victory_road | and then they waltz into a starmiebucks

Entry tags:

and then they waltz into a starmiebucks

Who: Ford Pines and Elsa of Arendoodle

Where: A Star(mie)bucks in the Sevii Islands

When: Sometime during 4th wall

Summary: there's a blip in the universe and suddenly here they are

Rating: G...PG...13??? somewhere in that ballpark

Log:

[Elsa thought she was used to the strangeness of this universe. There was just so much of it, she thought that she'd seen most of it. But as it turns out, she's barely scratched the surface of weirdness that the Pokemon universe has to offer.

Between meeting herself earlier and all the other stuff going on, she thought nothing could surprise her anymore.

But she's wrong, because up until that moment she had been going about her business, trying to comprehend the meeting she'd had with herself. And then. AND THEN. All of a sudden she's somewhere completely different.

In her hands is a small plate of little vanilla scones. A small cup lovingly marked Elsa rests on the table she's sitting at in a cafe she has no recollection of entering. Across from her-]

Oh! Dr. Ford?

[She nearly drops the plate she's holding in surprise. It's him, there in the flesh. She's only ever seen him on the Pokegear, so it's. quite unexpected for him to just Be There. For either of them to just be there, for that matter.

What in the woooorld.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This is Ford's second one of these weird, wibbly-wobbly weekends. And even if it wasn't he's kind of used to sudden shifts in his personal space and time. Here it's just space, and space within a single universe, so compared to his past experiences this is benign. He wasn't on Three Island two minutes ago but now he is, and there's already a cup and a sandwich set out for him. This is fine.]

Elsa! Hello.

[He doesn't seem all that bothered, just pleasantly surprised.]

[All Elsa can do is just stare at him for a moment, trying to figure out why he seems so casual about it.

And then she remembers this is Ford Pines she's talking to and that's really all there is to it. Elsa daintily sets the plate of vanilla scones on the table. They look delicious, it's really tempting to eat one.

She takes a look around- everyone seems to be going about their business. The cafe is slow, the baristas are doing their thing and the customers are all chattering normally. It's enough to make her relax a little as she turns her attention back to Ford.]

It's nice to finally see you in person, unexpected as it is. You're much taller than you seem on the gear.

Am I? [He looks down at himself as though only just now realizing that he is in fact six foot two.] I guess it's difficult to judge height when you only ever see someone from the shoulders up.

[His cup says 'Sanford' on the side, which he supposes is close enough to be getting on with. It's also apparently '4 6WM XWC WM', which roughly translates upon an investigatory sip to 'a sugar-and-caffeine punch straight to the face'. So, good.]

Glad to see whatever is in charge of the spatial displacements happening this weekend knows what I like to drink.

It's true!

[It's kind of still surreal that she's... actually talking to him in person. Wow. It's been months with just conversations over the gear, so she's so used to that. Actually hearing and seeing him in person is so nice, even if the circumstances are still strange.

When he takes his drink, Elsa finally takes note of hers. Hers has '2V N LTCR CM' on a clear plastic cup, which honestly looks like gibberish to her. But the drink itself is visually appealing, so she finds herself curious. It doesn't look mixed though, so like a heathen she gives it a swirl with the straw, which ruins the ombre effect. After that, she takes a sip and her eyebrows raise in surprise.]

Oh! That's... wow, I've never tasted anything like it! Someone out there really does know what we like.

[Which is weird because she would have no idea what to even order here.

After a moment, she remembers the plate of scones.]

Would you like one? I don't think I could finish all of them.

Hmm. [He already has a sandwich (apparently?), even if those scones do look tempting...]

I do know someone who I think might like one.

[He takes a ball off the strap across his chest. Out pops Mellorine the Vanillite, who is just the cutest goddamn thing, isn't she? There are plenty of Pokémon in this café. Just two tables away someone's Pikipek is delicately tucking into a croissant.]

[Well there's something Elsa hadn't thought of!

When Ford lets out Mellorine, Elsa can't help but chuckle a little. What a cutie! Oh, she hasn't seen one of those. It's very much her ~aesthetic~ so now she's finding herself wishing she had one. But she knows she has Too Many already.]

Of course she can have one!

[Elsa holds out one of the lil scones, while at the same time reaching for one of her own Pokeballs so that she can let Skadi out as well, realizing Ford hasn't had the chance to meet her.]

Vuuuul!

[It takes Skadi a second before she gets her bearings, peering around the cafe before she finally takes note of Ford. Oh!! It's the trainer that she's seen Elsa interacting with a lot!!

Skadi gracefully saunters over to him and then unceremoniously hops into his lap to peer up at him.]

Aww, I think she's excited to finally meet you, too.

[Mellorine floats over to the scone and takes it with her tiny little hands. An ice cream cone (or rather, a snow sprite that looks like an ice cream cone) eating a scone is probably one of the sillier things Ford has seen since he got here, but it's admittedly charming.

You know what's even more charming? A baby fox just plopping herself right in his lap. Much as he's glad he evolved Fantastic Mr. Fox into a Ninetales, he kind of misses the Vulpix days. There's a reason he took one of Botan's Alolan Vulpix eggs and it was only half wanting some more Field Group Pokémon. Time to completely ignore his drink and sandwich in favor of papping Skadi right on her fluffy bangs.]

You know, everyone always told me the Growlithe family were the superior canine Pokémon, but I'm partial to Vulpix and Ninetales. How have you liked raising the Alolan variant? I've only handled the Fire-type variety myself.

[It really is quite the sight, Elsa can't help but be a little enchanted with Mellorine, briefly glancing at Skadi as she yips happily at the attention Ford is giving her, almost as if she doesn't get plenty of it from Elsa.

At Ford's words, she smiles.]

I have noticed people here seem very opinionated on the matter. I think both species is lovely, but... of course I'm partial to Skadi. To answer your question though, I've loved it! Skadi is so sweet- and soft- soft as fresh snow.

[She sounds so passionate right now, she's also starting to speak a little faster as she steadily sips on her drink throughout their conversation.]

I have Baldur now, too- one of the fire-types! I can't begin to tell you how different they are. Baldur is so full of energy and always getting into mischief.

[Skadi yips in agreement, as if she has a lot of Feelings on the matter.]

Ah! So that Vulpix egg I gave you hatched, then? It doesn't surprise me to hear he's mischievous if he takes after his mother at all. Zoroark are tricksters by nature and Fay is no exception.

[It's easy to fall into this: a nice, simple, animated conversation about something they both enjoy. Were Ford to step back and actually think about that it would seem like an astounding feat to him. Up until coming to this world he had precious little friends and had simply resigned himself to never having the ability to make more, and look at him now! He's having a friendly conversation in a coffee shop, easy as you please. Much as he desperately misses his native dimension, being here has been good for him.]

I recently came into possession of an Alolan Vulpix egg myself, though I haven't had time to hatch it yet. The six Pokémon limit is so restrictive.

[Elsa has no idea what a Zoroark is, but she finds herself nodding along anyway as if she knows what she's talking about. Ford knows what he's talking about, so that's honestly all that matters.

It's surprising how much Elsa's able to relax and just go with the flow. Sometimes it's like interacting with people is Work, always over thinking everything and being awkward. It can be daunting how negatively her isolation had impacted her. But for the first time in a while, Elsa finds it easy to just Talk.]

I'm hoping he grows out of it, but who knows. [Elsa shrugs animatedly as she listens to Ford continue on, sipping her drink and resting her chin on her hand as she watches him.] You should hatch it as soon as possible! [She sounds Very Passionate. Also that caffeine is hitting her Just Right.] Skadi should be all the motivation you need. But you're right, the limit is restrictive. It makes me hesitant to catch many, because I don't want to have to give anyone up!

She certainly is making an excellent case for it.

[He gives Skadi another fond pat. Elsa's right -- she is incredibly soft, even softer than Mr. Fox used to be. She can just stay on his lap. He'll just live in this chair. It's fine.]

I've taken to swapping my team around at every Pokémon Center. Whenever I settle somewhere for any length of time it's an excuse to give some attention to the Pokémon who have had to stay in the PC.

Though from what Roswell tells me they don't mind being in there. Apparently it's very comfortable.

[And that's exactly what Skadi is going to do. She's a Sleepy Girl and his petting is really starting to make her want to take a snooze- oh, too late, she's already curling up in his lap and closing her eyes, much the same way she does with Elsa.]

That's good, but I mean... well, my team is like my family. It's like if I just locked Anna away until I'm ready to see her again, you know?

[Or someone could have an incredibly morbid way of looking at it, but she says it so casually that it doesn't sound so bad. It's also accentuated by the slurping of her drink as she drains the last little bit.]

Oh, oh! Waiter! Excuse me, may I have another one? [Elsa is definitely waving at the barista behind the counter, who gives a look as if she's some alien who doesn't know how things work.] ... er, did I say something wrong?

[He is large and warm and good for sleeping on. Not that he's had much opportunity to find this out until the past year or so, but every single one of his Pokémon that likes to nest has found an excuse to nest on him so it's something he's just accepted. He never really thought of himself as a pet sort of man, but these are less pets and more friends. Even comparing them to children is closer, and he didn't think he was a kid sort of person either until Dipper and Mabel.]

Oh, ah. Coffee shops in this universe don't operate that way. You'll have to go up to the counter.

[Thank goodness he's at least been to enough coffee shops in this universe to not have to mentally go through a list of all the different social conventions he knows and pick out the one that applies here. That's the other nice thing about having stayed in this universe for as long as he has: he's got the customs down by the point instead of having to learn new ones every couple of weeks.

He's also still working through his own drink, on account of the three solid inches of whipped cream (not to mention everything else). This isn't a drink you drink fast.]

[Elsa deflates a little at that revelation. She'd been doing so well and then she went and forked it up.]

Oh, um... I apologize if I embarrassed you.

[To be honest she would be embarrassed if she had just witnessed that. Now she can never come back to this Starmiebucks, she'll have to find a new one and go by Olsa or something there.]

It's just hard, the little nuances. I never quite know how things are going to end up in any given situation because there's always something new.

[She forces a laugh as if it's not a Big Deal.]

[Oh boy. An awkward social situation, Stanford Pines' worst enemy. It's doubly awkward because he knows exactly what she's talking about. He is, after all, Uncomfortable In Social Situation. For different reasons: she was isolated, he was just kind of a tool, but that resulted in isolating himself so really it amounts to almost the same thing.

What this all amounts to is that he's less embarrassed of her and more embarrassed for her. Empathy is this new thing he's trying out and it's still kind of weird but he's getting better at it, he thinks. It helps when he can project, and she's even easier to project onto than Dipper was.

He waves the hand not holding his drink.]

Trust me, this is nothing. I was once arrested immediately upon arrival in a dimension where clothing was illegal. Considered secretive, you see. Suspicious.

[That...

isn't exactly what she'd been expecting to hear. Maybe reassurance, yes, but. Now she's struggling to not think of him without clothes. Good job Ford, you went and made it Awkward(er).]

Wow, that's... that would really be unfortunate, wouldn't it?

[Her cheeks are tinted a little red, but she's trying to conceal, don't feel really hard right now. Elsa clears her throat and moves to stand up.]

That's very inspirational, though! So... I'm going to go do things properly!

[And also take a moment to kick away the awkward mental images she's been given. She brings her cup with her so that the barista will know how to make it Just Right, leaving Skadi snoozing on Ford's lap in her absense.

Skadi coughs in her sleep, resulting in a blast of cold where you wouldn't really want one.]

[That is his curse: taking an awkward situation and making it worse by trying to help. He really is doing his best, honest, this just really isn't his area of expertise.

Luckily he's saved too much more awkward when she gets up -- until Skadi coughs and does her level best to freeze his lap solid. His mouth goes very thin and he sets down his drink before carefully and deliberately lifting her off his lap and setting her down in an adjacent chair. Okay. Mental note: when your Alolan Vulpix hatches, don't let it sleep on you.

Mellorine continues to nibble her scone, apparently oblivious to literally everything that's been going on around her. She's just happy to be here.]

[Skadi isn't a very light sleeper when she gets good and comfortable, so she's much like a sleepy baby as she rouses and falls right back asleep as Ford moves her. The chair isn't quite as comfortable, but she falls asleep pretty quickly regardless.

Elsa returns soon after, carrying her iced caramel macchiato, looking much better.]

Good news! I apologized and they said it happens all the time, so I don't feel too bad about it. Oh, and they even put an extra shot of "espresso" in there for me, since I said I love how it really perked me up!

[Elsa. Elsa no, stop.

A moment later she notices Skadi isn't where she had been, and realization dawns on her. She stifles a giggle.]

Did she-?

Yes.

[He's not really as wounded about it as he sounds, but he's always had a habit of being overdramatic. He also absolutely can't judge her for her espresso intake, not when his own abomination is a quad.]

Does she always do that when she sleeps?

[Aw, poor guy.

It's almost adorable how wounded he sounds, but Elsa really can't have too much sympathy given how often it's happened to her. You just get used to it. At his question, she nods.]

Yes, though she's gotten much better. You remember when I first arrived and she would sneeze an all-out blizzard? This is much tamer in comparison.

[Elsa nibbles one of the vanilla scones, really appreciating how it compliments her beverage.

This place is truly magical.]

Did you want to meet Baldur, by the way? I had forgotten. I'm sure he would love to meet you!

[So basically do you want it frozen or burned off?]

[Ford is just going to poutily eat his sandwich. At least that is treating him well here. His whole expression turns around at the mention of actually getting to meet Baldur, though. He doesn't require updates on all the eggs he's sent out into the world but he certainly doesn't mind them. And anyway he prefers heat to cold. There's a reason he wears that damn sweater even in the dead of summer. He just plain handles heat better.]

Sure I would -- provided he doesn't sneeze and accidentally melt my Vanillite.

[He's mostly joking. Mellorine appears not to have heard him, anyway.]

[Elsa is already reaching for Baldur's Pokeball as she lets out a small chuckle.]

Fortunately, Baldur doesn't have the same difficulties as Skadi so that won't be an issue!

[She lets Baldur out and he immediately begins sniffing everywhere because!! New place!! So many people and Pokemon!! And he smells FOOD!!

Not only that, but he smells meat, which leads him in the direction of Ford, which is great until he starts begging immediately for that dank sandwich.

Elsa, who's used to vaguely tuning him and his begging out by this point, has turned her attention to Vanillite so that she can offer the Pokemon another scone.]

Like I said, he's very energetic. [Her tone is a little distant as she's focused on Vanillite.] Oh, you're absolutely lovely! You can have as many of these you want. What a sweetie! [Sorry she's kind of enamored.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

and then they waltz into a starmiebucks

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject