Clay - Solo RP & Special Missions

"Mm, that smells great!" "Any that can fit safely" is pretty much all of Clay's motley team at the moment. Baloo and Tavi, both on the cusp of evolution, seem to have particularly healthy appetites - though Sandy, Baloo, and Peng aren't exactly interested in the meat. The balance of the team are happy to help Clay out with whatever he can't eat, though. Sandy's even big enough to sit on a human chair now, or he would be if that tail didn't get in the way. Fan's still perching on the edge of hers, though.

Some way into the meal, Clay swallows his current mouthful and asks, "So, um, how much did Rei tell you about what's going on with the guild?"

Clay shakes his head. "No, I totally understand. You gotta protect your town. Rei left because she had... a closer brush with the problem than the rest of us and she's gotten a little paranoid about it. Somebody's doing bad stuff and they're either inside the Guild or have friends who are."

He runs his hand through his hair. "I don't think they're bold enough to attack a whole town. They haven't even gotten near me yet. They're like scavengers - they only go after isolated targets, or ones that can't fight back." His sneer shows what he thinks of this strategy - though it falters a little as he remembers the vision of Celadon falling. A reminder that even if his assertion is true now, it might not always be that way unless they can stop the Usurper. "I mean, let me or my friends know if you see somebody suspicious around, but I don't think you or the town are in danger. And like I said earlier, the whole Fighting branch of the Guild is gonna be pretty nearby tomorrow, so if anybody does cause trouble there'll be plenty of backup to call in."

"Oh, yeah, it's great! I really am sorry I don't make it up here more often. Uh, not just because of the food." He chuckles sheepishly. He'll let the subject change pass - the danger clearly makes Kalani uncomfortable. As long as he can keep his word and make sure Cerulean is safe, he doesn't have to drag her into it any further. "But it really is good."

Pork is less of a change from usual Guild fare than seafood, but it's still miles better than the dining hall in the Guild. Possibly because Kalani isn't trying to feed a gazillion people every day (though he imagines keeping a float of growing Totodiles fed is no picnic).

"They're cute little guys, it's no wonder they're spoiled. Hard not to." Clay chuckles. It's pretty obvious Kalani wants him to stick around for a while despite her anxiety about the trouble following them.

"Would it, uh, be alright with you if I stayed here a few days? Just while my branch is around and all. I don't wanna impose or anything, if it'd be a problem I can just find somewhere in town." He knows she's always trying to get him to stay overnight when he's here late, but what could be several nights in a row is a different question. Also "somewhere in town" is as likely to mean camping out just outside town as finding a place at the inn, but still.

"O-oh, uh... thanks!" He finds himself thanking Kalani's back as she disappears. Wow, he didn't expect her to be that happy to have him staying over. He realizes he's been kind of distant boyfriend-wise, what with living a few hours' walk away - there's a reason he left her an opening to say no.

Still, staying with Kalani is... nice. Maybe this will give him an opportunity to work on doing better with the boyfriend thing, assuming he's not busy all day every day. Or maybe he can stay a little while after the Fighting Branch leaves, or just come for an extended visit after this whole mess is over.

... Well, assuming he lives through it. After a couple of close calls, Clay's impressions of his own immortality are a little less strong than for most guys his age. And he knows he's going up against powerful enemies. But that doesn't mean he's going to plan on not being around when all this is over. Obviously the best revenge on the god of death is living through everything, right?

And living well, too. Which starts with enjoying the rest of this meal. Clay and his Pokémon will happily do justice to the rest of it while Kalani gets the room ready.

"Okay! Here, lemme help you with these and we can go see it." Clay hops up to help her clear things away. Unfortunately, those of his current team with thumbs are probably also the least trustworthy with fragile things, so his Pokémon aren't as much help as they might be.

Once the dishes are all dealt with he'll gladly follow her to the room.

Clay has seldom required a fancy bed - he can sleep just about anywhere, especially if there's anything to pull into a nest like he tends to do with his blankets, or if he can curl up with his Pokémon - but they're still nice to have. "Guess being the mayor has its perks, huh? Lots of space. Is it just you, your mom, Gertrude, and the babies here usually?"

Granted, the mansion Tiki is currently bunking in in Celadon is bigger, but he's come to the general conclusion that everything in Celadon is huge and the rules there don't really apply outside the city walls. He thinks he notices a little bit of emphasis on where Kalani's room is, though...

"Whoa!" Totodile attack! That is a lot of crocodiles. With a lot of teeth. But he's pretty sure they're not going to hurt him too much on purpose, so he doesn't fight back too hard when they swarm him.

"Oof! Now I see... she's trying to fatten me up to feed all of you, right?" This is said in human speech since it's meant more to tease Kalani than the Totodiles - though he does reach out and poke one of them in the tummy.

Yeah, Clay's giggling too. As stressful as things have been recently, taking a moment to play with a bunch of cute baby Totodiles is nice. As the one he poked rolls over, he grins. "Ha, got you!"

He tickles another one, smiling broadly - he doesn't need to be speaking Pokémon language to keep the Totodiles entertained, and keeping things in human makes it easier to entertain Kalani, too. "Take that, and that!" He's careful not to get too rough with them, though, seeing as Gertrude is probably nearby even if she isn't immediately in the room. Teeth or not, playful baby Totodiles are pretty harmless, but an angry mother Feraligatr would very much not be.

Fan joins in, scooping up a different Totodile and bouncing it up and down gently in her long-fingered hands before poking the end of its snout lightly. Infernape are pretty small as fully-evolved Pokémon go, but she's still twice the size of the Totodiles now - big enough that they register more as babies than threats. "Haha, careful, Fan! There's a lot of them - we're going to have to be good to win this one!"