Tiers and Hopes, Book 2

Threadbare

[Trigger warning: The intense material starts here.  There's violence, cutting and blood.  Discretion is advised.]

Threadbare (adj): having the nap worn off so that the thread shows

Thread (n): a thin continuous strand of spun and twisted textile fibers; a tenuous or feeble support

Bare (adj): naked; unconcealed or exposed; empty; leaving nothing to spare

-from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 11th ed. (2004)

"Poyo, poyo," Kirby said to the Wireframe busboy.

The Wireframe nodded, serving up another large sundae for Kirby. Empty ice-cream bowls lay scattered around him, but he didn't care. This was escape from another day of pointless, undeserved harassment.

Where to start? Fox had "accidentally" tripped him at breakfast, sending his food flying everywhere. Pikachu had given him the cold shoulder, most of his focus on some sort of petition targeting Luigi's side special. The electric mouse had gone to Kirby's matches for the sole purpose of shooting Luigi dirty looks. And the day's spectators had been more vicious than yesterday's. Tuff, Tiff, Chef Kawasaki and Luigi had made it a point to sit in the first row, only to be treated as personae non grata. Which led up to here—Kirby sitting in the remodeled ice-cream parlor, eating sundae after sundae, hoping the creamy dessert could dull the pain.

"I'll have what he's having, please."

Kirby paused, spoon to his lips.

Jigglypuff had entered the ice-cream parlor and situated herself on the stool next to Kirby, payment in hand.

As the Wireframe fixed Jiggs's sundae, the Balloon-type turned to Kirby.

"Hitting those sundaes pretty hard, aren't we?" she warbled.

Kirby shrugged. "Poyo poyo poyo," he said quietly.

"Okay, well—maybe you can talk to me about it," offered Jiggs.

"Poyo?"

"Definitely, Kirby. I'm all ears," Jiggs said cheerily.

Kirby sighed deeply. "Poyo poyo poyo popoyo poyoy poyoyo poy poyo popoyo poyo," he said. "Poyo poy poyoy poyo poyo poyo poyoy poy popoyo. Poy poyo poyoy poyo, poyo poy..." The words spilled out of Kirby's mouth as he bared his soul to Jigglypuff. He found himself revealing things he wouldn't dare to reveal to anyone else, even Luigi and Tiff! By and by, he slipped into a level of intimacy rivaled only when he was with Pikachu—intimacy which was lacking in recent weeks.

Jiggs listened intently. She didn't interrupt Kirby, nor did she judge him. When he was finished, she sat there silently, allowing this information to sink in. Finally, she spoke.

"It isn't right, what Fox and his cronies are doing to you."

"Poyo!" Kirby said fiercely.

"But not all of them are like that. Luigi and his pals have done a great job trying to stick up for you."

Kirby smiled briefly. "Poy," he said wistfully. Sadly, he added, "Poyo poy poyo poyoy poyo."

"Kirby, please. They hate seeing you beaten down. But you make a good point. This is something you don't bounce back from. I'll see if I can talk to them later today."