Grass Continent ~ Treasure Town Beach

[Virgil134]

"Eh? But we're on the same team. Why would she purposely try to hurt you?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"She already has." Cynthian paused to exhale again. He was growing more melancholic. "Perhaps you weren't around when she called me spineless and a coward. Even though she was right, I'm not looking forward to receiving that treatment a second time."

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot tilted his head, giving Cynthian a look of concern.

"What... happened exactly that made her do that? And when did it happen?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"It happened the morning after we first got here, I think," Cynthian began. Just recalling the instance made his shoulder leaves curl up. "She's not the first person to insult me for my cowardice, and she probably won't be the last."

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot paused.

"Wait, you mean the morning when we found out we had to fight Sushi and Sashimi?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Yeah... Everyone was already beginning to disperse at the time, hence why you missed it. If I'd known I'd have a horrible experience like that, I would've left the Square sooner as well."

 

[Virgil134]

"Well, everyone was very on edge that morning because our upcoming battle was gonna be twice that hard," Cabot began. "I'm not saying that what she did was good, but maybe that would explain why she acted that way. Whenever I've talked to Starr she always seemed pretty nice, so she could have just been in a bad mood at the time. She never acted like that a second time, did she?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"I don't know," Cynthian said with uncertainty. "I have avoided her ever since that day."

 

[Virgil134]

"Maybe you should try talking to her?" Cabot offered. "Things won't get any better if you keep avoiding her."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian pondered those words. He glanced at Starr over at the beach then took his eyes off her to take a deep breath.

"Okay... but please come with me, in case anything goes wrong," Cynthian pleaded with a bow.

 

[Virgil134]

"Alright, though I'm sure things will be fine!"

Cabot turned back towards the beach and made his way over to Starr alongside Cynthian, giving a cheery wave as he approached her.

"Hey there, Starr! Trying to figure out what Radiance abilities you got?"

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr looked up when Cabot spoke, slowly winding herself down from a sprint before trotting over to him.

"That was the idea, yeah. Just warming up with some regular moves right now. Don't wanna fucking explode," she said with a low chuckle. She cocked her head. "You out here for training too?"

Her eyes couldn't help sliding to Cynthian, who was cowering behind Cabot like he was about to piss himself. Jesus. What was he even doing here if he so obviously didn't want to be.

 

[Virgil134]

"I was actually here because the beach reminds me the most of my own world," Cabot answered. "Thought I'd take a moment to relax a little with everything that's happened the past two weeks, you know?"

The Cranidos shifted a bit, before continuing on. "That said... there was something Cynthian wanted to talk with you about."

And with that, Cabot grabbed Cynthian's arm and pulled him right in front of Starr with one swift tug.

 

[Adamhuarts]

Now that he was standing right in front of Starr and fully aware of her presence, Cynthian's mind and body both froze to a grinding halt.

What should he do? What should he say? Should he demand an apology, or should he be the one apologizing? His heart raced, his surroundings felt burning hot. Cynthian shook his head and took a step back, but then he was spurred out of his hellish daze when he bumped into Cabot.

That's right. He wasn't alone. Cabot was there for him even though he didn't have to be. That comforting thought brought Cynthian some ease of mind.

"I think you owe me an apology," Cynthian began with furrowed brows. Deep down, he was still afraid, but he'd swallowed up that fear as best he could. "What you said to me last time was deeply hurtful and uncalled for, so I want you to apologize."

 

[Chibi Pika]

"I was actually here because the beach reminds me the most of my own world," Cabot answered. "Thought I'd take a moment to relax a little with everything that's happened the past two weeks, you know?"

Starr relaxed slightly. "Yeah, I get that," she said, glancing out over the open waters. "You said you were navy, right? I get how the sea would be nostalgic, yeah." She didn't really... have a home back home. Nothing to feel homesick about. Nothing except... the people she'd left behind.

The Cranidos shifted a bit, before continuing on. "That said... there was something Cynthian wanted to talk with you about."

Starr raised an eyebrow, giving the Roselia a disinterested glance. "Yeah? What'cha need."

"I think you owe me an apology," Cynthian began with furrowed brows. Deep down, he was still afraid, but he'd swallowed up that fear as best he could. "What you said to me last time was deeply hurtful and uncalled for, so I want you to apologize."

Starr blinked in surprise, completely off guard. Apologize? "What are you on about?" she said, squinting at him. Last time, when was last time... before the first mission? That was two weeks ago and she'd left him alone ever since, why was he still bent up over that?

Starr glanced away with a dismissive huff. "It was just some stress-talking bullshit, you don't have to make a big deal out of it."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian stared at her for a long moment. He was expecting her to laugh, to scoff, to further insult him for asking her to apologize. Yet, she did not. Did he perhaps misjudge her character after all? Still, she hadn't apologized.

"It meant very little to you, but I've been told those kinds of hurtful words since I was a budew. They've called me spineless, just like you have, weak, green sprout," he raised his monochrome flowers. "Rose tinted. The list goes on."

Cynthian lowered his arms and sighed with downcast eyes. "You've probably never been trampled and pushed around all your life, so please, the least you could do is apologize. It'll at least convince me you're not like those bullies who forced me to quit daycare."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr stared at him in bewilderment. "God, you don't have to look so miserable," she said gruffly. Was he seriously that scared of her just because of that? She felt a weird flicker of satisfaction deep down, but it was followed by a burning, sickly feeling.

There were a dozen harsh words on her tongue, but she bit them back. It was strange, but she didn't really... want him to be scared of her. What was the point.

Starr glanced at Cabot who was giving Cynthian a look of reassurance and sympathy. Then she glanced away awkwardly, rubbing the back of one ear. She really didn't want Cabot to know the kind of garbage she was either.

What would Jade say? She'd probably say to apologize. God dammit.

"...Yeah it was kind of a dick move," she said finally, still avoiding eye contact. "Couldn't have been all true, though--you had the guts to say it to my face without backing down and all."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Starr never did give him the apology he had hoped for. Cynthian exhaled after she spoke. It was enough. Not what he wanted, but it was better than nothing at all.

"Thank you." A heavy weight lifted off Cynthian's shoulders. When he looked up at Starr, he no longer had the dreadful feeling that she might set him alight at a moment's notice. Indeed, she was not what he feared, but the all consuming flames she could command.

"I hope we can bury the hatchet now and be on good terms if that's alright with you."

 

[Chibi Pika]

That look he'd given her before--she could still see it in her mind. Like he thought she was gonna fucking maim him any second. It was weird. She'd never even touched him.

That look was gone now. Thank god. He wanted to move on now? Yes. Good.

"Yeah. Fine with me," Starr said, trying to sound casual. Then, grasping at some change of topic, she asked, "You guys figure out how to use Radiance yet?"

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot had silently watched the exchange between Starr and Cynthian, though couldn't help but feel sorry for the latter when he talked about getting bullied. He could only imagine what Cynthian must have gone through for his parents to pull him out of daycare entirely. When Starr admitted she was in the wrong and Cynthian thanked her for it, he smiled and wagged his tail slightly.

"Well, I'm glad you guys are getting along a little better," Cabot said. "And I haven't yet. It's tricky because I don't know what these powers will do exactly. At least with something like TM moves I know what to train for."