taraincognita

Last kid I ran into a few times changed my life forever.

[there's no malice in his tone; archie really does appreciate all the scamp did for him.]

Anyway, I don't want shit from ya. What would you do anyway, bury me in a nice fuckin' rocky tomb? No thanks.

Yeah, well, I don't think I'm that last kid, either.

[she hesitates, before speaking again.]

Besides, it's not rare for people to wanna use kids like me. Kids with powers.

Arceus. I ain't gonna fuckin' use you. Like I said, what for? Other than to get a nice tomb for myself?

I was just worried about you, that's all.

Worried? About me?

[sounds fake, but okay.]

Okay, then, now you know. I'm fine.

[she doesn't really sound fine. maybe perplexed, at best. why would he care?]

An' now my soul can rest easy. I got ya something, by the by. Where you at?

What do you mean, you got me something? I'm...around. Heropa, I guess.

The fuck do you think I mean? I mean I saw something and picked it up, with the intention of giving it to ya.

Get to the market if you're close. I have it with me and I'm gettin' fruit for Crobat.

Yeah, I guess I can be there. Sure. Whatever.

[she disconnects the message, runs a hand through her hair, and swallows. okay, so maybe she looks a little bit worse for the wear. at least, she hasn't been able to crash anywhere, so she looks a little tired, and her cheek is bruised. she'll hang around the outskirts of the market, biting an apple that she probably didn't pay for, and keeping an eye out for archie. and hey, if he doesn't show? doesn't really matter, right?]</small.

[she'll see crobat before she sees archie. it's flying fairly low and recognises her, diving down to land with a heavy WHUMP in front of her. it chitters, sniffing around tara's general area.

archie appears less than a minute later, tossing an apple to it.]

Hey, kid. [he notes her bruise and tiredness, but doesn't comment. he doesn't imagine she'd want him to.] Nice day, huh?

[she jumps back, paranoid, when the crobat lands in front of her; even raises her hands, as though she's prepared to start using her powers. luckily, she recognizes the bat as well, and drops into a crouch to peer at it curiously.]

Hey, lil dude. You make it through okay?

[she holds out her hand to it--she knows that's supposed to work with cats and dogs, anyway.]

Guess so.

[crobat sniffs her hand, then honest to god grins at her before giving her a big ol' slobbery lick. gross.

archie just laughs.]

Good job. [he pulls something out his backpack - something big, heavy and square. it's even wrapped up.] Happy... didn't get murdered by historical mirages day.

[tara giggles when crobat licks her hand, her normally suspicious expression fading just a bit to one that looks downright pleased. she never really got to have any pets of her own, and this thing is cute. even if it is weird. she glances up, suddenly cautious.]

Can I pet it?

And, uh, thanks. Didn't know it was a holiday, so your options are 'rock' and 'cactus.'

Crobat might be upset if you don't.

[that's a yes, and archie laughs, wiggling the thing a little.]

Just take it! I don't need either of those things.

Really? Huh. It's a lot more friendly when I'm not throwing rocks at it. Surprising, right?

[she reaches to tentatively pat crobat's head after removing the glove from her hand. her hands are calloused and nails are short, but they're soft enough. especially when she's gently patting a bat monster thing. after a moment, she glances up at the gift. crobat has left her expression just a bit less guarded than before.]

...What is it, anyway?

Oh, yeah. He doesn't much like rocks bein' thrown at him.

[crobat pushes its head into tara's hand, chirping happily.]

Open it! Find out yourself kid, damn. It's not gonna explode, promise.

Do you just call him Crobat? Or does he have a name?

[she giggles a little bit when he pushes against her hand, face practically lighting up. there's something a lot happier about her when she's interacting with the pokemon, it would seem.]

Okay, fine. Toss it to my other hand!

[crobat continues to be the Ultimate Wingman. after a moment or two of petting, crobat uses its big wings to pull tara's hand onto its head. don't think you're getting away fucker.]

Incoming!

[he doesn't bother to warn her it's heavy.]

[she giggles, continuing to pet crobat's head. at the same time, she reaches up to catch the package that archie throws her way with her left hand. were it lighter, she would have been able to catch it with her noodle arm. because it isn't, though, she drops the package. hope it isn't anything too breakable.]

Shit, dude!! Thanks for the warning.

Pssh. Ya throw rocks around and that's too much?

[it's a book, so no. it's.... the brick.]

Yeah, I levitate that shit. I don't use my muscles.

[ She recovers the package, unwrapping it, brow furrowing as she reads the text.]

Uh. I don't speak French, dude.

Then you gotta do somethin' about them noodles!

[he laughs, crouching as he watches her.]

Just the title is... [kalosian?] ...French, but the rest is in English.

What, do I need to get ripped?

[she flexes, and then quickly returns her hand to pet crobat. no visual gag is worth stopping the attention she's paying to the bat. it's kinda cute.]

Oh, uh. I can try it. Reading isn't really my thing, though. I'm kinda bad at it!

[she glances doubtfully at the book, before forcing a giggle. this is fine.]

[archie's expression softens just a tiny bit.]

Ey, you can use it as a doorstop or kindling! It's yours now, I don't really give a shit what you find you want to do with it.

...

Unless you're gonna hit me with it. Then don't.

I can control rocks. I'm not gonna hit you with a book.

[she smiles a little bit, tucking the book into her backpack. yeesh, that was heavy. but a gift is a gift, and tara has received precious few gifts in her lifetime.]

Uh, thanks. Hey, can I pet your shark, too?

...Aye, point.

[he looks around for a moment, not seeing anywhere to release sharpedo.]

We'd have to go to the beach, it needs water to, uh. Live.

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