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Nature's Story

Part 2 - Friends

"So, there I was." Prometheus proclaimed loudly, speaking over the snickering Pokémon around him. "Sitting there, this small library room, this cute boy squeezed underneath the desk - and it was a hell of a squeeze - when guess what happened?"

"A knock on the door?" Ventured Ceylon, the Luxray lounging back in an armchair, only just holding a half-full wine glass in one paw as he looked on with a smirk.

"A knock? No, no." Prometheus continued in his thick Greek accent, then paused, the Arcanine's smile spreading across his muzzle. "The door _bursts_open, and in comes my tutor!"

Laughter sprang up around him - not just from the Pokémon he was talking to, but a few neighbouring tables that had turned to listen to the anecdote. From his place, grasped and held against the Arcanine's underside, Nature glanced around with a gentle blush. By now, half of the Waiter's Lounge was hanging onto the words of the slightly tipsy fire-type, who didn't seem to care even if he had noticed.

"They saw everything!?" Sinister asked, across from the two of them. The Mightyena was barely holding back a fit of giggles.

"Oh, no, no. The desk had this, er, board, facing the door? She couldn't see a thing. Which is good, because he didn't stop!"

More laughter, and Nature found himself caught up in it. The Lucario held an empty wine glass in one paw, the other pulling slightly on his tail. The effect of the alcohol was creeping up on all of them it seemed, himself included.

"And she starts shouting at me, saying how I've not yet handed in my report or something, how I'm late already... to be honest, I wasn't really paying attention."

"With a Houndoom around your dick?" Aquarius mused, the Keldeo taking a swig of a beer before leaning slightly against Sinister. "Can't imagine why...."

"And it gets worse." Prometheus said, raising his voice again over the Keldeo's. "Because after about a minute, two minutes, the librarian comes in and starts telling my lecturer off for shouting! She said, er, she said... 'My Library is for reading and...' ...er... 'studying only. If you're going to do that, get out.'

"And he's still going?" Ceylon asked, lounging only further back into his armchair.

"Still going!" shouted Prometheus to another peal of laughter. "There they are, shouting at each other only two metres away, and he's still sucking! I think he started doing it faster!"

Sinister shrieked, collapsing onto her side, leaning on the Keldeo as she was seized by another fit of laughter. Nature watched her, trying to suppress his own, keeping his glass as stable as he could make it despite his chest twitching with the convulsions. His eyes wandered towards each of the four around him, and even to some of the waiters sitting nearby.

"So..." Aquarius said, and then took a moment to breathe in and out slowly. "So... I expect... y'know, after all that, you learnt your lesson, right?"

Prometheus gave another deep chuckle, and gestured again with a large paw. "Heh, oh yeah, yeah, I did, I did." he said. Another pause, before the paw landed on Nature's thigh. "It's fucking amazing."

Nature blushed heavily as yet more laughter rippled over them. He pulled on his tail, casting only a brief glance at the Arcanine, who grinned knowingly back at him.

"Yeah, well..." Aquarius replied, waving a hoof dismissively. "Just don't let Jack catch you, is all I'm saying. Yeah?"

"Too late for that..." Nature muttered, his mouth flickering with a grin.

Ceylon darted forwards, eyes going wide. "Oooooh, Natuuuure...." He purred loudly, smirking in lopsided way. The Lucario just tipped his glass slightly, inhaling the remaining scent of the fruity, strong liquid. His mind flashed with the effect of the alcohol.

"Well, I guess that's what friends are for, right?" Ceylon said with a smirk. "I mean, stuffing under a desk isn't a very general description, but it still fits, right?"

"If it fits anywhere, it's here." Smiled Aquarius, finishing his beer. "Friends from Café Plaisir. Plaisir Friends?"

"'Plaisir Friends'?" exclaimed Sinister incredulously. "Sounds like some Saturday Morning cartoon."

The Luxray blinked while she sniggered. "What!? What cartoons do they show these days!? Gordon Bennett, it can't have changed _that_much since I stopped watching!"

Aquarius smirked. "C'mon. It'll have to be after 9pm, but it's gotta be someone's fetish."

"Voyeurism, Apate." Prometheus shot at him. "Even I know that word."

"Oh, go... drink... your Ouzo." Aquarius muttered back, and gave a smirk as he reached for a new beer.

"Gladly, my friend." Prometheus smirked heavily, reaching for the clear bottle on the low table in front of him with his mouth, never once removing his other paw from Nature's thigh.

The door to the lounge thumped open. Ceylon looked towards it, ignoring the Arcanine swigging straight from the bottle, and his eyes lit up. "Aha, and since we're talking about friends...!"

The Ninetales worked his way through the tables towards Ceylon's beckoning smile, pale golden fur neat and shining in the light. His tails filled his wake, but they never seemed to hit anyone. Instinctively, it seemed that people who weren't even paying attention leaned or moved aside as the fox passed.

"I do hope that wasn't a pun on my name," Firenze said, his red gaze holding Ceylon's, "Otherwise I'd have to tell you that your humour has slipped to a new, dangerous low."

"Tch, and that's saying something for a Brit..." Sinister hiccuped, grasping a newly refilled glass of wine and pressing it to her lips.

Ceylon leaned forwards defensively. "First, no, second, that's the Germans with no humour, ours is flawless, and third... why the hell are you workin', eh?"

"Because some of us have to do a job around here to keep this place running." Firenze replied. There was an air of pride in his words. "There are people to be served, after all."

"Leave it to others, one night!" Ceylon smiled, staring at him. "C'mon, sit and drink!"

"You seem to have little seating, for starters..."

"That's what this cocksock said." Prometheus interjected. The paw on Nature's thigh pressed down roughly, and the Lucario felt his face grow warm.

Firenze smiled gently. "As for the drinking, well, you appear to have that market sufficiently cornered without me." He glanced across the table, then across the assembled waiters. He paused at Sinister, who'd already gulped down more than half of her latest glass. "Speaking of which, I'll choose not to say anything about anyone here under the legal drinking age."

Sinister glared back at him, her glass never leaving her lips. "Hey, if I'm old enough to sell my body, I'm old enough to drink."

Firenze raised an eyebrow, but said no more, turning back to Ceylon. The Luxray grasped at his own long, black tail as he stared at the Ninetales.

"C'mon. Half an hour?"

"I'm afraid not." Firenze smiled at them all. Nature watched him closely.

Ceylon leaned forwards. "In that case, a small glass. You can drink it and go. And you can't say you're not allowed to drink on the job, I_work_here, I know the rules!"

"Yes, and I'm your boss, so be careful." Firenze bantered back, and then paused, before giving a slight nod. "Very well. A _small_glass."

Ceylon's giddiness was infectious as he gathered the required materials and poured Firenze half a glass of the next bottle of wine, and then quickly filled up Nature's and Sinister's before administering to his own. Aquarius acquired another bottle of beer from the quickly filling table, while Prometheus still had the Ouzo in his possession.

Nature sat back, paws clutching his glass again, and found himself nestling into the Arcanine's fur.

"In that case, a toast" Ceylon announced, raising up his glass. "Yes, another one." He continued, ignoring the overdramatic groan of Sinister. The Mightyena flopped against Aquarius, who rolled his eyes and gave her a shove. Meanwhile, Prometheus prepared his own glass with probably three shots worth of Ouzo, and Nature noticed him staring at Aquarius.

There was silence in the group, and the Lucario looked up. Firenze and Ceylon were watching each other, before the Luxray gave Nature a sideways glance and toothy smile, and raised his glass.

"To friends."

* * *

Two years ago

Robin stared down at the bulky object in his paws, a mix of cold plastic and colder metal, weighing just as much as it sounded. A blunted claw traced along the ports across one side.

"A laptop..." His mother said, in the driver's seat in front of him. "Really? I don't see why need a laptop now in school. Is normal learning not good enough or something?"

Robin glanced out across the flat landscape as it whizzed past them. It was only the two of them in the car, driving down the sole road, past the fields. It wasn't too far to home.

The object felt alien in Robin's paws. It was his?

"Why did the school have it in storage, anyway? How many laptops does a school need? And to have them call me up like that because they needed me to sign it off.... I thought you were in trouble!" She looked over, and gave a smile, her earrings tinkling. "Well, lucky you don't have anyone to get you into that kind of stuff, right?"

Robin stayed silent. His chest felt tight all of a sudden.

"Well, perhaps now you'll be able to really-"

"Mom, why don't you let me stay behind at school more?"

There was silence in the car. It felt colder than the laptop.

"Don't interrupt me." His mother said, the female Lucario staring at the road ahead of them. "Especially not when you know the answer."

"But there are so many clubs, like... like reading, and foreign languages, and study sessions, and..."

"I told you, you _know_why."

"If it's not safe, why do so many people stay?"

"Clearly, because their parents don't care." She said distantly, turning onto another road. Robin was silent for a while before he next spoke.

"Maybe... maybe if I go to them, I can make some friends, and then maybe I-"

"Robin, I've told you. What if something happens? What if you can't get a bus home? What if it gets dark and someone tries to rob you? What if the school is-"

"I can get my friends to give me a lift, then! I-"

"Get in the car of a total stranger's family!?" She exclaimed, blinking and casting a shocked look towards her son. "Are you mad? Anything could happen!"

Silence again. Robin felt his heart pounding.

His mother sighed. "I'm not going to expose you to anything that may happen there. I know what goes on after school, between... students and all. I've heard quite enough of it, and I'll be... I'll make sure none of that happens to you. You can rest assured of that. Don't worry."

The tightness in Robin's chest was back. His mind was swimming with retorts and comebacks. He imagined whole trees of dialogue, whole conversations, and how he'd trump her in every one.

And he said nothing.

"What..." His mother queried, her voice trailing off, and Robin looked up. She was frowning, mouth slightly open, staring ahead. Robin followed her gaze.

They were approaching the house. Half in the road, half on the grass, was another car. Beside it, a human woman leant back with her arms folded, talking to Robin's stepfather. The Hitmonchan had his arms on his hips, looking behind the car. A couple of metres away sat a Luxray, who turned to look at the approaching vehicle.

Robin's mother turned into the driveway and stopped the car in a rush. Robin noticed her paws scrabble slightly at the car key as she tugged it out. He glanced down, held tightly to the laptop, and opened the car door.

The air was cool and fresh, the result of a surprisingly temperate late-spring day. He took a moment to draw a long breath - he'd made a habit of it recently - before exhaling and turning to the commotion.

By the time he'd gotten close enough, an argument was in full swing. His mother was talking quickly to his stepfather, who in turn was making some rather loud and direct statements back again. Now at a different angle, Robin could see his brother sitting on the grass beside the car. He seemed to be watching the woman.

"Listen, dear, it's fine. I'm handling this." His stepfather commented, clearly making an effort to be heard. "Once I get the tire on, they can be on their way as soon as." He patted the female Lucario on the shoulder, and smiled as he turned back around. "I'm sorry about that. Now, er, where were we? The tire? Yes. Jake, give the car another good lift, will you?"

Robin clutched the laptop to his front, watching as his brother hoisted the car up, and the Hitmonchan ducked down at the tire. It was evidently flat, the rubber hanging off it limply like an old sock.

"Is he always like this?"

Robin jumped, turning. The Luxray had padded up to him, and he now sat down, observing the scene unfolding in front of them.

"Like what?" Robin said, trying to suppress the shakiness in his voice.Someone was... talking to him.

"A pompous hard-ass." The Luxray continued, impassively. Robin swallowed, looking back to his stepfather. The Hitmonchan didn't seem to have heard - he was too busy taking a spanner from the woman.

"Well... He's not always so..."

"Yes?" The Luxray said, and turned to smile at him. Robin met his gaze. There was something there.

"...Y-yeah..." Robin said quietly. The Luxray's eyes flickered, and then he began to chuckle. The black fur on his shoulders and mane waved with the motions, jolting a small, leather bag that had been strapped to his side. He bared white teeth in a broad smile. Robin felt laughter welling up inside his own chest. He coughed, clutching the laptop harder, as a smile crept across his muzzle.

The Luxray's laugh stopped eventually, and they watched more of the scene for a bit longer.

"I... thought you might tell him I said that, or something..." Robin said slowly. The Luxray looked back at him.

"Why?" He asked.

Robin said nothing, looking away.

"Oh."

He felt a tail tap at his shin, and he looked down at the pale yellow four-pointed star, before back up at the Luxray it belonged to.

"He's not a nice guy, is he?" the electric-type asked, staring at the Lucario.

Robin continued his silence. The Luxray joined him for a while, and they watched as the group in front of them manhandled a spare wheel into place.

"That your laptop?" The Luxray asked eventually. Robin glanced down, and then nodded.

"Yeah, I just got it today. School gave it to me. Said I need one for the course, and since I'm the only one without one, they found one in storage to give to me..."

"Wait. This your first?"

Robin nodded. The Luxray smiled.

"Oh... don't you have fun ahead of you..."

Robin frowned. "What do you mean?"

The Luxray gave a knowing smile, looking the Lucario over. "Never had the internet, huh?"

"No." Robin said. Others in his class talked about it a lot, and he knew his parents used it. He also knew he needed it for school, but... there was more than just the school's teaching site, wasn't there?

"Well..." He wore a grin. "You'll know a lot more about it soon. If you need help, ask your teacher. Could try asking your fellow pupils too, but don't go to any sites they tell you to." He smirked for a moment. "Well, not unless you're alone."

Robin looked at him perplexed. His mind began to see a cloud of uncertainty before him. Just what did he hold in his hands?

"Hey, Lewis, we're done here." The woman called over to them. Robin jumped, staring wide-eyed ahead. Jake was dusting off his paws, and his stepfather was giving the spare wheel an experimental kick. His mother seemed to have disappeared, until Robin spotted her at the front door, staring at the group intently.

The Luxray looked at him with a reluctant smile. "I think that's all I have time for."

Robin felt a lump in his throat, and he started to form a word, but stopped quickly.

The electric type seemed to notice though. He paused, and then reached a paw down into his bag, retrieving a flyer and a pen. He grasped the latter between two digits, and began to write something down the border.

"If you're wondering... it took a lot of practice. Not every feral can write so easily." He said, and slid the pen back into his pack, holding out the flyer. "There. Quick, slide it into your laptop, and whatever you do, don't let your parents see it. Alright?"

Robin did so, barely glancing at the title of the flyer. His paws felt cold, and he could feel his heart beating again.

"I put my email down on there. If you ever need help, just send me a message, and I'll reply when I can."

"Email...?" Robin parroted with incomprehension.

The Luxray paused. "...You'll find out" he said with a smile.

"Oi,Lou" Came the call from the woman. The Luxray rolled his eyes.

"Okay, yes, now I really need to go. I can't just take that, can I?" He grinned, and flicked his tail at the bemused Lucario. "Take care. And remember what I said, alright?" He turned away, then paused, and looked back.

"One more thing." He said, staring Robin straight in the eyes. Suddenly, they seemed... so much deeper, so much heavier. Those were eyes that ghosts swam behind.

"It gets better."

The Luxray's voice was strangely heavy when he said that. Robin swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat.

Suddenly, the feline was grinning again, and flicked his tail. The air crackled with static. "Catch ya later!"

Robin watched him climb back into the car, and saw the woman give a wave to the family as they drove off.

He stood there for a few moments more. That was not a like conversation he'd ever had with anyone else. He... he said his father was a pompous hard-ass. And Robin... had agreed.... And what did he mean anyway, 'it gets better'? He clenched his paws a little tighter, staring as the car disappeared around a bend. In his grasp, the laptop burned.

"Robin!"

His mother's voice cut through his reverie. He turned to find her staring at him.

"Come on, get inside!"

Robin shouldered his way through the door and past his mother, who didn't move until he was all the way inside. He stood in the hallway for a moment, before walking slowly towards the lounge. His stepfather's voice was already booming off the walls.

"Yeah, well, we did a good job with that wheel, didn't we?" He was saying, and Robin walked in to see him giving Jake a playful punch on the arm. "Yeah, that thing ain't comin' off soon. That's what I'm talkin' about, that strength!"

"Yeah, that's what those weights are for. Come on, Dad. Should grab some of them yourself next time we're at the Gym."

His stepfather gave a snort of amusement. "Pah! You think I don't? Think you can challenge me, can you?"

"You seen how much I can bench press?"

"Lad, I can bench press what you can any day of the week. I'll show ya, I'm telling you!"

"Simon..." Robin's mother's voice cut in sharply, full of concern. Robin cast a glance at her from the side of the room. She frowned at his stepfather, eyes betraying her worry.

"Yes, what?"

"Who were those people? A couple of travellers? Really?"

"Yes, Catherine, just a couple of travellers."

"How could you just let them-"

"Now now, do you think I wanted them to stop here?" Robin's stepfather stood up, turning to the female Lucario. "Their car had a flat tire. They pushed it from half a mile down the road! They said that if they didn't get help, they'd have to wait for someone else, and I didn't want them hanging around here. This was the best way to get them out of here quickly, and it showed them how nice we are too. Isn't that right?"

Robin's mother paused, giving a shaky sigh. "I know, I know, but... did we even know where they were going?"

"Hah. Don't know. Nowhere good, I expect. That Luxray had a weird voice, and that woman looked a bit odd too. She had a nose piercing, did you see?"

That didn't seem to alleviate the female Lucario's mood. The Hitmonchan put an arm around her shoulders.

"Now now, Catherine, they're gone now. Don't you worry - with any luck, we won't be seeing them anymore!"

Jake laughed. Robin frowned, noticing the pause in the conversation.

"Dad, I..."

Robin faltered as the Hitmonchan turned to look at him. There was an expression that flashed across his face - like surprise, almost?

"I... was wondering if I could stay behind at school, for..."

"Oh, my..." his Mother said over him, sighing and walking away. His stepfather just frowned at him.

"What, stay behind at school?" He paused. "Why?"

Robin looked away. "Well, I mean, there are a few things that go on there. Like, um, reading classes, and chess, and foreign languages-"

"Foreign languages?" His stepfather asked, and Robin watched him smile. His heart, that had begun to climb very slightly, plummeted as the Hitmonchan broke out into laughter.

"What do you want any of that stuff for? That stuff won't make you a man, boy! You want to be a big strong Lucario, like Jake! Nah. They offer any weight lifting classes at that school of yours? Training, stuff like that? What about Business, any of those sorts of things...?"

Robin shook his head at all of them.

"Hah, you see? Nothing like that. Tell you what though, me and Jake can start taking you to our Gym more. I'm the manager, remember? I can get you on all sorts of equipment. You'll be a big strong guy in no time, and no need for any of those classes of yours." He smiled, folding his arms.

Robin opened his mouth, then shut it and nodded. "Okay, Dad."

"Haha, there we go. Meantime, let's build some character!" He turned, gesturing at Jake too. "Come on, you two! The car probably needs a good scrub down, since that's the theme for today."

"Do I get to do the outside?" Jake asked quickly.

"'Course. C'mon Robin, put that thing down. Chop chop, gotta get that energy flowing!"

Robin nodded. He'd been eying his room, and now with his stepfather turning away and Jake moving for the door, he managed to duck back out in the hallway and push his way through the heavy door. He waited for it slide to a close, and staring at it for another fearful second, he dropped the Laptop on the bed and pulled out the flier.

"Robin! Hurry up!"

He bit his lip and looked around for a moment. Eventually, he made a decision, and went to the cabinet full of those old VHS tapes. Tilting it forwards, he made a gap against the wall big enough to drop it behind. No time to read it now. Not now.

"ROBIN!"

He let the cabinet drop back into position, and let out a breath he'd been holding in. His heart pounded.

He dropped his schoolbag to the floor, and went to the door again, tugging it open. He could already hear his brother calling from outside. His stepfather glared at him. "What's taking you so long? Your brother's waiting!"

Robin nodded, and let the door close behind him. Through the rapidly diminishing gap, he glanced the laptop lying on his bed.

It was just a piece of metal and plastic, right? Why did it appear to be... waiting, to him? Why did he feel so apprehensive about it?

The door shut with a low thump. Robin sighed slowly, softly, trying not to be heard.

And what did that Luxray mean... 'It gets better'?

* * *

A few months later

[01:13:11] Sera: Hehey there, you. Sorry I got back so late, was out watching the pride.

Robin swallowed, clicking the new message to open it up. The conversation window flashed in front of him.

[01:13:21] Sera: But then, a Meowstic's gotta do what a Meowstic's gotta do!

[01:13:30] Sera: Meow meow! Anyway, how're things down in the south?

The Lucario smiled for a moment before typing back.

[01:13:46] Robin Jensen: Hi Sera. Not much, I've just been looking online.

[01:13:54] Sera: Oh yeah? You do your homework like a good pup? >3

Robin clenched his paws slightly. His heart beat faster as images flashed through his mind.

[01:14:18] Robin Jensen: I don't know what you mean. I didn't get any homework today.

[01:14:26] Sera: Don't play coy, little 'cario. You know /exactly/ what Meow's talking about.

Robin swallowed, glancing over at his door. His room was a mess of vague shapes and grey shadows, illuminated only by the pale, washed-out blue light of the laptop screen. He looked back at the message, then up again, his eyes wandering to the window next to him. The sky seemed to be clearing up at last, he noted to himself.

[01:15:18] Robin Jensen: ...yes. I looked at the site.

[01:15:21] Sera: Aaaaaand?

He stared at the screen. Somewhere below the laptop's warm, plastic base, he felt an uncomfortably stirring.

[01:15:39] Robin Jensen: It... did things.

[01:15:44] Sera: Hah. Called it, babe~

[01:15:52] Sera: Hell, I don't even swing that way, and I /know/ it's good stuff. Go on, tell me more. What did you think?

He bit his lip, closing his eyes for a moment. Tentatively, he let the feelings of the world around him edge into his perception. It was little more than coloured blobs, but it wasn't like his Aurasight was strong yet. He was only a kid, after all. Even so, he could sense no-one else awake in the house. Maybe...

He breathed slowly.

[01:17:11] Robin Jensen: I don't understand. There was... so much on there. I could only see a couple of the videos... they took ages to download... and I couldn't hear the sound, of course. But... there must have been a hundred pictures.

[01:17:36] Sera: Dude, you're serious, aren't you? You really haven't been on a porn site before now?

[01:17:52] Robin Jensen: Of course not. I shouldn't.

[01:18:00] Sera: Shouldn't why? Because you're underage?

Robin could feel his chest tighten. His paws tapped quicker on the keyboard.

[01:18:09] Robin Jensen: Yes! I mean, apart from anything else, it's illegal!

[01:18:19] Sera: Illegal? To look at porn? Well, let's just go arrest every teenager in the damn country then, shall we?

[01:18:40] Robin Jensen: You're exaggerating. That doesn't happen.

[01:18:55] Sera: ...wow, you're for real...

[01:19:05] Sera: Sorry for shouting a bit there. I don't think I've talked to anyone like you before.

[01:19:22] Robin Jensen: What do you mean?

[01:21:01] Sera: Robin - any kid with a laptop can get to any website they like, and there's a lot of sites out there. I've heard it only takes eleven clicks to get from any one site to another. And beyond putting up a warning message, there's fuck all the owners can do about it.

The tightening in his chest hadn't gone away. He scrolled the tiny window back up to re-read the previous message.

[01:21:59] Robin Jensen: That doesn't answer my question.

[01:22:38] Sera: ...yeah, point, sorry. I don't mean it in a bad way, I just... I've never met someone completely new to online pornography before. I thought you were almost out of middle school.

[01:22:49] Robin Jensen: I am. I'm an adult in a year.

The Lucario glowered at the screen.

[01:23:11] Sera: ...yikes. Open mouth, insert foot.

[01:23:32] Sera: So, er... this is probably a very personal question, so feel free to not answer or talk about something else, but...

[01:23:42] Sera: Why haven't you done this before? Go on those kinda websites, I mean.

Robin stared out of the window after reading the message. The answer was clear. Well, aside from the whole illegal thing. He didn't get why he had to explain it.

He sighed quietly, and after a moments consideration, decided to type it out anyway.

[01:28:14] Robin Jensen: Well, aside from it being against the law, I just shouldn't. My Mom's always talking about it. She always says it's horrible, that I'll burn my computer or something doing it, and Dad just says that that kind of pornography is disgusting! They don't talk about it much, but... from what they have said, I know how they feel. I've heard them talking about it in private too.

[01:28:29] Sera: Wait - stop.

Robin saw the message and paused in his typing. An unfinished sentence hung on the screen as Sera wrote a response.

[01:28:37] Sera: What do you mean, 'that' kind of porn?

Robin breathed in and out slowly. He erased the half-finished sentence.

[01:28:56] Robin: Well... you know.

[01:29:03] Sera: ...

[01:29:10] Sera: Oh, man. You're talking about it being gay stuff, aren't you.

Robin put a paw on his laptop's screen, ready to close it. It was like an instinct. He stared at the door to his room for a few seconds - in the computer's dim light, it's dark, rough surface was a huge black shadow.

It took him a moment before he could bring himself to respond. He tried not to look too closely at that word.

[01:30:01] Robin Jensen: Yes. I am.

[01:30:05] Sera: ...Aw, shit.

[01:30:33] Sera: Sorry, boy. I didn't realise it was like that in your place. I mean, I know the stereotype of the south, but still...

[01:30:36] Robin Jensen: Please don';t call me boy.#

[01:30:58] Sera: ....

[01:31:20] Sera: I'm really fuckin' this up today, aren't I?

Robin stared at the screen. He was fighting the urge to close it. He forced himself to breathe normally - he could feel the heaviness in his chest. He stared up at the sky outside his window. After a while, there was movement in the corner of his eye. A new message had appeared.

[01:35:20] Sera: Hey... Robin. You okay?

He looked back at the screen.

[01:35:40] Robin Jensen: Just... feeling a bit ill.

[01:35:55] Sera: Perhaps you should take a walk around outside or something. Get some fresh air. I know you like that, it'll make you feel better.

[01:36:13] Robin Jensen: I can't, my Dad's asleep now.

[01:36:42] Sera: ...I'm guessing you mean you need to ask his permission to even leave the house?

[01:36:50] Robin Jensen: ...

[01:36:59] Sera: ...alright, I promise. Next fuckup, I'll leave you alone.

[01:37:05] Robin Jensen: Please don't.

The heaviness in his chest was back. There was silence for a while - long enough to make Robin worry. The only sound in the air was his slow, staggered breathing and the constant whirr of the laptop's fan. Eventually, a message came through.

[01:37:41] Sera: Talk to me.

Robin stared at it for a while. His vision blurred slightly, but he blinked it away. He began to type:

They're right. I know they're right. It's how I've been raised, it's what I've been taught. It's what I've heard them say time after time, to my face, and behind doors. They've laughed at the TV whenever something like that comes on. And

He paused. His paws hovered over the keyboard.

And I laugh too. I have to, because I should. But now, I go online, and there's this site filled with all this stuff, and there's people telling me it's okay, and that it's fine and that I can do it, and that it's normal to be this way... and I just don't know what to think anymore.

He hit the enter button. There was another long pause.

[01:41:14] Sera: ...I know you'll probably say no, but... I'd really like it if I could call.

[01:41:20] Sera: I think you need it.

Robin looked at his door again. If darkness could glow...

[01:42:15] Sera: Just turn your volume way down. I'll try not to make any noise.

[01:42:16] Robin Jensen: Do it.

Sera had been writing a message, but the notification faded away quickly. It was replaced by a bar at the top of the window.

-Sera is video calling you-

Robin breathed deeply, and clicked it.

The small text box shrunk even further as most of it was replaced by a pixelated blur. The quality improved rapidly, though not by much. It was enough, though, to make out the Meowstic in the box.

The blue-grey cat stared back through the screen. His arms were wrapped around his chest, legs folded on the small chair he was sat in. The wall behind him was a mess of shapes, barely lit from the light of the computer screen. It looked remarkably similar.

As he watched, the Meowstic extended a paw, giving a small wave.

Robin's heart was pounding.

[01:42:55] Robin Jensen: Hi.

The Meowstic gave a hopeful smile, and began to type with both paws.

[01:43:03] Sera: Thank you.

Robin said nothing, leaning back against the wall. He had no webcam to return the favour, but he was too transfixed by the feed to care too much. Eventually, the Meowstic continued to type.

[01:45:00] Sera: I didn't realise this is what it was like for you. I mean, you've said you don't have any friends in real life, but now I kinda understand why. Same with your interests and... well, shit. Now I can piece it all together... but yeah. Now I know what's going on, I know what to tell you.

[01:45:14] Sera: I know it's hard to accept. This is a story I've heard a few times from other friends who are gay

Robin felt a cold shiver run down his back.

but I've never met anyone going through it...

[01:46:27] Sera: Look, Robin. This is gonna be tough. It's going to involve sticking it out with your parents for as long as you can, but one day, you're gonna be moving out. One day, you'll go to college or get a flat or something, and you'll finally be able to build a life for yourself. Your own life. You won't be at the whim of your parents any more, you won't have to ask permission to leave the house. You can stay after college or go out to the shops or go make friends and everything like that.

[01:46:37] Sera: You've... you've had it tough, it seems... I mean, I bet there's a bunch of stuff you're not telling me besides.

Robin gave a slow nod. There was a lump in his throat that he couldn't swallow.

[01:47:41] Sera: But... well, it's not gonna be long. You're an adult in a year almost, right? And school will be over in the following May, so what... year and a bit? At which point you can find some late-entry college or something. I think I know one system that can help with that, it specialises in helping Pokémon get into higher education. So... you have a way out, you know?

[01:47:59] Sera: And until then - until you move out, I'm here. Not just me though, the internet is here. You said your folks weren't great with computers, right? You should be fine. Keep your laptop on you, don't save videos anywhere conspicuous, stuff like that. Basically... yeah.

[01:48:36] Sera: You need to use this time. There's a world on this laptop you have that you can access. Let it be your escape, your lifeline. And... yeah, like I said. I'll try my best. If you need to talk, well, I can see what I can do. See if I can get some of my other friends like you to help too.

[01:48:44] Sera: You're gonna get through this.

[01:48:50] Sera: And If I can help, I wanna. Alright?

Robin could barely move. It took him all his strength to reach up and type his message.

[01:49:07] Robin Jensen: You look nice.

Sera stared at his own screen for a moment, before he leant back and laughed. The sound of it could just be heard through the speakers, just above mute.

Robin smiled.