Great, a real touchy-feely type. Suffice it to say Geddoe doesn't return the gesture, though it catches him by surprise enough that he can't avoid it. Instead, he simply waits a moment or so until the mention of the Pokemon gives him an excuse to disengage and step over to his own team.

"I don't know if I'd call them new, exactly," he says drily, and Zipper gives an affirmative chirp from his perch. He's known the boss for months, thankyouverymuch!