[video]

[meteorman]

[It's Starter Appreciation Day, you say? Well someone is absolutely down to celebrate that. The 'gear clicks on from within what appears to be... a tattoo parlor? That must be it, judging by the art adorning the walls.

Funny enough, Ford is nowhere to be seen. Instead the camera is focused on Roswell, who is holding up a notepad with her psychic powers in addition to the 'gear. She isn't really equipped for vocal speech, but she's been with Ford long enough now that she's learned to write fairly effectively. The notepad isn't even open to the front, suggesting the other pages are already taken up by other notes. She uncaps the pen floating by the notebook and begins to write. Her penmanship isn't perfect, but she writes in all-caps to compensate. As she writes she also psychically projects (so that other Pokémon who haven't learned to read can understand her.]

I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A DAY TO APPRECIATE STARTERS. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE.

[The camera pans over and -- ah, there's Ford, more than likely getting the Fog Badge outline on his arm filled in with color now that he's earned it.]

THAT IS MY STARTER. WE ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS NOW BUT WE WERE NOT ALWAYS.

[She flips to a fresh page and keeps writing.]

THE DAY WE MET I THREW A STICK AT HIM. HE NAMED ME ELEANOR WHICH IS THE WORST NAME POSSIBLE.

I ASSUME IT WAS IN RETALIATION FOR THE STICK.

BUT EVENTUALLY I TAUGHT HIM HOW TO SPEAK PROPERLY [You know, with his thoughts, like a civilized adult] AND DISCOVERED HE COULD BE REASONED WITH. HE CHANGED MY NAME TO ROSWELL WHICH IS MUCH BETTER.

HE TELLS ME I AM HIS RESEARCH ASSISTANT. THIS IS CUTE BECAUSE HE IS THE ASSISTANT BUT I LET HIM HAVE HIS FUN.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS HE IS STILL INEXPERIENCED BUT HE IS A FAST LEARNER AND I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM.

[And, for her fellow Pokémon, a psychic message:]

Tell me about your Humans. What are they like?

[Pokémon only Cool Kids Club!!!]

Comments

[Action]

[hellablue]

[Smash cut to Munchies, knocking enthusiastically on the tattoo shop window because he's Too Big to actually fit inside.

BONK BONK BONK

HEY, HE WANTS TO BE ON TV TOO,

Chloe is kind of just off in the corner reading a magazine waiting for Her Turn while Ford gets his done, tuning out the thumping because she's used to Munchies being weird.]

[Action]

[meteorman]

[Oh my god

Roswell shuts off the 'gear and looks over at the Snorlax with as much amusement as her weird face can actually convey.]

Yes, friend, I see you.

Do you want to Take A Selfie?

[Action]

[hellablue]

[Munchies looks absolutely delighted by this. Who ever asks him to do that??

Also it takes far too long for him to realize that he can also. Talk with his mind.]

YEAH!!

[He kind of squats himself down so that his face is More in the window, his cheek pressed up against it, then he makes a peace symbol as well as one can with lil bear claws.]

[meteorman]

[YEAH. She can hear you just fine if you think Real Good. No need to yell. Roswell floats over a little closer to the window and lines up the 'gear, but the combination of the window and the flash of the camera leaves something to be desired.]

Hold on. I will come Outside.

[She pulls the door open (a bell jingles) and floats on out onto the sidewalk.]

[hellablue]

[Listen he's trying his best. He's a happy boy who just wants to be included, that's all.

He's gonna just lumber over as she comes out of the tattoo parlor. What's he gonnaaaa just pull her into a hug because why not?]

Thanks for joinin' me out here, friendo. I appreciate it.

[meteorman]

[Ah. This may have been a tactical error. Not that Roswell dislikes hugs, precisely, but now she is Trapped here in this hug for the foreseeable future.]

Yes.

What was that Symbol you made with your hand?

video;;

[guiltyeyes]

[ This Mimikyu isn't anybody's "starter" but Mari's doesn't want to chill with anyone.

Cue the little Ghost-Fairy wobbling her floppy "head" at the screen. She has a perfectly ironed purple ribbon around her neck tied into a bow.

The voice that communicates is more telepathic-- soft and in a whisper. Short, simple sentences. She sways this way and that like any person would when they are talking. ]

My human is loud.

She likes to jump and play.

I like her very much.

She loves me. She says it often.

Yes.

[meteorman]

[That fake head is so convincing! You're doing amazing sweetie.]

That is Very Good. She should say it often. I have noticed some humans get Weird about it.

[guiltyeyes]

Weird.

They call her that.

I do not know.

Is yours Weird?

[meteorman]

Very Much Weird.

But not about telling me he likes me. He has gotten Good about that.

Mostly he is Weird about my hands.

[She holds one up and flashes the colors in her fingers demonstratively. Not that Ruby will be able to understand what that means but that's not the point.]

idk why this is so precious but it is

[guiltyeyes]

[ She doesn't understand one bit. She merely flops her ears.

Seeing as she has a

distinct lack of visible hands and all

this means very little. ]

She dresses me up.

She wants me to be a Star.

A Shiny Star.

You said he is your assistant.

You like to learn?

So does she.

IT REALLY IS

[meteorman]

Oh yes. I take notes wherever we go. It is good to observe.

[Even among Pokémon she's an alien, or so she's been told. What better way to assimilate to her new home than learn everything she can about it? In that way she and Ford really are well-matched.]

You are already dressed up very nicely I think.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[Oh hey! That's Jane's friend's Pokemon, isn't it? Dinah clicks on the 'gear, the task easy to her now that she's been with her trainer for so long.]

Jane's a great human! She cooks for all of us, and makes sure we're all clean and tidy, and she sometimes likes to get in trouble with me! [She pouts a little and shifts the 'gear to show a grumpy looking Bisharp sitting on a window ledge with his arms folded, all broody.] Some Pokemon can't appreciate that, but I do!

[The Bisharp shifts uncomfortably.] 'Dinah-'

Nope, I'm calling you out today! Poke-shaming! I should get you a sign!

[Holy crap these two.]

[meteorman]

[Is it possible for a Pokémon without a real visible mouth to grin? Because that's happening.]

There is always time for mischief. I will Make The Sign.

[cyan_maid]

[Dinah gives a thumbs up.] Please do!

[The Bisharp puts his head in his hands.] 'So childish...'

[meteorman]

[Too late. She's already flipping to a new notebook page. She's already writing.]

How does 'I Do Not Like To Have Fun Because I Am Exceedingly Boring' sound?

[cyan_maid]

That's perfect!

[The Bisharp is leaving. He is not amused and this is ridiculous.]

...See, he's a total sourpuss.

video doggo goes bork bork

[bertall]

<sub>[Marcel may not have opposable thumbs (or any for that matter), but fortunately Bertolt has fallen into the habit of leaving his 'gear on for the radio when he takes naps purely for the background noise. Unfortunately, that also leaves it free to be played around with by curious Pokemon.

He's seen his trainer hit buttons before but it's hard for him to do copy him with his paws and his nose, though eventually he gets it to respond. Unfortunately the first 'response' is a horrible amalgamation of letters, numbers and symbols and when it finally switches over to video, his nose fills the entire screen.

But. He's there. He can hear things! He can't make out the letters on the screen very well, but he can hear! And there's a voice in his head!]</sub>

HE IS A GOOD BOY AND VERY GOOD HELLO!!!

[meteorman]

Yes Hello!

[There is a definite psychic giggle there. How charming. Roswell can appreciate enthusiasm.]

What about him is Good?

[bertall]

YES.

_{[He's. He's trying.}

FOOD GOOD. GOOD SOCK.

[meteorman]

[uh]

Good... Sock?

video;

[shiro2hero]

[Aggron hands are too big to hold the 'gear properly. Which means Kuro is resorting to using Haunter to help. So, needless to say, both of their faces are being currently broadcast.]

[Occasionally shoving each other aside.]

Oh! The big guy remembers you! [Yells Haunter.]

Our human is a disaster.

[WOW THANKS KURO.]

[meteorman]

I feel like many humans are Disasters. That is just a Common Trait of their species. Mine is also a Disaster but he manages it very well.

[Poor thing. He's doing his best.]

That is why we are here, yes? To help them manage.

[shiro2hero]

At least one does. He does not. Children have to rescue him.

[Haunter nods emphatically. Children and Haunter. Frequently.]

Yes.

Or to manage for them.

Video

[sleepallthewayhome]

[There is a Growlithe on the screen. Newt keeps the gear on a lot just in case her friends show up so the Growlithe was able to reply. Newt is like her kid okay.]

My human is small but very strong. She told me what happened to her before she arrived here, why she hides in small places and worries people will die. I protect her so she can get stronger and less afraid. She trains us so we will be stronger. We will keep each other safe.

[meteorman]

[Oh see this one makes Roswell feel like five whole emotions. She's a mother herself, now, and has even been lucky enough to meet a few of her children even though they're off on their own adventures. She never lost her sense of mischief but she's certainly matured enough to instinctively Get that maternal protective instinct.]

Very Good. It is good that there is Less To Fear here as well. Mine has told me other Wheres are Much Worse.

Humans seem to have a hard time Keeping Out Of Trouble, don't they?

[sleepallthewayhome]

They do. My human wakes up a lot in the night because of her bad memories. Sometimes she yells out or cries, but I help her calm down and she feels better.

[meteorman]

Mine just Does Not Sleep. I do not know if that is better exactly.

There are some among our number who can consume dreams. Maybe one of them could Help.

[sleepallthewayhome]

I thought humans had to sleep.

Really, maybe she will find one. Her dreams are very bad.

[meteorman]

They do. Eventually. Mine does not sleep until he Drops.

[And she doesn't entirely approve of it, mainly because it's inconvenient and unreliable. Maybe some humans are just like that. She just wishes hers kept a better schedule.]

I think you are doing very well already.

[sleepallthewayhome]

That does not sound good.

[That last bit though makes her sit straighter.]

Do you think so. I hope I am. I've never looked after a little one before and I want her to be safe.

[video]

[notvaljean]

[Yes, hello, here is a death orb looming on the screen and scowling. Blitz has opinions about this.]

Dumb Narrow is ridiculous. His plans for world domination are laughable and he doesn't even have electricity on his own. He even needs me, the mighty Death Ball, to turn his communicator on and off for him.

He's hopeless.

[meteorman]

[Now that's one Angry Orb.]

Dumb Narrow? Is that really his name?

[That's the important thing here.]

[notvaljean]

Probably? I don't know.

[Blitz does know, but he refuses to acknowledge Jean's actual name until Blitz is addressed as Mighty Death Ball.]

[meteorman]

You don't even know your starter's name?

[Boi. She is not impressed. Hers is an idiot too but she's got the basic details down.]

[notvaljean]

If he can't learn MY name and call me by it, why should I bother learning his?

[Flawless logic!]

[queen_stabbity]

Eleanor really is a terrible name. I'm glad it got changed.

[Yes, she is human, but she likes talking to pokemon.]

I hope you don't mind if I said hi? I know you said pokemon only but I was bored and Princess She Who Devours the Darkness in People's Souls is taking a nap. I didn't want to disturb her.

[She turns the camera briefly to a murkrow wearing a sparkly pink ribbon with her head tucked under her wing on a branch, snoozing.]

[meteorman]

[See! There is literally no one in the world who thinks Eleanor is a good name. Roswell feels very vindicated here.]

That is fine. Everyone needs to Rest. Except for my human. He barely sleeps.

[queen_stabbity]

[It really is a terrible name. Unless you're part of a Cinderella story...]

I some have friends and family like that.

We usually knock them out.

[She mimes swinging something.]

[Video]

[gobblewonked]

[A Porygon doesn't so much appear on the screen as project her own image onto it.

It should not be possible for living computer code to have eye bags. She does.

In a voice like Microsoft Mary:]

My starter

is

the worst.

[meteorman]

[Oh boy. Turn it off and turn it on again, something's Wrong.]

Citations?

[Give her the deets]

[gobblewonked]

Where do I begin?

Do I begin with his complete disinterest in battle? He hardly trains his Pokemon at all. How are we supposed to grow stronger if he does not fight with us? Must I do everything myself??

Or do I begin with the gross insult that is how for an entire week - entire week - entire week - when we were challenged by wild Pokemon he would attempt to fight them himself?

He does not want to fight properly. He only wants to build foolish robots and brew foul liquids and play an unpleasant stringed instrument. He has no sense of responsibility or duty and no pride whatsoever. He is an untrainable old fool and I do not want him.