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Ren is in the clinic.

[Akechi's words are blunt, monotone, and he tries desperately to not any ripples of worry or distress slip through his thoughts.

Still, those focusing closely may still feel it. A tingling feeling like ants skittering across one's brain.]

I will be doing what I can to care for him. Obviously, I'm not clinic staff, but I owe him as much.

[Something like irritation starts to flare, but it fizzles out fast.]

I told him not to overdo it. Now he's going to fall even further behind.

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[Well, that's slightly ominous. Whatever could he be implying?]

Where would you like to meet, then?

[ Just that Emmet figures Akechi probably doesn't want anything even remotely more personal than surface-level 'how do you do's aired out in what's effectively the middle of town square, if just the few of them involved in the get-along bundle incident the other month was already pushing it. Different subject, same idea. ]

Wherever is fine. I can get around town pretty quickly. Are you at the clinic?

I am.

[He pauses.]

I can meet outside.

[He'll wait for Emmet to confirm, of course, but otherwise, he'll reluctantly make his way out there.

Very reluctantly.]

Okay. Destination set. I will be there soon.

[ With that, Emmet's end of the telepathic link cuts off. True to his word, Akechi won't have to wait too long after that exchange before a white fox comes trotting towards the clinic on all fours, scenting the air as he approaches before looking up. Hopefully the Rookidee hasn't spent the time stewing in his thoughts, but... ]

Huh. You look terrible.

[ So Akechi really is worried. Hmm. ]

Well, this entire situation is terrible, to say the least.

[He huffs, though less at Emmet and more at the situation. There's a slight fluffiness to his feathers, further proof of his agitation.]

Better be careful. You do not want to go into a stress molt and start dropping feathers. Could affect your flight.

But that is not what I came here to say. [ says Emmet, dropping into a very feline-looking stretch to work the lingering wispiness out of him (it is still strange, sometimes, going back and forth between mostly solid, and mostly not) before sitting himself down somewhere out of the way and cocking his head. A situation indeed. ]

You say you told him not to overdo it. But really. What did you expect to happen?

It is in Ren's nature.

[He nearly grumbles out his words, an odd mix of exasperation and unease.]

He's driven, competitive, and puts others first. I've tried to get him to pace himself and actually take time for himself, but he kept insisting he was fine.

You say that. Like there is nothing to be done about it. Is that what you think?

Because from what I have gathered. You do nearly everything together. [ And Akechi, chronic overachiever ... what did he expect? ] He does not want to be left behind. You refuse to slow down also.

Maybe this is a situation where you have to lead by example, rather than just telling someone what to do. If you have coupled your cars together. Then of course where one goes, the other will try to follow.

[ Whether it's on too many quests to not end up hospitalized because apparently Ren won't take care of himself when told even in his right mind (Emmet still remembers the Sprigatito's resistance to going to the clinic those first few days), or up the very bottom of the guild rankings and into a coma. ]

Of course there's something to be done. He's just particularly stubborn.

[His feathers fluff up in a huff, eyes narrowing. It's not that Emmet doesn't have a point. He does...

But Akechi is very prideful. He doesn't want to slow down.]

But I hardly want to stop taking on quests. Simply idling by isn't in my nature. But Ren has also denied his pain. And he has been in pain ever since the nightmares ceased.

[ Emmet just maintains a placid gaze, fanged smile mild but undaunted, even as the much smaller Pokemon's feathers fluff up. The fur of his mane and collar wisps about steadily. ]

It sounds like you will have to decide. What is more important to you. If the points are a problem. If 'falling behind' is part of why he is like this, then I think you should stop. Or slow down on quests. At least for a while. [ Lead by example, and all. And, because he gets the feeling there will probably be at least some pushback to that: ] Not doing quests does not mean sitting idly by. It does not mean not doing anything, or not helping. There are plenty of ways of contributing that have nothing to do with the quests here, or points.

[ Emmet doesn't put too much stock into the points and how much they gain himself, outside of as a fun side note. Something to lightly tease people about, maybe; nothing that should affect health. They are all very obviously the bottom rung of their respective guilds; even the ones among them with the most points are still just small Basculin in a much bigger pond— they're newcomers to what's obviously an established community, after all. Fixating on and overworking themselves now for the immediate gain of, what. Making it to slightly better accommodations in several more months' time? It's so superfluous. Not important. Especially not when it seems several of them so far are prone to overdoing it for no good reason. ]

That lingering pain, though. Concerning to hear about. I do not believe anyone else has complained of such a thing, or at least I have not heard about it... [ Not to the degree that it seems to be affecting Ren, anyway. They'd all had aches and phantom pains in the months previous, but...?

But isn't it as he'd said to Ingo, a while back? How so many of their number seem the type to hide whatever might be wrong with them? ] Has he talked to anyone about it before this?

[ Not counting Akechi, who is obviously not a medical professional. But. Like. Dr. Denne? Has he stopped by the clinic at all? ]

Or was him not wanting to go to the clinic when I first met him. Not an effect of the clothing, but ... just him?

Ren is frustrating.

[His tail feathers flick in mild irritation. Perhaps it's not the most appropriate time, but it's true!]

He bends over backwards to aid others, but the moment you place him in the spotlight, he denies his own needs. When those nightmares plagued this place, he danced around the subject. When I'm the more forthcoming one, it's rather damning, considering I don't enjoy being vulnerable to begin with.

[Yet he did it. He opened up, if only slightly.]

Haha! Maybe! People can be verrrrry frustrating. They will not always make sense. They will not always take the lines that seem so clear to others, like taking care of themselves when they obviously need to. [ An ear flick. Let it out, Akechi, better here and now than at some other time. ] Because that is just how it is. We are all very different.

[ Emmet is Unovan. A melting pot of a region, many as one, a single kind. From the legends to the current day, he knows full well what differences between people and their truths and ideals can lead to, regardless of intention or malice or the lack thereof.

But most differences, like this one, aren't so dire. At least, not to anyone other than the involved. ]

But you care anyway. That is clear. Either you two need to talk. Really, really talk, once he's awake again. Tell him what you are telling me right now. Or you need to try to figure out something that works for the two of you. I do not know what.

Maybe both.

[ And please, this time, don't let the subject turn towards Emmet's own ability to communicate with Ingo (even though truthfully, that was mostly Shoka). They're ... working on it. ]

Obviously, I intend to speak with him.

[He gestures at the clinic with his wing.]

But any meaningful communication is on hold until he awakens. So, I'm left with little recourse but to stay by his side and let the "soothing aura" I emit provide at least some small comfort.

Obviously.

[ Parroted, an echo. Sure, Akechi does seem to be agreeing, but... ]

Very well. Step back from quests. Stay by his side and tend to him. But what exactly is it you intend to discuss with him? What will you do differently, once he is awake again?

After all, you have already said you have tried to tell him to slow down and not overdo it. And that has [ obviously, ] not worked. Might as well start planning out what you are going to do and say now.

[Hmm... Emmet has a point. He should choose his words carefully. Strategy is key.]

I intend to emphasize how his secrecy and refusal to care for himself hurts not only himself, but those around him. The fact that he ended up in this position is proof to me that he needs to be more mindful of his limitations.

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