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

[Action]

[codeforhope]

[After finally getting back to the house himself after being on the road for a month, Chihiro can honestly say that it's good to be home again. All of the Pokemon he left behind while he was gone were happy to see him, particularly his young Joltik and Spinarak. Apparently they had been busy working on practicing the knitting they had learned from Shiruku and had made a whole host of tiny socks for him to see. ...socks so tiny that not even a Pokemon could wear them, but at least they tried.

He had been downstairs in the kitchen with his Linoone at his heels, as usual watching his trainer with his head up and sniffing the air curiously in the event that some tasty snack was dropped, when he heard the pitter patter of the hoard rush down the hallway as they heard a door open. Chihiro puts down the knife he'd been using to spread some jelly on toast to peer into the hallway, brightening when he spots Mondo entering the house.]

Ah, hello, Oowada-kun!

[He's far enough away that he doesn't immediately notice anything wrong, but the way he's carrying himself does cause him to pause.]

...is it raining outside?

[diamondo]

[Mondo freezes in the doorway when he hears Fujisaki's voice, but he doesn't turn to face his classmate. The coat is probably still covering up what's left of his hair, so he figures he's safer to stay in this position than to try to look at Fujisaki.]

Uh, no, but it's uh... really cloudy so maybe it might??

[His voice is way too loud for that statement and he knows it, but he can't really control it any. He's doomed.]

[codeforhope]

[Hmm...

Chihiro blinks, resting a hand against the doorframe.]

Oh...is that why you're holding your coat like that, then? Just in case it rained before you could get inside?

[diamondo]

Y-Yeah, 'course! What else would it be!?

[He'll just be trying to edge toward the basement now... This is really embarrassing...]

[codeforhope]

Ah...I suppose you're right.

[Unfortunately for Mondo, that isn't going to be enough to get rid of Chihiro today. Mostly because he hasn't seen him in a month or so, and the house has been pretty empty all day besides.]

Is everything alright?

[diamondo]

[Oh no, don't do that-- Mondo winces and stops moving. He can't ditch Fujisaki like that, as much as he'd like to hide in the basement for the rest of time. He turns back a bit so that he doesn't have his back to his classmate anymore, but unfortunately for him, he moves too quickly and he loses his grip on the coat.]

Shit--!

[Mondo scrambles to grab it, but the damage is already done. His hair looks absolutely awful right now, try not to judge him too hard.]

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro jumps a little at Mondo's sudden exclamation, and for a moment all he can do is stare at him. Isamu pushes his way past Chihiro's ankles in the meantime, stopping short between his legs once his paws hit the rug in the hallway.

After a beat, Chihiro quickly moves from the doorway and into the hallway itself, less concerned about the state of his hair and more about the state of Mondo himself because how-]

O...Oowada-kun, what happened?

[diamondo]

[Mondo holds the jacket in his hands and glances away, head tipped downward. If he still had his pompadour it would hide his expression, but unfortunately he doesn't. He looks more embarrassed than anything else and he's turning a pretty bright shade of red.]

...I was out training and Arc - my Doublade - accidentally did this.

[His Pokémon are all in their Pokéballs, otherwise Arc would proudly claim that it wasn't an accident at all.]

It looks fucking hideous.

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro continues to make his way over until he's standing in front of Mondo, Isamu trailing after him at his heels. He looks up at him and tilts his head a bit to the side. Ah, so an accident, then...that makes a lot more sense, considering the fact that Chihiro can't ever imagine Mondo wanting to cut off that much of his hair willingly.]

Oh, I see...I'm glad you didn't get hurt.

[His brows furrow a little as he leans on the balls of his feet to get a better look at the state of his hair.

Then he smiles, gently.]

I don't think it's so bad. It just needs to be trimmed a little so it isn't uneven anymore. After that I think it would look just fine.

[diamondo]

Really? You think there's a way to save this? I don't have to hide in the basement until it grows out!?

[...WAS THAT SERIOUSLY YOUR PLAN, MONDO]

[codeforhope]

[MONDO NO...]

Of course you don't! If it helps, I think you would look nice with short hair.

[And besides, it's not like it will stay short forever.]

[diamondo]

Yeah? I never thought about it before. I mean, I'd never cut my hair willingly, but... if it won't look shitty, I guess it'll do until it grows back out.

[codeforhope]

[Chihiro nods, folding his hands behind his back.]

There's never anything wrong with trying something new...even if it's something you wouldn't have considered before. And if you don't like it, there's nothing saying you have to keep it that way...right?

[diamondo]

That's true. I guess I can just wait for it to grow back if I really hate it. I just need to... do something about it now...

[He reaches up to absently touch at the shorter strands hanging in his face. Yikes, this probably looks hideous right now.]

[codeforhope]

Hmm...is there anyone here in Goldenrod who cuts hair?

[It's been a long time since he's gotten a haircut himself it feels like, so this isn't something he's actually thought about...]

[diamondo]

I'm sure there's a place around here somewhere, but I never looked for it. I mean, I'd just trim the ends myself, so...

[Obviously he's not going to be able to do that now.]

[codeforhope]

[He hums thoughtfully as he looks up at Mondo's hair again, thinking.]

Hmm, well...if you think you might need some help with it, I wouldn't mind giving you a hand...if you needed it.

[He's no barber, but since it's been cut so drastically already he's pretty sure that evening it out wouldn't be...too hard, maybe.]

[diamondo]

Yeah? You'd be okay with that? It might be good to get it cut so it doesn't look godawful. I mean, even if you have some trouble with it, it'll look better than whatever the fuck it looks like right now. I'm kind of afraid to look, actually...

[codeforhope]

I don't mind!

[He reaches for Mondo's hand and tugs him away from the door a little while Isamu scampers around so he can force it shut behind him.]

I can try, at least...and then you can go back and get it trimmed a bit more by someone else, if you think it needs it.

[diamondo]

Okay. Yeah, that sounds good.

[He's still a little awkward about this, but Mondo nods. Hopefully this will help a bit! He'll follow Chihiro wherever his classmate wants him.]

[codeforhope]

[..OKAY LET'S SEE, UM...

Chihiro pauses for a moment before leading him quickly down the hallway in the direction of the nearest bathroom, calling over his shoulder as he goes once his Linoone has caught up with them.]

Go get Shiruku-san for me, okay?

[The Pokemon nods and cuts the corner into the living room, breaking into a sprint towards the stairs so he can round her up. Meanwhile, Chihiro brings Mondo to the bathroom before letting go of his hand.]

We can do it in here. I think there should be some scissors in one of the drawers...

[diamondo]

Alright. I'm guessing you want me to take a seat?

[...Are you going to be tall enough???]

[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?