#| threads

herta: i'm sending your personal(?) collection to screwy right away-

​Never has there been a moment where a man just fell to his KNEES. Her voice, as whimsical and life charging it can be, also served as the cold, cruel nature of her mother element at the same time.

A primal fear sparked in the depths of his being, a heaviness that is aware, no doubt like Herta was equally aware given the FIRST damn idea that charged up in her mind. No, his dearest didn't even bother to ask, worst yet, question. Her. A genius. She genuinely just charged into the essence of action instead of breaking this down.

..WHEN. Breaking things down normally gives him time to consider!!!

"Babe..." His voice shudders out, the normally vigor bright strength hilariously absent. It'd be a private but rare day, where he'd crawl shakily over to where she stands.

"That is NOOOOOOOOOOT mine right there! C'mon, now you know we have history, you know that a freak exists in me.." Actually, it does in a lot of ways, but different story here!

Irregardless, it'd be that fun Halloween day that managed to strike a pearl of fondness in his heart. Always promising a chuckle and a wish for Hotaru's wellbeing on those dim or wayward days.

Was he technically helping her day if he made her briefly bounce akin to a shocked rabbit? (Maybe Pikachu would be better fitting.)

"Sora." He adds in, almost a touch too adamantly. His era of having floating in and out the edge of a universe's line of memories had him paranoid enough. If filling in that blank was required, so be.. it.

WAIT WHAT DAY DID SHE SAY IT WAS!?

Before anything else left his mouth, that abrupt admittance made him blink owlishly at Hotaru before an abrupt shimmer of determination.

"Man, how lucky is that. On a holiday, then your birthday? I might have a knack for this!" As if he should be proud of such details to begin with! Yet, that infectious smile showed nothing but genuine happiness for her existence as he gives a brief but polite bow.

"Then from one traveling soul to you, I'd like to wish you a Happy Birthday! How about I cover the price for your sweets ah.." Try as he might with scratching his mind, realizing he fell into a similar boat, a bubbling bit of laughter escaped him.

"Sheesh, we never even got on the naming basis, huh? Would it be okay if I got yours? Or should I just call ya Ms.Mimikyu?"

She knows she should have seen the signs miles away, what with how Lysander had been behaving, and those idiots in orange creating havoc in the pokeball factory... Her list goes on, each one a failing on her part. She rounds a corner in the laboratory under Geosenge, and she feels Amé pushing a sense of warning into her head.

There is someone near, Amé whispers, directly into her mind. Multiple. Her Gardevoir pads back into view, a few small flecks of red dotting her fur. "Good work, Amé. Do I need to hurry?"

Amé shakes her head, as Diantha comes to ... Another corner. Great. Amé acts first when a Grunt decides to Challenge her, and picks the human up by the throat. And then she pauses. Diantha has seen it too- someone else down here... A child?

Which, fair, since it looked like she was lost in her initial thoughts about this misfortune.

A soft hum escapes as he quickly works up a solution. (One he had planned initially just for himself.) "Where you have to go isn't too far, is it? We might be able to hitch together under some proper cover in that case." He openly muses, drawing forth the instrument that soon unveiled itself to be an umbrella. Thankfully one of those pricey sorts that refused to buckle underneath nature's demand, for it held sturdy even as the water splashed forth.

He keeps it as an open offer as it's balanced between the downpour and the building's overhang, briefly shadowing Ampa's figure as he peers curiously towards her.

"Not sure in how much of a rush you are, but I figure this way we can hasten a few of the steps."

Gold simultaneously revels and outright hates it. Truly depends on the time and situation.

Right now? Given his precious partners tucked by his side tied with the every so studious and renown lady in his company, there was a clear vigor that was exercised in each step, exemplifying that go-getting nature as they found themselves marching clear through the one amiably hidden bases of Interpol. Dex Holders privilege, but by all damn means does he fully intend to exercise it.

"Heheh. Surprised ya managed to even get a wink of sleep with that familiar itch in your hand," It was a gentle tease, fondness carried over the depth of the one known as Crystal Lynne's accomplishments.

"Even with all this world flip-floppin' business, gotta love it when some baseline rules be out here keepin' the same."

The structure of the base found itself tucked like a sore thumb within nature. If it hadn't been for the modest growing surge of these buildings, particularly developed to be within the vicinity of Ultra Wormholes, there wasn't a doubt in Gold's mind that Interpol would be five miles deep in magma baths formed for fire types. Even now, brisk, gentle winds would breeze by the gated fixtures outside, allowing the palm trees to sway to an invisible tune.

Stress the ear well enough and distant melodies of local Primarina could be heard bringing a natural jubilance to the seasides.

Gold found himself shameless in how close he kept to Crystal, practically by the hip, basking in that natural satisfaction of their shared time leading to a new adventure. While the premise in itself was good enough, the idea of this being a new experience for them and their partner Pokemon, it draws a prideful feeling within his chest. It even made his more exploratory nature simmer as he checks at his Pokegear.

"New update too. Said they'll have all the equipment we need for some safe travel. Just need our ever dependable psyhics here in the name of good transport." Naturally he refers to Timpani and their 'Not so little' Gothi. Fondly looking back on how they raised that little troublemaker makes it impossible to resist the temptation to sling an arm around her shoulders, professionalism be damned. This is how professionals like them get set up.

"Still got the old deets for the purpose of this travel? Buncha intergalactic hot mess, findin' in sealing up points of distortion.."

There goes that tempting waggle of his brow once again.

"Explooooorin' some new worlds?"

Part of him was questioning if that heater in the stairwell behind them might do the trick a bit more, it's tacked on as an idle thought.

Right now, Haru found herself carrying all of the current.

In fact there was something endearing in the ways her words fumbled, bowling over like some poor sap before an entryway stuffed with shoes. The atmosphere she carries just never damn failed in keeping things lighthearted, keeping them peaceful in a way he appreciates, leaving him entirely off guard the instant her hard working fingers begin to reveal his complexion underneath the shirt, just enough to make a mild rise of gooseflesh fleck over his skin.

Despite making the offer with a head full of heart and no mind, the tension experienced is by no means painful, rather, that excitable, lively awareness found itself burning vibrantly wherever the mildly ticklish trail her fingers left. Warmth found itself brewing within his face, stalled from growing the instant he catches that momentary fluster melting down to that genuine concern that captured his eyes from the very start.

Even the flora laden rooftops of Shujin found themselves erased from mind, concentrating Haru's reaction in particular.

"Medals, huh? Heheh, hopefully not something I'll get first place in anytime soon." He's not ignorant to how morbid that sounds, but, it certainly did draw a smile on his face.

"I can save the full package for when I'm a touch more dried up, but this one was during the time in Futaba's heart. Lookin' out for the guy's per usual, really scraped by the skin of our teeth."

"So y'know, I got a good idea on what'cha mean by that.." Knowing that the days ahead aren't promised, once upon a time, it made a shamefully more egotistical side of him become.. entitled, a time he's never been more happy to be torn away from due to harsh lessons.

Now, if only those thoughts could persist, everything found itself being swept from underneath his feet the instant those soft, strong hands sought his in a measure of support. The squeezing immediately cause his fingers to return the gesture regardless of the way his heart began to hammer. Her thoughts on the matter caused a boisterous laugh to immediately rise.

"Hell, please? I don't mind being a soppin' wet mess during the summer, but anything else and it really would kick my ass. C'mon, I got some spare stuff I can kick on 'round the lockers." He doesn't miss a beat in whisking her along, a touch too stubborn to end how their hands joined as he begins to lead her through the stairwell.

That said, he sure gave one of those melting-ly pleasant sighs feeling the currents of heat humming through the radiators.

"Iiiiiii.. Think I could get a lil use to this. Never knew this was how good the plants have it while in your care, almost makes a guy a lil jealous." With how content his voice sounds, it's clear the bliss of not just the warmth-- but holding hands with her was working its magic.

"Well, I was hungry! Don't-cha know just how good things get when things get worked up in your oven? It's like the scent was practically wagging it's finger at me!"

....

Oh, wait, sheeeee doesn't exactly look the happiest right now, does she?

"Who uses doors anymore? If I wanna see ya, then naturally the fastest route is the best one!" Says Natsu, who doesn't even use the door to his own house.

Takes too long!