He chuckled, relieved that his rants hadn’t necessarily been taken with judgment, but still rather taken aback by himself, nonetheless. ”Even then, though~...” he hummed, the shadow of a continuously sheepish smile gracing his lips all the while. ”I’ve always been a talker in general, but even then, it feels like I’ve spoken way more than listened so far…”[break][break]

Not that it was something he was ashamed of, of course.[break]
He knew how he was, and he was proud of who he was.[break][break]

Nevertheless, he still knew how easily he could be sucked into a ramble.[break][break]

So, with a thoughtful gaze following several moments more of silence, he shook his head while pulling his hands back. They folded within one another prior to placing themselves within his lap, and with a nod towards his own kin, he quirked a brow with equal parts inquiry and curiosity, alike.[break][break]

”...In light of that, I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to, too,” the younger Stone went on. Eying her intently. ”For once, I’ve made time for as many things as you’d like to mention— provided you don’t kick me out a bit earlier, that is~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

’Let’s see… She said mentioned somewhere to the right…’[break][break]

His eyes scanned the inner workings of the cafe that day, though soon narrowed as a sense of pensive confusion filled his mind amidst the varied heads of strangers that met his line of sight. With a freshly made and newly purchased drink in hand (and a number of little bags bunched by the folds within that of the other), he stepped off to the side in order to allow the line before him the leisure and ability to keep moving along. A low hum escaped him before he began to start his way towards the outdoor area.[break][break]

The seriousness that he’d donned left him entirely as he spotted the very woman he’d been looking for through the glass of the door.[break][break]

”Y’know,” he started off with faux judgment, smiling as he pushed through the door, ”it would’ve been nice to know you were also outside~.”

ARIADNE MAUCH[break]
notes

☉

He hadn’t expected things to crash so quickly so soon after coming back home, but in the aftermath of recent events, he figured that this would be one of the best ways he could lend his own support— and in light of past events, he hadn’t been as much of a stranger to volunteering and charity as others may have assumed him to be despite his busybodyness. Even then, this was his home. He returned for a reason, so seeing that he had the means to organize an event, he figured he’d may as well see if funds to aid the people—whether it be through damages, protection and preparation efforts for the government, or otherwise—could be garnered and gathered.[break][break]

His eyes shifted across the clearing and across the numerous tables filled to the nines with various pastries and confectioneries as a means of swiftly taking the situation into account, and upon noting a certain person seemingly begin to walk over with an uncomfortable amount of boxes, he quickly hooked around the nearest table and began to jog towards her.[break][break]

”Ahhh, Miss, let me help you with that~!” he called out, flashing her a quick smile before beginning to take a fair portion of her haul into his own hands. ”Don’t want there to be some sudden fall or anything~...”

mielle[break]
mission: the great hoenn bake off

☉

The surprise he felt when he came to check in on a person he’d sponsored, only to not find said person there.[break][break]

Kick it up a notch when he found someone else there in their place, instead— a stranger whom he’d discovered was supposed to be the choreographer for that specific instance. Needless to say, the sight of the fans the woman had brought were had actually been more or less on brand (as far as he knew, the Pokemon that his sponsorship partner was to perform with had been some form of Oricorio), but he found himself surprised, nonetheless— and especially when she seemed intent to still work on the routine despite the absence.[break][break]

So, he asked to stick around for a bit longer.[break]
It wasn’t every day he had the leisure to watch something of the sort, anyways.[break][break]

At some point, however, he pondered a bit more while watching the mirror from the background, eventually shifting his eyes, slightly, in attempt to meet her faze through the mirror. ”So…how long have you done this sort of dancing?” he asked, both tone and expression curious.

AYAME FUJIWARA[break]
mission: coordinator choreography

☉

…He assumed she was reading more reports like usual.[break][break]

Far be it for him to bring it up on what he’d discovered to be both of their days off, however. Both then and in the past, they’d already settled the fact that being overworked had been an unfortunate norm within their lives, so as he found himself there with her by sheer coincidence that day, he felt it was better to let it go.[break][break]

So, after a prolonged, idle gaze, he simply hummed and chuckled before stepping around to take a seat opposing her.[break][break]

”Well, to be fair, it comes with the major, doesn’t it~?” the Stone mused, resting an arm against his respective rest as the remaining extended atop the wood of the bench, itself. ”Like, especially with your specific major. Heard way too many horror stories about friends and sleepless nights for days on end to cram for a super important lab or exam~.”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

”Ahhh, the flattery goes a long way— but yes!” he shot back in response, nodding. ”Drones, augmented prosthetics— a distant goal of mine is to hopefully even develop devices capable of being used from longer distances, as well, that way soldiers and the like can still fight without being at risk~...”[break][break]

Surely concepts that would be odd and questioned by one that worked in the gaming industry, but nevertheless, the smile he wore remained clear upon his lips as he responded, instantaneously, towards the inquiries posed before him. Even following his initial responses, he simply went on to detail other matters and goals, whether relevant to his other teams and resources (as at the end of the day, he still knew his specialties and that outside aid would always be required from others within fields more appropriate) or otherwise.[break][break]

After some time, however, he found himself in a lull.[break]
A hum escaped his lips before he quieted into a pause.[break][break]

He laughed and quirked his look with both a faintly sheepish look and scratch of the neck soon after.[break][break]

”...Ah. But I’ve rambled enough about my passion projects, haven’t I~?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

”...And if I told you that my team and I are just a step away from making it a reality~?”[break][break]

Spoken with nothing short of confidence and excitement, of course. The words followed a thoughtful (yet seemingly exaggerated) hum as the expression upon his face remained continuous, and as if attempted to contain it, he further tapped his fingers against the table—softly—as an outlet for his energy before simply taking the fork before him as swiftly as he’d laid it down. Another portion of the food before him carved itself off as he pressed the edge of the utensil down upon it.[break][break]

”Truthfully speaking, it is the technological aspect that’s inhibiting us— at least, we’re ninety percent sure that’s the case, by this point,” he went on, quickly delivering the food between his lips. Another hum escaped his being as he began to chew, though not without loosely covering his mouth behind the tips of his fingers for safety and courtesy, all the same. ”But just…imagine it, Sister. Imagine it— technologies that you could control with a single thought! Devices that could be used for learning, and labor, and so many other things—”[break][break]

The words escaped him too quickly from his own enthusiasm, and with a slightly embarrassed smile of defeat, he inhaled deeply in composure before simply leaning back against his seat once more, a wistful sigh escaping him.[break][break]

”...And yet, it’s out of our grasp at the moment from lack of materials~.” He chuckled softly, narrowing his eyes in thought towards the table before him. ”Pokemon can help with energizing, and some other Pokemon could aid in thinking of new ways around it— but I’m…defeated to admit that it’s the modern materials that’ve proved to be the main obstacle, at the moment~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

”Projects and breakthroughs,” he began in response, ”that hadn’t been initially made by me~.” Twirling the fork between his fingers, he tapped the prongs against the air within her general direction, almost as if gesturing towards her with a grin. ”As much as I’d like to take the credit for being the trailblazer for that, I’d just be a fraud if I did~.”[break][break]

He spun the metal between the tips of his fingers once more, that time tapping the bottom end against the table before resting it against the plate for a second time.[break][break]

”Let me ask you, though… Do you think the stuff from all those sci-fi movies and stuff could be possible? Futuristic technologies, mind-controlled devices— that sort of thing~?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

Seeing and hearing the change within her demeanor—regardless of whether or not the remnants had remained—the younger Stone shrugged softly as the smile he bore broadened faintly and warmly.[break][break]

”Ohhh, you know—” he started off, leisurely, as if he hadn’t been the one to prompt the inquiry, ”—just work, and all~.” Chuckling, he tapped his thumb against the curve of his jaw within an idle manner. ”Ideas blew up overnight. Attention was garnered. …Needless to say, a lot of fast-paced things just led to one thing and another~.”[break][break]

He eyed her for a little while longer before reaching out with his other hand to take the eatery utensil within his fingers again, at long last, before taking the food he’d portioned off beforehand between his lips with a hum.[break][break]

”...What I’ve been up to is just public knowledge, though— a simple search away,” he mused in, quirking a lip to one side in more of a self amused smirk soon after. ”There’s a few more other projects I’ve been trying to make headway on, though~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

He glanced further into the distance, noting another figure that appeared.[break][break]

It hadn’t taken too long for him to notice what specifically it was as another pair of wings became a thing of recognition, and as he further surveyed it, he leaned back slightly while atop his own bird. Sitting up, his brows rose as he continuously eyed it with a smile, with the aforementioned smile broadening as he watched the beast simply begin to soar up and around them, barreling around their formation before taking its prior spot by the starboard flank of his own Noivern.[break][break]

He pondered for a little while, chuckling.[break][break]

”Birds of a feather, then,” he hummed, carefully bringing a hand to one of his belts to pull a vacant Pokeball off. Glancing towards the airs in front of them, he aimed carefully before tossing it out into the newcomer’s path and watching as it made contact as it continued its flight forward.[break][break]

He whistled following as such, the birds with and beneath him ceasing their flights as the drake soared down to catch the capsule within its descent.[break][break]

(tl;dr: catch attempt on pidgeotto)

@tag[break]
notes

☉