II

[heartstorage]

[Action - Lake Shrine]

[Sora had been to the Lake Shrine once before, it was where he had met Elhaym. He decided to come back to train, since even though he wanted to go to the canyon- it was a out of his league still. And so there he was, Pokemon and axe in hand, ready to put in a hard's day work]

[Except not quite. It's been hard to focus the past couple days, so it's not long before he gets distracted. And so he's easily found in front of the shrine, lost in thought while his Pokemon wander nearby]

A shrine where the dead can appear...

[He crosses his arms as he watches the shrine and after a moment, frowns a bit disappointed]

Nope, none yet. Maybe it's at night?

[Action - Medical Center]

[After he got through a few hours of training, Sora's managed to accumulate a few cuts and bruises from various fights - the most notable one being a scrape on his cheek. None of it is anything serious, just a mix of usual training troubles and a certain level of carelessness. Normally, he wouldn't even bother the Medical Center with it. In fact he's still planning not to bother the Medical Center with it. He can buy bandages from a pharmacy for all he cares.]

[But he did make a promise to Roxas that he'd come back, as well as see Lucas again. And so he can be found in the Medical Center, trying to find either one. And....possibly getting lost in the process. Why do all these halls look the same again?!]

Comments

[meguriau]

I've never seen a Houndour.

[heartstorage]

Did you wanna see him? He looks scary, but he's really friendly!

[meguriau]

[ Roxas just nods his head. Maybe it would be good to know what one looks like? ]

[heartstorage]

Okay!

Um- [Looking around] Where's a good place to have a Pokemon here?

[meguriau]

The Common Room.

[ It was where he was going before he ran into you. ]

[heartstorage]

[Common Room, right. He has no idea where that is]

Take me there? We can finish our ice cream on the way.

[meguriau]

[ Enough visits and you'll figure out where everything is. Maybe.

Roxas nods and gets up from his seat. ]

Don't forget your ice.

[ Have you even been keeping it on your bruise ]

[heartstorage]

- Oh, right!

[CLOSE TO THE BRUISE....but okay he'll grab it and do a quick juggle of how to keep ice on a bruise and hold ice cream at the same time- but he's got it! Woo 4 for you Sora Coco 4 for you!]

[And now he moves to follow Roxas again]

[meguriau]

[ gj Sora now let's see how long it takes for it to be CLOSE TO THE BRUISE again.

Roxas leads them out of the Cafeteria and to the Common Room. The two were fairly close to each other so people who wish could go to the Common Room after they eat or even eat there if they wished to do so ]

[heartstorage]

[Probably not long tbh.]

[And excellent! Sora will finish up the last of his ice cream before dispensing the wrapper in the trash.]

Okay, ready?

[meguriau]

[ Sora...

Roxas finishes up his own ice cream and dispenses the wrapper before nodding his head. Ready. ]

[heartstorage]

[He grins a little before he holds up his wrist with the warp band. He hits one of the stars and there's a warping effect as this guy phases in. With a look like that, he definitely seems like a pokemon who could do some damage]

[However, any chance he had to look menacing quickly diminishes after a second when he realizes Sora is there. He starts wagging his tail and trying to jump on him like a big happy dog. Sora laughs and starts petting him in-between the bones]

Hey boy!

[meguriau]

[ Roxas watches as the Houndour phases into the room. He can't deny what Sora said about the look it has.

At... least until it starts wagging its tail and tried to jump in it's trainer. Though it wasn't a bad thing; it was a better sight than getting a menacing look shot at him.

And it certainly has potential from what Roxas can tell.

He just watches and although he doesn't look it he's find this pretty interesting. ]

[heartstorage]

[Yeah there's a good chance he bonded with this houndour because it was more interested in playing fetch than fighting. It's a thing.]

[Once the happy greeting is over, Sora manages to get Pluto to sit. It's at this moment the Pokemon notices Roxas, giving him a confused look because HOW DO YOU LOOK AND SMELL LIKE MY TRAINER???]

[Sora, meanwhile, decides to reassure the dog while kneeling next to him]

Pluto, this is Roxas. He's part of our pack.

[looking over at Roxas]

C'mere Roxas. Hold out your hand for him so he can sniff it.

[meguriau]

[ Getting that look is also something he is going to have to get used to, isn't he.

... Part of their pack?

Roxas does what requested and walks closer to his brother and Pluto. He then slowly extends his hand so the Dark/Fire type can sniff it. ]

[heartstorage]

[Unless you become the more social of the two so more people give that look at Sora- yes. yes you are. And yes, you're now part of a pack. Deal with it Roxas]

[Pluto looks over the new person, before tentatively sniffing his hand. He seems to be thinking through whether to trust this new person around his trainer or not. But after a moment, something seems to be okay because the Houndour starts wagging his tail and licking Roxas's hand.]

Looks like he likes you!

[meguriau]

[ All these things he has to deal with because of you Sora.

There is a very, very small smile that grows? on Roxas face because hey Pluto that tickles.

He nods his head. It's good that one of Sora's Pokemon seems to like him since Simba didn't seem to be pleased with him the other day.

Or maybe Pluto is just licking the ice cream from Roxas' hand... ]

[heartstorage]

[He'd apologize but in truth Sora regrets nothing. Especially when he sees that very, very, small smile. It's the first expression he's seen of Roxas that's positive and even if it's nothing like the smile Roxas used to have- it's still something]

[And it could be the ice cream. But hey maybe that just earns you MORE affection points! Also that he didn't witness the crushing of his trainer's soul like Simba did. that probably helps a lot.]

You can pet him if you want. He likes being scratched behind the ears.

[meguriau]

[ Yes this is true. Maybe one day he'll be on Simba's good side. Maybe?

Roxas crouches so he is at a more equal height with Pluto and uses his other hand to start scratching the Houndour behind the ears. Aren't you a good boy. ]

[heartstorage]

[Sora sure hopes so! It was hard enough leaving him behind in the habitat to visit you this one time!]

[Annnd Pluto, despite looking like it's something that escaped from hell, looks like he is in pure bliss at being scratched there. So much that the dog starts whining and starts trying to lick Roxas's face]

- Ah! Pluto!

[DON'T FREAK THE ZOMBIE KID OUT]

[meguriau]

[ Oh. Roxas told Sora that he was going call on him when he got to the Common Room. He's going to have to make up for it later. ]

Wha--!

[ Roxas wasn't sure about what the whining was about but before he could question it he was caught off guard by Pluto's attempt to lick his face.

And falls backwards so now he's sitting on the ground instead of crouching.

THAT WAS NOT EXPECTED. AT ALL. ]

[heartstorage]

Pluto, sit!

[Yeah Sora the human sure can see that this isn't a good idea to let the houndour jump all over his brother. Pluto at least listens to the stern voice of his trainer and starts whining, with his tail between his legs, as he sits and looks pleading]

[I WANT TO BE A GOOD POKEMON, LIKE YOU WANT ME TO BE]

[And Sora looks sheepish and apologetic at Roxas. Though okay, he also looks like he's trying to hold back a laugh from the face you're making]

Ha- sorry! I think he's pretty young, so he can act like a real puppy sometimes.

[meguriau]

[ Wow Sora. You better hold that back. Don't laugh at your twin's face. ]

Sometimes?

[ It slips out and Roxas isn't even unaware that he responds that way he's too busy making sure he didn't hurt himself.

Once he makes sure that he didn't twist an ankle or something he looks at Sora. ]

It's okay.

[heartstorage]

[Whoa. Even if Roxas didn't catch it, Sora sure did. That sass and irritation was so...normal sounding that it seemed completely alien in this situation. Enough that Sora pauses for a second as he tries to figure out what do. Point it out? Ignore it? Play along? ]

[At least it looks like he's okay at least from falling, so no problem there. Maybe it's best to act like he normally would]

Yeah! I mean...sometimes he's sleeps!

[meguriau]

[ Roxas looks at Sora. He's back to the same zombie expression that he's been wearing for the past year or so as he responds. ]

Everything does.

[ It... probably would have been better if he replied with that sass from earlier but alas. ]