a delightful picnic day.

[thunderwave]

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.)

Comments

[rotomphone]

[ poor Goodra looks sad at the refute. she knows that she can be messy, but she gives really great hugs, honest! and Raihan had brought towels along in anticipation of things getting goopy, so it's not like it'd be that bad...

both Goodra's disappointed sound and Rotom leaving his side have gotten Raihan's attention, and he saunters over with his hands stuffed in his hoodie pockets. of course it's Kaiba being a snooty prick. ]

You charge for pics? Geez, where's your appreciation for fanservice? [ he rolls his eyes, then looks to Goodra to give her a reassuring pet on the shoulder. ] Don't take it personally. He's always this grouchy.

[ his hand is a little slimy now. he looks to Rotom, smiles, then looks to Kaiba, and smiles wider. ]

[blue_eyed_obsession]

[Not being much of a hugger, it doesn't much matter to Kaiba whether she is or not. The only one he accepts that gesture from is his little brother, who isn't here.

When he sees the trainer approach it's just an additional layer on the 'I don't want to deal with this cake'. Couldn't they have arranged to hold their jamboree somewhere less obnoxious?]

I charge for everything. [Not entirely true, but he wasn't going to go down an itemized list just now] I appreciate fans going through the proper channels and not constantly harassing me for photo ops. [... Besides don't they get enough of his face on tv as it is....?] I wouldn't be if I didn't have to cross a proverbial zoo to get to a cup of coffee. [Sure, Kaiba. Sure]

[Seeing that look, he stiffens]

If you have any sense of self-preservation, I wouldn't follow through with whatever is going through your mind.

[rotomphone]

I dunno how famous being good at a card game makes you, but your fanbase sounds like they have some god-tier patience. [ he supposes there's some appeal in following someone with a prickly personality, but Raihan personally doesn't see the point in it. ] What's the use of being known to the world if you don't relish in it a little?

[ whatever answer Kaiba has will almost definitely be one he doesn't agree with, but at least he tried... more importantly, he likes that reaction. his smile doesn't fade in the least as he lets out a gleeful chuckle and steps forward. ]

Aw, don't be like that. You don't even know what's going through my head! [ he wiggles his fingers. ] But you know, Goodra's slime makes for pretty good hair gel in a pinch... you should see for yourself!

[ and he'll make a beeline for Kaiba's head - hopefully his height will give him enough reach to at least skim his head. he won't pursue even if he doesn't reach his target - just the fun of the attempt is enough for him. ]

[blue_eyed_obsession]

First of all, good is such an understatement it's almost an insult, for another thing Duel monsters is every bit as popular where I'm from as Pokémon is- if not moreso, so excelling at the game is more important than you're giving it credit. [Growing weary of having to defend the game, but not having lost his conviction or the vehemence in his words. His fans seemed to enjoy his more prickly attitude as it made for a more entertaining duel to witness, though he didn't see the need in defending that they did in fact exist.] Heh- whose to say I don't? .. but I'm not deluding them into thinking they actually have a personal connection to me.

[Most assuredly. The two enjoyed the spotlight in differing ways. The step forward has Kaiba even more suspicious, his muscles tensing in anticipation]

I know enough. [Having never claimed to be psychic- it just wasn't hard to read the delight in the other's features]

[The verbal cue was enough of a warning. The height would have been an advantage, but Kaiba dropped to the ground and rolled a few paces back, into a crouch. Once he righted himself, indignation flashed in his azure eyes as if the deed had been accomplished] You can keep that slime all to yourself! Don't ever presume that it's acceptable to place your filthy hands on me! [His tone was severe, his gaze murderous. Overkill? Uh- maybe.]

[rotomphone]

Listen, mate. I'm not trying to offend, but unless your Duel Monsters are part of the world's natural bloody ecosystem, there's no way they're as popular as Pokémon are...

[ as a sport, sure, maybe he can see the comparison, but even battling was only one facet of the way Pokémon and people interacted. he wants to try to keep an open mind about it, but Kaiba's general personality in combination with the insistence makes him a little more inclined to be contrarian about it. why you gotta be so extra, man?

and speaking of extra... he was expecting some knockback on his teasing, but nothing like that. he's a little offended, but sure. whatever. ] Yikes.

[ Goodra, on the other hand, looks angry. horns flexing, she looks posed to step forward towards Kaiba for speaking in such a threatening way to her Trainer. Raihan holds an arm out to settle her, and while she stands down, she's still glaring daggers in the other man's direction. ]

Has anyone ever told you that you take yourself way too seriously for your own good?

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Insects are a part of the natural ecosystem, that hardly makes them popular. It's the experience, the challenge, the ultimate exhibition of one's strategic capabilities that has transformed the game of Duel Monsters into the status it now holds.

[Way to chuck Weevil Underwood under a bus without even trying. The bug duelist was fond not only of insect cards, but genuine articles themselves. The more Kaiba tried to explain the cultural phenomenon the more invested he was getting into the conversation. He leaned forward as he spoke, one hand curling into a fist, the other he cast out behind him, and there was a look that flashed in his eyes that indicated that he believed in his convictions, and also might be a bit of a fanatic that could come unhinged under the right conditions.

What follows next, likely doesn't dissuade the possibility. He fully overreacted to the prank, but he insisted on the point. It was for the best that despite any ill-treatment, Raihan was still willing to ward off his pokemon. The alternative wouldn't have been pleasant. To the question, his lips parted and he actually laughed though his eyes retained a murderous look. It certainly wasn't a happy-laugh.]

Nearly every day of my life, but where are those people now?

[Thinking back on prior history and recalling how he had surpassed those he was referencing]

I can't allow myself to slack off. Not even here. Keep that in mind.