heal pulse [open mingle]

[blue_ice]

...all right. The last few days have undoubtedly been Rough, so it's high time that everyone celebrate the lifting of the oppressive presence of Overwatch with some good-old fashioned relaxing!

option a: death by fluff

What better way to avoid stress than to follow the conflict-averse Wooloo? They didn't just vanish from the islands after being herded, after all. They're rolling their way up the mountain, calling to the trainers they pass along the way. Come pet them, they want the attention!

Just be careful: the mischievous creatures have been to known to push Trainers into each other for their own amusement. They're imitating their herders, the playful scamps.

option b: the hot springs

And if being warmed by fluff on all sides isn't your speed, the nearby hot springs are also an option! They're finally working properly once more, and there's no danger of having to join a flexing contest if you want to relax. Trainers and their Pokémon are welcome to wash their worries away.

It's a good chance to socialize, just...behave yourselves. We've had enough trouble for a while.

Comments

kaiba

[blue_ice]

wooloo wonders

...this is Jonouchi's territory. Why is he here? He was just on his way back home when the herd entangled him in their wool, and now he was being nudged on all sides by a wall of fluff. He's petting them in an attempt to satisfy them so they move, but he only has two hands.

"...no wonder you're all so good at blocking roads," he mutters.

spring time

When he finally escapes the herd, he heads to the renovated springs for some quiet time. Obelisk's egg stays on a nearby heated rock wrapped in his coat to keep it warm, and he settles in with a quiet sigh, Goliath disappearing into the Pokemons' spring behind him.

The last few days have...given him a lot to think about.

Nozomi | OTA

[cureofmanyworlds]

Death by Fluff

With the threat of Overwatch done and over with, Nozomi could finally relax a bit. Of course, her idea of relaxing is finding a flock of Wooloo, baa-ing at her.

She couldn't help it. Physically 17, mentally 19, currently emotionally 5 as she ran over to join the flock, laughing as she found herself in the sea of wool.

"It's so fluffy!"

Hot Springs

And, hey, there's also better downtime in the hot springs. After making sure her Tepig, Yamper and Victini wouldn't be harmed or cause trouble by them, Nozomi went to take her spot in the hot springs, just enjoying the feeling of it all.

"Ahhh... after all of that, this... feels nice."

Hot Springs

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

"Yeah, it is."

Alice and Phym are also relaxing in the hot springs, with Autumn soaking next to Phym while Yarn is just behind Alice, out of the water but close enough to rest his head on her shoulder.

[cureofmanyworlds]

"Mm-hmm..." Nozomi nodded, looking over at her new companion. "At least we're not hiding anymore, though... could have been done a little better."

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

"They tried to kidnap me, so Mommy started throwing them through walls."

Alice nods, careful not to disturb Yarn.

"It was pretty cathartic."

[cureofmanyworlds]

"Aw...! Yeah, they tried to get me, but others came to my rescue." Nozomi said.

"Hopefully they've learned their lesson..."

With a giggle, she held her breath for a moment and dunked her head under for a moment before coming back up.

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

"The ones I left conscious seemed to understand it was a bad idea to try, yeah."

Pause.

"I'm Alice, and this is Phym."

[cureofmanyworlds]

"Nozomi. It's nice to meet the both of you. Especially now."

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

Phym smiles brightly and indicates the Pokemon.

"This is Autumn, and he's Yarn!"

[cureofmanyworlds]

Nozomi blushes as she realized their Pokémon were named.

“I... didn’t name mine.” She admitted. “But, that’s a Tepig, that’s a Yamper and that’s a Victini. I know my Tepig has a name, but it’s been awhile and I forgot! I got caught up in another adventure away from him...”

Josuke OTA

[crazy_d_healing]

A wooloo of a different color

Among the balls of fluff is a dark colored tuft, looking a bit like a shiny wooloo hiding in the others. The first hints that it might not, in fact, be a shiny Pokemon, was a happy masculine laugh as one of the wooloo cried softly at the dark tuft, before gently headbutting the area below it.

The other hint, was when the dark tuft moved, the person it was attached to flopping on his back with a bright smile on his face, amid the wooloos. "You guys are really soft... I bet Okuyasu would cry hugging one of you." He said cheerfully, arms spread open as he lay on the ground.

Nothing like soaking your aches away

Hot springs were nothing to ignore in Josuke's opinion, all too often an overlooked place of relaxation. He made his way in to the spring itself, and slipped in, sighing in awaited bliss, as he sank into the warmth.

The teen carried a number of scars, many looking long healed and old, but there was an assortment that looked much fresher, still a bit angry. One decorated the area just below his ribs settled right on that space that seemed to be neither front nor side, on his left. The second and third showed an idea of something that had passed through his left thigh, both ragged looking, and roughly the same size as the one on his torso. It was his right shoulder that looked the worst really, the scars looking almost like an oversized cat had tried pawing at him there, with claws out, rends traveled up and down the area, now healed over but still vivid on his skin.

If Josuke took any note of them, he made no signs, sitting himself down and tipping his head back a bit with a contented sigh. The sound seemed to be a signal to the pompadour his hair was styled in to lose some of it's shape and relax ass well.

Wooloo!

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

"Who's Okuyasu?"

The question is asked by a little girl leading a Wooloo of her own along. There appears to be a Ralts riding on the back of the Wooloo.

[crazy_d_healing]

"Huh?" The teen pops up again, a few small wisps of wooloo fur stuck to his pompadour. He catches sight of the girl and smiles, offering a wave. "Oh, hey, didn't realize there was company~"

"Okuyasu is my best friend. He's a real character." he explains, his smile going soft around the edges as he thinks on his best friend. Though he didn't realize he was also going to feel like someone tried to punch him in the gut too... He missed the other teen.

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

Phym carefully reaches over and pats Josuke on his pompadour.

"There, there. Don't be sad!"

[crazy_d_healing]

"Sad, who's sa-" His voice falters just at the edge of his words, catching on the lie trying to be there.

He had been trying not to think of the other teen, hoping that he could just ignore how distant it felt. It was homesickness, missing his best friend and a thick dose of anxiety all rolled into one, and it had just made it's home inside his chest, about the same space as his heart.

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

PAT PAT PAT

"You'll see him again! I got to see Claire again, so you'll definitely see him again, okay!"

Tears are starting to gather in the corner of Phym's eyes, so she just keeps patting Josuke. Headpats make everything better, right? Right?

[crazy_d_healing]

"Thanks." He says, offering her a grin, not even able to get that upset at his pompadour being pat, at least she's not messing it up, not really. "I'm sure I will to... we're really good friend so... even this kind of thing can't keep us apart forever." He adds, even if his grin feels a little fake right now, he could make it real.

[devilish_chrysanthemum]

Nod nod.

"Mommy and I can't go back safely, but Ms. Lusamine made it so we can talk to them sometimes, and Santa brought Hugo and Amy and Claire to visit for Christmas, so you'll definitely be able to see him!"

springs

[blue_ice]

Kaiba appreciates the momentary solitude. He allows Goomy and Sobble to play in the nearby shallow spring designated for Pokémon, and they look like they're having a great time.

As for the human...he's quiet. He has his own constellations of old scars across his neck, wrists, and back, none quite as impressive as Josuke's...but having them, he knows better than to just launch into asking.

"Finally settling in?" is what he eventually decides on saying.

[crazy_d_healing]

Josuke shifts slightly, to allow himself to focus on the other easier, not wanting to be rude. He can see the scars and it calls to mind his friend back home who had his own menagerie of scars.

"Yeah, kind of?" He says, letting the uncertainty with his own answer slip in. "It's a little hard. Not that people here aren't more than willing. Just missing home, I guess? Missing friends mostly-one of my buddies, I see him daily, just to hang out, or walk to school... so it's odd, not." He admits, swallowing before his voice can really crack.

[blue_ice]

...why does he even try? Kaiba shifts uncomfortably, but he's really trying not to be rude. It would be unwise to be, especially with Josuke's considerable power.

And the reaction also stirs something within him deep down.

"There's someone I miss too. More than anything. But if it's any consolation...we're working on re-opening the portals to our worlds. My brother said he'd visit as soon as possible."

He sighs. "Having Pokémon partners helps as a distraction. Have you met yours yet?"

[crazy_d_healing]

"Your brother?" He asks, voice going soft before he gives a slightly pained chuckle. "I must now sound pathetic, over here whining about a friend when your missing your brother. Sorry... I'm sure that must stink." He offers, feeling bad for being a bit selfish.

"Not yet, I've met a few but... just... in passing? Nothing that seems like they want to stick with me specifically, which is what I've had explained should happen." he says, offering a slight shrug. "Like my friends... I'm sure when the time is right, we'll find each other." He adds.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba would have responded with more acid a few months ago, but time and sun have softened his harder edges.

"Depends on the...friend. I avoided them myself, but I've heard some are essentially family. But you'll see them again. I'm not resting until we get the holes open."

He snorts and rolls his shoulders back, easing the tension a little.

"Mm. Should be soon. Someone like you attracts admirers quickly."

[crazy_d_healing]

He nods slightly, it would be hard to say that someone he could spend every day of the week with, without any issues, wasn't pretty much family. "Well, I'm not too good with a lot of academic stuff, but if you need help and there's something I can do, I would be happy to offer my help, or Crazy Diamond's for that matter." He offers.

Then he's blushing a bit, and it's not from the heat of the hot spring, a little embarrassed by that. "Well... thanks, I don't know too much about attracting admirers, but I'm glad to hear that." He says, shifting to run his hand through his hair, before scratching the back of his head some.

[blue_ice]

"Good. We could use it, considering how often we're attacked."

It's strange. He's not normally so honest with someone he barely knows, or so trusting. But maybe there's some truth to that old belief about the best business deals being made in saunas and hot springs. Not that he'd ever negotiate in that way, of course.

"But if I can give you any advice...be careful. Your friend's power that can heal others but not yourself...we're grateful for however long you choose to help, but there are others who'd take advantage. If that power is as strong as I've seen...it's very rare, and many would be desperate to have it on hand."