ceasetoexist | 57 - Action/Phone

[Action - Locked to 502 Ricardo Street]

[Hey housemates. Hope none of you are wanting that turkey because the moment Pokey sees it? Yeah, he's going to be starting a fire in the fireplace and bringing the turkey with him. If you're fast enough and want to stop him, you can try to before he goes ahead and pitches the turkey into the fire.]

[Phone]

Hey idiots, everyone else is doing a pretty good job pointing out how this is a trap so, hey, guess that means you don't need more voices shouting it at you. I got a different question.

I'm not giving specifics about it over the phone but....is it...

[There's a pause, and a sigh, before Pokey continues in a mumble.]

Is it....wrong...to be thankful for being here?

[Action - Outside 501 Ricardo]

[Welp. He has no clue why he's doing this. Really, Pokey just doesn't want to admit it over the phone. But the asshole responsible for him being here lives right next to him. And really, this wouldn't be the first time he's ranted outside her house. Just the first time he's done it like this.]

You can bite me. Seriously. Originally I guess I would have told you that just for putting me in this hole, but since then you've given me a lot of extra reasons to tell you it too. You're a real piece of garbage, you know that you freak?

[He pauses, just staring at the house before looking at the ground.]

But on the other hand? ...I've never been happier than I have been here. Even when it's sucked, it sucked as hard as it did because things weren't bad before. Because they were, in fact, awesome as far as things for me go. The best they had ever been. And I wonder, sometimes, if you brought him here to help keep me happy. As a bribe, I guess, not because I'm important but just because you could. Doesn't matter in the end really. I'm not losing sleep over it.

...And I guess, here...I learned things about myself I really didn't want to. And...you know how they say growing up sucks? Yeah, it does. Even harder than I thought it would.

But I did it. And I realize I only did it because I'm here.

I-

[Pokeys' hands bawl up into little fists.]

I am. I'm thankful for being here. For you bringing me here.

[And God.

Does he ever hate that.]

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Well.

Guess you could count me in among 'em.

[ohhhh. now it makes sense.]

You didn't have friends back where you came from?

...Not really.

[And for good reason. But he won't be going into that right now.]

I had one, but...he's here already. So what'd be the point?

Oh. [said very simply like it doesn't faze him in the least. it really doesn't.]

I think I know what you mean. Someone I knew used to be here, too.

...Yeah. It's funny. There was him, and my little brother, and they're both here.

And I have more people so...

I have all I need, that way. And more than I've had before. Going back just seems like a lose-lose situation.

Maybe if your home is somehow even worse than Mayfield. I can't imagine any place that would be.

What about the rest of your family?

...Despite all the suffering? All the bull I go through here? It somehow pans out here in the end. I hate parts of it but...I like a lot of it.

My mom's a negligent alcoholic who alternates between realizing I exist and not noticing me. My dad's an abusive alcoholic who takes advantage of any skills I have if he can benefit from them.

Not worth my time. Not worth remembering.

...Never mind, then.

[he wonders just how many people there are here who come from miserable homes that are awful enough to make them consider Mayfield a viable substitute. it's kind of depressing.

he's quiet for a little while, then ventures a little more hesitantly:]

Do you want to stay?

Yeah. For more then just going back to my family.

[He tried to destroy his own world. He's going to do so to another world sometime in the future. Awhile ago, that wouldn't have bothered him. Now? It sucks really bad even thinking about it.

Learning empathy is kind of a bitch.]

...But I wouldn't stop others from leaving. And we've got to get rid of the people running this place, regardless.

[he murmurs a little mhm.] Everyone should have a say on whether or not they want to go home. This place could be nice if Lucy and the Mayor weren't so horrible. For that choice to be fair, they need to get out of the picture.

Got that right.

They'll slip up sometime. No system's perfect, and there's always a way to cheat.

We'll find it. And when we do? They're hosed.

It's already starting from what I'm seeing. Who's that new guy running the police? Grady was their number one, right?

As far as I know? I didn't really see or hear or talk with him much, but he was there go-to.

The new guy....yeah. He seems a lot wimpier than Grady, especially since Grady actively despised us.

[well, you kind of have to be a kiss up if you want to get in good with the higher-ups. at least that's what Red assumes drawing back on his experience with Team Rocket.]

They played their ace too soon. Grady should have been their go-to in emergencies. Now that he's gone, they're stuck with a reserve lackey who's just going to wear himself out and grow weak under the strain.

[uh oh. seems like he's in that unfortunate mindset where EVERYTHING has to be compared to a Pokemon battle. whoops.]

Wonder how long it'll take for the Mayor to lose control.

Edited 2011-11-25 03:08 (UTC)

[Oh, Pokey knows the power of sucking up first hand. He's not surprised with what their replacement for Grady could be like.]

...Dunno. But when he does? It won't be good for us, either.

Maybe not, but it'll give us hope. Hope's a hard thing to come by these days.

Besides, I'm not afraid. [and neither should you be, that tone says.]

Got that right.

Tch. I'm not afraid of these jokers, either.

[Yes he is. At least a little still. The sniveling, craven fear he used to have may not be there any more, but frightened of them still he is.]</small.

[even though he can't see it, Pokey gets a sage nod for his response.]

Good. I'll need all the help I can get.

...I'll do what I can.

I'm Pokey. Pokey Minch.

That's all I can ask for.

Red. [and in the background, a little squeak that sounds suspiciously like a pika! can be heard.] ...Oh. And Pikachu says hello, too.

....Pikachu?

Do you know Ash?

We've talked a few times. He said he used to live in my hometown before he came to Mayfield.

Are you friends with him?

I guess. Kinda sorta.

...I haven't seen him for a little while.

Hard to believe. He's kind of...loud. [putting it kindly.]

Maybe he went back home. That's where I was. Half a year passed in Mayfield even though it was only a few days in Kanto.

...Yeah. If that idiot isn't here, I guess that's where he'd have to be.

You really went back home?

phone

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