video;

[shiro2hero]

[So Shiro said he was heading up to Victory Road and the Elite 4 Challenge. That was ... just after December 25th. There has been very little contact since then. What happened? Did he die?]

[Well. Judging from the recording now? He looks like he wishes that’s what happened. He is very clearly in a Pokémon center. In bed, miraculously, wrapped up like a burrito with his Umbreon firmly draped over his shoulders like a scarf.]

Hey guys.

[He sounds like he has cotton shoved up his nose. And gargled gravel. This is the worst cold in the history of colds, clearly.]

Little detour happened. I’m... still up on Victory Road. I’m fi — [Umbreon growls. Shiro looks resigned.] I’m not hurt. Just. Underestimated the weather.

We’re safe. At the Pokémon center here. So uh.


Probably won’t be back until sometime next month. At this rate. Sorry — didn’t mean to worry anyone.

[But hey, this way he won’t be around for love day, right? Isn’t that the whole reason he ran off to fight the E4? Yep. But we’re not saying this out loud.]

So.

What’d I miss?

Comments

[video]

[pidge_out]

[Enjoy Pidge's concerned face. Which is strangely similar to her annoyed face. But it's definitely her concerned face.]

Where's Kuro? And Haunter? Have they been making sure you rest?

[video]

[shiro2hero]

Hey Pidge.

[Wow, Shiro, you sound like hot garbage.]

We're in the Pokemon Center. Kuro's too big to be in the room. Haunter's... around.

[pidge_out]

[This is the part where Pidge folds her arms and looks even more annoyed. If Shiro had ever seen her mother angry before, then the sight might be familiar; right now she's the spitting image of Colleen Holt.] They should be there with you. [Since the rest of us aren't goes unsaid.] You have Umbreon at least, but still.

[shiro2hero]

It's fine. Nebula's here. Haunter doesn't go far.

[The Umbreon trills - like she's trying to reassure Pidge she's got this handled.]

[pidge_out]

[Okay she softens a bit, just enough. She's still not happy about Shiro being bedridden sick so far away from home. Pidge knows all of Shiro's Pokémon are well-versed in Taking Care of Dad, but... still.] ..Are you sure you don't wanna come home for a bit? At least until you're feeling better.

» video

[spacebaloney]

Don't hey me. WHERE IS YOUR COAT? ARE YOU EVEN WEARING A HAT?!

[While Pidge is looking like Colleen, Lance is sounding very much like Mami McClain.]

And you missed calling us! Not even a letter via Pidgey!

[He was worried, okay?]

[shiro2hero]

[Okay, if he weren't lying down before - he would be now. Just reach out and shake him next time, okay?]

I'm... indoors?

[Why would he wear a hat indoors.]

Couldn't talk for a couple days. It's - I'm fine now.

[spacebaloney]

Don't get smart with me, Shiro!

[How dare! HOW DARE HE MAKE THEM ALL WORRY?]

Talking has nothing to do with writing. You don't need your mouth to send a text. Oh, and you're not fine. [Nobody buys that line anymore, Shiro.] You sound like you've been chewing rocks and then gargling with lava. That's not fine, that's the flu.

[Probably. Or the beginnings of pneumonia.]

[shiro2hero]

You can thank Pidge for that, partly...

[Pidge who made him summon a bucket.]

I'm in the Pokemon Center on Victory Road. It's fine. I'm sleeping, drinking water... all of that.

It's not that bad.

[spacebaloney]

Thank her for what?

[Just because they're in the same house doesn't mean they can hear each other over Lance's respective freaking out.]

Shiro, the Pokemon Center is pretty much a hospital. It is that bad? I'm yelling at you because Keith isn't here to do it and I know he'd be just as worried about you.

[LET. THEM. WORRY. ABOUT. YOU.]

Video;

[schachmeister]

Please tell me you didn't end up with pneumonia.

[There is time for the 'I told you so's and the stern looks later. First Armin needs to make sure Shiro is okay. Or, at least, as okay as he can be under the current circumstances.]

[shiro2hero]

They didn't say pneumonia...

[Umbreon rolls her eyes. No, it's not. But not for lack of trying, apparently.]

[schachmeister]

Please do not make light of this.

[Armin is not in a joking mood here.]

[shiro2hero]

Sorry. Coping mechanism.

[Deep bre-- nope, we're coughing.]

Bad cold, Armin. Official word from the Joys and everything.

[schachmeister]

[Heavy sigh, a mix of relief and annoyance.]

I guess this is the part where I say I told you so.

[questioneverything]

Shiro! What happened to you?

[shiro2hero]

Hey, Romelle.

[He gives a little wave, even.]

It's a cold - an illness, from exposure to bad weather.

[questioneverything]

Earthlings get sick from cold weather? [Well, that was concerning. Considering their current predicament, Romelle figured she was going to have to start looking into appropriate clothing if she was going to head off to the colder routes now.] I hope it's not serious.

[shiro2hero]

Sometimes. If they're exposed long enough.

[Shiro you're not helping.]

No, it's not. It's a really bad cold, but - I'm in the pokemon center. It'll be all right.

[questioneverything]

How long were you exposed? Did you not have proper cold weather gear? I gave you a hat, scarf, and mittens for Christmas. Was that not enough? Should I have gotten you a coat? Do you have a coat?

[Nope... his comments were most definitely not helping.]

[angewiesen]

And that's why I'm not setting off until Spring.

[Hi Shiro, here's one guy that isn't going to smother you in concern!]

[shiro2hero]

[Well that's deserved.]

That's... probably the smart move.

[angewiesen]

Isn't Victory Road closed off from people who don't have all 16 badges? How did you even get to the hospital?

[If someone had to come rescue him, it would have to be someone else in the League. Or were there Rangers there doing the rounds?]

[shiro2hero]

There's a pokemon center up here. I'm... hanging out there for a while.

Kuro and Red did the hard work.

[His pokemon, in other words.]

[angewiesen]

I'm glad they've got an eye out for you. That could've been a disaster. If you needed a person's help, there's only a select few that could have even attempted to find you.