Eleventh Dream: Changes [Video/Action]

[rainsrespite]

Video:

[Yuuna's been notably absent from Union for most of the last week. She's had her reasons, mostly a sudden and urgent need for a few days away from it all. She'd taken her Pokemon, Merrill had gotten a goodbye kiss, and that'd been about it. And those few days away? Had been extremely eventful.

The video feed opens to the sight of a bedraggled Yuuna with hair sticking up all over the place, a little grubby from traveling, and with an odd flicker in her eyes. A Politoed's hands visible on the edges of the camera, the little goober holding it so she can speak.]

Sorry I've been gone the last few days, if anyone was worried. Probably should've been better about keeping in touch. I know Right came looking, and that means I probably should've cancelled class and that's on me. Anyone who was expecting lessons? I'll be doing free makeups starting tomorrow. Get in touch and we'll bang out a time.

[She swallows and looks away for a minute.]

I've had some really big things happen though, out in the mountains. Some pretty...crazy...stuff to be honest. [Slowly she steps over the threshold of the city gate, almost like that act in and of itself was important.]

I'm not really sure how to say it. Considering that a lot of people I know had this happen when they were teenagers or kids? I'm not sure it's even that big a deal to most of you, but I figured it wasn't something that would ever happen to me. [She holds up her right fist.] Hell, I can't really say that I'm sure how to even begin to put all this into words. So. I guess I'll just have to show you.

[Closing her eyes she concentrates, visibly relaxing, and her fist begins to glow. Electricity leaps and sparks along her hand.]

I'm not really sure why, but...yeah. I'm definitely not who I was when I left, at least not entirely.

[And then the feed closes down.]

Action Around Union:

[Yuuna spends the next few hours walking from street to street, looking over places, old haunts like cafes, the Dojo, the Theater, the Pokemon Habitat her dad's Workshop in the Industrial District, Ranger HQ, and eventually...home. Friends are more than welcome to stop her. She's just got a lot of stuff on her mind and a lot more to think about ahead of her.]

Comments

Action at home

[bleeding_heart]

[Merrill's first response when Yuuna returns home after her training is to enthusiastically sweep her up in a big hug. But it doesn't take long for her to notice the sudden height difference, and she silently processes this with a tilt of the head and several hand gestures meant to measure them each. Blinking, she stands on her tiptoes and crouches down slightly to try to simulate what she remembers before finally asking.]

...Did you get taller? I didn't know you could train for that.

so i nearly replied to this on Hercules's account. he's 7'1"...

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[Yuuna smiles down at her formerly taller partner and does her best not to just burst out laughing. It's a silly, simple observation, but it is true. She's noticed it too, having grown several inches in the last few days. It'd thrown her balance off, but...helped in other ways. She'd adjust.

And so would Merrill.]

I did, yeah. But I wasn't training for it. I don't think you can, unless maybe you get stretched out by ropes or something. [Shaking her head, she wiggles a finger under Merrill's nose.]

I have big news though. Really big news. [Bracing for impact...she pushes out a tiny spark that pops across the distance between them and peppers Merrill's nose. And says nothing, waiting for her to work it out.]

[bleeding_heart]

That isn't how ropes work. At least, I don't think so...

[Merrill blinks, about to become lost in working that one out before her thought train is derailed by the tiny spark. Her nose twitches and she lets out a small, cute sneeze.]

...Oh!

[That was either surprise at the sneeze or a dawning realization. It's hard to say which.]

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[Yuuna laughs at the little sneeze and...leans down to press a kiss against Merrill's nose where she'd shocked it. Before reaching around her and scooping her up into a bigger hug, easily lifting the weight one armed. Definitely a change.]

Oh? Just oh?

[Cue an even bigger grin.]

So. Figured out what I wanted to say? Or do I need to say it?

[bleeding_heart]

[Merrill lifts her feet up off the ground as Yuuna hugs her, holding on around her neck and laughing before she's set back down.]

You... evolved? Is that it? But how?

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[And Yuuna happily answers.]

I didn't evolve. Because I...wasn't Enlightened before. [She holds her nose close.] I Awakened. For the first time! I'm...well, I've got abilities, now. like you and most of my friends!

[bleeding_heart]

Oh! That's even more amazing. Congratulations! Should we celebrate?

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Thank you, darling.

[She taps her chin, teasing a smile...]

I think we should. But how? I mean...thoughts? Is there anything you wanna do?

[She says this as she scoops Merrill up into her arms again, broad and stronger than before.]

[bleeding_heart]

Well... you're the one we're celebrating. What would you like me to do for you?

[From anyone else, it might sound suggestive, but this is Merrill. Not that she'd say no if that sort of thing was on Yuuna's mind.]

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So I not only get a blessing from the gods...but I can have whatever I want from a beautiful woman? Truly, I am the most amazingly lucky girl alive today.

[Yuuna isn't wired that way either. The thought does cross her mind, and it's a 'maybe later' sort of thing, not an immediate and pressing urge to hit the bedroom. She grins down at Merrill and kisses her full on the lips, deep and long, the kind of kiss you give a wife after a war.]

You know what would be incredible? If you order dinner so I can shower and you give me a massage. I wanna talk about it, but I've been so full of knots since I gained all the height, and my muscles are all stiff.

[bleeding_heart]

[Merrill sighs against that kiss, eagerly wrapping her arms around Yuuna and leaning into it before pulling back with a breathy 'I love you.']

Mmm... that sounds wonderful. I've never tried that before. I hope I do a good job.

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[An 'I love you' that's readily returned. It takes considerable willpower to not just go back for another kiss, but a stray twig in her hair reminds her that a shower is required to feel human again.]

I'm sure you will. Just...give me a few minutes to get this travel muck off me. Order...whatever you want. Something sweet for me, from that one place we have marked on the fridge. Sound good?

[bleeding_heart]

Mhm. I'll see you soon.

[Merrill smiles, leaning back in for another quick kiss before heading off to handle the food ordering. She's familiar enough with the menu and the process by now to do it herself. At first there were plenty of hilarious misfires.]

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[Thankfully, the people on the other end are familiar enough with Merrill's eccentricities that they've made very likely trained someone to specifically take the orders.

Yuuna trusts her, though and scuttles off to take a hot shower for the first time in a week. It's basically heaven, getting rid of the muck and sticks...and she steps out in a robe a bit later smelling like a thunderstorm. Apparently it's a side effect of the change.]

All taken care of?

[She flops down on the couch regardless, rolling a stiff shoulder.]

[bleeding_heart]

I ordered those sweet dumplings you like, with the honey sauce.

[Merrill smiles as Yuuna hits the couch, sighing happily.]

You smell nice. Like freshly fallen rain.

[rainsrespite]

Oh, that sounds heavenly, thank you dear.

[She flops over on her side, staring up at Merrill.]

Do I? I used the same soap. Must...be an Electric type thing. Glad I got that and not Fighting type sweat scent.

[bleeding_heart]

[Merrill reaches down to idly play with a wisp of Yuuna's hair, twirling it with her finger.]

It's a very pretty scent. It smells like... renewal. The birth of something new and fresh.

[And a very good metaphor for Yuuna's awakening.]

Are you ready for your massage?

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[In the process, some of Merrill's own hair stands on end, Yuuna's still having some control issues.]

That's me. Fresh and new.

[Grinning ear to ear, Yuuna shrugs back the robe to bare her shoulders and back, laying face down on the couch.]

Is a Pikachu yellow?

[That metaphor is so much worse than Merrills, geez]

[bleeding_heart]

[The tingling feels neat. Merrill giggles again.]

Yes, they are.

[...]

Oh! Yes. The massage. You're ready for it. I see.

[Fumbling a bit, Merrill leans over the side of the couch, starting on Yuuna's shoulders and rolling her hands over them.]

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You're learning!

[She's glad, she uses a lot of idioms. The massage starting feels divine, too, just...fingers against her skin.]

And that...that feels so good. Feels like I have a lot of tension there. Must be from the lightning striking me.

[And rapid muscle growth, it too.]

[bleeding_heart]

Good! I don't really know what I'm doing, so I'm glad.

[And since it feels good, Merrill will press in a little harder as she works out all those knots, slowly moving down her back as she goes.]

[rainsrespite]

Anything helps, trust me.

[See, the Pokemon she had with her? didn't have hands and like hell was she asking Right for a back rub.]

Say. Thought. Do your people do anything special when enlightenment manifests?

[bleeding_heart]

Special...?

[Merrill stops for a moment, thinking.]

That's when we get our tattoos.

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Oh!

[Yuuna chuckles.]

I'd wondered about that, actually. I figured it was a rite of passage or something, but I never wanted to ask and seem rude. Outsider and all.

[bleeding_heart]

It's all right. You already know about Eluvian and my magic, after all. It's refreshing to be able to talk about something I can actually be proud of for a change.

[A bit self-deprecating, yes, but she doesn't seem to be wallowing in it. Her tone is still just as upbeat as always, and she even laughs a little as she moves her hands down Yuuna's back.]