victory_road | [video]

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[video]

[Unfortunately for the current residents of Johto, they might be unfortunate enough to find what might be one of the worst video feeds ever on the network. It seems to cut in and out at first, and even after it manages to stay on for longer than ten seconds, the video is really just... the world spinning endlessly. Ground, leaves, sky, ground, leaves, sky -- Occasionally a tree is visible for half a second and the direction of movement seems to change, but other than that, it's an endless loop of ground-leaves-sky.

It might eventually be obvious that the camera appears to be attached to something that is rolling quickly down a hill. It probably helps that the entire feed is accompanied by the sound of what's clearly a Pokémon "hooting" over and over - rather excitedly, at that - and a voice somewhere in the distance. Pay close enough attention and the words being yelled out are things along the lines of--]

Wait!! Come back!! Just-- Spread your wings and stop rolling already!!

[Does that sound like a new trainer in need of help? That's probably because that's more less exactly what it is.]

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[Getting lifted off the ground is definitely unexpected, but... Well, the fact that she doesn't really mind it just reminds her that Shiro is as much family as Matt is. She's grinning a little, even though Rover makes a noise of protest at having to dismount from his perch.

And you know what. She's going to hug him back. There's a lot on her mind at the moment, and giving Shiro a tight squeeze is the very least she can do for him.]

Oh man, I really am glad you and everyone else is here. [And with normal hair and everything!]

[Just... going to stand here with her. And hug her. Eventually kneeling down so her feet aren't off the ground. But... it's been too long. He's really, really missed her.]

[Give him a second or two. Maybe thirty more seconds. Because she's really here. They're all back together... almost.]

Me too, Pidge. You have... no idea how much.

[Okay, after enough time has passed she definitely starts to feel just the tiniest bit funny about being off the ground for so long. Fortunately it isn't much longer until he's letting her feet touch the floor again. Pidge has to let out just the tiniest breath of relief, which quickly devolves into a chuckle the longer their hug goes on.

Eventually she starts to pull back, just enough so that she can look up into his face and get a real look at him. The camera really wasn't messing with her. That's a tan on his skin and rest in his eyes and just- He looks so happy and healthy.]

So... It's really been two years for you, huh?

Two years... almost to the day.

[And she looks just like when he saw her last. Like nothing had changed at all. But that makes sense. Time really does stop back home, doesn't it? He looks relieved. At ease.]

[It'd be a nice picture, if it weren't for the awful Alolan Shirt he's wearing. And the "COMET ME BRO" tank under it. The ultimate in Beach Dad wear, at least in the islands.]

Everyone's back at the house. Almost -- Hunk went on a trip, but he should be heading back soon.

[The house. Hearing that makes something in her chest swell, and the smile on her face can't help but grow.

At least until another thought wiggles into her mind, and her eyebrows twitch closer together for a second.]

How long has everyone else been here?

[He sits back on his heels. Watching her reaction. The smile is a welcome sight. And the way her face scrunches up --]

[-- Seriously. It's funny how when you're used to seeing someone everyday, you miss them all the more when you're separated. Pidge had been like family for a long time already. The relief at seeing her just solidifies that.]

It's ... July, I think. So Matt and Hunk have been here about six months? Keith just a couple, and Lance just got here.

July. [She echoes the word back in awe, her gaze shifting to somewhere in the distance. July. Months.] ...I honestly can't remember the last time I heard that word.

Sounds like we all just started piling in one right after the other, huh?

I know. It took me forever to get used to, too.

[So many weeks and months. He had to get used to reading the date on the 'gear, too.]

Yeah. You guys sure did. But I'm not even remotely complaining. [A nod back toward where Skarmory is idly pecking at the grass.] She needs a little rest, but, whenever she's ready, we'll get you back.

[Pidge grins.] Days, hours, and minutes, too. I was just getting used to quintants and doboshes.

[She follows the direction of Shiro's nod, idly looking over at the great big metal bird. Rover does the same, except he seems much more indignant about it.] I guess we could use the time to catch up?

[And Rover will flutter down to the ground from where he'd been perched, and start marching over to Skarmory. His chest's all puffed out and everything as he comes over, clearly ready to start some shit.]

Better get used to it, quick. Otherwise no one's going to understand you.

[He's mostly teasing. Pidge is nothing, if not adaptable. She always has been.]

Sure -- now seems like as good a time as any if you want to ask questions or meet some of the crew.

[Because of course he grabbed his pokemon. They wouldn't have stayed behind, even if he didn't.]

[Speaking of which, Skarmory pointedly shuffles around, away from Rover. Continuing to peck at the ground like she hasn't even noticed the little owl orb.]

[She shrugs, still with an easy, nonplussed smile.] You guys would.

[They're kind of the only people that really matter to her, after all. But she knows that falling back to the Earth system will be easy.

She starts to go back to her spot under the tree, letting Shiro follow if he wants to and leaving Rover to his own devices.] So what's it been like around here? It seems like you've been really happy.

[Meanwhile, Rover's moving right into Skarmory's line of sight, trilling at her and puffing up his feathers. FIGHT ME.]

Most of us. [Since Keith would probably look at her like she'd grown a second head. Which isn't really anyone's fault, all things considered.]

[He falls into step behind her, trusting Skarmory to stick around, and behave herself.]

It's quiet. Really quiet. There's been a crisis here and there, but most of the time, it's ... it's like having a second chance at normal. [Which is something he never thought they'd have. Any of them. He shoots her a wry smile.] I've got a couple on my crew who make it their mission to put me to bed and keep me there. So that probably explains why I look all right.

[That and the tan.]

[Skarmory just. Turns again. Absolutely ignoring the owl orb.]

[She shrugs one shoulder.] Meh. I'd make him learn.

[It's a joke, really. It'd be too much work to make him learn.

Pidge sits down cross-legged in the grass while she listens, head tilted ever so slightly as the information is carefully absorbed and mentally filed away.] So... No space war to worry about? We could actually sleep in on weekends and just play video games like other earthlings? [She snorts, giving an amused, playful smirk.] Sounds fake.

[Okay Skarmory that is just rude. Rover's gonna flutter back into view again and hoot louder. DON'T IGNORE ME.]

Oh really now?

[He's mostly kidding. He gets the idea it's just a joke.]

No space war. [He sinks down next to her, sitting cross-legged too. Some old habits never die.] You can do anything you want to. Sleep, research... heck, Matt's even working in an observatory. Lance has a job in a coffee shop.

[Despite the more "mundane" job titles, he still sounds as proud of them as ever.] It's amazing, what we can do here.

[Skarmory... keeps turning around.]

Yep. [But no, not really.]

[Mundane actually sounds amazing to her right now. She can't help but smile a little, imagining what her friends must be like when they aren't scrambling around the castle to get into their giant robot lions.]

An observatory sounds like fun. And a barista job totally sounds like Lance. [She then turns a curious look on Shiro.] What about you?

[So rude, Skarmory. Rover's just gonna have to fly up and land on your damn head. :|]

I'll warn him. Ahead of time.

[A shake of his head, the slightest laugh. It took a lot of adjusting to, originally. But now... now it's actually... it's like a dream come true, sometimes.]

It is -- he's probably the smartest person they have over there. One day, he's going to discover something no one else has. [There is literally no way to keep the fondness out of his voice. The affection.] Me? I train my crew. Make sure the house stays standing.

[He's a fucking stay at home dad.]

[No, you're rude, Rover! Skarmory rears her head back. And snaps at him instead.]

[That makes Pidge snicker a little. Pre-Voltron Keith will be fun to talk to.]

[And don't think Pidge doesn't hear that tone in Shiro's voice when talking about her brother. She's not sure if he's always sounded like that when it came to Matt, but... She can't quite tell what it means. For now, she'll just direct her energies into teasing him.]

Holy crow. You're like an old-fashioned stay at home dad or something. [Which is equal parts amazing and hilarious.]

[ROVER IS ON A MISSION HERE. He moves out of the way of that snappy beak with an indignant hoot, backs up a bit, and... Leafage.]

[Fun is one word for it, Pidge.]

[He doesn't even realize he's done it. Like how he slipped up with Lance, earlier. Saying "we" in place of "I". Thankfully, both of them are distracted by her whole line of teasing there.]

What--? No. I'm not. Someone has to do it! [Ouch, Pidge, calling it like it is.]

[Rover... Rover. Skarmory is literally a max level pokemon. Your Leafage just bounces off her. Her Peck on the other hand...]

[It's a good word for it.]

[Shiro is lucky. Pidge is just the tiniest bit preoccupied with teasing him and gleeing over the way he reacts.] There's nothing wrong with that, Shiro. You've definitely always been good at watching over the team, soooo... [SHRUG.]

[Well shit. Leafage did jack, and now Rover's gotten the smackdown laid on him with a single peck. It sends him flying back toward where Pidge and Shiro are, bouncing once and then rolling toward the grass... And then he somehow manages to get back on his feet, feathers ruffled and hooting angrily in Skarmory's direction. DICK MOVE. CHEATING. RUDE RUDE RUDE.]

I'm not anyone's dad... there's no way. [Except Jean literally called him "dad". He makes a face -- Pidge is totally winning this one.] Anyone's actual father.

That's just not... possible.

[Not even remotely. For so, so many reasons.]

[Skarmory regards him silently. And then? Resumes pecking the grass. There's some tasty bit of grass seed right here and she is into it. Forget you, tiny orb.]

[She just can't help herself. Shiro is almost never one of her trolling targets, but he's just made it so easy for her right now. Even better, she can tell that she's winning.]

You know that two years is plenty of time to create a baby, right? Technically it's not at all impossible.

[Technically. Reasonably is a whole other thing.]

[Meanwhile, Rover is having a difficult time admitting defeat. Skarmory kicked his ass with one move and he definitely doesn't have the energy to fly back over and start shit up again. So he's just going to... fluff up at her indignantly from over here.]

[He just. Sighs. There are so... so many reasons why that is impossible. And none of them are ones he'd like to discuss right now.]

Okay, moving on. You're going to want to put your friend in his ball for the flight over.

[He'll just nod to where Rover and Skarmory are. Or, rather, where Rover is fluffy indignation, and Skarmory is doing a weird... bark sound of displeasure. Looking toward her trainer for assistance.]

[Please put this brat away before she eats him.]

[She follows that line of his nod with her eyes, blinking.] You mean Rover?

[And then she looks back over at Shiro with a slightly sheepish grin.] Okay, here's the thing. I'm still not entirely sure how to do that part.

[Rover puffs up some more. Come at me bros.]

Ye-- you named it Rover?

[He sounds amused, though. Shaking his head at them both.]

It's okay. Grab a ball and I'll show you?

[To which Skarmory trills something. Haha, serves you right, orb boy.]

[Pidge's cheeks color slightly in embarrassment.] Well- Yeah. He kind of reminds me of him.

[But then she does as Shiro says, pulling out one of the balls and holding it up in the space between them.

Rover finds a way to scowl in Skarmory's direction. She is one rude old lady, and clearly that's the best way to deal with rude old ladies.]

Okay, now what?

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