He’d intended to keep going along the route, but at the sound of a familiar screech, his gaze snapped up to the skies, once more.[break][break]

Caution hadn’t left his guise in the slightest, but at the sight of a certain bird beginning to make its way through the gradually dimming skies, he thought to himself before making a quick decision. Reaching beneath the water’s surface and towards a belt kept around his waist, he tapped the button softly against the drier parts of the drake’s scales to release a certain little Shinx.[break][break]

Smiling (but careful not to make any splashes), he pointed up towards the approaching creature. ”You see that Staraptor up there, Lili? Think you can aim a Thunder Wave at it?”[break][break]

His lips tugged broader at the chirp in affirmation he received, and as he reached for another, spare capsule elsewhere on his person, he watched as the little feline balanced carefully atop the Garchomp holding them. She turned her head slowly in tandem to the bird’s movements, seemingly determined and focused before sending out a Thunder Wave into the air just above them as requested.[break][break]

He, himself, watched for just a moment to see whether or not it connected, but within the immediate instant the avian Pokemon gave another screech and seemingly began to seize up and fall, he threw the capsule within his hand directly up towards it.[break][break]

(tl;dr: catch attempt on staraptor)

@tag[break]
notes

☉

...Son of a bitch, this is a miracle.[break][break]

Though he’d heard and known the words that were being spoken to him, they seemed to simply travel into one ear and remain stuck within the halfway point as he, himself, stared idly upon the plate of food before him. As if an artist struggling with his next masterpiece, nothing more than a vast blank had drawn itself within his mind as he continuously gazed upon the platter.[break][break]

He moved his jaw, chewing.[break]
He stopped before long, furrowing his brows.[break][break]

And then he snapped back into reality after the words lingered for several moments longer—too long, he came to realize—as he perked up and turned his head, slightly, to find a certain someone gazing intently towards him. Before he could even catch himself, a soft, slightly huffing laugh escaped his lips as he tapped his work against the plate.[break][break]

”Ah. Uh. I just blanked—...” he started off, only to cut himself off with a pensive hum as the threads of his mind struggled to properly compose themselves once more. Before long, a defeated, yet amused smile stretched upon his lips as they pursed together gently.[break][break]

”It’s…good. …It’s actually pretty damn good~...” he chuckled, giving the fork one last tap before beginning to cut a second piece off. With a hum, he quickly nudged it atop the prongs and lifted it into his mouth, just as he’d done with the first. ”Sorry— uh. …What did you say, again? Before the whole, ‘How does it taste,’ thing~?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

Because he wanted to be, you cretin.[break][break]

…I mean, because he was just really social! It was true, honestly. Between his own trainer and the fact that he always had some pretty lively company at home (it was never a dull day with Leona and Regulus— but thankfully, Draco was always there to watch them, anyways), it was only natural for him to be as energetic and wanting to mingle as he was![break][break]

So, as he sat there for a little while longer, he lifted his hands and jiggled his wings, chirping a few chirps again before letting them fall back into his lap. He only paused for a moment to ponder before going back to his earlier bouncing and swaying.[break][break]

”Oh? Him?” His hands tapped against his little legs a couple of times before he gave as close to a shrug as he could. ”Ah, he’s off on some boring meeting again. Business stuff. Blech.”[break][break]

He coughed in faux revolt and disgust to drive his point home.[break][break]

”Normal stuff, though, honestly. Not like I mind it here— it’s normally pretty fun!”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
mission: daycare playdate

☉

”Extremely fast paced, Sister. Extremely fast paced~.” A chuckle found its way within his words, weaving through with an amused intent as he, himself, reached over to further help her upon arrival. As she, herself, began to nudge the seat back with a readied foot and leg, he took care to pull it back the remaining amount. ”I know people my age are already prone to white hairs and stuff, but when I realized I sprouted my firsts a while back? Devastated. Absolutely devastated for my youth~.”[break][break]

A chuckle escaped his lips as he leaned closer towards his own seat once more, eying the platter with a subtle degree of both curiosity and concern, alike, before immediately ridding his guise of the latter as she passed his share along. He nodded in thanks, humming and reaching over for one of the forks she’d taken care to fetch before eying the food before him a bit longer.[break][break]

Arceus, if you’re real, please protect me.[break][break]

With a soft, steeling sigh, he spun the bar of the utensil between his fingers for a moment prior to beginning to cut a smaller piece off. ”Honestly, though— the thought’s really appreciated~.” he mused, peering over from the edge of his peripheral once more, adding another, ”I understood either way, though— still do~. Life is busy. Life is hard. …Sometimes crossing region upon region is hard to do,” before taking his first bite.[break][break]

(this roll is to see how edible this shit is)[break]

SPOILER: Click to show

O6hhqOtK

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

Ah, so she was going to ask about it already.[break][break]

Though unseen initially (what with his stance behind her), the softened smile upon his lips seemed to fade the faintest bit upon noting the words and inquiries she’d offered to him; an idle look of not disdain, but rather pensiveness burning lightly within his eyes. He took the question to heart, humming softly while taking a step back to give her a bit more room.[break][break]

”Mmn. That’s a fair reaction, though~.” Hues of a darkened, hazel brilliance lingered upon his sibling for a little while longer prior to shifting to the side. His heels shifted beneath him as he began to move further away from the countertops and the like, instead reaching over to pull himself a seat by the edge and sitting down within a leisurely manner. ”If it isn’t obvious enough, Unova has absolutely treated me well~,” he added with a hum, resting his elbow against the surfaces by him. He cradled the angle of just jaw against the heel of his palm, raising a brow at her with an amused quirk of the lip. ”All things considered, it was…stressful. Things moving as quickly as they did in my life, that is.”[break][break]

He eyed an empty space along the granite for a couple of moments.[break][break]

”...When the dust settled, I guess I just realized I missed everyone~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

”Yeah, yeah— that one trainer! Guy! Whatever!”[break][break]

Because of course he miraculously knew exactly who she was talking about.[break][break]

Nevertheless, he seemed excited by the realization and recognition on her end— and that, in itself, seemed to spur him enough to flap his wings in favor of immediately taking off into flight again. With a few chirps, he flew about in circles, and then flips, and then did some sort of corkscrew-like flip (even if he almost fell out of it towards the tail end of it) before unfurling his wings and simply maintaining a stationary flight in front of her.[break][break]

”Whatcha doin’ here, then?” he asked, tilting his head. ”Trainer’s busy? Business trip? Just needed a beauty nap on her own? Something else? OH, OH, I KNOW—”[break][break]

He stopped his arms immediately, falling onto the ground with a softened impact before just…sitting there. Not without a small, constant bounce from where he sat, but still sitting there.[break][break]

”She’s on a date with some hottie, right? I bet that’s where she is~!”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
mission: daycare playdate

☉

”You say that like you wouldn’t be able to do that right now~.” Leisurely, hues of strayed far towards the schools of Corsola for yet another time, and then towards the horizon line further within the distance. Within an absentminded manner, he briefly eyed the shimmering whites within the outer reaches of his line of sight before closing his eyes again. ”We may be here on a mission, but at the same time, you may as well just enjoy the experience for what it is, otherwise.”[break][break]

With a deep sigh, he began to hum softly, sinking further into the smaller bench he sat upon, all while tapping his fingers lightly against the outer form of the boat.[break][break]

”It might be easier to spy any approaching Pokemon that way, anyways,” he mused in addition soon after. ”If you need a moment to change into your gear, I could just turn away for however long.”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
mission: corsola conservation

☉

”Ahhh, that’s very thoughtful of you~!”[break][break]

The resolve needed to maintain the smile further wavered faintly, but despite that, he found himself thankful to follow in tow—specifically behind her—as she led the way in. For a moment, he shifted his gaze swiftly throughout the expanse of the opened room as he stepped in, almost desperate to find his quarry before ultimately broadening his smile in relief at the sight of a familiar dragon. With a spared glance towards his kin, he made a hastened stride towards the azure scaled beast before tapping him a couple of times.[break][break]

”It’s good to see you again, Cinnabar…!” he spoke with a hushed tone, offering the Pokemon a nod and another grin. He glanced back towards the blonde as she strode off towards the kitchen before looking back up, gently pulling one of the Garchomp’s clawed arms down and hooking the bags he’d brought along onto it. ”Uh. Do me a favor and make sure this stays out of sight, yes? You can eat it with your friends— just make sure it stays out of sight.”[break][break]

He gave his arm another, grateful pat before immediately turning heel to walk towards the kitchen.[break][break]

With a deep breath and a brisk pace, he clasped his hands loosely against one another, pushing himself a jog for the remaining few paces prior to joining her side. He glanced over her shoulder and towards the dish in the process of doing so.[break][break]

Didn’t look too bad.[break]
Maybe Arceus granted him a mercy that day.[break][break]

”Mother’s, you said?” he hummed, glancing back towards her with a seemingly curious and excited glint within his eye. ”Not gonna lie, I’m looking forward to it~. Even if it wasn’t cooked by her, it’s been years since I’ve had one of Mother’s recipes…”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

Neverminding how his question wasn’t even answered, he felt a little bad almost immediately.[break][break]

But at the same time, she was…honestly acting like she was being murdered at a crime scene? He flinched instinctively at the sheer, violent reaction he’d gotten, but after the words and defensive nature surfaced and lingered for just a few moments, he blinked before slowly looking around the area surrounding them.[break][break]

Yup. …Nothing out of the ordinary.[break]
Nothing worth having a bitch fit over.[break][break]

”Yeaaaah… Sorry about that,” he started off again, leaning over once more to gaze upon her from above once his brief bout of observation was concluded. Yet again, he tilted his head while eying her. ”But, like, I know you! Or…I think I know you, at least! Your trainer’s a girl with, like…lightish blue hair, right? Works at a Pokemon Center? Kinda awkward?”[break][break]

He paused in thought.[break][break]

”Okay, no…really awkward now that I think about it— but still!”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
mission: daycare playdate

☉

”It always is, in my opinion~.”[break][break]

With a broadening grin, the man inhaled deeply while beginning to shift within his seat; the musk of the sea clocking clear within his senses as he settled and pressed his back against the inner linings of the boat, once more. Lifting his arms against the edge of the boat behind him, he crossed his legs before opening his eyes once more to gaze upon the distant hues of blue and white far above them in absentminded admiration.[break][break]

”Should see if you could at least take a sail or two more in your life. It really is a nice experience~.” His head tilted down in order to gaze upon the Corsola once more as they passed through (all while keeping a careful eye for the predators they were there to keep tabs on, of course) before faintly shifting his gaze upon the woman accompanying him again. ”Lots of people get antsy with the ocean, whether it be ‘cause of seasickness, or just a fear of what’s out here. …Being able to just take it all in on your own is a really tranquil experience I’d recommend to everyone, though~.”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
mission: corsola conservation

☉

He perked up immediately at the sound of locks and knobs being undone, a smile of his own swiftly tugging upon his lips as he turned back around. A brief spark of both recognition and pleasantries flickered within his eyes as his arms unfolded, and as he allowed the one harboring the bag to remain by his side, the remaining lifted and opened as he began to walk over.[break][break]

With a soft chuckle, he shifted slightly in order to briefly hook his arm around her in a side hug.[break][break]

”Sister! It’s been a while!” he chimed, whatever remnants of nerves and uncertainty departing from him as the words left his lips. He pulled back, glancing briefly past the door in curiosity, about to go on before he caught wind of a scent.[break][break]

It took a fair amount of willpower not to let his smile crack as the realization hit him.[break][break]

”Ahhhh. You’re…cooking, I assume~?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: slumber party

☉

…He really didn’t have the time for this.[break][break]

So, with a hasty (and admittedly half assed) apology, he gave a sigh before beginning to jog his way towards the commotion, only sparing his phone enough of a glance to end the call he’d been dragged into before tucking it away. Before long, he turned the corner of a number of trees to find his own Pokemon running about with…a Wynaut.[break][break]

No danger. No source of wariness.[break][break]

…Maybe the stress was really starting to get to him.[break][break]

(tl;dr: skipping)

@tag[break]
notes

☉

For a moment, his gaze strayed away from the horizon line in favor of focusing upon a more profound ripple, though as he realized what particularly had caused it, he widened his eyes slightly and instinctively. His lip curled faintly before he blew out, whistling softly, yet sharply in order to catch the drake’s attention as he carried him through the waters. He reached over and softly tapped his shoulder, as well, for extra measure.[break][break]

”Swirlie-whirlie, buddy. Two o’clock,” he said, keeping an eye on the water type as it swam through. ”Caaareful. Getting decked by one of those bad boys in the past was already once more than I’ll ever prefer…”[break][break]

(tl;dr: skipping)

@tag[break]
notes

☉