007 [Video/Action for Goldenrod]

[soggypastry]

[If there is one thing to be sure of when when eggs are involved, it is that there will be gear mishaps. Like this one, which has started due to someones bag tipping over and dumping its contents to the snow covered ground. There's the sound of skin on skin, along with running footsteps and grunts of pain, but the camera is at such an angle that

Comments

[action]

[biteisbigger]

[ Kisa's watching this half-curiously, but what snags her attention is that egg. That, and Ari seems upset and will be taking off at a run. ]

Ah-- A-Ari!

[ INCOMING MAMA GROWLITHE, YOU TWO. ]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Leon's newly hatched Riolu is alarmed at the sudden appearance of the other, bigger pokemon, and scampers up into Leon's hair. Leon, for his part, is wondering where this random Growlithe came from. ]

[action]

[biteisbigger]

[ from the same direction this tiny twelve-year-old just came from, it seems. Ari pays no attention to either Leon or his Riolu, instead growling uneasily and slowing down to approach the egg. She only stops when Kisa calls out to her. ]

Ari, i-it's-- um.

[ ... oh hi Leon you are tall and terrifying-looking, she's automatically shrinking back. ]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Leon sees the Growlithe going for the egg. He reaches over and gently pulls it out of the back; it's warm, not as hot as it could or should be, but otherwise doesn't have a scratch on it. But for the temperature, it looks impeccably cared for.

Leon turns his attention to Kisa; it's hard not to notice how intimidated she looks. It makes Leon slightly uncomfortable; he's definitely used to inspiring respect, possibly caution, but never fear. ]

Are you alright?

[action]

[biteisbigger]

[ Kisa nods, even if she's still somewhat cowed. But Ari's obviously not happy, so she finally speaks up. In the meantime, the Growlithe's giving Leon a loooong, measuring look. The egg looks undamaged, but something's wrong and she knows it. Have a few anxious whines. ]

... U-um, that egg... [ her voice is even softer, but this is important. ]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Leon tries to ignore the way Ari is looking at him, but it's difficult not to meet her eyes. The Riolu is watching the exchange, vaguely aware that something significant is going on. Leon motions to Ari, then the egg. ]

This is hers, isn't it? You're the one who gave Aerith the egg.

[action]

[biteisbigger]

[ it's a single nod, but a firm one. Even if she's looking both concerned and guilty. By all rights, it should have hatched by now, but it had been on the Ice Path with her-- she'd tried to keep it as warm as she could until she'd reached a Center. Was that why it was still in the shell? ]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Leon looks at Ari, somber and feeling a little guilty. ]

I've been keeping it with me at all times. I was told that--that was how to do it. [ He gently rubs the shell, a methodical gesture. ] The weather's been bad lately, though. Aerith carried it through that snowstorm before she gave it to me. [ He pauses; he realizes that it sounds as if he's blaming Aerith, but it's not her fault at all. He shakes his head. ] It's been moving more often, lately, but it's still...slow.

[ He offers Kisa an apologetic shrug. ] I'm sorry.

[action]

[biteisbigger]

Ah--

[ it seems an involuntary reaction, as the sound of her own voice startles her. Nonetheless, Kisa steps closer, all but radiating trepidation until she comes to a halt right in front of Leon. Even more slowly, she raises a hand to gently touch the shell. Ari watches them both, but if there's anyone she trusts to handle one of her eggs, it's her trainer. ]

Please, don't... [ she swallows hard. ] Don't give up. Not yet.

[ whether she's talking to the egg or Leon or both remains to be seen. ]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Leon can tell there's a kind of quiet strength to this slip of a girl, the kind of strength that lets her stand in front of him now, even though she seems nothing but terrified. Gently, he puts his hand over hers on the shell for a moment, in a gesture that's meant to be reassuring. He assumes she's speaking to him, but the ambiguous nature of her statement makes him give the egg a long, hard look. ]

I won't. I promise. [ And Leon is nothing if not a man of his word. He's also not the type to give up. Ever. ]

[action]

[biteisbigger]

[ There's still that part of her that flinches from unknown males and the sight of a lifted hand, if only for a second-- and yet Kisa pushes past it this time, recognizing the gesture for what it's meant to be, and peers up at him thoughtfully.

... And timidly, of course, but she finally offers up a tiny smile. ]

T-then I think... this one will keep fighting, too.

[action]

[usedroar]

[ He returns it with his own gentle smile, tucking the egg in close to his abdomen. ]

We'll work together.

[action]

[biteisbigger]

[ Kisa lowers her hand, glancing at Ari, who has yet to look away from her unhatched puppy. ]

If there's... um, anything you need...

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Leon also turns to face Ari. Dealing with her is actually more heart-rending than dealing with her shy, modest trainer. There's nothing more universal than a mother's love, after all. He nods at Kisa's offer, gently tucking the egg back into the bag, where it's safe and warm. ]

I'll be sure to let you know when it hatches. [ A pause. ] I'm Leon.

[action]

[biteisbigger]

[ the Growlithe doesn't budge until the egg is comfortably nestled and out of her sight, and then she looses one single, lone whine and backs up in order to nudge Kisa's hand somewhat listlessly. The little girl obligingly rubs her head, but pauses to offer Leon a bow. ]

M-my name is Kisa. Thank you... for taking care of it.

[action]

[usedroar]

Nice to meet you.

[ Leon isn't sure how to respond to a bow, so he just returns it with a nod of his head. ]

And...try not to worry about the egg, alright?