video;

[shiro2hero]

Must just be the time of year for introspection... because now it's my turn.

[He trails off, thoughtfully, while he tosses a little stuffed Rattata toy for his Meowth. The kitten keeps jumping for it, batting it back over across the porch.]

I'm sure someone's asked this already, but out of curiosity -- Has anyone had to deal with a pokemon they're not sure they can train? Not because it's too strong, too wild... it's not the pokemon's fault.

[It's mine, in other words.]

I'd hate to give the little guy up. The whole team likes him... so I guess I'm looking for tips on not reacting when I work with him.

[There's a beat, and Shiro's expression darkens.]

No, for the record, it isn't the Furret.

Comments

[voice]

[no_ufo_ending]

I have--a Hoot Hoot. I could never tell what he wanted from me as a trainer other than to get with my friend's Noctowl. I'd still have marks on my knuckles if I hadn't gone home...

[voice]

[shiro2hero]

Hey, Henry.

[It's been a while -- but yeah. Be rude not to say hello.]

It would attack you?

[voice]

[no_ufo_ending]

He would. I even tried to release him once...it didn't work out.

_{[He remembers those Jigglypuff...their horrible eyes.]}

video;

[notvaljean]

Luna looks really good.

[Hi, Shiro, how's it going?]

Which one is it?

video;

[shiro2hero]

Luna's a ham.

[CHIRP CHIRP goes the cat. Batting up at the camera.]

The bat. [There's a slight smirk, though.] Lance named him "Rick Batsley".

video;

[notvaljean]

[What's this? Is there another Meowth around? Sly hops onto Jean's lap to peer into the camera, and when he sees it's Luna, he gives her one extremely disgruntled Stink Eye. Oh. It's you. He'd been hoping for Sushi.]

Sounds like a name Armin would give one of his.

[Sorry, the pun went completely over Jean's head.]

The Noibat?

[Aaaaah... comprehension starts to dawn in Jean's eyes.]

Video

[icecastlemadonna]

Well, New Year's is a pretty good time for thinking about that stuff.

Though...would it be rude to ask about the Furret?

video

[shiro2hero]

Maybe that's why Lust is too...

Ah -- no. I forgot you weren't around for that. It's -- it likes to wrap my head up. Tightly.

video

[icecastlemadonna]

Wrap your head up? [How would it do that...wait.]

I guess a Furret would be long enough to be able to do that...maybe that's just how it shows affection?

[forsaintcecilia]

What do you mean when you say you can't train them?

[shiro2hero]

I mean... it's hard for me to handle them.

For reasons that aren't their fault. They remind me of something back in my universe.

[tookashirototheknee]

Who's that?

I could see if he'd want to train with mine. Not that mine train much....

[shiro2hero]

Which one? The Furret or the problem one?

... He'd probably like that. He's friendly enough.

Video

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Well there goes my first guess.

What sort of reactions are you looking to avoid when you work with him?

Video

[shiro2hero]

Furret's Keith's problem now.

[He says with affection -- for his friend, not the pokemon.]

Mine. In particular? It's... hard to look at him.

action;

[truthfinding]

[ Romelle saw the video, but she actually seeks him out instead. Why send a video message if she can just step outside onto the porch and talk?

She steps outside not long after the transmission ends. ]

Shiro? I, um, saw your video.

action;

[shiro2hero]

Hey, Romelle.

[She gets a smile as she steps out. Luna chirps, trotting over to drop the cat toy at her feet, tail waving expectantly in the air.]

... Yeah. It's -- it's a thing that's happening. That's for sure.

[The problem Noibat, he means.]

[Text]

[agent3]

[Attached is a picture of a Salazzle curled up in front of a fireplace, one eye half open in casual and sleepy distaste.]

yeah
yuto
she was smaller and we were okay fightin together but then she evolved
n then she got mean
always wanted to fight no resting or anythin
so i put her in the box
kept her there
but that wasnt nice
learned it wasnt nice so when i was goin back to where i caught her i took her out
met up with her family n friends again
now its kinda
we r ok
she wont train with me tho
its like
she looks at me like
mmmm
kinda like garbage

not easy talkin to her either
but
m tryin
thing is ygotta try always

but ok so whats the problem exactly just reactin?
react to what

[Text]

[shiro2hero]

Sorry to hear that. It doesn't sound like she really makes it easy on you, even now. Has anyone else been able to help?

Yeah -- don't worry. I don't think I'm capable of giving up. On anything.

The one I have
He looks a lot like things that don't have pleasant memories back where I come from.

[neverstudied]

I mean, I've only been here for like... [Venkman trails off, counting back in his head.] Two weeks, maybe? And so far two of the four Pokemon I've got seem to want to kill me. Three, maybe, if you count the two-headed ostrich as two Pokemon? Not sure how that works.

So I get it.

[He doesn't get it.]

[shiro2hero]

Why... do they want to kill you?

[Bruh what the heck, what did you do.]

» video

[spacebaloney]

[LIVE, FROM HIS HIDEOUT IN OLIVINE, IT'S LANCE MCCLAIN. And if it's not the Furret, then Lance knows which Pokemon Shiro is talking about.]

I'd offer to take Rick off your hands, but my track record on training is... [He tilts a hand side to side, indicating the uncertainty.]

But I'm guess that isn't gonna help with the underlying issue, is it?

» video

[shiro2hero]

Hey, Lance.

[Yeah, bud he's glad to see your face, regardless of the subject matter okay.]

You're right. It probably won't. And you know me. I can't give up on something once I've started.

video

[islandshore]

I've had plenty.

[Riku narrows his eyes- nearly grimaces. His experiences are far from happy in that regard, really.]

Well, I hope it's something small or low level. In my experience, it's better to nip it in the but as quick as possible. Unlike me.

[Heh. Nope, he just made mountains outta molehills, didn't he?]

I was a stupid teen who couldn't get my team under control 'til they hit the high levels, which led to a Garchomp that lashes out when he loses, a Dragonite who bullies to get what he wants, and an Aerodactyl that...

[He winces.]

Well. Let's just say she used to try to maul even me.

[He's had time to get them to a state of... begrudging tolerance, but. Well. It's not ideal.]

Best advice I can offer- try to get it sorted out before they end up giant, powerful death machines. I've said this to other people, but sometimes it can help to have another Pokemon to mediate, like a Psychic type to tell you what the actual problem is.

video

[shiro2hero]

It's not... Hm. [He rubs at his jaw. Come to think of it, he sort of made it sound like the pokemon was the issue, not him.] The pokemon isn't having a problem.

It's a Noibat, still small, pretty content to do what the older ones on my team want to do.

Problem is me. It looks a lot like something from my universe -- that wasn't friendly. To say the least.