bravenewworld | 012 // action - haruka's misfortunes, union edition

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012 // action - haruka's misfortunes, union edition

[ Haruka Tenoh is always learning new things. Today's lesson: don't walk your Rhyhorn when the roads are icy. It will slide out of control, sprain people's ankles, and you'll be responsible for picking up their slack on what would happen to be the busiest day of the year at their workplace.

On a completely unrelated note, this dairy booth in the market district appears to be doing a booming business! It's also completely pink - pink drapes, heart-shaped balloons attached to the poles, Miltank plushies lining the shelves, and a Rhyhorn wearing a pink blanket squatting outside with a basket of chocolate in its mouth. Behind the counter (assisted by a Wooper in a pink bow tie) is the most brilliantly handsome salesman ever to grace the street, advertising in a voice that could rattle a packed theater. (She's also wearing a pink apron and a baker's hat shaped like a Luvdisc. Today has a theme.) Her sales pitch goes something like this: ]

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! What you see here's available for one day only: Luvdisc-shaped chocolate for the health of your romance! Strawberry Miltank milk for the health of your body! And, with a purchase of just twenty-five dollars or more, we'll throw in a special four-piece chocolate sampler as thanks for being our sweetest customers! How about it?!

[ A middle-aged woman walking her Snubbull approaches the vendor. Could she have some Miltank cheese and a Luvdisc chocolate, please? Haruka graces her with her very best Divine Theater smile. ] But of course, Madam. If that's what you desire...

[ The woman looks about ready to faint back onto her Snubbull. Haruka would also dearly love to lose consciousness right now. Why is she so good at this? It's absurd to think she might be naturally gifted at spouting nonsense!

At least she's only served strangers thus far. ]

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I'm telling you, it's not...

[ It's not any of what she's said so far. Haruka pushes her hat back and takes a deep breath. At this rate they'll draw a crowd... ]

This is my duty.

[ Yes. That sounds good. ]

Your duty?

[She steps closer, and Mankey hops down, scampering around under the booth now.]

When did that happen?

...Were you going to order something?

[ That's not going to work, Haruka.

Wooper hops down from the counter to join the Mankey, following him everywhere he scampers. Are you buying? Are you buying? ] Woop woop!

[Mankey looks at Wooper and hoots back, a monkey sound! Oook eeek!]

I'd planned to...but I wanna know how this happened. Do I need to start worrying about theater finances?

Woop! [ Wooper dances on one foot in a circle, easily distracted. He can wait.

Haruka looks away. ] They're fine.

[ Super Beauty notices the other Pokémon running around and stomps her feet in place. She wants to run! She wants to run!

The Rhyhorn's thrashing head nearly knocks one of the decorations over - Haruka has to lunge across the counter to keep it from tipping over. From the involuntary sigh she lets out, this is not the first time something like this has happened today... ]

[Shinji blinks at Wooper, and then notices what Super Beauty is up to. and...how big she is. Well...compared to his little monkey butt. So he hoots again and hops up onto her back. HEY! It's his job to monkey around!]

Then how'd you get this gig?

[It's casual enough, as Yuuna picks up a couple of gift baskets and looks them over.]

[ Super Beauty has a rider! That must mean it's time to run. Grinning, she lowers her head and waits for Trainer's signal.

Haruka, however, sends the Rhyhorn a mental check and silently prays the Mankey won't goad her ~~for all the good that'll do~~. You mustn't run away, Shinji.

It doesn't seem like Yuuna will be letting her off easy, either. ] ....Leave it.

[ Hooray. She's comfortable enough with Yuuna to whine. They must really be friends. ]

[Shinji's more than content to sit up there on Super Beauty's back and make a monkey of himself, snuffling things with his pignose.

And no, Yuuna's not going to let her off easy.] Leave it? Embarrassing secret, huh?

[Look, she's teasing. You must really be besties, bro.]

[ There's no running. Just snuffling. Super Beauty starts snuffling too. If you get tired of snuffling these things, she could turn around, and they could snuffle the booth...

Haruka laughs at Yuuna's persistence, but it sounds kind of helpless. Nothing like accidentally taking down a genetically engineered megalomaniac to bring people together, huh? ] No more than -

[ And there goes a display of chocolate as Super Beauty tries to show off the area to Shinji, but misjudges how wide she needs to turn to keep from whacking it with her head. Haruka has no words.

Well, okay. She has one word. Mouthed in disbelief. ] Again....

[Snuffling the booth is kinda fun! But then Shinji realizes what's happening and he does what he does best. He actually tries to help out! Moving quick as a pig-monkey can, he hops down quickly and catches the table before Super Beauty can completely knock it down. He's helping! See!] Mankey! Man!

What do you mean again?

[Yuuna frowns at Super Beauty before flashing Shinji a thumbs up. Good job buddy.]

Y'mean the Rhyhorn's causing all the trouble?

Black ice. [ With her hands preoccupied, straightening things up and getting the table into position again, Haruka's able to talk about her Grievous Ordeal. ] She's usually more agile than that....

[ And there we go. Thank you, Mankey! That was a big help. Haruka grins at the Pokémon. ] I can't squander someone's livelihood just because my Pokémon needs training.

[ Training! Super Beauty knows that word. When she hears those sounds, they usually run. She dances in place like a Lillipup that's just seen its leash appear. ]

[It all becomes clearer, now. Yuuna looks down at Mankey and gives him a little smirk. The training is already paying off. Normally he'd be tossing that table around...]

You have two Rhyhorns, then?

Ah, you haven't met.

[ Quick glance to make sure she's got no customers in line, then Haruka mentally nudges Super Beauty to walk forward and greet Yuuna. Go say hi. ] This is Super Beauty. World Shaking has a friend at the Breeding Center.

[ You know, in the same way Haruka has a friend at the theater.

Super Beauty is small for a Rhyhorn, but unlike many Rhyhorn, she smiles a lot. So when she sneezes at Yuuna in greeting she...almost....lives up to her name? If you squint. ]

[Almost.

Yuuna stoops and offers Super Beauty her hand. If she wants a pat, she can have one, but any trainer knows better than to just touch a Rhyhorn without permission, even if it smiles.]

World Shaking's daughter, then? She seems sweet.

[ Ooh, a hand. Super Beauty snuffles it, snorts dust on it, and finally presses her horn into Yuuna's palm. You may touch her. This is all right.

Haruka watches, glad to see Yuuna knows proper Rhyhorn handling. That plus warming to her subject matter loosens her tongue. ] We've been working on agility. She's good at following commands and she doesn't lack for speed. In another few weeks she'll probably be ready for hurdles....

[ Man, she can't even care that she's rambling. RHYHORNS. ]

[Yuuna rubs Super Beauty's horn and the top of her head then, clearly pleased. Handling Rhyhorn isn't terribly different from dealing with a Larvitar, so she's just applying the same ideas.]

Oh? She's an athlete then? Are you going to race her?

If I can. [ Super Beauty is the happiest Rhyhorn. She's getting her horn rubbed. More, please. ] She's not tall enough, and I'm through with the professional circuit...

[ Gosh it's like Haruka's looking at her own daughter when she looks at this stupid pile of rock or something. ] But she was born to run. I won't let any obstacles impede that path.

[ ....A single rose petal flutters by, drawn, perhaps, by the sheer amount of pink in the area. ]

Who said anything about professional racing? There are plenty of places a racing Rhyhorn can run, even a small one. [Yuuna’s happy to oblige, never having minded the feel of a rock type’s ‘skin’ under her palm. The fact that Super Beauty means so much to a friend doesn’t hurt, so why not show a little affection. You’re not a dumb pile of rocks, not at all. You’re a pretty, pretty little Rhyhorn princess is what you are.]

With as much exploring as you do, you know she’d probably make an excellent runner. Small, fast. Capable too if she’s like her dad.

[ Whoever this human is, they're good at this. Super Beauty's face isn't built for emoting, but she wiggles her haunches in delight at this much pampering. She didn't even run first! What's going on?

Haruka lets that mention of her explorations slide because like heck is she going to rise to that bait. ] I'm confident.

[ No, really, Haruka. What else is new.

Actually, something's new about this situation. She jerks her head back at the booth, remembering what she's wearing when Super Beauty's pink blanket shifts from all the wriggling. ] ...Ah, you wanted a sampler....

[You don't say...]

I do, yeah. And some stuff that isn't super sweet. Merrill doesn't like the really, really sweet stuff. Neither do I.

Coming right up. [ There's a few jokes she could make, but she saves that turn of mind for Michiru. Most of the time.

She does, however, flip a chocolate at the Mankey like it's a coin. Bonus for helping! ] That'll be [ standard price ]. If it turns out too sweet, I must have thought too hard about both of you while picking it out.

[ So much for that. ]

[Shinji gobbles up his chocolate with a grunt. Thanks buddy!

Yuuna pays and snorts an exasperated laugh, though.]

Gosh, you're going to wind up with three girlfriends if you keep that sweet talk up.

[ Haruka's on the verge of laughing too. Yuuna's such a good sport. ] No refunds.

[ Super Beauty stares up. Mankey got food. Where did the food come from? ]

Of course.

[She snaps her fingers and calls Shinji back, and the pigape hoots once and scampers up onto her shoulder, tipping his hat to Super Beauty]

Catch you later.

[ Super Beauty is still looking for food from the sky, so Haruka gives her a mental nudge to notice Shinji. Oh! Thanks! See you! ] Enjoy.

[ So Yuuna has a romantic side too. Cute. ]

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012 // action - haruka's misfortunes, union edition

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