[attr="class","orion"]

"Not like this," he admits, grimacing. At least the children were now dividing their attention between the Absol and Arcanine, though Katas still shoots Orion a tired look when the child riding him kicks his sides like he's a horse. "Mostly when I'm out on patrol and such. You?"

It didn't help that most of his Pokemon lacked the patience and temperament required to deal with a horde of screaming children tugging at their fur. Orion had a tendency to take in the sorts of Pokemon no one else wanted: the ghosts, the dark types, the poisonous Pokemon that one would definitely not want to let out around children.

Katas was a special case.

"I only agreed to watch 'a couple' kids. I don't know what it means to you, but to me, 'a couple' means two."

Yet here they were, and here they would remain until the magnate returned home, hopefully at the agreed-upon time.

Orion winces as a snowball suddenly pegs him in the side of the head, eyes closing as he takes a deep breath to reign in his leonine temper. They're just kids, he tells himself, they're just kids.

"If you're going to throw snowballs, don't aim for the head!" Snow and ice slide beneath the collar of his shirt. "Someone could get hurt. No hitting below the belt, either!"

One of the girls offers a cheeky grin, having aimed her snowball just so.

notes:
~

[attr="class","orion"]

"I was the youngest," he supplies.

His family had been large, too, but it had been less of a boon and more of a burden for him growing up. Youngest sibling, youngest cousin, forever forced to measure himself to the accomplishments of those who'd come before. It was no wonder he was so jaded.

He never got to have fun snowball fights like this, either.

So when Adam jumps into the fray and then invites him to do the same, there's a brief hesitation. Having fun like this had always been kids stuff in his childhood. He'd be mocked for being a kid when he was supposed to be.

But he watches as Katas deflects a snowball with his horn and pounces playfully at the offender, and decides: screw it, why not.

He releases a Weavile from its ball, the dual-type bringing an icy wind that strengthened the snowfall and provided ample new material for their game. His claws made packing the snow a little more difficult than it was for Orion, who ignores the biting cold against his fingers as he stacks up ammunition, but the Weavile seems eager to be out in the cold. It's unusual for Hoenn, after all.

Adam feigns a dramatic downfall as a result of the snowball, and Orion hesitates before grinning.

"I'll avenge you!" he promises, nailing the offender in the shoulder with a snowy projectile. "Chei, back me up!"

The Weavile is all too eager to comply.

notes:
~

[attr="class","orion"]

Adam's Pokemon take to their task with incredible abandon, and even Orion has to duck a stray projectile or two. He's laughing, though, even as one of the kids hits him in the shoulder with a snowball and manages to send more ice down his shirt. He really hadn't chosen the ideal attire for this weather; a scarf would have worked wonders.

Catching the thumbs up, he flashes a smile.

With both of the rangers and their Pokemon getting in on the chaos of the snowball fight, it's not long before the kids are soaked and tuckered out, one of the girls electing to flop down on her makeshift snow fort and feign death much as Adam had.

Rubbing his hands together for warmth, Orion suggests, "Why don't we all head inside for some hot chocolate?"

Naturally, the 'dead' child gets right back up, at that.

notes:
~

[attr="class","orion"]

The group trudge inside with snow-caked boots and soaked jackets. Orion supervises the kids as they strip off their bulky winter gear and ditch their boots, calling one of them back when he makes to rush into the kitchen without removing them.

"Not so fast, pal! You'll track slush all over the house."

Based on what he'd gleaned of the parents' personality, that wasn't something they could allow.

It takes a moment to locate the hot chocolate in the myriad of unfamiliar cupboards; Orion shoots an awkward-but-genuine smile in Adam's direction.

"Went better than I expected, that's for sure." He keeps his voice low so as not to be overheard by little ears. "Was convinced the mum was going to strangle me when she got home, but you bailed me out. Thanks for that."

"Don't go thanking me just yet," Adam had cautioned at the start, but Orion feels like he's earned the gratitude by now.

"Might not be great with kids but I make great hot chocolate." He chuckles, raises his voice a little. "You kids know if there's marshmallows anywhere?"

notes:
we can wrap up at any point after your next post!