3rd [Action]

[heartofdragons]

(Cilan)

[Cilan, there will be a small gift wrapped in leaves and tied with a pink ribbon slipped under your door! It should be pretty easy to guess who that's from. It'll come with a little note written on the inside of one of the leaves too:

I got you this Because you kept going on about Gear Station! I guess you like gears.

The gift is jewelry made from an assortment of old gears purchased from Raven.

By the way Chili thinks Flirting with girls on his journal and challenging other Trainers and eating Donuts are more important than finding a place to stay.]

(Open to anyone else living there!)

[Meanwhile, an overly curious Axew is exploring any open rooms while Iris is away. Which unfortunate soul left their door open for their things to get tampered with by a baby dragon with the mentality of a five year old?]

Comments

action;

[cilantro]

[...Wow, it's a shame she didn't give him this in person, because Cilan's actually a little speechless for a second when he notices the leaves in his bedroom doorway. (And as Iris likely knows, that doesn't happen very often!) Still, he's touched by it, though the mention of Gear Station certainly carries a taste of nostalgia with it. (To think that it's been quite a while now since the Subway Bosses that were here previously left back in March or so...)

But then the note about Chili derails that train of thought soon enough. Sigh. If Chili had checked his journal more often, he might have noticed that Cilan has left several messages telling him that they should talk about living arrangements. Then again, it's entirely possible that either A. Chili hasn't figured out how to access private messages yet, or B. he's being stubborn about it for some reason. Nonetheless, they should definitely have A Talk at some point soon and Cilan will likely go look for him again--but first, he wants to try to find Iris. So he first stops by the room that's been assigned to Iris here at House 11. (...A room that he hopes she's been actually using instead of sleeping outside in winter gear now that it's getting colder. ^^;;)]

Iris? [knock knock] Are you here?

[If she's away, he'll either go look elsewhere or try calling her on the journal...unless Axew happens to be around here somewhere and proves to be a distraction first?]

action;

[heartofdragons]

[A speechless Cilan, truly one of life's miracles! It's a shame she had to miss it. Yes, disrupting your wistful trip down memory lane seems to be a Chili-like thing to do, regardless of intention. Perhaps it simply slipped his mind or maybe he has a reason to be stubborn. Regardless, Cilan will find the door open— in fact, the door creaks open with the force of the second knock. The window is shut tightly, with cloth jammed in, apparently in fear of the miniscule gaps letting in a draft.

The room doesn't look very lived-in yet, as she hasn't been here for very long (because she's Iris, she spends much too much time outside), but there's a relatively new first-aid on the table, along with her old grinding bowl and a collection of herbs from the forest. Perhaps she's out getting more?

The only other noteworthy aspect of the room is that there's a paper sticking out of one of the drawers and a messy pile of clothes on the bed (because knowing how to operate clotheshangers is apparently less suited to a Dragon Master in training than operating a blimp). The pile of clothes might be moving. Step inside to investigate like a detective or shut the door and stay out of the absent young lady's room like a gentleman, Cilan?]

action;

[cilantro]

[Correction: the friend in Cilan says that snooping in Iris's room would be rude, but the Connoisseur Detective in him says that a moving pile of clothes isn't normal and should be investigated. The gentleman part says that we could at least hang up her clothes for her as a favor, so with two out of three votes that say to go in, Cilan steps in and up to the pile of clothes.

He looks it over for a second or two before he starts reaching out to pick up a shirt or two out of it to fold over his arm, shifting things aside--and possibly getting the attention of whatever might be moving in there.]

action;

[heartofdragons]

[Oh, dear, oh, dear.

Well, out pops a baby dragon to "yew-yew!" at you in surprise when you pull away the shirt.

... until he realizes that hey, it's Cilan, next best thing to mama~! So he'll come running over.]

action;

[cilantro]

Well, that's one mystery solved! [Hi Axew. Cilan smiles and offers a headpat for the baby dragon.] I take it that Iris is out at the moment?

action;

[heartofdragons]

[Axew leans so much into Cilan's hand, he nearly trips over his stubby little feet.]

Aaaxew, axew? [He looks curious, wondering what Cilan is doing here. Can Axew help? Axew wants to help!]

action;

[cilantro]

[Cilan can't speak Pokemon, but he seems to know what Axew is asking.]

I was looking for her, but it looks like Iris isn't here. But... [Hm. He turns his attention back to the pile of clothing and then to a closet where the hangers might be, and then back to Axew.] Would you like to help us hang up her clothes for her? Organization and tidiness are often key ingredients for a recipe of success, after all...

[Whatever the heck that means--here Axew, would you like to hand us stuff from the pile so that we can put them on the hangers and then put into the closet for her?]

Re: action;

[heartofdragons]

[It's okay, Cilan, Axew still thinks you're magic for understanding him! He doesn't get organization, but handing stuff sounds like a fun game, so he cooperates!]

[cilantro]

[Good! Soon enough, the clothes that were lying around carelessly in the room have been hung up or otherwise put in their proper place--a process that's sped up a little by the dragon's help.]

There, this is a much better taste! Now it's nice and sweet! [Should he keep going and help organize the things on the table or the papers sticking out of the drawers too? Hm...well, for now, he stops to pet Axew's head again first.] Thank you for your help, Axew!

[heartofdragons]

[Axew has run out of things to pass on! Game over? No, this is too much fun to give up on now!

He looks around, then, catches sight of the paper. He runs off to drag open the drawer, grab it, and bring it proudly over to Cilan. He found more thing to organize, are you proud?

It's a very childish crayon drawing of Ash and Excadrill, similar to the ones that used to cover her dorm room walls.]

[cilantro]

[...Oh. It may be a childish crayon drawing, but Cilan can sympathize with it--it's understandable that she would miss Excadrill and Ash. Cilan misses them, too.]

It's cute...but let's put this one back where we found it, okay? [He opens the drawer and sticks it back inside, stacking any other papers inside as well into a neat little pile before closing it. But now what? He turns his attention back to Axew.] Axew, are you hungry? I could fix you something to eat if you'd like.

[If not, then that's okay, we can keep playing instead...provided we find something to do that constitutes as playing until Iris comes back, or the two of them leaving to go look for her themselves.]

[heartofdragons]

[He watches Cilan put it away, not really understanding it very much, but then happily nods when he suggests making food.

Good idea!]

Axe-axew~ [Ata-takai~ he wants something warm! 'Cause, look, outside, it's cold! He points to the fogging window. That's quite the capricious weather!]

[cilantro]

[Cilan looks in the direction that Axew is pointing, to the window that's fogging up.]

Mm...it has gotten colder, hasn't it? I'm actually a little surprised that Iris is out and about right now. [But Iris is tough. She may dislike the cold and especially ice, but at least she finds ways to deal with it. Nonetheless, Cilan smiles as he turns towards the door.] Shall we head towards the kitchen now?

[Sadly we don't have long poofy hair like Iris for you to hitch a ride in, but you can follow or have us carry you there if you'd like?]

[heartofdragons]

[Axew will raise his claws expectantly, like a small child waiting to be lifted up. He likes being carried in arms almost as much, it's okay!

Kitchens are warm~]

[cilantro]

[Then all aboard the Cilan express! Destination, the station of food and cooking equipment!

By which I mean Cilan will reach down and pick up Axew to hold in his arms, closing the door to Iris's room behind them once they step out into the hallway. And because Cilan seems to really like the sound of his own voice, he's musing out loud as they head towards the kitchen.]

Since the weather has gotten so much colder and bitter lately, we'll have to counteract it with a warm and pleasant taste...oh, and it's almost December soon, so that means I'll be able to make different treats and things for Christmas again!

[Like Christmas cookies or cakes or something--House 11 is going to be so spoiled rotten by Cilan and his cooking. (If they weren't already before, that is)]

[heartofdragons]

Axewwww! [Christmas with the tree and the lights and brightly coloured gift wrap?! Axew wants to try that!

Especially if there are treats!]

[cilantro]

[Yes, that's right!] I'll try to make festive treats for you and the other Pokemon as well. [At least that's how he seems to interpret Axew's reply that time.] Let's see...I suppose I'll also have to consider what kind of Christmas gifts to get for some of our friends this year as well, but I'll think about that later.

[Last year, he went with baking things for people. He might be tempted to do the same this year, but with Iris and Chili here, he may need to consider an actual gift, especially for Iris since she made this jewelry for us.

Anyway, here's the kitchen! But what should we make today...]

[heartofdragons]

Axe-axe-AXEWWW! [Practically chirping, he's so excited! Gifts! Treats! TREE!]



[This is going to be so amazing! Can he help you, Cilan? He's trying to climb up to make it to some food, what do you need right now, Cilan, maybe some eggs? He thinks he can scale that refrigerator door!

Mama's gonna be in for a big surprise when she gets back!]

[cilantro]

[Uh-oh, you shouldn't be climbing on the refrigerator door like that. Cilan will pick Axew back off the door (grabbing some eggs inside as well) as he turns towards the table, putting the eggs down on the table first.]

Sorry, but you should probably stay here for now, okay? [Not that he thinks Axew is gonna get in the way, but...well, he doesn't usually have help when he's cooking (and he can be...pretty intense sometimes when it comes to making sure that everything is perfect, as some of his friends may know...) and there's not a lot of ideas of how Axew can help. Then again, it might be considered kind of boring to the little dragon if it's just sitting there and watching...hm.] ...However, if you'd like to hand me ingredients or other things for our lunch while I prepare it, that would be an acceptable taste.

[But first, he turns back and sets Axew down next to the sink as he turns on the water to wash his hands, gesturing for Axew to do the same...yes, even the helper Pokemon should wash their hands too in Cilan's kitchen, okay.]

[heartofdragons]

[Washing, he can do that! Handing things over, like before, sure! He'll wash right now, except maybe slip and wind up under the faucet for an unintended shower, brrrrr!

How much trouble can one baby dragon end up in?]

[cilantro]

[...Oh dear. Just what kind of trouble are we getting into by accepting Axew's help.]

Try to be a little more careful, okay Axew? [He'll turn the water off and dry him off with the kitchen towel that's nearby for drying hands...well, for drying baby dragons now too.]

[heartofdragons]

[Happy and dry, Axew does a little dance, pitter-pattering on the counter after the towel's off. The smells of a spicy fusion of medicinal herbs wafts in after the bath. Wonder where that's from?

Cilan, hope you don't mind two heavily-dressed arms tying around your waist out of nowhere (unless you already figured it out by the scent, of course), in almost comically over-sized and over-dressed, puffy winter clothes. Because that's just what the recently returned Iris does— the hug is aimed low, because she's wilting (over)dramatically on the floor behind him, most likely under the impression she's on the verge of death; kindly disabuse her of the notion once you get over the shock.]

[cilantro]

What--[To Cilan's credit, he doesn't startle too badly at the sudden arms around him (the spicy fragrance of herbs had been enough of a tip off that she might have been home) and upon looking down, he can see Iris wilting dramatically on the floor.]

Ah...welcome back, Iris. [If this was an anime, Cilan would probably have a sweatdrop clinging to his forehead.] I take it that the cold had a bitter taste to it?

[...Well that's one way to phrase your friend acting like she's on the verge of death, Cilan.]

[Whiiiile I'm here, let's toss in a tag or two.]

[heartofdragons]

[Iris nods weakly, before burying her face under her scraf and shivering all over.]

Boy, am I glad to be indoors again! I nearly froze out there! I could've gotten bitten by frost or Hippopothermia! [What are medical conditions.]

[Axew happily hops down to hug Iris.]

[cilantro]

[Ah...] I think you mean "hypothermia"...

[...Well, no matter!] Are you hungry, Iris? I was just about to make a lunch for Axew when you arrived, so I could make something for you as well if you'd like!