[spoiler]Tracer and I spaghetti'd this conversation so I'm posting on his behalf too~
After Maekrite explains himself to Teala, she looks downcast and feels somewhat defeated. She is perhaps wondering what to do now.
The Nidorino notices and after a gulp, moves closer and pats her.
Teala: <Huh?>
Maekrite: <I-I'm sorry.> -- looks up sheepishly -- <I'm sorry if this hurts you.>
Teala looks back down to see the Nidorino who simply sits and continues to talk to her.
Maekrite: <I'm lost here… I was raised to be loyal, see...>
Teala: <"Loyal"... To your colony?>
Maekrite -allows himself a smile: <My parents never said.>
Looking down from her higher body Teala can notice the sight of the Nidorino shifting away, in the direction the Golden Forests are, and can see in them a longing feeling, not strange to herself.
Maekrite: <I couldn't give myself to you either way... If I said yes, I wouldn't be the Nidorino you like.>
Teala -nods: <I think I understand...>
Teala's sight also wanders by for a moment, her tail and neck waving very softly.
Teala: <At the shrine… loyalty was always very highly valued.> -- thinks back to the likely few times she felt she was doing things right back there -- <We were told stories where loyalty became confusing at times.>
Maekrite -frowns: <Oh, I-I've heard stories like that. They hurt....> -- looks back up, tilts his head -- <But don't get me wrong!>
Maekrite: <I did pick you. Somehow… some other me, some other you. And while I don't know how or why, I am sure he will stick by his choice.>
To that Teala gives a small smile, thought at least a sincere one.
Teala: <I'm glad to hear that, but… but then... Then what? I'm never going to find somemon like you... somemon who is not taken... am I?>
Maekrite: <You'll find somemon, don't worry...> -- blushes a bit -- <We the loyal ones are hard to stand by sometimes.>
Teala: <...Huh?>
Maekrite: <You'll be a great guard, Teala. You'll catch someone's eye.>
Teala: <You really think so?>
Maekrite: <Yeah.> -- nods with a feeling of satisfaction -- <I… I wasn't born like this. Went through my nightmares and tribulations, I think I told you.> -- pats her -- <But I grew up to be this and you will grow up as well.>
Teala: <I… I'll keep that in mind.>
The Nidorino straightens his head and is about to remove his paw from Teala's hide, but the Druddigon, feeling that, calls him up.
Teala: <Maekrite?>
Maekrite: <…Yes?> -- raises an ear.
Teala: <Thank you.>
The Druggigon suddenly picks the Nidorino up for a hug, and the Nidorino lets himself enjoy the hug, growling contently and lowering his ears, Teala rubs her crest against his face and neck and wags her tail, the two of them ignoring the festivities around them as well as their narrators have done for this conversation.
Maekrite: <You do have an advantage, Teala...>
Teala: <…I do? W-what?>
Maekrite: <It's something Trainer told me once, I don't know why it is like that. You know all mons eventually wither and die.>
Teala frowns wondering where is that conversation doing, but decides that Maekrite has thought of something relevant that she should listen.
Maekrite: <We Nidos die fast, that's why we also pick one mate fast and breed a lot… but that's not where I want to go.> -- flickers ears -- <The thing is, dragons don't. They grow older and stronger instead.>
Teala: <I… I think I've heard that too, yes.>
Teala can listen to Maekrite laugh a little, in a somewhat guilty manner.
Maekrite: <I'm half-lying, actually, but what I say about the dragons… I hope it is clear.>
Teala: <You made it clear.> -- she pulls the Nidorino closer, he doesn't mind the Rough Skin -- <I hope you make her happy… your mate… for as long as you are together. She is really lucky.>
Maekrite-sighs: <I guess I got lucky too. Not many females would wait three years for their mate to return... with weekend-short trips every season or two that don't count.> -- he adds with a certain hint of blame in his voice.
Teala lets the Nidorino back to the ground and looks at the world around them, then back at him.
Teala: <I… do you understand why they don't count?>
Maekrite: <I can, yes...>
The two Pokémon look up/down at each other, and finally Teala allows herself to smile.
Teala: <...Then I guess you'll be going home soon. Make her happy.>
Maekrite nods and goes hug Teala's arm, licking the part he scratched. Then he turns back to focus on other events at paw.
“Thou hast forgotten the face of thy Lord. Remember, mortal, and fear pet me.”