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

[actsmagnificent]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[actsmagnificent]

Woop! [ Umbrellas! Wooper's not sure why that's worthy of celebration, but he never met an excuse to dance he didn't take. But since they're inside a fancy human building, he just taps in place.

Haruka tries to listen to this description, but all she gets out of it is that the waiter's trying to sell her stuff. Which makes sense, that's his job, but since it's all the same to her - ] That one. The last pick.

[ She doesn't even know what it is. So she looks over at Michiru. ] Unless you had any better ideas.

[incousinswithyou]

[yeah! Apparently, the smaller the umbrellas, the cooler things are!] Sola!

[Michiru just smiles.] No. That sounds wonderful.

[insert variations of "oh, what a fine choice, sir!" here.

When he finally leaves, Michiru casts an amused look at you.]

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Woooooop. [ Wooper has learned something important. If he ever gains arms and can use a real umbrella, he will keep that in mind.

Haruka thanks the waiter before he goes - she's free-spirited, not lacking in class - and dons a rather invincibly cool smile. This isn't the sort of place that would serve natto, so whatever she just ordered, she's okay. ] We'll match the dessert, too.

man, I thought it said the restaurant would discriminate against Nattos

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru just laughs quietly.] You're not sick of it?

[unless they're supposed to be ignoring what you've been doing for much of the day.]

i felt weird typing it. though i'd imagine he's okay as long as he doesn't leaf the walls

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[ They can't very well ignore it, but that just makes her attempting to more amusing, doesn't it? Besides, she's already determined this night is for Them, so here come the bedroom eyes. ] I want to prolong my evening with you.

he might find out about decorative sprigs of parsley or something

[incousinswithyou]

[yeah, so she's going to pretend her heart didn't skip a beat at that look.]

Oh? And here I thought you already had a rather busy day.

....natto cooking would be terrifying. but the food would all be so pretty

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You weren't in most of it. [ Smile smile smile. This feels so much nicer than how she did spend most of her time.

It almost hides the flush when Michiru refers to her busy day. ]

aesthetics first!

[incousinswithyou]

Are you saying you've missed me?

[her voice acquires a lilting tease to it]

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[ Haruka's already geared up for sweet-talking, so Michiru dodges all the especially jerky ways she could answer that question. ] I might be.

[ You're her favorite timesink, after all. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[well, that's probably appreciated. Probably.] How generous of you.

[that's an assessing look, and maybe a fond one too. At least you're easy on the eyes, even in that hat she's not supposed to mention.]

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We could even plan to spend tomorrow together. [ Benevolence incarnate, this one! They never do that!

Wooper walks in a circle. This is his first time in a place like this. What happens now? ] Woop woop?

[incousinswithyou]

I might already have plans for tomorrow. [unless you'd like to ah. Help out.

Carol looks around and tries to sound confident.] Corsola....? [uhhhh...she's sure you're supposed to hang around and...talk a lot and stare deeply into each other's eyes?]

Corsola. [either that or look at that quartet of musicians on that little stage!]

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Do tell. [ She might. Depends on the definition of a few of those words, like "plans" and "help".

Wooper likes the idea of watching the musicians! So this is how real music is made. He hasn't gotten to witness any of the pretty music that happens at the theater, just heard it drifting down the halls. He plops his slimy butt down to listen politely, but his feet are knocking together in time with the piece. ] Woop woop...

[ Super Beauty only got the part about staring. So she decides to stare at Carol. She is not sure why. She was just told to stare. ]

[incousinswithyou]

I'll be spending a few hours at the pool. [not exactly the most thrilling plans in the world, but...she wants to make friends with your Lapras.

Carol turns from Wooper to Super Beauty only to meet that stare. Uh...] Cor...

[this is kinda intense. She's trying to decide if this is weird, but while she's doing that, she's gonna do her best not to blink!]

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[ Super Beauty just stares back. She's the kind of Pokémon who might forget to blink sometimes, so this could take a while. (And Wooper, who has music to listen to, misses it entirely.)

For the record, Haruka's Lapras would be happy to make friends. She's already succeeded in becoming nigh-unseparable from Haruka's Floatzel, who clings to Rhythm's shell for dear life as a service to the other Pokémon. Haruka doesn't look averse to this pool idea, either, though. ] I might be able to fit that in.

[incousinswithyou]

[Carol's eyes grow wider in an attempt not to blink, even if it feels like she suddenly really, really has to.]

Only if you're not otherwise engaged. [not that she believes that, judging from your attendance record when it comes to these things.

Careful, though. She might accidentally incorporate Rhythm (and the plus one) into her training with her other Water types if she isn't stopped.

Carol holds out for a few more precious seconds and...finally blinks.] Corsola...

[whew! Super Beauty, how are you doing that?]

but has michiru ever encountered a water type, whose body is half floatation device, that can't swim

[actsmagnificent]

[ Huh? Super Beauty, startled, blinks. How does she do what?

Haruka is also thinking about the fact that she owns Water-types now. She should probably...start doing something about that when she visits the pool, huh. Bonus training from Michiru would also not be discouraged. ] I'll make do.

does a water type with a built in umbrella count

[incousinswithyou]

Corsola, cor! [that super intense staring thing!

Michiru just smiles.] I'm confident you will.

[hah. And here are the appetizers and the wine. Apparently, it's breathed enough for this fancy place.

And Michiru is holding up her glass to you. To the two of them, perhaps.]

only if she's ever walked around with water sloshing in it

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[ Staring? Super Beauty can stare. She starts again. All you have to do is just......look at things. Or maybe Carol can't tell how to stare if she's staring AT Carol.

So she stares at nothing, inadvertently striking the same pose her Trainer takes whenever contemplating the deepest of thoughts. Now this is a stare!

Haruka, unaware she's being homaged over at the children's table, holds her glass up to Michiru's too. ] Cheers.

[ She'll drink to that unspoken toast, for sure. ]

...if she was like. triple dog dared to do so

[incousinswithyou]

[Carol's eyes get wide.]

Sola... [whoaaa. So that's what a broody superhero looks like...]

Cheers. [and she's clinking her glass gently against yours before taking a sip.]

don't say that around ferrari he might actually do such a thing

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[ Soak it in, Carol. In case you ever decide to Become The Night, or whatever. (The Wind and The Ocean are taken, though. Sorry.)

Haruka sips too, keeping her eyes on Michiru's the whole time. All long days should end like this - just her and her partner.

Actually, she's lucky. All their days end that way. ]

that would probably turn into a long day of ever more ridiculous dares

[incousinswithyou]

[from Carol's intent staring, she seems to be trying to do just that. Geez, maybe she should be taking notes...

You get a fond look, and she's reaching across the table and brushing her hand against yours.]

passion the vulpix is JUDGING YOU BOTH

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[ Super Beauty could probably keep this up all night, except her mind starts wandering and her expression becomes less "epic" and more "confused". Why was she doing this again?

Haruka's hand turns over at that touch. Here's her palm, if you want it. For caressing or clasping.

She seems to be tending towards the former right now. ]

bet the princess can't spend a day without a cushiony surface of some sort

[incousinswithyou]

[well, that was certainly awesome while it lasted. Carol pats Super Beauty with a nub.] Corsola! [that was cool!

There's a bit of both, but it doesn't take long for her to twine her fingers around yours.

Heh. She's glad you're here.]

that is none of their concern. is one of them volunteering?

[actsmagnificent]

[ Super Beauty still doesn't know what was so cool about it, but praise makes her happy all the same. Especially praise from someone as cool as Carol herself. She makes happy snuffling noises, shifting in place. But she won't run here. She has learned that much.

Haruka's fingers fall right into place, returning the favor. So's she. She even leans in for a closer look, putting them both in grave danger of falling into their own little world again... ]