victory_road | 10th Match // [video] Sevii Islands

[The video starts with a close-up of Krieg's masked face (Yo! It's been a while!), but once he's got the device doing its thing he flips it around to record...A Marowak! It's sitting on the floor of a Pokemon Center looking kind of lost and upset.]

Is anybody missing any monsters? There's two that aren't mine in my box. The Skull Hat, and -

[He hasn't actually checked the other one, yet, because he was so eager to get this video started and find these monsters' proper trainer. This is definitely just some weird box mixup, and not anything more ominous or permanent. He lets the second one out next to the Marowak, annnnnnd....!

....It's a Blaziken! Maybe just a little less lost-looking than her Marowak buddy, but it's pretty clear she's not exactly happy.

Unlike the Marowak, Krieg instantly recognizes the Blaziken.

There is only the tiniest of pauses as he realizes what's just happened and his brain switches gears.]

--No! No, no no NO NO NO NO NO!!

[He slams the 'Gear down, and the feed abruptly shuts off.

Jimmy Darling has left Pokéland to return to his shitty hell reality. Today is not a good day. :(]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Okay.

Do you want company? I can bring Red along, if... you'd like to wrestle her.

Mmmm...

[He doesn't know Omi like...at all. The Marowak seems pretty stoic, but that...doesn't really mean a whole lot. Dolly seems pretty stoic, too, until he gets scared.]

...Can't. Don't wanna scare the Skull Hat.

What about just company, then?

Mnng...[He grumbles briefly, fidgets for a moment, and then shrugs.]

If you want.

You're my friend, Krieg. I want to help, if I can.

I'm not going anywhere.

[That's sad!Krieg for "yeah sure come keep me company"]

All right buddy, I'm on my way out there.

We're all here if you need us.

[TODAY IS THE WORST

but

you know...that actually does make him feel a little better.]

Thanks, Sugar.

Any time, Krieg.

[He'll bring Blue, too. Because the Gallade likes Krieg, and also it's probably best to get him out of the house so he quits pestering Keith.]

[Krieg's moved outdoors by the time Shiro shows up, seated on the ground in front of the Pokemon Center but out of the way of foot traffic. Annie and Omi are still out, and so are Murder Chicken and Ares. Dolly, his little red shadow, is there as always, occupying the prime lap real estate. Annie and MC are occupied with one another, as they usually are when they get together, although there isn't any cheerful flirtation happening right now. Ares and Omi are hanging out closer to Krieg. Out of all of Krieg's pokemon, the Lucario seems like the one who would understand most how Omi must be feeling, having been left behind when Athena disappeared.

Krieg is either mimicking Dolly or Dolly is mimicking Krieg; the pair are both staring absently into space, the thoughts of each apparently far away from their present circumstances.]

[It's not long before he gets there. Flanked by an Eevee and his Gallade instead of the usual guard detail of Aggron and ghost. Something blue and wiggly is tucked under one arm... or wrapped around it, rather. He's gone with small ones, and Blue, for this walk.]

[... Blue only gets to come because he's grounded.]

[Approaching, he steps slowly up to Krieg, before easing down to sit cross-legged beside him. The Omanyte releases his arm, sliding onto his lap, instead.]

There you go again. Looking like your Pokemon.

[And then Krieg ruins the illusion by looking over at Shiro when he speaks, because Dolly continues to stare at nothing.]

Maybe he looks like me!

[It's an automatic protest more or less in his normal enthusiastic manner, though his tone is subdued.

He notices the Omanyte, of course, and the sight of a monster he's never seen before actually does perk him up. It's pretty obvious how enthusiastically he welcomes the distraction.]

Who's the shell squid?

[He has to laugh, a little. Just a little -- he would more, if Krieg sounded more like himself.]

Fair enough. Maybe that's why you two work so well together.

[At the question, he lifts the Omanyte up for Krieg's closer inspection. The little guy waggles his tentacles. Two of its "feet" stroking at the ones on its face. Twirling them.]

He's an Omanyte. Got him from Ford -- his name is Coran.

[Which is hilarious if anyone here besides Hunk knew who that was.]

It's like a baby Cthulhu!

[Aaaaand Krieg extends a hand to nudge one meaty finger at the 'stache-twirling cephalopod. Does it bite? Probably not. Most pokemon tamed by trainers have pretty good manners...several Electrodes who will remain unnamed excepted, of course.

He has to check, though. Because if it did bite? That would be hilarious.]

What's it do?

[Please tell Krieg about all of Coran's sick powers, Shiro.]

Cthulhu?

[What even is that, Krieg. But no, it doesn't bite. It does, however, perk up, and wiggle over to grip onto Krieg's finger with some of its sticky feet. Hello sir! He is pleased to shake your giant hand!]

[And shake it the little guy does. Vigorously.]

He's a baby, now. But he's a water and a rock type. We're going to surprise a lot of electric types back there.

[Good job Coran, you're on Voltorb Patrol.]

It's the herald of the beginning of the end!

[Omg, its little tentacle feet are sticky! Krieg immediately introduces more fingers to Coran, wiggling them - gently! - amongst the tentacles.

...Congrats, Shiro, you've completely distracted him from his Sad.]

Mnuhuhuhu...Can't shock a rock, right?

[Pokemon types are way more complicated than elemental gun damage, BUT, Krieg's been here for a while now, he's learned a few things.]

Cheerful.

[That's baffling, Krieg. How do you sound so excited about that? But Coran doesn't care. He's too busy examining each and every one of Krieg's fingers. Burbling at him.]

[You are very large, sir!!]

Hey -- that's a great way to remember it. Can't shock rock. I like that one.

[HE'S SO PROUD OF YOU KRIEG.]

Pfnmuhuhuhuhu...He's gonna give some murder balls a surprise!

[Krieg freaking adores the Voltorb squad, both despite and because of their assholery. It'll be fun to watch them get a shock, for once.]

That's the plan. Surprise all the Voltorbs who don't fall in line.

[Most of the Voltorbs listen to Blitz and his orders to leave the baby pokemon alone. But there's always some who don't.]

10th Match // [video] Sevii Islands

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