[Tsubaki, having realized that the situation seems to be resolved, trip-trops back to Maka's side, staring up at Rikki curiously. She holds up her paw and waves, hello other Pokemon, how are you today?
Maka, blissfully unaware of Pokemon politics as usual, just shrugs.]
I've had worse. Besides, it doesn't matter, I'm just happy that I get to meet you in person finally! And since this happened, now we can walk down together, so it's a good thing.
[Rikki rolls her eyes over to look at Tsubaki, her expression flat and unchanging as her bottle-brush tail flicks behind Kaneki's head. She just sorta...nods her head a bit awkwardly in return before glancing away, keeping her attention on Maka.
Meanwhile, Kaneki's a little taken off guard by that, and it shows a bit in his expression as his cheeks flush red and he brings a hand to nervously touch the side of his face.]
O-oh, well...me too! Should we head on down, then?
[To make it worse for Rikki, Maka not only doesn't let go of Kaneki, but she leads him along as though this is completely normal. Bless being American.]
We're going to the park first, right? Maybe we'll run into some neat Pokemon there.
[Well good job, Maka, the Zangoose is bristling like an angry cat on Kaneki's shoulder now as he's pulled down the hallway, lifting his bag a bit higher on his shoulder with his free hand.]
Right.
[...he hopes it's not Murkrow, though. Anything but Murkrow.]
I've only been to the park a few times...but it's nice.
[Good job, indeed, but it's totally harmless--it's not as though Maka's going to throw him down the stairs.]
There's a lot of Bug types there, they actually have a contest once in a while to see if you can catch the best of the type. It's how I got my Vespiquen and Butterfree.
[Implying yes, there's not just one terrifying gigantic bee, but TWO.]
Mostly I'd just go there to sit and read for a little while, though. It's actually how I met my friend, Snake--maybe you've seen him? He's a quiet person, always has his snake Pokemon with him, shy, but very kind. [She sounds quite fond of this friend.]
I think we are, yeah. His Pokemon actually ended up submitting the survey for him, but...he does seem like a nice person. I think he's going to try to meet with me at the bookstore café, sometime.
[Either to cash in their date or just to meet, Kaneki really doesn't care. He's just glad that there are other people out there who wouldn't mind him babbling about books to them for hours.]
[She kinda laughs, tugging at one of her pigtails as they go.]
Is that weird? I don't know, I thought it felt more peaceful being up there, and I could see some Pokemon going about their business sometimes too. I grew up in a desert, so there wasn't really a lot of places for trees.
[Besides that inexplicable forest outside of the city proper, but let's not discuss the supernatural aspects of life on the first date.]
Oh, well... my friend Hide used to when we were kids, but he could never quite convince me to go up there with him.
[And while Hide could be convincing, Kaneki knew that if he even got a foot off the ground he'd probably be in danger of getting a broken arm. Or worse.]
...are you sure? I mean, I don't want you to have to- ...I could probably try just...climbing up myself...so you don't have to try, you know...lifting me or something.
[That probably sounds a little more condescending than he intended but you know what he is trying.]
[Kaneki sort of- reaches out and grabs on to her out of reflex as she suddenly just hauls him from his feet like that. Rikki has to once again dig in her claws to keep from being flung off, one paw coming up blindly and driving into the back of his shirt.]
...I'm not gonna throw you up there, you don't have to freak out. Well, I mean, I guess I moved a little fast, but you were kinda talking like I couldn't do it?
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Maka, blissfully unaware of Pokemon politics as usual, just shrugs.]
I've had worse. Besides, it doesn't matter, I'm just happy that I get to meet you in person finally! And since this happened, now we can walk down together, so it's a good thing.
[Yes...glass half-full kind of person over here.]
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Meanwhile, Kaneki's a little taken off guard by that, and it shows a bit in his expression as his cheeks flush red and he brings a hand to nervously touch the side of his face.]
O-oh, well...me too! Should we head on down, then?
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[To make it worse for Rikki, Maka not only doesn't let go of Kaneki, but she leads him along as though this is completely normal. Bless being American.]
We're going to the park first, right? Maybe we'll run into some neat Pokemon there.
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Right.
[...he hopes it's not Murkrow, though. Anything but Murkrow.]
I've only been to the park a few times...but it's nice.
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There's a lot of Bug types there, they actually have a contest once in a while to see if you can catch the best of the type. It's how I got my Vespiquen and Butterfree.
[Implying yes, there's not just one terrifying gigantic bee, but TWO.]
Mostly I'd just go there to sit and read for a little while, though. It's actually how I met my friend, Snake--maybe you've seen him? He's a quiet person, always has his snake Pokemon with him, shy, but very kind. [She sounds quite fond of this friend.]
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...would you believe me if I told you that he actually got paired with me on that...dating survey?
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[She was definitely serious when she said that he's shy.]
Someone must have done it for him, like with me. I hope you two ended up friends, anyway.
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[Either to cash in their date or just to meet, Kaneki really doesn't care. He's just glad that there are other people out there who wouldn't mind him babbling about books to them for hours.]
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[Read: she's a sap.]
[But besides that, now Maka realizes she's been holding onto his hand and lets go.]
Oh, sorry, I forgot I was doing that. Geez, I think I'm picking up some bad habits from my Sylveon.
[Tsubaki makes a face at that, she certainly hopes not--Cadence is weird, y'all.]
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He takes a breath and glances down at his feet as they walk, shaking his head with a weak laugh.]
N-no no, it's okay. Don't worry about it.
[Rikki's making a face too, but for a completely different reason.]
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Moving on to other things, when they arrive at the park Maka will turn to him again with her eyes practically sparkling.]
I'll show you the tree I used to read in, it's this way!
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You used to read...in a tree?
[He asks as they walk, not seeming to mind the fact that his Zangoose insists on riding on his shoulders instead of walking alongside him.]
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[She kinda laughs, tugging at one of her pigtails as they go.]
Is that weird? I don't know, I thought it felt more peaceful being up there, and I could see some Pokemon going about their business sometimes too. I grew up in a desert, so there wasn't really a lot of places for trees.
[Besides that inexplicable forest outside of the city proper, but let's not discuss the supernatural aspects of life on the first date.]
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[Or just flat out fall out of it, if you're Kaneki Ken.]
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[Injuries are normal for her, she almost says, then stops herself.]
It may be peaceful, but it's still not that comfortable, and I can't imagine falling asleep just sitting up.
Have you never climbed a tree before?
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[And while Hide could be convincing, Kaneki knew that if he even got a foot off the ground he'd probably be in danger of getting a broken arm. Or worse.]
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Haha, do you have any more secrets? What else haven't you done?
[Maka's just teasing.]
I've never played baseball and I'm not good at basketball, if it makes you feel better.
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[And he ate the floor a couple times.]
I'm, ah...not very good at sports in general, really.
[He's a book nerd through and through.
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[Now they've reached a shady spot--as in shaded by trees, not sketchy--so Maka points up at a tree with an impressive canopy.]
I can boost you up in there, so you don't have to climb.
[Yes, she actually just offered to bodily pick him up.]
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W-wait you...you really want to-?
[Are we climbing trees Maka, is that what we're doing.]
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[It's a thing that's going to be done, just accept it.]
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[That probably sounds a little more condescending than he intended but you know what he is trying.]
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tilts her head at him, silent for a moment as she's trying to figure out what he means by that.]
What do you mean? Here, I'll show you--
[And she sweeps him up to carry him over to the tree with no effort whatsoever.]
You can grab onto the branch now, right?
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[Kaneki sort of- reaches out and grabs on to her out of reflex as she suddenly just hauls him from his feet like that. Rikki has to once again dig in her claws to keep from being flung off, one paw coming up blindly and driving into the back of his shirt.]
Y-you really don't have to- ah- I guess I can...?
[Oooh my god this is awkward.]
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[It's not like he's super fat or anything.]
At any rate, up you go!
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