.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

[secondplacing]

[Mmm. There it is. Carolina smiles as she looks back toward the backpack and sets the egg on the bed before stooping down to make sure Stripes's paws aren't all muddy.]

Well, thank you. But it was just to make things easier, really.

[Doesn't change all that Freelancer Vanity.]

Taking care of it was always easier with a helmet.

[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.]

[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?

[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.

[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?

[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.

[secondplacing]

[...Needless to say, Carolina isn't expecting that one.

She has to force back an almost-choked snort, because she refuses to give him the benefit of her laughter for that one. No.]

You didn't.

[ratherbelocky]

[York doesn't need her laughter. If York needed people to laugh at his jokes, his world would be a sad one indeed.]

Wait around a few days, see if I did or not.

[He did. He so did.]

[secondplacing]

I'd say I can't believe you, but here we are.

[She rolls her eyes, giving the egg an adoring look.]

Well, we'll see what kind of chore this is. Funny thing, though... seems like we had similar ideas.

[ratherbelocky]

...Tell me it's for North.

[On the same wavelength as always, Team A.]

[secondplacing]

--How did you know?

[Oh, she can feel a story here.]

[ratherbelocky]

[York laughs, then goes over to the bed where Delta Two is napping. Carefully, gently, he untucks the blanket from around her.

Voila, Fletchling egg.]

I think we might be a hivemind.

[secondplacing]

--You've got to be kidding me.

[Carolina's smile becomes all the more apparent, and she can't deny a couple of chuckles.]

Well, alright, then. Where is he, anyway? Looks like he was at least here earlier.

[She's noticed your shirt already, York.]

[ratherbelocky]

Dunno. I didn't set my trackers.

[God. He thinks he's funny. He really does.]

[secondplacing]

[She's just going to give him a look.

York.]

[ratherbelocky]

What?

[Oh, fine.]

I really don't know, though. Did you check his room yet?

[secondplacing]

...Not yet, no. I came around here first.

[To talk. To be near you. To witness you alive a little more.

Things she won't say.]

I figured Stripes would want to visit Empress again.

[Which is believable considering how much the pup is showing off.]

[ratherbelocky]

Yeah, uh.

[York glances down to check on them. They're playing together. Aren't they cute. That's so precious.]

We should probably keep an eye on that. They're in the same Egg Group.

[secondplacing]

[...okay, Carolina is pretty sure she knows what that means, based on context clues, but--]

Mind explaining that one to me?

[Cats and dogs can't lay eggs that's weird]

not here

[usedlightscreen]

[Ah yes.

This is where he has laid his affections.

with people who don't set their god damn trackers]

not here

[ratherbelocky]

[U love him]