|5.5| [Action]

[wing_attack]

[Today is a good day. Not because of the weather, but because when Tobias wakes up, he's back in his old body. Not the human one, but the one that's become incredibly comfortable for him over the past few years.]

[You might catch him flying high above people, but he's more content to perch in a tree and watch as people go past. The local birds seem uncomfortable with him, but that's okay. He can't exactly use a Pokeball while like this anyway.]

[Eventually though he calms down and morphs to human (and puts on clothes) long enough to make a post.]

[Video]

[Tobias' cheeks are flushed with excitement, and he's grinning from ear to ear.]

They're back! I mean I'm back. I mean I can do it again. Is anyone else getting... uh... 'abilities' back? I'm kind of curious...

[Regal butts his head into the shot and Tobias jerks his head away to avoid getting a feathery mouthful.]

Sorry, Regal. I can't exactly ride you like that...

Comments

[action]

[sincereheart]

[ It's the end of November. Mimi had been waiting for the end of November with bated breath ever since Greed-san had told her that people from other worlds liked to show up around that time. So she's keeping an eye out for Palmon this morning, or any of her other friends. Just in case.

She doesn't see Palmon. What she does see is a bird. Which isn't too weird at first, except... it doesn't look like a Pokémon bird. Or a Digimon. It just looks like a normal, regular Earth bird. Like a hawk, maybe.

...Didn't Tobias-san say he used to be a hawk?

Well, stranger things have happened... ]

Um. [ She raises her voice as the bird flies closer. She feels a little dumb - okay, really dumb - talking to a bird, but if it is just a normal bird, it won't understand her anyway. No harm, no foul.

Heh. Fowl. ]

Tobias-san?

[wing_attack]

<Yeah.>

[He flutters over to her, looking up. He spreads his wings for her to see. Yep. A perfectly normal-looking hawk.]

[sincereheart]

Whoa!

[ Mimi steps back. Okay, so it's Tobias-san, but it's also a big wild bird, and she's not supposed to touch those! ]

Did you just talk to me in my head? Like that big llama Pokémon did before? [ She points excitedly at the side of her head to illustrate. ] That's so cool! Can you read my mind! Can you still turn into stuff or do you have to keep being a hawk? Can you turn into a Pokémon? Can you turn into me?!

[wing_attack]

[He folds his wings in, and tilts his head.]

<Yeah, it's in your head. I can't read your mind. I can turn into things, but only if I've touched them before. And I wouldn't turn into anything sentient unless I've gotten their permission first... and most Pokemon are too close to sentient for me to really be comfortable turning into them without their permission.>

[sincereheart]

Aww! [ Mimi pouts. ] That's so boring! Well, you have to at least turn into an animal so I can see! I mean, a different animal, of course! Do you have any gross diseases, since you're a wild animal and all? Can I touch you?

[ Mimi you're wearing gloves... ]

[wing_attack]

<I'm pretty sure I'm disease-free. You can touch me if you want.>

[He just has to think of what he can turn into that's not kind of... gross or scary.]

[sincereheart]

[ She reaches out a finger and pets his tiny bird head, keeping a close watch on that beak. Yes, it's Tobias-san in there, and he's probably not going to bite her, but that thing looks vicious! You can't be too careful. ]

And at home you're just a bird like this all the time? Wow! I don't think I could be a bird all the time! I'm not sure I could even be a bird once!

[wing_attack]

[He keeps himself still, ignoring his instincts. It's okay. She's not dangerous.]

<It took a little bit of getting used to, but it's not so bad.>

[sincereheart]

Yeah! I bet it's really cool being a bird and flying around and all! But can you turn into something else for me? I want to see! I want to seee!

[wing_attack]

[What would be non-intimidating...]

<It's kind of gross to watch... I can go off and morph and then come back, if you want.>

[sincereheart]

But then how will I know it's still you?

[wing_attack]

<... If you want...>

[Well. He'll just... start morphing to horse, then. Sorry about all the gross shifting in front of you, Mimi.]

[sincereheart]

[ You made the right choice, Tobias. Mimi is exactly the kind of little girl who loves horses. Granted, it's kind of weird to see a bird suddenly start turning into one... okay, it's really weird. But Digimon turn into other things all the time, so really, the only difference is that she can see all the little changes Tobias's body is going through. It's kind of cool... and totally gross.

But once he's gone full horse, Mimi is all squeals. ] Oh, Tobias-san! That was awesome! You look so majestic! [ She steps closer to pet his mane. ] Can I ride you? Oh, pretty please!

[wing_attack]

[It takes him a moment to suppress the horse's urge to run, and get used to the eyes. He turns to look at her and - woah. Okay. There we go.]

<Sure. Uh... let's see... I'll kneel down as much as I can...>

[He's not exactly a small horse.]

[sincereheart]

[ Well, she kind of didn't consider the inherent logistical issues there. It's a bit of a struggle to hoist herself onto his back. ]

I guess we should have brought a saddle! Or I should have gotten on top of you before you transformed... though I guess since you were a bird I probably would have crushed you - there we go!

[ It's okay. She's on. And wow, yeah, she can tell why saddles are a thing. She clings tightly to Tobias's neck and tries not to slide off. ]

Go slow, okay?

[wing_attack]

<Okay.>

[he starts off with a slow trot, being careful to pick the smoothest path he can. It's not great, since horse vision isn't fantastic, but it's an easy enough trot that she should be able to stay on.]

<How's this?>

[sincereheart]

Whoa! Um, not the kind of whoa that means stop, the kind of whoa that means this is so cool!

[ She's riding a talking horse. This is it. Life actually can not possibly get any better than this. ]

Giddyup, Tobias-san! Oh, wow, I can't believe I get to say that!

[wing_attack]

[Mimi. You're friends with a talking cactus. Your life is already awesome. But Tobias picks up the pace a little, startling the flying types that were poking around in the grass.]

[sincereheart]

[ Look, Togemon, she loves you, but a cactus can't quite match the coolness level of a horse. Sorry girlfriend. ]

Woohoo! Faster, Tobias-san! Faster - eep -

[ Mimi's slid precariously to one side, but she manages to right herself. Her hands, which she had tentatively lifted from Tobias's neck, return with a will, clinging desperately. ]

Maybe a little less fast...

[wing_attack]

[He laughs a little in though-speak, and slows down a little bit.]

<Sorry about that.>