.004 Δ [Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Goooood evening, residents of Johto. It's a lovely, drizzly January day, and I've got a question you folks might be able to answer for me. Consider it an informal poll.

[York looks comfortable and cozy as he lounges around his house, still wearing his ugly Christmas sweater.]

Now, I understand that this place just isn't equipped to support a Grifball League, but there's got to be more to life than just hockey and baseball. Are there Pokémon Olympics or something I should tune into? And, hey, what kind of sports did you guys have back in your worlds? Were they fun? Would you recreate 'em here if you could?

[He rubs his chin for a moment, then adds:]

If anyone around Goldenrod's interested in forming some kind of low-key community sports team--y'know, something for people, not Pokémon--let me know. I might be able to help us get something set up before baseball season starts.

Comments

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

That's how it was for us, too. Being outgunned, I mean. Covenant tech was, and still is, something we don't really understand. But we had every human planet and colony backing us.

Shit, man. No wonder you don't want to go back. I wouldn't, either.

[Video]

[wing_attack]

The war's over, though. It's not like there's anything left for me.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Whole point of winning a war's so you have something to come back to. Or it should be.

[Video] and spoilers agian

[wing_attack]

... My mom is alive but she doesn't remember me. Rachel's dead. I don't really have a lot tying me to anything. I'd probably just fly away from everything and... live the rest of my life as a hawk.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Cripes, kid. That's...

...

And the rest of your team?

[Video]

[wing_attack]

... They'll manage. They're all hit pretty hard, but they have family that can help. ... Aside from Jake, but he's got Marco to lean on. I... the others and I were friends, but it's not... the same.

It's easy for me to just slip back into being a hawk. Let instinct take over again. It's easier than being human, a lot of the time.

[And hawks can't cry.]

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Speaking as...someone who was in a similar boat.

[York's been serious up to this point, but reluctance drags at his words, now, too. He doesn't like talking about his last couple years after he crashed the Mother of Invention, but. Maybe the kid needs this.]

Cutting yourself off from people, surviving on instinct alone--maybe it's easier, man, but I don't know that it's better. You sorta...lose perspective. I'm not saying this to be preachy, I just--I don't want a kid like you making the same mistakes I did. That we did. My team.

[After a moment, he adds:]

No matter what happens to you or where you come from, or what else you happen to be...There's always gonna be something that makes you human.

[Video]

[wing_attack]

I know there will be. But... being a hawk is simpler. You don't have to worry about anything other than your territory and hunting. You don't have to think about who's going to be mad or who's going to be upset. You just... fly and hunt and sleep.

... I don't want... to think about how... things hurt.

[There's a ruffling of feathers, and Regal pushes at him with his beak. Tobias puts his arm around his birdfriend's neck. Hey there.]

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Running away isn't the same thing as letting go, kiddo. Believe me, that kind of hurt--you can't get through it on your own. I oughta know.

[Video]

[wing_attack]

... It's not like I have anywhere to go. And I don't want to get trapped in my human morph, so I could only be human for two hours at a time anyway.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

A lot can happen in two hours.

I'm not telling you what to do either way, Tobias. I just think anyone who's got the opportunity not to carry something alone oughta take it. Family's all well and good, but talking to someone who's been there, who gets it? That's something, too. For you and for your team.

[Video]

[wing_attack]

... Yeah. I guess you're right. It's just... hard.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

I know, kid. I know.

If you ever want to test it out on someone, I'm around. All right, champ? I may not get all the details of what you guys went through, but I do know war.

[Video]

[wing_attack]

... Thanks. I... I appreciate that. Really.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

[York offers him a smile that's slight, but wholly felt--a rare moment of vulnerability from a guy like him.]

No problem. I like to talk. Any time, okay?

[Video]

[wing_attack]

... Okay. Thanks.

[This was not where he intended this conversation to go.]