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[faithful_kitsune]

[1]

[The Habitat is as hopping a place as ever, with caretakers of all sorts watching over both the Pokemon and occasionally going in to check on the eggs. A relative newcomer is among them, and she is a flurry of activity, to the point where some of the older employees are convinced she can bilocate. Truly, a force of nature.]

Come now, don't put that in your mouth! You three, be careful playing, we don't want anybody getting hurt. Hmm, I believe this egg warmer might be malfunctioning. Could somebody check on it please? You there! I saw that!

[She looks like she knows what she's doing, at least, if someone needs to talk to her.]

[2]

[...of course, even forces of nature abate on occasion, and so here's Ran, sitting outside the Pokemon Habitat with a nicely packed lunch and a slightly exhausted look on her face. Whether this is a better time to speak with her is up for debate.]

Comments

1

[celebrity_commentator]

[Rise arrives, holding her brand new and currently napping Nidoran in her arms. Her Scyther follows along patiently behind her, apparently guarding his newest "teammate".]

Excuse me miss, do you work here?

[Or are like...all of these Pokémon yours?]

[faithful_kitsune]

Why yes, I do! May I help you? Oh my, who is this young one?

[celebrity_commentator]

This is Chiyome. She hatched earlier this week. I normally just let my guys follow me around, but the apartment's getting really crowded...

[faithful_kitsune]

And you wish to utilize the Pokemon Habitat, yes? Do not worry, we can take excellent care of her. Because you're a little sweetie, aren't you?

[She chucks Chiyome's chin a bit, smiling warmly.]

[celebrity_commentator]

[Chiyome half wakes up enough to "nii" a little, then headbutts Ran's hand. Gently.]

Pretty much yeah.

[faithful_kitsune]

You leave her in good hands, then. If you need to speak with me about her, I am Ran Yakumo. I am certain you will not be disappointed.

[celebrity_commentator]

Thank you so much, Ran. I'm Rise Kujikawa.

[She gently holds the Nidoran out for Ran to take.]

Alright, have fun with the nice lady, Chiyome. I'll come by and visit, and when you get a little older I'll Attune you so we can go play in the forest, okay?

[faithful_kitsune]

A pleasure, Rise. Do come by and visit frequently, won't you?

[celebrity_commentator]

Well of course! I'm not just going to leave one of my girls here forever, right?

2

[thedivinevoice]

((I'm just going to assume a happy reunion has occurred already because I suck and never tagged that first post.))

Oh! -- Ran.

[A slight pause before Tiki smiles.]

...I have oft seen that expression in the past. Misbehaving children? ...Or perhaps more likely, Pokemon?

[And sometimes, misbehaving elders.]

[faithful_kitsune]

[Quite FREQUENTLY misbehaving elders.]

Indeed. I have started working for the Pokemon Habitat and Breeding Center here. It is... quite an enormous task, I must admit.

[thedivinevoice]

And yet, I can think of no one more suitable to tame such a task. You remain eminently the nurturer of us all...

[faithful_kitsune]

You flatter me, Elder Tiki. But thank you. I do try my best.

[thedivinevoice]

It is truly a miracle that we were able to reunite in this place. I had prayed for the safety of you and of Yukari, of course, but to think that we should find each other once more in a human habitat, of all places...

Rydia has expressed hope that we may call it a home. I, too, bear hope we may find respite, if only temporarily.

[A pause.]

...Do not work yourself too hard, Ran.

[faithful_kitsune]

Truly. I do wish we could have met again under better circumstances, however. Still, this place seems as good a place to make a new start as any.

I will try not to, Elder Tiki. Though I have born responsibility for so long, I sense I would be lost without it.

[thedivinevoice]

The Pokemon in this tower will be in good hands, I am sure. Though I shall hope they will come to enjoy being fussed over...

[faithful_kitsune]

...do I fuss that much?

[thedivinevoice]

Let us call it rightfully placed compassion and concern.

[faithful_kitsune]

How very diplomatic of you, Elder Tiki.

[thedivinevoice]

One of the many traits that must be cultivated when forced to take a position of power.

But, of course, you know that as well.

2

[second_destiny]

[Asemu is likewise on his lunch, having spent the morning out in the Scorched Forest. He's probably done for the day unless there's an emergency, so he's taking his time.]

Hi, how's it going?

[faithful_kitsune]

It is, ah... going. *sigh* There's quite a complex culture and ruleset around here, is there not?

[second_destiny]

[Wow, that didn't sound so good.]

Yeah, but I think the same could be said for any kind of culture. Are you having a hard time fitting in?

[faithful_kitsune]

Oh! No, I am doing well enough. It just takes some adjusting, is all. For one thing, having so much help to deal with the young ones is strange to me.

[second_destiny]

Young ones? You mean the kids you came here with?

[faithful_kitsune]

Some of them, perhaps. Actually, I have been hired to work with the Pokemon Habitat and Breeding Center, so when I mean young ones, I mean more young... ones like me.

[She coughs a bit.]

[second_destiny]

...Oh. Okay.

[He awkwardly scratches his cheek.]

Wish I could help, but...I don't have much experience with that.

[faithful_kitsune]

It's quite all right. Everybody has their roles in society. I may end up taking care of some of YOUR Pokemon soon enough! Who can say?

[second_destiny]

Ah...maybe. I've got no newborns, not yet. But I've been doing a good job with them on my own. I'll make sure they're well-trained by the time you deal with them.

[faithful_kitsune]

Very good. A proper education is just as important to Pokemon as it is to humans, after all.

1

[thefloorislava]

Geez. You just got here, Ran. [Lea approaches her from behind, giving her a tap on the shoulder. He's got a few baby pokémon hanging off of him, enjoying his natural warmth as a fire type. He also has two small bottles of juice in his hand, and he offers one to his new coworker] Slow down, huh? You're making me look bad!

[faithful_kitsune]

Oh my, hello Lea! I'm sorry. I've just been so used to doing work like this for such a long time, it comes naturally to me. How are you getting along yourself?

[She takes the juice. Mmm. Juice.]

[thefloorislava]

Yeah, well, if you keep going at that rate, there won't be any work left for the rest of us! [Lea shakes his head and laughs a little, taking a sip of his juice] I'm doing w-- hey! [there's a fletching trying to pluck strands of his hair for some reason. Lea shoos it away] I'm doin' fine.

[faithful_kitsune]

My goodness, I'm certain nothing like THAT will happen. This place is far too busy for that. Mist was slow compared to this place.

Oh, that is good. We must all take care of our own health as we watch over theirs, after all!

[thefloorislava]

Mist, the town you're from, right? Why don't you take a little break and tell me about it. I'm real curious. [he leans in and whispers conspiratorially;] I wasn't born in Union myself. It's true!

[faithful_kitsune]

Oh my, is that true? To think we share something in common! My goodness. Well, you'll simply HAVE to tell me about your town as well. Consider it payment for me talking about Mist. Where shall I start?

[thefloorislava]

Ah, well... I haven't lived there since I was a baby. My parents have told me about it, a little, but we had to keep it on the down-low for the most part. Hmm... [Lea takes another sip of juice, thinking] Well... what kinds of houses did you live in? Probably not tall apartments like we've got here, huh.

[faithful_kitsune]

Oh my, no. Simple little houses suited us fine. Some of the shifters kept their huts very simple, even. It reminded them more of their homes before they were able to shift.

[thefloorislava]

I wish we had space for regular houses, you know? I mean, the apartments are great for conserving space, but I really wish the walls weren't so thin. I can hear everything my neighbors say. Their drama is pretty gun, but... not at 4 am. Some of us gotta work!

[faithful_kitsune]

Yes,I have noticed the quality of the materials of the buildings around here are... a little lacking sometimes. You say your neighbors are causing trouble?

[thefloorislava]

Not... trouble, perse. They're a married couple, young... I think they must be having some troubles. Lots of pressure on normal folks to get married and have kids.

[faithful_kitsune]

Oh dear. That sounds troublesome for them. The pressure is getting to them, then?

[thefloorislava]

Yeah, that'd be my guess. [he sighs] You can kind of get locked into shitty situations if you aren't Enlightened in this city.

[faithful_kitsune]

I take it Enlightened are allowed certain benefits? I suppose even in a city like this, hierarchies are observed.

[thefloorislava]

Yeah. We're not really locked into social roles, so much. We can do what we like, as long as we're contributing to society somehow.