video/action

[incousinswithyou]

[the Warp Band flickers on and there is an extremely close up view of a Pokemon's distinct eggshell pattern. Who's that Pokemon?? There's a happy trilll and if you're lucky, you get a glimpse of a stubby little arm and a delighted Togepi face. This doesn't last very long, as the Warp Band immediately gets pushed off the table and...hits a curious Roselia on the head. Ow.

Still, Roselia picks up the Warp Band and holds it out to her Trainer, who's mildly busy keeping an adventurous Togepi from walking right over the edge after the sparkly Warp Band.]

Thank you, Lulu. [Michiru smiles at the running feed, one hand full of happy egg baby and the other reaching out to take the Band.] Do they all have this particular disregard for heights or did I just get lucky?

[mildly dry tone of voice aside, Michiru is utterly delighted by the latest successful baby snatching newest addition to her roster - even if she's particularly good at hiding it.

As for action options, she can be found at the park under the shade of a leafy tree. Milotic is slowly dozing off, sleeping in an oddly formal circle. Michiru is propped up against the curve of the Water Pokemon, as Togepi slowly toddles after Roselia, who's scattering all these shiny and interesting and moving petals!

...From the looks of it, Michiru is using Milotic as a natural baby cage to keep Togepi from wandering off too far.]

Comments

[actsmagnificent]

[ ....Swadloon has no arms anymore he doesn't know how to give a leaf to Togepi this is the most awkward evolution ever. He shuffles around, leaf sticking out of his mouth. Is this gross? What's his Trainer doing?

The crying's died down, thank goodness. Haruka parts her hands and sparkles at Togepi from between them. She can't believe she's doing this. ] Found her!

[ Please be a kid who loves peekaboo. It's the only baby game she can think of. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[Lulu hops on over to Natto's side. They can do it together, right? There's nothing friendship can't overcome!!

And there's a teeny smile on Togepi's face. That was a good surprise! She waves her little arms towards Haruka. Do it again!

Michiru is, needless to say, amused as all get-out. ]

[actsmagnificent]

....again?

[ Well, she got her wish. You're a kid who loves peekaboo. Haruka thinks this over. ] One more. Then you have to sit down with Mommy, okay?

[ Over her face her hands go. ] Now, where's the baby?

[ ...Togepi appears, Swadloon indicates with the leaf, to be in the middle of something important. But if you could give her this leaf when she is done, Lulu, that would be amazing. And then it would be from both of them, which makes it better! ] Swadlooon.

[incousinswithyou]

Toge! [she's right here, smiling and waving her little arms around and everything!

Lulu nods and takes the leaf, ready to help leaf the baby.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ And there's Haruka! She looks happy to see the baby - and will move if, during baby's reaction, it looks like Lulu needs room to maneuver. ] Yo.

[incousinswithyou]

Priii!

[yaay, you came back! She's pretty excited to see you, even if you're not mommy.

Lulu sidles in and presents the leaf with a happy smile, and sticks it onto Togepi's shell. If anything though, baby is paying more attention to Lulu than to the badge of friendship leaf.]

Looks like you found her.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka sniffs, but she's grinning. ] This isn't even my job.

[ Leaning back, she settles next to Michiru, fingers in easy linking distance if her partner was so inclined. ] She's cute.

[ Meanwhile, Swadloon is shuffling over, still chewing. He swallows for manners' sake. ] Loon. Swadloon. Swad swad. [ Hello! He is the artist formerly known as Sewaddle. Pardon his lack of hands.

...It's really bothering him, okay. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[Lulu sits back down to resume her break, even as Togepi toddles after Haruka...and then is distracted by Natto. She stares blankly at the new (?) Pokemon at first, but. Hey! You're round and stuff! Togepi walks right up to him and pats him with a stubby little arm in greeting. Hi!]

So you're saying you're available for babysitting? [and yup, she's sneaking her hand over to yours]

[actsmagnificent]

I wouldn't think you'd want to let her out of your sight.

[ Except that role is already filled. By Haruka. Right?

Swadloon nods in response to the pat. Do you like your leaf? He could try and find another one if that one doesn't meet with your approval, but he likes it. It is extremely well-shaped, and quite a fresh shade of green. ] Swadloon.

[incousinswithyou]

Well, if you think I can't trust you...

[Togepi blinks at Natto. She...did not get most of that. And may have already forgotten about the leaf stuck on her as soon as it was out of sight.]

Toge! [hi, let's play!]

[actsmagnificent]

Maybe I want to be taken care of, too.

[ She leans in. Haruka don't make a baby Michiru already has one. Wait.

Swadloon is unperturbed by his new friend's short attention span. Attitude is everything, and yours is positive. Let's play, indeed! ] Loon!

[ ...But how's he going to play? He's a ball. Not to mention hungry again. The leaves atop his head droop slightly. ]

[incousinswithyou]

Just maybe? [her smile widens into a smirk, as she turns her head towards you]

Rose... [well, the baby does seem to like moving, shiny things...(but this is mildly difficult).

Togepi, on the other hand, is already sitting down and happily flinging the fallen petals and leaves into the air.] Prii!

[actsmagnificent]

Who knows. [ She is a pretty independent young woman, after all. Just...one that could stare into your eyes like this forever.

Swadloon is not sure he understands this game. Those are important materials for making wearable art - that happen to double as lunch. Still, he's willing to give it a shot. ] Swadloon. Swad.

[ .....This leaf is sticking to his upper lip. Swadloon compensates by munching on it. Have you ever tried eating the leaves, Lulu? They're not bad. Perhaps he should also become a chef. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[she chuckles, and takes the opportunity to rest her cheek against your shoulder. She is...rather content right now, all things considered.

Hey, she's basically doing what she learned from Lulu and Natto. Confettti everywhere! And she giggles when she sees Natto nom that leaf, so she begins to shore up all the stray leaves and petals against his sides.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ How thoughtful! The baby found a new game that Swadloon can be part of. Except...is this a blanket or a buffet? Does baby want some silk to stick petals on? (Natto might not understand the limits of very young fine motor skills.)

He looks over at Lulu. What do you think the baby's doing? ] Swad swadloon.

[ Haruka is trying hard not to grin too much watching the Pokémon, but Michiru's leaning on her makes that difficult. She nods at the baby. ] You're just raising her as a companion?

[ She has a feeling Togepi isn't going to be a Pokémon that double-duties as a battle-ready partner. You know, an extremely psychic hunch. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[well, it started off as a gesture of goodwill, but it's fast becoming a game where Togepi is trying to bury Natto up to his neck. Or, well, maybe his eyes, considering the lack of the former. And yes, if baby gets some silk to play with, it'll get everywhere.]

Selia...? [nope, she's got no idea what baby is doing, but she'll help out by sweeping some of the strewn leaves and petals towards you two.]

She's not quite ready for a fight just yet. [or ever, if Michiru has her way. Even if it's inevitable that babies eventually grow up.]

[actsmagnificent]

I didn't know you were in such a hurry to be a mother. [ Is this really a good time to be raising children? What are you thinking, bringing a child into a world as full of upheaval as this...

.....your baby is successfully covering her Swadloon in leaves. Haruka has a vague notion her point just disproved itself. Swadloon himself, however, is really unsure what to think of this. So he bends down as best he can (which isn't much) and helps himself to a mouthful of leaves. ] Loon.

[incousinswithyou]

If I was, I might have made a few different choices.

[please, Michiru.

Opportune moments or not, good luck trying to get her to get rid of the baby now.]

Toge priii! [yes! Baby feels accomplished for achieving...whatever this is! Oh hey, you're eating more leaves. Is that tasty? She pick up a leaf and maybe nom on it a little herself.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Hey, even that hypothetical apocalypse she's worried about likely couldn't come between you and the baby. Haruka doesn't even want to try.

She watches Swadloon wonder whether he should stop the child or not. These are good for him to eat, but don't babies eat....Baby things? ] ....This is fine.

[ Swadloon is watching baby in worried anticipation. Will anything bad happen?? He doesn't want to be a bad influence. ] Swaaa...

[incousinswithyou]

[Togepi has decided that leaves aren't tasty for eggbabies, and ends up dropping the whole thing back into the Natto-leaf pile. Bleagh.

Heh. Michiru will take that answer. But she won't say that out loud and instead, she just nuzzles your shoulder.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ This is fine indeed. Haruka closes her eyes and leans against Michiru, too. What a happy family they must look like...

...uh-oh, though. The leaves, despite Swadloon's munching, are reaching where his nose would be. And even though he hasn't got one, it somehow still tickles. Mrrgh. He can't move, but he tries to get Lulu's attention. Help! Help! The baby will be so sad if he sneezes all the leaves away! Not to mention he'll feel like Cubchoo. ] Loon!

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru would close her eyes too, but...what on earth are the kids doing?]

Rose! [Lulu hops into place, ready to... ready to do what, exactly? She wasn't trained for this!]

R-rose... [she looks around almost frantically, as baby continues piling on the leaves and. Ah! She holds out her roses to the baby again and shakes them invitingly, hoping to lead the baby away.]

Toge? [oooh colorful, moving objects!] Toge prii!

[actsmagnificent]

[ ....Michiru? Haruka opens her eyes just in time to see Swadloon, a look of relief on his face being quickly replaced by one of panic, give a mighty sneeze and scatter the leaves and petals like his Trainer just walked into the room colored snow. ] SwadLOON!

[ ....And now there are leaves and petals settling on everybody's hair. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[....well then. Michiru gets up, brushing off the leaves and heading towards the baby.] I think Sky is contagious.

[baby jumps at the sudden, loud sound, but whoa! More stuff is falling from the sky! And she's getting scooped up!] Prii! [hi mommy!

Michiru gives Lulu a smile as she sits back down next to Haruka. Meanwhile, the Grass type just looks relieved. At least they won't have to explain the loss of the leaf pile.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Oh, thank goodness, the baby didn't start crying again. Haruka hasn't noticed that she's got a few petals tucked into her bangs now, so she just sits right here and waits for mother and child to return. ] That's terrible. She's your biggest fan.

[ Although glad the baby is okay, Swadloon sinks deeper into his blanket lump. Evolving is supposed to make people cool. Maybe he did something wrong. He shuffles from side to side and eats another leaf. ] Loon.