it's how they say hello

[eagletalons]

Who: Hope (eagletalons) and Ventus (wayfinder)
Where: Cherrygrove
When: backdated to the 10th
Summary: A study of two shotabros crashing into each other again.
Rating: GP
Log:

[He's seen Riku already, and he's got an appointment with Lightning once he arrives at Violet city, but there's just one thing missing from his schedule, and really, he's hoping (haha) to rectify that. He hasn't seen Ventus face-to-face yet, and it's imperative that he does, especially considering that they go a very long way back.

It's just that right now he has a mischievous (well, more like impish) Squirtle to contend with, and Bismarck likes exploring everything, which means running around and leaving his trainer to try and catch up with him. New Pokémon, man. They're such a handful, especially one as squishy as Hope.]

Comments

[ex_aeroga402]

[Ven's on his way back from a routine trip to heal up his team at the Pokémon Center when he spots some familiar grey hair in the distance. He distinctly remembers that color, even if the fellow who got it from his mom is bigger and older than Ven remembers.

He's older too, but...not by quite so much.

It's just for a moment that he flounders, unsure what to say now that he actually sees his friend there. Sure they talked over the gears, but Hope really is there after all the hoping (hahaha) and waiting he and Light did.

Finally he shakes his head with a small smile and lifts his hands to wave like an airport flagger. Who says he has to be grown up at seventeen anyhow?]

Hope, hey!

[eagletalons]

[It's when Hope's picking his Squirtle up by the shell that he realizes someone's yelling for him. And it takes him a little while to get his bearings because oh wow is Bismarck squirmy while being wrangled.

But Hope manages to look around anyway and spot some familiar blond figure. Even if that blond figure is taller than before.]

Ven?

[ex_aeroga402]

You got huge!

[Said with a big grin. Apparently he doesn't need to confirm that Hope's right, because of course he is. Sure Ven's about two inches shorter than him, but he's calling his bro huge all the same]

[eagletalons]

[Makes a bit of a face.] I'm not that large, am I?

[Because while he is indeed tall, some people, especially the soldiers, have taken to teasing him with nicknames like beanstalk, scrawny and all that.]

[ex_aeroga402]

...Hey, what's that look for? I bet you can reach the top shelf and everything!

[Oh shotabro, you will always be perfect no matter what proportions you have, but you did become a prettyboy for sure]

[eagletalons]

Hmm. You're right. At least now I don't have to look up at you.

[ex_aeroga402]

Give me some time, I'll catch up.

[Said with a puff of his chest and everything. He'll do it, just wait and see]

[eagletalons]

A year, maybe?

[Cause hey, why not. Hope shot up like a weed in a year.]

[ex_aeroga402]

Maybe...I've done pretty well so far, the past couple of years.

[Just has to keep eating his veggies, clearly]

So hey, you gonna stay all the way over there?

[eagletalons]

[Tucks Bismarck under his arm just to keep him from complaining so he can actually approach Ventus.]

Well, where would we go anyway?

[ex_aeroga402]

[Here he'll help out with that and trot over. Been too long, bro. Way too long]

Dunno, there's two whole regions out there. And Lightning's on the way, right?

[eagletalons]

[The height difference is more noticeable to him now that they're face-to-face. And yep, now he doesn't need to keep looking up.]

We'll be meeting where the Sudowoodo used to be. Are you daying you'd like to come along?

slam averted...for now

[ex_aeroga402]

You did say we had things to talk about right? I've already told Riku and Sora I'll be sticking with you guys for a while.

[He's missed them both anyhow]

it'll happen BD

[eagletalons]

Just like old times, then? [Wont deny, he missed this.]

I'm sure Lightning would mind.

aw yeah /o/

[ex_aeroga402]

Yeah, just about, huh?

[And then he thinks of something, starting before he shrugs his backpack off and digs a familiar old journal out, holding that up for Hope. It's more than half full now]

Before I forget - here.

3... 2... 1...

[eagletalons]

Is that--

[Yup, he remembers it all right, having bought it just for his notes-- that trusty old journal.]

Thanks, Ven.

[He reaches out for it, but Bismarck manages to wriggle out of his hold and bump into his leg when the Pokémon hits the ground. And with a surprised yelp, Hope's falling forward.]

[ex_aeroga402]

[Ven fumbles to try and catch his friend, but unfortunately that Squirtle scrambling to get out of Hope's way trips him up too.

So down they go with a thud.

For a moment or two, Ven looks surprised, but then he just starts laughing. A part of him has been really worried that things might be different with so much time having passed for Hope, but here they are knocking each other over just like the day they met.

Well, sans Enma, but someday they'll find him and get him in on it too]

[eagletalons]

[His knees hurt. That's the very first thing that comes to mind while sprawled all over one of his best friends.

The second thought is...] This is familiar.

... Ow.

[Hope thumps on Ven's chest as he rolls off him and onto his back, but he cant stop himself from giving a chuckle or two.]

It seems we're still the same clumsy children we used to be.

[ex_aeroga402]

Sure seems that way.

[Ven's content to watch the clouds, at least for a while, pillowing his head with his hands]

But I'm glad that's the same, I wasn't sure how much was gonna be different. We're both bigger and older, and...honestly, you're the first person I've known who's come back and had more time pass for them than I've had here.

[eagletalons]

[Hope's not lying down though, because he's flexing his shoulders and trying to make sure he didn't pull something important.]

In all honesty, that was my worry as well. I didn't know how any of you would react to my aging, and how I would be treated from then on.

[ex_aeroga402]

[Oh bro, you're really not that old...]

You've got the same heart, so you're still Hope.

[Because Ven'll always be the sort to put things simply like that. But on that note, he does want to check]

Do you feel like people treated you differently to start with?

[eagletalons]

Honestly, I've never had the chance to see any of my old friends and companions while growing up, save for Sazh.

[Pulls off his gloves to see if he has to be wary of new markings on his hands or something.]

Whoever was left simply scattered, and we never had a reunion. So I'm not sure how to properly answer that question.

[ex_aeroga402]

So you haven't seen your friends for a long time either, huh? I know how that goes, although...I've been asleep all that time.

[It has to be different, being in the waking world and not seeing those people for so long. But the missing them part, he's sure that's the same]

How about here? Anybody give you funny looks?

[eagletalons]

[It's only at that question that Hope decides to lie down, acknowledging that the ground is better for support here.]

The locals don't seem to remember me at all. However, people like us-- those from other worlds-- did make their surprise known in different ways. So far, I've only just had to repeat myself a few times.

[ex_aeroga402]

That doesn't sound too bad. I know at least a few people who were really excited to see you here.

[Of course the thought's enough for a smile, he's amongst those people for sure. Hope's here again and he remembers, doesn't matter how big he gets]

...Actually that reminds me, I got Palum sent over from the house...

[He sits up to check his pockets, eventually locating the right ball and offering it to Hope. It's been a long time, but he knows that Umbreon will remember his trainer]