bravenewworld | 019 // action: verdant forest, streets of union, divine theater (closed)

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019 // action: verdant forest, streets of union, divine theater (closed)

[ a - verdant forest ]

Easy.

[ Haruka Tenoh, as per usual, is sitting astride a mighty, majestic Pokémon. It's not a Rhyhorn, however. It's Uranus the Salamence, now sporting an impressive set of battle scars and testing wings that are sore from disuse. All winter. She'd remained grounded all winter, afraid to try flying again even after she'd healed. But now, with the spring breezes stirring hope in her breast, she dares to imagine that they can support her weight again. She dreams once more...of flight.

Honestly, Haruka is mostly here for moral support, as the Salamence's wings flap once, twice - its feet leave the ground - and slowly, beat by beat of those massive wings, Uranus climbs into the air. They clear the treetops. They speed towards the clouds.

Uranus bellows in triumph and sets out to loop around the city spires. Anyone else in midflight right now may find themselves with a joyful companion. She doesn't want to be alone for this. She wants everyone to know.

She's flying!!! ]

[ b - streets of union ]

[ At the same time this is happening, however, an Amaura collapses onto the cobblestones, even her long neck stretched along the ground. Her tongue lolls out of her mouth, and she takes a heavy breath. She'd been looking...for a good place....to watch her friend fly....but Union gets so warm!

Help...and please...don't step on her...even though she's blocking foot traffic.... ]

[ c - closed to divine defense force ]

[ A successful voyage doesn't mean Haruka's own buoyant mood lasts. Instead, she's landed with even more purpose in her step than before, and a light in her eyes. One by one, she's tracking down the people she's responsible for, and asking them a single question: ]

Are you ready?

[ Just that. Because no matter what Union votes on the current crisis of conscience, for her, the way forward is clear. The Divine Defense Force saves gods from humans, and humanity at large from gods.

War is a small price to pay to stave off the apocalypse. And let the blame for that war fall on her shoulders. She's prepared. ]

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[ Good baby! Haruka joins in the petting. The back of her mind has been mulling over Mission Things even while the front watched the Dratini, so she's feeling pretty good (or as good as one can) about their plans for this mission. ] We could use some kind of decoy.

The shopkeeper moves Amara into the store to feed her more ice and wipe her down with a cold cloth. Vanillish floats around Allegro, in the meantime, watching him react to his ice. She's never met anyone who doesn't like ice before. Did you get a slushy piece? ]

[pets and scritches and getting everything wet again]

How about Nocturne and Uranus? [they won't be able to make use of their abilities while underground, and they should be quick enough to make some sort of ruckus and still be able to get away.

Oops. Allegro tries a cute smile on Vanillish.]

Osha, shaa. Oshawott? [nah, it's kinda like the Tundra! Has Vanillish ever been there before?]

[ At this rate Haruka is going to have to change her clothes. Michiru can't very well stay in her swim things forever, either.

Haruka nods. They'll have Uranus along anyway, so... ] Sensible.

[ Vanillish tilts to one side, which makes her drip on the pavement (but only once). Tun...dra. Tundra. Hm. She does not...think so....

What flavor is Tundra? ]

[it's a risk you take when you come into this level of the Habitat, unfortunately.]

It would work best if they could draw attention away from the underground labs before we release the gods. [the gods are the biggest unknown of them all. Hopefully, this way they could get more time to figure things out, if needed.

Dratini gets one last pet before she wriggles back into the pool to join the others.]

Wott! [flavorless, if you were lucky!]

[ That sounds good. Haruka lets her hand linger in the air for a moment longer, watching baby swim off to socialize with other people who haven't got limbs. ] Things will get chaotic fast.

[ All the more reason to try and limit the damage however possible, right?

Vanillite is not sure she likes the idea of this flavorless "Tundra" thing. Flavors are better. Like chocolate, and strawberry, and...

...there's one more. She can never remember it because people tend to whisper it around her for some reason. But if you come further into the shop she can show you.

A relieved Mau... can be heard from within, as well. ]

It all depends on the gods. [and out of their control, unfortunately.

Allegro follows, still licking at the ice. It does kinda suck, but then again, this is a lot more thaw than he's used to. And oh hey, Amara looks a lot better!] Osh!

[ Haruka exhales in agreement. And then notices just how wet both of them have gotten. ] Are you cold?

[ Amara is cold! Or well. Colder than she has been. She even lifts her head at the sight of Allegro, blinking placidly. There's ice here. You were right. This is such a good place. She can't even be afraid of this human, it's so nice. ] Amau.

[ Vanillish, meanwhile, heads for the ice cream display, hovering in place. Trainer, Trainer. The smaller one is eating something without flavor! Fix that? ]

Well, [smile] it's a bit wet.

[oh, that's great, Ama -

Allegro immediately adopts a lonesome expression as he sadly licks his piece of ice.]

I wouldn't want you falling ill before the big operation. [ Perhaps she'll have to...see to your health, then. Thoroughly. Very thoroughly. Your Pokémon can be reassured their Trainer is in good hands.

The shopkeeper watches Allegro's facial acrobatics and laughs. Is this what you were after, little one?

And he lifts the top on

his big ice cream freezer.

Amara's head turns towards that much cold. Colors ripple along her fins. That is the most lovely thing she has ever felt. ] Auu.

Oh? It looks like you've got something in mind. [it's all for the greater good, right?

Allegro's eyes widen and he's practically sparkling, the way he's grinning all of a sudden. He can practically smell the sugar wafting through the air.] O-osha...!

[ Here is her hand, Michiru. Will you take it? ] Let's leave her to Teacher.

[ Baby is in surprisingly good hands given how few physical hands are in this gathering. They're probably good to go.

The shopkeeper laughs and Vanillite trills her approval. This is what dessert is supposed to be like! Not like...Tundra, whatever that is.

Very well, then. For a very thoughtful, very brave young man -

how about a paper cup of this ice cream with a cherry on top?

The shopkeeper doesn't say which flavor this is, but it's, you know, the white one. The most common flavor. If you're familiar with that. ]

[Michiru takes that hand and squeezes, getting up in one smooth motion.] I'm sure she's had enough, actually.

[ahhhhhh! He's so happy! Allegro holds the cup carefully and takes a big lick.

Gosh, those sparkles are not going away.]

Osha! Oshawott! [he hurries over to Amara and holds up the ice cream. It's this stuff! He was talking about this stuff! Try it!]

So thoughtful. [ Haruka gets up too. Making sopping-wet pants look attractive shouldn't be humanly possible, but she's hardly a normal human. Still - a change of clothes before she finishes rallying the troops?

Amara sniffs the cup, confused. She can feel the cold, but it doesn't smell like snow. She sticks her snout into the ice cream and then draws back, surprised. It's sweet! ] Amaura!

[ Vanillish laughs happily. She loves it when people enjoy the ice cream. ]

[a quiet chuckle, and she's tugging you towards the locker room.]

Osha! [isn't it the best thing ever?? Allegro turns to Vanillish and grins.] Shaaa, oshawott! [it's so much better than Tundra!]

[ Such enthusiasm. Haruka doesn't need to be told twice, though she does also grab a towel from a rack near the doors and tuck it around Michiru's shoulders. For the lady. ]

Au. [ Amara has ice cream on her nose and is going cross-eyed trying to lick it off. The shopkeeper laughs. You're feeling better now, huh, little one?

He smiles at Oshawott, handing Vanillish a tiny cup of ice cream as well so she doesn't feel left out (he loses a lot of potential profit by having Vanillish around, actually, but he doesn't let that bother him). And where might you two be headed on such a warm day? ]

[she uses her free hand to hold the edges of the towel, smiling at you. She does, however, head straight towards her locker. How prepared were you when coming over to this level...?]

[Allegro takes a moment to take another lick of his ice cream and sighs happily. So good.]

Shaaa, oshawott! [they're going home! And then he's gonna try and shove Amara into the that cold box with the food!]

[ She doesn't have her own swim things with her, if that's desired. But she thinks she can handle just about anything you throw at her. Especially if no one else is using the locker room.

Her checking over the whole place once they're there is definitely to know whether Michiru will be able to change in peace and not because she wants to know how busy it is for herself. Nope.

The shopkeeper nods at Allegro's plan. If it's big enough, that's not a bad idea. But you should also tell your Trainer that in the summer, maybe your friend should live in the Habitat? She will be much more comfortable there, and you can still visit her whenever you want.

Amara isn't listening. She has just one speck of ice cream left. ] Raa.

[the place is mostly empty, though when you make your way back to the locker, Michiru's gone and there are familiar looking t-shirt and shorts (read: dry and for you) on the bench. The sound of the shower running nearby probably means she didn't bother to wait for you.

Allegro's eyes get wide and then he nods vigorously. Right. The Habitat has more than just the pool. He forgot about that.] Oshawott!

[ Look at that. Haruka smiles, stripping out of her wet pants, and lays them aside to deal with later. She pauses for a moment, thinking, and then the rest of her clothes follow.

Now to find Michiru. Is she...in here? ] Kinda cramped.

[ The shopkeeper smiles, then turns to return to his business. Vanillish can take things from here.

Amara goes crosseyed but finishes her ice cream. That was so good! But, oh. This is not home, and they were on their way home, and they were found by strangers. Nice strangers, but...

Bashful, she hides behind Allegro when Vanillish smiles at her. This goes not so well. ]

[Michiru turns her head at the sound of your voice. Her slow smile might or might not have anything to do with the once-over she's giving you.]

Do you have somewhere else to be? [so she says, even as she's handing you a bottle of shampoo. Help her?

Allegro pats Amara's leg (or whatever he can reach) and grins at Vanillish.] Oshaaa! [Amara says thanks! And also that the ice cream saved her life!

Either way, looks like he's got a big mouth.]

[ Gladly. Haruka lathers up her hands, setting the bottle aside. ] Not especially.

[ It's important that shampoo reach the roots of a person's hair, right? Particularly when they've been swimming in chlorinated water. Haruka intends to make the most out of every finger as she applies her sudsy hands to Michiru's hair.

Vanillish is so pleased. Stop back anytime, and bring friends! They always have plenty of that...of that...of the white ice cream flavor, and sometimes they mix up new special flavors depending on the season. It's fun!

Amara blinks, then musters her bravery to thank Vanillish herself, too. This was a very nice stop. You should...come to the theater sometime, too. ] Amaura maa.

Mmm. [don't mind her as she closes her eyes. All the better to enjoy being pampered.]

Osh! [yeah! The humans do weird things, but it looks like fun!

Allegro nudges the door open, holding it open for Amara and waving goodbye to Vanillish.]

[ That's just fine. Haruka steps closer, too, the better to massage the shampoo into Michiru's scalp. It's a somewhat overambitious step, though, and has the front of her body brushing against the back of Michiru's. Whoops!

Vanillish waves too as Amara takes a deep breath, straightens her frills, and plods towards the door with a Very Determined Expression on her face. There will just be a little heat, she tells herself. Just a little heat. ] Mmmmmmmmmmmma.

[ The first foot out the door steps down with a Mighty Step. ]

[Michiru smiles at that, letting herself lean back just a bit. It's really important to get clean, apparently.]

Oshawott! [Allegro cheers as Amara clears the door! Alright! Let's go back this way!]

[ Very much so. Especially the bangs, if that means Haruka can try and tip Michiru's head back so they can look each other in the eyes (if Michiru were inclined to open hers). She's grinning.

The heat hits Amara like a blanket, but she will persevere! She even reaches down with her mouth to gently try and lift Allegro up and put him on her back, nice and secure. This is a thank-you, since this way only one of them has to walk in the heat. ] Mmmmaura.

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