otherfathering | Reprise #1 [Voice

The sun's barely rising when he's ushered quite quickly out into the snow-layered town, no good-bye and a newly-acquired Chatot flying behind him. He had originally thought it would be positive to get going quickly, to head and find his family and friends and home... and then he felt the freezing early-morning cold. Oh holy chicken breast, the cold. Pumpkins are warm-season vegetables; apparently his body temperature is reflecting that, which is why he takes a moment to stand there shivering, his lack of a coat and gloves seriously being problematic right now.

They travel a small while to a tiny eating establishment that just seemed to be opening for the day.

[The feed switches on as voice at first, a bird's whistle filling the speakers with its simple repeat tune; it's amateur, but it's catchy.]

Hoo~... he~re we go!

[The still-partially shivering voice will be familiar to some, but the face that just clicked onto the feed's screen'll jog your mind if you can't quite place it. His inquisitive face breaks into a big, toothy grin as he realizes that- yes- it' broadcasting! Which means, people, and more importantly his family are on the other end.]

Wou~ld've said I was back earlier, but our mom sent me away pretty quick this time. o~hoo, think she remembers me?

[A single eyebrow raises with that playful little smirk that always comes out in situations like these.
The fact he turned up at the door of her house to collect his ill-as-fuck wife, who had considered burying this 'Mom' alive aswell... Well, I think there are reasons why she's going to want to get rid of him.]

'Didn't mean to leave in the first place, would've stayed in an instant if I could've. Still, that makes three times from the Otherworld, hm? Maybe it'll bring back some'a the others? It'd make my day to see my little Coraline again.

I'll try'n be home as so~on as I can, kiddos. 'Gonna need to make my way to the next town soon, too! I'm freezin' like a pumpkin out there.

[Hardy-har, Other Father.

As he goes to shut off the feed, he gives a wave to the screen and begins to whistle a much more complex tune that fits perfectly in with the Chatot's, though it does seem to be vibrating a bit. 8| stupid cold.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's one of the people who's been returned to his world before, huh? He does talk like he has plenty of friends here - and like he's bubbling over with delight to see them again. It's a comforting thing to see, somehow!

Meanwhile, though, she keeps her smile on to keep the mood light, just in case, and be polite while satisfying curiosity about the name he mentioned.]

Is Coraline... your kid's name?

[Well aren't you adorable?]

Mm-hmm. 'Though I'm not picking favourites.

[That toothy grin would mean 'Adoption' to people who know him, most likely. Little kid in Poké land tends to get that.]

It's nice.

[And wait, now, he had said "kiddos".] ...Does that mean your other kids are here? I heard that a lot of people get brought here who knew each other back home. [And maybe in the back of her brain each person who confirms that they have old friends and family here boosts her hope that Omid and Christa could turn up safe and well.]

Sure are, but they're not from home. Your Other Mother did make it here once, though.

[She was about to confirm that it means that he's adopted kids who'd been separated from their families when they were taken here, but she hadn't even processed the idea enough to be properly happy for them when he'd said the second bit. Her heart leapt and her back jerked straight on hearing "your-ellipses-mother" - the thought of her mom having been here before she ever was, training Pokémon before being dropped back into infested Savannah - but no, that's not what he said.]

..."Other"?

[With a nod] Other. Any child that needs us is a child of ours.

Oh...

[That brings her back a step before, then - maybe it wasn't such an odd thing to say.]

...So you adopt kids who're here by themselves -- like a foster family.

[She has an idea where this might be going - did she sound a little hesitant to say more, there?]

Close. Everyone has a set of Other parents, kiddo. Even you. All the fun, love and attention you could ever ask for.

'Though it's only me until your Other Mother comes back.

[She... halts. And halts, because she has no idea what to make of being told something like that.]

Everyone does?

[This is the first time she's heard any such thing, and he has to know about everyone coming from very different worlds; he's even said that his other children aren't from home - is he from a world where "Other Parents" live? She's trying to think about it on her own and it's seeming quite a lot like something that would be in a fairytale.]

[Try not to think on the fairytale thing too much... The last person who did now has him cornered in question lane. Worst part is that they're right to be doing so.]

Everyone.

From all different worlds?

[He has to openly think about that.]

Y'know, I'm not too sure on that, kiddo. But whilst you're here, there's always me.

[Then it had been going where she'd guessed. She hadn't planned on running straight on into any offer he'd make from the start; she'd had her parents, and she'd had Lee, and though Laguna isn't any of the three, he and Ushio have been pleasant to travel with. But strangely, she'd felt significantly less ambivalent about this guy himself before he'd brought up "Other Parents", with its vaguely fantastical sound. Maybe it should be the opposite - maybe he is from some strange world of Other Parents who come out for kids who need them, and he'd offer to take in a child who isn't his "Other Child" just because it's instinctive for him to be a good dad. But then, there was also the last person, a normal human being from her world no less, she'd met who'd just wanted to be a good dad.

She works up a small, polite smile anyway.]

I'm okay. I'm in a group with two other people -- one's a grownup. And I had a friend who helped teach me how to take care of myself when I need to... And I have my Pokémon. So - so you don't need to be worried about me.

As long as you're all looked after. But if you e~ver need me, or any supplies or money, just si~ng me a note. Or home's in Goldenrod if you and your friends need a place to stay.

[Now that he's on his own, he's entirely the above. And because you have an adult, it seems okay to leave you around. But he's always going to look out for you, because that's just what he does.]

[He did win a few points with that answer - unsuspicious; not pushy in any way, like the man on the radio who'd told her what to do and urged her to keep secrets; and sincere.

She nods, looking actually a bit pleased now.]

Got it -- thank you. It's... really nice of you, to want to help.

Wouldn't be a good Other Father if I didn't. And I get to spend time with all my children.

I'm not one of your kids.

[Not a rejection, still - it's just so... isn't it?]

[Debatable.] Not unless you want to be. Though it doesn't mean I won't keep an eye out.

Reprise #1 [Voice > Video] Encore!

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