➵ 001 [video]

[healthepot]

[There's some fussing with the camera when the feed first starts up, but soon enough it settles in one spot. Natalia, with her Dratini draped across her shoulders, leans back now that she's satisfied with the warp band's placement.]

Say, I have a question for any Engineers out there. Would any of you happen to have experience in making arrows? While I don't think I'll need any right away, there's a possibility I will in the future and it never hurts to ask ahead of time, right?

[She reaches up and strokes her Dratini's head, offering a smile.] That's all I wanted to know, thank you for your time.

Comments

[tracedarte]

Really? You're gonna throw away all your dresses and go out into the wild? Lame.

[He rolls his eyes. Mieu lets out a happy noise and pounces at the Warp Band as if to say hello, but all it does is make Luke fall on his head and he swears.]

Damn it Thing! Get off! Owwww....

[healthepot]

I'm certainly not going to learn more about the world by sitting at home. [... She's not throwing away all her dresses, either, just switching them out for travel-suited clothes, but... Details.

She and Draco wince simultaneously when Luke falls.] Shouldn't you be a little more careful?

[tracedarte]

Outside of Union sucks though. I bet you'll get eaten right away.

[He says this while he sits up. Natalia gets a glimpse of his really messy room (how does he manage that with servants who clean?) and his exposed abs before he grabs the camera again and holds it back up to his face from where he's not sitting in front of his bed. Off screen, Mieu whimpers and scampers away when Luke tries to kick him.]

I am careful! Mieu knocked into me!

[healthepot]

I won't if I take the proper precautions. [There's an unsaid but implied "unlike some people".

She pulls a face at the messy room and Draco gives an upset-sounding growl at Luke's attempt at kicking Mieu.]

If you were actually sitting up properly, you would've been fine.

[tracedarte]

He still would've knocked into the camera like an idiot! Duh.

whatever. Anyway, uncle's just gonna stop you, so why bother? [The implied sass goes right over Luke's head. He's never done anything wrong.]

[healthepot]

[Opening mouth. Closing mouth. Why does she even bother with you, Luke.

She gives a bit of a derisive sniff afterwards.] Father can certainly try but I cannot--will not--allow him to stop me.

[tracedarte]

He'll send the Swords after you or something and then I'll have to work. You're just making a big problem for everyone.

[healthepot]

I highly doubt it'll come to that. The point of the matter is I'm doing this whether he likes it or not and that it's my decision to make, not his.

You may be content with remaining ignorant, but I will be doing no such thing.

[tracedarte]

Ignorant! What the hell's that supposed to mean huh? I've been outside way more than you have!

[healthepot]

Just because you've been outside doesn't mean you've bothered learning anything.

[tracedarte]

I learned lots of stuff! Don't treat me like a little kid.

[healthepot]

I'll stop treating you like a little kid when you stop acting like one.

[tracedarte]

How am I acting like a little kid? I'm just telling you how it is.

[healthepot]

You act like a little kid in gene--never mind, I'll just be wasting my breath.

[Moving on.] So how long are you and Asch going to be stuck in the house after that little stunt the two of you pulled? Just out of curiosity.

[tracedarte]

You...!

[Luke huffs and pushes all of that bright red hair back from his shoulders to pout. Mieu hops up on his lap successfully, not being shoved off this time, and waves at Natalia and Draco happily.]

I dunno. Mom says three weeks, dad says never.

[healthepot]

[Draco waves back. Hi, Mieu!

Natalia frowns, but lapses into thoughtful silence. It takes her a bit to speak up again.] Say, Luke? I have a question.

[tracedarte]

What? If you're gonna call me stupid again I'll turn off the video.

[healthepot]

No, that's not it this time. [A pause.] Awakening to shifting like that... what was it like?

[She's never experienced anything like it herself and she can't help but be curious.]

[tracedarte]

What? Oh! Well... it's probably not awful for everyone, but it was really bad. I guess that was the cold's fault though. When it happened it was so weird, like all of a sudden my body felt super warm, worse than a really bad fever, and then poof. The absolute worse part is hearing Asch in my head all the time now though.

[Then he lifts Mieu up by the scruff.]

And listening to Mieu talk.

[healthepot]

... Oh. Oh my.

[As much as she likes Asch, the thought of being mentally connected to him (or to anyone really)... was not an appealing one. Her thoughts were her own, thank you very much.

... Easily evidenced by her expression.] I wouldn't mind being able to understand my Pokémon at all... but the idea of having anyone in my head...

[tracedarte]

It's terrible! Of all the luck, getting to turn into a Psychic Pokemon... I can't even read anyone else's head, just Asch's! What a waste.

[healthepot]

Well... it could always be worse, right? And I don't think I'd want to read anyone's mind anyway, it'd be an invasion of their privacy... wouldn't it?

[She hums thoughtfully.] What type would you have preferred, anyway? [Just out of curiosity.]

[tracedarte]

I could read dad's mind and then finally prove he's full of...

[He trails off, crossing his arms. He's just really mad about being grounded right now, he's not usually so rude about his father. Judge Fabre can get on his children's nerves, but he has their respect.]

I don't know, something cool. Like Steel! Or uh, like the big muscly kind! Then I could kick Asch's ass!

[He's always rude about Asch though.]

[healthepot]

You mean Fighting-type? Hmm... [Give her a moment, she's trying to picture it.]

... I don't know, I can't really imagine it. I think Fire-type is pretty fitting, though. [It's the hair.]

telepathy;

[albertstyle]

I heard that...

[Don't you just love this stupid power kicking in right when you're talking shit on each other?] Like you could ever kick my ass, idiot. What the Hell are you telling Natalia?