I say no to that sweet puppy-dog face of Floritt's? It's too cuuute!”
“Easy.” Charla deadpanned. “Like this.” Then her voice turned disgustingly sweet. “Flo?”
“Ye-es?” Floritt asked, her voice just as sweet.
Charla’s sweetness suddenly left her voice. “Ass away from the ass, Flo.”
Floritt pouted. “Yer not gunna fry me, are you?”
“No...” Charla grinned. “But if you do we can do something extra fun at the expense of our new friend here!”
“...Ok!” Floritt chirped as she went to join the lioness. “Da usual?”
“As if there was any surprise there. GET 'IM!” Charla shouted as they both grabbed René and started tickling.
“GYAK! Yo-whohoo--you tra-haha-traitors! Hahahaha!” The poor fox guffawed.
“Say it, Foxy! Beg for mercy!” Charla ordered.
“Fer unca!” Floritt chimed in.
“Uncle.” Charla corrected her.
“No, René's got ta say it!”
“No, I was only...oh, nevermind!”
“B-beg? Meehehehe! Neva! Hahaahaa!” René squeaked.
“Well okaaay but if you don't, we might have to look into...other methods to get you to cooperate.” Charla smirked.
“Me tail usually werks!” Floritt offered.
“...hmm, yes, but let's not use it for the usual. Flo, you've been living with that Sneasel for a while, right?”
Floritt blinked “Yeh...”
“If memory serves, Sneasels are Ice-types. Any chance you've, ah, picked up any of his moves?”
“...I saw 'im do Icy Wind once, yeh...”
“Do it. Just a small one, though.”
“So he won't get harmed?”
“René will be fine, his type can resist it easily. Real reason I want you to make it small, though, is this.” Charla grabbed hold of René's shirt and lifted it up. “Aim in here!”
“Wait...what are you doing?” René demanded.
“Teaching you to chill out, of course! Flo?” Charla called.
“On it.” Floritt turned around, her tail-tip changed blue and spun in place like a tiny fan. As the name "Icy Wind" implies, a frost-forming breeze was aimed right at the target, this being René's now-exposed belly.
“What?! Why you evil-eeeeeeeek! Cold! COLD!” He squealed. Charla gave Flo the signal to stop, and then pulled René's shirt back down and patted his frozen belly in place.
“And that's how you do it.” Charla grinned.
“Teehee!”
“Y-you g-girls are EVIL!” René accused through chattering teeth.
“So I have been told.” The lioness grinned.
“Aww, I tink I got a Fire move I learned from Meg I could use ta help with dat...” Floritt offered.
René went wide eyed. “NO! I mean, no thank you Flo. I'll take care of it.” He got up and hugged his middle. “Oooh that's cold.” He glared at them with faux annoyance “And I thought you two were my FRIENDS...How would you like it if I used MY breathe on your chests?”
The girls looked at each other and then answered René in unison, grinning deviously. “You do that and then we'd be topless!”
“I'm sure you wouldn't mind it as much as I would...” He groaned.
Charla looked at him. “Okay, so I have to ask, is the very thought of nudity that offensive or...”
“Well you know he dun like his body much...so it make sense in dat way.” Floritt offered.
“Shame too, you look pretty cute to me.” Charla shrugged.
“Uh-oh.” Floritt said.
“"Uh-oh" What?” Floritt didn’t answer Charla, she just eyed René who, on cue, started blushing fiercly.
“Yeesh, prudish much?” The luxray asked.
“Charla, c'mon now.” Floritt chided her.
“I was only kidding.” Charla defended herself. “Look, kid, I'm sorry for calling you cute, okay?”
“Well, I don't really MIND being called cute...it’s a little embarrassing I guess. I just wish I knew why girls thought I was cute when all I really wanted was to look the way they did and...” René blinked. “Waitaminute…kid? You're ONE year older than me! If you call me kid I might as well call YOU ma'am!”
“The name's ‘Miss Rey’ if you're going to be calling me that. And until you can prove to me you're a m—” Charla started to say before Floritt cut her off.
“Uh, Charla, is dis yer "I'll stop callin' you a boy when you prove yerself a man" speech?” She asked.
“Well, yeah.” Charla nodded. Floritt silently just pointed at René.
Charla looked to René and then hit her forehead with the butt of her palm and groaned. “Right, I forgot. Fine. How 'bout just "René", then?” The more to herself than René Charla added. “Not like I won't let a "kid" slip out if you act too much like one, though...”
René heard her nonetheless and snorted angrily. “Don't you get off calling me a kid when you're the one interested in that Rayon sleezeball. I mean, you have a problem with NIGEL'S stand-offish nature so you go out with RAYON? Real mature!” René said in disgust. “Just WHAT you see in that machismo-reeking jock?”
“René...” Floritt tried, too late, to stop him.
“No, I think I WILL call you a "kid" after all.” Charla fumed. “Because I wouldn't have to explain to an older 'mon why they should keep out of someone else's damn business!” Then she sat up and started to walk off. Floritt got up and tried talking her around.
“--Charla, come on! Not like he ain't right 'bout dis, yanno!”
“That goes for you too, Floritt!” Charla snapped. “Who--and WHY--I decide to go out with him is my concern, not yours or anyone else's! Are we clear on this?!” Floritt flinched and said nothing. René however was still angry. Underneath all that fluff he had a temper too
“For crying out loud Rayon refers to girls as 'prey' and if you look up date-rapist in the dictionary his picture appears right next to it! Don’t you get what his type is like?” He demanded.
“I've dated the guy, René, I'm pretty sure I have a bit more say as to how he really is or not.” Charla said flatly. “Besides, he's a Luxray like me. If he doesn't intimidate people in some way or another, then he's a sad excuse for an electric lion!”
“Guys...” Floritt tried to get them to stop.
“You really ought to think THAT criteria for a boyfriend over.” Rene snorted.
“And why should I?” Charla snarled. “I don't take crud from anyone, you understand me…KID?”
“Fine!” René snarled back. “Call me a kid. Call me whatever you want. I can see it was a waste of time trying to talk sense to you.” As he turned to walk away he muttered arguably the dumbest thing he could’ve said. “I was right the first time. She IS like her mother.” She heard that.
“SAY THAT AGAIN?!” Charla roared at him, both of her hands crackled with electricity, with her body slowly following after.
“You guys, don't! Please!” Floritt begged again.
René turned around. “You want to electrocute me?” He demanded. “Fine. Go ahead. I'm too tired and upset to give a crap. Go on. Show me how tough and independent and whatever you are.”
“No no NO, I ain't allowin' dis!” The smeargle stomped right over between the two, which forced Charla to back down, the sparks dissipating. “René, dat was uncalled for. But Charla, ye be needin' ta calm down too! He was just being—”
“Flo, I don't care! Now you listen to me, you little runt. I gave you a chance because the others did, and 'cuz I needed to set the record straight about the thing with what happened with my mom and your folks. But if if you're just gonna keep on proddin' about how I do things with my own life and start crying when it doesn't match with yours, then forget it, I don't need that aggravation. But so help me, you dare say that about me and my mom ever again I'm plucking every single tail you have on that small ass of yours and making you eat it! You understand?!” Charla snarled.
“Charla, dat's ENOUGH! Both of you, just...just stop dis already! You were fine just a few moments ago, what went wrong 'ere?” Floritt pleaded.
René answered Floritt’s question bitterly. “Apparently, I went wrong when I showed her a little concern. Trust me, it won't happen again. Charla if you want to fry me for this fine, go ahead. But you ARE acting like your mom when you make everything about YOU. That's what she does. Maybe when people show concern for you, your first instinct shouldn't be to shove everyone away and make it all about you...your actions can hurt other people. Think about that.”
Charla’s electrical energy quickly came to life again, this time joined by the familiar glint of tears waiting to be shed. “Don't you ****in' dare assume you know a damn thing about me! Plenty of people have hurt me back, why should I allow myself to go through that again? Why!? Wh--aah!”
Floritt spun her tail to form an Icy Wind, this time it was far stronger than a breeze and aimed at both Charla and René. “That's ENOUGH!” Floritt shouted. The Icy Wind would, at best, knock them both down and cover them in frost, the actual damage being minimal (especially on a Vulpix, being a Fire-type and all). The real shock, however, was when both René and Charla looked up to see the one image neither one in their lifetimes could have EVER imagined on their own.
Floritt Baez the Smeargle, pissed off.
&&&
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