usedlaserbeam | 002 | Cherrygrove City

Entry tags:

002 | Cherrygrove City | Action;

[After a productive (but admittedly somewhat boring) five hours of work sorting and filing papers at the Cherrygrove Pokémon Center, it's finally time for Yagyuu to head for home--or at least, for the room at the Cherrygrove Inn he's been sharing with Kirihara-kun since they both arrived in the city yesterday. He'd gladly work longer hours if they'd let him, but the rules are strict for minors, and so he's being cheerfully shooed out as soon as his time is up for the day.

As a result, anyone in the vicinity of the Center in Cherrygrove will probably see him exiting the front doors, his Breeder's Manual already open in one hand for casual perusal as he starts his walk back toward the inn. Strangely, he doesn't seem to have any Pokémon with him, though he does have his backpack slung casually over his shoulder like a model student might.

All things considered, he's not hard to spot, both from his lack of visible Pokémon and his bright yellow Rikkai jersey with the collar popped up at the neck. Which means he's also a prime target for bothering, should anyone feel so inclined.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The Flygon alone would've been more than enough to wrench Yagyuu's attention away from his breeding manual as it came to a smooth and unavoidable landing in front of his path, but it's the three familiar figures (two far more familiar than the third) seated on its back that really make his breath catch.

It shouldn't be as moving as it is, perhaps, to see them all in front of him. He knew they were here. He's already encountered Kirihara-kun. He's seen them just about every day of his life for the past three years. It's certainly not as though they're unexpected or unfamiliar. But it's more than just his teammate this time, it's his captain, his partner. And at the moment, there's no one he'd wanted to see more.

Which is part of the reason why he has to hide a smile as Niou's punch connects, unhindered, with his arm. It seems he's not the only one who's happy to see his partner, after all.

(But he doesn't rub it, either, because that would be like letting Niou win.) ]

I probably deserved that, having kept you waiting so long. Hello, Niou-kun.

Yeah, and makin' me come all the way out here to pick your lame ass up? I'd say you deserve more than a lovetap.

[ His tone is derisive, but he can't help a grin. Yagyuu can't really hide a smile, not from Niou, not right now, not any more than Niou can hide his own. Six fucking months, and they're finally together again.

Yagyuu deserves way more than a punch on the shoulder, but with so many people looking on, Niou doesn't dare. ]

Is this where I mention my eternal gratitude for making such an arduous journey on my behalf?

[The banter is easy and familiar, but it still seems frustratingly impersonal for this reunion. It's not hard to see why it's happening, and he's certainly not uncouth enough to wish their audience would disappear...but it grates, just a little, to act as though their separation were measured in nothing more dramatic than hours when he knows for Niou it's been months.]

I appreciate the rescue. However shall I make it up to you?

[ Yagyuu's not the only one frustrated, but Niou's frustration is also tempered with relief. Being alone with Yagyuu would give him no excuse for being aloof about this, aside from his own hesitation to openly express so much overwhelming emotion. At least this way, by the time they are alone, the initial rush will have worn off, and Niou will be much more in control of his reactions. ]

Oh, coffee. Maybe a day at the spa. I'll think of somethin' else later.

If there's a spa here, I haven't seen it yet.

[He adjusts his backpack strap, glancing back over his shoulder in the direction he came before turning his eyes back to his partner.]

But I do have a job here now. So it shouldn't be particularly difficult to spoil you, if that's what you want.

There's one in Goldenrod, for sure. And the headquarters in Mahogany has an onsen, too. Dunno about anywhere else.

[ He shrugs, swinging his messenger bag around in front of him to dig inside, and after a moment, produces three wallets, which he shows only briefly before tucking them back into the bag. ]

Don't really need a sugar daddy — and you don't really need to work — but like I said, I'll come up with somethin'.

The headquarters in Mahogany?

[The late afternoon light reflecting off his glasses isn't quite enough to hide the flicker of mirth that flashes through Yagyuu's eyes at the sight of the wallets. He knows better than to ask, and frankly it's probably better that he doesn't know, anyway, but really. Leave it to Niou.]

It's paying for my inn room, at least. And it's given me the opportunity to get accustomed to things so far.

[And in a way, it's better than the alternative, which is embracing his destiny as a Pokemon trainer and actually working with Phantom.]

Well, when you get tired of it, let me know.

[ He glances briefly and surreptitiously around them, but the only people in the immediate vicinity are Fuji and Yukimura — and it's not as though they don't know.

Still, he drops his voice. ]

The Team Rocket Headquarters, up north in Mahogany Town.

Edited 2011-06-26 06:27 (UTC)

So you can start supporting me instead?

[And up go his eyebrows, both at the evident need for secrecy and for the admission that follows it.]

You're affiliated with them.

[Somehow, it isn't a question.]

Sure.

[ It's effectively an answer to both the question and the non-question posed. Niou swings his bag back behind him again, adopting a more nonchalant stance. ]

I've been warned against them, you know. I'm told they're dangerous, untrustworthy individuals.

[This time, his face is a perfect mask.]

Fortunately, you're here now. Safety in numbers, isn't it?

[ Niou returns his partner a grave look. ]

Yeah, we'll protect you from those Rocket ruffians. All three of us.

[ There's not much emphasis placed on that last bit, but Niou figures Yagyuu might catch on, anyway. ]

I'm sure I'll sleep much better at night, knowing you're all here to safeguard me.

[But if Niou's really implying what he thinks he's implying--well, that's something of a surprise. Not so much Niou ending up on Team Rocket, perhaps, but Yukimura? And Seigaku's Fuji?

...Evidently there's a lot more to Fuji than meets the eye.]

When did you cut your hair?

'Bout a month ago, I guess.

[ He'd forgotten, honestly, and the mention of it makes him reach up to comb the back of his hair with his fingers somewhat self-consciously. ]

Too much?

It's different.

[Different enough that the white wig stowed safely in his backpack isn't a perfect match anymore. And different enough to hammer home just how different their perceptions of the time that's passed since they last saw each other really are.]

Do you like it better that way?

[ He shrugs, unconcerned. ]

Better? Dunno. I like it well enough. Might let it grow out again, who knows.

Thought about dyein' it, too, but not sure if we can find a good permanent wig dye here.

Don't dye it.

[The imperative slips out almost before he realizes he's said it, and it takes him an uncharacteristic second to recover after it does.]

That would be too much.

[ Niou's eyebrows shoot up, and he doesn't bother trying to disguise or excuse his surprise. This slip-up was Yagyuu's. ]

Would it, now?

[He shrugs a little, now back in control, but he's watching Niou carefully from behind his glasses.]

It's fine the way it is.

[ Maybe so, and Niou wouldn't necessarily disagree, except on principle. He dislikes being told what to do, with a single exception in the case of Yukimura. Yagyuu is his partner, his temper reminds him, not someone to instruct or command, and while he may lead the way to trouble often enough, Niou follows of his own accord.

The delight in seeing Yagyuu again makes it easier to assuage the irritation, and after a few moments of silence, Niou just shrugs. ]

Yeah, I guess.

[It's strange that such a comparatively meaningless thing should bother him the way it does, but it's a feeling he can't quite make himself shake. An unknown house, an abrupt new destiny, a world full of Pokemon, a threat like bugs that can steal one's soul--the past few days have been nothing but unpredictability and change, and it's wound him tight as a result. He's been left to look for familiarity in the little things, and petty or not, the thought of surrendering one of them is grating.]

I'm glad to see you, Niou-kun.

[ Yagyuu's admission, a little unexpected, softens Niou's expression somewhat. He glances over his shoulder before he looks back at his partner, then down at his feet. When he speaks, his voice is quiet, but it's another moment before he answers, because answering means facing the last six months, which are — inexplicably — suddenly terrifying. ]

... Yeah. ... You, too.

[He lets the moment hang, leaving the silence to linger as their mutual admissions settle between them. They're still in the open, with the public venue still posing a certain hindrance to any discussion, but more and more the unspoken things are beginning to seep through. It's a moment he's loath to break, but sooner or later it has to end, and he does it quietly and smoothly.]

You must be tired after coming such a long way. Would you like to follow me back to the inn and relax someplace more comfortable?

[ From anyone else, or even from Yagyuu at any other time, Niou would have seized the opportunity to turn that into a pickup line. He's tempted, even now, but he resists. Instead, he picks up a nonchalant look, shoving his hands in his pockets. ]

Yeah, it's a fuck of a walk.

[The fact that Niou doesn't take advantage of such an easy opportunity--albeit one Yagyuu only catches in retrospect--earns him a slight, sidelong glance. But Yagyuu simply nods without comment, adjusting his backpack once more before beginning to lead the way toward the inn.]

You'll have to tell me all about it.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.