An Unusual Afternoon

[prideofcamelot.livejournal.com]

Who: of_france & prideofcamelot
Where: A shallow cavern in the forested area on the edge of Route 35.
When: Forward dated to 4/1.
Summary: A training session between Arthur and France is interrupted by first a heavy rainstorm, and then an invasion of Surskit. Both man and country are left trapped in a cavern while they wait out the shenanigans.
Rating: Fabulous G
Log:

The interior of their chosen shelter was cramped and this side of damp, but it was also the only part of the forest that wasn't overrun with Surskit. Satisfied with the location, Arthur dropped to settle against one of the rocky walls. He waited a moment or two for his breath to slow before turning to France.

"How long do you think it will last?" he asked, as he pushed rain-slicked hair from his face. Exactly what 'it' was, was addressed by a nudge of the prince's head toward the mouth of the cavern. There, sheets of falling rain and the staring faces of roughly forty Surskit obscured the surrounding forest from view.

This, Arthur had a feeling, was going to be an unusual afternoon.

Comments

[of-france.livejournal.com]

"My clothes."

France wasn't paying close attention to Arthur at the moment. He was, frankly, too busy moaning over the soaked state of his lower pants legs and patting obsessively at his hair.

"It had better stop soon," he grumbled, pouting at Marianne who looked no less pleased by the excess water. "My hair's going to get all frizzy if this keep up!"

[prideofcamelot.livejournal.com]

Arthur turned a disbelieving look on France and his Ninetails, not entirely sure what to make of this display. Both of them had, after all, spent the past two hours essentially grinding his Pokémon into the dirt.

"You really are a complete girl, Francis," Arthur said, settling a hand on his Flareon, Brynna's, back. He gave his Pokémon a few gentle pets to clear the beading water from her fur, before continuing.

"The rain came on quickly so it won't last. The real trouble will be those Water Pokémon." Ah, the difficulties of an all fire-type team. "If they stay, we could be stuck here for hours."

oh man I so rarely write in past tense; I'm sorry if any of this sounds awkward

[of-france.livejournal.com]

"A dislike of mud and musk does not a girl make," France quipped, although he kept up the pouting, which rather dampened that argument's power. "I've lived for months in this stuff, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

France continued with his whining before huddling up on a thankfully mostly dry rock high enough off the ground to avoid any further dirtying. Shuffling through the pocket of his coat, he released Juli, the Meganium, and Thérèse, his Umbreon, who weren't at all bothered by the wet. Marianne stood next to France, much like a barnacle, and just sulked.

"I have some food in my bag, so we change chance to wait it out a bit, at least until the downpour lets up somewhat..." He squinted out the entrance to the shelter; he should have brought his glasses at least. "If we keep running, we can probably get away from most of those. It looks like the majority are those stupid and inedible Magikarp."

Not a problem! Also, woo edits. XD

[prideofcamelot.livejournal.com]

"No," he admitted, foraying into good-natured teasing, "But complaining about it does."

Arthur watched with interest as France added to the number of pokémon in the tiny cave, both of the newcomers breeds he wasn't familiar with. Brynna, however, was especially thrilled by the arrivals. In mere moments the young Flareon was by Thérèse's side and rubbing happily against her mother. Arthur watched the two interact for a moment, wholly unsurprised that Brynna had already found something to cuddle into submission.

"We might as well wait." Arthur didn't have anything urgent to get back to and running through the Magikarp rain, while tolerable, wasn't something he was eager to do. He glanced back over at the rather-sodden France. "I don't have anything I need to return to immediately. Do you?"

Re: Not a problem! Also, woo edits. XD

[of-france.livejournal.com]

France just rolled his eyes, frowning slightly but without any venom in his gaze. "I'm not complaining, just stating."

Thérèse tilted her head slightly to get a better look at Brynna, frowning somewhat. It wasn't entirely apparent if she recognized Brynna as one of her own offspring, rather that she acknowledged her as possible competition for mates. Such a fluffy variation of Eeveelution. Would fluffiness make this one more attractive to the opposite sex? Thérèse, as an Umbreon, wasn't exactly fluffy... Maybe Brynna was going for a more youthful look? Trying to make Thérèse look old? How dare she? Thérèse glared at Brynna, offended.

France shrugged. "I have lunch already made for Romano to help himself to, but I do need to get back for dinner..."

ahaha oh Thérèse

[prideofcamelot.livejournal.com]

Unaware of Thérèse's internal dialog, Brynna kept on with her cheerful snuggling. Unlike her trainer, Brynna was perfectly willing to dole out affection regardless of whether it was wanted or not. Thérèse's status as Mom, in particular, was an assurance of attention.

"We'll be back by then," he reassured Francis, completely confident that they would. Now set in the decision to stay, Arthur leaned back and stretched his legs out, getting comfortable.

"In the mean time, why don't you," he paused, thinking, "...tell me something interesting about your home world."

For the handful of times they'd spoken and seen each other –typically in Merlin's company– Arthur didn't know Francis very well. He was unconventional at times, that much was true, but that alone wasn't enough to preclude an attempt to get to know him better. Francis had after all helped Arthur train, and the prince was grateful for that.

Oh, man, I'm sorry that it took me so long to respond to this *A*

[of-france.livejournal.com]

Thérèse glared. Upstart fluffy competition! How dare this young thing challenge her sexual superiority? Thérèse let out a growl at the affection (I have not interest in females), more grouchy and offended than outright threatening.

France, on the other hand, made a thoughtful noise, head tilting slightly as he considered where exactly to start.

"My world..."

He fell silent again for a bit, trying to find the right words to describe the memory.

"I remember, when I was very young, there were so many forests. There's still a lot of forests, of course, but the landscape has been changed greatly by industrialization and war in the last few centuries. Before that, when Rome was still powerful, I used to spend a lot of time by the river--usually the Loire or the Seine. I think I must have spent the majority of my time on the merchant ships; that's how I got around to seeing the places I eventually came to call my own..."

France's lips twitched slightly, expression somewhere between amused and nostalgic.

"It's always been very lush, very fertile, filled with animals and plants. It made me beautiful even back then, especially to Rome. I didn't really understand it back then; I was too young, and he spoke Latin, and it took a while for me to really catch onto the language's nuances. I came to understand later on what he meant when he called me 'beautiful,' but he was gone almost as soon as I understood. He didn't go quietly, of course, and he didn't have the sense to die right then, but I guess that's what made him great, why I can actually remember him. My lands are mine, really mine; he was simply the most prominent to point that out."