.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

[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]

[ratherbelocky]

Well, from what I hear, when a girl Pokémon and a boy Pokémon like each other very much and are compatible in ways I really don't goddamn understand...

[He gestures at her Pancham egg.]

That happens.

[secondplacing]

Thaaaat's what I thought you were gonna say.

[She sighs in mild exasperation, looking to where Stripes and Empress are playing.]

At least Tucker's not around to be a bad influence on you.

[Stripes, knowing he's being spoken to but not at all grasping it, just looks at Carolina with a happy little tail wag.]

[ratherbelocky]

[Empress, who may or may not understand, just takes the opportunity to rub her head along Stripes's side and shoulder. Yes. This is her dog. Good.

York sighs.]

We're boned.

[secondplacing]

I'm sure we can manage letting them play without winding up with a litter, York.

[Eyeroll.]

You just have to be careful.

[ratherbelocky]

[More sighing.]

Yeah, yeah, constant vigilance. Maybe I can get D-2 to help chaperone. She'd probably like that.

[Anyway, he leaves Empress to her own devices--devices that mostly involve headbutting Stripes a little to get him to play-wrestle--and nudges Carolina's arm.]

So what'd you get North? Or is that a secret?

[secondplacing]

[Carolina's smile becomes a little more of a proud smirk, and she shakes her head.]

He was talking to a little girl about Eevee, remember? So I did a little research and asked if any of them would learn a fairy move, and...

[She gestures to the egg on the bed.]

[ratherbelocky]

The one that grows up into the thing with the ribbons?

[York considers this.]

...He's gonna be adorable.

[secondplacing]

[ah yes, validation. She has made a good decision, both in getting this egg and in coming to York for an opinion.]

Isn't he? I'm looking forward to North seeing it.

[preen preen]

It's like a little fox at first.

[ratherbelocky]

Is it fluffy? How fluffy is it?

[Even if North weren't desperately in need of it, York would be 150% in favor of drowning the man in fuzzy baby animals.]

[secondplacing]

It's got a collar-- like this?

[she gestures to her neck, miming the size.]

All fur. Huge tail, too.

[ratherbelocky]

Man.

[He can see it. He can see it now. He can imagine fifty of them climbing over North.]

Coming here was the best idea any of us ever had.

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]