bravenewworld | (no subject)

Who: Everyone!
Where: The newly discovered island
What: After recent events, the people of Union could use a bit of R&R. What better place than a tropical island?
Warnings: Drinks with little umbrellas in them, swimsuits, idek

An island paradise, discovered just off the southern coast, less than a day's travel from the city. A strong enough Pokemon could easily carry their partner and others out there. It was hard to say just who sent the original message, but pictures surfaced, with the tagline "Don't you wish you were here," came over the warp bands' feeds, and, like Venomoths to the flame, people began clamoring toward this new found tropical get-away. Those who wanted to go would find it easy enough--with so many people making their way to investigate, for whatever reason they claimed (but let's be honest, it was probably the beach), one could just hitch a ride.

The island itself appeared untouched by human contact. The Pokemon were strange and different compared to the fare immediately around Union. A warm breeze blew through palm trees, carrying the scent of hibiscus flowers. The water, blue as the summer sky, was warm and inviting.

This truly was a paradise.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Armin's off in his own little world, so he startles a little when Eren speaks. But he's smiling, albeit a little shakily, when he turns, toes curling into the wet sand.

"It's better."

Eren gives that bright smile of his and crouches down in the sand, watching the water swash back and forth.

"Yeah. I agree. There's some things books just can't describe. Like the smell of the water, and the texture of the sand!"

He dips a finger in the water and puts it in his mouth, making a face before grinning. "And it's so salty!"

That gets a gasp that's somewhere between amused and horrified, as Armin dissolves into giggles and very nearly drops Meredith into the ocean. "Eren! Don't taste the water! That's so unsanitary!"

Catching his breath and in a much much better mood, Armin crouches down as well, letting Meredith climb onto his back to stay away from the water. "Some places of the ocean have such a high saline content that you can float on them! Or maybe it's some lakes. I don't remember. Look, a Krabby."

"I don't care man!! It was just a little bit anyway. Don't be such a worry-wart," He smiles brightly and splashes some water at Armin.

"Float, huh... Well I'm definitely gonna go for a swim. ... Ah, Krabby?"

Eren sees the little orange pokémon in the water and reaches for it--

--and is pinched for his effort. He squawks despite being in human form and falls back on his butt, waving his hand wildly.

"AAAHHH! LEGGO!!"

The krabby just makes an angry "ko-kee!" noise and blows bubbles while definitively not letting go.

"I'm not-- ahhhh, don't!" Armin laughs, wiping the water off his face and barely managing to stifle the wild giggles as Eren is attacked by a ferocious tiny Krabby. "Oh, Eren! You know these pinch, I've told you at least twenty times..."

Shaking his head at Eren's antics, Armin reaches out, gently grasping his friend's arm and attempting to emotionally reason the Krabby into setting him free. "Come on, now, he wasn't going to hurt you..."

"I FORGOTTTT!!"

Eren shakes his hand vigorously, but to no avail. And Armin's psychic reasoning doesn't help either. The krabby is too wild and frankly, too pissed off. It burbles and bubbles and makes more angry "Ko-KEE" noises.

"Like hell I'm not gonna hurt him! I'm gonna EAT HIM!!"

Finally all the wild flailing of arms becomes too much for the krabby and it flies off back into the water. Eren whines and puts his finger in his mouth.

Armin isn't laughing at you, Eren, he's laughing near you. And he'll dig through the bag he brought along for a bandaid, because he's well-prepared like that. "Are you all right? Not bleeding? Give me your hand."

A heavy sigh and the application of some antibiotic cream comes next. "Just...try to avoid things with claws, okay?"

Eren just huffs, glaring and folding his ears back. You're such a little shit, Armin. "I'm not bleeding. Tch. I'm tougher than that. He mostly pinched on one of my scales."

There's not much other than a small scrape and reddening of the skin not protected by metal scales. "I don't need a damn bandage, Armin!"

Eren you were literally howling like a kicked Houndour five seconds ago, excuse Armin for not believing your blustering. But he'll let it go after examining and carefully cleaning the scrape. "All right, all right. Just try not to get it dirty or wet, or it'll get infected."

Sucks 2 b u, Eren, ur missing out on hella awesome bandages with Cleffa's on them.

Try not to get it dirty or wet. Armin. Look around. Look where they are. There is no way that's not happening.

Eren sighs and sits back down in the surf, looking out and watching the sunlight sparkle on the waves. It looked like someone had thrown a million tiny bits of glass out there, and each one caught the light.

"I could live here.'

Well, he did say "try" -- he's aware that Eren is basically a dirt magnet.

But hey, they're having a nice moment, and the water and sun and sand are all distracting and lovely and Armin is...actually enjoying himself, wow. So are the baby Pokemon, making little sandcastles, watched over by reluctant babysitter Meredith.

That gets a bit of a surprised look, then a very Armin-esque attempt at a joke. "That would be quite a commute to the Ranger headquarters every day."

He can't help it. He's also kind of a regular magnet.

Eren's glad that he managed to make Armin forget is woes, at least for a moment. It didn't make them go away, but... it was better than being sad constantly.

And because Eren actually knows Armin's humor, he laughs. "We'd have to build a second station out here! Though once I can fly properly, I could get back and forth easily. Ah... but I wonder if my scales would rust in the salty air, huh? That'd totally suck!"

"They'll have to develop something to counteract the effects of the air. A sort of salve or spray, maybe."

Armin muses over this for a moment, then nudges Eren gently. "Thank you."

"Yeah. Rusting would be the worst."

Eren keeps staring out at the sea until Armin nudges him. He turns to look up at him. Then he offes one of his rare, genuine smiles. Not a grin, not a smirk, just a smile. "Hey man. I didn't do anything, really. But you're welcome. It was bumming me out to see you so sad."

"It would certainly limit your efficiency, that's for sure."

Armin smiles back, hugging his knees up to his chest. "I'll be okay. Don't worry."

"I think that oil I was talking about helps prevent rusting, heh. Maybe I'd just have to preen more!"

Eren seems happy enough with that answer, "I know you will. You're stronger than you think you are."