voice.

[radfield]

[ The tail end of a sigh can be heard as Chris enables the voice option on his PokéGear. Though it’s more of a response to the chilly weather rather than sounding tired or disappointed. Still, he has to pause as he quietly clears his throat and fights the urge to huff while he tries to warm up some at his Local Pokémon Center™. ]

Does anyone have any tips or advice for new trainers? Think my new friend and I started off on the wrong foot with a small scuffle, but I suppose it’s expected given its nature. Its name is ‘Stufful’, if that helps.

[ What a sneaky pun. ]

Anyway, I give her as much space as possible and she’s rather content on trailing behind or leading the way, but is in need of some grooming. Wondering how we both can get around this before attempting to since she’s rather finicky when it comes to touch.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

[torsion]

[ Jill notices, but carries on like she doesn't. Not that she doesn't care how he feels or worry about their relationship, but they're already apart. It's no use making him worry more. That's her job, after all. At least that's how she's always seen herself in their relationship or in any -- she's the one that takes the back seat and puts everyone else first, even at the expense of her own life. She didn't want recognition of her deeds, not even when they mattered most. ]

I hope so. Otherwise we're going to have a little talk, she and I.

[ She watches as much as she can when Chris interacts with it, taking note of how careful and soft he is despite its reactions. It's sweet, really. Hopefully it would react more positively to him in the near future. ]

Mm, alright. Take your time, I don't mean to inconvenience you. [ He already seemed like he had plans in mind, after all. Though she was comfortable here taking a little break, it was no big deal and she was looking forward both to going back around and spending extra time in the city she had barely looked over and meeting up with him. She doesn't want to ask what his plans are since he didn't offer. ] Roger that. Just take it easy until then.

[ She lingers, even though the conversation peters off to what seems to be a natural end. ]

[radfield]

[ He's more than all right with Jill deciding not to touch on those feelings any further. Sooner or later it would need to be addressed either way, and it was better off for them both jump into going over things with little pressure. ]

You're not. [ His answer is immediate. If anything, he should be the one apologizing, but ultimately holds off on saying more since it'd just be another game of back and forth. Not that he wouldn't mind talking to Jill for a little longer. However, he'd cut her breakfast short and was now on a rush to head back to Violet for him. ] Wasn't doing much to begin with outside of working and waiting for my finger to heal. And it won't be a problem when I set off; promise.

[ Before she can say anything else about his injury, he slings his pack around a shoulder and motions for Stufful to hop off the booth seat before sliding out of it himself. The camera jerks for a few seconds as he straightens up to leave the Center, but before closing the feed he shoots Jill a genuine smile and lightens up without having to force the notion. And finally sending her off with the same tone she'd given him from the start. ]

See you soon, Jill.

[torsion]

Well, we'll see about that. [ She repeats herself, almost like a threat even though she can't exactly threaten a pokemon (and honestly wouldn't). It's no different than any other time someone might hurt him, intentional or otherwise. Cute stuffed bear or... not. ] Alright, if you say so. Doing about the same myself. If you haven't noticed yet, if you challenge trainers and win you can make some extra money. Good for bonding, too.

[ Since the stuffed brat seems to like to fight, it could be good to bond more over that than anything else, but it might choose to ignore him. It's hard to say. Hopefully he could figure that out before the threat of handing money over to trainers became a worry.

His expression and voice soothes her, though. It makes her feel a little less lonely inside. Softer than before, her eyes slightly narrow and her eyebrows twist when she nods. ]

Soon.

[ She echoes him, his name stuck in her throat along with anything else affectionate she could add. Instead, just silenced to awkwardness and a yearning gaze. ]