loansharpedo | Inbox for @sticksandbones

From:

[It feels weird celebrating the holidays with no one here he really knows well, so uh... looks like Corbeau is going to be the recipient of a gift! Knock knock it's Urbain.

The plum-snake creature is in a box, but without a lid, and is currently sticking out of the top of it bleleleing. Corbeau's inn room isn't that far from Urbain's, but hopefully the other is Home or this is gonna be awkward. Whenever the door opens though...]

Hey! So uh. Don't make this weird — I don't know anyone else here like, at all and I thought it was weird to celebrate Christmas without giving someone something sooooo you get this. It's not a Pokemon, apparently, I mean I couldn't put it in a ball — but it kinda looked like your Arbok so?

Here. [Box in your hands. Woe, snake be upon ye. And Urbain is nervous-rambling, because of course he is.] Someone said they were calling it Kobume.

[Ko-bu-meh, by the way, like how it would be read in Johto or Kanto.]

From:

loansharpedo

[Corbeau is staying at the inn alongside Urbain, because where else would he be? His poor Syndicate building is somewhere in the ether he can't get to...but this will do for the time being. It's cozy enough, and the inn has all the basic amenities you could ask for. It's warm, with how cold it is outside...and he's thankful they're allowed to stay here for free no less. It seems wrong, somehow, but he's not one to look the gift Ponyta in the mouth.

He comes to the door when he hears the knock, not at all expecting visitors since he's still not super familiar with everyone here yet...so imagine his surprise when he finds Urbain standing there, holding a little box with a snake inside. It VERY much looks like a Pokemon, to the point where Corbeau doesn't hesitate to reach into the box to pick the snake up. He'll let the baby curl around his wrist, still tongue-flicking at the air.]

When did you get this?

From:

justacityboy

Liiiike... I don't know, a week ago? I caught it outside. Well, "caught", but it was more like I held my hands out and it slithered onto my arm. I bet it was cold because of the snow and I woke it up from hibernating or something.

[He shrugs, still standing outside with the box in his hands. It seems like the plum-snake is friendly, so he'll call this a win.]

From:

loansharpedo

[What the fuck. What the fuck!!

The little plum snake blelele's Corbeau's fingers curiously next with his weird little sprout tongue, prompting Corbeau to gently pet the top of his head with two fingers. He's silent for a moment...probably the first time Urbain has seen him this quiet for this long, as a matter of fact.

It's a little awkward in spite of Urbain's best efforts, not for the sake of the gift itself...but because Corbeau didn't get Urbain anything. He didn't think to. He's had so much on his mind, the concept of it being the holidays just hadn't...]

Don't just stand in the hallway. Come in, if you're going to.

From:

justacityboy

[It's weird celebrating the holidays with no one! He has to be Team Mom or he'll fucking blow up. He doesn't need gifts, other people do.]

Huh— uh, I mean, sure, if you don't mind?

[He supposes he'll just stroll on in. He wasn't expecting an invitation.]

From:

loansharpedo

[With Urbain fully entering the room, Corbeau will gesture over his shoulder as he turns towards the window, stepping slowly towards it.]

And close the door behind you.

[He can't fully articulate how strange it feels, being...here, and not in the base. Not with Philippe, or the other Syndicate members. It's not the first time he's been alone, but it's been...

A while. Longer than a while, by this point. With Urbain, it at least means he's not the only Magikarp out of water. Not entirely.

He sighs, looking down at the snake still curled around his wrist as he gently pets the top of his head some more.]

You didn't have to get me anything. I didn't get you anything, full disclosure.

From:

justacityboy

I don't expect to get anything. I mean— Christmas feels weird to me if I'm not giving someone something. And I know it's kind of a social sin to give someone a Pokemon... uh, no, wait, "animal"? Animal— but still.

[blelelele, the snake says.]

I thought Kobume would get along with Arbok.

From:

loansharpedo

No...it's fine. I'm happy to give this little one a home.

[He wouldn't just abandon the snake, or release it back into the wild (unless that's what it wanted, anyway).

He will move to take a seat on the edge of his bed though, in lieu of having an actual desk or chair to sit at like he would in his office.]

Similarly, it feels weird to me to leave debts unrepaid. [It's a GIFT.] I'll return the favor, in due time.

From:

justacityboy

[Urbain plops his butt down in a chair in the corner, meanwhile.]

It's not a debt, dude, it's a Christmas present. Because it's Christmas, which is traditionally a day in which someone receives presents. Because that's what you do on Christmas. Stay with me here, old man.