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

[actsmagnificent]

[ Great, now she'll look self-conscious if she picks them off.

Haruka watches Sewaddle - already intent on finding more beautiful leaves - bound after his friend, then turns so she isn't facing Michiru either. ]

Let's go.

[incousinswithyou]

[you'll have to lead; she's too busy trying to school her expression into some semblance of neutrality.




Ahem. Anyway. She slows down, coming to a stop as she shifts her bundle to her other arm and reaches up to get rid of those leaves on you. Her face is appropriately somber, but she can't quite hide the amusement in her eyes.] There.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Deep breath and Haruka's calm, even amused, again. Thank you. She won't say it, but thank you. A lot.

Her head tilts up into the air, apparently studying the way this particular tendril's woven its way over an approaching archway. ]

You should feel threatened. If they get too good they might move on to set design.

[incousinswithyou]

[back to twining her arm around yours. Also appropriately pretending none of that even happened.]

We'll have to set every play in a forest, if it came to that.

[actsmagnificent]

Right now we don't have a choice.

[ Haruka don't glare at that flower, what did it ever do to you.

Fortunately, she's way more relaxed than she was. They'll do what they can and see how this develops. But remain vigilant. Always vigilant.

"vigilant" here meaning "on a date" ]

[incousinswithyou]

Since the flowers haven't learned to open doors yet [in which case putting a play would be the least of their worries], all you have to worry about is your Sewaddle harvesting half of Union.

[notice how she has already absolved Budew of any blame in the matter]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Funny how that works out, isn't it. ] It's cleanup.

[ A pause. The Pokémon will probably be okay left to their own devices for a while, so... ] Have you eaten?

[incousinswithyou]

[idk about you, but it works out great for her.]

Not yet. Did you have something in mind?

[actsmagnificent]

[ There's a sweet little restaurant just down this street, if memory serves, where they can sit out on a terrace in case the vines suddenly gain sentience or something. Or, you know, their Pokémon get arrested for vandalism. It could happen.

Haruka breathes deeply. It's so nice outside she can almost taste the sunshine. ]

Might as well recharge while we wait for the kids.

[incousinswithyou]

[maybe if they start using various statues as mannequins...]

The kids, hm?

[aaand that sure is a small bush that has been recently denuded. Guess they're heading in the right direction.]

[actsmagnificent]

Is that funny?

[ She calls it like she sees it, okay. And anybody innocent and sweet who can't take care of themselves is a kid. So there. ]

[incousinswithyou]

I didn't say that. [maybe they won't have to steal another child after all.

Let's see if that restaurant had its terrace overrun by vines.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ The odds of that aren't great. But life must go on, so as long as they can take a seat they should be okay.

....Plus, this is a very good way of being sure they'll encounter Sewaddle and Budew again at some point. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[please. How much trouble could they get into?

...Don't answer that.

Hey look, a restaurant. A glance. Here?]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka heads for the door, pushing aside a stray tendril as she does so. Here. ] 'Scuse me? D'you have anything beyond the vegetarian option today?

[ Okay, that was so bad it probably doesn't count as a joke. But some clever soul has put a little bunch of the flowers on each of these outside tables. Business, like shows, must go on even after key players throw out the script. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[the hostess gives a weak laugh. How many times has she heard that today?

Michiru...just doesn't acknowledge it and will serenely pretend that didn't happen. That was terrible, Haruka.

Either way, they finally get seated and she'll put down those flowers. They'll be going to her studio - more light there.

The thought gets a fond smile from her, though she hides it behind a hand when she turns towards you. This is nice. The weather is gorgeous, even if there might be two green specks in the distance, prettifying a lamppost.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Psh, no one pulls off really stale lines the way Haruka Tenoh does. That waitress probably has to take a breather after showing them to their table.

For Haruka, however, it's neither here nor there. She looks over the menu quizzically. ] They changed it. That's a new salad...

[ One of those green specks has climbed all the way to the top of the lamppost to stick flowers on the glass. How's that look from way down there?? ]

[incousinswithyou]

[huuh. Opening up her own menu.] As long as they didn't come up with it today.

[what are the chances that these vines are edible?

The other speck hops back and forth, making sure to analyze it from every angle before declaring it to be perfect!]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka just chuckles and pulls a waiter aside to request a couple of waters for herself and Michiru while they think. ] Want anything else?

[ She doesn't seem to have noticed the grand decoration scheme unfolding down the street just yet, as the one speck triumphantly slides down a piece of silk back to the ground....while sticking leaves to the silk the whole way. Streamers. He is a genius. He made his own vine.

Perhaps he should do that for the humans at some point. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[hmmm. Flipping the page.] Fish, if they have it. [re: if it's fresh.

The other marvels at the sheer ingenuity for a moment...until the wind blows it straight into the face of a passing bird Pokemon.

Insert angry screeching here. Uh oh.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Sounds like Michiru is in luck: with the discovery of that tropical island, seafood's had a real boom lately. Haruka orders one of the salads for herself and fish for Michiru, then turns back to her partner with a grin. ] You've really got a thing for...

[ Wait, is something squawking? And is something else making high-pitched panicked noises? ]

[incousinswithyou]

[blinking, she pauses and tracks the sounds to...ah.

That sure is an angry Spearow flapping and cawing at a couple of familiar green specks.

And she's already up, chair sliding back with a screech.]

Haruka.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka sees it. And her first thought isn't fear, but exasperation. ]

That little...

[ She watches for just a moment to see whether Spearow is just being a pain or actually means business; when it lowers its head in preparation to dive, she vaults over the terrace railing and shouts, hoping to grab its attention.] Oi!

[ A warning Gust whizzes between the bird, the bug, & the bud. ] Nobody likes an overreacter.

[incousinswithyou]

[the turbulence from that Gust flips the bird head over tailfeathers. It regains its balance and starts squawking up a storm. It's got leaves in its pretty feathers! Even if it seems to be vastly outnumbered right about now and really ought to be reevaluating its decisions in life.

Michiru is just a step behind, though she's more focused on the kids their pokemon.

At least Budew takes heart from the (psyschic) closeness of her trainer. Instead of running around trying to find something to hide behind, she takes a more defensive stand, ready to loose Stun Spore at a moment's notice.]

budew, *baby* (i am oddly proud)

[actsmagnificent]

[ Sewaddle is not nearly as intrepid as Budew: he has rolled himself into a ball that, in turn, rolls across the street to come to a rest behind Haruka. If he can't see Spearow, Spearow can't see him. Isn't that how this works? But...

But Budew is out there. Budew is being brave. What should he do????

Haruka remains focused more on the interloper than on her Pokémon's crisis of conscience. She's got more wind swirling in her hand as she scowls at Spearow. ] Get lost. The next one won't miss.

[ If that Spearow tries any funny business, however, she'll let Budew do the honors. It's always good to see people - even Pokémon people - handling their affairs themselves. ]