[Audio / Action]

[outtahere]

[Audio]

[We open to the sound of a small explosion and loud, colorful swearing.]

How did that thing get back in here!?

Olu?

And what are you doing here? Fine, make yourself useful and get that thing out of he- It's reset already? Shi-!

[There's the sound of another explosion and the feed cuts off.]

[Action]

[Banzu's not looking to be in such a good mood as he walks through the Business district later in the day, visiting the Salvage Shop and any places that sell chemicals. It could be the Voltorb doll following him around. It could be the Riolu he doesn't want to deal with following him around, grabbing the Voltorb doll whenever it's about to explode and tossing it into the air so it doesn't damage anything. It could also be the bits of metal growing out of his body: striking surfaces on his knuckles, larger pieces around the backs of his ears, little plates on his cheekbones, lines on his jaw, and several more unseen under his clothes. What? Where did those come from? It's not like he's secretly been an Enlightened all this time or anything...

Yeah, the jig is up. There's no way he can hide that he's a Steel-type any more. He's not looking forward to the inevitable responses to this revelation. The Voltorb doll and the Riolu are just icing on the cake.

Note: While the patches of metal on him are silvery today, in all future encounters they will be a dull black. Alloys!]

Comments

[outtahere]

Hm. Same as usual.

[Behind him, Riolu tosses the Voltorb doll into the air, where it explodes.]

...Mostly.

[rainsrespite]

You got one too, huh?

[Yuuna frowns and looks back the way she'd come.]

I got this weird Spritzee doll. And I'm already kinda over it. It smells awful, but at least it doesn't blow up.

[A pause and she debates going on...]

Congratulations, by the way.

[outtahere]

On what?

[He's pretty sure he knows.]

[rainsrespite]

Evolving?

[He does.]

[outtahere]

It's not worth congratulations.

[rainsrespite]

Disagree. I'd say it's worth something. You got stronger. How's that bad?

[outtahere]

Cuz it's obvious now what type I am.

[rainsrespite]

Steel. Same as my father. What's wrong with that? You have Pokemon to cover that type weakness.

[outtahere]

People and Pokémon not immediately knowing your type weaknesses has advantages, even if you can cover them with other Pokémon.

[rainsrespite]

Yeah. But then again, not everyone is Enlightened. [Herself included.] And not everyone will prepare for your weaknesses. Pros and cons.

And a full body suit, with a mask? That'd make it less apparent.

[outtahere]

[His only response is to give her the look in this icon. Seriously? A mask?]

[rainsrespite]

[She gives him a bored look in reply.]

You're the one who's worried about giving away information. You could always find a way to make skin-grafts or something I guess.

[outtahere]

There's still a point where it'd be going too far.

[rainsrespite]

Probably, but hey, if you're serious about hiding it.

[A shrug.]

Who's the pooch?

[outtahere]

A Riolu. It followed me back when I visited Caldera and won't stop, even though I've got nothing for it to do.

[He definitely sounds less than delighted about that.

Riolu nods at Yuuna in greeting.]

[rainsrespite]

[She waves back.]

Nothing at all? Looks like he's dealing with your doll problem well enough.

[outtahere]

Had to make him useful somehow.

[rainsrespite]

Can't put him to work on the boat? Or give him a little shop to run? Heck, even make him a mascot. He's kinda cute, I bet he'd bring in customers.

[outtahere]

[What no he's not cute he's a tough warrior stop that! The Riolu blushes ever-so-slightly.]

If anything I'd have Spur-Mesh as a mascot. [There's a reason why his maker's mark involves a gear after all.] Already got Multi as a shop assistant and I ran into a Beheeyem at the Coastal Ruins who's working out better in the engine room than Multi did. All my Pokémon can fight if they need to along with doing other stuff, so one that can only fight isn't necessary.

[The Fighting-type-Steel-type thing isn't actually a huge issue, merely the icing on the cake of his dislike for the Riolu.]

[rainsrespite]

And it's never occurred to you that maybe that's not strictly necessary? I mean, my Growlithe rarely leaves the house, but that doesn't make me not wanna keep him around. Obviously you bonded this little guy for a reason.

[She folds her arms, a little bit of concern in her eyes and posture.]

And before you point out the obvious difference in our philosophies, remember that Riolu are basically children. Shouldn't you, y'know, be a little less harsh on him? Just for that?

[She contemplates for a moment bringing up his own childhood. She's not forgotten the dream, not at all. But that's kind of cold, and that's not really her style.]

[outtahere]

I tried to use the Warp Band to tell him to stop following me and he triggered the bonding confirmation function and got himself transported to the habitat because I already had five linked.

[Someone's cleverer than they look.]

I don't see why. Babying a kid ain't gonna help him in the long run.

[He still doesn't realize that she wasn't just a random projection of his subconscious.]

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna looks at the Pokemon and nods. Impressive trick.]

That's not true. Especially with a Pokemon.

[She folds her arms and refocuses on Banzu.]

And Lucario are powerful fighters. You could do worse than having one that whats to travel with you.