bravenewworld | ☆ first investigation

Entry tags:

☆ first investigation | action/video

[It's funny that it's early Spring and he's finding he wishes he had a jacket to shrug into, but he never did bother to ask anybody what the weather in Union was gonna be like. A new face wanders into town and, pushing his sunglasses up onto the crown of his head, sets his hands on his hips and surveys the area. Beside and behind him, a Rhyhorn and a Scyther settle close but not too-close, and he looks between them with a smile.]

Union, eh? Our first time here. [He tosses his head toward the Rhyhorn with that comment, looking at the Scyther. Aforementioned Bug Type seems uninterested and idly slides its bladed arms together, looking the other direction. Taki just laughs, and pulls up his Warp Band, switching what side of his mouth an unlit cigarette sits in.]

Helloooo Union! Tell me somethin', where's a guy gotta look for someplace to stay for a while?

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[He chews thoughtfully on his noodles, nodding. A basic answer, and overall believable. There were obviously details left out, though. He licked his lips when he ran out of noodles to chew.]

And came to Union instead of going home?

I wasn't ready to come home. I'm still not. Consider it a convalescent leave.

[And he's still going to be vague, but even without all the details hopefully Taki will leave it alone enough. He got out of a bad situation and he's trying to start over.]

[The specific use of convalescent is honestly what spurs him to continue to think about it, even if he visually drops the subject. Hayato wasn't the type to need a vacation or leave from his home, not unless the circumstances of whatever had happened were really bad. To keep him away from Caldera for as long as it had... Especially given the gap between when he'd gone missing and how long he'd been in Union. The timing fit neatly within a scenario he didn't really want to think about, but it would be just his luck.]

[He slurped another mouthful of noodles, chewed through it, and clacked his chopsticks together at him.]

Hey, man, we all need some vacation every now and again. Seems like this is a pretty good spot for it, even if the food needs a little zest.

[He takes another bite, himself, glancing sidelong at Taki. Apart of him feels like he accepted that almost too easy. Taki isn't entirely buying that story. He's not surprised really, just a little exasperated. He tries not to let it show.]

[He grins, looking nonchalant.]

Union is very friendly. Almost alarmingly so. It's been a nice change of pace. And like I said, business is good.

[He scrunches his face up to use his tongue to dislodge a bit of noodle from one of his teeth, and then grins.]

Y'always have been the type to go where you want. And I guess photography is a trade best done in exciting environments. Can't figure there's much in Caldera you haven't taken a picture of.

True that.

[Slurp.]

And it looks like if you want to see something interesting, this is the place to be.

[He pops his lips.]

Ah, well. We'll see if "something interesting" winds up being in my forecast for this work dribble.

Heh. You still didn't explain why you were here? Are you spying on Union?

[Raises an eyebrow.]

[He gives him a sidelong glance, scrunching up his face and running his tongue along his teeth.]

I could tell you...

[He hails the shopkeeper over to pay for their noodles.]

But I'd probably have to kill you.

[He's completely joking, but he's also completely not telling you why he's here just yet.]

[He gives him such an eyeroll for that.]

Boring Battalion stuff, then. Sure, whatever.

[Obviously it's pretty important if he won't tell him. He'll just wait and see or try to find out on his own.]

Oh of course. It's certainly nothing you'd wanna make me kill you over. I mean, really.

[He pays for their noodles and leaves the shopkeeper a tip, and then slides backward off his stool.]

But enough about me, how have you been holding up on your-- let's just call it a vacation?

[Is that so. He let's it go for now, then.]

I've been holding up fine. Like I said, there's plenty to do around here.

So just photography? Taking it easy otherwise?

[His hands go in his pockets and he whistles at Spike, walking backward with a grin on his face.]

Mostly. Things are quiet right now. Caldera's observing a cease fire with Gigas, right? Not much to be done there.

[He'd like to do more than just waiting around, honestly, but he's not about to break peace just because he has a bone to pick with Gigas.]

I'm training pokemon now, I guess. I'm still not sure how that happened.

[He makes a face at that, briefly, and then pivots to walk normally.]

A part of me wishes we weren't, but it's for the best for the time being. Gigas is too unpredictable to approach without having a better understanding of them.

[He glances over his shoulder.]

Ah, like Fuji there?

Mm. [And that's an agreement, as much as he hates it.]

It won't be long before they make the next move. We'll be ready.

[He pauses to look over his shoulder, too. He gives an exasperated but fond grin to the Skiddo that seems to have finally calmed down.]

Yep. I've got three more. I guess this city is kind of infectious. Pokemon are a pretty big deal.

[He tilts his head like he's not so certain he agrees, but drops the conversation in favor of sinking to a crouch on one knee and holding his hand out to Fuji.]

Pretty cute when he isn't headbutting you in the ass.

[Such a flat look.]

He's only cute when he's asleep.

[Taki did you not learn the first time. He's totally gonna headbutt you again.]

[Chuckles.]

[And no, actually-- he learned. When Fuji shunts his weight forward and tips his head, Taki grabs him by the horns and throws them both onto the ground, laying in the dirt and laughing.]

Not gonna get me with that one again, little guy.

[Hayato almost jumps out of his stool to stop Fuji but then Taki does that.]

... [Sigh]

I'm going to make you their babysitter.

[He just laughs harder at that, sitting up and dusting himself off, reaching out to ruffle Fuji's leaf-like fur.]

I'd be okay with that.

[Fuji is still kind of reeling from that. But hey!! That's cool this human is totally okay in his book. Gonna lick your hand.]

Good, because he definitely likes you.

[Yay he's been accepted. If he weren't so goddamn Calderan Taki would make a damn good Unionite for how well he gets on with these damn critters. He gets back to his feet.]

...ah, so how does lodging work here?

Beats me. I'm mooching off of Mr. Oakenshield. You could probably ask around and stay with someone temporarily until you get a place. Are you still being paid by the Battalion? You could probably get an apartment.