[video]

[hellablue]

[You know when you open your camera and it's front facing and you get a glimpse of yourself and you're super ugly and double chin-ing all up ins? That's how this video starts off. Chloe mumbles 'yikes' under her breath and flips it arounds aaaand-

There he is, there's the boy.

Munchies is sitting against a tree, shades on, a feast of various snacks laid out on his belly. On his left is J, the Exeggutor, fanning him with one of her leaves. On his right is Spook, her Duskull, a leaf fan in one hand and a glass of juice in the other and he's fanning Munchies as well.]

Look at this brat. Look at this lazy, spoiled, level 100 piece of shit.

[She doesn't sound condescending or mean-spirited at all- in fact, she sounds super proud.

Spook takes the soda, complete with a lil umbrella, and reaches forward to press the straw up to Munchies lips. Nothing... nothing happens. Spook seems particularly determined and all but shoves the straw in Munchies' mouth- and only then does Munchies let out a snore. Spook seems unphased and J seems to realize she can stop fanning and lumbers off to go be a tree somewhere else.]

That's right! I told him if he reached level 100, I'd treat him like a king for a day, so. Boom. It took me a hella long time but we did it! I'm so stoked!

[And she flips it back to the front facing camera, now with better angles and less chin.]

So now I'm feelin' curious and sentimental, what about you guys? Who was your first level 100 and what was that like? I bet there are some wild stories floating around out there.

[Suddenly there's a crash behind her and she turns to see that Munchies, in his sleep, rolled over and all the snacks on his belly are all over the ground. She doesn't know where he came from (wasn't he in the PC??) but Crunchies, her Sableye, appears in the middle of the pile and begins crunching loudly on a bag of chips.]

Crunchies what the fuck, I thought I put you away-?

[The video cuts off with that confused and vaguely alarmed question.]

Comments

video;

[shiro2hero]

He... sure seems like he appreciates your effort.

[You're hilarious, Shiro. Really.]

Seriously, though. Congratulations. That's always a good feeling.

[hellablue]

[Chloe laughs, a light roll of her eyes following it.]

Hey, the secret is I actually took him to an all-you-can-eat buffet before this. This set-up is just for internet funny points.

[give her that upvote she deserves]

But yeah, thanks! He definitely worked his ass off, I'll say that.

[shiro2hero]

Consider the internet points earned, in that case.

[It does look pretty funny, she's right about that.]

It's always nice to see their hard work pay off. Theirs and yours.

[hellablue]

[Fingerguns. She lovs those internet points.]

Yeah, it's super satisfying. Especially because, y'know, I never... actually expected him to ever evolve from Munchlax. [That's just the truth.] I mean considering it was based on affection and shit, uh... let's just say we didn't get off to a great start. So it's pretty fucking cool that we made it to this point at all!

[shiro2hero]

Affection? I didn't know that was part of the deal...

[For all of his, so far, it's just been levels.] But hey, at least you know now, you were doing something right all along.

[hellablue]

Yeah, I guess there are some Pokemon out there that only evolve if you become their friend? It's pretty weird.

[Ew compliments]

Mm... yeah, I guess. [She isn't good at compliments]

[shiro2hero]

That's good to know. Thanks -- I might have gotten worried if I ran into one without knowing.

[Yep. Compliments and sincerity.]

Something wrong?

[hellablue]

Huh? [It takes her a moment to realize what he's referring to- most people just. Ignore it when she gets like that.] Oh- you. Said nice shit. It gives me the heebie jeebies.

[shiro2hero]

Compliments...?

Was I not supposed to be happy for you?

[hellablue]

No, no- I mean. Ugh, this is stupid. You know how some people aren't touchy-feely? I'm that way, but with words.

And touching.

[shiro2hero]

Should I maybe punch you in the shoulder and... pretend I didn't say anything?

[HE'S TRYING, CHLOE.]

[hellablue]

Oh my god, finally you're talking some sense.

[Listen, she. Appreciates it. It isn't often people try and adapt to her like this, except like. Anna, but Anna doesn't count. And Anna is exempt from a lot of her weirdness anyway, so. Yeah.]

But hey, uh- thanks. For being cool 'bout it.

[shiro2hero]

I don't do it very often, but I try.

[He just nods. Look, he's sort of used to socially... different... people by now. He'd be a terrible friend if he didn't try.]

No problem. I can't promise I'll always dial it back, but -- like I said. I try.

[hellablue]

Maybe next time I'll... try and take it. I've learned this shit goes down both streets, or... however that saying goes?

[Chloe that's-

No you know what that's on brand.]

[shiro2hero]

Hey, it's all right. Don't worry about it -- there's no harm done.

[He's fine. It's fine. They're all fine here.]

video

[thumbsdown]

[Woah, level 100? That's a really high level, especially for Boone who just got here. He whistles, low and impressed.]

That's a high level. How long did it take for you to train him up that high?

[He glances over at his Skorupi, who is stretched out beside him. His other pokemon are around somewhere, since he likes to let them out of their balls when he can, but Skorupi is his highest level pokemon.]

I only just got here, so my highest is a level 8. Can't imagine how long it'd take to train Pointy up to level 100.

video

[hellablue]

Oh, shit. You've got a long way to go, bud. [Chloe has to think for a moment, it feels like she's been working at this for.. fuck, a while. That's an accurate measurement of time, right?] Let's see though, I got here in. October? ish? And I didn't give that much of a shit about battling for like a month or two, so. Factor that in.

[thumbsdown]

Huh. That's not as long as I figured it'd take. Still, pretty impressive. Is 100 the highest level?

[Boone is still learning about pokemon, so although it may seem like a dumb question he genuinely doesn't know.]

[hellablue]

I think it really depends on how hard you work at it. Towards the end here, we really pushed ourselves. He was kinda stagnant before, cuz I didn't really give much of a shit.. but now I do, so.

[Shrug]

but yeah, 100's the highest! I think at that point it's all about refining strategy and less about levels. Mostly he just sits on things and they go down.

[thumbsdown]

Yeah, I can see how things would faint if he sat on them.

[Boone thinks he'd pass out, too.]

So I guess your strategy after that would be to... make sure you use the right types, yeah? Like water against fire. What type is he?

[hellablue]

He's a normal type. Most normal types I've seen are... weirdly basic? They don't have much of a schtick. You know, like how fire types can. Well. Breathe fire. They kinda just... bullshit their way through battles and somehow it works.

[thumbsdown]

That's one way of doing it, I guess. Are they weak against anything? Or strong?

[Or does normal really just mean they have no strengths or weaknesses?]

[hellablue]

I don't think anything is weak to them, actually, but they do have a weakness. They go down pretty quick to fighting types... which is weird, I don't question the logic anymore, I just roll with it.

[video]

[captainash]

Congratulations to you both. I'm sure he's very happy with the fruits of his hard work.

[Is he referring to the strength that came with it, or to that impressive feast? Yes.]

When my Dark Hound reached level 100, he just decided that he was done training for the day and took a nap right there. Didn't even bother to celebrate. It was a little underwhelming, honestly.

[video]

[hellablue]

Oh boy, sounds like he's get along with Munchies. Actually that's.. pretty much what happened here. He reached 100 and then it was all over and I had to take him to a buffet- this is actually just the aftermath.

[Listen she wanted a funny post it's fine]

How long'd it take you to get him to level 100?

[video]

[captainash]

Considering the average Snorlax's appetite, isn't a meal the most expensive celebration he could have requested? Unless it was an all-you-eat buffet, but I've yet to find one that accepts Gullet.

[That may be because Gullet is a bit of a jerk, though.]

It took... a bit over a year, I guess? Our training regimen's pretty relaxed, so it wasn't quite as quick as it could be.

[video]

[hellablue]

It was all-you-can-eat and, um. I kinda had to argue a little. [She's good at that, it's fine.] I told 'em it was a special occasion and he helped out by crying, so they just made me pay extra. I'd consider it a win.

[Chloe nods at that, knowing full well this could've happened even sooner for them if she'd worked harder in the beginning.]

Sometimes that's just how it is. You gotta find that fire inside of you, or whatever bullshit inspirational speak you wanna use.

[video]

[captainash]

Unless that extra was a 1000% markup, I'd say you got more than your money's worth out of it. Got any tips for people and Pokémon who can't get away with tears?

[Just one meal like that would cut his weekly grocery total by a third, seriously.]

Or you gotta take it easy to preserve your old bones. They're an excellent excuse if you don't feel like telling a dog to set a bird on fire for five hours straight.

[video]

[hellablue]

Yeah but my help ain't free, so how much are you planning on paying me?

[She's not kidding, but she sounds like she is.]

That's the realest description of battling I've ever heard, so thanks for that. I can't wait to spend another four hours setting birds on fire tomorrow, it's my passion.

[islandshore]

Man, it's been so long, I honestly can't remember who hit 100 first. It mighta been Phantom? Or maybe Highwind...

[He runs a hand through his hair, brow creasing as he tries to contemplate.]

But whoever it was, that was back in my power tripping phase. Back when all I cared about was having the toughest team on the block.

[He grimaces a bit in embarrassment. Those were darker days.]

[hellablue]

Well at least you're self aware. [It's said with a laugh. Everyone goes through character development at some point right?] Your naming themes are pretty rad, though. Is Highwind a reference to something, or did you just like the way it sounded?

[islandshore]

Heh, well, Highwind was what I wanted to name this raft my friends and I made. We were gonna use it to sail to other words, but I kinda wound up here before we could really commit to it.

[He heard things got pretty dark afterwards. Literally, even. Of course, he never actually experienced it, having spent so many years here instead.]

[hellablue]

How were you gonna get to other worlds on a raft...? I don't think that's how that works, dude.

[islandshore]

Hey, my friend Kairi washed ashore from another world. Compared to that, I'd say a raft's pretty tame.

[But ultimately, he shrugs.]

Then again, we were stupid teenagers.