[ action ]

[child_of_luv]

[Minako could be found just outside town. She and her Pokémon had long since recovered from the encounter with Sakina and her insane training methods. Now, instead of fight and fitness training, Minako was contest training. In other words, she was working on their crowd appeal.

The only two that seemed remotely interested in the idea were Rico and Eros. Artemis wanted to go back to battle training, Bugsy and Aaron couldn't be bothered with any of it, Weedsly was busy trying to look tough, and Belle was hiding in Minako's hair again. Minako was still trying to decide how to deal with Myrna. Most of her Pokémon were ground or could fly in some way. Myrna was her first that pretty much needed to be in water.]

Comments

[actsmagnificent]

[ All smiles, Wooper hops over to Artemis and dances in a circle around the big cat. Nice to meet you! Good to hang out with you! ] Woop woop woop!

[ Living in the city is so fun. ]

[child_of_luv]

[Minako laughed as the Persian twitched his tail in annoyance.

Why him?]

Well, I'm sure Artemis wants to get back to our training. Do you have a trainer nearby?

[actsmagnificent]

Woop? [ Nearby. Near. By. Wooper leans to the side as if that will help him think about this better. How near does someone have to be to be nearby?

....Something in the underbrush is making thumpy running noises. ]

[child_of_luv]

Hm?

[She turned towards the noise. Eros, in his excitable way, ran for those very bushes to "greet" the newcomer.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Hope you don't mind a bit of wind, Eros! A tiny Rhyhorn plows through those bushes, headed straight for a tree on the opposite side.

Wooper perks up. There she is! ] Woop!

[child_of_luv]

[Minako squeaked a little in surprise. She hadn't expected a Rhyhorn.]

Sylveon!

[actsmagnificent]

Dodge!

[ And there's a voice from the forest just as Rhyhorn's about to hit the tree - it swerves, to its credit, and ends up trampling into a bush instead. But it circles back soon enough, apparently done with training for now.

And here comes its Trainer, noticing this area is populated. Even hiking in the forest, Haruka looks pretty much impeccable. ] Sorry about that. She didn't hit you, did she, Skitty?

[ Rhyhorn comes back to its Trainer, all proud of itself. The tree was dodged! She did it. ]

[child_of_luv]

Nope. Just a little surprised. [Minako stood up. She picked up Eros, who had managed to dodge as well, but seemed a little stunned at the sudden appearance of the Rhyhorn. The Sylveon wagged his tail a little bit.]

Are you guys training for racing?

[actsmagnificent]

Sort of. [ The small Rhyhorn is now running in circles around Haruka, which makes it difficult for Wooper to approach his Trainer. So he jumps up and down to get a better look at her instead. ] Woop! Woop! Woop!

[ ...oh, hey. ] You've been making friends.

[child_of_luv]

Yeah. He sort of just showed up and almost got himself whacked with one of the moves we wanted to use in the performance.

[Minako chuckled.]

I don't think he realized he was stepping into a rehearsal.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka wonders about that. Still, it looks like no harm was done; she steps past her Rhyhorn and lets Wooper fall into pace alongside her. From the adoring way he's staring up and still "wooping" for her attention, Wooper's Trainer has been found. ] Preparing for your debut?

[ Here comes Haruka, all careful solicitation. She intruded somewhere that wasn't her business. This must be corrected. ]

[child_of_luv]

I guess you could say that.

[She poked her fingers together.]

I'm not sure how that'll work out, but it can't hurt to try.

[actsmagnificent]

[ It won't get anywhere without confidence, Skitty. Now. How can she make this up to Minako...? ] Sounds interesting. I wouldn't mind seeing it.

[ Invited by a new Rhyhorn, Sailor Tsunranus, complimenting obliquely. ]

[child_of_luv]

Yeah?

[She smiled.]

Well, I hope to show you soon! But, I need to make sure it's perfect before I do it.

[actsmagnificent]

[ That's fair enough. Haruka grins. ] Does that mean you'll hold off on auditioning for the next play?

[ If your intended debut is in Pokémon Contests.....she's messing with Minako, really. But she's curious, too. ]

[child_of_luv]

Eh? [She looked a little surprised.] Auditions are coming up?

[actsmagnificent]

We've picked a script. [ Haruka scoops up Wooper, covering her palm with a handkerchief to ward off any stray poison slime that might leak from the little guy. He woops and hops up and down in her hand. ] It's got a big cast, though....We might have to ask the whole city to try out.

If you're interested.

[child_of_luv]

Oh, well. You know. I have to see if it works with my schedule.

[Not that she had one, and she was definitely, totally, completely interested, and already planning on what she might do... but she had to play it cool. You know. Complete with hair flip.]

[actsmagnificent]

I hope you can fit us in. [ And to seal the deal, here is an extra-special charming smile just for you.

Is your schedule open yet? ]

[child_of_luv]

[YES! YES, IT IS!

Ahem.

She smiled back, barely keeping herself in check.]

I hope so, too.

[Did her voice just squeak? Just work through it, girl. Feign ignorance. Keep cool.]

I'll see you around, then?

[Could her face get any hotter?]

[actsmagnificent]

[ She squeaked. That is precious. Haruka keeps grinning, reassuring and encouraging and oh, so amused. Having Minako around rehearsals would probably be entertaining. ] I'll look forward to it.

Woop woooooop woop woop! [ So is Wooper! He bounces for effect. Come be in the play! Or - or - maybe he will have to put on his own. About singing. And dancing. In the rain... ]

[child_of_luv]

[She gave a smile and a wave to them, Wooper especially, hoping her blush comes under control some time this century because Haruka was just too muuuuuch.]

See ya.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka nods. ] Break a leg.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooop!

[ That....probably doesn't need translating, does it. ]

[child_of_luv]

Thanks.

[And she'd be off, gathering her things and her Pokémon to head back to town.]

Good luck with your show there, little Wooper!

[actsmagnificent]

Woop woop woop woop woop!

[ Yeah, he's going to keep doing that until he can't see Minako anymore (while Super Beauty walks in a circle around him and her Trainer.) Haruka sighs, but she's smiling. She can't take these children anywhere. ]