sᴛᴀʀᴄʀᴏssᴇᴅ☆

[encouragetomorrow]

Who: Honoka Kousaka and Right Suzuki! Open for bothering.
Where: Just outside Union.
When: Roughly a week after Salvation festivities end.
What: Honoka finally decides to have a Talk with Right.
Warnings: Dumb teenagers that are a little twitterpated.



[She'd asked after him early one afternoon, when the sun was high but the air was cold. It had been something like a week since Salvation, and she couldn't get a small handful of things out of her mind. Namely, Right and a few things he'd said. Specifically, that he'd mentioned her in particular when it came to missing things if he were away.]

[It had brought forth all sorts of other realizations. Things Hayato had teased her about, things she found herself noticing or enjoying more about Right's company moreso than other people. It was no secret that Honoka loved just about everyone-- but there was something special about Right. She had discussed it with Hayato once. Briefly. Frustratedly.]

[She hadn't been ready to talk about it then.]

[But now, with the crest of another Awakened evolution on her horizon, her strength and her resolve about life growing along with her... She thought maybe it was time to Talk About It.]

[So here she was, perched on a high, but visible branch of a tree just outside of Union, kicking her feet absently and giggling at Ariera's tutting. The Tropius eventually gave up telling her she'd fall and hurt herself and laid himself neatly beneath the tree to serve as a cushion if and when she inevitably did.]

Comments

/snipes kouhai's date

[actsmagnificent]

That's some safety net.

[ WHERE DID HARUKA COME FROM.

Asking is futile, isn't it. But here she is, having beaten Right to the rendezvous point.

Would anyone believe this is a coincidence? Even if she has her Amaura with her? ] Ma.

gnhgnjdkrh

[encouragetomorrow]

[She jolts, but doesn't fall, just starting and staring down wide-eyed at Haruka.]

Ah-- oh, Ari? He's a worrywart, I'll be fine. How are you?

[actsmagnificent]

[ Doing just fine, if this interested grin is any indication. Haruka leans against the tree, the better to talk to Honoka. ] Impressed. Cute little Skitties really do climb trees...

[ Amauras do not climb trees! Amauras, on the other hand, do spot other dinosaurs and try to hide behind their Trainers, shy. The tree is getting in the way, though, so she sticks out on either side of Haruka. ] Ama ma.

[encouragetomorrow]

[She tilts her head. She's not a Skitty... Honoka you are missing the point.]

[She smiles at the shyness of the Amaura, though, leaning forward to wave.]

Ari won't bite, he's just old and grumpy.

Excuse you, I am no such thing.

[Sticks her tongue out at the Tropius, who opened his eyes only to look up at her with fond irritation.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Amara isn't sure whether she's encouraged or even more frightened when she hears the other Pokémon speak. But....but they want her to come out and say hello, right....? She takes a trembling, uncertain step, frills atop her head washed out in pale fear colors. H-hello. Who are you? ] Amaura.

[ Good girl. Haruka smiles, then looks up at Honoka. ] What brings you out here?

[encouragetomorrow]

[Ariera turns his head slowly, smiling and setting it back down to be as small to the Amaura as is possible, as not to frighten her more.]

Hello there. I don't believe we've met.

[Honoka beams at the interaction, crossing one leg over the other in her tree and turning her own attention to Haruka.]

Waiting on a friend. Yourself?

[actsmagnificent]

The Habitat gets boring. [ And she wanted to see what this Amaura was capable of, in weather that suited her. For now, it seems Amara is mostly capable of...staring. And taking a step closer. And twitching her frills.

She takes a hesitant sniff of Ariera and twitches her nose. That almost smells like Berries! Whoa! ] Mau mau!

[ She has never experienced other kinds of fruit before. ]

i definitely meant to tag this before now.

[encouragetomorrow]

I can imagine.

[She kicks her feet on the branch a little, and then drops her weight backward to hang from her knees, dangling. Ariera jolts in place, intent on bracing to catch her-- only to leer upward at her toothy grin and roll his eyes, turning back to Amara.]

Trainers.

np!

[actsmagnificent]

Amauuu!! [ A rainbow of warning colors ripple across Amara's frills as she blinks, wide-eyed, at Honoka's shenanigans. The human is going to fall! The human is -

- perfectly fine. Amara's neck droops in relief and she smiles shyly back at Ariera. ] Ra.

[ Haruka, on the other hand, just thinks it's funny. ] And how do you usually pass your free time?

[ When you aren't waiting for friends, etc. ]

After Haruka's questioning...

[lunchleader]

[Right ran towards the agreed-upon location as quick as he can, cursing the fact that Haruka gave him extra work at the last moment. These days, he keeps wanting to spend more and more time with Honoka than anyone else, or doing anything else other than talk to her and eat her cooking. He...well, he enjoys her food and opinions and laughter and just about everything else related to her. And it's really nice - leaves him all warm and fuzzy and full of smiles after each and every time they see each other.

And it's why he's unusually irritated with being dealt with extra stage-hand work. He really loves being part of the Divine Theater; he truly does. But for the first time in years, he's finding himself wanting to spend time doing something other than his dream jobs - both as an actor and as a member of the Divine Defense Force. If it was anyone else, he'd just do everything and get there with a smile and a valid excuse.

But with this growing yearning to be around Honoka more? It's starting to irk him that he can't do that every single waking moment. It's equally frustrating that he doesn't really know why he's thinking this way about his dream position, of all things. Which is why his face lights up like the move Sunny Day when he finally arrives.]

Honoka~!

lord have mercy

[encouragetomorrow]

[She had dropped over backward on the tree branch she'd claimed as her own, much to Ariera's shocked dismay, and was hanging by her knees when Right came running. It was a little funny to watch him run up to her upside-down as she was, even without all the blood rushing to her head. She waved, smiling, and tried to determine exactly how she was going to get back up onto the branch or drop to the ground without giving her paternally overprotective Tropius a heart attack.]

[She wore her hair long these days, instead of held up in its usual side-ponytail, and sometimes with braids that sat in front of the frilled, wing-like ears that now adorned the sides of her face. Today was no exception, the small braids tied off with slender yellow ribbons tied into tiny bows. She wasn't sure what it was about Right that made her want to take an extra moment on her appearance-- she just wanted to make sure she looked nice anytime she was around him.]

[His approach sent butterfrees into her stomach, and in the end she just swung her weight until she swung right on off the branch, landing in a crouch beside Ariera, who looked harried. She smoothed a hand over the top of his head and then stood to greet Right.]

Hey.

[She was getting taller. He would always be taller, that much she was sure of, but it was getting easier to look him in the eye when he stood close.]

Be brave~

[lunchleader]

Hey! Sorry for being late; Haruka's been such a slave driver now that Salvation's over with for another year.

[He sighs and grimaces a little. But that doesn't last long as he slows to a halt in front of Honoka. It only takes him a moment to realize something:]

...oh, wow. You're getting taller.

[Right grins and he measure her with his head for emphasis. Part of his mind does, however, notice just a few seconds later that she's looking rather pretty today. At least, prettier than usual. Definitely making him feel rather warm and fuzzy inside...]

👍

[encouragetomorrow]

[She chuckled at that, rolling her eyes fondly. She watched his hand as she digested his comment about her getting taller, and smiled impishly, rolling onto her toes to be taller still.]

Are you sure you weren't just slacking off? And of course I am. I'm not yet a beanpole like you!!

[lunchleader]

Of course, I wasn't!

[Yes, he was - just a little. But that's because his thoughts were on other things that morning - one of which is right in front of him.]

Well, who knows? Maybe you'll get to be taller than me someday. I mean, Dragon Types tend to be pretty big, right?

[He does drop his hand after a moment, though.]

So, what's going on? Must be good news since you're all pretty'd up.

[encouragetomorrow]

[A slight huff.]

I don't wanna be that tall! That's Too Tall for a girl. Maybe? I dunno. I guess we'll see whenever I evolve.

[She fidgets a touch with one of her braids, pinking slightly at the compliment.]

Thanks. I, um. Wanted to talk to you.

[lunchleader]

Okay...about what?

[Now, his smile's starting to waver a little bit. Usually, when people say that to him, it's not good. But she's clearly not angry or upset about anything...yet. Maybe. Hopefully?]

[encouragetomorrow]

[The hand not playing with her braid reaches out and doesn't-quite touch him, ghosting over his shoulder, down his arm, and eventually to his hand. She recoils about halfway and then reaches out and resolutely grabs the ends of his fingers.]

This is... Actually a lot harder to talk about than I thought it was, but I never was the romantic sort. Um. I-- [She looks up at him, biting her lip, but frowning in a determined sort of way around the gesture.] ...I think I like you. Like... A lot.

[expertonshutters]

[Well. If you wanted to gear up for the chat you could always go pester Big Brother Hayato.]

[He's sitting on a ledge looking very thoughtfully at a ...puzzle piece. He absently bounces one of his legs as Pentax dances around his feet.]

we'll like... backdate this a few hours before the meetup.

[encouragetomorrow]

[Always.]

[And she did need to gear up for it, really. She had decided she was going to talk about it, even asked Right to meet her already. It was planned. It was happening. And she could always still go back on it-- it wasn't like asking Right to meet her somewhere to hang out was anything atypical. But... As time drew nearer, she got anxious, and her scales started shedding a little.]

[So with an intermittent trail of orange and pink iridescence trailing behind her, she went to find Hayato. She had plenty of people she trusted, and had solidly considered talking to Rei about this whole deal-- if anything, Rei would probably be best to consult in matters of the heart, given her recent engagement announcement. But it was that very same engagement announcement that made her head to Hayato instead. Rei would be busy, and Honoka was also sorely in need of some good old fashioned Hayato time.]

[She tugged on the hem of her shirt when she found him, but wasted no time in coming up behind him to settle on her knees and lean against his shoulder.]

I might need some advice.

yes ok

[expertonshutters]

[He was pretty distracted! That ...trip had not gone the way he expected. He's not sure what to make of that fiasco. It was over and they were all but, yeesh. He starts a bit when she comes over.]

Honoka? What's the matter?

[encouragetomorrow]

[She shifts, setting her chin on his shoulder and frowning. Now she had cold feet, and wasn't about to be the first to jump into a difficult conversation.]

Well first off, you're rattled and didn't notice me coming until I was on you, which means you're bothered about something. How did that last expedition go?

[expertonshutters]

[Wow!]

E-Eh? Hey, now. You can't just turn this on me!

[encouragetomorrow]

[Just raises her eyebrows at him.]

Hayato.

[expertonshutters]

...

[He leans away from her with a reluctant expression. Eventually he just sighs.]

It went. We found out what the map was for.

[His less than excited expression seems to hint it did not go very well.]

[encouragetomorrow]

[She snakes her arms around his middle when he leans away, drawing him back in. Affection, you are getting it. She settles back onto his shoulder.]

That doesn't sound like the exciting tone of triumph.