A Friendly Outing...

[floatsaway]

Who: Uraraka Ochako and Todoroki Shouto
Where: Ilex Forest
When: Now??
Summary: Forest Picnic!!
Rating: PG, probs.


[Wouldn't you know it, but luck was somewhat on Ochako's side these past few days. She won against Bugsy, got some funds stockpiled away, and managed to actually catch Todoroki coming through the same area to try his own hand at the gym proper and travel with her and Eri for a bit, maybe... Perhaps at least until they get through the Forest and out to the next big city. If memory served right, Ochako remembered it being the largest one in this region - Goldenrod. She had planned to temporarily stop her gym challenge there a while, after getting the badge, just to get Eri enrolled in school, get herself a job (and a Meowth) to start earning more money.

But for today, it's a day of relaxation and spending time with a friend she hasn't seen a while. Ochako's not in dire straights, but she does get sort of lonely without her other friends...and getting to see them all is a rare treat. Once she gets the means to travel herself, she might actually visit them all more frequently. So it's why today is a bit of a rare treat. Eri's been left with a daycare couple for a few hours, just so Ochako could have some time by herself with Todoroki. They had planned a little outing into the Forest - no further than the shrine, actually.

Laying out the blanket on the soft, lush grass, Ochako sets out plates, chopsticks, the thermoses of hot tea, and other foodstuff she either prepped herself, or bought somewhere. Nothing fancy - mostly onigiri, some snacks, and a few sandwiches. She tried to find some cold soba for Todoroki to enjoy, but no where really had it...and making it herself would have taken too long to prep for, and the kitchens she couldn't readily use at the Inns and hotels she sometimes stayed at.]

Sorry I couldn't get your favorite, Todoroki-kun...I-I hope this is all okay? Oh, um, before we start though, ah. [Ochako takes out a package she set aside specifically - some sticky rice and sliced up berries. She'll set those up by the shrine's alter and clasp her hands together for a moment in quiet prayer before settling back to the picnic blanket.] An old auntie told me to leave an offering for the Forest Guardian... Apparently it's a very rare and powerful grass type - and some people have even seen it, but no one's got a picture of it or anything. Even Deku-kun said he saw one of those rare, wild ones...um. During the explorations and stuff.

[Ochako picks up one of the rice balls, filled with tuna mayo (her favorite!!) and takes a hearty nomf, speaking between chewing - like a fucking savage.] Ne, Todoroki-kun, should we let out our, um...partners, too? I caught a really, really cute one here a few days ago!! You should definitely meet her!

Comments

[heir_conditioned]

[[Any time he got to see anyone was an equal treat, even Eri who he didn't know very well, but was glad to see she wasn't in any of the trouble she had been back home. Pro tip: The last thing that poor kid needed was more trauma. It's good that she's at least got Ochako and the rest of them somehow at a fingertip should things turn bad for her. Thankfully, this world also looked out for kids on their "Adventure" as so many had put it, so there was that, too.

All aside he's just as content that he gets to see her and it doesn't take him long to find her after sending a pokemon or two out into the surrounding area in case they wanted to play, work out aggression or whatever else it is they do when he's not looking.

Adding what bit he brought to the blanket made him realize he didn't know much about what to do at a lunch meeting either. Food and that's that, really.]]

It's alright. This is more than enough.

[[After placing down some drinks of varying sorts-- Iced tea, or some waters, mostly people things, he settles onto the blanket while she prays at the shrine.]]

If Midoriya says he saw it, then he saw it and it's real.

[[There's no hesitation in his voice, none. The one thing Izuku wouldn't do was lie to them, not about something that important.]]

You can let your team out. A couple of mine are in ear shot, but I'd like to let the others out, too.

[floatsaway]

[A picnic for lunch really isn't all that fancy, or at least not to her. Ochako never really expects much from anyone, especially her friends. Their presence alone is a joy, and getting to see any one of the boys during her journey is a small blessing each time it happens.

After doing what she wanted at the shrine, and smiling up at it gently, Ochako turns back to Todoroki a minute before fishing through her bag for a few Pokeballs to let out her partners. Not all of them (definitely not Chow Mein), but a few of the easier to get along with types.]

I know, there's no reason Deku-kun would lie about something like that. I guess I'm just a little jealous in a way...it feels like he's always getting caught up in cool or really crazy things. I'd really like to see something like that for myself one day...

[It'd be really cool? Ochako's heard about a few of them - the rainbow winged Pokemon, and the one that sleeps within the ocean's depths... But maybe another time, in the future. For now, she's clicking open a few of her Pokeballs, letting out her Vulpix, Spheal, Meowstic, and Rowlet. Each one of them clambers for a spot on Ochako's lap, the Meowstic hissing and shoving the others away with her psychic powers. seems Eclair has been utterly starved for attention since she's been in the box for a while...]

Eeh...a-ah, please...everyone, behave yourselves!! You can all sit beside me!

[heir_conditioned]

[[Unlike everyone else, Todoroki didn't really... care about legendary pokemon or anything to do with the world he lived in that the residents who were more native to it seemed to want to climb toward. He liked gyms, he did gyms, he liked pokemon. He enjoyed helping out in the hidden temple and things like it, but man he wished he could be as excited as everyone else about it.

Everyone seemed like they were getting too used to this world in a way that was going to make it hard to leave when they found out how to.

Thankfully, distracting him when he isn't doing something a little more formidable isn't hard to do and the pokemon that got let out of their balls make it easy to see that Ochako's still got her charming personality. She really was going to make a good hero one day. Here or home, whatever one she decided on.]]

Your Meowstic reminds me of Bakugo.

[[Minus the blowing up and also climbing into her lap, that'd be definitely not him. But the attitude.]]

They're all really lovely. Mine are mostly out in the forest right now.

[[Aside the pokeball that he pulled out of his pocket and let out the tiny rookidee who hopped onto his knee to scout out the other pokemon.]]

I recognize a couple of them, but what species are they?

[[Turning his head, Todoroki put his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly, a quick, sharp sound and then returned to the conversation. Otherwise it was clear he was waiting for his pokemon to respond.]]

[floatsaway]

[Todoroki is valid. Ochako will never choose to stay in any world that isn't her own - her hopes, dreams, and everyone she loves are all back in the world that is truly her home. Nothing can take away the bond she has with her mother and father, and the desire to see them again, hear their voices and get to hug and hold them again. Her Pokemon are great companions, they truly are, and she loves each one dearly, but...if she had to choose to say goodbye to them, she would. It would be hard, and it would hurt, but the resources here that care for Pokemon are pretty damn good. Her friends will be fine, if they ever have to say goodbye.

Ochako laughs a bit, as Eclair stakes her claim on Ochako's lap, making a low guttural yowl at the others who quietly sulk nearby. Matcha, the Rowlet, seems to bypass them all and instead opts to flutter to a branch in the forest. This was her home just a few short days ago, after all! She's very familiar with it, and still feels at home here.]

Eh...heheh. Y-Yeah, she really does, doesn't she? Eclair-chan, you never did meet Todoroki before, did you? Can you be nice and say hello? [Ochako pets her Meowstic gently, rubbing a finger through the which cheek fur, and while Eclai leans heavily into the touch, she leers at Todoroki and scoots closer to Ochako and curls up against her. If this one is like the foul, green slime...he, too, is an enemy.]

Mmh? Oh!! Well, I think you were there when I caught Manjuu. [The Spheal from the ruins, who is already dead asleep near Ochako's foot.] Anseris is a Vulpix - the fire type, since it also comes with an ice varia--oh!! Kind of like your quirk, Todoroki-kun!! Ehehe, that's so funny, I didn't even think about that!

Ah, and Matcha is a Rowlet! I actually just caught her a little bit ago in this forest. It's probably why she's so comfortable here. But your little birdy is super cute, too! Does it have a name?

[heir_conditioned]

[[It'd be a difficult time for them all, certainly not something that Shoto was looking forward to and hopefully it was like a few people had said. They'd never know... which might be worse, the pokemon they knew and loved would never see them again and always have the knowledge that they were there.

The thought is fleeting because of the Meowstic who wanted nothing more than his heart to stop, he was sure. Take a number, lady. The look got no more than anything else any of the pokemon did and his most inner feelings and thoughts on the matter stayed right where they belonged. Besides that, he felt the utter need to actually listen when he was being given the answers he asked the question to.

He transferred the little bird from his leg to his hand and from his hand to his shoulder while he listened. It's routine for them but half way through, the little bird might've had to use a wing or two to flap to his shoulder.]]

Exactly like it.

[[A Vulpix, huh? His eyes turned on to it for a moment and then he winced, maybe a bit dramatically at being pecked. Okay okay. He was listening and not just dissociating his way through a conversation.]]

They're all lovely pokemon and I do remember you catching them. I had a lot of fun on that expedition. This is a rookidee, her name is Miu.

[[This is his daughter and he will kill anyone who looks sideways at her in a menacing and meaningful manner.]]

The others should be along shortly.

[[And shortly it is, too. His own Meowstic had a ditto-outfit Mimikyu in tow by its hand, his Sinistea nestled kindly on the cat's head. With a quick point at them while the Meowstic tucked the smaller, draped pokemon in nearer to Todoroki (eyeing the goings on) he named them off.]]

Meowstic you already know, Mimikyu and Sinistea. Toshiko, Kasō, and Hojicha. The other parts of my present team need more time to be socialized so they pose no threat.

[floatsaway]

[Todoroki is absolutely correct in his assumptions of what Eclair would love to happen, though the fact he seems less inclined to crowd her Trainer's space is something that dulls the edge of her sharp glare. And soon enough, her eyes fall to the other Meowstic...and she appraises him very carefully as well. Perhaps with the same glower, perhaps with a bored expression - it's not every day she gets to see another of her species, and it could very well be they were from around the same area prior to being caught.

Anseris, on the other hand, looks up at Todoroki and seems to get a bit too shy, ducking his face against the side of Ochako's leg and making a quiet and shy sound. Don't mind him, he's just Bashful, and being called 'lovely' - even in passing - makes the little fox Pokemon seem to get warmer than he already is. But, he will curiously peek up to inspect the other Pokemon that appear, and lean forward a little.]

Uwaah, they're all so cute!! I've never seen a Meowtic like your before! I knew they had differences between the genders on the information page, but this is the first time I see one for real! He's so cuuute~! Eclair-chan, say hi! [Ochako picks up Eclair under her stumpy arms, to which she makes a highly displeased face, and is set down near the other Meowstic, which she sneers at, and flops over like a sack of potatoes. Typical cat...] Ah...m-maybe not.

Eh, b-but all the others are really cute, too! Miu-chan is so small!! And Hojicha's such a funny name! [Funny in that it's adorable. Ochako is leaning forward to introduce herself and her other Pokemon to everyone, smiling sweetly and calling to Matcha the Rowlet to come back around for some playtime.] Ehehe, that one looks like a little dolly, too! It's so cute.

[The Mimikyu, specifically, she's pointing at. N-No one tell her it's actually a very dangerous ghost...]