route_1065 | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Hope Estheim(

eagletalons), Lightning Farron(

soggypastry), and anyone in the area that knows them.

Where: House of Minnie! (Or rather, the beach house in Olivine once owned by Minnie Mouse)

When: Evening of Feb.14, a little before the lights are supposed to go out.

Summary: It's Hope's birthday. Lightning intends to make up for missing 13 of them.

Rating: PG

Log:

[There was no denying that the last few weeks had been hectic. Between what happened in Goldenrod and then the scramble to get out of the city, there hadn't been any time to do much of anything besides catch their breath. Adding house repairs to that and Lightning had barely been able to get this to go right.

But she'd managed. She'd managed and everything was set, right down to the small cake waiting in the fridge until dinner had passed. And no, she hadn't tried to cook dinner herself. She'd ordered takeout.]

Hope? Can you come here a minute?

[Here being the kitchen, but there was something else she had in mind. Hopefully he hadn't yet spotted the gift wandering about outside.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's been blissfully unaware of things all day, sadly. That's what happens when you're too deep into work and training and forget the date. And in any case, Hope hasn't bothered to celebrate his birthday in years.

So when Light calls him over, he doesn't think anything of it. He just stops polishing his Metagross after a day of running around on the sand and look to see what she has to say.]

Yes?

[What she has to say is little. What she has to show him, on the other hand, is a soft smile and two plates of sushi on the kitchen table, which has been cleaned and set for the occasion.]

You didn't forget what day it is, did you?

[He hasn't mentioned it, but she figures he just got busy. It's not that far-fetched a thought, really.]

It's the day of the blackout, isn't it?

[Of course he remembers that it's mating season for the Volbeat and Illumise.

Not that he doesn't appreciate the food, because sushi is indeed something he enjoys and it's better than eating something that needs to be heated, especially on this particular day.]

[A nod because he's right--they're supposed to turn off the lights within the hour--but then she continues.]

It is, but there's something else about today, too. [And before he can remember the hearts and chocolate nearly shoved in their faces anytime they went out:] Hope, it's your birthday.

[She's slowly learning that science always comes first with him now, though. Makes her wonder what really happened to that boy she used to know.]

[... Oh. Oh. That explains everything-- the set-up, the talk, so on. Though he cant bring himself to feel embarrassed for not remembering the date at all.]

I've forgotten. With everything that's been going on, they took precedence over celebrating.

[Embarrassment was hardly what she was after by telling him, and he gets that same smile again.]

I thought as much when you didn't say anything. [It has been busy. Still, she turns away now and heads for the door that leads to the porch. Come on, come on.]

Come on. I've got something to show you.

Edited 2013-02-15 05:11 (UTC)

It's not a large over decorated banner surrounded by sparklers, is it?

[Because if it is like the cliche, he might just need to lecture someone on the dangers of fireworks near a house.]

Or are other people out there? In which case I may need to change clothing. [Because he's in soft jogging pants and a tank top that shows off his impressive sunburn. Which he tries to hide from the Gear network.]

[That gets an amused sound out of Lighting, but she shakes her head. No fireworks, and no need to go find a coat.]

No. No one else is here.

[No one human, anyway. There's a few beachgoers further down, surely, but on the strip of sand visible from the back porch? There's just Odin...nudging a still slightly wobbly Ponyta across the sand.]

Turns out Thundaga had a third egg.

[Now he's really curious, and follows her outside. His Espeon greets him out on the porch, that usual knowing look in his eye.

And wouldn't you know, it's... wait.]

What? [Staring at the pony.]

And you've been keeping it all this time?

[Hope the Espeon probably knew since before Lightning herself realized there was one last egg nearly hidden in the sand. Psychic types are just that smart.]

I have. [He gets a warm smile for a moment, before she turns to watch the pair on the sand.] I saw how you were with Odin. I want you to have it.

[She's...fairly sure it's a "him", too. Odin hasn't really let her check, though.]

Lightning...

You shouldn't have.

[Really, she shouldn't. Because a Pokémon is a pretty big thing to gift to someone and while he's all right with having more, giving him something this important for just a birthday is something big.]

I wanted to. [It's a big thing, yes, and that pony will grow up to get much bigger, but she still wanted to. Both she and Odin know that Hope will take very good care of the baby, so there's really no hesitation involved here.

Not on her part, anyway. Not after having a near screaming match with her horse when she found the egg. Still, she knows that Hope's roster is fairly full, so...]

But you know you can tell me if you don't want it, don't you? It's okay.

[There's plenty of good homes it could go to. Odin may start that horsey-screaming again, but still.]

It's all right. I'll raise it.

[He's still a bit overwhelmed about being given one of Odin's children because uh. Yes.

He steps onto the sand and slowly approaches the horse pair. Obviously, since he didn't hatch the Ponyta himself, it wouldn't know him and recognize him as its trainer.]

[The Ponyta may not recognize him, but Odin does and he tosses his head as Hope walks closer. Hello there, Trainer-bro. You here for his boy? Good. A trainer like you will get him big and strong.

As for the Ponyta...well, it's just trying to flatten itself against Odin's side because new trainer is new and kinda scary. Still, it's curious and will be peering up at Hope while Lightning stops at the last stair to watch. No need to get involved yet.]

[Hope stops a few feet away from father and son and sinks down to his knees on the sand, holding out a hand, palm up, for the Ponyta to investigate.]

Hi. My name is Hope. [No sense in beating around the bush.]

[He keeps peeking around Odin for a couple moments later, before curiosity wins out and he takes a few shaky steps forward towards Hope. Steps that are far too slow for Odin's liking, which is why he'll be nudging his kid's rump. Ponyta doesn't like that and squeals, but it's enough to put his muzzle into Hope's hand and he blinks, stunned. Hi, Trainer. What do?

At least he's not running back, though. That counts for something.]

[Cue Hope petting the little guy on the snout and under the chin. Though not touching those flames yet. He's not stupid to be putting his hand near flames that can burn him.]

Do you want to come with me?

[Maybe when the little guy's older and not so spooked...though the spook is easing off under those scritches. Nice trainer is nice...have some whuffling into your palm, Hope. Still not running, so that's probably as much answer as you're going to get from him.]

I think that's a yes.

You don't have a name, do you? [Well, since he's apparently the birthday gift...] You'll be coming with me from now on, Sleipnir.

[It's more of a yes than that snort was, anyway. He enjoys having a name! But...Sleipnir, huh? Lightning recognizes that name from some ages old whisper if she focused enough. Fitting, given his father's name.]

He'll be running in a few hours. [It's said as she comes down to Odin's side, giving his neck a pat while he paws at the sand. Always hard to watch a kid go to a new home...] Oerba might give you some time off if she sees you trying to keep up with him.

[Maybe, anyway. Hope's Lucario is a bit of an odd one...though Lightning can appreciate what she's trying to do.]

... I don't think that's a good idea. [Because Oerba, as awesome as she is, is as crazy as Fang and Vanille combined. And that's not a good thing to expose babies to.]

Better have Nora and Oracle watch him instead. They know how to keep him out of trouble.

I wouldn't be too sure of that. [glancing over.] If he's anything like his mother, he'll run them ragged within a day. [A snort from Odin because Thundaga's not that bad! ....okay she is when she's angry.]

Better them than Oerba, honestly. Oerba may have the energy and stamina, but she doesn't have the speed or attention span. [Uhm. Yeah.]

Nora and Oracle at least can keep him busy and out of trouble.

[Hopeon though is just purring-- well, laughing at Odin, really. Because he's so whipped.]

Edited 2013-02-19 07:07 (UTC)

[A nod, then:] Until he evolves, anyway. I don't think Nora could keep up with a Rapidash if he hasn't outgrown the running. Oracle would stand the better chance then.

[If only by virtue of being bigger and less likely to get stepped on. Because if Sleipnir is anything like his parents and that Benny Hill chase last week...sticking a Flareon in there is bad news.

Also Hopeon is getting a pout. Well. As much as a horse can pout, anyway. Just you wait till you get a mate, Hopeon! Then they'll see who's whipped!]

[Covers Sleipnir's ears in case he hears something he doesn't like and somehow manages to sabotage Hope's plans for the future.]

Hopefully by then I've have taught him not to go running off on his own.

[She smiles faintly at the idea that Hope can keep Slepnir from hearing with that kind of pose, but Lightning makes a noise of agreement anyway.]

Let me know if you need any help with that. [A glance at Odin, who tosses his head.] I've had some experience with running horses.

[Ven comes darting in right after work, mangled tie and all. He's even got a watch on, and judging from his mussed sleeve, he was glancing at it every two seconds until his shift was up. Sure Light said things were all set up, and things wouldn't be rolling along until after his hours at work were up, but that didn't mean he wanted to be late.

He'd missed an awful lot of Hope's birthdays, so he didn't want to be absent for this one. Or even two seconds late. No siree.

Due to his rush he bumped into the door, narrowly catching himself before he did a number on his face. Wouldn't due to have a bloody nose like that one...no, he wouldn't think about that.

After he straightened himself up a bit, he pushed the door open and looked around]

Hope! Light! You guys in here?

[He should have changed his clothes to something more presentable, really, but there's no time, so all he can do is throw on a jacket. At least it doesn't show off the embarrassing, bright red burns brought on by staying under the sun for too long, even if he can feel a twinge of pain on his shoulders when he does so.

His new Ponyta fusses at the intruder, but he settles him down enough to answer.]

Over here, Ven. [Right in the back yard.]

[Hope gets a slightly sympathetic look, but being that Lightning was closer to the steps leading to their sandy backyard, she heads up to meet with Ven before he can collide with something. The dusky light doesn't leave much room for visibility.

So yes, Venbro. That is Pinksis sticking her head back in through the sliding door that leads out back. Come on, come on. No falling over!]

Watch your step. I'm still fixing some things around here.

It's looking pretty good to me so far. Wish I had the roof half as nice.

[Shingles are the single most boring, deceptively-simple things ever, he's quite decided on this. The more he looks at them, the more he's determined they can't possibly be on straight.

But even so he's smiling, because that's work and today's about the best and biggest Shotabro ever. He pauses near Lightning, so hopefully the birthday boy won't hear him]

He still sore?

[He surely wasn't the first to notice, but the stiff movements and recoil from hugs are kind of obvious]

[Hope squints at both of them-- he cant hear them or read lips, obviously, but he'd have to be blind to not know that they're talking. It makes him a little suspicious, even though he wont actually be doing anything about it.]

The roof will have to stay the way it is for now, unfortunately. It's less important than insulating the loft.

[And... well. Patching up the roof also contributed to his sunburn.]

[Ven gets a nod, small and barely there to try and keep Hope's suspicions low. Probably not working, given the look on the birthday boy's face, but it's still something. He's definitely sore and very red across his shoulders. She warned him, but...]

We patched the holes in the roof first, anyway. It'll hold for a while like that.

[Or should. Even if it doesn't, she'll deal with it. She tans. She can handle the sunlight on her back...mostly because she remembers her sunscreen but still.]

Besides, Hope's right. Getting the interior back up to normal is more important now that it's not going to leak on us. There's still a lot of things that need fixing.

[But that's for another day; Leon's handiwork is sturdy and will hold for a while yet. Today is about Hope, which is precisely why Lightning's escorting Ven down to the sand. Getting near to darkness outside, so mind those steps!]

Yeah, you guys are right...

[And Ven's content to let the subject go for now, shoes clunking until they reached the sand. And then of course they effectively sank, as usual, but he paid that no mind.

Instead, once they're near Hope, he just beams up at him. Sure, they're very close in height now, but Hope continues to have an edge on him]

So what's it like being a whole year older?

[After all, Hope's gotten ahead of most folks here]

It may be my birthday, but that doesn't automatically make me feel older than yesterday.

[Sheesh, you little Disney baby.] The only change is that I have to remember to put my age down differently.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only