Shenanigans, possibly with a side of Introspection.

[namesaquestion]

WHO: Nikolai + his (new) housemates. Later, Archie.
WHERE: Maurtia Falls #002; then later around the canal area of the city.
WHEN: 20th - 23rd, after this.
WHAT: Meeting the Housemates. Later, badge stealing shenanigans.
WARNINGS: Mentions or implications of pokemon abuse. Nikolai protesting chara dev being himself.

CLOSED TO HOUSEMATES
[Bouncing from Porter city to Porter city is tiring. More so when he's trying to avoid dealing with idiots or being recognised, no thanks to that stupid viral clip. If he ever finds who Prettyhax is, he's introducing his fist to a face because they've made his life harder now. He doesn't need idiots telling him how to treat his pokemon or, worse yet, attempt to steal - or liberate, he guesses- what he doesn't have on him, no thanks to that third-rate 'Gymleader' Blue.

It's the need for sleep, or at least locking himself in his room to sulk that brings him to the home he's been given. Which, somehow, amongst all the other emotions contending for prominence, makes him feel... Safe? Maybe? He's not sure and does not want to think about it. Not to mention the others living here and he's avoided them as best as possible. He really doesn't want another housemate almost shanking him, and he doesn't trust anyone -well the adults- in his life to do anything useful.

Like take his side in things.

Actually, he's pretty sure they wouldn't take his side and that's - something he refuses to think about because he Does Not Need Anyone. Full stop.

Still, he has to come home at some point if only to sleep. So, he tries to time it so it's dark, or no one's home as far as he can tell.

He mostly tries to either enter as silently as possible because dealing with the truth people sucks. Being caught in the act results in a defensive stance and dark glare.] What are you looking at?

[Otherwise. He's, well.

Breaking and entering, be it via the upper level or around the back, or any window he can get open, either with his hands, or using one of the dart-things he can summon as a makeshift crowbar. What's another 'crime' on his so-called list? Plus, it isn't like this is his first, second, or even third time doing it.

Being caught in the act results in him jerking back, a dart in hand, in a defensive stance.] No one was supposed to be home.

[Niko, that doesn't help.

But either way, he's a defensive fourteen year old, possibly in a pale blue oversized hoodie with his hair shoved up under a hat. What do?]


CLOSED TO ARCHIE
[How he got his pokemon back he'll never know. One second, his belt was clear of the four pokeballs, the next, the familiar weight was back. Where it belonged, and try as he might, there was no way Nikolai could deny the relief that washed over him.

It was stupid - his pokemon were things, tools. Weapons to be used as he saw fit.

Was he going soft? Probably, and it was likely to do with his time here. He couldn't afford to be soft - to be weak. But that thought did nothing to abate the good mood that buoyed him.

Which is why he was down by the banks of the canal in the late afternoon, the hood of the light blue hoodie up as he attempted to find a secluded enough location to released his feraligatr so it could hunt.

Preferably without drawing to much attention, and he is keeping an eye out for trouble - and all the more ready to duck out of sight at the first sign of another trainer around.

He doesn't doubt they'll be after his pokemon again, and he's not about to let that happen without a fight this time.]

Comments

[h2no]

[they're not actively looking for niko when mightyena spots the younger trainer, darting off from archie's side to greet him. fortunately, the hyena pokémon has been told and is smart enough to know to keep his distance - evident in how it skids to a halt a couple of paces away from niko, head cocked. mightyena's tail thumps off the ground and his red eyes follow any movement niko might make, but he's not growling or appearing angry. just interested, in the way dogs are interested in everything.

...it probably comes as no surprise that archie rocks up a few moments after niko, stopping to put a hand on mightyena before immediately recalling the pokémon back into its ball. his head cocks the same way his dog's had, and his expression is nigh unreadable for a few moments. his brain needs a few moments to catch up with what's just happened.

...

(he's really quite tired, he'd be reacting the same way if he'd seen someone he knew he wasn't angry with.)

...

okay, there we go. he's mentally caught up, but his expression remains the same, save for his eyes briefly flicking to the pokéballs back in niko's possession. archie truly doesn't care how he got them back, just that he has them back.]

Niko, [he starts, tone flat - eerily so - and makes absolutely no indication he's going to move at all. he doesn't; instead waiting to see what niko will do. this isn't the first standoff he's been in and won't be the last.]

[namesaquestion]

[His life, it sucks. He'd been in a good mood, but nope. Why does everyone have to ruin it?

A sharp intake of breath, but he refused to run like some coward. He's done nothing wrong, this time, and he refuses to look like he got caught raiding the pidgey nest.

Plus, what if Archie here for leisure or exploration or work or whatever a wannabe pirate did in his spare time. Which, in Niko's mind, is unlikely, because he's almost certain Blue would have kicked up a stink re: losing 'his new pokemon'.]

What'd you want now?

[Despite the near-hostility in his voice and the desire not to appear weak or like a coward, he's so very much defensively hunched.]

[h2no]

I was wondering how you got your Pokéballs back, [he says with a shrug.] Seein' as you don't know where Blue took them, or where I live.

[and given that he didn't have his pokémon to use to track them, and archie doubts niko could do it himself...]

You understand when somethin' disappears out my locked house I get a little antsy.

[namesaquestion]

Hmph. They just reappeared on my belt.

[Still near hostile with a laser focus on Archie. He's ready to move at the slightest hint that it looks like he might lose his pokemon again.

Odd, given what he said to Blue about not caring if they were taken.]

[h2no]

[he looks a little surprised, but honestly? he buys it. the porter is crazy bullshit. if the pokémon that were given to other people disappeared with them, there's no reason why something like this could happen. the fact niko doesn't try to take credit for expertly tracking him down and breaking into his place helps, too.]

Right... and you understand why they were taken? Despite them being returned to you by an outside force. You understand they wouldn't be back with you, had the Porter not intervened?

[archie keeps his tone level, but not accusatory. he's talking to niko not unlike he would talk to a grunt that had committed a serious offense.


...he's not gonna noogie niko, though.]

[namesaquestion]

[He wants to say he doesn't know, but the last few days have made it clear others don't like his actions towards his own property. It certainly hasn't made him think he's in the wrong, because he's not, everyone else is because they're a bunch of interfering zubats.

(though the seeds of doubt about his methods are starting to slowly take root, despite his best efforts)

Instead, he shrugs with a snort, if only to hide how uncomfortable the level tone is. Voice raising he can deal with, but this is somehow worse, and he's not sure why.]

Something about not treating them like a wimpy bleeding heart would.

[h2no]

[honestly? archie isn't sure what response he expected. at the very least, he supposes, niko didn't just respond that they took the pokémon because they're stupid idiots who wanted to get in his way.

it's progress? archie is surprised he's not as angry as he thought he'd be, especially after niko had admitted they did well at the sign in.

that being said... he's still mad. he's still unbelievably furious at how niko has been and will continue to treat them, knowing that behavior like that doesn't change overnight. he'd already decided what he'd wanted to do the moment niko had said the porter had returned them.

take something that it likely wouldn't.]

You're half right, [he says, tone suggesting that niko is actually winning him over.] I'd meant to ask-- where are you on your gym journey in Johto? I can only assume you hadn't battled Lance during a League match.

[definitely not. niko's far too inexperienced to even think about looking at the league gates.]

[namesaquestion]

[Yea, the thought that he's starting to win Archie to his side is a good one. Finally, something's starting to go his way, like it should.

Still, his hands fist at the mention of Lance as a dark, angry look flashes across his face for a second or two before he grins.] Headed for my seventh.

[He's not even going to bother clarifying, because he's just going to assume Archie knows what he's talking about.]

[h2no]

[this is almost too easy. should he feel bad about this?

he doesn't.]

I see. [he says, not seeing at all, because he doesn't remember what the gyms in johto are.] Do you have your badges with you? I wasn't fortunate enough to arrive with my old ones, but then... I didn't have them on me.

Housemates

[tenofswords]

[The Gray Man is still shaken from his encounter with that double of Ronan. Ronan being nice to him was shocking, and part of him is a little sad that the real Ronan would never be that nice to him.

He's going down for a midnight snack when he sees the young man climbing in through the window. Mr. Gray is dressed in all gray pajamas, of course.]

Well, what do you have to say for yourself?

[namesaquestion]

... ... Hmph. I lost my key.

[No, not really, but he doesn't want to admit that he thought using the door like a normal person would make too much noise.]

Those are the most boring clothes ever.

[tenofswords]

Perhaps, but they suit me. I take it then, that you've been assigned to live here?

[namesaquestion]

They're stupid.

[He gives the other man a look, then shrugs.] Yea, I have. What of it?

[tenofswords]

You're not very polite, are you?

[He says it like he just stated the the sky is blue, or the grass is green. Just a casual observation.]

It's just that if you didn't live here, I'd have to get testy.

[namesaquestion]

[All that gets is a snort. He can be polite, but only if he wants to be.

Still the mention of a housemate getting testy has him stiffen slightly.] ... Good thing I do live here.

[tenofswords]

You can call me Mr. Gray, by the way.

[A man dressed in gray called Mr. Gray.]

[namesaquestion]

Hmph. I guess it suits a boring person like you.

[A beat or three, then, almost grudgingly, and more than a bit wary:]

I'm Nikolai.

housemates

[queenofseers]

[ Like Niko, Cass doesn't prefer to be here- she wants her own housing at some point when she has a job she actually likes, and these days she spends most of her time in libraries or Persephone's Hades. So just her luck that she comes home to find...this? Is this the new person that's supposed to be in? Or just some kid?

She's not having it, though. She flicks her wrist and sets off a few monochrome spools of light around her hand- a show of power, not hitting him yet. ] First of all, put that fucking down.

Second- supposed to? It's housing! Where people live! Clearly you haven't thought this through.

[namesaquestion]

[He refuses to admit it but there's a pang of something at seeing the light show; it reminds him of some pokemon's attacks. Such as his golbat's Confuse Ray, and as soon as that thought crosses his mind, he ruthlessly attempts to suppress it.]

What, you live here too?

[He lowers the dart, pointing the pointy end at the floor at least, but he doesn't drop it.] Hmph. Yea. Better coming home to an empty house than dealing with wimps and idiots.

[queenofseers]

I'm approaching you breaking into a home and I'm angry about it. Yes, I live here! [ Obviously, weird child.

...The "child" part being more obvious with his specific use of "wimps and idiots", which catches her as something very odd. ] And where exactly are you taking that assumption from? Because you haven't exactly bothered to introduce yourself.

[ Neither has she, but she hadn't run into him yet, to be fair. ]

[namesaquestion]

'Kay. [The muttered word is the only acknowledgement she'll get, though his grip on the dart tightens for a second or two.]

Everyone is because they don't know how to stay out of my way or leave me alone. Will you be the same?

[That's a lot of resentment -and anger-, and not even scratching the surface, and the last part is almost accusatory.

Best first impressions: Not his forte.]

[queenofseers]

[ They're not hers, either! She rolls her eyes. Who does this kid think he is? It'd be worrying if it wasn't kind of obnoxious. ]

You are- how old are you? Fifteen or something? Forgive me if most normal people would be interested in the well-being of a superpowered child. [ He's got to be one of the imPorts, right? If he's hanging around here. ]

Let alone one who's breaking into their housing. Do you live around here? Didn't you get a key?

[namesaquestion]

Hmph. I lost it. [No, not really, but he doesn't want to admit that he thought using the door like a normal person would make too much noise.]

What, you think those weaklings know what's best for me? I'm fourteen and all they do is get in the way like a bunch of zubats in a cave. As if they know anything!

[queenofseers]

[ Ohh man. This kid is being so extreme she could laugh. It's also kind of annoying, but that just contributes to the feeling- she snickers. Does he actually expect her to take him seriously? ]

Yeah, and clearly you know what you're doing when you'd rather jump in a window than knock on the door and explain yourself.

[ She takes her own key out from...somewhere? It's magic. ] Are you coming in or not?

[namesaquestion]

[Of course he does! Though prickly (and already injured) teenage pride is very much offended at the snickering, if the affronted glare is anything to go by.

He's about to retort that he always knows what he's doing when she pulls out a key.

Oh, yea. Getting inside was the goal.

It doesn't mean he's going to acquiesce without a huff and a squaring of shoulders in some vain attempt to appear like it was his idea.] Of course I am. I live here, don't I?