Springtime for Union

[bravenewmods]

After an unusually long and cold winter, the land is finally beginning to stir in the anticipation of spring. In the forest, the first flowers are beginning to peek out of the ground, the hum of Bug Pokémon begin to be heard, and of course, the first wisps of pollen begin to incite misery amongst the more sensitive of the population. The sun sets later and later each night, and at the end of a long workday, the prospect of escaping early to enjoy a stroll out in the brisk spring air becomes more and more enticing.

The pall cast by Team Evolution has long faded into little more than a distant cloud on the horizon. Though the mystery of 'Mega Evolution' remains unsolved, it seems inconsequential in the face of the strength that Union itself is gaining. All damage from the earthquakes has finally been fully repaired, production of iron and steel has been greatly enhanced by the discovery of the mine, there were plans to build a new port and to enhance the range of the Signal Tower, Enlightened and Pokémon everywhere were evolving one after another... On the whole, morale was high.

The city takes it upon itself to reflect this.

When the people of Union begin to stir early one spring morning, they will awaken to discover a cheerful city, indeed. All of Union, overnight, has become covered with vines and shrubs and flowers - plant life, everywhere the eye could see. Though the majority haven't yet begun to flower, the rainbow assortment of buds promises a lovely sight to come in the near future. A few citizens, annoyed, set to work removing the intrusive flora from their properties, but the majority simply take the unusual sight for what it is.

And for the particularly observant, dotted here and there among the landscape, the occasional large pink blossom can be spotted already in full bloom...

((You may use this post as an IC mingle if you wish!))

Comments

[incousinswithyou]

Already deflecting blame, I see. [that gets a wryly amused smile in return. If neither of them felt anything, then maybe they aren't going to die via evil plant.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ In that case, non-evil plant becomes none of their business! Everybody wins! ] I'll keep looking. We can't know for sure unless something happens.

[ It's clearly a load off her shoulders to hear a "no" from you, though. Even these flowers look prettier. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[sounds like a plan!]

That almost sounds like you want trouble. [need another pair of eyes?]

[actsmagnificent]

It beats rehearsal. [ Jokes all around here. Mostly. Especially since the play's done.

Considering that her hand is making no attempts to detach from Michiru's, company must also sound nice. ]

[incousinswithyou]

I think the proper phrase here is 'avoiding rehearsal.'

[nah, she still thought the whole thing was entertaining.

Anyway, a tug on your hand and she starts heading in whatever direction you didn't come from.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka grins. ] If you insist.

[ And off they sweep. Even without Lullaby's assistance, it's likely they're trailing flower petals and crooning music in their wake.

These vines probably don't lead anywhere central, though, do they. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[it's their special tag team ability

Probably not. It's a nice walk, even if it's a bit meandering. Of course, it really depends on whether or not the plants look like they're where they're supposed to be or if they look like they're trying to take down buildings and utilizing every crack in the walls.]

It's rather haphazard, isn't it? [no real planning]

[actsmagnificent]

Mm. [ Haruka is examining a vine to make sure it isn't, yeah, attempting to disrupt the foundations here. (So far so good.) ] If there's someone behind it, they're not too bright...

[ Sewaddle, waking up, crawls over Haruka's shoulder and begins harvesting leaves from the vine. He's saving them for later. And might have been pinged by the words "not too bright". ]

[incousinswithyou]

They certainly put a lot of effort into it. [ineffectual though it may be.

Budew stirs, wiggling around and trying to see what Sewaddle is doing. Cryptic conversation is boring at best.]

[actsmagnificent]

Maybe all we really can do is wait. [ The thought pains Haruka, though. She'd hate to end up doing something futile just as much as she'd hate to not figure this out in time, so it's tricky.

Unperturbed, Sewaddle turns and offers Budew a leaf. You are already made of leaves. But if you want to be extra pretty, he would oblige. ] Sewa?

[incousinswithyou]

I'm sure some distraction or another will come up. [hah.

...At least Michiru is perfectly capable of sitting still, given no threats of immediate doom and man-eating plants.

Budew blinks, but will reach over to clasp the leaf between her carefully guarded buds. What is she supposed to do with this?]

[actsmagnificent]

Waddle. [ Sewaddle spits a bit of silk onto another leaf and sticks it to himself. See, that's how this works. His next little blob of silk is offered to Budew. ] Swa?

[ Haruka remains either unaware or apathetic towards this touching moment of Grass-type bonding. ] Are you offering?

[incousinswithyou]

[Budew isn't quite so sure about the aesthetics involved in this activity but. There's a burbling little giggle as she sticks the donated leaf onto the proffered blob of silk. She's not quite as versatile as Sewaddle, so he's going to have to stick it on.

...So help her, Haruka, if she ends up having to scrape her Budew out of a mass of leaves and bug spit...]

That depends on what I'm being asked.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka grins. She's not going to come out and say how much being with you helps her not brood too much over this stuff, but heavy implication is more eloquent anyway. ] Careful girl.

[ Yes, you distract her nicely.

Sewaddle examines his canvas and selects the perfect spot. There you go, Budew. One extra leaf, at a jaunty angle above your eye as if you're wearing a hairclip. Beautiful. ] Sew!

[incousinswithyou]

One of us has to be.

[always a pleasure.]

Dew! [Budew wiggles in delight. She doesn't actually know how that looks, but Sewaddle's word is good enough for her. They're friends, after all, right?]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka just laughs at that. ] True enough.

[ Sighing, but still smiling, she glances back at the vines. They should probably walk around some more, just in case, but the chances are they won't learn anything and that's okay...

....Sewaddle, what are you doing to Michiru's "bouquet". ] Whoops. He contributed.

[ Sewaddle takes this as compliment and preps another leaf. This one he offers to Michiru. Do you want to match your Budew? ] Swa?

[incousinswithyou]

[she glances down at Budew. Well, as long as the Pokemon is happy about it...

Michiru, on the other hand, will have to decline.

She'll offer Sewaddle a smile though.] It'll look better on Haruka, don't you think? The juxtaposition of colors would really emphasize the contrasting tones.

[actsmagnificent]

Sewa?

[ Sewaddle looks at this leaf, considering, then glances up at Haruka. Who smiles too, just a bit more unevenly. ] Don't listen to her. She's full of fancy art stuf--

Sewa.

[ Splat goes the leaf against Haruka's cheek. Oh boy. Making Haruka match the surroundings is, if possible, even more fun than giving leaves to friends.

Sewaddle turns to Budew to solicit help, plucking another leaf and waving it at her to demonstrate. Let's make the tall human pretty together. ] Waddle wa?

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru will go to great lengths for Haruka, up to and including sacrificing herself. However, it looks like bug spit is where she draws the line.

That just gets you a mischievous smile. That fancy art stuff sure is handy.

Budew pops up and hops on over to your shoulder, presumably to help and/or fulfill a supervisory role if needed.]

1/2 for icons

[actsmagnificent]

Hey--

2/2

[actsmagnificent]

[ Wait what now the other one's on her. Haruka looks at Budew, then sighs. This is the long-suffering face of someone who does not have time for this. (But thinks it's funny in an rather absent, "wow, this is really happening" way.) ]

I don't remember asking to become a nursery.

[ Undaunted, Sewaddle silks up a few leaves and passes them over to Budew. You do that side, he'll do this one? ] Swa.

[incousinswithyou]

I think you meant to say 'tree.'

[Budew happily takes those leaves...and rather haphazardly sticks 'em on your face. A couple might actually end up sticking to Budew, but it doesn't look like she minds.]

Buuuu... [and she picks at a leaf, minutely adjusts it, and sticks it back on. There!]

[actsmagnificent]

You're enjoying this.

Sewa. [ Splat. ] Sewa. [ Splat.... and then Sewaddle looks over and notices Budew's contribution. He claps. ] Sewa sewa!

[ Haruka, meanwhile, has her best Stoic Face on. This is nothing. She will endure. ]

[incousinswithyou]

Am I? [please, this is hilarious.]

Budew! [yaaay, appreciation! She's gon be a budding artist. Budew hops in happiness and almost comes tumbling off. Well, she does but at least she mostly lands right back in the bouquet.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Whoops. Haruka cups a hand underneath the bouquet so Budew doesn't keep tumbling. Weren't you bored by art earlier?

Sewaddle, meanwhile, crawls around Haruka's neck and onto her other shoulder to check up on his friend. He can send you some silk to pull you back up if you need it! ] Sewaddle?

[ Haruka clears her throat. ] Anyway, let's keep searching. It might be fruitless, but it's all we can do.

[ Apparently this wasn't the sort of distraction she'd had in mind. ]