IC Inbox | VICTORY ROAD

[sassymaru]

"Greetings - You have reached the mysterious Ninja Police Detective: Shadowmaru!
I will return your call shortly."

TEXT | VOICEMAIL | VIDEO

Comments

[singlespacedad]

Ah.

[That makes sense. Mando would ask more about the whole process, except that cold goop on an area that's normally covered is distracting him. He's trying manfully not to shiver.]

[Just gonna pet this Hisuan Growlithe and hope some of the heat moves to his head.]

Has this guy eaten any more brushes since we got back?

[He remembers you, pupper!]

[sassymaru]

Once it's in, we have to let it set... and then wash out the excess.

[Which he'll let Mando do, of course. There's no convenient salon hair wash chair to use.]

Thankfully, no. He has not. There is an abundance of chew toys for him here, instead.

[Said Growlithe wags his tail. Heck yeah there are. He has a squeaky banana now and everything.]

[singlespacedad]

That's good. [Mando scratches behind the pup's ears.] You caused a lot of chaos that day, puppy. Glad to hear you're on the right path now.

[If the dog wishes to share, Mando would be happy to play fetch with a squeaky banana or other chew toy of his choice.]

Did I show you my Mimikyu egg? [Mando gestures to the bag he carried here.] One of the breeders got it for me.

[sassymaru]

[Such intense Growlithe wiggling has commenced. Why yes, yes he did. Isn't it great?]

I think he does enjoy the chaos, alas.

[Shadowmaru's hands pause for a moment, before he peers over Mando's shoulder.] No, you did not. You have one?

[singlespacedad]

[Turn around, pup, and Mando will scratch that good spot right above your tail that's impossible to reach on your own.]

[Mando turns his head just a little, so he can meet Shadowmaru's eye.]

I do. When it hatches, I'm going to name it Mimikando.

[sassymaru]

[Those doggie feet go tippy tap. Oh, that is the very good spot! Well done mask man!]

[Shadowmaru just beams.]

Are you? How marvelous! Is it close to hatching now?

[singlespacedad]

I don't think so. I just got it yesterday.

[How long do these things take to hatch, usually?]

I think I'm going to start doing the gym challenges this spring, and I wanted a secret weapon. That's going to be Mimikando.

[sassymaru]

I see. It will likely need more time and attention, then. But how exciting! You must inform me when it hatches.

[Seriously, he'll be so excited.]

Oh? An innocent looking creature striking out against larger foes? That's quite poetic.

[singlespacedad]

That's the plan.

[Mando is warming up to this conversation now.]

I had it bred so it'll have Play Rough, which is a Fairy attack that not many Pokemon have a defence against. And because it's a Mimikyu, it'll be able to take a physical hit early in the fight and not be affected.

[sassymaru]

Utterly fascinating.

[No, seriously. This kind of strategizing was others' responsibility. Shadowmaru was never really meant to function on the front lines.]

I would hate to face you in combat. You sound like a shrewd adversary, to say the least.

[singlespacedad]

Thank you.

[Mando is immensely pleased by the compliments.]

I haven't been doing the gyms because I'd rather fight on my own than have Pokemon do it for me. But since they won't let me do that [the bastards], I'm going to take on the gyms with my team.

[sassymaru]

Ah... such a mentality, I can understand.

[There's a reason he's a "Breeder", after all.]

Some of mine would throw a fit, were I to keep them from battle. But for the most part, I prefer not to engage in it. And so do they.

[singlespacedad]

That makes sense.

[Mando looks down at the Growlithe he's still scratching.]

Most of your dogs seem pretty peaceful.

[sassymaru]

[That Growlithe has all but dozed off, its leg kicking slower and slower while Mando pets it.]

They do prefer play to combat, it's true. My insect on the other hand...

[His Whirlipede is angry at the world and wants to FIGHT.]

[singlespacedad]

I remember your bug!

[Mando twists his head back to meet Shadowmaru's eyes.]

You brought it to the bar once! When you came in dressed like a Twi'lek and then left and came back.

[sassymaru]

Yes, I -

[Please wait. Processing. He arches an eyebrow right back at Mando's - ah. Right. He has very dark eyes.]

Dressed like. A what?

[Should he be insulted??]

[singlespacedad]

A Twi'lek.

[Oh shit, now he's going to have to describe what a Twi'lek is. Mando suddenly wishes for his helmet back; is there enough space around his eyes for Shadowmaru to see how he's flushing? This is why he always wears a helmet! Totally not for religious reasons! For embarrassment ones!]

They're a group of people from my world. They're, uh... all tall and lean and graceful, and they know it, so, um... they like it show off how pretty they are?

[Just going to pointedly leave out that a lot of them turned to sex work under the Empire.]

[sassymaru]

And... you assumed I was dressed as one...?

[That eyebrow just crawls higher up. At least he doesn't sound angry? Just a little baffled.]

[There's curiosity there. He also starts to fan Mando a little, with one hand. He looks flushed. Maybe it's too hot in here.]

[singlespacedad]

It looked like a Twi'lek outfit.

[Mando waves one hand helplessly.]

You know... fashionable. Pretty.

[sassymaru]

[Shadowmaru's hands stop for a moment. Fashionable, he sees, he works hard to be so. But...]

Pretty?

[singlespacedad]

Yeah.

[Where is his helmet? Mando needs his helmet right this instant, because it feels like he's going to light this paper mask on fire with his face.]

Pretty.

[sassymaru]

Ah...

[Slowly, it dawns on Shadowmaru he's just sort of standing there. Looking at Mando. One of his hands is still in Mando's hair and he slowly lets go. Not entirely sure what to say.]

[Well - logically, yes, he's visually appealing. But that's nothing a human would remark on. Right?]

I - appreciate the... compliment. [He totally nailed it.] You are - appealing visually as well.

[singlespacedad]

[There's a beat of silence, and then Mando starts laughing.]

Thanks. I spent a lot of credits on this armour.

[sassymaru]

[The moment's passed, and Shadowmaru is left feeling... weirdly disappointed in himself? As much as he does admit, he enjoys the laugh.]

Well, it. Certainly shows. Ah - anyway.

The dye needs to sit for a while now.

[singlespacedad]

[That's what Shadowmaru meant, right? That he likes Mando's armour? That has to be what he meant, it's not like he has any idea what Mando actually looks like! As far as bodies go, Mando is realistic about his appeal: he's settling into middle age, and that's fine. The armour makes up for a lot.]

All right.

[This dye does not smell nice.]

Were you interested in fashion back home, too? Or is that something you found you liked here?