007 - [Non-copyrighted Birthday Song Goes Here!]

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[The video feed from Angel's Pokegear opens not to the siren's face, but to the large eyes of a mischievous Sylveon. In the background, a Lucario watches with faint disapproval. She doesn't do anything to stop the pink gremlin from pawing at the camera.

After three bats, the 'Gear rotates around to show a calendar. The date, March 3rd, is circled several times. There's a cute little doodle of some balloons and a little birthday cake. Adorababy taps the date a few times for good measure, then lopes back over to the camera. He hunkers down with -- is that wink?]

Adorababy? Skagbait? Are you two still in there?

[Somewhere off screen, a door opens. In the background, Skagbait shakes her head and moves toward the door. Adorababy, on the other hand, swipes a paw out, quick as possible, ending the video just as quick as it started.

Well. You know what to do!]

Comments

[angewiesen]

[Jean learned from Armin that Angel's birthday was coming up, so he managed to get her a gift in time.]

[In a box that he didn't bother to wrap are a pair of some real good Fuck-Off Boots. They should fit her well, and they're not too heavy, but they'll be good for hiking, and may aid in curb-stomping anyone who would try and bother her. He felt like black would be the safest color.]

Happy birthday, Angel.

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[Angel's... a little surprised, actually. She hadn't made a point of talking about her birthday, after all. Of course, there was a little blond birdie that they both seemed to know. She was going to have to have words with him.

In any case, these are some high quality fuck-off boots. Angel has to marvel at them, honestly. Especially since she's been recently informed of her "punk rock" aesthetic. This seems like a sign for her to lean into it!]

The second they're taken out of the box, Angel starts to work on putting them on. She doesn't lace them up just yet -- rather, she holds her leg out rather awkwardly and grins at him.]

How do I look?

[angewiesen]

[It is definitely a little blonde birdie's fault. But Angel is one of a very small and exclusive club. Jean's ride-and-die crew. And there are some pretty decent perks that come with that membership.]

Like you're ready to crack some heads. [This pleases Jean immensely.] Or at least win some Gym battles.

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Who says I can't do both? [She shakes her fist at Jean, looking very menacing for .2 seconds. Or at least she might have to a Pidgey. For Jean, it's probably just laughable.] I could win a gym battle and then knock over the leader when I take their badge. Or... at least kick them in the shin.

[She smiles down at her booted leg, before absolutely beaming up at Jean. Look at what you did, buddy. You made her happy.]

They're perfect. Not to mention incredibly thoughtful. Thank you, Jean.

[angewiesen]

[It is highly laughable, and Jean actually does. It's kind of ugly, because he's trying to hold it back, but it's fond too. It's not every day that he manages to make a girl genuinely happy.]

You're welcome. I'm glad you like 'em.

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[It may be ugly, but Angel looks absolutely charmed all the same. Jean had always seemed so subdued, though that could just as easily have been because of the more somber subjects they seemed to focus on with one another. Regardless, the fact that he's laughing is a great sign.]

They'll be perfect for when we set out, I think. If... you still wanted to travel together, that is.

[angewiesen]

Of course I do. [He's been looking forward to it, actually.] I actually had a question I wanted to ask about it.

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[Angel kneels down to take the boots back off. She'll need to break them in at some point, but preferably not around the apartment! Still, she peers up at Jean curiously.]

Sure, what is it?

[angewiesen]

D'you think you'd be okay with some extra company? I was thinking about asking Sasha if she'd like to come... Do you know her?

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[Angel's eyes seem to light up.]

I think that's a wonderful idea. I have wanted to spend more time with Sasha. We've met briefly here and there, but I have never had the time to fully engage with her.

[angewiesen]

[OH, GOOD. He was fairly sure Angel would be okay with it, but you never know!]

Cool, cool. [There's a hint of relief in Jean's voice.] She's, uh... I found out she's actually pretty lonely these days, so I've been trying to hang around her, but it'd be tough to do that out on the road. So I thought... Well, yeah. I haven't asked her yet, but know that I know you're okay with it, I will.

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She seemed lonely when we last talked. I... wanted to fix that, but things were a little waylaid with... other business.

[Sometimes your dad disappears, then comes back and makes you go radio silent for a few months.]

I'll have to learn how to cook while traveling, I think. I know she enjoys food, and someone is going to have to keep us fed, right?

[angewiesen]

I think we've all been a little waylaid. [There's a slight bitterness to his tone, mostly because he feels bad he let things go for so long. Sasha didn't deserve that.]

Actually, she's a good cook. Maybe she could teach you.

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We can do better while we're on the road, then. [Angel's sharp, she can read that tone and try to steer it toward something more productive. Jean doesn't need to go beating himself up, after all.]

That's good, then. I could use the lessons, I think. You should have seen the rice that Shiro and I managed to serve up earlier this year.

[angewiesen]

Rice? [Good job, he's been successfully derailed!] Don't just just... Boil that? Until it's done?

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Well. Yes. I learned that after the fact.

[Her brows pinch.]

We just kept stirring it the entire time. It was more like pudding by the time we realized what happened.

[angewiesen]

[PFFT.]

Uh, yeah, that's how you make porridge. Still edible, but, uh, probably not the texture you were aiming for.