025 [Video/Action for Saffron]

[soggypastry]

--I said stop that.

[Well. Someone sounds a little angry today, doesn't she? Lightning's not exactly known for her easy-going nature, but she's calmed down a lot here in Johto. Except it doesn't seem that way from the tone of her voice.

But at least the growling isn't her. No, that growling belongs to the Shinx who just happens to be chewing on the gear, keeping the feed in blackness until Spark pulls it free of his mouth and starts a bit of a Pokésquabble. This does let anyone watching see that Lightning has a cloth over her arm and is chasing Odin around, the horse prancing and...yep. Dancing around to avoid her. He seems amused, though, especially after she tosses the cloth over his back. It's a saddle blanket, and it's supposed to stay on, but Odin's not having any of it. Nope, he's just running away so quickly it falls to the ground and leaves Lightning in the dust. Amused horse is amused and...almost laughing.

Yep. A laughing horse. It apparently does happen, but Lightning is most certainly not amused. She's just picking up the saddle blanket and trying again. And again. And again. And each time, Odin just runs away and ditches the blanket, leaving Lightning shaking her head while Shinx and Spark continue to tussle, hitting the gear and ending the feed without her noticing it was even on.]


Private Text to: Rise Kujikawa

[About six hours after the video feed, Rise will receive this:]

Can you meet me at the Train Station? I have something for you.

Comments

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[And Bolt knows that sound, wiggling his way free to greet Odin with more than a little enthusiasm of his own... at least until Ven stepping out of the way of tussles makes him stumble]

Let's...take care of this first, then you and Odin can hang out all you want.

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Odin'll just be following Ven around until Bolt can wriggle his way free, constantly moving to avoid the tussling. This does little to help Lightning, but at least Odin is distracted and Lightning finally manages to get the saddle blanket on before darting for the saddle.]

Almost done. Just keep him busy.

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

Think we can definitely do that.

[Bolt's pretty sure he knows exactly how to distract his bestest best buddy, actually. He ducks into Ven's backpack, tail wiggling about as he digs for...a berry, which he holds up rather proudly upon retrieval.

Lookie, Odin, it's your favorite kind]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Favorite berry and Pika-buddy? Oh, this day is wonderful! Even if his trainer is taking advantage of his distraction to get the saddle on and all the straps in the right places. Which she manages, thankfully while he's still nomming that berry, so he hasn't quite noticed yet. Which is something that Lightning is grateful for, so she'll just send a smile Ven's way.]

Thanks.

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[Naturally, Ven smiles in return. And Bolt grabs another berry by the time Odin's finished, somebody was prepared for visiting his buddy]

Sure thing, glad we could help.

So what's the um... [He pauses, unsure whether he should mention the word saddle by name] Equipment for?

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Somebody was prepared? That somebody is getting a lot of nuzzles before Odin gently takes the second berry. Oh, how he loves his berries and his Pika-buddy.]

It's a saddle. It'll make riding easier because I won't have to keep my bag on anymore.

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[One of Bolt's favorite hobbies is hunting up the best berries for his best buddy. No matter the weather, no matter the season, he'll find them.

For those nuzzles, Bolt'll pat his pal's nose]

That's a good idea. I remember one of the girls at that Miltank farm riding around on a Ponyta.

[And Odin's bigger and stronger than that]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[And Odin is very grateful for Bolt's favorite hobby, because berries are always good. Same with Pika-pats.

And Lightning is also grateful, which probably shows as she does one last check of all those straps and buckles. No falling saddles for this girl!]

Yeah. And riding him is a lot safer than flying through a storm if we can't wait it out. Less chance of getting hurt.

[Because big and strong unicorns don't get struck by lightning. Mostly.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[Part of why these pokes are awesome buds, that's for certain.

Ven just watches curiously, having never done such things himself]

Good point, and since he's a Fire type I bet that helps too.

[...Mostly...]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Oh, most definitely. Of course, Odin offering rides to Bolt probably helps, too.

Lightning's only had a little practice, but nothing seems like it's going to fall off at any second, so...should be safe enough. Hopefully.]

In the snow, it does. We're better off on foot if it's pouring rain.

[Mostly. Less than flying Skarmories and trainers, at any rate.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[Bolt certainly does love that. No one's better than Odin.

Just avoid anything too crazy while riding a Rapidash, Pinksis]

Right, rain's pretty bad for Fire-types...

I don't know of any Water-types that'd travel quick when it's just rainy, come to think if it.

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Well then, it's a good thing Odin's offering a ride to Bolt right this second, huh? Better choose fast, though. Not much time before Lightning mounts up.

As for the too crazy bit...she makes no promises. Who knows what could happen, after all.]

If there are, I haven't seen any. Alexander doesn't get any faster when it rains, though getting him inside gets a lot harder .

[Water types, man. They love dat rain.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[Bolt's scampering over as fast as his tiny paws can carry him, he's missed getting to ride around with Odin.

She'd just get fussed over by her small collection of litte siblings, that's all]

Sometimes Princess'll turn into a puddle when it's raining, gets really hard to find her. I think she thinks it's a game, but the first time she did that it was pretty scary.

[He's certainly learned this]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[It's fast enough, because once Bolt is up on Odin's back, off he trots. Not far, but enough for a ride and thankfully Lightning is distracted. For now.

Little sibs and Leon and Fang and...it wouldn't be pretty.]

Have you tried telling her not to do that anymore? She might listen to you if she knows it bothers you.

[Emphasis on might. Sometimes they don't listen at all.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[And Bolt's as happy as a kid in an amusement park, pika-cheers and all.

It'd probably drive her bonkers]

I guess I could, just seems like she has fun. Almost like hide-and-seek, just...more difficult for the seeker.

[Princess is a good girl, but Ven's too much of a soft touch]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[If his Pika-buddy's happy, Odin's happy. ...Especially since Lightning's letting them go. She's not one to break up friends who haven't seen each other in a while.

It would. She would climb the walls, more likely than not.]

Then ask her to let you know before she does it. Could make things easier.

[Even soft touches have to lay down ground rules eventually. Before someone gets hurt.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[So Bolt's going to enjoy riding around with his pal wherever he may trot, and tell him all about the things he's seen and done since last time they were together. Pika pika pika pika-]

Alright, I'll give that a try. Thanks, Lightning.

[This is true. Pinksis is so smart]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Odin just trots and listens, snorting and whinnying in amusement at the funny parts and twitching his ears sympathetically at the sad or annoying ones. Best pals, in his eyes. Bestest best pals.

Lightning, for her part, nods. She can't help much with a team that isn't hers, but advice can be good. sometimes.]

You might have to put your foot down about it if she doesn't listen, though. Let her know you're not playing around anymore.

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[And Bolt would wholeheartedly agree. Best buds always. Which naturally means when he's caught Odin up, he's got to inquire about his adventures too. No doubt his pal's got some good stories of his own.

Ven always appreciates input, it's a good way to learn and improve in his book]

I'll do my best. After all, if I can give other people advice on it, I oughta be able to do it myself.

[Of course, what he told Vanitas he's pretty sure is common sense, but still...]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Oh, Odin's got a bunch of good stories, all of which he'll be telling Bolt with no hesitation. Most of them are about secrets in this here city, too. Wouldn't it be awesome for best buds to go exploring those secrets?]

You should be able to, yeah. Just remember you can ask for help if you need it.

[That's also common sense, which....sadly, Lightning isn't really following. Case in point, this morning's shenanigans.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[And Bolt listens with rapt attention to every bit of this. He's quick to agree that city-secrets sure sound interesting, and that does like the sort of thing best buds should be doing]

I will. I've got friends who're there for me, I'll never forget that.

[They should probably blame Square for this]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[At that response, Odin's trot slows to a stop and he turns to look at Bolt, one ear twitching as he wickers. Care to get started with the exploring, best bud? Trainer's pretty busy, after all.]

Good. We'll stand a better chance at getting through whatever this place throws at us if we're together.

[Indeed. Square just loves to screw over it's people.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[Bolt casts a careful glance in the direction of their trainers, confirming that they do look occupied... And then he nods his assent with a squeak. To adventure!]

Especially with how this place likes to throw us for a loop, huh?

[It sure does. Really wonder about them sometimes]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Odin bobs his head in a horsey-nod, snorting a bit. Hold on, Pika-pal! Off to adventure...at a very hurried trot before either trainer can catch them.]

Yeah. Especially with--

[The sound of hooves gets her attention before she can complete her sentence and...yep. That's definitely Odin making a run for it with Bolt on his back. Oh dear.]

[action]

[ex_aeroga402]

[And there's an enthusiastic cheer from Bolt, trailing into the distance. The fact that the sound's traveling gets Ven to look too, stunned that the two appear to be making a break for it]

Wh- Bolt, Odin, get back here-