ello_poppet | Catchall for Domestic Post-Airlocked AU Shenanigans w/Mini

...it was probably just trying to eat her dreams.

[ Said completely matter-of-factly. Aria's still making noises and fussing, but at least she's not screaming, so Elaine turns her over a bit to show her to Oda. Her voice heightens, taking on that sort of sing-songy quality it does when she's talking to Aria:]

Awww, don't cry, pumpkin. Look, Daddy was just worried about you.

[ ...anyway. Back to Oda:]

Nothing really happens if you get your dreams eaten, other than... you kind of just forget what you were dreaming about? They do kind of make a mess if you let them stick around too long, though; it's probably best that you got it out.

Just...try not to wake the whole house next time.

[She honestly thought it was a burglar or something actually dangerous for all of two seconds.]

Edited 2017-10-30 04:46 (UTC)

I'll try not to. I'm sorry, I overreacted.

[He doesn't know how to react at anything. He doesn't know what's dangerous or not. He definitely doesn't know if he should ever comment on Elaine calling him 'daddy' in front of their child.

But the most important thing is that he can't tell what's dangerous and what's not, and that's the part that frightens him the most.]

I hope you get some sleep.

You've only been here for a couple of weeks. You've got a lot to learn. And I mean... I did just kind of throw you in this world without any explanation of how it works?

[She didn't know what the fuck chickens even were, okay?

But she knows maybe she should help him more.]

I hope so too, honestly.

[Aria, she loves you, but she has not had a single unbroken night of sleep since you entered this planet.]

Do you have an encyclopedia of which Pokemon are dangerous and which aren't laying around...?

[He would memorize that in a day or two.]

I wish it was that easy. There's not really a way to do that?

[The rare wild Gyarados, for instance, will fucking kill you. But most Gyarados were evolved from Magikarp that belong to a trainer, and are a bit more well-behaved than that.

She shakes her head and chuckles softly. Aria is still awake and in a bit of a Mood, despite having quieted down.]

But... I could get you your own Pokemon. They're pretty good at being able to tell when another Pokemon means trouble.

Edited 2017-10-30 15:13 (UTC)

[His own Pokemon...]

I think that might help. -They're native, and probably smarter than humans in some ways.

[Animals usually are, especially when it comes to the basics: what you can eat and what you can't, what's a threat and what isn't.]

I'll see what I can do. You've got a lot of options...

[She kisses Aria's forehead again. Then she hands the baby, still squirming and quietly restless, to Oda and smiles weakly.]

Looks like she's calmed down a little.

[Oda rocks Aria gently in her arms, just enough to help calm her down some more.]

Everything's okay, honey. Everything's going to be just fine. ...Daddy's sorry he woke you up.

...you two are adorable together, you know that?

[They're bonding! Elaine is happy with this.]

Well, good night.

[Even though she knows she'll be out here in an hour or so when Aria's hungry.

...

Things are fairly uneventful for the next few days. Somehow, Elaine's managed to find out Oda's birthday, probably because she snooped over whatever documentation was needed for Oda to even live in an alternate universe. So he gets coffee and a simple cake with some interesting-looking berries he's probably never seen before, and the rest of the day goes as normal.

Until Elaine returns from the Pokemon center that evening, removing Aria from the little baby sling she's been hanging out in and reaching for something in her bag.]

I got you something.

[Oda has never been one to celebrate his birthday. He only kept track of it to know how old he was, not to insist that other people pay him special attention.

He can't say no to Elaine, though. The cake is delicious, and the coffee as refreshing as always. And the rest of the day falls into the routine he's getting used to.

When Elaine comes home, though...]

You did?

[What are presents?]

[She can't exactly blame him for not making a big deal of his. Elaine doesn't really care for her own birthday, either - hard to enjoy something yourself when you're used to sharing.

But she hands him the item before picking Aria up again, sitting down on the couch, and placing the baby in her lap. It's a small ball that he's probably seen a million times before in this world, by now. Well, this one is green instead of the usual red and white, but.]

There's a girl who likes to offer trades whenever she's in town. I told her about you, and how you didn't have your own Pokemon, and she thought this was the thing you needed.

[He's probably never held a Pokeball before, so she points at the button in the center.]

You have to press that to let it out.

Edited 2017-11-02 15:35 (UTC)

[He holds the Pokeball, but he doesn't press the button just yet.]

...Is it alright to trust me with this?

[He doesn't know if it's even alright to trust me with Aria, but he wouldn't abandon his daughter or her mother.

This Pokemon could have a better trainer. Anyone else would do.]

I think so.

[Her voice is low and a bit more serious than she usually does. But he needs to start trusting himself.]

And if you're ever unsure about how to do something, I can teach you.

[She's actually pretty satisfied with how Oda's taking responsibility for Aria, to be honest.]

...I trust you.

[Not himself, not yet. But he can at least believe that she's making the right call here.

He presses the button on the Pokeball.]

[Aria makes a noise and stirs a little, but Elaine's holding on to her tightly, rocking her gently. She may be whispering something to the baby in the voice she always uses for Aria and very small Pokemon again. It's not too important; she just knows that Aria likes hearing people's voices.

Anyway, out pops an Absol. It looks confused for a moment, before sniffing Oda's leg.]

[...Oda thinks he knows what love at first sight means now.

The Pokemon sniffs at his leg. It's about a meter tall, larger than the tallest of dogs, and it looks so very soft.

Oda's hand hovers in midair.]

...Hello there. Can I pet you?

[The Absol looks up at him for a second, judging him based on his face and his scent, before nudging the top of its head into the palm of Oda's hand.]

[She's just gonna let you two get to know each other.]

Absol's a pretty good Pokemon. They can be a little tricky, but they're about as loyal as you can get.

[Also...]

Apparently they can sense natural disasters and try to warn people about them, too, so that's useful.

Perfect.

[He could do with a few more warnings... And someone loyal.]

Did they say whether Absol was a girl or a boy?

[She's a girl, for the record.]

I think she said that this cutie's a girl.

You gonna name her?

[Oda thinks for a second, before settling on,] Hisae.

['Eternal Blessing.' One that would last longer than two years.

He manages the tiniest of smiles.]

Well hello there, Hisae!

[Is she gonna give the Absol a pet? SHE'S GIVING HER AN ALL OUT ASSAULT ON THE PETS. HISAE IS DOOMED.

...oh no.

Looks like Elaine is... crying a little?]

Elaine?

[Highkey concern, smiles are gone. Even Hisae tilts its head in confusion, despite the petting.]

It's fine. Sweetie, I... I'm fine. I promise.

[She wipes a few tears away. She's smiling, despite everything.]

It's just... I never thought I'd be around to see this.

[Even Aria is stirring a little, but that might be hunger and not concern.]

[Oda hesitates, before resting a hand on Elaine's shoulder.]

I'm here now. I'm not leaving again.

[She hates this.

She hates knowing that a big part of why she's crying right now is Oda's own self-loathing being picked up by her empathy. She hates knowing another part of it is still, probably, hormones that she wouldn't even have had to deal with if she'd just been more careful. But most of all, she hates having had to be strong all the time for all these months.

She leans into his hand just a bit.]

It's just.

When I found out I was pregnant? I was so worried about never coming home again, and I thought... I thought Aria was going to go her whole life not even knowing what a Pokemon was.

[It's so stupid, compared to also worrying about her dad, but Pokemon have always been a source of joy in Elaine's life.]

We spent all those months trying to rescue you, and I wanted you back, I really did, but...

...just about every night I'd cry to myself because I wanted to just go home.

[She's home now. Why is she crying?]

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