For years, Hideo had been careful about returning to Slateport. For so long, he’d practically been chained to this city, his parents refusing to let him go out in the world. He ran away from home to experience more of the region, and that he did very much.

He’d been without contact with them for so long. For his own safety, he’d assure himself: the moment they caught a whiff of where he was, he knew they’d be after him. Yet he knew they must’ve been worried sick for him, wondering how he was. With so much going on, he’d been through a number of close calls.

So he made a choice, taking a risk and planning to deliver a letter to his home. He didn’t need his Pokemon to guide him around - he knew Slateport well enough that he only needed a Pokemon for company (and protection from any wild Pokemon wandering about the city), his Meowscarada walking beside him.

Hideo could hear footsteps running through the snow, but he doubted he was at any risk: it was rare for Slateport to get snow, and more than likely, his family was indoors staying warm, so there wasn’t much risk of walking around the Park, even bundled up as he was. “Is it weird that I kinda miss being here?” Hideo asked his Pokemon aloud, the Meowscarada shrugging and going back to admiring the snowy sights of the city.

Martín del Mar

Hearing his name spoken like that, around here, immediately made Hideo jump slightly, though he was quick to recognize the source.

Not from his family. Safe for now.

“Martin?” It was crazy how frequently they happened upon each other - but considering their connection to the Lake Trio, it wasn’t too absurd. “Didn’t expect to meet you here. A big city like Slateport can feel small sometimes, huh?”

His Meowscarada watched the Flittle float around them, bemused. She performed a small trick for the floating Pokemon, producing a small bouquet of flowers in her hand, appearing from thin air.

Hideo opened his mouth once more, the words on the tip of his tongue - that he had Uxie. But Eris Halla ’s warning stuck in his mind, to not tell Mars about his mark - and by extension, that he was connected to Uxie in some way. Without Mars's help, would they have even gotten that prophecy from the Lake Trio?

A few seconds passed as he had to think of something else to say. He’d listen to Eris’s warning, even if she’d yet to give him a reason why to not trust Mars with the information.

“...how’ve you been? Been a lot of stuff going on lately…”

Martín del Mar

The Meowscarada laughed, bemused by the Flittle’s reaction to her trick. Alas, her audience’s attention was stolen just as quickly as it was gained, the Meowscarada shrugging as she snapped her fingers once more, the bouquet disappearing into the cold, thin air.

“I’m surprised a CEO has that kind of free time,” Hideo joked, a grin on his face. “Would’ve thought you’d be too busy to even walk out to get coffee.” It’s what they had assistants for, after all, right? “But yeah, it does help to get outside when you can, even when it’s this cold. Arceus knows I was cooped up inside for too long.”

Though that did bring him to the reason why he came here. Hideo’s expression shifted to one more mixed - this was something he’d resolved himself to do, yet he wasn’t sure if he could feel very happy about it.

“Well…I was gonna celebrate the holidays with my friends. But before that, I wanted to just let my parents know that I’m doing alright. Not like I plan to sing them A Christmas Carol or something - I was just gonna leave a letter at my house for them. I haven’t talked to them in over a year…I kinda want to know if they’re doing alright too.”

He let out a sigh, his breath visible in the air. “Though they wouldn’t let me leave again if they found me there.”

Martín del Mar

Hideo couldn't resist a little giggle. "Guess that's right! You can't grow if you sit around all day doing boring stuff." He knew that well enough already: his own skills dramatically improved once he left home.

It was for the best he wasn't aware of Mars's and the Flittle's reactions; it had all been stuff he was used to by now, so it didn't bear much thought. All the stories said 10-year-olds could go out and live off the land, so why couldn't he at 11? At 12? At 13?

His Meowscarada silently mimicked the Flittle's shocked reaction, though that was purely for her own entertainment.

But the mention of talking to his family dropped Hideo's affect completely. "No," he signed, "Talking to them's gonna cause more problems. It's easier just to do the letter." He wouldn't even risk a phone call, on the chance they'd use that to track him down.

"I'm kinda wary of even getting close to the door there. I got Meowscarada here because I know they don't know I have one, so if they spot me, they might not realize it's me immediately." Probably a bit too heavy a precaution, but he could never be too sure. "I'd maybe even have her deliver it herself, but she doesn't know which house it is."

Martín del Mar

The answer Mars receives is silence; Hideo tried to think up a reason, an excuse for why he still had to bring it in person, rather than get someone else to do it for him - but he couldn't.

Perhaps a part of him really did want to check up on his family, risky as it would be.

But he wouldn't admit to it. He also didn't want to lie to Mars any further; he felt bad enough already hiding his involvement with the Lake Trio.

"...well, I'm already here." He spoke dryly, resignation clear in voice. It was too late to back out now.

Though before he could dwell on it, a *ding* interrupted his near-brooding - followed by an attempt to mimic it by the Flittle, and a marginally better attempt from his Meowscarada, the latter punctuating her attempt by poking Hideo on the side of the head.

"I hope it goes well too." The talk wouldn't stop him from delivering the letter, whether or not it was a fully-thought-out plan. "And merry Christmas to you too. Hope the Delibirds bring you plenty of presents."

With the pat on his back, he split away from Mars, his Meowscarada following close behind him.

Martín del Mar