First Primary (text)

[feathersfly]

so i've got a question for those of you who are from a different world than this one. which is everyone who uses this network, from what I've been told, so I guess that's superfluous.

long story short: we lose our powers here. everyone knows that. we lose anything obviously inhuman here. everyone knows that, too.

has that involved losing limbs for anyone else? how do you deal with that? i feel like i need some kind of amputee support group, only since i'm not actually missing any expected human body parts i suspect they'd kick me out.

Comments

[floatsaway]

[The tone does help a bit, and after taking a bit of a breath to center herself, Ochako feels a little more at ease. She listens, and tilts her head to one side a bit. Ah...poor Hawks. It's definitely no lie that the more popular heroes have strong and really flashy quirks, like All Might, Endeavor, and Hawks himself - that's just known fact. Heroes are heroes because of their quirks...but is that really all there is to it? It helps, sure, but--]

I still think you're a Hero without your quirk, Hawks-san. [There's a smile in those words, despite it only being voice. It's a smile that's felt.] It does mean a lot to hear nice things, coming from a Pro like you, but...you know, if we're being honest?

All Might was never my favorite hero. Neither was Endeavor or even any of the current top ten. I liked, and still like Thirteen the most, because of what they do! I want to be a rescue hero myself, mostly, and I think just having that desire to help those that can't really help themselves...I think that's what matters most of all. You've always seemed like that kind of Hero, so it made me happy to hear you praise me. Really, um...

Thank you very much. For all that you do, too.

[feathersfly]

[Hawks casts an eye, briefly, over the inside of his room at Rocket HQ. He really wonders just how much of a hero he is at the moment. Sure, his intentions are still good, but it's not like he's actually been able to accomplish anything worthwhile since his arrival. He's too new and too poor to do much through normal channels, too depowered without his quirk to have any other channels open to him. Not to mention the distress of not having his wings is definitely holding him back right now.

The desire to help others is all well and good, and he doesn't disagree with her that that's at least half of the job...but wanting to do good things and not being able to do any is, as far as results go, no different from never having those good intentions in the first place. Is he actually doing anybody any good?

...hmm. Well, he supposes maybe he's doing some good right now, if it comes to that. Maybe nourishing the new generation is something he should start paying a little more attention to, now that he's not capable of doing a whole lot else.]

My quirk's always been pretty multi-purpose, but I've definitely done a bit of rescuing in my time. If that puts me close to the same level as your personal hero, I'm pretty flattered!

[floatsaway]

[Heroes come in many shapes and sizes, and while their world certainly does have a very set image of what a Hero is, or should be, the term itself is a broad one. Right now, even if he's quirkless like the rest of them, Ochako still sees Hawks as a Hero, because he's kind. Because he, unlike many, thought she had it in her to succeed. Because he saw her for more than just a fragile girl that needed to be coddled, told what to do to succeed. In that way, yes, he may be bolstering the next generation, but he's also just making a young girl believe in herself a little bit more.

And that doesn't require anything fancy at all.]

Of course!! You've always been really cool, and you helped Tokoyami-kun learn and grow a whole lot stronger, too! Thank you so much, Hawks-san!! Um...it feels weird now, ehehe, with the roles reversed, but you know...if you need any help at all in this world, I've been here a while now. And I don't mind at all.

Did they make you a trainer or a breeder? If you're a trainer, there's actually a gym leader that uses birds exclusively!! I think you and him would get along really well!

[feathersfly]

Hah, has little Tsukuyomi spread his wings that much since his internship? [Hawks grins.] I'm glad to hear it. I don't know how good of a mentor I am, but I tried to give him a few things to take away, at least.

It kind of feels like I should be helping you, being the adult here...but hey, like you said, you're the established one here. At the very least, nothing wrong with a little mutual assistance, right? I'm not just going to ask for help like a baby bird and not offer any back.

[But the question brings him up short, and he has to carefully school his expression to make sure nothing slips through as his mind races. Trainer? Breeder? He hasn't been assigned either of those roles. Maybe they only apply to non-Rockets. The problem is, he doesn't know what either of those things mean...or if he'll be caught out somehow if he chooses the wrong one. But he can't just hesitate over his answer, either, not when this should clearly be an easy question...

He makes a split second call.] Trainer. And you're right, a person who appreciates birds definitely sounds like my kind of guy.

[He decides to change the subject quickly, before any potential details of being a trainer are brought up or asked after. And, fortunately, that's easy to do.]

Oh, yeah, now that we're on video, let me introduce you! [He angles his Gear towards one of his shoulders, where a Rufflet is puffed up and half-dozing.] Hey, Teriyaki, wake up and say hi!

[Teriyaki's eyes open, and he blinks at the Gear briefly before making a small 'beep' sort of sound.]

[floatsaway]

Everyone is improving, I think. They really took a lot of what you Pros all said to heart and ran forward toward their goals. [She smiles, leaning her cheek into her hand, a wistful look on her face.] It's pretty inspiring, and I think that's why we're all so good for each othe--

Eh? Ah...well, I know what you mean, I think, and I appreciate that, I really do, but I want to learn to walk on my own a bit too, you know? The boys are all traveling together, but I don't want to just saddle along with them like baggage, or something. I want to get stronger, then I'll feel like it's worth it. But I'll help, or accept help, if I need it too. It's like you said, ehehe - mutual assistance!!

[Poor Hawks, having to sidestep such a secret like that. Ochako wouldn't really know at first what to do with it, if she ever found out, but in the end...Heroes help people. She'd probably offer to try and free him of whatever contract Team Rocket has him under, and get the others involved, too. Even if Hawks is the adult, and a Pro Hero as well, it's just not in their nature to not meddle a bit.

But thoughts for another time, because the distraction works - Ochako's a bit easy that way. Her eyes go wide when she sees the big, fluffy birdy and begins to coo and giggle at the name.]

Uwaah, cutie!! Hehehe, Teriyaki-chan, that's so funny! I name a lot of my friends after food, too, but my only bird isn't. She--eh, Ankaa, I mean - is named after the brightest star in the constellation Phoenix. What sort of birdy is that?

[Ochako kind of wants one for herself, it's so fluffy.]

[feathersfly]

According to my Pokédex, this little guy is a Rufflet. And - oh, okay, sure -

[This is said with a sort of exasperated half-laugh as the viewscreen is suddenly obscured by an angry little bird face, popping right up in front of the camera. A swivel of the head surveys Ochako (or, at least, the camera lens on Hawks' side, but what a penetrating little glare!) with one eye followed by the other, after which there's a grumpy squawk and the sulky face disappears.]

...yeah, that was Yakitori. He's a Spearow and he just seems perpetually mad about it.

[floatsaway]

Ruffle--ehh!

[Wow, that is a grumpy looking little birdie! Ochako jumps back a bit from the screen from the small jumpscare that Spearow provided and laughs a bit nervously. Should...sh-should she mention she was attacked by birds on her first day in this world? Probably not...the Starly that were nesting were just doing that came naturally - guarding their homes and their eggs - so she can't be too mad but...yikes. They were nasty. Less scary looking that this one, though, wow.]

Ah, eh...ehehe! He's sort of cute though, in a funny way. [Honestly, her idea of 'cute' is all over the place.] Hahaha, I like your names though, that's funny!! Are you sticking to just birds or a specific type, Hawks-san? I actually think there are bird-looking animals that aren't flying types at all. At least according to the Gear.

[Ones like Decidueye, the Blaziken line, and the penguins - Piplup's line and Eiscue.]

[feathersfly]

Oh, yeah, he's adorable. I mean, he's a pain, but in an endearing way, y'know? [Like Bakugou.

The question about team composition gives Hawks a few moments' thoughtful pause.] I'm definitely not sticking at type; I'm mostly looking for birds of all sorts. They don't even necessarily have to be birds that can fly, although I especially want those. But all birds are welcome on my team.

As to whether I want pokémon that are just birdlike...that's going to depend, I guess. Probably on purely subjective terms I make up on the fly.

[That pun better have been unintentional, Hawks, you're on thin ice as it is.]

[floatsaway]

Ah...I know exactly what you mean.

[First and foremost - yes, like Bakugou, but Ochako also has a little menace of her own. And will undoubtedly get more of them in the future. All Pokemon, even of the same species, all have wildly different personalities, after all.]

Ehehe...well, when you fill up your team more, I want to see them!! There's a lot of cool birds here that I've seen flying around or perched in the eaves of the city and town's buildings. I haven't really caught one just yet, but I'm thinking to at some point, maybe. I just don't know which one I want...

Maybe in the future, I;ll ask you for a recommendation, ne?