[voice]

[mamalike]

Well, I can't say I'm happy about this whole thing... But I guess the timing could've been worse. Although having a woman who's probably younger than me claim to be my mother, that kind of weirded me out. [A snicker with a bit of a snort to it, as the woman's tired annoyance gives way to begrudging fondness.] She'd have to be a lot more overbearing than that to compare...

I'll give this place some credit for the guidebook. 'Cause if a realm's gonna pull you into it, or whatever happened here, the least it can do is give you an instruction manual. But commanding the, uh, Pokey-mon we team up with feels a little weird, at least to me. I'd rather be fighting alongside them-- Although I guess without any of my magic now, that's not an option anyway. Ugh. Alright, Owl Lady, don't get caught up in that...

[After that muttered aside and a deep breath, she's sounding better - if not a bit strained.]

Might as well introduce myself. We're all weirdos to a realm we don't belong in here, right? I'm Eda Clawthorne. It's not my first time traveling like this, but it's definitely the only time I really had no say in it... And it's just the pits. What do you guys do around here to deal with all that?

Comments

[mamalike]

[Eda doesn't know if it will really all be okay. She's been told time is staying still back home, but what's waiting back home is a whole mess, for her and it sounds like for him too. Things aren't over yet, clearly. But she isn't feeding Hunter a lie, because the way she sees it, right now it is okay. And as long as he's here, and she's here to look out for him - because not doing so simply isn't an option, for many reasons - it will stay okay.

The hug takes her by surprise. In fact, that might be an understatement. Sure, she can understand-- He's just a kid who's already dealt with far too much. Being reassured can go a long way. But it's still quite the shock, and heartbreaking in its own way.

At first, Eda simply puts a hand on Hunter's head. She wants to be here for him, she's going to look out for him, but this is still awkward for her. Not because of the whole Golden Guard thing, even, just because it's letting people in, and she went so long not doing that. But when Hunter just continues to hold on to her... No, he's getting a hug back.]

[cardinaldirections]

[Just as before, he tenses up when she first hugs him back, not that the earlier tension ever completely went out of him. He's not used to affection quite like this, from peers or from adults, but he allows it of himself in this moment. He lingers, then pulls back, swiping at his eyes self-consciously. When he speaks his voice is thick, and to distract himself he rubs the crest of his partner, who is still standing close.]

...Yeah. It- will be. [Is he feeding himself a lie? Maybe. But maybe it'll help him tamp down the feeling he's made a fool of himself already, and that maybe he shouldn't feel ashamed about that, and maybe he should've just let her be it was all too complicated...] ...Th-thanks.

[mamalike]

Don't worry about it, kid.

[A phrase that means a few things, here, of course. She glances up into the tree branches at her Luzifer, who seems to be realizing the other Pokemon is no threat... And thus, getting curious. She smiles and lifts her arm for the Hoothoot to perch on.]

Alright, that's enough hiding. Get down here, you little goofball.

[cardinaldirections]

[Happy to have something else to concentrate on, Hunter watches the Hoothoot, stepping back a bit to give the Pokemon room to fly down. As he does so he idly rests a hand on Pancake's helmet, who closes their eyes and leans into it.]

Ohh, a Hoothoot. [A faint, short chuckle, his tone almost fond.] Why am I not surprised...

[He considers a moment, then glances at her.]

You know, if- you ever want another one, I've got one myself. His uh- his name's Edbert.

[And then he looks away, as if ashamed to even admit that whole thing, on the cusp of saying "You know what nevermind."]

[mamalike]

[That was not what Eda expected to hear - oh, she saw the light crack about her having a Hoothoot coming a mile away, sure, but the nickname Hunter's given his own... Oh man, this kid is going to be the death of her just as much as the others, huh? She smiles at Hunter.]

I don't know about taking a creature from you if you two have a connection, plus I gotta say... I like you having a Hoothoot, too. [A wink.] Especially one with such a great name.

Why don't you keep Edbert, at least for now. I mean, Hoothoot Trainer Coven doesn't quite have the same ring to it as Bad Girl Coven, but it's something, right?

[And bam. Just like that, this is absolutely her kid now.]

[cardinaldirections]

[Oh of course she wouldn't want it, that was absolutely so DUMB of him. And for a moment there was a flash of shame that colored his face and had him glancing off.

Then he heard something else, looking back up at her. That... sounded like some kind of acceptance, didn't it? And he didn't understand why, not when she didn't know him from, well, any other faceless Coven Scout- hell he'd been the worst of them, and still felt like he was working that off, even without being home. But here she was drawing him in, and maybe it was only because of the loose association with Luz, though he doubted she knew how deep that actually went.

But maybe... It was because he was a piece of the Boiling Isles, too. He could live with that.]

Hahh, maybe not. [Oh-!] But... Owl Coven might work?

[Okay that was no grand leap from Owl House but-]

[mamalike]

Of course! Can't believe I didn't think of that one. [Eda laughs, snorting a bit.] Owl Coven, that's perfect.

[If they were still at the Boiling Isles, the similarity to Owl House might be too on the nose, yeah. But here it feels like a wonderful acknowledgment.

She sighs, tired, as she ruffles and then smooths down Luzifer's feathers.]

Look, kid... If you were traveling here for a few hours straight, you gotta be pretty wiped by now. I need to hear what happened, but if you want to rest first, that's okay.

[cardinaldirections]

[Hunter recognizes this decision puts him at a crossroads. Sure he's tired, but he could easily keep going! And Eda wants to know what happened- needs to know what happened. But at the same time, the thought of trying to describe everything feels like it puts 50 pounds of weight on his bones, making it the last thing he wants to do. But but, he should tell her, he owes it to her, for teaching Luz, for trying to save them, for all the bad times he caused her.

But after a good couple of minutes of harried thought, eyes darting back and forth, sentences almost starting and then falling away, he was no closer to making a decision on that front. So instead he glanced up at her, without raising his head, and half-shrugged. However Eda wanted to read that would be up to her.]

[mamalike]

[Eda can't be sure what's going on in Hunter's head, but it seems pretty clear to her that the kid's overwhelmed... And that he's been through more than maybe she even thought.

Yeah, she needs to know what happened, but she doesn't need to know right away. From what she's been told, it's all in holding back home right now anyway. Hunter is here and now, and he needs her support more than she needs the information. Eda nods with a small and sympathetic smile.]

Don't worry about it now. I'm gonna set up camp, kid. [Town doesn't look too far off by now, but honestly, another night of camping just feels like the better option. No more walking to tire them out, no people around to add to the overwhelmed feelings.] And when we do talk, we'll take it a little at a time, okay?

[cardinaldirections]

[At her answer though, he honestly didn't seem quite happy, but couldn't quite put his finger on why. However as she goes to start setting up camp, he takes a couple steps forward.]

W-wait! I wanna help-!

[The Pokeball flash is easy to see in the darkness, and Hunter freezes mid-step. Already knowing who it was, he was already speaking as he turned around, indeed meeting his Lopunny face-to-face.]

No it's- it's fine, alright?? [He gestured with both hands.] I promise I'm not overdoing anything, and besides we have to set up camp one way or another. Okay?

[A little strained on that last word; then he sighed, sweeping a hand back through his hair, very aware Eda must be staring at all this.]

...I just- need to do this part. It'll be fine. [Chocolate's face scrunches up a bit.] H-hey at least I've gotten plenty of practice at it by now, right...?

[mamalike]

[Oh, she is indeed staring, but along with her utter confusion, she's... Kind of relieved? So far, her connection to her Pokemon has been more maternal - go figure - and it's nice to see Hunter has at least one teammate who's taking care of him as much as - if not more than - the other way around.

Still, she can absolutely understand how Hunter could be embarrassed and overwhelmed by all of this, so she tries to keep her tone relaxed.]

They're just looking out for you, but if you really want to help... [A soft sigh, and she addresses the Lopunny directly, though not before flashing Hunter a sheepishly apologetic smile.] ...How about you help him set the tent up while I get firewood, then? That way, if Hunter starts overdoing it, you'll be there to keep him in line.

[cardinaldirections]

[Chocolate seems rather pleased by this idea, chirruping at Eda before hopping off to do so. She paused to wait for Hunter, who flashed an incredulous look at her, rolled his eyes, and followed. Oh sure, he had to work for weeks to get her to like him, and Eda is here for five minutes...

Naturally it isn't long before a tent is up, by regulation at that. Hunter even spends extra time making sure that each stake is buried in properly, that the lines are as taut as they need to be without overdoing it, and that the flap is pulled back just so. And while Pancake has gone back into their Pokeball by this point, Chocolate is still hanging around, as well as a little Joltik acting as Hunter's shoulder-buddy.]