[PRP] The Meaning of Christmas

[BlackPidgeot]

(( This RP is IC, meaning that it's neither a PRP or an ORP. Other characters are welcome to join but need to ask first! Don't be shy if you'd really like to join. :3 ))

It was a frosty Christmas morning, and most people were tucked inside their homes, just now waking up to the gifts beneath the tree. Most of the stores were closed and the streets were virtually empty. That is, save for a young man with long black hair, carrying a couple bags along with his sword as he walked the streets.

Yuri had purpose in his stride as he headed for his destination, clearly up to something. Repede followed along beside him as was usual, a candy cane hanging from the corner of his mouth. The Growlithe looked pleased with his little peppermint treat.

What was this man doing out and about all by himself on Christmas morning? The only way to find out would be to ask or follow him.  

[Tori Honoo]

"Yes... you too. Merry Christmas, love....stay warm."

Dove sighed, tucking away her cell phone as she hung up from her cross region call. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against a tree, tipping her head back to stop the tears that threatened to spill.

It was the first Christmas morning she had ever spent alone, and being so far away from her loved ones... one dark haired, icy young man in particular... was absolutely killing her emotionally. She blinked up at the sky, watching the heavy grey clouds move slowly over head, threatening a snowy morning. What was she supposed to do the rest of the day? she wondered, looking down to her feet and tucking her hair behind her ear. She had called her boyfriend-- though calling him at a reasonable time at which he might be awake meant her getting up at literally the crack of dawn; she wasn't even sure if he had been fully awake while they talked...

Wrapping her coat around her more securely, Dove started back toward her overnight home, wondering if she should wake Lovey and just continue their journey. She kept her head low, listening to the sounds around her, smiling wistfully at the few windows full of light, wishing she was still one of those children waking up to new presents and family and...

warmth! Why was it so cold? Early mornings were horrid, she decided. No one in their right mind would do this voluntarily, she thought, until she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning, Dove looked over her shoulder in the direction of the sound, curiosity melting away at the sight of a familiar face.

"Yuri?"  

[BlackPidgeot]

"Hey, fancy meeting you out here. Merry Christmas."

Yuri's voice was a bit cheerier than usual as he spotted Dove and greeted her. Admittedly he was a bit surprised to see her out here in the cold. Surely a wealthy girl like her had plans for Christmas? Well either way, he wasn't opposed to seeing her.

Repede wagged his tail slightly in greeting as he stopped at Yuri's feet to look up at Dove.  

[Tori Honoo]

Putting on her best early morning smile, the young model turned to Yuri fully, waving a little to Repede. "Merry Christmas to you, too!" she laughed softly, doing her best not to shiver. "Sorry Lovey isn't here, Repede. She's curled up asleep in front of the fire, I'm sure..."

She tipped her head to the side, looking him over. Even as early as it was and as low spirited she felt, Dove couldn't help but smile a bit, running into one of the only people she knew in this region. "So..." she started, failing to stifle a yawn, "What are you up to this... fine... ice cold morning? Looks like you've got big plans."  

[BlackPidgeot]

Repede huffed and turned away from Dove at that. Well, fine then. He then proceeded to walk on in the directions they had been going. Yuri smirking as he watched Repede go.

"Well, if you've got nothing better to do, you can come find out."

With that, Yuri continued on his way too, following after Repede.  

[Tori Honoo]

"Ah..."

She watched them walk a moment, hesitating. She really didn't have much else to do today... and if anyone did call her, she would have her phone on her, right?

"H-Hold on!" she told them, following in the same direction. "Let me go wake Lovey and Sparky up, and we'll come too. We don't...have plans for today, so..."

She offered him a half shrug and somewhat embarrassed smile before jogging off toward the place she was staying. "I'll be right back, I promise!"  

[BlackPidgeot]

When told to wait, Yuri stopped and looked back, along with Repede. Putting the hand that held his sword on his hip, he flashed her a smile. Indicating that he would wait for her. Hey, the more help they got the better! And besides, if Dove really wasn't doing anything, it was a better way to spend it than sitting there alone and bored. That's how he saw it anyway.  

[Tori Honoo]

After waking Lovey and her very grumpy Typhlosion, Sparky, Dove quickly gathered her things and left to find Yuri, pokemon companions at her heels.

"Sorry about that...Sparky seems to have taken some of my guy's personal habits to heart," she laughed, earning herself a soft huff from the Typhlosion. The Pokemon craned its neck, looking the two over carefully, fur giving off heat as he padded in front of Dove and stilled between them.

"Oh, calm down, you." Dove tucked back a lock of hair and shot the young man an apologetic look. "He's also really protective. Another... fine trait, I guess."

Sparky swiveled his head toward his trainer, indignant. He was just protecting her!!!

Lovey, not paying any ounce of attention to the larger pokemon leapt forward toward Repede, rump wiggling in her excitement as she crouched playfully in front of him.

Sparky just sighed and watched her carefully...  

[BlackPidgeot]

"No problem, besides the more the merrier," Yuri said as Dove finally came back. He then looked up at the large Pokemon that she brought with her. Obviously a fire type like Repede with all the heat it was putting off. He couldn't help but smirk a little as the beast put himself between him and Dove.

"He's a pretty impressive Pokemon. Haven't seen one like that before." He's been having a lot of first time encounters with several Pokemon species since he came here to Camphoreon.

Repede wagged his tail as Lovey came over, the dog bending down to touch noses with her in greeting. He then decided to acknowledge the Typhlosion as well, going over to sit in front of him and lift a paw with a woof.

"Alll right guys, let's get going. Don't wanna keep everyone waiting." And with that Yuri started on his way again.  

[Tymiko]

"Everyone...? Who's everyone?"

Tymiko stood with her hands buried in her hoodie pockets, warm breath billowing out in clouds of steam. At her feet, a badly fatigued Vaporeon collapsed, a tiny purplish Eevee perched on his back. The baby pokemon chirped when her dad dropped to the ground.

She hopped off him and circling both he and their trainer twice, encouraging him to get up. Fathom didn't seem ready to stir for some time. "Por..." he called to Ty, looking up wearily at his young trainer. "Vaporeon."

"Poor thing. Alright, back in your ball you go," she told him, withdrawing the water-type into his Dive ball. Distance stopped prancing about and glanced at Tymiko instead. "Eve? Eevee, eve!"

"No, you need to walk on your own too," the water trainer told the pokemon. "Especially if you want to grow big and strong, like your dad. Tell me if your paws get cold and then I'll pick you up, okay?"

Distance seemed happy enough to comply, nodding and scampering on ahead. She nearly ran straight into the back of Yuri's boots, slipping and sliding on the frosty ground.  

[Tori Honoo]

"Yes..." Dove smiled proudly, reaching out to let one cold hand hover over Sparky's shoulders. "My family sent him over to me not long ago. They didn't like the idea of me traveling without at least one of my fighters..." More like her boyfriend didn't like it, though she basically considered him family.

The large typhlosion studied the growlithe a moment, then nodded his head in return. He seemed honorable enough... Though as for Yuri, he still wasn't sure. He still studied the man evenly, eyes drawn to the sword he carried. Odd... humans didn't usually carry weapons...

Lovey, satisfied with Repede's response, trotted back to her trainer's heels, blinking around at her atmosphere until the Distance darted in their direction. As the little purple eevee drew closer, Lovey let out a high toned yap, tiny feet tapping excitedly as she 'danced'. When Distance was close enough, she bounded forward, flopping onto her back in front of the younger pokemon and wiggling around in the snow from the night before. Friends, friends!!!

Dove turned her attention to the younger trainer. "Hey, Tymiko! You're up early..." Did no one sleep late in this region?  

[BlackPidgeot]

Aah so that's it. "Can't really argue with that since Camphoreon isn't always safe." It was definitely a good idea for Dove to have some means of protecting herself. Yuri's run into some pretty shady characters during his stay in this city.

And it was about then that Yuri noticed a strangely colored ball of fluff sliding towards his feet. Repede came over to check it out, sniffing in the direction of the newly arrived Pokémon, while Yuri just blinked at it. Looking up though, a smirk crossed his face as he recognized the owner.

"Hey Champ, long time no see! This furball belong to you?"

Seems that he was attracting quite the little gathering this morning. He didn't expect to run into two people that he knew.  

[Tymiko]

Tymiko laughed. "Good morning, Yuri! Hi, Tori! What's all the commotion about?" Withdrawing a pair of gloves out of her hoodie pocket, she placed them on as she drew nearer to the others. "Yeah, sorry, that one's mine. Well, Fathom's actually. She's still getting the hang of snow and ice. Name's Distance."

"Repede, Lovey, Sparky," she greeted in turn, nodding and smiling at each, though she was careful to give the largest fire-type a wide berth. "Nice to see all of you, too. How're you liking the weather?"

Distance pranced about the wiggling form of Lovey, leaping over and around Yuri's boots. With a salutatory tail-wave at the other Eevee, she blinked at Sparky and Repede with curiosity before pawing at Yuri's boot. If Tymiko wouldn't carry her, would this human? She'd never met him before.  

[Tori Honoo]

To Yuri, Dove nodded. "So I've heard!" she said, tucking her arms closer around her midsection and smiling as Lovey fell all over herself to say hello to her friend. Putting out a hand, she silently called the typhlosion closer to her side, aware of Tymiko's fear of fire-types. Though she was fully aware Sparky would never do anything to hurt the young girl, she didn't want Ty to feel uncomfortable around her.

Sparky tipped its head back to his mistress and returned to her side, keeping even his eyes away from the youngest trainer and dulling the flames along his neck in softer silence. Dove stroked the side of his face once with the backs of her fingers, encouraging him to keep his head up, though even now, she felt almost the same.

After taking a moment to regather her thoughts of the present, Dove rubbed her arm, offering the girl half a smile. "It's..a little colder here."

...Sparky rubbed her hip reassuringly with his nose. At least they weren't entirely alone...  

[BlackPidgeot]

Ignoring the banter about the weather for a moment, Yuri gave a lopsided grin. "Actually, we're going to a party. Wanna tag along?" He figured that anyone out and about on Christmas morning probably didn't have all that much to do.

"The more the merrier, and Christmas is all about being merry, right?"

Repede woofed his agreement and wagged his tail at Tymiko and the other Pokémon.

When Dove complained about it being colder, he put his hand on his hip. "Yeah, let's get going." After all, the sooner they got there, the sooner they could all be warm.

Thus Yuri leads the way, not waiting to make sure anyone else is following. He's going to be late at this point.