It took them long enough to get here...

[envy_the_sinners]

Who: Scar, Raikov, Lust, Greed
Where: Outside Saffron
When: Around Sept 16, may contain subthreads on different dates.
Summary: Meeting up! ...Semi-reluctantly. But totally not.
Rating: Starting PG to be safe?
Log:

Why had they crossed two entire regions, again? Right, because Lust wanted to "see Scar" about something, and he had had nothing better to do.

Raikov had, for some reason, stuck by him throughout the month he had spent traveling.

They were approaching Saffron City when they finally caught up with Lust and Greed, though Scar was beginning to show reluctance as they approached the campsite. This whole thing was stupid, not to mention pointless. What was he even doing here?

Comments

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar closed his eyes for a moment, lips set thin at Raikov's question. Of course he hadn't explained exactly why they were here; it had been bad enough with the accusatory remarks upon realizing that they were meeting up with a woman. But now he was just making this more awkward than I needed to be.

But the look he gave Greed certainly communicated his confusion. Okay. And...?

"It's fine," he finally said, quiet and offhanded, to Lust. Don't let this awkward misery persist any longer than it had to.

[majorcrotchgrab]

The only thing he knew was that Scar and Lust had planned to meet up. He put two and two together though, realizing that's exactly was this meeting was: Just for Scar and Lust.

"Oh. I'm sorry for assuming... Don't worry about making me anything."

Raikov made his way over to Greed and went to wrap an arm around his, grinning. "The two of us can go find something to do while you two walk and chat? After all, we did make plans for when we finally met back up..." Even if it was meant to be back in Johto. He certainly wasn't complaining though. "If that's alright with everyone... ?"

[ossifragant]

No one he had been with had been so grabby, and it shows by how Greed froze up, looking awkward, like he wanted to pull away from the grip but didn't want to give Raikov the wrong impression.

"Right," he said quickly, taking a moment to find his voice again. "I wouldn't want to hold the two of you up."

[a_sin_for_him]

Lust had no idea what was going on. Raikov's casual approach to Greed surprised her - Greed had never seemed very interested in casual physical contact, even from people he was close to. Well. Things got more and more interesting.

But she supposed it would certainly go to great lengths to assure Scar there was nothing between her and Greed.

"Alright, then. Greed can feed you." That took care of that. And Greed wouldn't be by himself. "Don't get into too much trouble. Feirefiz, bring the basket?"

Lust's Furfrou trotted over, picnic basket in his jaws. She was bringing him and Guttle along as buffers. She thought Scar would like the sweet natured dog Pokemon.

[envy_the_sinners]

Watching Raikov latch onto Greed actually brought a bit of amusement to Scar's face. There was some kind of pleasure in it happening to someone else after he had put up with it for so long.

Especially when that someone was Greed.

"Have fun." There wasn't anything mischievous in his tone, but it was implied. Scar crouched closer to Feirefiz when he trotted over. This would be far easier with the Pokémon here.

[a_sin_for_him]

Well, that was that. Lust clasped her hands behind her back and began walking, following a little path off into the forest. Guttle and Feirefiz followed, the former rolling in circles around Scar's feet every now and again.

"I didn't know your traveling companion and mine knew each other," she began, once they were off on their own. It at least made for a good way to start the conversation, she'd been worried about a long awkward silence while she tried to think of something to say.

[envy_the_sinners]

The awkward cover of the others nearby gone, Scar followed after Lust with a bit of unease.

"He nearly threw a fit when he saw him down the road." Exaggeration? Maybe. But this was far easier to talk about than anything else.

[a_sin_for_him]

"Really? And Greed's never mentioned they were that close." Lust glanced over her shoulder back in the direction of their meeting place, frowning thoughtfully. The way Raikov had been so personal and affectionate with the other homunculus....

"He certainly seemed to act as though they were more than what I'd assumed...."

[envy_the_sinners]

"He's like that with everyone, if his behavior around me serves as any indication." Scar had grown relatively used to it over the past month or so.

Relatively.

"I've been propositioned more in the past month than I have in the rest of my life combined." Not that that was a very good base for comparison.

[a_sin_for_him]

"You did mention he'd made his interest in you clear." Lust hadn't mentioned any of that to Greed, it was Scar's business. "You'd think he'd take the hint, as they saying goes. It isn't as though you're secretive about the fact you don't have much interest in pursuing that manner of thing."

There was a reason she was just trying to be friends before entertaining the serious possibility of anything else.

[envy_the_sinners]

"He's irritating, but... he stays." Scar's voice was a notch quieter. That was the only real reason he let Raikov stick around. He was still here, for whatever reason. Scar didn't have to change for him. He hasn't ever been able to maintain a consistent companion of any sort who's there simply for the sake of being there.

He said nothing further, watching Miriam chase Guttle around his ankles rather than Lust or the road ahead.

[a_sin_for_him]

Lust glanced over at Scar, her expression mild but a touch puzzled.

"Why wouldn't he?" She didn't know anything about the man, really, other than he seemed to have a very bright disposition. But it wasn't as though Scar spit fire from his mouth every time he opened it or carried with him so malodorous miasma. Why wouldn't someone want to stay and travel with him?

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar's frown also turned a bit puzzled.

"I haven't exactly made it a secret that I find his constant advances irritating." That was half of the truth, at least. He could have chosen to tag along with just about anyone else. Anyone else far more likely to be fun and interesting and adventurous. All Scar did was wander around with his Pokémon. It worked for him, it was what he knew. But it wasn't ideal for keeping good company.

[a_sin_for_him]

"That doesn't mean he wouldn't want your friendship, even if nothing more were to come of it." Lust reached out to scratch her Furfrou's head, seeking the same method of avoidance in focusing on the Pokemon.

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar's frown deepened. He wasn't looking for an answer. She had a way of never just leaving things be.

"Well, I am not friendly, either. There is hardly anything to discuss. I was just expressing my confusion at the situation to the only person I can."

[a_sin_for_him]

"Some people aren't." Lust shrugged. "I'm only trying to help alleviate your confusion. You're brusque and surly and difficult to engage in conversation, it's true, but you do have plenty of positive qualities as well. You're just going to have to accept the fact that you aren't some utterly unlikable man with nothing to offer anyone else."

Sooner or later, he had to accept it. At least now maybe it would be easier to convince him than when he was on his own.

[envy_the_sinners]

Not this again.

"Fine." He wasn't agreeing with her, really. He just didn't want to talk about it any longer. Countering her point would only make her argue further. Scar took a steading breath, still watching the Pokémon.

"Was there anything you actually wanted to discuss?"

[a_sin_for_him]

"I just wanted to see you, I've told you that. I like seeing you and spending time with you." She glanced around them, and at the basket of lunch. She was well aware of how intimate it all seemed, which had never been the intention.

"I didn't mean for it to be like this," she added, looking down and sounding a touch sheepish.

[envy_the_sinners]

She just wanted to see him. Scar only continued to frown at the path ahead. That wasn't a reason for having someone cross an entire region, but fine. He didn't want to trigger another speech about his self worth.

He did, however, shoot her a cynical look when she brought up the uncomfortable nature of their so-called "meeting."

"How did you expect it to seem?" He had been awkward about the implications of this from the start, in spite of her insistence that she just wanted to talk.

[a_sin_for_him]

"Not so...you know what I'm talking about." She waved her hand vaguely, not wanting to actually have to say it. Lust did just want to talk, and spend time in each other's company. She wasn't so foolish as to think that simply because they were getting along alright that it automatically meant there was hope for anything more.

"I didn't intend for us to be spending our time together alone in the woods. But traveling's easier than I thought it would be, we make good time."

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar only made a small 'hm' at that.

"You could have just waited." He wasn't irritated that they had kept going, but this situation could have been avoided.

Though he also got the feeling that that was less on Lust and more on Greed.

[a_sin_for_him]

"We waited a bit. But we do want to get back to Goldenrod next month." And Greed wasn't one to stay in a single place for very long.

"Is it really so awful, to be alone with me?"

The question wasn't a hurt or upset one. She honestly wanted to know. If he was so uncomfortable at the idea of just spending a few hours alone with her like this, that rather answered everything she'd been curious about when she first invited him.

[envy_the_sinners]

"That isn't remotely what I said," Scar countered before he could hold his tongue.

"This is awkward, as you have pointed out, and I think we are both well aware why." It wasn't just because of the setting. It was because it was them. Her company wasn't unpleasant when she wasn't peppering him with uncomfortable topics and refuting everything he said.

[a_sin_for_him]

"I know it's not." Lust paused and turned, facing him. "But really that's why I wanted to do this. It doesn't have to be awkward. All I'm looking for is your friendship, if that's something we can share. But I don't want to push myself on you, or try and force something that you don't want."

Guttle came to an uneasy stop by his trainer's feet, looking up at both humans cautiously.

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar also paused and watched her, expression difficult to place. He was awkward with everyone. Hadn't she picked up on that, yet? She was a... special case, yes, but what did she hope of him, really?

"Then what do you want me to do?" It was an honest question. He put up with her, spoke to her when she called. She and Alphonse were really the only two people here he regularly spoke to at any great length. Raikov too, but only because they were traveling together.