NINTH RIDE ✦ ACTION [GOLDENROD CITY] / TEXT

[diamondo]

[ ACTION (GOLDENROD CITY) ]

[Today's cloudy, but it's a nice enough day out to train, which is good! It's been awhile since Mondo's properly had his Pokémon spar against each other. They're currently in the southern outskirts of Goldenrod and his duo of Pokémon, a Pangoro and a Doublade, are staring each other down menacingly, waiting for Mondo to give the signal. He raises his hand and shouts "Go!" and the two Pokémon spring at each other. Pangoro tries to land a Crunch attack while the Doublade barely manages to dodge. The swords counter with a Night Slash attack, but it's aimed just a little too far to the left to hit the panda Pokémon. Mondo normally would scold the Doublade for using a move that wouldn't do enough damage, but he's got other things to worry about.]

Wha-- Shit!

[That Night Slash attack is aimed right at his head. Mondo barely manages to duck in time to avoid getting cut in the face with the attack. The swords go flying harmlessly overhead and eventually manage to stop the move, turning to look at their trainer in shock. Mondo seems perfectly fine when he steadies himself.]

What the fuck was that, Arc!? You could've fucking killed me--

[Mondo finally notices that both the Pangoro and the Doublade are looking at him funny. He realizes that they're not looking at him so much as his hair. He raises a hand to check on his pompadour and--]

WHAT THE FUCK!?

[While Mondo's freaking out, the Doublade returns to float beside the Pangoro. They exchange a brief high five (if it can even be called that) before returning their attention to their trainer.

...A little while later Mondo can be found trying to sneak back into the Dangan House without raising any suspicion. This would be easier said than done if he didn't have his coat up over his head to try to hide the fact that he's currently down a pompadour and his hair looks... really bad right now. Feel free to catch him on his way to the basement!]

[ TEXT ]

[A little while later a text goes out. It's not anonymous and it's in Mondo's usual typing style, so clearly he can't be bothered to pretend that this didn't happen.]

what are some good short guys hairstyles
if youve got pictures send em
descriptions are fine too
i need something asap

Comments

[codeforhope]

[...MAYBE...if he has to get a stool he will because good Lord Mondo why are you so tall anyway.

He nods as he starts rummaging through the drawers, and about that time a Leavanny appears in the doorway, looking a little perplexed...until she notices the state Mondo's currently in.

After finding the scissors he was looking for, Chihiro turns to the Pokemon.]

I need you to hold up a mirror for me while I help trim Oowada-kun's hair, okay? And make sure it looks okay, too...and stop me if you think it doesn't.

[...he really doesn't want to make this worse, okay.]

[diamondo]

[Mondo takes a seat and looks from the Pokémon to Chihiro and back again. This should be okay, right? He doesn't think Chihiro can make it any worse, at any rate.]

...So, uh... let me know where you want me to face.

[He really does appreciate it, but this is awkward for some reason. Maybe it's because he hasn't had a proper haircut in a really long time.]

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro doesn't answer for a moment, focusing on trying to decide which angle would be the best to try to tackle this from. Before he can say anything, though, Shiruku edges further into the bathroom and gently takes Mondo by the shoulders, turning him around a bit so Chihiro can stand easily behind him.

...and even sitting down he's still a bit too tall for him to reach properly, so once a step-stool is procured he can actually get started. He starts by combing straight what's left of Mondo's pompadour, carefully and as gently as only Chihiro can manage.]

Ah...let me know if I'm pulling your hair, okay?

[diamondo]

[He allows the Pokémon to maneuver him without any complaint and rests his hands on his knees as Chihiro starts working.]

You're doing great, don't worry about me.

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro takes a breath and nods, putting the comb down to replace it with the scissors next, waiting for Shiruku to steady the mirror between her claws.

He starts cutting carefully, trying to trim his hair to match just the shortest part without cutting it any shorter than it already is. It seems that Arc did a pretty good job of shearing it off right at the top to begin with, there...]

[diamondo]

[Arc is in so much trouble when he finds out this was planned... But yeah, it looks like the Doublade actually managed to do a good job somehow! At the very least Mondo didn't get a sword to the face, so there's that.

He's patient while Chihiro works because he knows trying to rush it is the last thing he wants to do.]

[codeforhope]

[After a while Chihiro stops, looking up at the mirror to see what he's done. Going slowly paid off, because he seems to have managed to get it trimmed as best he can without totally ruining it...at least, he hopes so. Ultimately that's for Mondo to decide.]

Okay...um...how does that look?

[He asks as Shiruku holds out the mirror for Mondo to take.]

[diamondo]

[Mondo takes the mirror and tips his head a bit, silently marveling at how light it feels. Who knew getting all that hair cut off would feel so different? It's not really a bad different either, though it's hard to put into words.]

Hey, not bad! Have you done this before?

[He moves to stand so he can use the other mirror to get a look at the back of his head. Good job, Chihiro!!]

[codeforhope]

[Oh thank goodness, he's so glad...he smiles as he climbs down from the stool, Shiruku slipping out of the bathroom to go find a broom to sweep up the cut hair with.]

Well...not recently. My father would have me trim his hair a bit sometimes if he didn't want to go and get it cut...but I've never cut that much all at once before.

[diamondo]

You did a damn good job! It looks really good. I mean, it's gonna take some getting used to and all, but this is way better than I was expecting!

[...wait, hang on.]

Ah, shit, no that came out wrong! I didn't mean it like that!! I just meant that I thought I'd look really fucking weird with short hair, but this looks really good!

[SORRY, CHIHIRO...]

[codeforhope]

[IT'S OKAY. Chihiro actually giggles at that, shaking his head.]

Oh, no, it's alright! I'm glad you like it.

[He can imagine it would feel strange to have such short hair after it being so long for...well, so long.]

And who knows...you might even end up liking it enough to keep it that way for a while.

[...he's kidding, mostly.]

[diamondo]

I dunno about that. I mean, maybe it is time for a change.

[He doesn't seem to be talking to Chihiro though, instead he's just looking at the mirror thoughtfully. Mondo's had his hair in this style for literally years. He's never bothered changing it because it was a symbol. It was important. But now that he's here, away from the gang and everything else that the pompadour stood for, maybe it is time to try something different.

Eventually he shakes his head and returns his attention to his friend.]

I really appreciate it. I was a little afraid I'd run into someone and they'd make fun of me.

[codeforhope]

You're welcome, Oowada-kun! I'm glad I could help.

[As he says that he stands up on his tiptoes, reaching up to brush some stray hair from his shoulder.]

I think it looks very nice.

[diamondo]

[Mondo bends a bit so Chihiro can reach the hair, offering his classmate a grin.]

Thanks. It'll take some getting used to, but it definitely looks good! I really appreciate this; you've saved me a lot of embarrassment!

[codeforhope]

[By the time Mondo finishes his sentence Shiruku pops back into the bathroom to start cleaning up. Thankfully it looks like he didn't have to cut that much off after all, though it really is a pretty drastic change.]

Any time! Though, I...I hope that doesn't happen again. I don't want you to get hurt, or anything.

[diamondo]

Yeah, I don't want it to happen again either. I mean there's not much left to cut off now...

[Wait, did you mean nearly getting hit in the face with an attack?]

I'll talk to Arc about it. They're-- she? --well uh, normally Arc isn't bad about this sort of thing.

[IT'S TWO SWORDS ARE THEY BOTH GIRLS??]

Oh, and uh, thanks for helping out.

[That's directed at Shiruku and Mondo smiles awkwardly.]

[codeforhope]

Ah, that sounds good...I'm sure it was just an accident, after all.

[Man don't ask him, he's never trained a sword before.

The Leavanny perks up when Mondo speaks to her, lifting her dustpan from the floor with a smile back and a slight shake of her head. It's no problem, really! She's just glad this ended in a trip to the makeshift barber, and not the hospital.]

[diamondo]

[SHE'S SO CUTE AHHHH]

I really appreciate it though! You're really helpful!

[...right, sorry, what was that, Fujisaki??]

Yeah, I just want to make sure Arc doesn't do anything like that again. If I'm not fast enough next time, that would have taken my head off.

[codeforhope]

[The Pokemon's response to that is just to blush fiercely and shake her head again before scurrying off to empty the dustpan in the trashcan.]

Ah, well...that shouldn't be a problem, right? You'll just have to train him some more.