003 | Violet City | Video / Action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[Greetings, Johto! This video is coming to you from some secluded part of the streets of Violet City, courtesy of PhantomCam™, and features one Yagyuu Hiroshi sitting comfortably on a bench beneath the shade of a tree, engrossed in a book with his backpack resting securely at his feet. Perhaps most notably, he's not wearing his yellow-and-black

Comments

video; forgive me, but Yagyuu needed to see this first.

[futariniousama]

[ The video opens to nothing but oppressive, shadowy purple, and a tiny (read: creepy) smile plastered to the screen. It recedes slowly, revealing Niou.

Niou is at a boutique somewhere around the city's main plaza, chatting with an employee. It appears to be a nail salon.... ]

- probably come in tomorrow; I dunno how long we're gonna be in Violet for sure.

[ While the employee is cheerfully informing him that her sister works at the salon in Goldenrod, Niou's attention is captured by the 'Gear, or (more likely) by the Ditto holding it. Annoyance flickers across his face briefly, but he excuses himself from the girl with a smile and goes over to pick up the 'Gear. ]

... Yeaaaahgyuu. [ A cordial greeting. ]

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

I would've assumed it to be the other way around. Weren't you just making an appointment?

video;

[futariniousama]

[ Airily: ]

For tomorrow. All the more reason we should do the cosplay café today.

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

Lady's first exposure to the extent of the world around her: a cosplay cafe. How remarkably fitting.

[But he is, in fact, shifting her out of his lap and beginning to pack up his stuff, even as he speaks.]

video;

[futariniousama]

Considerin' how much time you're gonna be spendin' there, I'd say so.

[ Niou chuckles, standing and stretching. ]

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

I'm not helping you steal one of the outfits.

[Way to completely avoid rebutting the statement, there, Yagyuu.]

video;

[futariniousama]

As if I needed your help? [ Niou grins. ]

It's down the street beside the inn, just past the party store. Meet me there?

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

Let me rephrase that. Don't find a way to make me an accomplice.

[He zips up his backpack and shoulders it, scoops Lady and his jersey into his arms, and nods at Phantom to heel.]

I'm on my way.

video;

[futariniousama]

[ Niou doesn't argue - they both know that if Yagyuu winds up an accomplice, it'll be his own fault, either by design or by disregard. He closes the 'Gear and makes his way to the café, pausing to check his reflection in a window a few shopfronts away. ]

action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[And soon enough Yagyuu appears, conspicuous as ever with an armful of jersey and delighted Eevee, Phantom still trotting along obediently behind. And it's Lady who ends up extending her greeting before Yagyuu even has the chance to open his mouth, chirping out an eager noise when she spots the figure from her trainer's recording.

See, she's a smart girl. Look how good she did. She's so clever, her trainer must be so proud.]

action;

[futariniousama]

[ Niou glances away from his reflection at Lady's cheerful greeting. ]

Well, hello there, cutie.

[ Ostensibly, he's speaking to Lady, but he winks at Yagyuu when he says it, so who knows? ]

action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[A wink that earns him raised eyebrows and a wry look from Yagyuu in exchange, no less. But Lady is wriggling, ears perking up, already wanting to investigate this new person in her midst.]

Shall I make proper introductions, or were you planning to just settle for "cutie" for the duration of your acquaintance?

action;

[futariniousama]

Don't be ridiculous; I already know your name, Yeeeeahgyuu. No need for introductions.

[ He offers a hand for Lady to inspect. ]

action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[She sniffs, inspects, and then pushes her head insistently under his fingers, leaving no doubt as to exactly what variety of greeting she expects.]

Then try using it, Niou-kun.

action;

[futariniousama]

I did. Liked 'cutie' better.

[ Niou obligingly pets her head, then pauses to scratch gently at her forehead and behind her ears. ]

action;

[usedlaserbeam]

And somehow, I'm entirely unsurprised. Lady, meet Niou-kun.

[He pauses, a thought occurring to him.]

Niou-kun, your daughter by proxy.