bravenewworld | ✓ Memoir 1 // video

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✓ Memoir 1 // video

[Behold the exhausted but freshly-scrubbed face of one Garrett Hawke, come to introduce himself to the network with a very important question (to him).]

Has anyone heard of a village named Rhododendron? No one at the Medical Center has heard of it, but they suggested I try asking on the network.

It's where I'm from, and I'd like to go back, but I'm not sure where it is from here. So any information at all would be great.

[He hesitates very briefly, then flashes a charming smile.]

Thanks.

[OOC: This guy's hometown is so far off the map no one will have heard of it, and it's also been completely destroyed, but he doesn't know that yet so he's still asking around. Feel free to yank his chain or crush his dreams or just be brutally honest, it's all good! o/]

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Seven.

That's a lot--

[He's impressed for a second but then distracted by the Houndour in his lap suddenly stretching and yawning adorably, and then scrambling to sit up in Hawke's lap (and scratching the hell out of his legs).]

Hey! How are you feeling?

[Sergeant ignores his question for the moment in favor of smashing his back against Garrett's front for security and staring around suspiciously at everything. Including you, Anders.]

[He's a bit surprised when the Houndour wakes up, having almost forgotten about him for the moment. He's quiet at first, letting the poor puppy get his bearings. He can easily sense that unease.]

This really isn't the best place to wake up, is it?

[Sergeant stares at Anders for a few seconds before looking up at Garrett, craning his head around to make eye contact without moving his back from its secure position. Feeling better. Where's supper?

Garrett relaxes visibly and smiles at that. He reaches up to scratch behind the pup's ears.]

Is that offer of a meal still good?

[He has a hard time accepting handouts for himself, but he's pretty shameless when a handout will help one of his friends.]

I did promise.

[He stands, waiting for Hawke and his puppy to follow.]

It's nearby. I used to eat lunch there sometimes.

Alright. Are you up for walking, or do you want me to carry you?

[Sergeant hesitates, weighing the pros and cons of leaving the known safety of Garrett's lap for the floor vs suffering the indignity of being carried. It doesn't take too long before he decides to hop down of his own accord. He's not sure how Garrett can handle being so high up when he stands, and has no idea what keeps him from tipping over. He doesn't want to be being carried when the inevitable falling occurs.

Little does he realize that the likeliest cause of Hawke falling will not be a poor sense of balance, as he suspects, but a little puppy-shaped shadow sticking far too close as he attempts to walk. But that's a lesson for another time. Probably.

Hawke stands without incident, but grimaces as his feet touch the floor; he's been sitting in one position for so long both his feet have fallen asleep.]

Sounds good. Lead the way.

[Anders keeps his pace slow, noticing that Hawke legs seemed a bit stiff. He doesn't seem injured, though, so he doesn't comment - for the moment at least, though any continued symptoms and his Medic instincts will kick in and he'll be forced to check.

And at least there's fresh air once they leave the Medical Center, and fewer people in the direction Anders leads them.]

You never told me your friend's name.

[What are you called, little Houndour?]

[No injuries, just stiffness!

Hawke takes a deep, appreciative breath once they're outside, and he suspects Sergeant is doing the same.]

I didn't -- Sorry, you're right. This is Sergeant. Sarge, this is Anders.

[Sergeant looks up at Anders from his spot at Hawke's feet and offers a polite, quiet bark that's more exhaled air than vocalization.]

It's nice to meet you, Sergeant.

[He can't be anything but nice back after the ordeal that puppy has been through.]

Have you been looking after Garrett? He looks like he needs it.

[Sergeant barks again in response to Anders' question, and then glances up at Garrett thoughtfully. Garrett's been taking care of me. But he likes the idea of taking care of Garrett.]

He's been a true friend.

[Unlike Garrett, Anders can't understand what Sarge is saying, but he can feel the fondness there. And that tells him enough, really.]

You're both lucky, the--

[And then he stops. Because the path in front of them is blocked by a tiny little Espurr, standing there and clearly daring them to attempt to pass her. And if anyone wonders how a tiny pokemon like that can block the entire path, she does it by staring.

She's staring hard.]

There you are, my little queen. I was wondering when you'd meet us.

[Anders crouches down and holds out a hand to her. She stares for a moment more. You're not leaving her out of food, are you?]

You're better at finding me than I am at finding you, and you know it.

[Hawke pauses respectfully when Anders crouches to greet the tiny staring cat. He's never seen a pokemon like her before, and might just be a bit unnerved by that stare...right up until her remark about food. That gets him to smile and relax again.

Also, Anders' babytalk is impossible to take seriously.

Sergeant, meanwhile, has no such reservations about meeting a strange pokemon - even one with such a dead-eyed stare. Other pokemon he can handle; it's humans that are going to take some getting used to. He walks right up to her and pokes his nose at her in greeting.

Hi! I'm Sergeant.]

[He's not even babytalking that bad yet. Just you wait and see, Garrett.

Cleo jumps back and bats at the nose being poked at her. It's mostly in surprise (though it's hard to tell with that dead look), as she's not used to such enthusiastic greetings. She looks up at Anders, and then back to the puppy.

Where did you find these?]

They're from outside Union. They're utterly lost, so I offered some help.

[Sergeant sits down in some confusion at having his overture of friendship so casually swatted aside. What did he do wrong?

Hawke crouches down too, half to also say hello to Anders' friend, and half to comfort his friend, dropping a hand to Sergeant's shoulders in gentle commiseration. Don't be discouraged.

To the little cat pokemon, he says:]

Will you be joining us for lunch?

[Of course.

Cleo walks a bit closer, planning to do a proper greeting now the puppy isn't rushing at her. She's realising how young he is now, so she supposes she can forgive how overeager he was.

Except then she stops, her nose twitching. And her stare turns on Hawke again. Do you wash, human?]

Edited 2014-05-02 05:32 (UTC)

[What a question to ask coupled with that dead-eyed stare.

Hawke shifts uncomfortably, both because of the stare and because of the question.]

It's been a bad month for that.

[Cleo takes a small step back again, before looking at Sarge instead. I'm Queen Cleopawtra. She flicks her tiny tail towards Anders. He named me.]

She takes a bit to warm up to you, but she's incredibly loyal. [So fond.] Her name is Queen Cleopawtra. Cleo, this is Garrett.

[Because he doesn't know Garrett can understand her.]

Edited 2014-05-02 05:57 (UTC)

[The awkwardest introduction.

...Shit, how badly does he stink? Did he offend the people at the medical center? Is he offending Anders right now, and Anders is too polite to mention it??]

It's a pleasure, Cleo.

[He'll leave the rest of the introductions to Sergeant, whose short little tail is wagging happily as he parrots Hawke: It's a pleasure, Cleo!]

[Cleo flicks her tail again. Let's get food.

Anders nods, indicating a building just ahead of them. He knows both Hawke and Sarge must be starving, so there's little point in waiting.]

The restaurant is just over here.

[Hawke stands from his crouch with a smile, and tries not to worry too much about unfortunate body odor.]

Lead the way.

[Anders straightens as well, and heads towards the restaurant, Cleo following after. It's a fairly small place, and quiet now the lunch rush is over, which is part of why he chose it. He nods to the owner when he enters, who clearly knows him.]

Is the table in the back free?

[The owner looks at Hawke, and at his state, and then quickly decides that yes, getting them away from the other customers is a good idea. So he ushers them in with a couple of menus.]

[Hawke just kind of meekly follows behind Anders and tries his best to ignore the look he got from the waiter or the cook or the whoever who seated them.

Sergeant is not sure about this whole 'indoors' thing. He sticks to Hawke like a little black puppy shadow and immediately claws his way into Hawke's lap once he's seated. Hawke tries not to mind the sharp claws digging through the fabric of his trousers into his skin. He kind of feels like bolting, himself.

To fight the urge, or at least in an effort to ignore it, he peers quietly at the menu.]

[Anders already knows what he wants, and he immediately asks for water for both them and their pokemon.]

Would you like something else to drink as well?

[Because if he's buying someone food, and he'll do it properly. And Garrett is starting to look a little awkward - not that he can blame him - and it's at least something to get his attention again.]

Water's fine.

[He's still looking over the menu. There are some things that ping his interest for himself, and some things that ping his interest for Sergeant. Like the fact that there is a selection of pokemon-friendly foods listed right alongside the selection of human-friendly foods.

He glances up briefly and notices Anders isn't bothering with his menu.]

Do you know what you want already?

Edited 2014-05-03 04:50 (UTC)

I eat here regularly. I know the menu.

[And oh, almost immediately there's water for all for of them, in glasses for humans and bowls for pokemon. Then the waiter leaves again, noticing they're not yet ready to order.]

Do you need help deciding?

Re: [action]

hawkethat - 2014-05-03 05:04 (UTC) - Expand

Re: [action]

onetrackminds - 2014-05-03 05:08 (UTC) - Expand

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