typearmada | (no subject)

[ And on cue, Arcanine's attention is completely and utterly on Armada, purely out of reaction. He doesn't quite understand what's going on, yet he's not about to let the alien out of his sight; it seems too dangerous to relax around him. He's not sure how he feels about the instructor in front of him, whether it's his height or the intimidating looking helmet (or both...).

But he is curious, as he has always been during his stay in the Nehada. When the hand's extended, he takes it as an invitation to step forward and sniff, curious of the scents he might pick up (despite Green's wariness about the situation, alas). ]

Well, yeah. [ Arcanine's not quite eager enough to ask for headpats from the giant, unfortunately. Sorry Armada. :( ] He's my partner. [ The reason Green's here in the first place, so to speak, let alone recruited by the CDC. ]

I've raised him myself, of course he's special.

[ The Pokemon will first catch the acrid scent of explosives and weaponry, as this is what Armada has been working on extensively since they have returned to the ship. Beneath that will be the smell of Armada's skin, like a stone that has been heated under the sun. Fainter still— a scent that only a fine olfactory system will pick up— a tangy sweetness, like lemon and honey. This scent is especially attractive to others of his species. ]

I have met many with pets. Your bond is unique. Is he soft?

[ Arcanine is not eager to be pet, but Armada is almost beside himself with the desire to touch him. He can smell the fur. ]

[ The scent has the canine huffing, getting the smell out of the system - it's not exactly the most pleasant of smells, and even more than that, it's unfamiliar. He doesn't move away, however - the initial gesture from Armada helps Arcanine feel a little better about the situation, at least. He doesn't move, but he isn't entirely tense, either.

The word "pets" has the teen frown, eyebrows furrowing. ] He's my partner, not a pet.

[ Perhaps that's why their bond is unique. ] A pet means that I'm his owner, that I'm ... in charge of him. But it's not like that.

I rely on him just as much as he relies on me. It's a mutual trust - a pokemon and his trainer won't work well if they're not united. [ It's obvious that he feels strongly about this, reaching up to give the pokemon a quick scratch.

But he's realizing that this bond is ... rarer in this place, which is why aside from the initial explanation, he decides to move on. ] Um- yeah. [ Even if it means they're talking about his pokemon's fur? What. ] D'you wanna pet him?

[ It may be rare but this bond is not outside of Armada's understanding, what is unusual is that this bond extends between two different species. Such a relationship is not unheard of, but neither is it common in the CDC. It can be as much an asset as it can be a detriment. ]

If he will allow it.

[ Armada answers. ]

[ Well, the response is straightforward enough; Green looks up to his partner, gently raising his eyebrows in question. ] D'you mind?

[ The voice is softer by a small margin. It's nothing noticeable to the regular individual, but there's no sarcastic bite that trails his tone; only curiosity and a hint of concern at the pokemon's stance.

Arcanine pauses, brown eyes meeting green, before he slowly lumbers forward closer to Armada. He's about a foot away from the instructor before he sits in place, waiting expectantly. His tail sweeps the ground side to side. ]

[ Armada approaches not with his hands, but with his face. The bone of his crown is all but flattened, a smooth river's stone against his skull. It is only a moment after that he lifts both hands to the Pokemon's jaw. Arcanine is as soft as Armada expected and he hums with pleasure. The sound reverberates from his chest, the rumble of distant thunder. His touch is soothing on the Pokemon and absent of any kind of aggression. ]

My planet did not have this texture.

[ It only serves as an affirmation of how well trained Arcanine is when the pokemon tenses, but doesn't flinch. It's not common for a stranger to press his face up so close so suddenly after all, the canine's muscles tensing despite himself at first. But ... eventually it relaxes again, once the hands start moving on the pokemon's jaw. Aside from the tail wagging in contentment, he's quiet.

Green watches this with an idle sort of curiosity, blinking at Armada when the commentary is made. ] Fur?

Did you only have hard textures then? [ He looks off to the side, trying to imagine a world like that. ] And ... no mammals, I guess.

Our species was not as yours is.

[ He cannot describe it. "Mammals" and "reptiles" and the other terms he has heard, they do not equate to Armada's make and those of his planet. Some suggestions are closer than others, but he has since given up on attempting to explain. Armada continues to soothe the Pokemon affectionately. ]

You could say fur was not a necessary evolutionary trait.

[ Not a necessary evolutionary trait -- out of all the things that Green could understand, it's this. Which isn't too far fetched, considering the teen's background, the amount of interaction he's had with biology (of pokemon, but details) and research and --

He lets out a small breath. ] Makes sense.

[ He leaves it at that, figuring that where ever Armada's from, it's magnitudes different from what Green's familiar with; something he can't imagine, no matter how hard he tries. It makes sense, given the alien's hulking frame and the helmet and --

The recruit turns his attention to Arcanine, who seems to relax further into the pets. To the point where his tail's wagging pretty shamelessly. He's as bold as to return Armada's affections with a small nudge of his snout, licking the side of his helmet. Green chuckles despite himself. ]