tabularasa_rp | a delightful picnic day.

Entry tags:

a delightful picnic day.

Who: Everyone!
What: PokeBalls are now functional, and there are a lot more friends in Tabula Rasa.
Where: Outside of Heavenly Blanc! It's a picnic, baby.
When: You know, now-ish.
Content Warnings: Cute. Dragons. Birbs.

It seemingly happens at random, for the trainers of the creatures they call Pokemon. Sudden bursts of light, and out emerge quite a few new friends. Pokemon of different Types, shapes, and sizes are now wandering around . . . sticking close to their trainers, probably.

There's a small gathering outside of the Heavenly Blanc, with various snacks and food set out on tables outside. Feel free to come by, play with Pokemon, and have a bite to eat! It's a random assortment of food and drink, all "foraged" and/or made by the Pokemon crew in order to celebrate their partners being released and to also introduce them to their friends they've made in Tabula Rasa!

Be careful of the rumbling storm nearby, though . . . but on the bright side, at least your phones seem to be working, if you have any? Time to take selfies with your new friends, or maybe a TikTok that just stays on your phone forever.

(Trainers will have top levels, if they want, so if you want to interact with a specific trainer, you can wait for their level! Otherwise, have fun at the picnic.)

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[Well, in their last meeting there was some talk about showing Zack all of Blue's skills with handling pokemon so here Zack is walking up to the gathering of pokemon with a raised eyebrow. He happens to see Arcanine first and Zack immediately wonders just how he can get himself one of those because who doesn't like giant orange and red dogs?]

Yo...! [Hello again, bar friend?] So these all belong to you? How many do you have?

[Honestly, isn't it a lot of work to take care of these many creatures? He has no idea what pokeballs are.]

Ah.. Oh, long time no see... Zack-san.

[OOP.. well this is awkward. Blue briefly glances around the party to make sure there's... no one else watching them, and pats the seat next to him to invite Zack to sit. Arcanine is sitting nearby, tail wagging, and regards Zack with friendliness and a deep boof.]

[Since the meetings he's had in that strange subway tunnel, he certainly isn't going to act as recklessly towards Zack as he did before...]

Feeling better these days? I can fix you another drink, if you want.

[Zack-san is a little formal so it does get Zack to give Blue a bit of a quizzical look. But none the less he's not going to tease the other about their first meeting even if it's a little tempting to do so... Blue looks like he might be the type that's fun to tease.

But he takes the seat casually after giving the Arcanine a friendly pat on the head. What a good giant doggo.]

Yeah, I'm doing alright. Especially after the last few weeks. Drinks are always welcomed, I'd day. No matter what the mood is.

[And honestly if it helps Blue get around that awkwardness...!]

...Yeah, no kidding.

[Blue's mouth twists, trying not to think about it. He's almost glad that other people weren't there with him the whole time. At least he'd had his Pokémon at his side, and that was as much as he could hope for in the time being.]

[He reaches across to pour something for the other man and pushes it over, refilling his own glass at the same time, while chewing on just exactly how to address it.]

Hey, Zack-san~ [Blue grins, teeth grit.] I've got somethin' to ask you, actually- speaking of what happened the last few weeks, and all.

[His finger taps on his glass.] I met someone while I was in there...

Oh, did you?

[Zack might be a little be aware of where this is going. He gives Blue a curious look and a small smile before he takes the offered drink and takes a taste.]

Who'd you meet? Was it in that underground place?

[Whoever could it be!!!]

[Ahh, this coy bastard.... Blue's eyes lid as he takes a sip from his glass, regarding him over the edge of it.]

It's not nice to play with girls' feelings, you know~? [He hums, setting his glass back down.] You're lucky I'm such a nice guy who's not gonna tattle on you! For her sake, that is.

[You see, it has nothing to do with his feelings!! He is impervious and over it, completely!! Totally! Blue motions his glass sternly at the other man, mouth set in a frown.] Well, I wouldn't tick off a girl with a big staff like that either, so you better know what's good for you.

[Ah, there is it. Zack had been testing the waters but Blue puts it all out on the table just like that. Zack smiles although his expression is serious, eyes a hardened blue-green.]

Look, [He looks at Blue honestly.] When I showed up here... I was messed up. I found out it's been five years since anyone saw me, including Aerith.

[He won't disclose the reasons for that five-year gap because it's kind of another heavy story. Unless Blue wants to ask about it.]

I had no clue how to feel about all of that. Or how anyone felt about me. And yeah, for a second it felt nice to just shoot the shit with you.

[And he did have a good time.]

The last thing I want to do is to be an asshole to her. And ... I'm sorry I was an asshole to you too.

[Because he was, he admits it.]

[The look of a man who knows he's in it deep. Blue sips at his drink as Zack stumbles through his thoughts and apologies, and can't help how his gaze drifts, from pessimistically half lidded on him, over to the table, softening.]

[One of those situations, huh... He was no stranger to people showing up out of nowhere after years had gone by.]

...Ahhh... Well, everyone's got their personal problems, right?

[Arceus knows, Blue's overflowing with 'em. He takes another long drink from his glass and stares into it contemplatively, feeling the annoyance slip away. ...It doesn't matter. It'd just been an afterthought anyway, right? Inviting him off somewhere....] Whatever, I guess. This place is a lot for the first while, huh? [Can't really say 'day', since there isn't really much of a day to be had around here.]

Yeah, guess so.

[Zack eases back into his own drink. He isn't sure if his apology is hitting where it should so now all he can think is to try to make up for being flaky from the start. Blue's a nice guy. He didn't deserve that from Zack. Even if Zack really thinks that if Blue had wanted the company and Zack could've been in the position to give it, he would have.]

It's complicated and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon.

[He looks at Blue with a short smile.]

[Blue hesitates a little bit- jeez, he had meant to scold him, sure, but he didn't really want the guy thinking he was that mad. Disappointed? Sure... along with some other feelings he didn't quite want to examine too closely in the present company of the gathering, but it was hardly severe enough that he had to go killing the mood.]

I haven't heard of an uncomplicated relationship yet, [He half-laughs, and stirs at his own glass with the tip of his pinky.] So really, if you can just keep on going after an absence like that, things must not be so bad, right?

[Well. That was what he thought, anyway....]

[The sentiment is nice although Zack's not too sure he can completely agree. Things are still fairly mysterious with Aerith even if they've seemed to settle back into something so naturally. They still really haven't talked about the real issues-- at all.]

I don't know about that. I guess I'm just waiting to see if it's gonna be not so bad after all.

[But he lets his smile grow and rolls a shoulder as if pushing away some of the tension.]

Sounds like you're talking from experience, though.

[You okay, Blue?]

[Not talking about it, despite settling back into how things used to be...... Yeah. Yeah, Blue can understand that perfectly well.]

[Even though it's been a while since they'd reunited again, it still felt as if they'd had a lot they hadn't really touched. And it had started to eat him up inside, when....]

Mm? [Blue lifts his head again from where he'd been spacing out, staring into his drink.] ...Who, me? Well.... more or less. She doesn't seem like the type that would be hard to jump back in with, but what do I know, I guess.

[He takes another slow sip. Nope.]

[Zack raises an eyebrow in curiosity. Once again thankful for the sentiment which is probably spot on. Aerith would pick up things right where they left off. Zack isn't even sure he deserves that but...]

Maybe you know better than I do.

[He won't pry where he's not allowed but he does sip his own drink again.]

Figuring out what to say or do half the time when sometimes it feels like you shouldn't say or do anything... That's the shitty feeling. But in the end, getting to spend some time with someone is better than nothing. [Heh.] So I guess I should stop complaining and finish drinking.

Huh?

[Blue wasn't expecting that bit of agreement from Zack, and it puts him off-guard, a little, like it sort of revealed a little too much. ...He supposes the guy was going through a little more than he let on, maybe. Everyone was sort of that way around here, though.]

[Himself included. He sips again, listening to Zack's worries.]

Hey, yeah-- [Blue jabs an ineffectual elbow into Zack's free arm.] What're you complaining about? At least you've got your girlfriend here, huh?

So don't sweat it. Not like there's anything too dangerous around here, um, at least outside that weird subway-place...

[He grins in response to the elbow to his arm. Thankful the easy air that seems to return between them. It puts him in better hopes.]

Yeah, guess so.

[But maybe he'll keep it in mind that Blue seems like he might be ... pinning? For someone too? Maybe that's not the right word but he won't forget it.]

Besides, you got your giant attack animals to protect you now even if that subway place is dangerous.

Oi, oi, they're not 'attack animals'.....

[Blue grimaces, rubbing his ear awkwardly.] They're my trusted partner Pokémon and my friends! They're just way stronger than me, that's all.

[Look, Giant Sword Mr. Monster Slayer, that means Pokémon aren't for you to think about swinging at!]

[Blue pushes his glass away a bit and looks out over the rest of the picnic-goers.] You went and met some of the others, yet? Well, they're all lame-o dragon trainers, so they won't be as cool as my team, anyway.

[Zack snorts with a laugh. They're still going to be giant attack animals to him no matter how much people try to convince him otherwise.]

Friends, partners, attack animals, it can all be the same thing.

[He nods.]

You going to introduce me? Raihan's dragons are pretty cool.

[Explain to him how anything is cooler than Flygon.]

[Grumble... Blue lets that one go, because clearly Zack is just teasing him! But if it's introductions he wants- and a chance to brag about his partners-]

Hah! Please, my dragon is way cooler.

Hey, Gyarados!

[Blue waves a hand as he calls out to one of the slithering shadows that's been passing over the picnic all the while. No, it's not Leviathan- well not quite, anyway- but the huge water serpent seems to move itself very carefully as it winds closer and settles nearby their picnic table, peering at Zack with huge eyes.]

[It certainly wasn't a friendly looking face if you didn't know any better, but the way Blue jumps up from his seat and fearlessly hugs over the dragon's face, you'd think he had a deathwish.]

That Flygon of Raihan's might be quick, but he wouldn't stand a chance against my Gyarados! Don't get scared, fighter-boy.

Holy shit-

[Zack stands, looking surprised and amazed at this giant angry-looking water-dragon creature looming over the both of them. It reminds him exactly of some of the statues he's seen over in Wutai- Leviathan! Yeah!]

You just hug that thing? It really doesn't try to eat you for lunch?

[Honestly he finds himself grinning, coming over with a curious wave. He won't touch but he wants to.]

[Gyarados may look as atrocious as his dex designation suggests, but he wears a relaxed expression as Blue pets and babytalks at him- maybe there was a gentle heart under that angry exterior!]

He'd never- right, Gyarados!? [Blue grins, petting the side of a fin sticking out from the serpent's face. It rumbles in reply, vibrating the air around them- seemingly in agreement? It sure seems pretty chill around Blue, and eyes Zack more with curiosity than anything. Maybe it comes off more as wariness, though.]

I raised him since he was just a lil Magikarp! You ever seen any of those bitey orange fish that live in the lake? That's... basically what he looked like, before he evolved.

[Well, judging from how angry those fish are, Gyarados was a perfect next step, right...]

Haha, don't make any mistake though, [Blue gives Gyarados one last pat before turning back to Zack, hands on his hips as he gestures to his Pokémon.] Gyarados here could fire a Hyper Beam that'd blow a whole city to smithereens if he wanted to. So, yanno... be nice to me.

[Blue winks- ...that was supposed to be joke. Really! Probably.]

Wait a minute, he grew up from one of those stupid orange fish out in the water? One of those things ate my phone.

[If they grow up to be these massive things maybe he really should just let that phone go. It's not coming back. Plus the possibility that the fish could grow up into that- he doesn't want a 'hyper beam' straight to the face.]

Damn, owning that much power in a pet. ... That's awesome.

[Okay, he's convinced. Gyarados is pretty neat. But Zack is guessing by that stare and Blue's harmless (?) comment that he shouldn't touch! He's got it!]

[Blue, with a bit of an insulted pout on Magikarp's behalf, is about to argue that they're not stupid--]

[--Then he remembers how he and Lance had tried to forcefeed some of the fish when hunger first became a problem, because they didn't seem to be capable of deciphering what was edible and not.....]

[He releases whatever argument he had with a puff of a sigh, and changes gears.] Your phone? Oh, jeez. I hope it's okay. [The fish, not Zack's phone] I guess it's just as well, since phones haven't been working that great until recently, right?

Anyway, if you ask me, it keeps the balance of nature in check! Pokémon are tied closely with aspects of nature, and people respect them as partners.... From what I hear from other people here, it's not exactly the same elsewhere.

[Hmmmm, sounds familiar, doesn't it?]

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a delightful picnic day.

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