Set in the original region of Arciel, Legends Rising is a route-inspired, but not strictly route-based, Pokemon roleplay. Pick a faction, pick a class, and strike out into the wild to take on the League, master Contest coordination, research the mysteries of Pokemon and Arciel, and much, much more. Will you be a classic trainer? A criminal? A farmer? Choose your destiny on Legends Rising.
With Koray's confirmation the girl hoisted herself up and begun back towards the lounge, of course forgetting the blanket in her stride. A soft glance was giving to the bonding parents and vulpix, it was always something miraculous to see, something so gentle, so pure- a family meeting their newborn. Some of her eggs were taken in from other breeders who weren't a fan of the type of egg it was, or who didn't have much time to take care of them, and Eri was always willing to help out- because seeing the baby being born? Meant that it was all worth it.
Cosma swooped down from the doorframe onto her shoulder as she begun into lounge room, a soft coo leaving her lips as her feathers flared then unflared. Eri's hand instinctively moved to pat the Natu, pausing however upon really taking in her surroundings. There was a confused noise that left Eri's lips as she stared around, Newfound was nestled against the couch cushions while her Delcatty was curled up under her tiny coffee table, but other then that everything that had been up and around was...
"The stars sure did bless me today?" It was the only logical conclusion! The stars had made up for their prior mischief in messing with the weather by cleaning her house! She nodded to herself now, "Usually they're messing around or shimmering dully, i'm sure this is them trying to make up for the terrible predictions earlier..."
Stepping into the living room, Koray was relieved that the room was still in the state he'd left it in. The confused sound that left Eri however had Koray blushing a little, rubbing his head sheepishly. Maybe he should've left things where they were? He'd just opened his mouth to apologize when Eri's response made him relax. Oh, good, she likes it... Maybe?
"Ah... yeah, I cleaned up a little...bathroom and laundry room too..." Koray murmured, still rubbing his neck sheepishly. The buzzing in the back of his skull was uncomfortable, but that tended to happen when he was stressed out so, it was whatever. "Sorry? I mean, I have OCD... I just started out of habit I guess... The pokemon had fun helping me though?" That made it better, of course it did.
Thank Arceus that the egg in his arms started to glow. It was all Koray could do to sit down and watch as the little Zorua appeared in his arms. "Hello there, little one~. Shh, shhh, you're alright sweet girl. There you go~, " Koray hummed, snuggling the sleepy Zorua close to him. She promptly burrowed under the blankets, earning a soft chuckle from him. Whatever the case, he'd offer the other blanket he'd grabbed to Eri. It was warmer under blankets after all. "I grabbed this from the nursery, you forgot it." He wasn't about to let Eri suffer from cold again. Arceus, this girl didn't really know how to take care of herself, did she?
WAIT. A choked noise left Eri and she could only stare at Koray in alarm, this was his doing?! Nonononono- Koray was a star, this wasn't a stars job! At all! Especially not in her house, of all places to clean! The stars were going to feed her head on a platter to Artemis if they ever got the chance! "S-Sirius!" Her voice was both startled and scolding, and her hands went to her hips, "You really shouldn't have cleaned, at all! I've told you it's a star guides job to cater to the stars- if you were uncomfortable at all, or if you'd have told me about your OCD i would have cleaned everything myself-"
Before she could continue her scolding however a glowing caught her attention, and her words instantly cut off- had the first egg hatching set off a chain reaction!? Eri hadn't had a second to relax, but this wasn't one of her eggs, as much as she wanted to help the star meddling with one of his eggs was going to do worse than it would do good, so she could only watch with hands over her mouth, masking her excitement as a little baby Zorua joined the world.
A series of excited coo's left Eri's lips and she all but shook her head at the blanket offering, "Give it to the new baby- she'll need a formula, i'll set you up with a nursery kit and everything, maybe some poketoys- if you had told me she was about ready to hatch i'd have prepared things ahead of time! Oh my starsss!" She was going on, and before Koray even had a chance to blink would have shoved her way through one of her few doors, and momentarily the absolute mess that is her kitchen was on for show- until she promptly closed the door behind her, Cosma squeaking excitedly on her shoulder.
Formula... formula... she began almost frantically nudging her way through the kitchen, nothing was in a set place and Dubwool had made a right mess trying to get to her cereal, there was food all over the floor and the plates and bowls from the star guides breakfast were piled high on the counter- but she could see the bottle! Eri let out a soft, "...alllrighty...." And then moved to her tiptoes in an attempt to grab at the bottle, only to nudge at one of the plates in the pile and have it crashing right to the floor.
"fU- FABGORIS" A screech left her lips and she left the bottle on the counter, there was a shard or two that'd cut her leg but other than that... dustpan, dustpan! Why did she have to house a star now of all days, she hadn't been prepared at all!
Koray simply smirked when Eri tried to correct him about cleaning and chuckled softly all the while holding the Zorua close. "Then might as well call me a star guide~. My job as a chef is precisely to wait on others, including cleaning and making sure everything comes out perfect," he quipped right back only to watch as Eri went into a frenzy just because the Zorua hatched. It was... almost amusing if not a little sad. Does she ever settle down? Relaxing did wonders for the body after all.
At the protest to give the blanket to the baby, Koray shook his head and simply set it next to him. The Zorua, Mabel, he finally decided, was perfectly content to be curled up with him under the blankets. "I knew she was close to hatching, but she'll be fine, Eri. Just relax, see? Mabel's already sleeping," Koray tried to protest but Eri had already raced to the kitchen. Sighing, Koray pressed a pokeball to the sleeping Zorua and watched as she disappeared into the light without so much as a shake.
The blanket would be set aside as Koray stood and went to the kitchen just in time to see glass on the floor and Eri with a bleeding leg. He saw the dustpan and immediately bent to pick up the glass, pausing only momentarily to direct Eri in a stern voice. "Go to the bathroom and get that cleaned up, now. Watch your step, I don't want you stepping on more glass. I'll take care of this. No arguing," Koray directed, his voice leaving no room for protest.
While Rowan made sure to keep the other pokemon clear from the glass, Koray worked on cleaning up as quickly as possible. It didn't take long for him to clean up the broken glass and dispose of it thankfully, which was a relief to both Rowan and Koray at that point. That was when he had the chance to look around the rest of the kitchen and sighed. How does she live like this?"Alright everyone~, who's up for another game~?" Koray mused, grinning as the other pokemon perked up. They would be able to make short work of cleaning up the kitchen. Then maybe he could find some ingredients to make something nice for them. Yes, that would be good.
Eri was frantically looking for a dustpan, but momentarily her search was cut off at the appearance of a certain Starr. She could already feel the words formulate on her lips, about him not needing to clean up because he's a Star, and it wasn't his job, however the feeling of blood dripping down her leg and the slight stinging had her wincing back her words. If the Star was telling her to go fix herself up and stop herself from bleeding everywhere, then who was she to disobey?
With a voice much softer than intended a, "Whatever makes the stars happy...." left her lips before she pushed herself out the kitchen, down the hallway to the bathroom where she quickly patched herself up, something she'd become hauntingly familiar with. Sometimes it was accidental, sometimes some Stars were a little too violent when they didn't like their future.
The girl had sat in the bathroom for a few minutes, she had been on hyperdrive, doing whatever to please the star and ensure his upmost comfort but instead he had gone around and... cleaned her own home?! She pursed her lips, a sigh escaping her. What a strange and peculiar one, she'd probably have to act more stern with him, she couldn't let this behaviour continue.
He was a star, it was only fair that he realized this and let himself be guided to his potential, whatever that may be. It was Eri's job to make sure he was catered for, and it wasn't right at all that he was just.... doing things that she should do! The girl moved after a few moments, pressing down on the makeshift bandage on her leg and pouting at the pain that bloomed, she'd had worse, but this would take a while to ease up...
Stars, why had she been so stupid around a star guide? That's all she could thing and she heaved herself back onto her feet and eased her way into the kitchen, pausing in the doorframe... all her pokemon were on the move, cleaning up the kitchen, and she could only gape at that. "...oh my stars."
Koray winced at hearing the soft voice from Eri. He knew she was hurt, but right then he cared more about her safety rather than her feelings. Only once she was gone did he set about cleaning the kitchen with the pokemon. Unlike back in his kitchens where he was one of a few that would clean the area, there were many helping hands here, each ready and willing to join in on the 'fun'.
By the time Eri made it back, they were more than halfway done cleaning and only some of the smaller, calmer pokemon were permitted to help him organize and put stuff away. After that, he had planned to make something for them and the pokemon to eat. "Oh, hi Eri~, we're just finishing up. I was going to make something for us to eat and maybe something hot to drink as well. Any ideas?" Koray asked, ushering some of the pokemon out of the kitchen as he started pulling out some of the newly cleaned pots and pans. From organizing earlier, he had a fairly good idea of what he could make... all he needed now was Eri's go ahead.
She stood there awkwardly a few moments, looking from her pokemon to Koray, Cosma, sensing something was awry landed on her shoulder and gentle nuzzled her head into Eri's neck. The girl gently scratched at the bird, swallowing down her words for a moment before coming to a resolve. "Please don't make anything, Sirius." Her voice was cautious, and a hand went to her hip, "This is my apartment, my job is to serve the stars, really, you... really shouldn't be doing anything."
There was a pause, she didn't know how to further explain this and bit down on her bottom lip for a moment in frustration, after a few moments she quickly forced her beaming grin back, "So I can make the food, and serve to whatever you need, it's what i'm here for and- as much as... I..." A pause, and a shoulder roll, "Probably should Have... cleaned the house before stars had arrived, if you had told me as such I would have done it."
Cosma chirped softly and Eri closed her eyes a moment, "Really, pleeease go sit down, uhm, there's... entertainmnet in the lounge room, I can make something, please just- relax, and, do... star things, I can make hot chocolate with stars in it, not actual stars but like sugar glitter its actually really, really pretty I promise." She'd begun rambling, as if trying to get him out of the room, she wasn't used to this, and the fact the Star was trying to take on and do a star guides things was just...
Eri's hesitance was... a little odd to say the least of things. What was so bad about him making something? It was his job to make good food for others so... what was the big deal? It was only after Eri started to speak that Koray understood and instead leaned against the counter with his arms crossed in front of him. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, "Our jobs are pretty similar then, considering as a chef in training, I serve others as well. And precisely because you were so kind as to offer your hospitality is why I want to do this."
It seemed that wasn't good enough as Eri continued on, rambling about doing star things and making pretty hot chocolate. Ah, so hot chocolate then... I think I saw some bakers chocolate in the pantry... there was plenty of sugar too. Stepping forward, he placed his hands on her shoulders if only to get her to stop rambling, "Eri, listen to me. I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier, ok? I just didn't want you to get hurt... it's very dangerous to have bare feet around broken glass after all," Koray said softly, his smile warm, "However, I want to do this. I do this everyday in the restaurant and it would be a joy to serve you as well. Please, let me do this?"
Eri was getting defensive, she didn't appreciate this star guide attempting time and time over to confuse her, it didn't matter that Koray was a chef and tended to others, he wasn't working right now, and Eri basically was, especially when there was a star in the room. "A star has every right to yell, it's perfectly fine. You shouldn't worry about me, Starr." She was this close to going off once more to try make it known that it was her job to take care of Stars and that he really, really didn't have to do anything but suddenly his hands were on her shoulders and she managed out a sigh, this guy just didn't relent, did he?
"...Fine." she averted her gaze, more frustrated than anything that she couldn't get the star to settle and let her appease him, like she'd done to thousands before him. "...If cooking is what gets you settled, for me specifically, to get your stars shining brighter and stuff..." she shrugged off his hands and attempted her own Eri smile, though it was unusually smaller than usual, and she managed to step to the side, as if allowing him the go-ahead in her kitchen "Then go for it, Sirius."
At Eri's first words, Koray frowned lightly and shook his head. No, there had been no excuse for his behavior and he regretted raising his voice even if it had been in the heat of the moment. Apparently Eri was more sensitive than he had first realized... he would have to tread lightly. "No, yelling at someone is never alright. I'm sorry, Even if your safety was in question, I shouldn't have raised my voice," Koray reiterated.
When Eri did agree to let him cook, Koray could tell that she didn't want to. Biting his lip a little, Koray tried to think of a solution and wondered exactly what he could do to alleviate the situation. "How about we do it together? It's always more fun when you're cooking with someone, at least for me." Hopefully this olive branch wouldn't be dismissed. He still didn't understand what the deal was with all this star stuff and letting him essentially railroad her... That wasn't healthy in the slightest and worried Koray quite considerably.
The smile seemed to brighten on her face as she spoke, a teaching moment, this was, "Oh no, yelling is alright! Sometimes stars do it to enthuse emotion, and even if it's anger, frustration or warning it's totally fine and stellar!" A slight headtilt is what followed, "I've had much worse from even duller stars- if you feel the need to yell at me at any time, then you... should just uh- go for it!" an uncertain nod is what she finished with, and Eri beamed for a few seconds, before shifitng a little.
He was really just going to upset the stars above- or... well.. she was- because she was the one letting a star cook in the kitchen, surely they'd throw her out and let her rot, strip her of her powers and watch her succumb to the powerless star guide life, it was just a matter of time until- her mental gymnastics paused as he spoke, and her eyes widened slightly- actually... that could be a way to solve her problems, maybe the stars could see it as her working to help the star improve?!
She found herself nodding a few times, "I think that'd appease the stars the most, actually." A much lighter smile now sat on her features, and she dawdled around, grabbing herself a very sparkly, bedazzled apron and slipping on some purple gloves before putting her hands on her hips.
As Eri continued to stress that yes, it was ok to yell at her, Koray almost deadpanned. That was... far from ok to say the least of things but clearly this wasn't something she was going to budge on right then. Instead, he opted to change the topic to that of cooking with him. That at least seemed to brighten Eri's mood, eliciting a grin from Koray. Though....that ridiculously glitterfied apron seemed more of a health hazard than a clothing protector. Hmm. Well, at least the gloves would help? Hopefully the sequins and jewels on the apron wouldn't fall off during the cooking process.
All the same, Koray would smile and nod, not really caring if his clothes got food on them right then. "Alright, first off, what would you like to make? I see some ingredients I could use for pasta...otherwise hmmm... could make a decent stew with a bunch of different ingredients. What do you think?" Koray suggested, already looking through the cabinets to gauge exactly what he had to work with.
What would she liked to make? Eri raised an eyebrow, "Whatever the star wants to eat is fine by me." though pasta, or even stew sounded great... "Just make sure to add stardust into it-" She paused, moving to her pantry to pull out what looks to be a salt shaker full of sugar, labelled 'stardust'. She waved it before Koray with a goofy grin on her face, "It makes everything better, even a little bit is like a starsplosion, I promise!"
Maybe... Eri wasn't the best at cooking, but she was willing to help! Anything to help the star guides! "I wouldn't mind working on either, but as a star you're going to have to show me what to do so I don't do anything incorrectly and harm the stars above!"
At Eri's response, Koray shook his head, "That wasn't what I asked, Eri~," he chided lightly, "Pasta or stew? What will it be?" he continued, having to fight from rolling his eyes at the suggestion about 'stardust'. "Mmm, for these recipes, I don't use any sugar if that's what you mean... But I can probably whip up some dessert pretty quickly. Do you have melting chocolate?" Chocolate truffles sounded really great actually... but he didn't know what ingredients Eri had on hand. Hmmm....
"I can definitely teach you~, in fact, it would be my pleasure~!" Koray mused, his eyes sparkling before he bowed briefly. He was certainly enjoying himself to say the least... but now he had to figure out what he could make with what was on hand. Stew might be easiest.... but he was still waiting for Eri to decide on what she wanted to make. It was her kitchen after all~.
Why did she have to choose? Eri didn't quite understand, especially when it was important what a star wanted of all things. He was a guest in her apartment too! So that gave him even more right to choose, but... if he really insisted. "...Pasta? I already have premade stuff so it shouldn't be much weight on the stars shoulders!" She already had strings and mince stocked up in her fridge, so it shouldn't be much of a bother anyway. At his next words Eri could have deadpanned, stardust was incredibly important to every meal! She held it in her hands with a large pout adorning her features. "Not even a little bit of stardust? It's utterly necessary to any dish, and it makes the stars happy~!"
Perhaps cooking with Eri was a bad decision on Koray's part, but the girl was too determined to help to back out now. She placed the sugar on the counter and moved to one of the cabinants, pulling out a star-shaped container full of dry pasta followed by going to her fridge and waving around premade mince... that had.. sparkles in it? "I haven't actually combined them before, but i'm sure it shouldn't be too hard if you just show me how to do it! You're the shining one, after all!"
When Eri finally did decide on a dish to make, Koray set about playing a game of search and find for the necessary ingredients. Hearing about the premade things made him wince a little but at this point, he was undeterred in setting about the supplies necessary for making fresh pasta. Sure, it was a little fussy, but at the same time, it tasted so much better than the premade dried noodles. At the question about 'stardust,' Koray had to fight from visibly shuddering. There were perhaps some sauces that took a little bit sugar, but there was none in the recipe he already had in mind.
"Not in the pasta sauce, no. But as I said before, I could probably make a quick desert if you'd like~," Koray explained, clearing off enough counter space for the flour, oil, and eggs he was going to be working with. The sight of the premade mince had him deadpanning however. What the hell was in that? "What's in it?" Koray asked carefully, not sure he quite trusted whatever was in this 'premade mince' of Eri's. With a shake of his head, he smiled at Eri. "No, if I'm going to be cooking, we're going to be working with fresh ingredients~. It'll actually be quite fun. Kneading the dough is quite relaxing, at least for me."
It didn't take long for Koray to locate the ingredients he needed to start mixing the dough, "Now, watch carefully, this is the fun part. I put the flour on the counter and make it in a volcano. Then I just add the oil and eggs in the middle of the volcano and..." he explained, starting to mix in the flour with the oil and eggs, "Mix it in just like this. But you have to be careful, or you might get a little bit of magma pouring down the sides. Would you like to give it a try? I could use your help with kneading the dough if you'd prefer that." Either way, he was clearly enjoying himself as he explained what they were doing.
No stardust- at all?! Her Mumma Stella would be so upset when she heard that- the woman puts stardust in everything! To the point Eri was so used to it... but... if the star does insist, then it'd be harmful to go against his wishes. After all, it's her job to serve the stars and do what they so, especially in order to lead them to their right fates. At his question about the mince the girl held it up proudly! "Mumma's secret recipe! Buuut- if the stars asking then it's beef and lamb mince mixed together, with a touch of ocean-blue food dye added and... six tablespoons of edible glitter!"
But... he didn't wanna use it?! But she had everything ready, and it was super easy to manage... she wouldn't really wish to trouble the star, at all. Her kitchen as a star-guide probably wasn't even adequate for what stars are capable of cooking! Before she could say anything though he'd already starting ripping through her kitchen like a man on a mission, and Eri uncmfortably stood to the side. Stars at work really were something...
Oh- he was instructing her? Eri furrowed her brow a little bit. But, when a stars talking it's always best to listen, and if they tell you to do anythg? Then you do it. Eri came to stand besides him then, hands on her hips- flour... all over her count- Eri focus! She blinked as he made... a volcano? Why a volcano? Oil... eggs- but- food dye is important in eggs! Why wasn't he using it- was this a star secret? She had so many questions, but it'd be rude to ask, especially of a star who already looked to be well within his element.
So instead, Eri stayed silent and watched what he did with a focused gaze. He was mixing cautiously, and attempting to teach her... maybe his fates set him out to be a cooking teacer in the future? She cshould probably enquire about his fates sometime... mixing- and then- he was offering for her to do it? But he was practically shining as he went about working! Uhm...
A head tilt, "Whatever you wish for me to do i'll do, no questions asked!" A nod then, like she was proud of what she'd said, "With the... volcano? Do you mix with a spoon, or your hands- what's easiest on the mixture?"
Koray was a little relieved that Eri wasn't objecting to him more or less taking over the kitchen. After hearing the ingredients in the jar... he was most definitely wasn't going to use the meat mix of doom. There was just no way he was going to. It was an insult to cooking to say the least of things. At least Eri's easily distracted and was watching every move he made with the dough. The questions were nice and thoughtful but he gave her a fork. "Use this, I'll get started on the meat. Try to be careful and tell me if you need help," Koray stated, smiling as he searched for some chicken. Ah, there it was. Now... what to use for the sauce.
A fork! Perfect... she... didn't know very stellar mixing techniques, but if the star was entrusting her with the fork and believed in her mixing powers than she was going to show that she was worthy of cooking him a meal in her own apartment, like a proper star-guide host should! The two instructions were try to be careful... and ask if she needed help.
Frankly, Eri didn't know what she was doing, but y'know what? How hard could it be?? She brought the fork in and... began mixing it in with the oil and eggs, round, and round... and round, the fork was whizzing, her spirits were up! These was fun! But... the stuff was getting everywhere, whether Eri noticed or not, a bit of flour went over the counter, some oil smudged over her cheek...
"Sirius?" She questioned, turning around, holsing the fork up with a proud glisten in her eyes, "I think I mixed it all!"
While Koray worked on the meat, he kept a close eye on Eri and... wait, what exactly was she doing with that fork? Arceus, she couldn't even follow a simple direction? Stepping in before the batter got everywhere, Koray took the fork and helped her to work the flour into the liquid in the center of the volcano. "Close, here, like this. Then mix the flour into the liquid and you'll start to get a dough consistency." He would continue to work closely with Eri to make the pasta, even showing her how to knead it and cut it into pasta strips. Next was the meat sauce that was relatively easy to make. All it took was some time to reduce after the ingredients were added to it.
"Is there any salad or vegetables we can pair with this? I think it would go great with some broccoli or beans but I don't know what's in your pantry," Koray explained, quickly finishing the last of the sauce and setting it to reduce while putting water on to boil. The pasta would thankfully only take minutes, but waiting for the water to boil was the most tedious thing about this process.
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