bravenewworld | Second Punch [Video/Action]

Video

[The sound of a young man's excited screaming against the backdrop of one of Union's many streets greets anyone tuning in to the Warp Band's feed late that afternoon. The image, featuring one Harima running circles around a very bewildered looking beast of a boar, wobbled as the recorder adjusted focus. Varying cries of 'Napoleon? What in the Savior's name happened? and an low (and incredibly confused) 'swiiiiiiiiiiine~' can be heard at varying points.

Harima expected Napoleon to evolve at some point soon. He just didn't expect his little friend to become bigger than his bedroom!

The rough looking young man shot a glance directly at the feed, not seeming to realize that the whole scene was being recorded.]

Alexander, stop goofing off! Get Channa, or Yakumo-- or anyone but Itoko!

[The feed cut off abruptly as it was dropped into the streets, closing out with a short and pointed 'Poli!' before it went out.]

Action

[Unionites: beware! Hurtling down any and every street around the city is a newly minted and incredibly confused Mamoswine. Napoleon's hungry, and a few curry puffs isn't going to fix that problem this time....

Fortunately, there are plenty of restaurants in town that throw perfectly good food away!]

Napoleon-- don't eat that! It's gross!

[Harima, who had been riding atop the pokemon all afternoon in search of a reasonable place for his friend to stay, pulled at the pokemon's ears, tusks, tail-- anything to try to get Napoleon to not raid the dumpsters. Unfortunately, Mamoswines are a lot harder to budge than a Swinub...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Iori hops down of Teru's back and looks up at Napoleon too. Dude, what are you doing? Seriously? That's garbage.]

Harima. What's going on? I saw Napoleon evolved, but Alexander showed up at my house excited and agitated.

Edited 2014-12-02 05:00 (UTC)

[Napoleon snuffled and looked away, embarrassed. Kenji never has a lot of that green paper stuff lying around, and he didn't want to bother his friend...

Harima, somehow, managed to keep his cool under Yakumo's concerned gaze.]

We were surprised. I expected Napoleon to get a little taller, but not like this!

[He patted his big friend on the nose, almost tenderly.]

...You should'a just said you were hungry, yanno. We could'a worked something out.

[Yakumo blinks at the big pig and reaches up to brush a hand along one tusk.]

Yes, you should have. We can get you fed and taken care of at the house, if you want. The stables have plenty of feed.

[Yes, she has stables, there's nothing weird about that. Her parents probably kept Ponyta when the sisters were kids.]

[Napoleon made another snuffling sound, bowing his big head in embarrassment. He was hungry-- and he didn't want to worry everyone with everything!]

...You have stables?

[Harima looked at Yakumo in surprise. While it wasn't unusual for her, it clearly was something that he hadn't even thought of!

[She keeps rubbing that tusk tenderly.]

I do.

[Yakumo's eyes focus on him next, smiling brightly. Or...as brightly as she ever does.]

Mother and Father, before they moved to their other house? Used to keep Rhyhorns and Ponyta. We have big stables. Big enough for Napoleon, if Itoko is starting to get upset.

...

[Damn, Yakumo. You really hit it on the nose!]

...Yeah. Itoko. I dunno what she's gonna think of this. It was hard enough convincing her to let Matsu in.

[It was a tiny apartment on one of the upper levels of one of the many buildings in Union...and, frankly, it was the nicest place that he's stayed in for a long while. Sure, he paid rent and Itoko was moody...but, they were still family, and it was a comfortable place to stay for the most part.

But. He wasn't going to send his friends to the Habitat unless he had no other options. Not that the Habitat was bad-- but, it wasn't as homey as an actual home.]

Well. Being frank? I don't mind if you use the stables. Or some of the spare rooms. Since Tenma went off to school, it's not like I'm at a loss for space, and my parents need me to take care of the house.

[Letting go of Napoleon, Yakumo moves around to stand nearer to Harima.]

It's really no trouble. And it'd give Itoko less reason to be angry with you.

[That was a lot for Harima to think on, but there was no denying the bottom line in everything that was going on here: He couldn't afford to upset Itoko. Besides his little brother, she was the only family he was still on decent terms with.]

...How much space do you have? [He asked after a moment, sounding almost as if he were unsure about accepting the offer or not.

He liked Yakumo, but he didn't want to be in her debt either.]

[She shrugs, understanding where he's coming from.]

Honestly? You've seen my house. I have all of it to myself. It'd be easier to have someone there with me, really.

[...he totally saw her point. That was a lot of space for one person and a bunch of pokemon.]

--I can chip in some for rent, [He said quickly, suspecting that it was going to be coming. He had never been able to live anywhere for free.] And I can help with other stuff too if you need it.

No.

[The answer is reflexive and simple, and after a pause she adds...]

Helping with chores is enough. And you get to go check on any strange noises at night. And if you want food that isn't what I normally keep you have to get it yourself.

...That all sounds pretty reasonable.

[When compared to paying out enough money that he ended up broke at the end of every month? It was a lot more reasonable.]

[Yakumo smiles genuinely, pleased.]

Good. I've hated living alone, honestly.

[He nodded.]

It is a pretty big place to be living in all by yourself. If you didn't like being alone, why didn't you find a friend to crash there sooner?

I...don't really know that many people, and Kotori and Hanayo already have places to stay.

Ah. Right. You're such a nice person, I thought you knew more people.

I'm...also quiet, remember?

[She smiles self deprecatingly]

People don't like quiet girls.

But quiet girls are a whole lot nicer than loud girls. For one, quiet girls listen to others talk and aren't pushy.

[He scratched his chin, thoughtful.]

I think I'd definitely prefer a quiet girl over a loud girl for a friend. No question.

[She cringes slightly at that, looking away.]

I'm...glad you think so.

[A lie...but a convincing one.]

You're...an important friend, I'm glad to hear that...

[Harima, honestly, had no idea how to respond to that one. Yakumo was an important friend too...but, how does he go and tell someone that they're one of the only people that he actually likes?

There was no way to reply without sounding awkward.]

...Well, that's good. I'd be in the habitat and you'd still be without a room mate otherwise.

R-Right. Yes, exactly that!

[...except not...]

Second Punch [Video/Action]

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