Tree of Life ~ Exterior

[Ambyssin]

That pun was groan-inducing but somehow Bahamut managed to avoid reacting that way. "Uh-huh. So, how did you saddle up with this group anyway? I heard rumblings your team's as much a ragtag group as ours is."

 

[Namohysip]

"Um, well..." Potluck glanced over at Brisa and Dave, perhaps looking for a distraction. Xerneas had already retreated into the depths of the forest. "I mean, you know. They found me and I wanted to go along! It seemed like a lot of fun!"

 

[Ambyssin]

Potluck must've thought Bahamut senile. "Your lying skills could use a bit of work, little one. There's little you can say I haven't heard before. Comes with being old."

 

[Disco]

Raven looked up at Potluck and tilted her head at him. "It's ok. We aren't going to judge you for anything."

 

[Namohysip]

"I-it's really nothing bad," Potluck said , fidgeting. It was probably something bad. "B-besides, I haven't had to put my helmet on at all! So it's fine. I don't really need to talk about it."

 

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut did his best to keep a straight expression. "A helmet? Why would you need a helmet?"

 

[Namohysip]

"Well, um..." Potluck fidgeted again. His tail had stopped wagging some time ago. "It's nothing bad. Anymore. Just, you know. I was... created wrong. Or I'm not supposed to be like this. Y-you know, like your friend, Owen? Only to help me stay in control if something slips, I have the helmet. It used to hurt a lot, but Maple found a world that made it easier to wear..."

 

[Ambyssin]

Created wrong, huh? Perhaps the same could have been said for that infernal Dark Omen. Anyone saying Eternatus offered salvation was clearly wrong in every way, shape, and form.

... perhaps the same could've been said of him.

Bahamut reached his wing over and pet Potluck. "It doesn't matter how you were made. It seems like you're doing the best you can." He paused. "Not that I really know exactly what your team has done outside this planet. But the point stands."

 

[Namohysip]

"We do lots of good stuff!" Potluck nodded. "Before Cibus, we helped out a buncha different worlds!" His fishtail wagged again. At least he was quick to bounce back. He must get along with Owen. "Aside from Joule, I've been with Blad--Maple the longest. Mostly because I don't die."

 

[Ambyssin]

"So we share the same curse, then." Bahamut scratched behind one of Potluck's ears. Surprisingly soft. He must've used good conditioner. "But wait... what do you mean by 'the longest?' Had they only just started to make the team?"

 

[Namohysip]

"No," Potluck said. "Just that God Squad members come and go! We save some of them and let them tag along to help out, and when they eventually find a good place to stay, we can leave them behind to live peacefully in a world they can call home."

 

[Ambyssin]

"... except for you," Bahamut said. "You've yet to find a world you like? Or are there, perhaps, other reasons keeping you around?"

 

[Namohysip]

"U-um." Potluck looked down again. "...Well... Most of the time people are pretty unnerved by me and stuff. Kinda like Flesh. And, well..." He prodded at the ground with a claw. "I dunno. I guess I'm not ready." Evasive answer as usual, but it didn't look like it would do much good to press so much so suddenly.

 

[Ambyssin]

"That so?" Bahamut didn't buy it, but he wasn't about to try and smash a brick wall with an Iron Head. He just kept scratching at Potluck's ear. "It's not very fun, is it? Going to other worlds. Thinking you're making a difference for them. But when you try to extend a limb in friendship, you're chased off. Or captured. Or your powers are almost taken.

"Must be nice to at least have someone to come home to."

 

[Disco]

Raven frowned a bit but didn't interrupt. She simply placed a hand on Potluck's foreleg in solidarity.

 

[Namohysip]

Potluck seemed to enjoy the scritches, but what Bahamut was saying didn't settle the same way. "It's not really like that. I'm just... scary. It's the same reason Maple stuffs herself in that Smeargle body most of the time, you know?"

 

[Ambyssin]

"You don't think I'm scary?" A beat passed. "Well, you're around Joule, so that would probably make you a bit biased. But people generally don't want to befriend monstrous killers."

 

[Namohysip]

"Oh..." Potluck looked down. "Well... I haven't killed in a very long time, though. That's what the helmet is for!" He nodded. "And I haven't had to use it in a while, either. They... helped to stabilize me after, you know, I was created wrong."

 

[Ambyssin]

"I was talking about me. Mismatched or not... you're like a little puppy. I bet your hind leg kicks at the air when someone rubs your belly."

 

[Namohysip]

"N-nu-uh!" That was a lie. "Besides, I don't get how anyone can be afraid of you. You look just like Joule! Unless maybe you keep meeting people who are nocturnal... I guess that might bother you. There was one time we were in a world that didn't like sunlight at all, so we had to wrap Joule up in a bunch of blankets and stuff!"