002 | Cherrygrove City | Action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[After a productive (but admittedly somewhat boring) five hours of work sorting and filing papers at the Cherrygrove Pokémon Center, it's finally time for Yagyuu to head for home--or at least, for the room at the Cherrygrove Inn he's been sharing with Kirihara-kun since they both arrived in the city yesterday. He'd gladly work longer hours if they'

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action.

[futariniousama]

[ Niou slides off the Flygon without ceremony, seemingly disregarding his companions as he heads over to Yagyuu.

This is not going to be a hug. Not a hug not a hug not a hug not a hug-

He punches Yagyuu in the arm, and says nothing, because 'hey, loser' is the only thing he can think of, and that's stupid. ]

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

[A touch amused, Yagyuu doesn't bother to adjust or slow his pace; he simply keeps advancing at his natural speed and stride, glancing behind Niou every so often to ensure they're not about to walk into a tree or building in the process.]

Ah, so that's where you learned your tricks? I'd always wondered.

action.

[futariniousama]

[ Niou's keeping pace just fine, his strides just as long as before and a touch more graceful by necessity, and he hasn't once looked over his shoulder. That's what Yagyuu's there for. ]

Most of 'em, anyway. The Rubik's cubes are all me.

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

[And honestly, Yagyuu likes it this way, both indulging Niou in one of his games and surreptitiously accompanying him in its execution. When an obstruction does present itself--a woman with a handbag, apparently out for a stroll--Yagyuu makes no remark on her presence, but merely angles his own path so that Niou will oppose it, keeping the distance between them like parallel lines, letting him guide them both around her.]

No wonder you have such a devilish streak of ingenuity. Is your next trick to tempt me to forfeit my own?

action.

[futariniousama]

My next trick after this.

[ He's noticed the slightly altered trajectory of their walk, and a glance out of the corner of his eye tells him why - so he turns around, as if to walk forward, and collides with the woman. ]

Oh, sh- I'm so sorry, ma'am.

[ The woman is flustered, but it seems Niou is, too, so they part ways again with little fanfare. Niou resumes walking backward, smiling cattily at his partner. ]

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

[Yagyuu's amusement at the exchange isn't nearly so visible, since someone has to maintain the appearance of respectability, but Niou is one of the few people who shouldn't have any problem seeing the one hiding behind Yagyuu's eyes. And once they're a safe distance from the woman, he lets his gaze flick deliberately toward his partner's hands.]

Or perhaps not your very next trick. Did you find something you lost, Niou-kun?

[Or more appropriately, something someone else lost. He hasn't forgotten the three wallets Niou showed him earlier, and is well aware a fourth may have just been added to the pile.]

action.

[futariniousama]

[ Solemn-faced suddenly, Niou reaches into his bag and produces a thin billfold in black and pink. It wasn't in his bag, of course, but he certainly made it look that way. ]

Oh, you mean this?

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

[But of course, leave it to Niou. Such outright theft isn't a practice he's necessarily entirely approving of--and particularly not when he's an implicit accessory to the crime--but he's in a much more obliging mood than usual, and it's comfortably familiar to play the cover for Niou's activities.]

That's it. The colors suit you.

action.

[futariniousama]

You think?

[ It's an oddly serious-toned question, given the subject matter. Niou glances at the wallet and then down at his clothes. He's always preferred cool colours, but maybe the pink will lend credence to his crossdressing. ]

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

It brings out your eyes.

[A statement delivered far too dryly to be anything but a lie. But the odd seriousness--that's curious. Which is why Yagyuu doesn't leave it at that.]

Though I think green still works better.

action.

[futariniousama]

[ Niou rolls his eyes at Yagyuu's first response, but pauses to consider again when his partner gets more serious. ]

What about, like... an aqua or turquoise?

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

What's gotten you so curious about the colors that suit you?

[Why yes, he's going to conveniently sidestep answering by asking a question of his own.]

action.

[futariniousama]

Fashion's always a priority.

[ Nonchalant and innocent; Yagyuu's hint that Niou's only hiding a surprise, not a secret. ]

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

[Well, that's fair enough. And therefore there's really no reason to push any further than that--and no harm in being honest.]

Turquoise, then. It really will bring out your eyes.

action.

[futariniousama]

[ He nods thoughtfully, turning the idea over in his head. When they hit Violet again, he'll probably be able to finish this newest venture in clever disguises.

In the meantime- ]

Kinda sweet that you pay attention, you know.

action.

[usedlaserbeam]

[He cocks his head, eyebrows raising slightly as a smile plays at the corners of his lips.]

Did you really think I wouldn't?