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[furiousfists]

[ The video opens on a very round pig, bouncing glumly on the deck of the ferry boat. A voice comes in, speaking in a posh accent that one might associate with an upper class upbringing. ]

So, I've read what I can about this creature in my Pokedex, and I understand that the pearl balanced atop its head is essential to its well-being... But the Pokedex doesn't say anything about it trying to steal other pearl-shaped objects to wear instead!

[ That's right. This is a pet shaming video. The Spoink frowns, looking appropriately chastised.

Adaine flips the camera around to reveal herself— a blond teen with round glasses perched on her face, wearing a denim jacket that doesn't look suitable for the current weather. ]

Has anyone else experienced this odd behavior? I'd like some tips on how to stop him from chasing down every basketball or melon it sees.

Comments

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[nightyorb]

[Riz isn't particularly paying attention to his gear at first, letting it run in his peripheral as a new message to the network hits it. That is, until he hears the first notes of that very familiar high elven accent, and he is scrambling for the gear, nearly knocking over his cup of coffee in the process. He doesn't even listen to the rest of the entry, his hands shaking a little as he sends a response.]

A-Adaine?

[His voice squeaks a little with emotion, his face a little blurred and too close to the camera.]

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[furiousfists]

[ Adaine, having resigned herself to the fact that she had been planeshifted into an alternate universe, without any of her magic or any way of contacting her friends, was absolutely not expecting to hear a familiar voice right off the bat. ]

Riz??

[ How a one-syllable name can carry so many different emotions with it is truly astonishing. She somehow manages to cram relief, joy, shock, and confusion into just three letters. ]

What happened to you?!

[ You're not green! ]

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[nightyorb]

[Riz laughs, a little breathy, a little wetly, and for a moment he buries his face in his hands. For once, however, not in resigned frustration at whatever shenanigans his friends are up to, but rather because this is a lot and all the emotions he is feeling at once are really overwhelming.]

Gods I wouldn't even know where to begin.

[A little muffled because of his hands, but he soon enough lifts his head clear again. And he is smiling, even if his eyes are a little wobbly.]

You have no idea how glad I am to see you.

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine tries not to think about how daunting it is that Riz can't even start to tell her what has happened, because if she thinks too hard about it, she knows she'll start spiraling. ]

Where are you? I'll be on this ferry for a few days, but... I'd like to see you.

[ Especially since it seems like Riz could use a hug right now. And honestly? So could she. ]

[nightyorb]

Ferry-- Oh! The one to Pallet town?

[That works perfectly. Riz was going to come meet her either way, but if she is already on her way to Kanto that probably cuts down the travel time a bit.]

I'm in a city called Saffron. It's actually in the region you are heading towards now, so trust me, I'll be on the docks when you arrive. I know exactly where you are heading. And I'd like to see you too. Like-- you don't even know how much I want to see you, it's been two years for me.

[And quickly, already anticipating her reaction.]

Chronomancy. Fucking chronomancy.

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[cyberseraph]

[Angel at least has the decency to keep her laughter off camera. That doesn't mean that her eyes aren't slightly crinkled with mirth by the time her video opens up. She offers a little wave, nothing more than wiggling of fingers, before settling in to speak.]

Pokemon all have their strange little... quirks. You'll come to find that they have personalities just as varied as any human — or human adjacent person — might. [She gives it just a second for the info to sink in.]

Unfortunately, I haven't had any experience with a Spoink, or acts of thievery but... Generally good training and a healthy bond will keep any quirks from being too difficult to handle.

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine sighs, and gathers the small pig up into her lap. Not without some effort— he is much heavier than the familiars she's used to. ]

I've never had an animal that I had to train before. I've only ever dealt with magically conjured familiars and things like that, which just do what you want them to do automatically. Do you have any tips on how to train them?

[cyberseraph]

Time and patience, mostly. [She scratches at her cheek a little sheepishly, before letting out a nervous laugh.] Truthfully, I am not the best person to ask. I do not typically catch Pokemon unless we have a bond beforehand.

[The Disney Princess effect, if you will.]

Generally, positive reinforcement. Affirmation that you are here to help them. To be their friend.

[furiousfists]

I've only got the one, and he chose me, I think, rather than me choosing him. But I suppose I've only just arrived, so that's still good advice for later on, when I try to catch others.

[video]

[soupguy]

[Being with Riz as he discovers Adaine is here leaves Boober torn. Not just between leaving the room while the two catch-up and wanting to be near Riz when he's clearly dealing with all kinds of emotions, but also between happiness and worry. He's so glad one of Riz's friends is here, especially Adaine. Whenever Riz talks about the friends in his adventure party, Boober's thought Adaine is the one he'd get along with best.

But now there's a chance to test that theory, and it's a little scary. Because what if Adaine doesn't like him? It's that concern that has Boober wait as long as he can manage to make his own response to Adaine on the network, but still, that's only so much time. Partially because Boober knows a thing or two about misbehaving pokemon, and if any of the tips he's picked up can help, he'd love to be of use.]

Wh... [Little nervous gulp. Start again.] When one of my li'l fellas are misbehaving, it's usually because they want attention or they think it's a game.

And, um, hello. I'm Boober. Riz is my best friend - I'm here with him now - and he's told me a lot about you.

[Ugh, now he entirely understands how Riz had been first speaking to Gobo. This is so tricky!]

[furiousfists]

[ Oh... The idea that Riz might have been talking about her to other people here makes Adaine suddenly anxious. What was he saying? She trusts him not to badmouth her or anything, but without having clear confirmation on what exactly this Boober fellow might know, she decides to tread cautiously so she doesn't have a panic attack. ]

It's, ah. Nice to meet a friend of Riz's. Thank you for keeping him company. I'd hate to think of him being alone for so long.

[ She remembers being friendless, before Aguefort. No one deserves to go back to that, least of all The Ball. ]

You think he might think stealing orb-like objects is a game? Is that a behavior I should encourage, then, or something to train him out of?

[soupguy]

[Boober, being quite prone to panic and stress himself, takes Adaine's cautious treading as awkwardness. Maybe he offended her...? But how-- Oh! Adaine's further questions about pokemon behavior get lost, for the time being, as Boober jumps to clarify - and to a conclusion.]

I know that Riz has another best friend! That's Fabian, and I'm not trying to replace-- No one could ever replace any of you guys, for Riz. Not that I'd want to, anyway, it's not like that...

[furiousfists]

[ With the way Boober course corrects so violently, Adaine can't help but chuckle. She can see why he and Riz would get along. ]

It's alright, really. I feel better knowing that Riz had friends here, rather than being alone for two whole years without us.

[video]

[sinningtree]

I'm afraid I can't speak on that particular Pokémon, however, setting up opportunities for practice may control the behavior to a certain extent.

[furiousfists]

Practicing what? Not stealing? I'm a little unclear on how to practice the absence of something.

[sinningtree]

On the contrary, I can assure you from experience that trying to force the act to end will not go well. Rather, I would suggest creating an oulet for safe opportunities to exercise the urge to steal in a controlled environment.

[furiousfists]

I see. So I should create opportunities for him to practice stealing things that I allow him to steal, and only those things.

Yes, I think that might work.

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[sassymaru]

What a charming creature!

[That's... not really helpful, Shadowmaru.] But, alas, I don't know much about them. Some of these pokemon just tend to develop quirks we have no answers for...

[While he says that, there's a shower of - glitter? behind him. He sighs, and waves a hand.]

Such as that. My dear Oberon.

[furiousfists]

[ Was that glitter? ]

Ah... What type of Pokemon is Oberon?

[sassymaru]

He's what's known as a Type: Null.

[He turns, aiming the 'gear into his little living room. Sure enough, there's a Type: Null on the loveseat, trying to wag its tail like a dog.]

They're... an interesting species. Most of them have unique quirks not found in other pokemon. His just happens to be shedding the occasional glitter shower.

[furiousfists]

[ Luckily for Oberon, Adaine seems enraptured by the little Type: Null. ]

Oh, he's adorable! I love him!

Video (Also late with Sawsbucks)

[heartofalioness]

[Oh no, that's adorable. Allura can't help a chuckle as she comes online... and Adaine might feel a bit robbed, because this woman who looks to be roughly Aelwyn's age definitely still has her pointy ears, as well as white hair, lavender pupils and pale pink markings on the corners of her cheekbones. And she also speaks with something akin to a British accent.]

I admit that I'm not as familiar with this particular species, but I have had some mischievous Pokémon. Thankfully, Spoink is a Psychic type. It might be able to tell you why it's doing that via telepathy.

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine's face lights up at the sight of (what she assumes to be) another elf. It's still so strange to her, that something as arbitrary as the shape of her ears might have been deemed as unable to be kept in the odd, vaguely speciesist, forced human standards of this realm. ]

Is that so? That would be helpful, as I'm without the ability to cast Detect Thoughts myself.

[heartofalioness]

Indeed, it is useful. [Not quite connection the name of that spell to Riz's world yet.] I take it you two are newly arrived?

[furiousfists]

We are. Well, I am, anyway. Iggy I think may have been here for some time.

[ She is pretty sure these Pokemon creatures aren't just conjured into existence once a trainer arrives for them to partner with. They don't work quite like familiars that way. ]

My name is Adaine. Adaine Abernant.