bravenewworld | Springtime for Union

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Springtime for Union

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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dle.

Hey, now... [ Haruka isn't sure what's wrong at first; she taps Sewaddle's head in a "what's wrong" gesture and he snaps into a balled-up position so quickly she has to yank her finger away to keep it from being trapped. A glance at the Sewaddle-shaped dent in the ice cream, however, solves the mystery. ] Seriously?

[ Sewaddle mumbles something incoherent from the depths of his ball. Haruka sighs, adopting a nobly long-suffering expression. Children. What can you do? ] You did this to yourself. It'll wear off soon.

[all cleaned up, Budew leans up against the Sewaddle sphere in sympathy.

Michiru just giggles.]

All things in moderation, right? [Budew nods gravely for Sewaddle]

[ Between this, the way he made a mess of Setsuna's table the other day, and his stunning display of bravery against the Spearow, Haruka is starting to have serious doubts about her "take Sewaddle around town" habit. Clearly the best way to deal with her Pokémon's disciplinary problems is to ignore them in public. ] The bugs and Grass-types are out more than usual today. Is that just for the flowers?

[ Sewaddle's head pokes out. Fortunately, his human doesn't look mad. Just....tired, somehow, but that happens whenever they spend long periods of time together, so he thinks it's normal. He nuzzles Budew. Thanks for worrying! ] Sewa.

[Budew perks up. Yaaay you've recovered!

Taking her cue from Haruka. How you train (or don't train) your Pokemon isn't exactly her business, perse. Though if he's hanging out with Budew during training, maybe he'll sponge off some EXP from them.]

You could make an argument that they're out in force thanks to the weather. [Budew was frolicking around the sunshine for a good while, after all.]

[ Sewaddle has a whole new level of reverent respect for ice cream now. He must treat it with decorum and grace, or it will fight back. He gives both it and Budew a cautious glance - do you think it's okay to approach? - before heading back over for a tentative nibble. It's still just as tasty. ] S'waddle.

[ Haruka had only picked up Sewaddle in the first place because a) he'd probably get eaten otherwise b) he wouldn't dislodge from her jacket. She'd pretty much decided his life was his business, and he'd either have to adapt or face the consequences, but in retrospect that's seeming unrealistic. Hopefully Budew will stay a good inspiration. ] They're more sensitive than you.

[ Says the psychic meteorologist. ]

[awesome, no ice cream related casualties today. Budew carefully steps closer to the treat and takes another nibble, getting ice cream all over her face again. Surely messes make things taste even better.]

To flowers?

[she would hope so. Grass isn't exactly her cup of tea at the best of times.]

Edited (Why do I bother tagging at night) 2014-04-20 12:10 (UTC)

To the environment. [ A pause. She's in no position to tease Michiru for not seeing this coming if her own psychic powers didn't warn her either. ] Well, there's a nice breeze going, so it should be all right.

[ Messes are fun as long as it's food. Messy clothes, however, are intolerable. Thus spake Sewaddle - or so he would if his mouth wasn't full of ice cream. ] Waddle.

[ He's found a chunk of strawberry so he pulls it out to offer to Budew. This thing has fruit in it! That's great!

It's also reassuring to Haruka, who's watching the proceedings out of the corner of her eye but will never, ever admit she's touched by them. ]

Dew? Buuu! [aw Sewaddle! You're the best! She takes it and noms happily. It's a bit too small to share, but the next one she finds is totally Sewaddle's.

That just gets a smile from Michiru. When you live in a glass house...] I suppose I'll just have to trust you.

[nicely rounding out the previous query posed]

Sewa. [ You're a good friend too, Budew. Sewaddle looks just as happy to be watching her eat that strawberry as she does to be eating it.

Also, touché, Michiru. Haruka grins and takes a bite of her salad (to avoid having to acknowledge the impeccable timing, perhaps). Even the lettuce is greener than usual today, good grief. ] I'm honored.

Good. [she takes a sip of her water and she's smiling fondly at you over the rim of her glass, a hint of amusement in her eyes] You should be.

[Budew chirrups happily at Sewaddle. She's so happy right now. New friends, ice cream, and Murkrow doesn't try to atta - and that's a clean napkin to the face as Michiru reaches over to wipe off the ice cream.]

Edited 2014-04-21 00:59 (UTC)

[ ....You know, maybe that's what Haruka should do with the parasol Murkrow stole from an innocent passerby (who freely gave it to him, so Haruka couldn't hand it back). As a token of apology, and punishment for being a bully, Murkrow should give it to Budew. This plan has a sense of poetic justice to it; she will have to deliberate it later.

For now there are Michirus to smile at and Sewaddle to keep a surreptitious eye on. What's happening to Budew? He wants it, too! ] Sewa sewa!

[ Haruka chuckles as Sewaddle makes tentative grabby hands (arms?) for the napkin. ] It's only fair - since you're so popular, and all.

[there's a slight pause as she tries to figure out what Sewaddle wants, but she'll deftly fold the napkin in half and then wipe the ice cream off his face too.]

Neither has anything to do with the other, Haruka. [not superficially, at least.]

Edited 2014-04-21 13:45 (UTC)

[ Oof, that tickles a bit. Sewaddle squirms, but he enjoys the attention. Plus, now he's clean! ] Sewa-a-a-a!

[ Haruka concedes the point by dipping her head and beginning to eat her lunch in earnest. Watching Michiru look after the Pokémon is quite entertaining in and of itself. ] If you say so.

[ ...Sewaddle, that's rude. Don't try to grab Michiru's finger so you can nuzzle "thank you". ]

[it's probably that maternal instinct acting up.

Sewaddle gets a smile and a pat on the head before she withdraws her hand.] You're welcome.

[Budew beams. Now they're both clean and...that sure is another bowl of ice cream just sitting there on the table.]

Don't spoil him. [ Haruka's noted the familial atmosphere, however, and it's making her smile in spite of herself. She can imagine Michiru surrounded by a million children, beaming away....It's a pretty picture. Especially since it makes such a good joke. As if!

Sewaddle has noticed that second bowl, too. He turns to Budew. What should they do? ] Wad sewa?

[ On the one hand, they just got clean. On the other hand, if somebody doesn't start eating it, that bowl of ice cream is going to make a mess on the table. This is sad. ]

[honestly. It's not like they could steal a million babies without anybody noticing. ~~Maybe just one or two.~~

A smile.] That doesn't count.

Buuu... [she's got her thinking face on. It wasn't offered to them, so there's that. But it's also just sitting there, untouched and going to waste! It's a travesty, right, Sewaddle?

...She'd sidle closer to the ice cream but her trainer is surprisingly sharp-eyed.]

Aren't you some kind of super Trainer?

[ This is a tough one. They really shouldn't let it drip. Drips make messes, and messes are bad. But what if they offered some of it for their Trainers to share? It would be okay then, right?

Here, humans use these things, Sewaddle thinks. He attempts to pick up Haruka's spoon and, holding it tentatively between his front legs, waddles over to the ice cream. How does he do this? ] S'wad.

[ This much has caught his Trainer's attention, however. ] Hey...

You tell me. [heh.

...And her attention is drawn to the Sewaddle walking along the table. What is your bug doing?

Budew, curious about the operation in progress, hops on up to take a look.]

Edited 2014-04-22 11:47 (UTC)

[ Haruka thinks she knows, but it doesn't make this process any less curious. Instead of intercepting, she observes. Can he actually do it? ] That's for humans.....

Sewa. [ Sewaddle swings the spoon down on the ice cream like a kendo stick. No, that's not how to get the food onto it, apparently. He swings it sideways. ] Sewa.

[ Haruka is so full of amused secondhand humiliation right now. Taking a spoon from the next table over, she scoops up a bit herself for a snack while she watches. ] Don't hurt yourself.

[Michiru laughs quietly. Maybe he would deserve more ice cream if he managed the feat.

Budew, on the other hand, cheers Sewaddle on! And is otherwise unhelpful due to the lack of grasping limbs, but still. You can do it!]

And where did he pick that up from?

Edited 2014-04-22 17:03 (UTC)

You're asking me? [ Yeah, she's Sewaddle's Trainer, but even if she took advantage of the bond to gain access to his thoughts and emotions (something she rarely does - her Pokémon deserve their privacy) she doubts he'd make sense. Though from the way he's going at this thing like the spoon's a sword, he may have been paying more attention to her stage fencing than she'd thought....

No, wait. He'd watched her take that bite. You can practically hear the gears turning. ] Sewaaaaaa.....

[ And then, it dawns. He scurries down the spoon a bit and picks it back up so that there's less of a lever between him and the head. Now he can scoop! ] Wad!

Buu. Dew? [Budew is perplexed, really. Why would anybody bother to include an extra step between getting food and putting it in their mouths? It's all going into the same place eventually. Why complicate matters?]

At least he hasn't discovered leverage. [that blob of ice cream would land somewhere inconvenient. Given Sewaddle's luck, maybe another bird Pokemon.

Still, those powers of observation, however brief and sporadic they may be, could lay the foundation for much more interesting tricks.]

[ Haruka watches the ice cream make it onto the spoon with buried trepidation. ] Don't jinx him.

[ Sewaddle has not quite reached the level of awareness where he questions the wisdom of intermediate tools. He is, however, so incredibly excited that he got the ice cream onto the spoon that now he doesn't know which human to offer it to. He loves his Trainer so....but his Trainer's Trainer ordered the ice cream.

Yet Haruka has already helped herself, so Sewaddle figures she can fend just fine. Time to carry this spoon very carefully over to Michiru and see if she wants dessert. And then, she will be so impressed, she won't mind if he and Budew share!

Look, Michiru. Ice cream. ] Sewa waddle?

--Hey.

[that gets a laugh out of Michiru.]

Well, well. How gallant. [she carefully plucks the spoon from Sewaddle's grasp and takes a bite] Thank you.

Waddle wa! [ He was praised! That doesn't happen often! Sewaddle looks over at Budew, proud of himself. Budew, he did it!

Haruka has such a wealth of potential targets here it's hard to know where to begin, but for some strange reason she picks Sewaddle. ] No one likes a ladykiller.

she's probably an instantly amazing maid aside from that

it's not as if it would stay long on her anyway

my, mistress, you missed a spot....let me help you....

ara, somebody is certainly making herself useful...

she lives to serve

So well trained already~

but does she get a nice bonus

that depends on what type of bonus she's got in mind

when they're from michiru, she likes surprises

don't regret those words now

i never regret. /lift head, sudden sunset, rose petals

/insert crooning music here

only true adults buy their significant others maid outfits

amongst other things

d-does she want to know

I thought she liked surprises

t...rue............(are there frills again)

(wouldn't you like to know)

(at least michiru's aesthetics won't let it be ugly)

(there you go. just keep focusing on that silver lining)

...watch sewaddle level up from this

achievement unlocked: spooning

just one grown-up activity he can learn from the humans

the only one, hopefully

he's a bit young yet, yes