004. Action for northern Route 34/also one other thing

[scientificflair]

[PRIVATE TEXT TO EMMY ALTAVA]

We need to talk. Now.


[ACTION]

[Well, some of you may remember that...weirdly terse post from Descole that went out about a month ago, asking exactly how one would know if their Pokémon that requires happiness to evolve is anywhere near pleased with you. You'll be pleased to know that it's -

...seriously not anything he'll have to worry about anytime soon. No. Really. It's not.

It's not exactly something he's keeping to himself, either. Oh, no. It's incredibly evident in several ways, the primary one being the fact that he's currently skulking around on Route 34, just outside of Goldenrod City, and that Togepi he's been training is currently wailing up a storm.

Descole doesn't seem to know what he's supposed to do with the fact that the damn thing simply will not stop crying; to his credit, he isn't just up and ditching the thing, though from the look of it he's clearly considering - once in a while he'll get fed up and stomp off a few feet, only for the wailing to intensify the further he gets. The result is this...bizarre storming back-and-forth routine, simply because Descole is the paragon of grace and charm and he cannot figure out how to make the damn thing shut up.

Yes, he has tried everything from leaving it alone to being in its presence to...yelling at it to shut up. No, he has not worked out the incredibly obvious solution of "pick the little crying eggthing up."

-50 PICARATS FOR YOU, DESCOLE.]

Comments

[text]

[snapandscoot]

[[...talk about blunt, Descole.]]

Alright. Where are you?

[text]

[scientificflair]

[Why do you think he never uses it? Honestly, he sort of hates it; there's no tone or physical gestures to read.]

The usual location. I'm assuming you're still off gathering those badges?

[text] 1/2

[snapandscoot]

Well, I'm actually about to land in Goldenrod now; give me a few minutes.

[to action!]

[snapandscoot]

[[Emmy has spotted Descole on her descent into Goldenrod, so she directs her Fearow to land near him.]]

Now remember, Fearo, take the landing easy....!

[[...THEY'RE COMING IN FAST]]

Nearly got it....!!!

[[....AND LANDING! AND SKIDDING!!

.....BUT THEY'RE GOOD!

HELLO DESCOLE HOW ARE YOU

YOU'VE NOW GOT EMMY PERCHED ON A HYPER-LOOKING FEAROW BASICALLY.....WITHIN A FOOT OF YOU

PERFECT LANDING, RIGHT?]]

[scientificflair]

[ARE

YOU

INSANE]

...Emmy...

[NO REALLY

ABOUT THE ONLY SAVING GRACE HERE IS THAT YOU HAVE TERRIFIED HIS TOGEPI INTO SHUTTING UP FOR A MOMENT]

[snapandscoot]

Not too bad for a first landing at that speed! We'll work on getting even faster, Fearo!

[[Let her now happily hop off and smile at you, Descole!]]

You wanted to speak to me?

[scientificflair]

...Yes. I believe something may have come up in regards to your -

[...and the Togepi over there has decided that being ignored is really not helping the current situation. There it goes again.

This. Eggthing. Emmy.]

[snapandscoot]

[[...oh my god what is that noise, it sounds like a shrieking baby-]]

Ahhh! How cute!

[[LET HER SCAMPER OVER AND PICK YOU UP

OMG IT'S ADORABLE

SHE DOESN'T NORMALLY GO GAGA OVER BBTHINGS BUT LOOK AT THIS EGGTHING]]

Is it yours?

[ACTION]

[brilliantideas]

[Today is one of those "let's wander outside the lab!" days. Usually these days involve running from rats, sending the snake in to battle, or just wandering the Routes and enjoying the outdoors.]

[That isn't going to happen today, is it?]

Well, what have we here?

[The question is loud enough to grab Descole's attention, he's sure (though humans and their hearing ranges are still something Wheatley's figuring out) - he approaches the Togepi instead though, tipping his head slightly in thought. He makes no move to touch it, but he's obviously very interested.]

I'm fairly sure that's not how you handle a Pokémon. I mean, I could be mistaken, but this really doesn't seem like the best way to go about it. Leaving it here, I mean. You could just pick it up and carry it with you. It might stop crying if you try that!

[Not that he'd know. He actually takes pretty good care of his Pokémon and hasn't made either of them cry. The Woobat in his arms chirps frantically - she's not pleased by the poor thing's sobs and finally wrenches her way free from Wheatley's death-grip. She floats around the Togepi and keeps squeaking in panic. Wheatley doesn't seem overly worried.]

[ACTION]

[scientificflair]

As though I'm going to be thrilled about picking it up while it's...shrieking like that.

[He's. More than a little agitated, Wheatley, how's it going. Nice to meet you, by the way.

That said, that poor damn Togepi actually startles into silence at the Woobat from right the hell out of nowhere, though it looks on the verge of starting up aga- ...oh, never mind, there it goes with the wails. Somehow, the flying panicked bat isn't exactly a calming presence.

...this is a facepalm and a half already.]

And who might you be, exactly?

[brilliantideas]

Ah, well, that's an excellent point, isn't it? Hadn't thought of it like that!

[Descole's question earns a smile and Wheatley presses a hand to his chest. His movements are a bit over-exaggerated and he just can't seem to keep still.]

My name is Wheatley! Pleased to meet you! I'm assuming you're here to take on the Gym Leader? Hopefully not with this one - no offense or anything, but it really doesn't seem capable of taking down much of anything at this point, much less those horrible rats running around-- and if you can't defeat those, then you certainly won't be able to defeat whatever's awaiting you in the Gym!

[He cuts himself off there, though, rocking back on his heels. Wheatley's not stupid - he's purchased civilian clothes to wear under the lab coat. Of course he still has that on. He rather likes it!]

And you are...?

[scientificflair]

[...wondering what the hell you are even doing, good sir. That's what he is.

However, he's content to ignore the shrieking eggthing over there for the time being in favor of focusing on whatever speech this individual is giving him; it's incredibly rambling and tangential, but he's able to follow it well enough.]

Jean Descole, my good man; it's a pleasure. And your assessment isn't quite correct - I suppose you could say that I've taken up residence here, in a manner of speaking. Either way, I've been in Johto for a while now; if I were going to take on the Gym here, then it certainly wouldn't be with this one.

[brilliantideas]

[...SOMEONE WHO CAN FOLLOW HIM AND DOESN'T TELL HIM TO SHUT UP OR STARE AT HIM LIKE HE'S GROWN A SECOND HEAD (that's something you humans don't usually do, right)?]

[SIR, YOU ARE HIS FAVORITE PERSON HERE. NO LIE.]

But of course not! This one isn't the one you started with then, is it? I'd imagine not, especially if you've been here awhile! I'm interested in seeing what else you have, but that's not really important right now. Obviously the first order of business is to find a way to silence this one!

[Wheatley looks at it for a moment, tapping a finger to his chin thoughtfully. Well, the obvious solution would be to return it to the Pokéball, but... Obviously there's some reason why Descole isn't doing that. So! You totally don't mind if he waltzes over and scoops your Togepi up without even asking, right?]

Is it even fully hatched from the egg yet? I've heard they all come from eggs and all, but I haven't actually seen that for myself just yet - oh, you don't mind, right?

[...The fact that he's now cuddling your eggthing, that is.]

[scientificflair]

[...well, the Togepi certainly doesn't mind, if the fact that he actually shuts up pretty close to immediately is any indication - he doesn't know who the tiny pale thing currently cuddling him is, but hey! Free cuddles!

And really, if that thing is quiet, then no, Descole definitely does not mind.]

Oh, it's definitely not the one I started with. It is fully hatched, however, strangely enough - there was a secondary shell underneath the one it hatched out of. It's just a characteristic of the species, really, if a bit of an odd one.

[brilliantideas]

[Oh, it's just so cute! Not that he'll voice that aloud - he gets the feeling GLaDOS would judge him from afar. Even though she's not around to hear it. She'd find out somehow...]

Really? Fascinating! What is it called? What does it evolve into? It does evolve, right? That would be pretty pathetic if it didn't evolve. Unless it's actually capable of taking care of itself, but it really doesn't seem like the sort to be able to handle battling... I don't see why a Pokémon wouldn't be able to battle - what with survival of the fittest and all that - but...

[He trails off with a shrug. The Woobat seems to have calmed down and is now humming softly near the Togepi. It might be that tune the Companion Cubes sing when they're picked up. Not like he taught the bat on purpose or anything!]

[Action.]

[shakespearealien]

[Oh, can't a scientist get some quiet time around his favorite spot on Route 34? That would be the tiny beach, in case that wasn't obvious yet. He sighs in resignation, before approaching the pair of scientist and Pokémon.]

Descole. Your experience with infants is rather lacking, is it not? This newborn creature clearly requires a substitute figure for a parent, and that is what you come up with?

[Action.]

[scientificflair]

[...Gorthan, you will learn that there are some humans that just shouldn't breed. Descole is probably one of them - not because he's defective, but because his temper would probably result in...uh, well, a lot of what he's been doing, honestly, just with a human baby.

He does stop the skulking in order to reply properly, however.]

Tell me - do I really seem like proper parenting material, Gorthan?

[...okay, so it's a really bitchy, very self-aware reply, but a proper one.]

[Action.]

[shakespearealien]

I believe anyone can be at least decent parenting material, provided they're intelligent enough to make the required effort. Even I have more children than I can count. And I trust that your intelligence is more than sufficient.

Pick it up in your arms. I won't do it for you. I recall you wanted to obtain a happiness evolution. For that purpose, you probably want it to bond with you, and not with someone else entirely.

[Even so, he has to admit that the Togepi is super cute. He bends down to take a closer look at it.]

[scientificflair]

[He shoots a rather disdainful look at that Togepi without moving to touch it just yet; as it stands, the thing is still kind of crying, but at least the flat-out wailing has died down at Gorthan's approach.]

If you think intelligence is all that's required for parenting, then I can't exactly say that I -

[...okay, wait, what.]

You have children.

[That's more than a bit incredulous there.]

Forgive my rudeness, but you don't seem the sort.

[shakespearealien]

I engineer soldiers. Many of them, I have nurtured from their very first cells until adult stage and beyond. While a lot of them don't even know what a parent is, I consider them all my children regardless.

[His tone is rather dismissive and he's still looking at the Togepi, showing the tiny Pokémon a small smile.

... There's definitely a part of Gorthan's brain that's being all "aaah, cute baby!" right now. But, the alien still cares about maintaining some degree of dignity.]

I'm waiting, Descole.

[scientificflair]

You'll find there's a definite difference between engineering and raising soldiers and actually raising children, Gorthan. Some of us may be cut out to do the former, but certainly not the latter. And vice-versa.

[That said, he's just going to be picking up that Togepi like he fully expects the thing to explode on him or something; the Togepi, to his credit, quits wailing in favor of looking completely damn confused.

...huh. Well, that didn't suck nearly as badly as it could have, now, did it.]

text;

[puzzling]

[ It's going to be a day before Layton heads out upwards to the National Park with Clive and deal with the unbearable heat. The Pokemon up there aren't as strong as they are down at Route 34, since they're all Bug-types, so it's only reasonable to train his lower-levelled Pokemon here. However, the last thing he has expected to see on this normally quiet route is... well, someone that clearly should not be in possession of a baby-type Pokemon... ]

[ He still not too pleased that Descole is in Johto and much less in the same area, but while they're here, they might as well try to have some kind of neutral relationship. The last thing Layton really needs here is for them to have another fight on top of a tall robot and have Descole fall off the damn thing like a clumsy fool. Might as well try to help like they're not rivals... ]

Have you perhaps thought about comforting it?

text;

[scientificflair]

[Oh, what's this...why is his Gear notifying him out of nowhe-

...really.

Obviously, the man is in the area if he's aware of this; Descole can't exactly say that he blames him for throwing a text his way rather than dealing with both the screaming eggthing and his incredibly annoyed trainer in person, but right now it's just. It's the principle of the thing, okay.]

Never would have occurred to me, Layton, thank you.

[NOW JUST. LET HIM FIGURE OUT A WAY AROUND DOING THAT BECAUSE UGH.]

text;

[puzzling]

[ Layton will just sit here by the tree and watch... his top hat will probably give him away but it shouldn't matter too much. Descole probably doesn't want to talk with Layton in person. After all, he's kinda the person who rubbed in Descole's mistake... ]

I highly suggest that you comfort it soon, then. It's making quite a racket.

[scientificflair]

[...Layton. No. Being a dryly sarcastic asshole in a way Descole kind of approves of is not acceptable.

why is everyone from London being so damn tolerable here he cannot with any of you]

Wouldn't want to disturb you, would I.

[But fine. Fine, he'll pick up the damn thing. Kind of in the same way most would pick up, say, an armed bomb, but to be fair it's better than picking it up like a sack of potatoes or something.]

God forbid.