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

[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.

[a_sin_for_him]

"Relax some." Lust tucked a bit of hair back behind her ear, her lips quirked in a small half smile.

"You're like a man who's not certain whether or not he's walking into a trap. You aren't. It's a nice day, the forest is scenic, we have a lunch, our Pokemon are enjoying themselves...there's no reason for us not to, as well."

[envy_the_sinners]

"I am relaxed." It was the only thing Scar could possibly think to respond with. It was like she didn't even know him. He wasn't constantly looking over his shoulder, he was walking at a reasonably slow pace. Relaxed.

It was starting to dawn on Scar that he really didn't know the meaning of being relaxed anymore, but that was just the way it was. He couldn't undo more than a decade of tense alertness and mistrust. He was jittery around Lust. He just was.

[a_sin_for_him]

Lust's expression was warm but amused.

"Scar...I mean relaxed. By the same standards the majority of people use. Not just moderately less tense and paranoid." Though that was a good start. Were he another man, she'd take his hand or put hers on his forearm. But she knew Scar, touching him would have the exact opposite response she was trying to coax.

[envy_the_sinners]

"Yes, because I can just do that." He wasn't irritated at her, he was irritated at himself. He couldn't ever get past it. Not after what life had thrown at him for so long. Something awful was always coming.

How could he be happy with all of that looming over his head?

[a_sin_for_him]

"You can try." Lust took a seat on a nearby rock and gestured for Scar to make himself comfortable as well.

"I mean really try. It's not as though it's something that comes easily, but god knows you have enough determination and drive. Why not try channeling that into yourself?"

[envy_the_sinners]

"What do you think I have been doing for the past five months?" He continued to frown at Lust as she sat down. He remained standing out of instinct.

He was trying. Wasn't this foolishness proof enough? He was raising brightly colored animals in a world where their biggest concern was which Pokémon horde would swarm in next? Scar felt as if he had already tried everything. This was some place where he could be relatively okay, but that was just in theory. He still caught himself muttering, still jumped when a door slammed, still glared at any stranger who looked at him the wrong way.

[a_sin_for_him]

"I think that you've been trying in your way, and in whatever ways you think might work, but I can't imagine you've ever sat down with someone and learned how. Sit down, Scar." Lust gestured again.

"I've been given a great deal of advice on regulating and understanding my own emotions and reactions from a young human friend of mine, I think some of it could be helpful for you as well."

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar hovered for another moment before sitting stiffly on the side of the path. He almost didn't just on the principle that she had told him to.

"I am not looking for advice." Now, he felt awkward and annoyed. He had been doing fine, until she started talking about this. Miriam nudged at his lap, but he largely ignored her.

[a_sin_for_him]

"But why not take it, when it's offered?" There was genuine curiosity in Lust's voice. "It isn't as though it's going to hurt anything. At absolute worst, you spend a short time sitting in the woods."

[envy_the_sinners]

"Because it's not helping." He didn't mean to snap, but his instincts were kicking in like he was some cornered animal.

"It's souring what could have been a perfectly pleasant discussion. We have been dealing with one another fine. Getting better. But then you try to force things forward without just letting them run their course. If I had known that this was going to be all about my own issues, I wouldn't have come."

[a_sin_for_him]

Lust looked down at her hands, twisting them together in her lap. Her hair fell over her face and she left it there, biting her lower lip. She felt sick and strange. A trembling sort of weakness she didn't quite understand went through her and she swallowed hard."

"I'm sorry." Her voice was very quiet. "I...was trying to help. I'm not very good at helping."