Homura?[break]
Ah, that’s right. He never actually introduced himself.[break][break]

From the start, he’d already turned his head and shifted his attention towards her, once more, upon hearing her begin to speak again. Initially, he’d nodded and hummed in agreement, but by the latter words that she had to offer, he’d blinked and risen a hand to press against the side of his neck. He laughed in something that could almost be chalked up to embarrassment, and soon afterwards, had offered it down to her for a quick shake. ”Right. Names~. Calix~. Nice to meet you.”[break][break]

And with that (and what he would hope would at least be a brief shake, lest he feel a bit more awkward), he turned his head to face the surroundings around them once more. His eyes focused upon a particular area in the distance, noting what seemed to be vague, barely noticeable traces of an almost wisp-like form before it fully faded. ”Might be speaking too soon,” he started off, ”but at the very least, i...think we may have a lead, now~?”

AYAME FUJIWARA [break]
mission: pesky pescetarian

☉

At the sound of the door opening and the footsteps that came with it, a smile surfaced softly upon his lips. Hearing the steps nearing towards his location, he tended to the pan upon the flames before him for a while more before raising the tongs within his grasp. He gave them a quick flick (a wave) before touching it back down into the pan, all while vigorously shaking and tossing its contents with the remaining hand. ”Nah, don’t worry about it~,” he chimed, chuckling while glancing over his shoulder for just a moment. ”You made it here in the end, anyways, and that’s all that matters~,”[break][break]

Following that, the hand upon the pan handle crossed over his chest and towards his shoulder to grasp the cloth that he’d hung over it- or thought he’d hung over it, at least. Immediately upon noting its absence, he glanced down at his shoulder, and then his other one, and then began to instinctively pat himself down, unaware of its true location upon the countertop by the etched doorframe.[break][break]

”Oooh… Where’d I put it…?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

A gentle snort sounded from him, and he quirked his lip gently in amusement while shifting his weight as best as he could in tandem with the pull. His feet shifted beneath him in order to lift himself accordingly, and even when he’d found himself standing properly once more, he made a subtle, subconscious decision to hold onto her arm, even then. ”Eh. Maybe I am~.”[break][break]

He shrugged, only letting her arm go to gently pat her shoulder, allowing his hand to linger for a while more.[break][break]

”It’s a good thing I have you to lift me back up, then~. ...Both, uh...literally and metaphorically.”[break][break]

Following that, however, he inhaled deeply, sighing while pulling his hand back. Giving his shoulders a quick roll, he shook his head ”...I already told you I’m fine, though. I mean it~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

Needless to say, he was at least somewhat appeased when she finally decided to get up. Even when he’d seen the pencil be set down, he’d subtly perked up, and as if he were an easily amused and satisfied little pup, a soft spark ignited within those navy hues of his as he broadened his smile, tugging her up a little bit more as if encouraging her to come along quicker. ”Theeeere’s the magic words~,” the man chimed with a rather energetic and happy tone, watching as she stretched and the like. After a small while, however, he started back towards the platters, and after gently maneuvering around them, lowered himself to sit down upon the floor for a second time. ”Careful, though. Arthritis~.”[break][break]

A joke, really. Somewhat.[break][break]

Nevertheless, he crossed his legs while looking her way, listening to the crackle of the fire before them before shrugging. ”Nothing too fancy, honestly. Fish, fries, some pilaf rice- oh, and a little bit of pita bread.” He turned his attention towards the platter once more, humming. ”There’s some garlic butter to go along with the fish, and a little side salad to cleanse the palette~.”[break][break]

Not fancy at all.[break]
...Just very well balanced.

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

...Just as endearing as when he’d met her.[break][break]

Upon noting the soft tinge of scarlet that graced her features, he couldn’t help but hum and smile a bit more. Ensuring that he remained stable for no more than a couple of moment, he gently curled his fingers around one of her arms (firmly, yet also carefully, all the same) before pulling her up with him. Once she was safely by him, he let go once more, turning towards the inner area of the ring while leaning upon the ropes.[break][break]

He eyed her a bit longer, laughing while quickly and softly tapping one of his cheeks.[break][break]

”It’s pretty cute, by the way~.” His gaze shifted towards the two Pokemon for a moment, watching as his little cub practically screeched at the heat in an almost comically concerning way. Some lingering embers singed his fur, and after aggressively throwing himself onto the ground to put himself out, he seemed to immediately roll back onto his feet before running back over and planting one of his palms into the ground, immediately kicking into the dragon’s shins with a Low Sweep.[break][break]

A concerned look only momentarily crossed his expression before he looked back towards the woman.[break][break]

”...The blush, I mean,” he went on, doing his best to tune the excessive screeching happening from his peripheral. A brow rose gently, and a soft, teasing tug of the lip shifted the expression that he wore into something more of a smirk than a smile. ”Has a different touch when you’re not a few drinks too far, honestly~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: down for the count

☉

He’d paused upon noting the nudge, and even more so upon noting the words spoken to him.[break]
He found himself staring at the ground towards their flank for a small while as he processed the assumption.[break][break]

That’s...actually a pretty good idea.[break][break]

A bit more silence. A bit more staring. Before the situation could be considered overly awkward, however, lifted his gaze faintly to gaze upon a different part of the stage, and then eventually lifted his head altogether to eye the woman next to him for a small while longer. Azure hues blinked gently as he processed further until he finally turned his head towards the crowds, and then to the clearing around him.[break][break]

He observed the surroundings and the equipment they’d had before eying a smaller group off to the side. He pointed at them and gestured them onto the stage. ”...Small change of plans~! You six, right there~” he called out, laughing at the confused and surprised looks he’d received from the spontaneous request. ”Aaand...you five next to them! Come with me! We’re gonna do a little setup~.”[break][break]

He glanced towards the blonde next to him, nudging her back gently as he broadened his smile and winked.[break][break]

”Not gonna lie…? I hadn’t thought of that, but it’s a pretty good idea,” he murmured to her, nodding towards the remaining people and the blender setup behind them. ”Sorry for putting you on the spot, but do you know your way around apricorn juices~? I should have a few more blenders in the boxes, and everything you need should be in the coolers~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: how to train your dragon

☉

Upon noting her gesture towards the waterworks behind her, the man instinctively leaned over towards a side in order to catch a better glimpse of the specific area she’d pointed out, regardless of whether or not it had been meant to bring focused attention, or general attention. He eyed the scene around them for a little while longer before glancing towards her for a second time, nodding. ”Yeah~... That’s about what I heard from the briefing I was given,” he hummed, already beginning to walk briskly towards the waterside, all while the feline accompanying him gave a more controlled roar before beginning to walk off to survey the rest of the building. ”Seems simple enough, honestly. Hopefully it’ll be an easy enough job~.”[break][break]

He stopped no more than a foot or two from where water met land, glancing over his shoulder towards her upon doing so.[break][break]

”You were here for a little while already, yeah? Nothing out of the ordinary so far?”

AYAME FUJIWARA [break]
mission: pesky pescetarian

☉

The man laughed quietly in response to her suggestions, shrugging gently. ”Honestly…? That might be a good thing to do~.” With an ongoing grin of amusement, he made a very short, yet brisk jog towards the ring, and made a smooth movement to hop onto the edge before gripping one of the ropes and pulling himself up. Once situated, he glanced over his shoulder towards her, and while still holding onto the topmost rope with one hand, he held the remaining out to her.[break][break]

”May as well get a better view ‘til then, though~.”[break][break]

As the more wholesome interaction happened by the ringside, a quick, almost screaming yelp of some sort of aggression sounded from the little cub at the hit. He almost seemed like he was yelling at the little dragon before him, but rather than letting the hit ruffle his fur more, he merely wound up and returned the favor. With a roll of the shoulder, he pivoted and swung his arm out in an Arm Thrust.

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: down for the count

☉

He gave a quiet, chuckling groan while beginning to shift. Placing his hands upon the ground (and not without glancing up to spy her with arms outstretched from moments before impact), he took a deep breath prior to sitting up. ”I’m fine, I’m fiiine…” he spoke with a vague wheeze within his tone. A wryly amused smile tugged upon his lips as he gently pressed a hand against a sore spot, rubbing it. ”Just a little fall. I’m good. Definitely good~...”[break][break]

Nevermind the wince as he pressed a bit too hard.[break]
Woe be him.[break][break]

His lips pressed flatly together, and he squinted at nothing in particular as he gauged the pain, and before long, he looked up at her before holding his hands up. He waved them at her lazily, tilting his head. ”Help me uuuup, though~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

Punctuality was something he considered to be a strong suit of his. No matter the occasion in question, he often made it a point to arrive early enough to be one of the first people to arrive (if not the first person) if it could otherwise be helped— and that day, altogether, hadn’t been an exception. He’d had to settle a couple of things with his commanding officer beforehand, sure, but he’d still had more than enough time between transport and arrival to have enough breathing room.[break][break]

So, he pressed on, taking the sights in with his beloved feline in tow behind him. His gaze trailed across the distance before he spotted the woman afar, and upon noting her, he smiled while raising a hand and waving to her. ”Hey~” he called out, closing the distance all the while. ”Wouldn’t happen to be here for that call for help? Something about something comin’ around and plucking Magikarp and stuff outta the water?”

AYAME FUJIWARA [break]
mission: pesky pescetarian

☉

With a purse of the lips and a smile tugging upon them, he smiled while pointing towards the brave person that spoke up. ”One of those is right, but otherwise, I like that answer~!”[break][break]

Glancing over to ensure that the blender was properly plugged in, he hummed to himself following that statement (all while nodding towards the woman and gesturing her back around the table to join him) and began reaching for the same containers he’d lifted just minutes prior. He lifted the first container off, undoing the plastic covering it and peeling it back. ”As far as I’m concerned,” he began in addition, ”Dragons are really, really hardy creatures- but they’re also pretty simple, too.”[break][break]

He paused, holding a hand up and lifting fingers as he went on.[break][break]

”Strength. Kindness. Trust.” He shook his hand lightly as if making an emphasis before lowering his hand again, patting the blender a few times. ”Care and the ability to teach is one of them. Strength to be able to show them you’re worthy of commanding them is another, and trust is absolutely something you’ll need in order to gain a mutual understanding and respect of one another.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: how to train your dragon

☉