First… Glow? [Video]

[heartofalioness]

[So… you know Route 31, right? Nice quiet forest path, cute little pond, entrance to Dark Cave… way too many ledges?

A couple of days after the Snorunt leave their blessings (or “blessings,” in some cases…), the PokéGear feed will open up to… a yelp! A young, very feminine, oh-so dignified yelp, and a camera showing lots of rolling dirt, grass, trees, a rock or two, flashes of the winter noon sky, and occasionally a ball of pink coat and LONG moon white curls! (Hopefully no one in the audience has a fear of heights or vertigo.)

Thankfully, the fall only lasts a few seconds, and the audio of a groan after a few seconds lets everyone know both the PokéGear and its owner still function. Well, at least the camera does. The bad news… well, when Allura attempts to inspect device, everyone gets a good look at her mud-splattered face, AND at least three small branches jammed into her hair!]

Oh no, please don’t be broken!

Comments

[shiro2hero]

Was that a production or a wipe-out?

[He does kind of recall it. More the aftermath, and the sudden addition of the otter to the house's menagerie.]

How's he settling in?

[heartofalioness]

A little of both.

[Moooostly the latter, but An Attempt Was Made.]

And quite well. [He should be, considering he was the first of her team to evolve.] Not to brag about strategy, but I think he'll make a good opponent against Falkner's Pidgeot.

[shiro2hero]

Against Falkner, huh?

I'd say usually the types to use against Flying tend to be Electric. Rock and Steel work well too.

[heartofalioness]

Steel?

[She knew about Electric and Rock already- and Ice, which makes Coressa excited, and Morling also knows Ice Fang- but another quick look at the Pokédex...]

Oh, you're correct. I didn't expect Steel to resist Flying attacks.

[Granted, Flying isn't weak to Steel in kind, and she currently doesn't have any Steel type Pokémon or moves, but definitely good to keep in mind in the future.]

[shiro2hero]

Yeah, we found that out on our first run. Kuro and I did.

[Speak of the devil, the big Aggron's head swings into view, chin resting on his trainer's shoulder. Absently, Shiro reaches up to dig metal fingers into the pokemon's hide. Scritches!!]

We got lucky. His resistance came in handy back then.

[heartofalioness]

[Awww~]

You two are well-matched. Hopefully Coressa will do just as well against Noctowl. [Ice fox against psychic owl that SHOULD be Psychic/Flying but for some reason isn't.] I'm hoping to get used to switching between Pokémon for each round as opposed to relying on just one for the whole match.

[The Swablu on her head peeps up.]

Yes yes, of course you can help too, Kirlos, when you're a little stronger.

[shiro2hero]

Yeah... he and I - he was about the only dependable thing I had when I showed up here -

[shiro2hero]

[ RECORD SCREECH ]

[shiro2hero]

I - think that's a great strategy! Go for that!

[Why yes, this is a much better topic for discussion than that sudden blast of Too Much Truth.]

[heartofalioness]

[... Yeah no, she ain't buying it.]

Is... everything all right, Shiro?

[shiro2hero]

It's FINE -

[Did his voice just go up two or three octaves? Yep. It sure did. That's probably the least convincing statement he's ever made in his LIFE.]

[heartofalioness]

Shiroooooo...

[shiro2hero]

... Yes?

[Kill him.]

[heartofalioness]

You know you can talk to me about anything, right?

[Which would be very sweet and sincere... if there wasn't an undercurrent--okay, just a regular current of "non-Monty Python Inquisitor" in her voice.]

[shiro2hero]

Yes.

[Oh lord. His voice probably isn't meant to be at that pitch.]

[heartofalioness]

Including the part you interrupted yourself from saying...?

[shiro2hero]

I... don't. Want to.

[Well. At least that's honest?]

[heartofalioness]

[Oh. Ouch, that... Allura's face falls before she tries to recover.]

I... suppose that's fair. My apologies, I shouldn't be prying.

[shiro2hero]

[SCREAMING INTERNALLY]

[shiro2hero]

It's fffffiiine...

[Wow, he had to. Contort the hell out of his mouth for that one.]

ok done sorry

[shiro2hero]

[Kill him.]

It -

It's done with. It's over. I - don't. Want. To worry you. Over something. Not important anymore.

[heartofalioness]

Shiro...

[A soft sigh.]

You know me. I want to worry about you all. I know I haven't always been the best at giving emotional support, but... you are my family, and I want to help you, even if it's just listening.

[shiro2hero]

I know.

[Just, going to take a moment here to lean his head against his Aggron's. Breathe. Focus.]

It's so far in the past. It's not even worth... worrying about.

[heartofalioness]

You do realize whom you're talking to, yes?

[Said with a gently wry air, but really, most of her worries are ten thousand years old.]

Honestly, though. Whenever you do wish to talk to me, I'll be happy to listen. You've done as much and more for me.

[shiro2hero]

I know - I know.

I don't - want - to - put more - on your shoulders.

[Sweet Arceus he did not want to put that out there.]