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retrauxpunk · 6 years

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i saw this bunch of asks and i’ve decided to answer all of them because fuck waiting for asks that’s why

billie jean: what do you notice more in a song - the drums or bassline?

probably the drums. this is embarrassing but i barely even know what a bassline is. don’t ask.

sweet dreams (are made of this): what’s the best dream you’ve had?

i was in the hunger games with ben whishaw. we were sort of allies. we were some of the tributes remaining toward the end of the game. we had this intense moment of eye contact in which we weren’t sure if we were going to kill/get killed by the other, and then we made out. fuck yeah.

africa: favourite 80s music video?

i agree with @cheapskate-bleeding-queer, Dancing in the Street is really something.

every breath you take: who’s the first person your mind goes to when you hear a love song?

either my boyfriend or my ex, depending on what kind of love song it is haha

should i stay or should i go: how many languages do you speak?

one fluently, one relatively proficiently, and basic spoken knowledge for another

uptown girl: what’s your favourite book trope?

there’s too many! here are a few i like: allies fighting with sword-like weapons back to back; badass battle magic; characters deciding to make out as a way to hide their real agenda (e.g. trespassing); saving each other’s lives; cyberpunk/biopunk; urban fantasy; people who save the world/have magic powers but also have normal lives of school/work

don’t stop believin’: what’s the longest journey you’ve been on?

mmm... flying from sydney to london. jesus. an entire day. but it was business class, so it was pretty cushy ... the flight from germany to sydney felt much longer because it was in economy and the shorter flight (8) was first, and the second one (16 or some shit) was second, so really i was going a bit nuts.

i wanna dance with somebody (who loves me): who was the last person you danced with?

my boyfriend, at the paramore concert

maneater: where did you spend your last friday night?

hanging out at my boyfriend’s work, playing beer pong

jessie’s girl: what would you do if you found out your best friend was seeing your ex?

be incredibly shocked/surprised and upset and bitter ... and ask them why? and also chew out my ex too. but more angry at the best friend because they know how my relationship with the ex went and it’d be a real douchey move for them to get with them haha. ...thankfully this is very very very unlikely to happen.

born in the u.s.a.: what’s your home town like?

sunny with a beautiful harbour. very expensive in terms of housing. pretty multicultural, with white, asian, and middle eastern being the dominant groups (in descending order). lots of great food.

wake me up before you go-go: how did your last date go?

saw Early Man with my boyfriend at the cinema. it was nice. uneventful but pleasant, which is how things usually go when you’ve been together for years...

girls just want to have fun: relationship with your parents?

we have really different/conflicting views about basically everything, which is what happens when we’re from different generations and grew up in different cultures... #immigrantlife but they tried their best and love me and i love them even though it has been kinda rough

beat it: opinions on the police force?

a necessary institution, i’d rather have one than not have one, but has several serious endemic issues regardless of which culture we’re talking about

never gonna give you up: how old were you when you joined the internet?

around the time this was a meme haha :p ... around 12-13, when I got into message boards and post by post roleplaying.

faith: when was your first kiss?

15 for a peck, 17 for making out

i’m so excited: where was your first kiss?

outside my house for the peck, and in Sydney’s Hyde Park for making out

take on me: could you reach the high note?

absolutely not, but i make a dumb attempt anyway

footloose: favourite musical?

The Book of Mormon!!!!!!!

9 to 5: do you like country music?

I’m not sure. Maybe?

back in black: what makes a good rock song?

a strong beat! strength of instruments! a hot voice and good lyrics. makes me want to start drumming my fingers/tapping feet/headbanging, no matter where i am. i’m too crap at music to be able to give a better answer, so have that subjective one.

material girl: are you sentimental?

absolutely. i’ll bleed my heart all over your carpet and ruin your clothes. though i don’t know if that comes across for people who don’t know me too well?

walk this way: what was the most expensive thing you bought in the last six months?

probably concert tickets for me and my boyfriend ... either that or my Doc Martens

you shook me all night long: are you seeing anyone at the moment?

yup

thriller: favourite film genre and why?

I like quite a few, but probably action/thriller. I love good action movies, I love watching well-choreographed combat and general Cool Badassitude, and the dialogue tends to be peppered with fun humour too. Really good for suspense and engagement.

i want candy: chocolate or sweets?

Chocolate

ghostbusters: how far do you believe in the paranormal?

I don’t really, but I wouldn’t push my luck either.

the power of love: does true love exist?

absolutely! all love is true love. if it’s not true, it’s not love.

hungry like the wolf: what’s your crush’s favourite music genre?

stuff like Queen

walk like an egyptian: favourite song currently in the charts?

Lemon To A Knife Fight by the Wombats

(i’ve had) the time of my life: if you could relive any ten minutes of your life, what would you relive?

listening to Pink Floyd’s Time while on acid (the first time I’d tried either the album or the drug)

just can’t get enough: what’s your guilty pleasure?

I don’t really feel guilty about my pleasures?

i’m gonna be (500 miles): how far apart do you and your best friend live?

lmao. a 24 hour flight apart. about as far away as you can get

you spin me round (like a record): favourite modern cover of an older song?

i don’t know many, but the Scissor Sisters cover of Comfortably Numb as a disco hit is really good!

we built this city: if you were president, what would your first ruling be?

oh god uh I don’t know. but some stuff I’d like to make happen are: increasing taxes on fossil fuels, more protections for queer folk, making abortion safe and easily accessible, overhauling the sex ed curriculum in schools to include a lot more focus on consent and the nuances of consent instead of focussing purely on physical sexual health, increasing funding for mental health, OH BOY I COULD GO ON AND ON

how will i know: do you believe everyone is deserving of love?

by default yes ... for people like ivan milat ... no ... so, yes, except in the extreme cases of people proven to be unrepentant and unwilling to reform after committing atrocities

nothing’s gonna stop us now: what’s been the biggest hurdle you’ve faced in your life so far?

either my own mental health RE being quite neurotic/obsessive, or a bad former partner who did some things that fucked me up. they’ve recently seemed to be truly sorry/empathetic though so that one at least will be getting better now. tbh they’re both getting better, so that’s nice!

come on eileen: have you ever written a song? if so, what was the genre?

i kinda wrote lyrics and had an idea for a melody for this ... some kind of bad sappy love song that would probably be in the pop rock category? oh god i’m so glad i have no further memory of it

living on a prayer: which was the song of your childhood?

if we’re talking pre-teenagerhood ... um ... I dunno! maybe ‘Sk8er Boi’ or Atomic Kitten’s ‘The Tide is High’ haha. as for my mid-teens ... Tokio Hotel’s ‘Der Letzte Tag’. late teens, it’d be ... maybe Taylor Swift’s ‘Holy Ground’.

sweet child o’ mine: describe your perfect first date.

meeting somewhere public, having good food and drink, excellent conversation and laughs, then going to my/their place and having more of the same, and making out and potentially Other Things wink nudge giggle wink wink nudge

don’t you (forget about me): is there anyone from your past that you regret cutting ties with?

No. HA. feels good to say that

eye of the tiger: favourite 80s movie?

i .................. don’t know if I have one

under pressure: give an example of a world event that occurred the year you were born.

Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president of South Africa

with or without you: what would you value most: a relationship or a job?

oh my god i don’t fucking know.

another one bites the dust: where did you achieve your biggest accomplishment?

what ... even was my biggest accomplishment ... I guess either in my school’s exam hall (getting a high ATAR), or on my apartment couch (finishing NaNoWriMo)

pour some sugar on me: turn ons?

oh boy, hmm: having the exact same ideological beliefs as me; a lean but toned body; Irish/Scottish/Russian accents (among several others); neck kisses; being clever; being very skilled at something (esp something with a physical dimension e.g. drawing, playing guitar, snowboarding, etc.); the right amount of confidence/bravado but only when I’m already into them (otherwise this becomes a 10000x turn-off)

in the air tonight: do you enjoy flying?

YEAH BB

tainted love: thoughts on synthesisers/electronic drum kits/technology based music?

i have no problem with it and it can produce excellent stuff just like any older instrument

like a virgin: share a controversial opinion.

i hate avocados

karma chameleon: what do you like most about your appearance?

on good days, hair and face. otherwise, my body.

#this was fun!#these are good questions #about me #ask quiz

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rhnuzlocke · 7 years

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Bonus Scene

Ren stays at Steven’s house

This scene is a much longer version of Ren’s first visit to Steven’s house at the beginning of episode 22. I wrote it ahead of time in a fit of inspiration only to realize later that it completely ruined the flow of the chapter so I hacked it down to the current version.

[Steven’s house is a small, stone cottage on the outskirts of town that overlooks the sea. There is a very large open shelter built onto the side in the lee of the building with a large sand bed. A bastiodon, cradily and armaldo are resting in it while a skarmory perches on the roof. There is a garden near the house with plants sprouting in it. Steven sends out the rest of his pokemon as they approach and Ren follows suit. Tulpi and Liaoning land on either side of Damascus on the roof and the Eon Guardians join them.]

Steven: The bastiodon sleeping there is Pavise. He’s a retired battler. I’m sure he’ll get up for dinner, but we’ll let him sleep for now. And the rest I think you know already.

[Tungsten slithers over and curls around Pavise who shifts a little to settle against her but does not open his eyes. Gilchrist lumbers over to join them while Escutcheon and Ptilometra get up to make room and greet Pohaku. Alwyn and Komatsu take Kōtai over to see the garden and Ao tags along. Escutcheon and Ptilometra start down a path to the shore, inviting Pohaku to follow. He looks back at Ren and she nods. He wiggles and goes after them followed shortly by Tāraki and Tarahau. Kata and Bessemer sit on the edge of the cliff and talk. Steven opens the front door and flips on the hall light. He moves aside and motions for Ren to come in. She steps inside and he closes the door.]

Steven: Welcome. First door on the right is the laundry room, next is the kitchen, then there is a closet and the door on the end is the bathroom. First on the left is the living room and the bedroom in the back. Here, let me take your shoes.

[He takes off his own and then waits while she takes off hers. He puts them both in a tray in the laundry room and gives her a pair of house slippers, a custom he probably picked up from his time in Kanto. A carbink dressed in a frilly pink apron emerges from the kitchen as they step into the hall.]

Carbink: [telepathy] Steven, I started dinner! [seeing Ren] Oh! Hello!

Steven: Anthy, this is Ren. She and her pokemon are going to be staying the night.

Anthy: Okay! I already changed the sheets so you’re all set.

Ren: It’s nice to meet you Anthy. Thank you for taking such good care of Steven.

Anthy: Of course! I have to get back to the kitchen. It was lovely to meet you!

[Anthy floats back into the kitchen, little apron fluttering. Ren turns back to Steven.]

Ren: Steven, there is no way I’m stealing your bed. I can sleep on the couch. Knowing you, it’s plenty comfortable.

Steven: I get to sleep in my bed all the time. You need some rest after what you went through today.

Ren: So do you.

Steven: If it makes you uncomfortable, then obviously you can sleep on the couch. But otherwise I insist you—

Ren: Come on, I’ve already made up my mind. You know how stubborn I am.

Steven: I can be very persistent.

Ren: [turning to go into the kitchen] We’ll see.

[The kitchen is quite large and professional-looking. There is a huge six burner stove, a large oven, a farmhouse sink, a smaller sink and a big two-door refrigerator. The room also features a wrap around countertop, generous cabinetry and a small table with two chairs. Anthy is at the end of the counter using telekinesis to chop celery with a knife.]

Ren: Anthy, may I please help you cook?

Anthy: You don’t need to.

Ren: Please. I know I’m making a lot of extra work for you.

Anthy: Okay, you two can help. Could you shuck these peas for me, Ren?

Ren: [saluting] Aye captain.

Anthy: [giggling] Steven, could you make the roué? I want to watch you again.

Steven: Of course.

[Ren is washing her hands, but looks up to watch Steven take off his jacket and ascot. He drapes them over one of the chairs and rolls up his sleeves before getting a crystal pattern apron off a hook by the door and putting it on. Ren quickly looks away and dries her hands so that he can wash his. He puts a saucepan on the stove while Anthy gets some broth and butter out of the fridge. He puts a ton of butter in the saucepan and it sizzles as it melts. Anthy hands him a container of flour and he sprinkles that in as stirs the mixture with a spatula.]

Steven: You see how it’s fluffy and spreads across the bottom? That’s what you want to see. If it’s too flat, add more flour. If it’s too dry, add more butter. And you have to toast it just a bit or it will fall apart later… Alright, now the broth just a little at a time. The important thing is to not let it get too cold. Wait until it’s smooth and hot again to add more.

[Ren smiles as she listens to this while she shucks peas into a bowl behind them. Soon Anthy seems confident enough to take over and Steven starts making some dough on the counter next to Ren. His bare arms flex as he kneads the dough in a practiced motion. Ren steals glances at him and tries not to smile the dopey way her face seems to want to.]

Ren: I’m done with the peas, Anthy.

Anthy: Thank you. Save the pods for Pavise please. He loves them. Could you finish chopping the celery for me?

Ren: Sure.

[The two sandslashes and excadrill come in with a basket of root vegetables and an earthenware jar. Komatsu gets out a lasagna pan and puts it on the floor while Alwyn picks up a potato. Komatsu puts a bowl down next to her. Alwyn carefully balances the potato on one claw and spins it like a top. She runs the edge of her other claw up its length and peels it into the bowl in one fluid motion. She smiles at Kōtai who is watching her with wide eyes. She tosses the peeled potato up and cubes it in midair. The pieces land in the pan.]

Kōtai: Now that’s a fine trick. Couldn’t do that with my claws.

Alwyn: Then try the carrots.

[Kōtai picks up a carrot and starts peeling it lengthwise with the edge of his claw while Alwyn continues with the potatoes and Komatsu fetches some berries out of the fridge using a step stool. Meanwhile, Steven is rolling out the dough into four large circles. Ren continues to steal furtive glances at his face and arms between each vegetable she dices. Soon she has a little pile of celery, carrots, mushrooms, and potato.]

Ren: I’ve finished the vegetables, Anthy.

Anthy: Thank you!

[Anthy floats them through the air and into a pot with telekinesis. Steven puts two of the crusts in pie dishes and leaves the other two on the cutting board for later. Komatsu pours the contents of the jar, which turns out to be grubs, over the roots and berries and the two sandslash put it in the oven. Ren confers with Anthy and gets some supplies out of her vapor box: rice flour, matcha, and red bean paste. She starts making mochi at the table and Steven gets some lemonade out of the fridge. He pulls two glasses out of the cabinet and holds one down to Alwyn, who frosts it over. Steven joins Ren at the table with the two frosted glasses of lemonade which he has garnished with mint. Ren has him roll out little balls of red bean paste and Ren wraps them in matcha mochi before Steven dusts them in rice flour for the finishing touch. Steven soon gets ahead of Ren and rests his head on his hand with a sigh.]

Ren: You are going to have to be patient. This is not as easy as it looks.

Steven: I hate waiting.

Ren: You are so full of shit right now. Are you really gonna tell me that excavating rocks and fossils requires no patience?

Steven: If you don’t give me something to do, I’ll just have to find some other way to entertain myself.

Ren: Good. Get creative.

[He leans over with a mischievous smile and sprinkles some rice flour on her hair. She blows some matcha powder at him in retaliation and he flicks some red bean paste at her and she reaches her hand into the remaining gooey mochi to fling at him, expression gleeful. She raises it high.]

Steven: No! Please! What if it gets in my hair?

Ren: You asked for this!

Steven: [trying to shield his head] I’m sorry! Mercy! Please!

[Ren cackles wickedly.]

Anthy: What are you two doing?!

[They both freeze.]

Steven: Uh—

Anthy: You’re making a mess!

Ren: I’m sorry—

Steven: We’re very sorry—

Anthy: [waving her spatula for emphasis] Out of the kitchen!

Ren: We’ll stop—

Steven: We won’t do it again, we promise—

Anthy: OUT!

[They both protest and grovel but Anthy has their sandslashes kick them out. They give each other a sheepish smile as they are shoved into the hall. Steven snatches the bowl of pea pods as soon as the sandslashes turn their backs and goes outside to take care of his pokemon while Ren goes to take a shower. The bathroom is extremely fancy as Ren probably should have suspected. She snoops around just a little, looking over all of the soaps, lotions and hair care products. There is even a little organizer of makeup on one of the shelves. She inspects the switches on the wall which have the letters ‘O M S V F T’. The first three turn out to be the overhead, shower, and mirror lights respectively. ‘V’ is the vent, ‘F’ turns on the heated floor and ‘T’ makes a small orange light on the towel rack turn on. When Ren gets out of the shower, she wraps herself in a warm towel and wiggles in delight. She changes into a loose t-shirt and plain pajama bottoms and goes into the living room. Three of the four walls are lined with cases of rocks and Ren goes around admiring them. Steven comes back in and quickly checks on her before going off to take his own shower. Ren is lounging on the enormous couch when he returns with a bowl of cherries and some fresh glasses of lemonade. Ren thanks him as he lays the offerings on the huge coffee table before she notices what he is wearing. He has put on silk pajamas that are a beldum print on a pale pink background.]

Ren: Thank you— Oh, great Lord Arceus.

Steven: Hmm?

Ren: Your pajamas. They’re… precious.

Steven: Like them?

Ren: You’re such a dork!

[He just shrugs and makes to sit down on the couch next to her. She scooches her feet up to make room and he flops down.]

Steven: How about you? Did you forget yours?

Ren: [gesturing to her tattered outfit] These are my pajamas.

Steven: You don’t… have any others?

Ren: No, I do, but they’re pretty much all like this.

[Steven turns away from her and stares off into the middle distance, lips tightly sealed.]

Ren: Your bathroom is wild by the way. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled this good in my life and that includes the time I went to an actual spa in Lavaridge.

Steven: What can I say, it takes work to look this good all the time.

Ren: I’d make fun of you, but that heated towel rack is probably my new favorite thing on the entire planet.

Steven: I’ve told you before: St—

Ren: I know, I know: “Steven Stone does nothing by halves”. But back to you being a huge dork: your carbink wouldn’t happen to be named after Anthy from Shōjo Kakumei Utena, would she?

Steven: No. She’s named for anthracite.

Ren: [smirking] Cuz that’s so much less dorky. Just admit it already.

Steven: I’ll do no such thing and furthermore I’ll have you know that Utena was certainly not my idol as a child.

Ren: [laughing] That explains a lot.

[Steven leans forward and grabs the bowl of cherries. He puts it in his lap and pops an entire cherry into his mouth, stem and all. Ren reaches over and pulls out a few for herself. Her toes slide forward as she stretches up and touch his thigh. He doesn’t react to the contact so she decides to leave them there. She smiles as her toes are warmed by his body heat. A minute or two later Steven pushes a knotted cherry stem past his lips and twirls it theatrically, grinning toothily at her.]

Ren: That is so weird. Did you make that up or did someone else show you how to do that?

[The grin falls off his face and he puts the cherry stem down on the coffee table before spitting the pit out of the side of his mouth. It lands right in his empty lemonade glass.]

Ren: Now that’s crazy. How do you do that? It’s like you didn’t even look, I swear.

Steven: You know, most people have the opposite reaction to those two talents. They love the cherry stem trick and think the pit spitting is weird and gross.

Ren: [brow frrowing] Huh. Why do you think that is?

[Steven blinks at her, then shrugs, but he is blushing just a little. He can feel Bessemer laughing outside and blushes harder. Ren is busy reaching for more cherries and doesn’t notice. They continue eating for a little while in silence except for the occasional tinkling of a cherry pit landing in Steven’s glass. Steven gropes around the almost empty bowl and something occurs to him. He looks at Ren’s glass but there is still some lemonade and no cherry pits.]

Steven: What are you doing with your stones?

Ren: Hmm?

Steven: You ate at least half of these. Where are all the stones?

[Ren just grins at him, cheeks bulging.]

Steven: No!

[Ren opens her mouth and shows him the thirty-odd pits inside.]

Steven: [laughing] Augh! Ren! That’s disgusting!

[Muffled cackling through the pits in her mouth.]

Steven: [shoving his glass towards her] Here.

Ren: No, put it back! I want to try spitting them.

[Steven put the glass back down on the coffee table though a little closer to her this time. Ren winds up and spits. The pit misses by at least a foot but does land on the coffee table.]

Steven: Not bad.

[She spits and misses again.]

Steven: You know you might be handicapping yourself by having all of them in your mouth at once.

Ren: Yay! I love unnecessary challenges.

Steven: That you do. [grabbing a cherry] Here, I’ll do it slow so you can watch my technique. [cherry in his mouth] Though honestly most of it is repetition.

[He spits it up into the air slowly and exaggeratedly and it lands perfectly in the glass. Ren tries again and gets a little closer. They take turns, Ren getting a little closer every time except when Steven makes her laugh and she misses spectacularly. Tāraki, Kata and Tarahau wander in and Kata joins them in the game. She gets it after just a few tries and Ren accuses her of cheating. Ren gets it in on her next try and they all cheer. Anthy, the Eon Guardians, and the rest of the kitchen crew come in with the dinner and table settings. The three flying-types and ocean trio get called in and they all gather around the table to eat. Ren sits in seiza, while Steven sits cross-legged beside her. In addition to the chicken pot pie Ren helped with and the roast vegetable thing the sandslashes made, there is a pile of whole, braised fish, a basket of steamed mussels in seaweed, a bowl of fruit salad and a rack of ribs. Ren looks out over the feast, eyes welling and big smile on her face.]

Steven: I’m sorry we have to eat on the floor.

Ren: No, this is just like home. Thank you, Steven. [wiping her eyes] And thank you, Anthy. It looks wonderful.

Anthy: You’re welcome!

Steven: Oh, and the finishing touch… [A pair of stainless steel chopsticks float out of the kitchen, surrounded by the purple glow of telekinesis, and into Steven’s hand. Offering them to her] Here you are.

Ren: [tearing up again and snatching the chopsticks from him] Cut that out! You’re going to make me cry.

[Steven serves himself some pie and then puts some on Ren’s plate as she reaches for everything else. Steven watches her as he eats his pie. It kind of fascinating how ruthlessly efficient she is at grabbing, slicing and shoveling the food into her mouth with her native utensils. Komatsu and the sandslashes dig into their dish with gusto while the flying-types east the fish and ribs. Tarahau, Pohaku and his two new friends eat up the mussels first before helping with the fish. Tāraki and the Eon Guardians mostly eat the fruit while Ao gnaws on the ribs. Like Ren, Kata insists on eating a little of everything and loves it. She especially compliments the pot pie and roasted vegetables. Much to Steven’s horror, this convinces Ren to try some, including one of the fat grubs. She laughs at his expression.]

Ren: I’ve never tried a bug before but that was actually really good. Come on Steven, you should try some.

Steven: No thank you.

Ren: It’s good though.

Steven: [doubtful] Hmm.

Ren: Would I lie to you? Lead you astray?

Steven: No.

Ren: Then what’s the problem?

Steven: I’ve never eaten a bug either, but I’d prefer to keep it that way.

Ren: Where’s your sense of adventure? Lots of other cultures eat bugs. It’s perfectly natural and not at all icky.

Steven: I let them cook it in my oven didn’t I? I think I’ve been plenty open-minded. I just don’t want to put it in my mouth.

Ren: And why not? Are you afraid?

Steven: No. I just don’t think I’ll like the texture.

Ren: It’s not that different than the potatoes really. Just give it a try.

Steven: Why do you want me to eat it so badly?

Ren: [ginning] Because you don’t want to.

Steven: You’re impossible.

Ren: I just want to know why you don’t. Are you squeamish?

Steven: Ren.

Ren: You don’t seem squeamish, but on the other hand I’m not sure what else I expected from a spoiled rich kid like yourself. You probably only had to eat whatever you wanted because you had a personal chef or some taurosshit.

Steven: [sentences running together in frustration] We did have a chef and she taught me how to cook and I’ve eaten plenty of weird things why won’t you let this go?

Ren: So, like, do you have a strong gag reflex or something? Are you afraid you’d throw up? Because that I could totally understand—

Steven: I. Do. Not.

Ren: [holding up her hands] Alrighty then. Whatever you say.

Steven: Give me one.

Ren: Are you sure? I don’t want to force you.

Steven: Just do it.

[She picks up a grub with her chopsticks and moves it towards him, then pauses.]

Ren: Do you want it on your plate or—

[Steven lunges and grabs the grub, teeth clacking against her chopsticks. She watches as he chews it and swallows.]

Ren: So?

Steven: …It was fine, nice even.

Ren: [smug] Ha!

Steven: I hope you’re happy.

Ren: [genuine] I am. I’m actually really really happy. And not just cuz you ate a bug.

Steven: [melting a little] Good. Me too… Actually, could you pass me the vegetables? I’d like to try all of the components together.

[Ren smiles super wide and passes it to him, taking a little more for herself. Soon they finish dinner and everyone helps clear it away. The Eon Guardians are particularly helpful with their telekinetic talents and the clean-up goes quickly. The pokemon get a bunch of cushions from the hall closet and bring them in the living room while Steven goes to his bedroom to get some pillows and a blanket. Ren brings the mochi in from the kitchen after she helps with the dishes a little. She flops back down on the couch and makes herself comfortable with a pillow and the blanket.]

Steven: Want something to drink?

Ren: Yes please.

Steven: Anything in particular? I’ve got just about everything.

Ren: Whatever you want. I like trying things.

[Steven goes to his liquor cabinet and gets down some champagne flutes. Ren hears him pop a cork before he reappears with two glasses of golden liquid.]

Steven: Since this is a special occasion, I thought I’d break out the good stuff. I call it liquid sunshine.

[He hands Ren her glass and she takes it.]

Ren: [holding it up] Here’s to the world not ending.

Steven: [holding his up] To many tomorrows.

[They clink glasses and drink.]

Ren: [eyes blowing wide] Oishī! What is this?

Steven: Champagne and elderflower liqueur.

Ren: [She takes another sip.] It really is like liquid sunshine. [another sip] So good. Can the world end again sometime?

Steven: Nonsense. We can just do this again sometime.

Ren: I’d really like that.

[They both smile at each other before looking away in embarrassment. Steven notices that some of the pokemon are missing.]

Steven: Looks like our sandslashes have disappeared.

Ren: But your excadrill is still here. They have no chaperone! How very improper.

Steven: [He laughs.] It was only a matter of time I suppose. Apparently your Kōtai is quite the sweet-talker.

Ren: Really? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Steven: And after his performance in Ever Grande… Well, Alwyn’s had suitors before, but they were more or less beneath her notice.

Ren: Can he stay here a while of they decide to have an egg? I think he’d like to be a father. Actually, sometimes I think he was one once, before I met him.

Steven: Well, he’s welcome to stay here as long as he likes. He doesn’t seem the type to make a burden of himself. Quite the opposite.

Ren: Yeah, he’s pretty much taken care of me from day one. He’s the reason I survived the explosion.

Steven: Is that what happened to his scales?

Ren: Yep! He evolved to save me. We match. I have a photo actually. Want to see?

Steven: Definately.

[Ren grabs her nav off of the coffee table and quickly locates the photo. She passes it off to him and he studies it for a while.]

Steven: This is really good. Did you have this done professionally?

Ren: Yeah. I did a whole shoot actually.

Steven: May I?

Ren: Go ahead.

[Steven scrolls through the rest of the photos, including the newer set.]

Steven: These are superb.

[He stops at the team photo with Wheta’s outline in the middle.]

Ren: I still look at that all the time.

Steven: [handing back her nav] It’s a wonderful memorial.

Ren: Thank you. It wasn’t an easy shot to get, but everyone was so patient…

[She sighs and looks at the photo for a bit before putting her nav back down on the coffee table.]

Ren: So, your house is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. Especially after seeing Wallace’s.

Steven: It has everything I need.

Ren: And it’s made of stone.

Steven: And it’s made of stone. I did have to do a little work on it, and I added the pavilion, but I really loved the layout and location.

Ren: It’s really nice. I guess I’ll have to get a house too now.

Steven: The League pays all of your living expenses, so you can rent for nothing. They just have to approve it first. And it can’t be too far from Ever Grande of course. They would also help you buy if you wanted, but most people don’t since being Champion isn’t usually long-term.

Ren: That’s cool. In Johto, the Champion has a palace.

Steven: [rambling] I think most regions have a Champion residence. There is a lot of peculiar history as to why we don’t. At least there are houses for the Elite Four now. They used to have to find their own places too. I’m gonna get a refill. Would you like some more?

Ren: Yes please!

[She downs the rest of her drink and hands him the empty glass.]

Steven: Whoa, pace yourself. There is a lot of alcohol in this stuff.

Ren: I do what I want!

Steven: [walking over to his liquor cabinet] Alright. Just making sure these are informed decisions.

[She pulls her feet up on the couch as he pours their drinks.]

Ren: Why did I bring up the house? Now I’m thinking about mortgages. Ugh, adulthood sucks.

Steven: Says the current League Champion.

Ren: That’s right. You’ve got your work cut out for you, former champ.

Steven: At least you admit it.

Ren: Whatever. It’s not like you’re some bastion of maturity.

Steven: [handing her glass back] And what is that supposed to mean?

Ren: [She takes a long sip of her drink and smirks at him.] Like how it was the gag-reflex comment that finally got to you.

Steven: [flopping back down on the couch] It wasn’t any more irritating than the rest, just the straw that made the numel sneeze.

[He takes a long draft of his own drink.]

Ren: Somehow I don’t quite buy that.

Steven: Fine. It did bother me. I have a reputation to uphold.

Ren: What kind of reputation?

Steven: I think you know.

Ren: Nope. Still a little fuzzy over here. Would you mind clarifying?

Steven: I’m a slut, Ren, okay?

Ren: You? I don’t believe it.

Steven: And I’ve worked very hard to earn that title.

Ren: How hard are we talking?

Steven: So I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.

Ren: Not taking the bait, huh?

Steven: Everyone enjoys their time with Steven Stone.

Ren: Have I ever told you how weird it is that you refer to yourself in the third person?

Steven: Let it be known that Steven Stone can gargle dick for days.

[Ren nearly spits her drink.]

Steven: Was that enough explanation for you?

Ren: [laughing] All cleared up over here.

Steven: Good.

[They both sip their drinks in silence for a few minutes because there is nowhere to go from there. Eventually Ren has had enough silence and alcohol to change the subject.]

Ren: So, I think it’s time you showed me that tattoo you mentioned.

Steven: You remember that?

Ren: Yup.

Steven: Alright, but I have to take my shirt off.

Ren: Fine by me.

[Steven gets up and turns to face her. Rather than reaching for the buttons, he grabs the bottom of his shirt, crossing his arms as he does so. He pulls the shirt up and over his head in one fluid movement and throws it down on the couch. Ren watches this motion with thinly veiled fascination. What little body hair he has is silver and very fine so that it barely shows up at all. She marvels at how he once again won the genetics lottery.]

Steven: Enjoying yourself?

Ren: [sipping her drink] A little.

[Steven turns around and sits back down on the couch so that she can see the tattoo. It covers most of his upper back and shoulders and is full of color and fine detail. There is a beldum, metang and metagross right between his shoulder blades and the rest of the design radiates out from there. There are three concentric rings separated into sections and beyond that his keystone and all of his pokemon’s mega stones, including the steelixite Ren gave him. The rest of the tattoo is occupied by his pokemon, each with their own mineral that represents them in some way. She quickly puts her mostly empty glass on the coffee table and folds her legs under her so that she can see it better.]

Ren: Whoa. I can’t believe you don’t trot this out at all the parties. This is awesome, Steven.

Steven: Well, it’s a little personal.

Ren: Thank you for showing me.

Steven: Of course.

Ren: Is this a beldum?

Steven: In the middle? Yeah and a metang and a metagross.

Ren: Did you design this? It’s really good.

Steven: Bes helped a little.

Ren: [pointing] What’s this? Oh, uh. May I…?

Steven: Go ahead.

[She touches his back and runs her fingers over the tattoo.]

Ren: [tracing a circle around the center] So what are these?

Steven: Those are all of the metal ores including a meteorite at the top.

Ren: Hmm. Are these the crystal systems?

Steven: Very good. I’ve never had anyone get that before.

Ren: I took some geology back in Johto. It was fun. Was that what you majored in?

Steven: [He hums an affirmative.] Double-minored in physiology and magic studies. That’s how I got into Prof. Sycamore’s lab.

Ren: That must have been really cool.

Steven: It certainly had its benefits. Maybe I’ll have time to finish my master’s when this is over.

Ren: [running her fingers over the next ring] These are all of the evolutionary stones. [wandering out further] And these are all of your mega stones? [gasp] You added the steelixite I gave you!

Steven: I can’t thank you enough for that.

Ren: [tracing it with a finger] Is this your bastidon? Oh, and there’s Damascus and Gilchrist and Tungsten.

Steven: They’re all there.

Ren: [smiling as she traces each] Hmm… Ha, I almost didn’t see Anthy. She blends in. And I love how Alwyn looks with the quartz crystals… Oh, there she is.

[She runs her fingers over the lunatone cradling the curve of his shoulder. He reaches up and holds his shoulder for a moment.]

Steven: Yeah, still with me.

[She lingers on Hecate for a moment before moving back towards the center of the tattoo, watching how it moves with his skin before looking it over as a whole.]

Ren: Can I just say again that this is amazing? Who’s your artist?

Steven: Alexandra Keynes in Slateport. Why, are you thinking of getting one?

Ren: This is making me seriously consider it.

[He looks over his shoulder at her.]

Steven: You’re not going to make fun of me for this?

Ren: Why would I?

[Her hand finally drops from his back.]

Steven: It’s super nerdy.

Ren: This is nerdy in the best way possible and it’s beautiful, Steven. I love it.

[He shifts and turns to face her. Their eyes meet and she begins to color a little.]

Steven: Thank you.

Ren: You don’t need to thank me. I’m just spitting truth over here.

[She reaches for her drink and finishes it off. He watches her thoughtfully for a moment.]

Steven: Would you like to watch something?

Ren: Sure. What did you have in mind?

Steven: Did you ever see the Utena movie?

Ren: Nah, just re-runs of the show.

Steven: How about it then? We can watch in Kantonese if you like. It will help my listening skills.

Ren: Sounds great.

[Steven puts his shirt back on and grabs his nav. He turns on the TV and searches his collection.]

Ren: Did they change a lot of stuff?

Steven: Well, the biggest difference is probably that the movie is pretty explicit where the show just implies things, so fair warning.

[Steven starts the movie. They are now sitting about two feet apart. Ren grabs the blanket and throws it over herself. She is about to go back to her arm of the couch but hesitates. She glances at Steven and takes a deep breath. She scooches closer and leans up against him. He lifts his arm to make room for her without any hesitation. She snuggles a bit closer and he wraps his arm around her. She offers him some of the blanket and he pulls it over himself with his free arm. They watch quietly for a while, settling comfortably into the contact.]

Ren: I forgot about her tiny aipom. It’s so weird.

Steven: They’re not all that small?

Ren: You’ve never seen one? They’re like, at least four times that size, even the smaller variants.

[They watch for a bit longer, offering only the occasional yawn or sleepy comment and it isn’t long before both of them are sound asleep. Steven wakes up a little while after the movie has ended to find his head resting on Ren’s who has her head on his shoulder. Her mouth is slightly open and she has drooled on him a bit. She snores lightly as he picks his head up. He smiles down at her before looking around the room. Most of her pokemon and some of his own are asleep on giant cushions all over the floor. The TV has already turned itself off and it is dark except for a little moonlight coming in the windows and skylight.]

Steven: Ren. Ren, I need you to wake up for a minute.

Ren: [bleary] Hmm?

Steven: We fell asleep on the couch.

Ren: Sorry. [she sits up just enough for Steven to wiggle out from under her.] How did the movie end?

Steven: Utena turned into a car and Anthy drove away in it to the real world.

[Ren giggles softly and flops down on the couch.]

Steven: Come on now, we have to get you in bed.

[Ren groans noncommittally at this.]

Steven: I’m going to pick you up now and put you in the bed, okay? I don’t want you to be confused in the morning.

Ren: [her eyes are closed again] Mmkay.

[Steven crouches and carefully slides a hand under her knees and shoulders. It takes a little effort and isn’t exactly elegant, but he does manage to heave her up.]

Bessemer: [in Steven’s head] Do you need me to move her?

[Ren’s head lulls against his shoulder.]

Steven: No, I’ve got her.

[He takes her down the hall and into the bedroom. The bed is huge and very plush. There are a ton of pillows and a big fluffy comforter.]

Steven: Bes, could you get the covers?

[The covers peel back seemingly of their own accord and Steven lays Ren down. She stretches and sighs, a big smile on her face.]

Ren: Your bed is like a fucking cloud.

Steven: Of course. I need my beauty sleep.

Ren: [mumbling] This was your plan all along. I should have known.

Steven: [pulling the covers up over her] Yep. [He yawns.] Sleep well Ren.

Ren: [yawning] ’Night.

Steven: I’m going to sleep on the couch. I’m closeby, so just yell if you need anything, okay?

[She nods and snuggles deeper into the bed. Steven can’t help the very warm smile that creeps onto his own face as he looks at her. He turns away and heads out into the hall only to come face to face with Tāraki. The sceptile just stares at him with his big golden eyes.]

Steven: [stepping aside and gesturing to Ren and the bed] All yours.

[Tāraki blinks slowly at him before moving into the bedroom. He goes to the far side of the bed and hops up. He feels out the comforter before settling down next to Ren. She rolls over and strokes the ridges on his head while he thrums happily. Steven smiles one last time before he heads back into the living room. He picks up the blanket off the floor and tosses a pillow on the end of the couch. He flops down and throws the blanket over himself and is soon asleep.]

#pokemon #nuzlocke #oras #running hot nuzlocke #bonus scene #Ren #Steven #Bessemer #Anthy #Taraki #Kata #Kotai #Alwyn

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