.001 Δ [Video/Action for Cherrygrove]

[ratherbelocky]

[The feed flips on to show a man holding a brush in one hand and a young Shinx in his lap. Both of them appear to have been freshly bathed, with the damp Shinx swaddled in one of Cherrygrove Inn's warm, fluffy towels. When all of her wriggling and protesting comes to naught, she just lies there in her towel burrito and seethes. York, on the other hand, has found that shops in this world do, apparently, sell hair product for humans, and he couldn't be happier. He's fixed his hair for the first time in days. Life is wonderful.

Not that vanity's necessarily the reason he hasn't introduced himself to the PokéConnect community at large yet. It's just. You know. Coincidence.]

Good morning, people. And Pokémon, too, of course, can't forget you guys. For those of you I haven't spoken to yet, I'm York, I'm one of your more recent unwitting transplants to sunny Johto. Or, well, partially cloudy Johto, anyway. How about that weather, huh?

[The temperature has dropped literally twenty degrees in the five days since he got here, oh my god, why. Being caught out on the road in yesterday's rainstorm sucked. Now he's warm and dry and comfortable in a clean shirt a couple sizes too big for him (and he's not exactly a small man). Really, what could be better than being alive here and now?

He rubs the Shinx's fur drier, unwraps her, and then holds her still before she can escape so he can brush the tangles out. She mewls fussily, but his hands are steady, and eventually she relaxes--if mutinously--into the attention. He chuckles a little.]

But okay, I'm not actually here to make small talk. I got a question for you folks.

[He turns the PokéGear with the back of his brush to show another Pokémon, an Elgyem, bundled up in a blanket on the bed, fast asleep.]

Can someone tell me more about Psychic Pokémon? [He goes back to brushing.] I get that they read minds--Delta Two there communicates with me all the time--but she doesn't use words so it's hard to get more...complicated ideas across, sometimes. I was wondering, can you train them to talk? Or do other things? These guys are obviously a lot more intelligent than the animals back on my Earth, so I guess you could say I'm curious about what they can do.

[The Shinx's eyes are half-closed now as York brushes away. Someone's a sleepy baby.]

'Preciate your time. Over and out.

((Action also available for Cherrygrove, where he can be found at the inn or browsing the PokéMart stock.))

Comments

[Video]

[dangerousidol]

[This is the third person that's pretty much not told her that what she does isn't useless.]

... Yeah, I'm glad I can help them in just the way I do. I can make them maps, tell them weaknesses of the enemy, health updates, and all those things! Plus, I always know where they are. That's gotta count for more than just standing on the sidelines.

[ratherbelocky]

[Well, while she's not looking, he's just going to scoot his chair back a little and pull out his own backpack from under the desk.

Nothing to see here, folks. Except the drawl in his voice goes extra long, like he's got a secret so sweet he can't help but almost sing it.]

Yeah? I always kinda hated upkeep with helmets myself. Really crimped my style, you know?

[He lets Empress go free, and she shakes herself, sticks her nose up in the air, and then goes to sniff at Stripes and see if he has any new smells on him to investigate. He drops the backpack on his lap in Empress's place and unzips it, humming again.]

video;

[occultigen]

Well, if you should decide you'd like to sometime in the future, I can certainly make a recommendation then! Here, if you'd like, I'll fetch Alouette to show you.

[And, following a little bit of hustle and bustle on her side of the camera, an Altaria comes into view, all sleek blue lines and cloudy wings.]

I'm sure she'd be very serviceable when it comes to that sort of thing; she's very soft, and clever too.

[Action]

[seasaltkey]

Earth?

[YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF IT.

Roxas has seen people complain about all sorts of what would seem like impossible to breed pairings making eggs.]

The book just says it's something called egg groups. When you know the egg groups between the ones you want to breed, it just goes from there. And then you get eggs. I-I don't want to wind up with a lot of eggs, so I'll try and be careful when I breed them...

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

[He whistles.]

Geez, all that? Damn, girl. You know, where I'm from, they spent--I don't know--probably trillions of dollars trying to make field equipment that does just what you do? I'm tellin' you, ninety percent of the battle, minimum.

text;

[doitrockapella]

PROCESSING...
PROCESSING......
PROCESSING.........DONE

Y O R K

IS YOUR FRIEND A
D R A G O N A I R

AURORA BOROS IS OUR DRAGONAIR
SHE CAN TIE HERSELF IN A KNOT !

. . .

KNOT KIDDING

HAHAHA

video;

[ratherbelocky]

Oh, wow.

[He really is impressed.]

She's gorgeous. That's a beautiful bird you got there, Miss Everett. She's really strong enough to carry a whole person?

[Video]

[dangerousidol]

[Oh now she looks proud of herself. Which deflates after a moment.]

Well, it's what I can do with my Persona.... I don't have that power here, so I'm just a normal girl. But I am good at remembering things that help out in my Pokémon battles, so at least I can be useful with that. It's how I've gotten so many badges!

video;

[occultigen]

I think so! I've not much tried with her, and even then I suppose I'm, er...perhaps not the best measure of...that sort of thing...

[Read: "I realize I am like thirty pounds soaking wet and could be knocked over by a strong breeze, um."]

...But I've heard good things about her breed, and she is part a dragon, so!

[secondplacing]

[Stripes is quick to attempt to stand taller than Empress, drawing himself up and wagging his tail. He is clearly the older one here and has to set a good example for the newbie, you see.

Carolina stands up from inspecting Stripes's paws before she sits down on the bed.]

Considering I don't usually have to sculpt my hair upward, I can see why there's a difference.

...wait.

[There's something familiar about how York spoke. She knows that voice.]

What did you do?

action ;; IT'S TIME

[armalite]

[ Bumping his was into the 'Mart, Lockon just finished reasoning with his Ponyta to STAY OUTSIDE FOR TWO MINUTES WHILE DADDY GOES SHOPPING... And hopefully she believes him and stays that way. Just for a minute...

With his little Espurr (who he doesn't have the heart to put back in the ball quite yet) in his arms, he swings his gaze about the little store in an attempt to decipher the wares. His hair is a touch damp, but still maintains that STYLISH gentle curl at the tips. ]

Hey... [ He squints and then straightens up when he spots someone he rather remembers from a few days ago. Without a beat, he strolls over to the other man. Hopefully it doesn't look weird. ] York, right?

[Action]

[ratherbelocky]

Yeah, you know, I read what the book says, but it still doesn't make a lick of sense. But, what can you do.

[He returns to petting Empress. As fussy as she is, she at least likes the attention.]

Anyway, Earth is where I'm from. Originally, at least. Been a while since I last got to visit.

[Action]

[seasaltkey]

Really? I've already got egg groups mapped out for all of my Pokémon. I've got two compatibles ones right now... but they don't seem to like each other...

[Which is a shame. The world needs more Swablu's.]

I don't think I've ever been to Earth. Been to a lot of other worlds, but none with that name.

[Video]

[crouching_sin]

[Oh. Naoya smiles the barest bit, and gestures his Gardevoir over before he turns on the video.]

It's hard for Pokemon when they're young. When they evolve, or after some time with them, they tend to get a better idea. It's like trying to teach a baby how to talk.

But we can speak just fine after some time training. It's really just a matter of being patient.

... As you can see.

[ratherbelocky]

Wow, what is this suspicion, Carolina?

[The voice just gets worse. Whatever he did, he's clearly pleased with himself. He retrieves something and tosses his bag back under the desk, his back still to Carolina to block her view.]

Why does everyone always think I've done something, huh? I'm a good guy, wouldn't hurt a fly. Is it the infiltration thing? You know it's not necessarily sinister...

[secondplacing]

Subtlety isn't your strong suit, York.

[As if she's any better in the slightest.

She stands, and that swagger moves her closer and closer to York.]

What did you do?

[ratherbelocky]

['You never were a good liar, York.'

It's funny, how similar those two are. Before he can dwell on it, he tips his head back and to the side and gives her a lazy, comfortable smile.]

Got you a planetwarming present.

[He turns his chair to offer her the egg.]

[secondplacing]

[There's a wealth of feelings that surge up through her at the sight, honestly. She recalls coming over, giving him kisses when he'd tilt his head back over the back of a chair to look at her. Remembers that lazy smile on his face when she pulled away, when he'd wake up in the morning, when he'd look at her across the training room before PFL. The feeling washes over her in a fond memory, like something just out of sight, like something she recalls from a dream.

And then it's the egg in his hands that catches her attention, and the nostalgia turns into curiosity-- surprise.]

Wh-.... really?

[The second part is laughed slightly, like she can't believe it.]

[ratherbelocky]

Yeah, really! Go on, take it. I don't want this thing hatching on me and getting the wrong impression.

[He stands to ease it into Carolina's hands, a friend and a teammate, like nothing that happened between them has to be a wall. Like there are no locked doors here.

Infiltration doesn't have to be sinister.]

Pretty sure you and this guy or gal are gonna get along just fine.

action ;; YES HELLO

[ratherbelocky]

[York almost doesn't notice Lockon before he speaks--dude's in his blind spot--but it's amazing how several years on the lam will sharpen one's sensitivity to motion, and he looks up just in time not to be startled.]

Oh, hey, man!

[York lifts a hand in something that's not really a wave but neither is it a salute.]

You know, I forgot to ask. You prefer Lockon or Stratos?

[secondplacing]

[Her fingers just barely touch York's when Carolina accepts the egg from him, and a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. She remembers the warmth of his hands quite well-- but there's a new warmth to focus on, one emanating from the shell of the egg.]

Is that so? And do I get to know what it is, exactly?

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

[The sensation of another mind, something not quite human brushing against his consciousness, is still so familiar and out of place that he's not sure how to respond for a moment. In the end, he goes for a smile and a half-nod to one side.

He really misses Delta.]

I'm starting to get a feel for how it works. Found out some of 'em can read and write, too. The connection itself's kind of interesting to me, though. We don't really have anything like it back where I'm from.

[Implants are one thing. That's science. This is something totally unreal.]

It's not neural, but empathic, right? Just...straight up telepathic shit.

[ratherbelocky]

You wanna? Okay, I'll tell you.

[Twist his arm a little more, why don't you.]

Carolina, believe me when I say I picked this out for you with the most discerning of eyes. It is...

[Can he get a drumroll.]

A kung fu panda.

text;

[ratherbelocky]

You couldn't hear me, but I laughed.
No, the guy I'm talking about, he's human like me. We don't have Pokémon like you dudes where we're from.
Anyway, it was just an expression.
Humans, we say a lot of things we don't literally mean sometimes. Which I guess a smart guy like you's probably picked up already.
Reggie wouldn't literally have tied himself in knots, but I'm pretty sure he'd at least have been a little envious.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

[Well, without his armor, he's just...okay yeah no he's still not totally a normal guy. Muscle and years of experience don't just go away, apparently.]

Oh yeah? How many you got?