it's a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake

[diamondo]

Who: Mondo Oowada and you!
Where: Goldenrod City, Team Rocket base
When: 6/9
Summary: It's Mondo's birthday! Guess what that means? Cake for everyone because he's bored and has nothing better to do with his life!
Rating: PG-13, since Mondo loves cussing.
Log:

A;
[If you're in the Team Rocket base today, chances are you've heard some sort of commotion coming from the direction of the kitchen. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to investigate the sounds! Should you choose to investigate, you'll find one (1) obnoxiously loud teenager and his equally obnoxious and loud Pokémon attempting to bake.]

Ryder! Get the fuck outta the icing! Keaton! If I see you near that batter one more time I'm gonna yank out your feathers! Get off the counter, Pierce! Fuck, why did I let you guys outta your balls!?

[The Scrafty, Murkrow, and Riolu are all causing havoc in the kitchen, and Mondo seems to have lost control over them. Whoops. Perhaps you'd better interfere and help him bake that damn cake.]

B;
[Or perhaps it's later in the day and you've stopped by the cafeteria. If you have, congratulations, there's free cake! Mondo's Pokémon have calmed down some and are now eating their cake contentedly while Mondo is looking far too proud of himself for actually managing to pull off three cakes. There's a chocolate one, iced with chocolate icing, a yellow one with chocolate icing, and a white cake with vanilla icing. You'll have to deal with the obnoxious teenager, but enjoy the free cake!]

Comments

[ardent]

[He's one of those freaks of nature that doesn't really prefer it, anyway...]

I see...I guess that makes sense!

[Well, at least he's doing equal parts playing with and eating the cake now, because this is...actually pretty good, all right.]

He sounds like an interesting person. Your brother, I mean.

[From all he's heard, anyway; admittedly, it hasn't been too much, but it's obvious Mondo is fond at least.]

[diamondo]

Yeah, he really was! Daiya was pretty fucking amazing!

[...]

But I'm better, of course!

[Sh-shut up and eat your damn cake.]

[ardent]

[...uh.]

If you say so, aniki.

[He will eat his damn cake, good lord, what got into you.]

[diamondo]

Yeah, 'course I do!

[This is just how he is, don't mind him...]

Anyway, you uh... enjoying your cake there...?

[ardent]

[...he's...he's learning that...]

Yes, of course!

[...]

Is there something on your mind?

[diamondo]

Hmm? Nah, nothing important! Just reflecting on old memories, y'know?

[ardent]

I...I see...

[Granted, his tone implies that he doesn't, but he's trying anyway.]

Well, it's like I've said before - you can talk to me about anything you want!

[...was that appropriate, he isn't sure. Either way, just...cake, okay. That is something to focus on.]

[diamondo]

Yeah, I know! Maybe someday I'll tell you more about him. Daiya, I mean. But for now I just wanna enjoy my birthday, y'know? Don't wanna get my eyes wet!

[He laughs it off like it isn't a big deal.]

[ardent]

Ah, of course!

[He still fairly clearly has no idea what's going on, but Mondo seems relaxed about the issue at hand and so he tries to make himself follow suit; surely he'd tell him if something was really a reason for concern, right?

Of course he would - they're brothers, they really can tell each other anything.]

...You know I'm going to insist on getting you something, don't you?

[diamondo]

[There are some things you just don't tell people, no matter how close you are. Someday you'll get it, Ishimaru.]

Aww, c'mon, you don't have to!

[ardent]

[He probably won't, really. But that's okay, at least for now.]

I know I don't - that doesn't mean I don't want to!

[diamondo]

Y-yeah well...! Thanks, alright? It means a lot to me that you'd go to all the trouble!

[He's still pretty embarrassed though.]

[ardent]

Why wouldn't I? You're my brother, after all!

[diamondo]

You're still really good to me, y'know?

[But he'll laugh at that and loosen up a bit.]

[ardent]

[Good! That's totally a good sign, right?]

Well, of course! Your friendship means a lot to me, after all!

[diamondo]

[Yeah, of course it is!]

Yours means a lot to me too!

[Meanwhile Mondo's Pokémon are rolling their eyes. Do you guys always have to do this?]

I couldn't ask for a better friend!

[The answer is yes. Yes, they always have to do this.]

[ardent]

[...is there a reason they shouldn't

seriously mondo you have some very sarcastic pokémon over there just sayin']

W-Well, I won't disappoint you, then!

[...no really small animals what is that look for]

[diamondo]

Ah, hey, don't think about it like that! Just keep on doing what you're doing and you'll be fine! Don't try to pressure yourself into doing well or shit like that.

[They're just going to judge you both. Hard. Except Pierce who is too busy sneaking bites from Mondo's cake because clearly you can't just feed a Riolu one piece and expect it to be content.]

[ardent]

[...wait, what?]

Shouldn't I try to do well, though?

[No, really, why is he not supposed to do that, that's just. how. things work??]

[diamondo]

Well, yeah, I'm not saying go out of your way to not do well...

[...This is confusing...]

Look, don't sweat it, alright? Just be yourself!

[ardent]

Don't worry, aniki, I know everything is going to be fine!

[...it's about then that he notices Pierce, however, and - ]

Hey - you shouldn't do that!!

[...right, Ishimaru, you yell that at someone else's Pokémon like it's going to accomplish something.]

[diamondo]

[Pierce just stares at Ishimaru for a moment, clearly startled that someone else is calling him out on his shit, before sticking his tongue out and taking another bite. Mondo merely sighs.]

Knock it off, Pierce.

[The Riolu does, if only because Mondo sounds exhausted with keeping up with his Pokémon.]

Yeah, I know it will! I'm not worried!

[He falls silent for a moment, picking at what's left of his piece of cake. Pierce is still eyeing it hungrily.]

...Y'know, I'm really glad you're here, aniki. I mean, I figure it's kinda obvious that I think that, but I've never really said it. I'm glad you're not stuck in that school anymore, but that's not the reason why I'm so happy that you're here - it's 'cause I've got someone I can trust here. I mean, sure there's Naegi but... he's not in Team Rocket, y'know? It's good to have someone I know will watch my back.

[ardent]

[Ishimaru huffs for a moment and gives the Riolu the most annoyed look in the history of mankind; he isn't able to dwell on it for too long, however, before Mondo starts talking to him again, and the words are so legitimately touching that he doesn't know what to do with them.]

A-Aniki...

[He's suddenly struck with a rather strong urge to cry, and his eyes are brimming with tears in short order; he isn't upset or displeased, however, just...really overwhelmed, and it takes him a second to find words.]

You know I'm always going to look out for you - you can rely on me for anything!

[Just. Let him kind of swipe at his face for a moment, goodness lord there are tears everywhere...he manages to regain control over himself eventually, however, though his expression is still a bit...odd.]

You're always going to be able to trust me, and I won't let anything happen - I promise I'll do whatever I can!

[diamondo]

[And for once, the tears don't bring the usual sense of "oh god, what do." Mondo simply leans his chin on his hand and smiles, watching as Ishimaru gets control of himself pretty quickly. He's very pleased by Ishimaru's words if that wide grin is anything to judge by.]

I'm glad to hear it! You'll always have me too! It's just really nice to have someone so trustworthy as a partner in this crazy-ass mission, y'know?

[No, nothing has happened. Mondo's just finally realized how far in over his head he is. Alone, he wouldn't be able to do anything. But with Ishimaru, perhaps they can actually help break down Team Rocket from within.]

[ardent]

Yes, of course! I understand entirely!

[Although when it comes down to it, he doesn't, not really; Ishimaru has always been incredibly naive when it comes to trusting other people and wanting to believe their intentions are good, no matter who they are. He's been treated well by the few members of the organization that he knows, and so he doesn't see why he shouldn't trust them; some of the people he's spoken to outside of it have been horrid but for the most part they've been nice. He's not an idiot; he knows that there are valid reasons to suspect people. But at the same time, it's difficult to reconcile the idea that someone would be able to directly and easily tell you one thing while intending another thing entirely.

He likes to give people the benefit of the doubt; he hasn't yet learned that that's not always something that should be done.

But Mondo's words have made him happy and when it comes to having someone around that he can trust, well, he can understand liking that; he flusters a little before he can continue but it isn't a bad feeling at all, and he is content to just...continue picking at that cake and just generally be the most pleased thing.]

I'm glad you're here too, of course - you and Naegi-kun both, really...

[So much picking at that cake, Mondo.]

I've never really had friends that I can rely on in such a way; it's been a very good change, a good experience here despite what caused it. Not that I regret what things were like before Hope's Peak! But I...I feel very blessed to have met you.