[ he was, in a way, always surrounded, but not with the kind of warmth that people should have. ]
It's all right. It isn't exactly a secret. [ at least, he trusts nora not to spread it around. ] In my home world, I am set to inherit a massive family conglomerate - not unlike Weiss', if you need a comparison. There was a long time in my life where I was confined to only that future and nothing else. Most, if not all people that surrounded me were untrustworthy at best, and detestable at worst.
It wasn't until I began to walk my own chosen path that I was able to find people that took interest in me for my character, and not my family name. They remain my closest confidants to this day.
[ achievement unlocked: tragic backstories. he does know that he and weiss have some similarities, but that thought takes a back seat for what nora tells him next. ]
No one should have to go through that, especially someone as young as you.
[ he obviously can't do anything retroactively, but arceus knows that he'd give her what she'd need and more if they existed in the same world. there aren't many that live in those kinds of conditions where he comes from. ]
I'm relieved that you found a way to move forward. You're incredibly strong for being able to do that.
[No one should have to go through it, indeed. Nora would never wish her past on anyone else, even her worst enemies. It was a terrible life, living for the day, not knowing whether you had enough to survive and receiving only bullying and insults when you just wanted food and a safe home.
Honestly, she didn't blame Ren back then, for not doing anything when those bullies had ridiculed her clothes and how she had to steal stale bread for food. Perhaps he didn't want to get into trouble, or didn't know what to do.]
I was able to move forward with Ren. When his town was attacked and he lost his parents...we found each other. He...he saved me, with his Semblance.
Then, years later, we'd meet everyone else at Beacon.
I don't often chalk things up to fate, but I think the fact that you two remained partners even at Beacon after years of staying together speaks for itself.
[ he hopes that his words can bring some sort of hope for her. even if he's more of a firm believer in creating one's own destiny, the kind of close-knit relationship that nora is describing begs for something a little more special than just coincidence. ]
Keep that in mind. I have no doubt that you two will meet again, even if it may take a bit of waiting.
[And they do. After all, their relationship had blossomed from found friends...to family...to partners and teammates...to something so much more. Nora could almost feel hope swell slowly in her chest. Was it fate? Maybe, but at this point, it didn't matter. She and Ren had found each other, and they were never leaving each other.
At least, not purposely.]
Yeah. I know he's just in Remnant, and when I come back, I'll see him again.
[ he reminds himself of that very same thing every once and a while. his family and loved ones are safer than they would be here, and that's fine. it's about time he started to bear a burden himself.
that thought process makes him feel a bit pensive; for a moment, he's quiet. ]
Thank you for telling me all of this, Nora. [ ... ] Though we'll have to resume at a later date. I need to do some last-minute preparations for the excursion to Elios' domain tomorrow.
[Nora gets the need to prepare for excursions, though.]
You're going?
Ooh, I hope you find out more about Elios. And this place. It sounds pretty big, but then again, as Thras' representative, you must get a lot of work like this.
Just be careful, okay? We can have chocolate chip pancakes when you get back! Actually, I can pack you some pancakes before you go...
[At least it doesn't take long for Nora to return to her usual peppy self.]
I am. I've already gone to scout the area with a smaller group, and it's something that needs immediate attending to. While it isn't strictly a representative job, it's a duty of mine to do what I can.
[ still, he smiles. ]
I will. Pancakes will have to wait until I return, but that sounds very nice. [ he actually isn't just humouring her - that really does sound nice. ] Let's both get some rest for tonight.
[ and their link will go silent. the next morning, the elios group is preparing in front of the transporters, suiting up in their protective gear to head out. steven is slipping on a jacket, with metagross next to him on standby. ]
he has to squint at whatever is kicking up that dust cloud, but soon hears a familiar voice to go along with it. by the time he recognizes it, he's really not sure how to react. ]
[ good lord, they really are pancakes. at first he's at a loss for words - he appreciates the gift of course, but he can't guarantee at all that he'll be able to enjoy them. pancakes aren't exactly the most nutritious thing to eat on a dangerous excursion.
and yet, refusing them just doesn't seem like the right thing to do. maybe they'd be a good luck charm. ]
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. [ he takes the box. ] Thank you.
[ JESUS CHRIST SHE'S A HUGGER. steven isn't exactly the most fond of physical affection, but he's a little too distracted with being lifted into the air to show any kind of discomfort. he does have to bite his tongue to avoid making any kind of overly-embarrasing sound, but a small ulp does slip out. ]
It wasn't my intention to be...
[ he sighs in slight relief when she puts him back on solid ground, but it would just feel rude to not reciprocate. somewhat awkwardly, he raises his hand and gives her hair a gentle stroke. ]
[At least Nora figures out quickly that Steven doesn't deal well with huge hugs so she promptly puts him back down onto good, solid earth, a slightly crooked smile on her face. She lets out a chuckle when he strokes her hair.
Clearly she is not one who minds people getting up in her personal space.]
[ he's a little bit better with them once he gets over the initial "????" part of it, and being on solid ground also helps. he's still a little tense, but she can feel the tension in his shoulders relax somewhat. ]
Well, I won't argue in that case.
[ he gives her head a gentle pat. you're a good girl, nora. ]
[ if he weren't a mature adult, she'd most definitely get a flick on the forehead for being so silly. but he is, so he just shakes his head in amusement before parting from their hug. ]
We need to get going. I'll see you in two days' time.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
10/6/17 02:24 (UTC)[It may not be about Steven but Nora was so curious that she had to ask. Nora had always thought that Steven was always surrounded by people.
It turns out, he was more like Weiss, who had everything but did not have a lot of friends.]
Wait, you don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to. I just got...surprised.
(no subject)
10/6/17 02:43 (UTC)[ he was, in a way, always surrounded, but not with the kind of warmth that people should have. ]
It's all right. It isn't exactly a secret. [ at least, he trusts nora not to spread it around. ] In my home world, I am set to inherit a massive family conglomerate - not unlike Weiss', if you need a comparison. There was a long time in my life where I was confined to only that future and nothing else. Most, if not all people that surrounded me were untrustworthy at best, and detestable at worst.
It wasn't until I began to walk my own chosen path that I was able to find people that took interest in me for my character, and not my family name. They remain my closest confidants to this day.
(no subject)
10/6/17 03:37 (UTC)She waits for Steven to finish.]
Ohhhh.
[Her tone is soft. He really was a lot like Weiss.]
Well, I'm glad you found real friends and trustworthy people. And found what you really wanted to do.
I found friends and what I wanted to do, too. 'Cause I used to have literally nothing. I had no family, no home, not even anything to eat.
(no subject)
10/6/17 04:13 (UTC)No one should have to go through that, especially someone as young as you.
[ he obviously can't do anything retroactively, but arceus knows that he'd give her what she'd need and more if they existed in the same world. there aren't many that live in those kinds of conditions where he comes from. ]
I'm relieved that you found a way to move forward. You're incredibly strong for being able to do that.
(no subject)
10/6/17 06:54 (UTC)Honestly, she didn't blame Ren back then, for not doing anything when those bullies had ridiculed her clothes and how she had to steal stale bread for food. Perhaps he didn't want to get into trouble, or didn't know what to do.]
I was able to move forward with Ren. When his town was attacked and he lost his parents...we found each other. He...he saved me, with his Semblance.
Then, years later, we'd meet everyone else at Beacon.
(no subject)
10/6/17 07:16 (UTC)[ he hopes that his words can bring some sort of hope for her. even if he's more of a firm believer in creating one's own destiny, the kind of close-knit relationship that nora is describing begs for something a little more special than just coincidence. ]
Keep that in mind. I have no doubt that you two will meet again, even if it may take a bit of waiting.
(no subject)
10/6/17 07:29 (UTC)At least, not purposely.]
Yeah. I know he's just in Remnant, and when I come back, I'll see him again.
And where he is...he's safe.
[For now.]
(no subject)
10/6/17 07:39 (UTC)[ he reminds himself of that very same thing every once and a while. his family and loved ones are safer than they would be here, and that's fine. it's about time he started to bear a burden himself.
that thought process makes him feel a bit pensive; for a moment, he's quiet. ]
Thank you for telling me all of this, Nora. [ ... ] Though we'll have to resume at a later date. I need to do some last-minute preparations for the excursion to Elios' domain tomorrow.
[ it's not a lie, but... ]
(no subject)
11/6/17 11:31 (UTC)You're going?
Ooh, I hope you find out more about Elios. And this place. It sounds pretty big, but then again, as Thras' representative, you must get a lot of work like this.
Just be careful, okay? We can have chocolate chip pancakes when you get back! Actually, I can pack you some pancakes before you go...
[At least it doesn't take long for Nora to return to her usual peppy self.]
-> action
11/6/17 14:12 (UTC)[ still, he smiles. ]
I will. Pancakes will have to wait until I return, but that sounds very nice. [ he actually isn't just humouring her - that really does sound nice. ] Let's both get some rest for tonight.
[ and their link will go silent. the next morning, the elios group is preparing in front of the transporters, suiting up in their protective gear to head out. steven is slipping on a jacket, with metagross next to him on standby. ]
action
12/6/17 03:57 (UTC)Nora is running, practically kicking up a dust cloud at the speed she's going while clutching a box. Also, she's calling out:]
Steven! Wait! I know you said pancakes have to wait but you might get hungry on the waaaaaay!
(no subject)
12/6/17 04:03 (UTC)he has to squint at whatever is kicking up that dust cloud, but soon hears a familiar voice to go along with it. by the time he recognizes it, he's really not sure how to react. ]
...Nora?
(no subject)
12/6/17 04:11 (UTC)Ta-da!
(no subject)
12/6/17 04:15 (UTC)[ good lord, they really are pancakes. at first he's at a loss for words - he appreciates the gift of course, but he can't guarantee at all that he'll be able to enjoy them. pancakes aren't exactly the most nutritious thing to eat on a dangerous excursion.
and yet, refusing them just doesn't seem like the right thing to do. maybe they'd be a good luck charm. ]
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. [ he takes the box. ] Thank you.
(no subject)
12/6/17 04:37 (UTC)You're welcome! Don't eat 'em all at once!
[She would know what it's like to gobble up too many pancakes in one sitting.]
(no subject)
12/6/17 04:42 (UTC)he shifts his hold on the box to one arm, leaving the other free. ]
Did you come here just to bring me these?
(no subject)
12/6/17 04:50 (UTC)I wanted to thank you. For listening to me. The pancakes are kinda part of that, too.
(no subject)
12/6/17 04:58 (UTC)[ it brings a certain palpable warmth between them. it's subtle, but comforting. ]
You have plenty of people around you that you can confide in. I'm just glad that I can be considered one of them.
(no subject)
12/6/17 05:06 (UTC)[Nora opens her arms and embraces him tightly, even managing to lift him several inches off the ground.]
(no subject)
12/6/17 05:13 (UTC)It wasn't my intention to be...
[ he sighs in slight relief when she puts him back on solid ground, but it would just feel rude to not reciprocate. somewhat awkwardly, he raises his hand and gives her hair a gentle stroke. ]
(no subject)
15/6/17 13:12 (UTC)Clearly she is not one who minds people getting up in her personal space.]
You know how that works out. It just...happens.
[Nora shrugs.]
(no subject)
15/6/17 14:25 (UTC)Well, I won't argue in that case.
[ he gives her head a gentle pat. you're a good girl, nora. ]
(no subject)
17/6/17 13:08 (UTC)[Nora winks, allowing him to pat her on the head. It feels really nice.]
(no subject)
18/6/17 03:01 (UTC)We need to get going. I'll see you in two days' time.
(no subject)
19/6/17 13:28 (UTC)'Bye, Steven! 'Bye, everyone! [Of course Nora would say goodbye to the Pokemon.] See you in two days!
...Bring souvenirs if you can!