[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
We're here at the Lunar Institute, and our gang has to get their bearings before setting off....after everything they've been through, a little R&R is sorely needed.

 This should be a nice break episode, right? Find out now- on SPACE CASE!
EPISODE 15: Scavenger Hunt

---

You are now Minerva.

Words do not describe how much better you feel.

Yes, you're unbelievably sore, and moving around is a bit of a struggle- but oh my goodness, your brain works.
It was so AWFUL, and you barely have any recollection of the past few days outside of all of that terror.




From the party's recounting, you had every right to be scared.






....and the fact that they were all so burdened with helping you....




No one said it, but you know that






it must have been






difficult.





...you were difficult.




Embarassing, even.

They had to hand feed you.


Stretch had to help you go to the bathroom!
It's-



Even with Stretch, it felt so revealing, just like the awful maze...

RAPPEL: Alrighty!
RAPPEL: Here we are-

 

The omastar closes the door behind you- a specialized community center room reserved for cave guides, Rappel having claimed specifically for the two of you to get privacy.
It puts you on edge- why you?

Is it because-

are you a liability-

RAPPEL: We're gonna figure out how to put you to work!
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: o
MINERVA: ....oh...?
RAPPEL: Yes indeed!
RAPPEL: You're a vital part of this voyage!

 

She pumps a rolled up tentacle, the closest thing she has to a fist.

RAPPEL: Without you, the team is doomed!
MINERVA: UM

 

You wring your wing-claws, immediately overwhelmed.

MINERVA: I- I THOUGHT-
MINERVA: T-
MINERVA: The nurse's orders-!
RAPPEL: No problem!
RAPPEL: Just because you can't fight-

 

She points her tentacle into your chest, an excited look on her face.

RAPPEL: Doesn't mean you aren't going to help!
RAPPEL: If anything, it makes you THE most important member!
MINERVA: B-but!
RAPPEL: Butts can wait for another day!
RAPPEL: Right now, it's all about....

 

She pauses dramatically.

RAPPEL: OPTIMIZATION!

 

You are completely overwhelmed, the guide in front of you striking dramatic poses with every syllable.

MINERVA: b-
RAPPEL: I won't hear it!

 

She points to you again.

RAPPEL: Let me guess!
RAPPEL: From what your team's told me, things went bad on Route 3.
RAPPEL: And that's no surprise!
RAPPEL: Osteo's gotten bold, and somebody's gotta bring them down a peg-
RAPPEL: But until then, people like you and your buds get caught in the crossfire.
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: th-
MINERVA: That's correct, yes....
RAPPEL: And from the sound of it, you got it extra bad.
MINERVA: ....

 

You look away.

MINERVA: ...yes.
RAPPEL: And you're upset because you got benched, yeah?

 

You sniffle.

MINERVA: yes
RAPPEL: And now you're more upset because some nurse lady told you you're stuck on the sidelines!

 

You nod, eyes welling up with tears.

RAPPEL: Well, the nurse is full of shit!
RAPPEL: She's not a cave guide.

 

Pointing to herself now.

RAPPEL: You and me!
RAPPEL: We're gonna work on ways to make you feel good and keep your friends safe!

 

You blink, trying to get yourself together.

MINERVA: ....b-
RAPPEL: Ah ah!
RAPPEL: What'd I say about the butts?
RAPPEL: This is not a bathroom or a bedroom, my friend!

 

You laugh before you can catch yourself, caught off guard.

RAPPEL: See!
RAPPEL: Crying can wait too, while you're at it.
RAPPEL: Best done with a big ol' tub of ice cream and a movie about a sick pet.
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: snf

 

You do your best to smile, nodding.

MINERVA: okay.
RAPPEL: Atta girl!

 

She pats a mid-level bench- the room featuring a couple sizes. You don't have to jump or bend too far to sit down at all, your back extremely grateful.

RAPPEL: Doc's orders say you're restricted from battling.
RAPPEL: Got any flight training?

 

You shake your head, embarrassment sinking back in.

RAPPEL: Not a problem!
RAPPEL: Most people I take through can't fly, especially not cave-legal.
RAPPEL: Whole different ballgame.
MINERVA: ...b-

 

She raises her brow at you, stopping you in her tracks.

MINERVA: ...thank you....
RAPPEL: You can thank me when we've got a game plan.
RAPPEL: After all that hell, your body's gonna be craving lots of rest.
RAPPEL: Today and tomorrow, you are on vacation.
RAPPEL: Already told the others, rest for two days and we go out the day after.
RAPPEL: Keeps you fresh.
RAPPEL: Sound good?
MINERVA: ...y. Yes ma'am.
RAPPEL: Ma'am. That's a first.

 

She rubs the side of her face.

RAPPEL: Makes me sound fancy.
RAPPEL: I dig it.

 

Another giggle escapes.

RAPPEL: Ah! Got you again!
RAPPEL: Hang tight.

 

She shuffles over to a closet on the side of the room, tentacles looking rather ridiculous as she goes.

RAPPEL: Leeeesseee.

 

It takes her a moment, fumbling through equipment and tools you've never seen before-

-eventually hauling out some...kind of...sled?

RAPPEL: Here we go.
RAPPEL: This-

 

She holds it over her head as if it's nothing, stanced up.

RAPPEL: Is your chariot!
RAPPEL: And your party will be your loyal steeds!

 

You briefly picture Stretch in horse tack, giggling all over again.

RAPPEL: Yeah! YEAH!
RAPPEL: Exciting, right?
RAPPEL: This thing's meant to carry travelers of all kinds-
RAPPEL: Fainted!
RAPPEL: Paralyzed! Confused!
RAPPEL: Poisoned! Sleeping!
RAPPEL: Even burned!
RAPPEL: But also!
RAPPEL: It's just as useful for people who need a break, or have bodies that don't work well down here.
RAPPEL: That electabuzz friend of yours already volunteered to do whatever's gotta happen to help you through!




 

....oh.


Well.




Guess that's a bit more literal then.

RAPPEL: Blushin' a bit?
MINERVA: I-!
RAPPEL: No worries, no worries!

 

She does what you assume to be her take on a finger gun.

RAPPEL: I got techniques for that too.
RAPPEL: Guessin' you haven't had the opportunity to express being sweet on somebody?

 

You hesitate




before shaking your head.

MINERVA: Stretch and I are just friends, but...
MINERVA: ...I feel...bad...
RAPPEL: That it had to take care of you?
MINERVA: ...mm....
RAPPEL: Fear not!
RAPPEL: Your job on the team is now-
RAPPEL: INVENTORY!
RAPPEL: MANAGEMENT!
RAPPEL: And the biggest part of that job is keeping an eye on your team and making sure they get what they need.

 

She winks.

RAPPEL: You gotta keep your head on straight, but...
RAPPEL: Opportunities!

 

You laugh outright this time.

MINERVA: Y-you're-
MINERVA: ridiculous-
RAPPEL: But am I wrong?
RAPPEL: Hmmm?

 

She leans in.

RAPPEL: Can't hear you.
MINERVA: N, no ma'am.
MINERVA: You're- really good at this.
RAPPEL: Correctamundo!
RAPPEL: Now stand back up!
RAPPEL: We're gonna go over the sled and supplies, and by the time you're out on the road-
RAPPEL: You're gonna feel like a champion.











 

You are now Eerie.

STRETCH: Alright, listen up.
STRETCH: Minerva's busy with Rappel.
STRETCH: We have today and tomorrow to rest.

 

Frond raises his hand.

STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: and explore, yes.
FROND: Whoo!
STRETCH: BUT.
STRETCH: Rappel also gave us some errands-

 

You groan, tipping your head back.

EERIE: Duuude.
FROND: Maybe they're fun errands!
EERIE: Those words don't go togetherrrr
STRETCH: Can-
STRETCH: can i at least get into it first
FILIGREE: ....aren't we paying her?
EERIE: Yeah, pocket change.
STRETCH: And. That.
STRETCH: Means.
STRETCH: We have to do some legwork.
STRETCH: Unless you would like to pay for a more expensive guide.

 

You pipe down, rubbing the back of your head.

FILIGREE: ...so- what are the errands exactly?

 

It coughs, pulling out a piece of paper.

STRETCH: Told me to read it to you all.
STRETCH: ....

 

It narrows its eyes, letting out an exhausted sigh as it reads the scrawl on it.

FILIGREE: ....do you want me to-
FROND: I got it!

 

He reaches up to take the paper, Stretch not even bothering to protest.

FROND: Hello, adventurers!
FROND: that's us.
STRETCH: Mm.
FROND: We'll be heading out on our voyage soon!
FROND: While I help Minerva be her best self-
FROND: aww, that's sweet...
STRETCH: Frond.
FROND: -I need you four to get me some things.
FROND: Frond and Eerie-!

 

He beams at you.

 
Well, at fucking least you got paired with him.

FROND: You'll be tasked with the Greater Lunar Market, and picking up supplies on my list.
FROND: Do not worry!
FROND: You will be reimbursed in full.
FILIGREE: ....how does she make, like
FILIGREE: Any? Money?
FROND: Beats me.
FROND: She says, uh-
FROND: Use the passcode "geode" to get the goods.
STRETCH: fuck's sake
FROND: And then for Stretch and Filigree...
FROND: Huh.
FROND: She says that you two's job is just to go to the museum.
STRETCH: wh
FILIGREE: Any reason...why?
FROND: Well, she gave you a list like us.
EERIE: Great. We paid for a scavenger hunt.
FROND: May as well see what happens, right?
STRETCH: ...right.






 

Any cynicism you had about the scavenger hunt escapes as soon as you enter the Institute itself, your jaw falling open as you step into the atrium.

EERIE: Wh-
EERIE: Whoa.
FROND: Pretty crazy, right?!

 

Just like Stretch explained, it's a completely clean tunnel from the top of the mountain to many, many floors below, all carved out in a spiral shape.
Rooms and corridors trail off, more pokemon than you'd ever expect to see in a place like this, even from the crazy view outside.
Some of the paths have stone carvings, metal accents and even reinforced doors and glass- a patchwork of additions from different eras, different purposes.


And on top of it all, covering the atrium- a massive, stained glass dome, patterned with planets, stars, you name it.



You hear Stretch sigh, and-

-weirdly enough, it looks...calmer. The fizzling blue energy on its body seems to quell, if only for now.

EERIE: ...Stretch, have you been h-
STRETCH: ....school trips.
STRETCH: ...cmon, Fili.

 

The bellsprout shrugs at you as they trail behind.

EERIE: HEY
EERIE: HOW DO WE FIND THE MARKET
STRETCH: CAN'T MISS IT.


 

Ugh.



Fine.

FROND: Kinda getting why our teachers never let us go here now.

 

Stretch was right again.

The market is enormous, just like the atrium- and the sounds and smells hit you far quicker than the actual sight of it did.

Frond catches you smiling, elbowing you carefully.

FROND: Somebody's ready to have a goooood tiiime.
EERIE: Nah, just-
EERIE: ....it feels like home.



 

The two of you get to walking, Frond half-looking over Rappel's list.

FROND: Guessing they had stuff like this back in Pewter?
EERIE: yyyep.
EERIE: Before, y'know.
FROND: ...Osteo.
EERIE: Turns out nobody wants to go outside and set up a stand when you could get splattered across the pavement.

 

You make a grim, pained smile.

EERIE: Bad for business.
FROND: Eesh.
EERIE: ...not like I helped, though.
EERIE: Walking around all scary like that-

 

Guilt eats at you.

EERIE: ...lost the respect of lots of good people.
FROND: Well-
FROND: Look around!

 

He spreads his arms wide.

FROND: Nobody here to judge you now, right?
FROND: We're customers like anybody else.
EERIE: ...yeah.

 

....you had tucked your club away back in the room for a reason, after all.

EERIE: Long as I don't get recognized anymore.
FROND: Cmon, we can take it!
EERIE: Frond, we got our asses beat out there.
FROND: Yeah, in, like- the wild.
FROND: Plenty of people here to back us up if somebody starts something.

 

You let out a huff.

EERIE: ...guess you're right.
FROND: I very often am, yes!
FROND: And this list saaaays I should pick out snacks I know people will like.
EERIE: ...kind of a shit recommendation for someone supposed to be keeping us healthy.
FROND: Guess that means nooo jerky for yoooou
EERIE: HEY
FROND: hehehehe



 

He gets you your damn jerky, insisting you have to wait until you're on the road- right after you got to pick a good flavor, too.
Little bastard.
Minnie gets some well-sealed blood pouches- they make those?
Filigree gets home-dried fruits and shelf stable sap, and...

He picks up a couple bags of things for Stretch- a mix of nutrient bars and drinks you think you've seen it slam back in passing, but would never have guessed the names of outside of their brand.
He picks the products out with ease, complimenting the vendors' skill with making homemade spins on the recipes.

EERIE: You really do keep track of everything, huh.
FROND: S'what I do.
FROND: Easier to keep notes on this stuff than battling like Stretch.
EERIE: Yeah, but-
EERIE: Doesn't it make you tired?
EERIE: I'd be tired.
FROND: It's what keeps me from not getting tired, honestly-

 

He freezes, zooming over to a stand with widened eyes.

EERIE: Eh?
FROND: Hang on a sec-
FROND: That one, can I take a look at-

 

By the time you shuffle over, he's already got it bagged- and with the stand advertising jewelry and accessories, you doubt this is on the menu.

You raise your brow as he turns to you, the goofiest grin on his face.

EERIE: Doesn't look like snacks.
FROND: Nope!
FROND: ...this one's...special.
EERIE: ...Can I see?

 

He flushes, rubbing the back of his head a bit.

FROND: W-well, y'know-
EERIE: It's for Stretch.
FROND: Y-yeah! Of-
FROND: Of course it is.

 

He still does not show you the goods.

EERIE: Dude, after what it pulled yesterday-
FROND: It-
FROND: Well-
EERIE: You really gonna buy it a present after that?
FROND: ....

 

His face falls, sighing.

FROND: ...it's...complicated.



 

Fuck. Shit. You made him sad.





Sad Frond just isn't right.

EERIE: ...hff.
EERIE: Alright, let's find a bench.
EERIE: I'm no good at heart to hearts but you're gonna die if we don't at this rate.

 

He doesn't protest, walking alongside you with a small nod.








The bench is nice and out of the way, Frond having to do a little hop to get up on your level.

FROND: ....
EERIE: Dude, if we're gonna hang out, you gotta explain something.
FROND: .........
FROND: You remember the maze, right?

 

You do.

Part of you



wishes you didn't.





Seeing your own self rigged up to wires, trapped in a room, that was bad enough.

Another mirror containing you as a younger, pre-Osteo self, you as the person you wanted to be before you signed on and it all went to shit.




....but somehow, it didn't scare you as much as the look in Frond's eyes.
Your mirrors, you knew those. A sickening sense of familiarity.


They weren't the horrors of a near-complete stranger, filled with the weight of something very, very bad has happened.




Staggering, panicked, an oddish in torn, bloodied clothes-



-lit like a flashlight shining on its hollow expression.





A different version of himself looking hazy, delirious, tearing up as it spoke wordlessly to its source.








....



You don't want to think about the third one.

FROND: It-
FROND: ....
FROND: Don't...be weird to Stretch about this, okay?

 

Something makes your heart clench.

EERIE: If it hurt you-
FROND: NO, god, no-

 

It comes out frantic.

FROND: ...no, that's-
FROND: It's.
FROND: About how both of us evolved.
EERIE: ...ah.
FROND: Yyyeah.
EERIE: ....fine. Promise.
EERIE: But if it's a dick to you again, I'm gonna kick its ass.

 

He nods, relenting on that point as he thinks over his words.

FROND: We grew up together, like I said-
FROND: Moms were friends, we were practically neighbors.
FROND: It was a weird kid, so was I.
FROND: Took a bit to figure each other out, but we were thick as thieves.
FROND: Small town where everybody had it out for us?
FROND: Didn't matter.
FROND: We got up to all kinds of adventures.
EERIE: ...sounds nice so far.
FROND: It was!
FROND: It- really was.
FROND: ....
FROND: But-
FROND: We hit high school, and there was this guy.
FROND: He was so cool, and- we both wanted to be like him.
FROND: He'd call us girls, sure, and sometimes he said weird stuff-
FROND: But he paid a lot of attention to both of us, said we could be friends, and he taught us some things.
FROND: How to chart stars, where and when you can go and see planets, galaxies, clear as day in the sky-
FROND: We were both nerds for the stuff.
FROND: And-

 

His voice gets quiet.

FROND: It-
FROND: We-
FROND: ....he was like, ten fucking years older, and he kept calling us mature and responsible-

 

He has to stop for a second.

FROND: It went bad.
FROND: Really bad.




 

You aren't really sure what to say in a situation like this.



Like, hey, sorry about that?

Sorry that happened?

No, shit, that sucks.

You know what you'd want to hear in this situation but Frond was a much more sane and normal person and-

EERIE: I would'a ripped his balls off.

 

Frond splutters, caught entirely off guard.

EERIE: I would!
EERIE: Guys like that-
EERIE: Tons of 'em in Osteo.
EERIE: Nothing "happened" with me, but it was only a matter of time.
EERIE: Fuck that guy.
EERIE: Asshole.

 

He nods, wiping his eye a bit- at least it wasn't as bad as yesterday, the gloom outright crying into his shirt at the time.

FROND: ...yeah. Real asshole.
FROND: It- god, it was a mess.
FROND: Guy was a real "upstanding individual" in our town!
FROND: Crisis over whether what the truth was, what had even happened, why we came out of there different.
FROND: We both got put in hospital care for a while, poked and prodded to figure out what the hell even happened-
FROND: ....
FROND: .......When I got out, Stretch wasn't there.
FROND: They said it needed more tests done.
FROND: Wouldn't answer what was up with it, what had happened, why I got out first-
FROND: And-
FROND: When. When it got out
FROND: it wouldn't talk to me.

 

The look on your face clearly makes him panic.

FROND: Not in a like, mad at me way!
FROND: Just-
FROND: ....it always tried to run from its problems.
FROND: At least before then, I'd run with it.
FROND: Keep it on track, out of trouble.
FROND: ....never thought it'd run from me, I guess.
FROND: My mom told me to get over it.
EERIE: And you never did, huh?

 

He shakes his head.

FROND: How could I?
FROND: I-

 

He shrugs, fishing out the bag and handing it to you.

A little UFO-shaped pin.

FROND: ....all I want is to see it happy again.
FROND: To play in the woods like we used to.
EERIE: What if you can't, though?
EERIE: Like- that was a decade ago.
FROND: Then I'll settle for just getting to watch it grow.
EERIE: ....you always gotta say weird shit like that, huh?
FROND: S'what I do!

 

It's your turn to laugh.

EERIE: ...guess I get it though.
EERIE: I don't have anybody like that, but I wish I could go back and do it right sometimes.
EERIE: Got put in the damn shock box so many times that I started to think- this is my fault, right?
EERIE: Not even for getting slapped in there-
EERIE: ...but that my body refused to change like everybody else's.
EERIE: My powers sucked, they never grew in-
EERIE: And I ran.
EERIE: People started, fucking, getting really hurt, somebody died in that room-
EERIE: People who stepped over a line started showing up in body bags, and I couldn't hack it.
FROND: But that's-
FROND: Dude, I think not wanting to be in a murder gang is normal.
EERIE: Sure, yeah!
EERIE: Obviously!
EERIE: ....but I was so sure I had it all under control.
EERIE: That I was smart enough to handle it-
FROND: ....and they told you you were special too.
EERIE: ....yeah.
EERIE: These people always do.

 

You're quiet, but it feels...okay now.

FROND: ...well.
FROND: Now both of us have another friend, right?
EERIE: Dude.
FROND: Just saying.
EERIE: You're such a cornball.
FROND: Potato, actually!

 

You're both laughing now, catching the attention of some passersby-




And for once, you don't really care.










You are now Filigree.



You can't say you'd ever been somewhere like this before- you spent the majority of your life getting educated in trade, any general education largely handled through your own studies on the side.

You'd heard about this kind of place though, and there's a sort of delight as you see all of the fancy, almost playfully assembles exhibit displays.

Every bit of decor seems to have a purpose, placards telling you what everything was, how it worked...


There's stools for smaller mons like yourself to get a better look at this, and audio guides if you need them-
You even saw something with a text readout, with the front desk guaranteeing that no matter who came by, they'd get a chance to learn.

FILIGREE: ...is school usually this-

 

It immediately shakes its head, making a face.

STRETCH: Trust me.
STRETCH: Coming here was way.
STRETCH: Way better than school.
FILIGREE: ...figures.
FILIGREE: I've seen stuff like this online plenty of times, but-
STRETCH: Different being here.
FILIGREE: Completely different world, dude.


 

Its lip twitches.



You're still...worried about it.



Even when calmed down significantly, its motions are more jumpy, tail more prone to lashing.

Its nearly-invisible fuzz stands on end at the slightest noise, bristling at sudden moves.

The energy still crosses its body, occasional versus constant- thankfully not enough to cause trouble, seen about as dangerous as a charizard walking around.
The museum would have elemental protection if it had this much foot traffic-




So it must be fine.





For now.




It floats behind you to each exhibit, its expression softening with each one.



You follow along, relieved that it waits for you to signal you're good for the next.



A fair amount goes over your head, but there's a sense of success when you manage to click different concepts together.






You stop at a tapestry, woven pink figures dancing in a circle- accompanied by all sorts of other pokemon, festive and joyous together.

FILIGREE: ....
STRETCH: ....beautiful.
FILIGREE: ...yeah.
FILIGREE: ....



 

This is...awkward.



You do want to get to know Stretch more, the electabuzz an enigma even still.
Every bit of information you get just makes more questions pop up-



You feel a slight pang in your chest, hiding a wince.


...it'd been cropping up since Sweetpea's camp.



Just stress.




You catch it looking over for a moment, a little bit of panic spiking.



Shit.

FILIGREE: Can-
FILIGREE: Can I hear the rest of the story?

 

It raises its brows.

FILIGREE: The clefairy myth.
FILIGREE: I know I could probably, just, read it here-

 

You think about how its speech had smoothed out, coming easier when it could talk about an actual interest versus forcing itself into everyone else's conversational speed.

FILIGREE: ...but I liked the way you told it.

 

It's not that much of an ass cover, frankly.
You had become entranced in its retelling, and...maybe this would be good for both of you.


A way to keep your mind off of the clenching in your torso, and a chance for letting it engage with its interests.


Stretch's eyes widen more, coughing into its hand.

STRETCH: im
STRETCH: uh
STRETCH: nn.
STRETCH: Sure.



 

Win/win.



It gestures to the imagery in front of you, taking a moment to breathe.



The ring of clefairies, upon closer look, included the whole evolutionary line- and so many intricately crafted expressions and poses.

You could almost see the movement in it if you unfocused a little, ready for them to spin and twirl in front of you at any point.

STRETCH: ...the clefairies, cleffas, and clefables settled in among the residents of Mt. Moon.
STRETCH: It took them a long time to be able to communicate what had happened.
STRETCH: Words didn't cover it.
STRETCH: They had left their home, in a hurry-
STRETCH: Terrified. Frantic.
STRETCH: As if they were being chased.
STRETCH: They would point to the moon and cry...

 

Stretch pauses, closing its eyes for a moment.

STRETCH: ...spending all night waiting for family that never came.

 

Some of the clefairies towards the edges held each other, their faces despairing and lost as they looked up at the sky.

FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: It-
FILIGREE: It must have been lonely.

 

It nods.

STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: They-
STRETCH: Nn.
STRETCH: They adjusted.
STRETCH: Never stopped wishing. But-
STRETCH: They found love and family here, too.
STRETCH: No one really knows what happened on the moon.
STRETCH: Could be anything.
STRETCH: Main theory is that the meteorite was an escape vessel-
 
 

It points to a cracked meteorite in the corner, some of the pink aliens carrying little shards away- barely visible at a glance, but distinct up close.

FILIGREE: Like a spaceship?
STRETCH: Mm.
FILIGREE: ...wild.
STRETCH: Stranger things have happened.
STRETCH: And-
STRETCH: Plenty of species are affected by lunar energy.
STRETCH: Even Fr-

 

It pauses, trailing off.

FILIGREE: .....

 

You





don't know whether to press it.






Especially after everything that'd happened so far- it feels like a bad idea to push buttons.

FILIGREE: ...how'd you know all this stuff anyway?

 

It makes a face.




Oh, god, that was a button-

STRETCH: ....I wanted to work here.

 

Its voice comes out exhausted and low.

STRETCH: I, wouldn't-
STRETCH: I'm not going to church or anything-

 

Ohhh.



Oh,
that




makes a lot of its tension around you and Eerie worse.




Shit.

FILIGREE: ....but this means a lot to you, yeah?
STRETCH: Nn.
STRETCH: Yeah.
STRETCH: ....I get called nuts enough as is.
STRETCH: Last thing I need is people knowing I'm a Lunatic.

 

You can't blame it.


Lunacy was...to put it bluntly, a fringe religion.




A scientific field as well, yeah, for sure- and people tended to respect that part a lot more.

The whole "searching for alien life" and theories about lunar radiation, though...

FILIGREE: Well-
FILIGREE: ...I won't tell anybody.

 

It pauses, surprised.


You did allude to your family finding it all...a bit crackpot.




You wouldn't have if you'd known.

STRETCH: ....yeah?

 

You nod.

FILIGREE: I think it's cool you got to even, like- consider this stuff.
FILIGREE: A career, research...
STRETCH: Didn't last.
STRETCH: After the whole-

 

It gestures up and down its body.

STRETCH: This.
STRETCH: ...I-
STRETCH: got put in the hospital for a while.

 

Tapping its forehead now, avoiding your eyes.

STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: .......they don't let people with
STRETCH: brain damage
STRETCH: do this kind of thing.

 

It winces, realizing its implications.



Your chest is still hurting.




You had stopped noticing it for a while, but, nope, there it is now that you're thinking about health stuff.

STRETCH: Sor-
FILIGREE: S'okay.

 

You really wanted to believe it's stress.

FILIGREE: It's what my dad had, it's what I'll have.
FILIGREE: ...Analogous, anyway.

 

Stretch doesn't catch on.

It's for the best.

Even for all of its attention to detail, the last thing you'd want is for that to kick in when it's actually opening up to someone.

FILIGREE: ...math get bad for you?
STRETCH: ...yeah.
STRETCH: Memory issues too.

 

....especially when it's actually something you can relate to too.

FILIGREE: Oh, yeah.
FILIGREE: It's like- I can memorize facts about all kinds of things-
STRETCH: -but never the right ones.
FILIGREE: Exactly!
FILIGREE: Numbers?
STRETCH: Gone.
FILIGREE: Dates, times?
STRETCH: Gonnnne.
FILIGREE: See?

 

Its lip twitches again.

It's an expression Frond told you to keep an eye out for when you asked him if you could help at all.


He said that it has a hard time of smiling, always did- but it had its own way of looking appreciative, if not outright happy, if you looked closely enough.

STRETCH: ...thanks.



 

....you may as well take a shot.

FILIGREE: ...You don't have to be alone, okay?
FILIGREE: If-
FILIGREE: If anything's up-
STRETCH: .....

 

 

Back to avoiding your eyes.



Even still, before you can get worried-

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: ...I'll.
STRETCH: try.
 

 

Good.


You-



It'll work out.



You did good today.






You'll just take an extra pill later.



It'll ease up.




Your symptoms always do with some meds.






You both turn back to the tapestry

watching the clefairy dance.
 

---

The mountain is full of mysteries, as are the members of our team...though at this point, that shouldn't be a surprise.

Suggestors, we've got another day of rest and relaxation for the Shooting Stars- giving you all one more day to inquire about lore for us to discover much, much later.... Your curveball today is simple: what is something the folks at the Lunar Institute are hiding?
Find out next time...on SPACE CASE!