[Something simple would be nice. He waves a waiter over and asks for two green teas.]
Do your Pokémon feel the same way? [Wanting to unwind. His dog, on the other hand, seems perpetually full of energy despite all the strange things that happen.]
[ well then! steven certainly didn't plan on seeing any other pokemon in the park as he took aron for a brisk walk, but it seems like that expectation (or lack thereof) has been changed. both he and aron perk up when they hear that questioning meow, but it isn't without a smile.
he'll crouch down on his haunches when he sees the espeon, gently holding a hand out to her. aron begins to approach her as well, waddling over curiously. ]
Hello there. You're quite the beauty, aren't you?
[ not a steel-type, but he can appreciate the way that her fur looks. ]
[She's seeing that hand making a beeline for it - and rubbing against it like it's going out of fashion. Pettings??? PETTINGS YES???? Ahhh. give her all the pettings please please please. Espeon's are, it seems, the type who purr, too.
Oh wait, pokemon? - her tail flicks side to side happily at the aron, along aside a 'nyreeiow' of a greeting. Is this your owner-human? Does he give good pets?
And a nod - can a pokemon look smug? because she certainly is. Of course she's a beauty. She was raised by some of the best, after all.] Eeiiee~!
Thankfully, no. They're more concerned with keeping me in good spirits; especially the younger ones.
[ the thought makes him smile. aron and beldum don't battle much, which means that their energy is more focused on keeping him company when he doesn't want to open up to his human friends. he appreciates it more than they know. ]
Still, I can't help but worry if I'm putting too much pressure on them. [ he pauses, but he doesn't want to dwell for too long-- ] And how is Pess?
[ and pettings ye shall receive! her fur is as glossy and soft as it looks, so he's more than happy to dish them out, along with some light scratches behind her ears. the eevee line isn't native to hoenn, so it's not often that he has an opportunity to spend some time with one. ]
There you go. I suppose you're Silver's, aren't you?
[ aron will chirp a greeting in response, and answer her questioning meow with a yes on both accounts - this is her owner-human, and he gives fantastic pets. the best cuddler in hoenn, as far as she's concerned. ]
[ ... headcount, right! he could do that, if he wasn't so busy laughing at the picture steven sent. look, beldum in a cuddle pile with kittens... it's adorable.
through his chuckling: ]
You're— heh, you're kitten me.
[ shut up adrien.
but okay after that amazing picture has settled down, he continues more level, though there's obviously still a smile in the edges of his words. ]
I'll get the rest of them back, then, even if... Beldum kinda looks like it's having fun. [ pfffft. ] Can it hear me? I want to say thanks.
[ as he gestures for metagross to follow him to the cat café, the wonder still kind of in his eyes.
[ Aww yesss. Pettings. All the pettings and ohh. Scritches. Ahh. Yes, good human, very good human.
She's purring hard enough she almost misses the question, but her ear flicks at Silver's name - and there's a critical look in her eyes - she's judging you now. You know here human? How, why, Are you friend or foe to him?. Shae's very, very aware not everyone likes her human (he's not the easiest to be around).
Oh? Is that so, aron? Don't mind her trying to crawl onto Steven's lap then. Cuddles, pets and scritches? Yes please and thank you.]
[That's always a relief, the Pokémon keeping Steven company. Even though Steven had friends here, it's the Pokémon who've known him for a much longer period of time and therefore know him better.
Edgeworth gives a relaxed smile of his own.]
He's the same; a constant source of companionship.
[A brief pause.] I don't think they feel any pressure from you. They're probably only too happy to oblige.
[ aw, it got a chuckle out of him though. adrien is the only one he's really comfortable with punning at around here. ]
It can hear you. [ and in response, beldum will chirp happily! it's having the time of its life, honestly. ] Let me know when you're ready for the next batch.
[ if she's got any fancy psychic-type empathy stuff going on, she'll feel that steven holds no malice towards silver - he wouldn't consider himself a friend or a foe, but more of an acquaintance.
oh my god though, how can he deny such a cute little espeon prodding into his arms? his pets will travel down the curve of her back, one knee resting on the ground to make it more comfortable for both of them. ]
[After some more petting and purrs and definitely making herself at home on his lap - and probably leaving fur all over him, opps - there's a slow shake of her head. The forked tail comes together then parts, one stating stationary (that's Silver) and the other moving away.
She wondered off!
He'll probably be looking for her soon though, but she's not leaving the pettings. Because pettings are great and she's an attention 'starved' needy cat-thing. :3c]
[ hmmm. it takes him a moment to interpret that tail flicking, but he thinks that he got the main idea. ]
He might be a bit cross when he finds you...
[ but honestly, she's probably too cute to stay mad at for long. the purple fur getting on his suit is only a little annoying - nothing that a lint roller can't solve. ]
But if you'd like some company until he catches up, we'd be happy to oblige.
[ and upon hearing herself referenced to, aron will be hopping up on her hind legs next to shae. new friend? ]
[The curses of not being a psychic-type that can 'talk' to humans in their heads.
Her ears droop, then prick up. He's probably right, but she's also too precious to be mad at for long, even if she is held to standard like the rest of the team.
She's like that, because her ears are picking up the sounds of a distant 'Shae! Where are you, girl? Shae!' and the closer it - Silver - gets, the more she's settling down next to her new best friends with a cute look on her face and plaintive mreeon.]
-Arceus' sake, this isn't Vatheon - SHAE! Here girl-!
[ hmm... he isn't sure if he likes the sound of that meow. when she settles off of his lap, he'll take the opportunity to rise and brush some of that fur off of his suit.
when he sees silver approaching, he'll eye him with a hand on his hip - he can hear him now. meanwhile, aron will look at shae curiously - what kind of trainer is silver like? ]
[ -!!! Awww great. She had to go and find the one person he... isn't sure what to think about. Thanks Shae. His shoulders hunch a little, then he's shrugging because this isn't awkward at all. Also his hair's short - as in icon short.] Hmph. Whatever. Where did you find her?
[ Shae blinks back then tilts her head with a cat-smile. He's a diamond in the very rough and his heart's rusted bronze, and he cares in his own way. He doesn't pretend to be who he's not. She didn't evolve under him though (that honour is Shiko's) - but she has known him from when she was newly hatched and Gold had him name her. Do you think she's biased?]
It's reassuring, isn't it? To have a small part of our worlds by our sides.
[ that much is true. even if they weren't human, his team knows him in a way that most, if not all of the people in the colony do not. there's a special relationship there. ]
I can only hope so. We've been keeping up with our training, but it's difficult to predict what might happen next.
[It's not unheard of for people to ask for a favor or to want to play with animals when they're stressed. What's unusual about this text is that it's coming from Minato of all people; while he's hardly shy he's certainly too reserved to ask for even a simple favor for the most part.]
How are you doing, Steven? It's Minato, I was wondering if I could come and see your Pokemon for a bit.
[If anyone asks Minato's just going to say he took a hard hit to his head recently, okay? Okay.]
Good to hear from you, Minato. All things considered, I'm well. I hope the same goes for you.
[ the message is interesting, but steven responds to it in his usual polite manner. he'd be lying if he said that he wasn't curious about why minato wants to see his pokemon, but it's not in his nature to pry unless something seems suspicious. he doesn't see the young man as dangerous in any capacity, so he keeps to himself. ]
Of course you can. Beldum will be happy to see you.
That certainly is one way to put it... But with Cradily keeping a reasonable amount of caution, I've been managing. I hope that the same can be said for you.
[ he can tell he's not speaking of cerealia, both from his expression and the the information edgeworth has given him in the past. he's an odd case, in the sense that the world he was taken from was not his own. ]
The one that you resided in before this one, correct?
[ it's something that steven is admittedly curious about. ]
That sounds like a plan to me. We'll be there as soon as we can.
[ and with that, he'll make his way to the gardens! while beldum is a close companion that's easy to keep by his side outside of its ball, metagross will also be accompanying him on this little rondez-vous. it's for both protection from whatever the colony could or might throw at them today and simple companionship. if memory serves, it hasn't met minato yet.
always one to be fashionably early, minato will find the happy little family in the gardens. steven is sitting comfortably on metagross' head (who doesn't seem to be phased in the least), legs crossed as he watches beldum float around and chirp at its surroundings. when he sees minato approaching, he'll raise a hand to wave in greeting. ]
Page 20 of 23