006 - Video

[nastyboy]

[The feed opens up not on Dimitri's face, but simply his knee, because sometimes you forget how you should frame your video. But there's certainly his voice.]

So, I have been informed that certain behavior from my Rattata and Raticate is odd. I had not noticed, so I was hoping to seek a secondary opinion.

[The video shifts, revealing that Dimitri is sitting on the edge of an inn bed, and focuses on where Gremlin the Rattata is happily cuddled up in a small nest of pillows. He has another Pokegear in front of him, which his little rat hands are happily slapping away on. It sounds like some sort of video game.]

[Nothing seems out of sorts for a moment, which allows Dimitri to take the time to get a nice close up on where his little Rattata is located. It doesn't seem like whatever he's talking about will happen... But Dimitri knows his Pokemon. He knows how Gremlin gets.]

[And then it happens.]

[Gremlin's eyes start to bulge out of his dang head.]

[And they bulge rhythmically too, a constant twitch and spasm that keeps his tiny Rattata eyes in motion. With how close Dimitri has gotten his Gear's camera, it's possible to hear a soft chewing sound as well, and Gremlin's teeth peek out from between his lips a bit.]

[Despite how absolutely weird it looks, Gremlin... doesn't seem to be much affected himself. His little hands just keep slapping away on the other Pokegear, completely absorbed in his game.]

[Dimitri's voice, soft and careful, breaks through.]

Oh - Sooter is doing it now as well. Please hold on-

[The video becomes a little blurry as Dimitri gets up onto his feet off of the bed. Soon, the camera focuses on a small pile of Raticate. One of the Raticate, who has a normal amount of rat fluff and some tiny bandaids on his little rat hands, is laying down on the floor, and is surrounded by three other Rats.]

[Two are fellow Raticates - one of them the well known Hob with her many blue bows all along her slick coat, and the other being Knocker, whose long tail has some scarring. They are both busy picking through and nibbling the fur along Sooter's shoulders and the back of his neck, taking care of his grooming.]

[The last would be a very tiny Alolan Rattata, perched on top of her larger cousin's head as she sniffs and works through the fur on his head, inbetween his large ears.]

[And Sooter is, indeed, also bulging out his eyes as he lays there for some affection.]

[Dimitri keeps the video focused on the little rat pile for a moment, just letting people.... take this all in.]

Do anyone else's Paliens do this...?

Comments

[nastyboy]

Then.... Hm.

[Dimitri falls silent for a moment, reaching out to pet Jackie's little head now. No boggling this time, but she does close her eyes contentedly.]

Is there a certain length to rat teeth that is too short? I know they all have to chew on things regularly, so that their teeth do not become too large and cumbersome, but I am worried that we may overdo it.

I don't suppose you would know the answer to that question?

[bigsadwolf]

[A certain length...Legosi has to stop and think on that for a moment.]

Well...that I think depends on the rodent. Some need longer teeth, like beavers...while others much less, like most mice I would assume.

[He rubs his cheek with a finger.]

But I think it all comes down to instinct. Your Pokemon should be able to sense when their teeth need grinding, and they wouldn't go so far as to hurt themselves. If that were happening, there might be a deeper problem...anxiety related, maybe.

[nastyboy]

I see... So it all comes down to trusting them to know what's best for themselves. That's good.

[Dimitri lets out a slow breath from behind the camera.]

As someone who works so closely alongside them, their trainer, I want to make sure I'm doing what I can for them, instead of just leaving them on their own... So it's good to know where that boundary is.

[bigsadwolf]

That doesn't surprise me. You've always seemed like a very good trainer, Dimitri.

[He's not sure he's met someone who is AS attentive as he is...and he'd say most people do try to give their Pokemon the best care that they can at all times.]

If your Pokemon are having any issues at all, they will no doubt let you know. I wouldn't worry too much.

[nastyboy]

Ah.... I can only hope so.

[For another living thing to rely on you to any extent... Dimitri only wants to do right by them. It's just one of many things he needs to do in his life, honestly, if he wants to repent properly.]

Still, thank you for the reassurance. You seem quite knowledgeable in all of this yourself.

[bigsadwolf]

Well...I am an animal not unlike these Pokemon. I would hope I knew a little something about how our species' worked.

[Even if he's not, like. A rat.]

I have...er. A special interest...in small breed mammals. So I know a lot about them other carnivores may not.

[nastyboy]

[That is sure a way to put it, Legosi. Dimitri needs a moment to process a lot of the words there. The animal information is - interesting, although at least he's not a tree, but the way of phrasing..]

[Well. Perhaps he is simply an awkward type. It is an air he gives off, and Dimitri if that has anything to do with him being an animal in a human body, or simply his personality.]

[Either way, Dimitri will just smooth over that awkward wording.]

May I inquire what kind of animal?

[bigsadwolf]

[Legosi doesn't...quite seem to notice how bad that sounded. He might later? But for now he's been trying to give Less of a Fuck about his unique...interests. It's his business, after all.

It's true though, Legosi is awkward as fuck. Maybe that's all it is?]

M...most of them, actually. But...rabbits in particular.

[nastyboy]

I see. [Quite an interest for a... carnivore, he called himself, right?] Is there a reason for rabbits? And do they deal with the same issues as rodents?

[Dimitri does not know what he could be unleashing here]

[bigsadwolf]

[Legosi lapses into a brief silence.]

Some do...but not all.

[He's not ashamed of Haru, nor of their relationship. He supposes he might as well tell him so he isn't wondering what on earth he's talking about.]

My girlfriend, back home...she is a dwarf rabbit.

[nastyboy]

[Oh! Then that explains it, and Dimitri smiles.]

I see. It sounds like you care for her a great deal. I am glad that you have found someone so precious to be around.

[In Dimitri's brain, he's absolutely thinking that Legosi got into herbivore knowledge because of how he dated his girlfriend, and not, like, the other way around]

[bigsadwolf]

[Please continue thinking that forever, Dimitri. Remain Pure.]

Haru...she means everything to me. I miss her a lot.

[He exhales, trying his best not to let thinking about her make him sad. She wouldn't want that, if she were here.]

We had only just started dating, but...we had been good friends for some time.

[Though, can he even really say that? He was so wishy-washy with her, gave her so many mixed signals...

It was Complicated, okay.]

[nastyboy]

Of course... I understand a good deal. There are important people who I miss dearly as well.

[More people than he has fingers, really.]

Still, even if she is not here... At least you got to meet her at all. Silver linings, yes?

[bigsadwolf]

Yes...silver linings.

[It's hard, but...he knows Haru wouldn't want to dwell on the fact he can't see her right now.]

S-sorry, I know that was...probably strange to have come up, suddenly.

[nastyboy]

No, no. It is fine. Sometimes, conversations meander and lead to places quite different than where they started.

I once tried to teach a friend how to use a polearm, but we began to discuss religion, for example.

At any rate, thank you for your knowledge, Legosi.

[bigsadwolf]

[Sometimes, man. That's just how it be.]

Of course. You're welcome to contact me any time if you have any more questions.