Backing into the room, a large tupperware container in hand, was Chu-e, of course.

"Good evening, Balder." And he sounded tired, disgruntled, like he always did with these visits. Chu-e hated that he had to do this to Balder Schwartz as much as the man himself probably hated going through the process. The daily 'succ sessions'... all in the name of not starving. Balder was probably the only thing keeping him from hitting rock bottom a lot sooner and making him think of attacking his friends.

"I brought spicy beef curry with pineapple today. Oh!" He tapped a bag on top of the container, a smiling Slurpuff winking. "A malasada shop opened up earlier this week so I brought you a few. Those are from Alola, right?"

Chu-e sat the stuff on a nearby table before he sat in the chair. He was tired and rubbed his face, clear exhaustion and illness hitting him worse than before. Even someone like Balder, who didn't know him as well, would be able to see it.

"I don't know if I can feed you today. If I let you down, will you promise not to punch me or try to run off?"

No, Chu-e did not notice Lulu Flint. He was not psychic and he was so very tired. She would hear everything between him and Balder Schwartz.

"I appreciate that." He gave Balder a tired but sincere smile as he started to undo the mechanisms that kept him restrained. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't like this."

He sat heavily on a chair, hunching over some. He was tired. This was, after all, during the disappearance of one Eris Halla.

"Go ahead and shoot. I don't have the energy to try and be a coy asshole right now."

Chu-e did not flinch away from Balder Schwartz. He just hummed, quietly glad he had gotten quite a few of those Malasada. This guy could eat a Rapidash and ask for seconds. There is a quiet snort at Rocket Grunt but Chu-e doesn't contest it. Some things it was better to keep to himself, after all.

"Rocket is the easy answer. League guy molested me and got away with it. I ran away from home and joined them when I was a kid." He waves it off. That was sad but he didn't like to dwell. It was just a thing that happened.

For the other, he does frown a bit, thinking.

A hand is lifted up, for both of them to see, and Chu-e flexes his hands repeatedly. Black crystal nails expand from his fingertips before returning under the flesh. Over and over.

"I think it's eating me." Which answers nothing. "I hear it in my head... constantly. It's buzzing in my brain all the time. Don't know what it's saying. Feels like..." He trails off, narrows his eyes, tries to focus on the white noise. "Like it's trying to smooth out all the wrinkles in my brain so it can make new ones."

He blinks, seems to remember where he is, give Balder an awkward smile as he puts his head down.

"Take my advice and don't put weird shit in your mouth, dude."

Balder Schwartz's suggestion was a good one. But, it made Chu-e give a small, humorless laugh.

"I don't think I could." Glancing back up, he pointed at the overhead light. Usually sometime you could tune out, but the florescent buzzed and buzzed if you tuned into it. "It's like that... almost. Not... words? Just there. I couldn't 'speak' it any more than you could speak 'light bulb'."

There is a long, pregnant pause. He's so tired. Chu-e could go to sleep right here...

"I'm sorry." It doesn't feel like enough. It will never be enough. And what was he apologizing for? Kidnapping him? Eating him alive? Any number of other things?

Either way, Chu-e sighs and closes his eyes for a moment.

He's so tired.

Balder Schwartz was giving birth? Kinky.

The jacket makes Chu-e perk back up, at least a little. He opens his eyes and idly glances over at Balder before curling into the warmth. He's been so cold recently. Like his body is turning to ice from the inside out.

"They are. Makes me feel a little better, though." A long sigh through his nose.

Then Chu-e thinks on how to answer the other.

"Rocket is really divided. Everyone has their own goals. Rocket just helps achieve them." He turned slightly towards the other, shifting in his seat to better face him.

"I want to make sure Kanto doesn't happen again. I also want the League to stop pretending it doesn't have problems." He motions around him weakly; to the cell, but also to something larger. "Rocket is full of criminals. Criminals aren't born from nothing. Rocket took advantage of us before. I think it can be better now." idealistic? Maybe. But Chu-e would die for his goals.

"i don't disagree with you. There will always be bad people who do bad things because they like it." A weak smile is offered to Balder Schwartz. "Imagine it, though... a world where no one is hungry, so they don't need to steal. No petty thieves that get disillusioned and turn into murderers." He lowers his voice a bit, just for him and the other. You never knew what shadows were hiding in the walls. "No one there to take advantage of those people."

The smile stayed for a few moments before it dropped, the previous worry starting to come back. He sighed.

"Okay, I need to go. Sorry I can't stay lo-ugh!" Chu-e made to push himself to his feet. But then he crumpled to the floor. A wheezing cough escaped him, flecks of black spilling from his lips. He tried to sit back up but his arms shook with exertion. Chest heaving, he gave up. He was only barely able to curl on his side.

If Balder were smart, he could probably take advantage of the situation to try and escape. But Balder was a good person. Chu-e may have been Rocket and may have been eating him (and led to his capture), but he had been kind to his besides. Homemade meals and treats when he could find them. Chu-e liked Balder.