victory_road | video;

[It's the Indigo Plateau. Still cold, still looking as chilly and mountainous as ever. With a notable exception - namely, a bedraggled-looking Shiro and his equally bedraggled team of pokemon. They're all crowding around him, trying to get a look at the camera.]

[Shiro is... grinning? Widely. He looks happier than he's looked in a long time, with one arm slung around his Aggron's broad neck, the other holding the camera out as far as possible.]

- Okay, okay! Come on. It's recording, guys, get in here.

[Umbreon hops up onto his shoulder, fur a little singed, sticking up in weird places. Marowak peers up from the bottom of the screen - helmet dinged and nicked in places. Gallade wiggles in, Gengar waving delightedly - lifting its hand up over the top of Gallade's head. Which... means Incineroar just flat out picks up Gallade to get in on this too, all of them squishing in with their Trainer like it's a big class photo.]

Hi everyone. Long time no chat. We've been busy up here... had a bad run first off, but the team pulled it together. They pulled it together really well.

[With a chorus of Pokemon agreement.]

And that means?

You're looking at the 13th Champions of the League.

[More loud, boistrous Pokemon cheering. Incineroar ends up dropping Gallade to scoop Shiro up instead. There's not much else he can do - and ends up fumbling the 'gear. It lands face-up, thankfully, for more shots of celebrating Pokemon.]

[Celebrating pokemon and Shiro's bemused, final statement - ]

... guys, we need to go back and apologize to Bruno again. Calm - calm down a minute! You didn't let me say it on the recording - !

[/END FEED.]

[Except for a final text.]

Formal apology goes to Bruno. Again. I swear I can count to four.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah. Once she starts, she doesn't stop. That's probably good - that she gets it out, I mean.

I'll let her know I'm on my way back, personally, then. But I think... I think that's all we can do. Just keep reassuring her. Keep reminding her.

Yeah... Yeah. I just thought I should let you know. She likes you a lot, and you've both been here a long time. You're better proof than I am that her theory isn't correct.

No, I appreciate it. I needed to know.

[Since he's uh. Attempting to Dad the poor kid.]

I wouldn't say that much, though. Jean, you came back.

I'm not the same. You know that. I came back a stranger to her. And then I spent a whole year hiding out in the woods, thinking she wouldn't want me around...

I've been an idiot. I've contributed to this.

But you still came back.

Jean, did you know this was happening when you were in the woods? Did you have any idea this was an issue for her?

She's one of mine. I should have at least tried to talk to her.

Did you think you were doing the right thing by giving her space?

It's a serious question.

I think I was avoiding how awkward it might've turned out.

Okay. I can understand that. I can see why that'd... that would weigh on you.

But I stand by what I said, too. That you had no way of knowing how it would contribute to her anxiety.

I know, I know. I just... She's one of the only people I've got. Back home, you know. It's more than tough out there. All we've got is each other.

I have to do better by her.

I... think she'd appreciate it. She might not know what to do with it, at first, but I genuinely think that would help.

Just being around her more. Letting her know you're still here.

I hope it is...

[Jean sighs. He sounds burnt out. Not in a "I'm tired of this," way, but in a "this makes me feel too many ~emotions~ at once and I don't know how to cope with that," way.]

It will be, okay?

Just take it slow. One day at a time.

video;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;

Private;