Demon Marcus, Sunday

[myownface]

Spark had found a clothing shop today! A clothing shop! And since he was arguably the most fashionable of the Team Leaders (this was patently untrue, Blanche had Candela and himself beat by miles), and since the front door appeared to actually open when he tried one of the mystery keys that had been by his bed that morning (first rule of RPGs: Try every key in every door, okay?), he was quite happy to invite himself in and start perusing the stock.

He had to give a small nod of approval at the selection. Whoever ran this place clearly had a healthy appreciation for the color yellow. Of course, Spark had a bit of a bias. And anyway, his own shopping adventure had been cut short when he came across a selection of hats.

...

If anybody needed assistance in the Demon Marcus today, they could try flagging Spark down. He'd happily give you fashion advice that involved pairing hoodies with leather pants. But they'd have to interrupt the cutest dress-up session featuring one highly enthusiastic Pokémon trainer and his faintly exasperated Pikachu.

At least it wasn't his Zapdos?

[OOC: Open!]

Comments

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando had heard the radio and promptly facepalmed. Not another one. With a tiny sigh, he dressed and went looking for his boyfriend. Who was someone else entirely today.

The wander had done him some good. It was a pleasant reminder of why he enjoyed this island so much. The architecture made him happy and even the unusual he did not mind so much.

Sparkle wasn't at the park or the Perk. There was someone inside Demon Marcus wearing quite a bit of yellow and playing with a small yellow creature that looked extremely put-upon. Hernando smiled to himself and went inside.

"Hello," he greeted, "How are you today?"

[myownface]

Spark blinked and glanced up from trying a hat - it was a big summery straw hat with a flower on it - on his Pikachu that the poor little mouse seemed terribly resigned to, one ear flopping downward under the weight of it.

"Oh, heya!" He offered the guy a grin. "I'm doing pretty great! Just doing some light accessorizing. And you?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando tried desperately not to laugh at the sight of the poor creature's face when the hat went on. He turned it into a mild cough before he answered.

"I am well. Is there anything I can help you with? This is my boyfriend's store though he does not appear to be in at the moment." Really not in, currently dressed in a track suit sort of thing and putting hats on small creatures.

..That last part was entirely Sparkle in nature. Hernando nodded at the little thing. "What is your pet? I have never seen something like this before."

[myownface]

"Pi-kaaaaaa," the little mouse complained. Spark just grinned a little, reaching out to pinch his cute little cheek. Pikachu gave him a small electric shock for his trouble, earning a but of a sheepish laugh.

"This little guy is a Pikachu," he explained, turning a smile toward Hernando. "An electric mouse Pokémon. And we're looking for the perfect hat to compliment his silky smooth coat."

Which was, predictably, yellow. Like there was a theme here.

[hernando_fuentes]

"What is a Pokemon?" Hernando asked curiously, studying the little creature. It looked mighty adorable in the hat even with a grump look.

He wondered a little bit why Sparkle had tiny hats but having witnessed everyone becoming doll-sized just a month or so ago he did not wonder for too long.

"The air is very dry in here," Hernando apologized when Spark got.. heh.. sparked.

[myownface]

"It's not really the air," Spark laughed, poking the long-suffering Pikachu on the end of his highly boopable nose. "Pokémon are animals of a sort, only they have fantastic powers and great intuition! They've been partners to humans for as long as there have been Pokémon!"

Pikachu attempted to paw his hat off of his head. Spark ever so helpfully straightened it out for him.

"Pikachu here is an electric type. Most of my Pokémon are, actually. But there are many diferent types, all with unique and fantastic abilities."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando's eyebrows rose a little. "Oh?" he asked curiously, "You have more than just this .. Pikachu?"

[myownface]

"Sure do," Spark laughed. "I'm Spark, the leader of Team Instinct. I help other trainers raise their Pokémon, so I get to carry more than the standard six that most trainers can handle. I've got Pikachu here, and a Raichu. A Mareep, a Magnemite, a Magneton, two Manectric, a Milotic, and a Zapdos."

The Zapdos was kind of his crowning achievement.

Even though these days it felt like anyone who had ever done an ounce of research had like five. Not bad for a one-of-a-kind legendary bird.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando smiled. This was definitely not Sparkle but the enthusiasm was similar. "I can see what a Pikachu looks like, but what of the others? Are they similar?"

[myownface]

"The Raichu is," Spark offered, smiling brightly. "He's one of Pikachu's evolved forms, actually. The others are all... pretty different."

A beat.

"We could step outside if you'd like to meet some of them. A few are a little too large to fit in here comfortably."

[hernando_fuentes]

"Do you know, I would like to meet them," Hernando mused, "As long as it is safe for me and for them."

Hernando glanced at the Pikachu again, "They evolve?"

[myownface]

"Many do," Spark agreed, holding out an arm for Pikachu to scamper up so that he could sit on his shoulder before he made for the door. "When they're old enough, or experienced enough, or when they're exposed to certain environmental factors."

A pause.

"Or when they eat enough candy."

...

"It's a very specific kind of candy."

His corner of the universe was weird.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando held the door for him mostly out of habit. "I am glad to hear it's specific. I cannot imagine sugar candy would be very good for any animal."

If Hernando knew what that candy was made of, he'd react.. poorly.

[notconflicted]

Jenny was trying to find something good that she could wear if she was going to be here, but everything was so... wrong.

"Isn't there anything new in here?" she asked aloud.

Maybe looking ahead to 1987?

[myownface]

Spark glanced up from his (mildly perturbed) Pikachu to look toward Jenny in confusion.

"I'm pretty sure none of it is second-hand, he offered."

You know. All new!

[notconflicted]

"I mean, like, where's the spandex?" Jenny wondered. This was important.

[myownface]

There was a brief pause while Spark considered that question. Actually... that wasn't a bad question at all, considering most clothing where he was from was skintight, too.

"Good question," he mused. "I think I saw some leggings on the way in?"

Not jeggings, though. Sparkle had standards.

[notconflicted]

"What is wrong with this store?" Jenny asked with a sigh, heading over that way. "You'd think they'd want people to look good."

[myownface]

"They do have kind of fun hats," Spark offered helpfully, stepping to the side to pet his Pikachu model his new headwear.

Never in all of history had a creature looked half as disgruntled over being stuck in a cheery summer hat with a little flower on it as this Pikachu did here today.

[notconflicted]

"And mess up my hair?" she asked, patting her curls before really looking. "What's that?"

[myownface]

"He's my Pikachu," Spark replied proudly. "He's a good little buddy, but he's still not terribly strong yet. Strictly Great League, you know?"

Sure, that made whole bunches of sense!

"He's pretty friendly," he added. "Usually. Not sure what's gotten into him right now."

Pikachu was attempting to eat the hat.

[notconflicted]

"Is he like a cat?" Jenny asked, concerned.

[myownface]

"More like a mouse," Spark offered. "An electric mouse. I have a Raichu, too. An Alolan one."

It was like a bigger mouse. That was a surfer dude.

[notconflicted]

Jenny blinked, and tilted her head. "Is that English?"

[myownface]

"Not terribly familiar with Pokémon, are you?"

That was fine. Spark could pull a ball from his belt and, in a flash of light, let his Raichu out to chill, too.

You know. The mouse thing that was twice Pikachu's size. The one that was levitating on its own tail like some kind of squishy brown surfer buddy.