14th Recipe [Video, Route 34]

[cyan_maid]

[It's out near the start of Route 34, Goldenrod's signature skyscrapers easy to pick out in the background, where Jane's face appears in the cold, cloudy morning. She's got a scarf wrapped up around her neck and chin, her winter coat is on, her cheeks are pink, and you'd expect her to look delighted, the picture of an excited young lady ready to meet the holidays dead on - but instead she looks a little bewildered.]

Um...so, about a month ago...exactly a month, actually? An egg I received hatched into a Zorua, and his name is Hughie, and he's a troublesome little scamp but a lovely dear, really. He means well. But, um, I've looked up things on his species, and they're supposed to be able to transform into things, right? And he's done so as other Pokemon, but lately we've been trying to perfect his human transformation - I thought it might be interesting for him to learn.

[And it'd also get him into more trouble, but hey, this is a potential extra set of hands Jane could have around, and he'd seemed so pleased with the prospect...]

But...um. Do Zorua always...like to look like their trainers?

[It's then that Jane shifts the 'gear to show...a little boy? He looks so much like her, down to the curl of his black hair, but it's definitely a little boy, smiling silently as Dinah looks him over and then points behind him. Blinking, he turns...and there's a fluffy Zorua tail sticking out from the seat of his pants.]

I mean - I'm flattered? But I'm either going to be asked if he's my little brother or if he's my son...does anyone else have anyone in Hughie's species who transforms into a person? Maybe he needs some more ideas...

Comments

[11121_assumption]

Truth, my Zorua, frequently uses an illusion of myself as a child.

[ Truth wasn't originally with him, but given he stopped into a Pokemon Centre to answer her message...yep, the camera shifts and there's a little boy with him, sat by his side. Wearing a blacka nd white striped top and with a bowlcut and blue eyes, but there are enough similarities to see the connection and go 'oh yes, I can see this boy becoming this man'. ]

I have not been able to convince him to use anything else. I'm not sure how he even knows what I looked like when I was younger.

[cyan_maid]

...Maybe he's guessing based on how you look now?

[11121_assumption]

It's too accurate to be coincidental. The only solution I can think of is that a Pokemon of mine who is capable of seeing the past told them how I looked.

It's not a very comforting thought.

[cyan_maid]

...I don't know if any of mine can do that. But...I really think Hughie is just guessing. I mean - he is still pretending to be a little b-

[Hughie has now found his way into Jane's lap, still in his human form, and is peering into the camera. Hello, human!]

Okay, okay, yes - gracious, yes, I am talking about you, buster...

[video]

[captainash]

...Have you considered that he might want to be mistaken as your brother or son? For whatever reason?

[It wouldn't be the strangest thing a Pokémon has done, really.]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

My Delphox already calls me Mom. This is the second fox-thing to try and push his way into being my child and it's kind of weird...

[Video]

[captainash]

That's one hell of a coincidence, but you're still one fox away from a pattern. Lucky you?

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

...I feel like I've got to test this out now. There's two breeds of Vulpix now, right? Fire and Ice? I...should maybe...see if I can not be a Mom to them.

[video]

[keep_surviving]

Oh, yeh. If I take Dare into places with lots of people he turns into a little me all the time.

[The teenage girl sits on the grass beside a 5 year old version of herself but with distinctly different eyes, who blinks at the camera then gives a toothy grin.]

Honestly, I don't love it but it's whatever. People probably think he's my sibling but it's not like they come up and ask me.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Even if they don't ask, it's still...I'm only seventeen, I don't...

[She may be the Mom Friend but there is no way she is comfortable with strangers thinking of her as a Mom.]

[Video]

[keep_surviving]

[Diana pulls an unimpressed look, arching her brow in silence for a moment.]

... I'm sixteen.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Well do you want people assuming you're a mom and thinking not-true things about you?

Video

[hellablue]

Aren't most people here used to weird shit like that? Like if you just said "my Pokemon is being a shit and posing as a kid", I'm sure they'd...

Okay nah, that still sounds fucking weird. You're right.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Right?

[SOMEONE WHO GETS IT]

I mean...don't get me wrong, I love taking care of them, it's really rewarding, but...I am definitely not ready for someone to consider me a "Mom" in any serious regard.

[Video]

[hellablue]

Nah, I feel you. Like imagine you're in a grocery store and you're getting nasty looks from the crusty old soccer mom judging you for being a slut or something. It'd be hella annoying. You don't need that shit in your life.

[Chloe thinks for a moment, trying to wrap her brain around a solution.]

Have you tried bribing him with treats? It works for Munchies when he's being annoying.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

I could do that, but I don't want him to end up associating acting out with food.

[Though she's guessing that if a Pokemon's nickname is seriously "Munchies", that might be the best way to keep him in line.]

[video]

[charcoalfeather]

....My Vulpix can't do that...

[Rakka remarks hopefully too quietly for Jane to hear?? She's mostly just surprised, rather then envious.]

I-I know that certain Pokemon have the ability to transform into other things, but this is... oh my. I've never seen one that turned into a Human before!

[Wow?]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

The Pokedex says it's a pretty common disguise for them. Maybe you should see about getting one as an egg and seeing it for yourself, Rakka - it could be interesting.

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

Hmmm.... [MMMMMMMM] Maybe.

[She looks off to the side at something, just for a moment.] I think about it sometimes, but I just have so many Pokemon already, you know? And most of them are from other people too.

[A soft sigh.] It gets kind of confusing sometimes.

[Video]

[findingbeasts]

Zorua do seem rather fond of disguising themselves as the individuals they're close to. Though that isn't always the case.

[Newt turns the 'gear slightly to show Jane what he's talking about. Just beside him sits...is that Armin? It sure looks like him. But then the blonde turns and there's something not quite right about the way he looks. His eyes are much darker than normal and definitely not human..]

This is Paracelsus, my Zorua companion. It took some time before he started using his abilities but now he seems rather fond of talking on the appearance of the friends I've made here.

Re: [Video]

[cyan_maid]

Oh my! That's...that's unexpected, for sure!

[It is intriguing enough for Hughie to make his presence known, sticking his nose into the view.]

Ah - erm - hopefully he doesn't do that while your friend is around? I can imagine it'd be very confusing for strangers...

[Video]

[findingbeasts]

[Not!Armin perks up when he spots Hughie, grinning a toothy grin as he waves at the other Pokemon.]

He hasn't as of yet though we haven't crossed paths with Armin in some time. I doubt he would hesitate to take his form in front of him, though.

[pipers_son]

Oh! That's actually Invidia's favorite form ta use, when he has ta interact with folks. People ask us if we're brothers all the time.

[Especially considering that Invidia makes his hair in that form a sort of greenish black that's just dark enough to be close to Joker's more closer dyed black hair.]

I think it makes sense~.

[cyan_maid]

So it really is common...

[That's. Creepy, but also the more she hears, the sadder it sounds.]

...I really don't want to upset the poor dear and tell him not to do it, but...it's awkward.

[pipers_son]

Well.... Why don't ya ask 'im ta pick a certain part of ya that he can keep, but the rest he has ta figure out on his own?

Like maybe a haircut, or hair color, or somethin' like that, but everythin' else changes.