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[Gladion is not expecting any of this.

How much is he not expecting any of this?

He gets the front door halfway open and physically jolts back in shock and alarm. If he was a manticore, his tail would surely be enormous. And he blurts:]

How did - who told you I lived here?

[Behind him, out in the living room, something stirs at the raised pitch of his voice. The head of a beast surfaces, over the back of a sofa. Dun dun dun dun dun dun...

It's not at all subtle because it's preceded by like two feet of enormous white crest.]

I just know all, Glads. Duh. [he says this casually as he adjusts his grip on the cake. His gaze flicks over to the lurking head crest.

Leo for his part is exceptionally enthused about The Beast lurking in the background.]

Ohmigosh, is that your weird dog!? I love it! Can I make friends with your dog!?

What. No? Wait, wait just one second. [He moves to body-block Leo from, like, the view into the house. The Beast In The Background dips down out of sight (except for the crest.) and slinks around the couch back into sight, wary and unsure what's going on but also sensing from the details of Gladion's tension that this isn't actually a dangerous situation. Just...awkward?

Gladion is assembling, in the whirlwind of his confusion, that Leo is not about to vanish into thin air! He scrambles to change tack, still blocking the way in with one hand on the doorframe and one on the doorknob.

Stares at Leo for a second. Math lady moment.

...Closes his eyes. Deep breath.

Turns his head over his shoulder.]

We'll be out here, Silv. It's fine.

[Back to Leo, expression serious (though when is it not).]

Okay. Back up, make some space, and just...slow down a bit, alright?

[He's waiting for acknowledgement before he moves out of the way here.]

[If this was anyone else, Leo would double down immediately.

For now, he huffs a little, and he stops in his tracks. Somehow he forgets Gladion won't just roll with a joke depending on the situation

His dog does look cool tho...] Alright, alright, I'm slowed.

I was joking you know, G. Legit have friends in common, you know. Ingo told me when you guys lived. I was bringing you guys cake.

[He wiggles the cake in his hand for emphasis.]

[Oooogh his headache.

Okay no though he's gonna be. Normal. And mature about this. Because this is not actually something to get mad about. It's just...unexpected.]

Right. [Gaze flicks down to the...cake. What the hell is on that- no, put a pin in that. Later. Flicks back up to Leo's face.] And you want to meet Silvally. So, back up a little to give it some room.

[As in: the dog will be coming to you!]

[And back up he does, a good distance even. Shockingly, Leo can take instruction. He perks back up at prospect of Strange Dog arrival.] Is Silvally a pokemon? Is that like the species name or actual name you gave 'em?

[Even interested questions, my god.]

[Interested questions that keep spiking Gladion's heart rate!! It's fine it's normal it's an innocent question be normal. Sounding just faintly frazzled:] Yes. Hold...on just a second.

[This was not in fact a ruse to shut the door in Leo's face! He turns around, still sort of scrunched into the half-open doorway, and nods upwards. There's clicking footsteps and a big huff? of breath, and Gladion leans past the door and mumbles some things far too low to hear, and then he steps back out of the house himself. He sets his shoulders back and lifts his head a little and puts himself sort of between Leo and the door, but a bit off to the side, so that Leo is somewhere behind his shoulder.]

[And then...dog!

It ducks a little so it doesn't clip the doorframe with its crest, and walks on through, claws clicking on the patio and down the stairs. Its gaze stays on Leo, sharp but probably hard to read beyond that - curious? Wary? The feathers on the back of its neck bristle gently, alert but not quite nervous in demeanor.

Watching u...

What are u.]

ohmigosh- [That is one large dog, Leo has to just gaze at it before finishing his thought.]

he's friend shaped.

[Leo somehow manages some restraint and doesn't immediately try to touch Forbidden Dog.] Is your pokemon pro pets or anti pets?

That's something you have to sort out with Silvally. [Which is cool and all but he. Recognizes a problem here, after he's said that and shared a few coolguy glances with the creature in question. Gladion looks over his shoulder, and looks over his shoulder again...]

I can...hold that. [Sorta turns around a bit and starts to raise his hands for the cake, if Leo wants to free up his own hands (claws?) for the moment.

Meanwhile Silvally is still Regarding The Bug. Tilting its head to the right...taking half a step that way to peer around him a little. Its curiosity is rapidly overtaking its surprise. HMM. FRIEND, YOU SAY. It chirps quietly.]

Just, you know, mind your manners. It's been a long day.

Sick, hands free for pets if allowed. [He passes over the cake carefully, revealing why yes it does have a silly design across the front of it. The sides have tiny trains and dogs chasing the trains along the side. The icing looks terrible there, but an attempt was made.]

Is that aimed at me or Silvally? Cause I'll have you know I have great manners. [Time to step around Gladion and extend a clawed hand out to let Silvally sniff at it.

This is how people befriend animals, right?]

[.....god. What on earth. This is ridiculous. And also: effort.

Is it just, like, a housewarming gift kind of thing, or did Ingo help him out somehow recently??

While he is pondering this:] I'll give you three guesses.

[Anyways. It's been getting this treatment a lot, lately, and it thinks the whole holding a hand out thing is a very cute habit. Which does make sniffing easier! Which is less of a thing for Silvally than for dogs. But hey, a hello is a hello.

Taking the gesture as just that, it ambles forward and first peers at Leo's claws, curious about the anatomy going on here. Then it glances down at its own forefeet. Then it sits back on its haunches, leans down and sniffs his hand casually, lifts its head again and looks Leo in the eye and whistles a little three-note greeting!]

[He might have bought a sheet cake and decorated it. Leave him alone!! He is trying to be friendly.]

Don't be rude to the worlds coolest dog, dude. [He says this absently back, clearly teasing in passing. Leo resists his urge to fist pump at the whistled notes. ]

yessss, dog acceptance. [Leo clicks a little back absently, those old turtle instincts melding oddly with the spider ones. He reaches out to very carefully scratch under Silvally's chin if allowed.]

[Gentle eyeroll.

There is this moment on the approach where Silvally's eyes flick down to the approaching claws, and it blinks twice rather quickly in...something? Amusement? (It's amusement.) Everyone here is so handsy. But hey, as long as they all stay good at scritches, it can deal with that.

Which is to say: it moves its head so the scritches end up in the right place. Up here, by the jaw, right under the metal-thing at the end of its faceplate (which, by the by, on touch examination is clearly part of its head with the skin fused right to it, not lying on top of its face).

Impress it.]

Edited 2023-02-28 20:42 (UTC)

[Silvally gets to learn, why yes, this turtle does indeed have Sick Scratching Skills.

Being a reptile before all of this means he knows how to give a very good scratch. He had to help his brothers with peeling and scratching quite extensively.]

How you adjusting to all this, Silv? Has monster town been treating you good? No complaints or massive complaints? Should I take it up with Fog god?

[Casually holding a conversation with the pokemon.]

[Ohoho yes very nice. Right there under the feathers. It closes its eyes...and starts chirp-grunting softly and conversationally in reply. Chrr chk weet...whee woo. Wk wk. Prrrgg ml. Wheeee?

And after a few seconds of that, it tilts its head away and disentangles from the scritches, squinting over at Gladion (who is still just standing there watching this whole thing), sniffing, and turning to head back inside with a big whumph of a sigh.

Welp!]

Go on in? [Gladion cues, nodding towards the (hanging open behind Silvally) front door if Leo looks his way.]

[Its lingering turtle instincts paired with the odd new spider ones that mean Leo chirrups softly back amidst Silvally's own array of noises. Vocalizing without too much concern. Its hardly the first time he's vocalized like this. Usually, its not in front of anyone outside of his family bubble.

Leo snorts a little at Big Dog's exit. He looks back at Gladion, grinning now.]

Good to know I passed the Cool Dog's test for coming inside. [He doesn't hesitate to just head on inside, no take backs, Glads! Only regrets!]

Edited 2023-02-28 21:28 (UTC)

[Gladion just. Lifts his eyebrows at that, sort of agreeing that yes you did pass that test without having to say uncool, approving mouth words out loud.

Welcome to Trainhouse, Leo! There's up and down stairs right by the entry, and a wholeass living room ahead of you, which is where Dog is headed. The furniture in here is sort of old and worn-looking, all found here with the abandoned house itself. There's Ingo fur on things. There are quite a lot of potted plants. Behind that couch (which Silvally is returning to to drape itself across again) there's a table with a partially-deconstructed coat draped across it, sort of similar in style to the one Ingo wears around.

Gladion is bringing up the rear with cake in hand...closing the door behind him with a vine.]

[Leo somehow resists his urge to just stalk after the dog, taking the moment to just take in The Train House with clear interest. He whistles a little, openly impressed.]

This place is ginormous! You could fit maybe half a train in here. [Very helpful measuring metrics from your local ninja. He wanders further in, managing to resist his additional urge to touch everything.]

Edited 2023-02-28 21:55 (UTC)

[Taking the cake to the kitchen counter...now leaning against the kitchen counter.]

Well. That...was the idea, yeah.

[<- kid who has heard so many train metaphors in the last four months that he can no longer automatically tell when someone is talking about a literal train

...Should he get snacks out? How long was Leo intending to hang around? Wait, did he maybe tell Ingo he was coming over and the message just didn't get relayed? Argh. There is still a little pit of uncertainty in his stomach about Someone Being Here, Unanticipated, Touching His Stuff, but...whatever. Silvally seems unbothered, content to lounge on the couch and Observe.]

Edited 2023-02-28 23:25 (UTC)

[Leo snorts a little at that. Surprised and impressed in equal measure. He trails after Gladion to linger in the kitchen.]

Wait, wait, you guys planned to like have an actual train in here? Like a subway one or something? My bros and I did train cars for bedrooms when we settled into the new lair. The privacy is aces.

[There was no communication. Leo learned where everyone lived and decided to show up.]

What, [he blurts softly in the middle of that, completely baffled. Also he's waffling in front of the cabinet that has the 8-12 snacks.....should he offer them or........HMMM

(REALIZES HIS ERROR)]

Uh. No. [QUICK DISTRACT HIM WITH SNACKS turns to open the cabinet] If you want a bite to eat, by the way, we've got that.

[Leo relaxes a little against a counter, just chilling near Gladion. Arching an eye ridge at the other teenager fidgeting in front of a cabinet.]

Oh dope. [Leo is absolutely distracted by Delicious Distraction Snacks. Gladion is victorious this fine day. He peers at the array of snacks, not surprised by them given he he works at 8-12.] I like a lot of these. I see them at work a lot.

They're convenient. [Welp. Take your pick, man. Gladion shrugs and doesn't take anything for himself; he's not hungry, honestly. Yes, Silvally, he sees you peering over the top of the couch. No, just because Emmet gives you something every time you look at the kitchen doesn't mean you need snacks all the time. It's not healthy! Especially not these snacks!] Less so now, but Ingo does still work there, so...

[Leo leans in to eye the various snacks, eventually picking one that's easy to eat given his whole 'turtle beak' paired with spider teeth situation. The two style of mouths were not meant to work together.] He probably gets plenty of leftovers like I do. I think we're both flex anyway.

[He unwraps the snack idly as he talks.] I think you have a job right-? Where do you work?

[Mayhaps he will appear to cause trouble there? Who knows.]

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