codeforhope | Voicemail

[Okay, here we go, time to make a video call all by himself. It can't be too hard, it's like making a normal call, right? Hopefully Chihiro is up, the call comes in rather late at night, but not so late that it might be considered absurd.]

H-Hi, Chihiro, z-zura! [It's still kind of weird talking to someone you barely know like you're already best friends, but he tries anyway.] Are you around? Can you talk right now, zura?

[Judging by his surroundings, it looks like he made it to the Cherrygrove Pokecenter in one piece.]

[Chihiro is up, as a matter of fact. He'd been working with some codes on his laptop with his Linoone curled up by his side when his Gear made a soft noise to signal that he'd gotten a video message. He quickly finishes up with what he'd been doing on his laptop before reaching for his Gear.

When he comes on the feed, Komasan will see Chihiro sitting up in bed with one arm resting on his sleeping Linoone's back, all dressed up in his pajamas and pretty much ready for bed, just not asleep yet.]

Hello, Komasan-chan. Is everything alright?

[...Oh. Somehow Komasan finds himself caught off guard by seeing Chihiro in pajamas. That's right, that's a human thing, isn't it? Does...does this mean he'll have to get some at some point? After all, he always went to bed naked at home, but then again...he went around naked a majority of the time. Probably can't...do that anymore. Huh...

Well, not wanting to linger on the thought of his sudden lack of clothing freedom, he decides to go back to why he called in the first place.]

A-Ah...right, um, I-I just wanted to let you know we made it into...into town, zura.

[Hooray for having basic survival instincts.]

Hogosha and Shiro are having a checkup right now, and then we'll be heading out again, zura.

[He means he's letting them rest at the Pokemon center, same difference.]

Oh! I'm glad to hear that. Hogosha will take good care of you.

[In that he won't let Komasan freeze to death, anyway.]

Did you find the other thing I sent you along with his Pokeball?

[Incidentally, freezing to death is like the last thing he wants to do! At Chihiro's question, he nods his head.]

It's a scarf, right, zura? [Oh god please let it be a scarf. Nervously, he begins to scratch one of his cheeks.] H-Heh...it's kinda long, so it got really wet, z-zura... I'm letting it dry while I wait, but it really is lovely, zura!

Mhm! Sorry about the length...but I'm glad it got to you okay. I hope it can help keep you warm, too.

[It's hideous, he knows, you don't have to pretend Komasan but he appreciates it anyway.

Chihiro shifts a little, running his hand down his starter's back as one of his legs kicks a little in his sleep.]

How has traveling been?

[That is the cutest, fattest dog he's ever seen.]

Much better now that I have Hogosha with me, zura! He's very kind, Shiro seems to like him a lot, too, zura!

[So hooray for everyone getting along.]

And he moves monge~ fast, so I should be in the city in no time, zura!

[Isamu's diet hasn't been all that successful, unfortunately...]

That's good! Arcanine are very fast, but they're easy to ride as well. I take Hogosha with me any time I go traveling for that reason.

[For now though, he's just using his Meganium for transportation in his stead.]

Don't feel like you have to rush here because of me or anything, though...there might be things in town you want to see. Or you might find a Pokemon you want to catch.

"Catch" Pokemon, zura?

[People catch Pokemon? Like how some people like to catch bugs? That's strange, he hasn't seen a whole lot of people carrying nets around.

Yeah, guess who kind of ignored any and all explanations about Pokemon mechanics.]

But some Pokemon are so big, I'm not sure they'd fit in a net, zura!

[Well, she shouldn't be surprised that she got the voicemail--Chihiro's got to be busy doing other stuff. Maka's tone when she speaks is conversational, though a little worried.]

Hey, Chihiro, it's Maka. Um...I was just calling to check and see how you've been, it seems like it's been a while since we talked. I'm really sorry about that, I've been busy with a lot of things.

Talk to you later.

[Chihiro doesn't answer promptly, exactly, but he calls her back soon enough. Working on breeding projects, u kno.]

Hello, Maka. It's okay, I've been a bit busy lately too. It's good to hear from you, though.

How have you been?

[Chihiro giggles at the mental image Komasan is providing him with, shaking his head a little.]

Pokemon are captured using Pokeballs. I had Hogosha's pokeball sent to you, remember? Pokemon of any size can fit into them.

[Shiro came inside a pokeball too, now that he thinks about it. But Komasan just assumed those were, like, little Pokemon houses. That fit into your pocket.

Woah, wait.

Pocket Monsters????]

So I can use pokeballs and get any Pokemon I see, zura? They...they don't mind, do they, zura?

[As an adorable anime monster himself, that kind of seems like...kidnapping.]

Wild Pokemon don't. Trainers catch them often...you just can't catch a Pokemon that already belongs to someone else.

[Because that would be stealing, and stealing is wrong.]

Some Pokemon might be a little less receptive to it than others...it really depends on the Pokemon. But catching them is normal around here.

I just don't wanna separate any families, zura...

[He lowers his head and begins to wring his hands as just about EVERY SCENARIO plays out in his mind.

What if he takes a mama away from its baby?! O-Or takes someone's brother. Their brother! He couldn't do that, he'd have to take all of them! And even then, that's no good because he'll be drowning in pokeballs! Not to mention, he only has five, what if he finds a family of six and-]

Zurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazura...

[...oh dear.]

Ah...Komasan-chan? Are you alright..?

Ah!

[He snaps out of it, throwing a hand behind his head and rubbing it nervously.]

S-Sorry, I got worried, zura. I'll...I'll try to only catch Pokemon that look like they're all alone, zura.

[That way he knows they could use a buddy.]

You don't have to catch Pokemon unless you really want to. But it is okay. It is a bit strange to get used to, I understand...

[But Pokemon of all species are pretty independent, even right after they hatch.]

Hm...

[He ponders about it for a good second, smiling when he comes to a conclusion.]

No...I think I still want to catch Pokemon, zura. Heh, I-I just hope I can find my own komainu like Hogosha someday, zura.

[Because let's be real, he's going to be sad to see him go.]

Do you? Well, you can catch Growlithe on the route right before Goldenrod. I could always breed you one too, if you would prefer that.

[It would have a lot more moves for sure, but it doesn't matter either way, ultimately. Depends on what Komasan would prefer.]

[He blinks. Golly, there sure are a lot of ways to obtain Pokemon.]

"Breed?" ...What does "breed" mean, zura?

[...UHHH.]

Breeding...some trainers are breeders when they arrive. It means that you can breed Pokemon with one another to produce eggs.

[He keeps saying that word, but nothing is clicking. Komasan at least knows what an egg is.]

...You mean like a chicken, zura?

S...sortof, yes!

[/howcouldthishappentome.mp3]

[...Chihiro must not like chickens, because he is acting way too strange.]

O-Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, zura!

...B-But how do they make eggs if they aren't...chickens, zura?

[See, he whispered it this time, it shouldn't startle Chihiro as much.]

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12/8 | afternoon | voice

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