V

[heartstorage]

[Video; Filtered to Armin and Roxas]

[A day or two after the tournament and the discovery Rise had made...Sora decided maybe it was time to try to mend bridges. Or at least, own up to his own mistakes. And so, he leaves a video message for them.]

Hey guys....

Listen, uh...[how to phrase this] I'm still...kinda mad that you locked me in a closet for two days. That wasn't cool, okay?

But...I'm sorry I didn't listen to you two about the tournament in the first place. I got too wrapped up in my own ego and didn't think things through. You guys are my friend and brother. I should've stopped and at least hear you guys out before I made a decision.

So...sorry. About all that.

[Action - Pokemon Habitat]

[A little while later after that's over with, Sora can be found near a pond in the Pokemon Habitat. The man-made pond itself is devoid of Pokemon except for one large Gyarados sitting in it. Like all Gyarados, she's huge and pretty scary looking. However, Sora is too busy trying to give her directions regarding a large rock next to him. And for some reason, his clothes and hair seem to be pretty damp.]

Okay, Dory- let's try this again! Just break the rock! I know you can do it!

[The Gyarados gives out a terrifying roar that sounds fitting for a Godzilla movie to get pumped. She raises herself up, opens up her wide jaws and-]

[Slaps the water with her tail as Dory uses Splash. The slap is powerful enough to make a big enough wave to get the first few rows of Seaworld (or rather- Sora and the rock) wet, but besides that it's not very effective.]

[Sora groans as he wipes water off his face. Maybe she really did forget that she evolved.]

Uh...good try, Dory!

Comments

video ; filtered

[meguriau]

... Couldn't think of any other way to stop you. Sorry.

I don't think either of us thought things through.

video ; filtered

[heartstorage]

No, I don't think so either...

[you didn't think things through more- Okay no, be mature. MATURE]

...I didn't go to the tournament, even after Lea let me out.

video ; filtered

[meguriau]

Next time we should.

[ Though it would be better if there wasn't a next time well... they're siblings. ]

You didn't?

video ; filtered

[heartstorage]

Yeah......or at least try not to get someone else to do illegal stuff for us.

[Poor Armin....he really could have had a better first experience of how siblings interact. But seriously, he's so keeping the bar low because he knows how bad it gets when they both get stubborn]

No. I didn't wanna get shoved into another closet.

video ; filtered

[meguriau]

Y-Yeah...

[ There's this feeling that even saying 'make sure no one else gets involved' is setting it too high. ]

I wasn't going to shove you into another one.

video ; filtered

[heartstorage]

[Hey it's not their problem some people lack the foresight to get the hell out of dodge when siblings go at each other!]

Well it wasn't like I was expecting to be shoved into the first closet...!

[Right okay. Let it go. Let it go. And not in an ice castle sorta way]

A-anyway, I didn't go. It's probably for the best. I never would've forgiven myself if I had gotten Simba or my other Pokemon hurt against that Mega thing.

action;

[thefloorislava]

[When he sees Sora's signed in to the habitat, he just has to go find out what he's doing.

Maki runs in front of him, along with another Darumaka, and Lea has Jonesy in one of those doofy baby slings. She seems positively elated about it, burbling happily]

Yo, Sora. Nice gyarados. Well... she LOOKS good. But I can see you're having some... uh... trouble.

[Both darumaka run into the pond and splash around like a couple of morons. So much for not liking water. Lea keeps a respectable distance]

action;

[heartstorage]

[Sora notices Maki and the other Darumaka first, watching them run past before approaching Dory and giving her a head pet. Because yes, the twenty-foot monster needs acknowledgement from the short kid]

[He looks over when he hears Lea though]

Lea, hey!

[he gives a little sheepish chuckle] Uh...yeah. I think she's still adjusting to evolving.

action;

[thefloorislava]

That's... a little abnormal. [He rubs the back of his neck] Usually they're pretty wild when they evolve. She's kind of... still got that... [what's the nice way to put it...] "Magikarp"y look in her eyes.

[he strokes his chin thoughtfully] D'ya think she needs someone to lead by example?

action;

[heartstorage]

Well, Dory's Dory- I guess! [because that makes sense] I mean, sometimes she has tantrums, buuut- she seems to forget about them after thirty seconds.

[Yep, still the forgetful fish]

Lead by example? Like another Gyarados?

action;

[thefloorislava]

Hoo boy. Well, she won't ever be able to do much if she doesn't learn anything other than splash, so, let's see what we can do.

[he grins] Yeah! I don't have one of those lying around, but I have something better. Robin!

[the unfamiliar darumaka makes a curious "Maa?" sound and hops out of the water. Then he reveals his true self, his illusion fading away to reveal a little black fox. A zorua! He shakes water out of his fur, poofing up a bit]

Robin's a Zorua. He can make himself look like just about anything. Can you do it, kid?

[Robin nods, letting out a little "yap!". He's eager to show off his ability. He jumps back into the water. He glows and the glow stretches up and out of the water into a fully grown male gyarados. Robin lets out a ferocious roar! ... then bonks her playfully on the head]

action;

[heartstorage]

A Zorua...?

[he watches with interest! He really wasn't sure what to expect. But a darumaka turning into a fox and then into a gyarados- wasn't it! So making a "Whoa!" as that happens. What a pokemon!]

[Except Dory freaks out with the roar and playful bonk! OH NO SHE"S BEING ATTACKED BY A GYARADOS RUN SHE'LL GET EATEN]

[And so, Dory uses Splash]

voice; filtered

[tinytactician]

You didn't do anything wrong.

[Armin is just voice-ing this time, for whatever reason -- also he sounds like he has a cold, maybe, his voice all thick and choked.]

voice; filtered

[heartstorage]

Yeah, I did. I can admit it.

[And he sure is noticing that voice]

You okay, Armin?

voice; filtered

[tinytactician]

I'm fine, I'm just tired.

It was really our fault. You're old enough to make your own decisions.

voice; filtered

[heartstorage]

[Uh...huh]

Well, I guess so. But I still should've tried harder to listen to you guys in the first place.

voice; filtered

[tinytactician]

[EVERYTHING IS OKAY LALALA.]

You were excited. It's understandable. Maybe...they'll be another tournament sometime. A safer one.

voice; filtered

[heartstorage]

Armin...how about we just agree that we both made mistakes?

And yeah, maybe there will be!

[Action]

[wolvenmemory]

[Irvine stops by the Pokémon Habitat often, usually to see Calla when she didn't feel like staying over in his apartment. This time is no different, though when he hears a familiar voice coming from near the pond, he stops and looks over. The kid again, huh? When did he get a Gyrados?

He debates wandering over to make small talk with the kid—if there's any reason to go out and be social when he's trying to get some training in—but decides to as soon as he watches the small wave from the Splash crest upwards and break. ...Usually Gyrados were more frightening than that.

So he lifts up a hand in greeting.]

Hey, kid!

[Action]

[heartstorage]

[he was consoling Dory about her attempt when he hears Irvine. He turns and spots him- smiling and waving back]

Irvine, hey!

What're you doing here?

[Action]

[notthatjason]

Okay. I'll see you guys later.

[Jason steps into the Habitat and two bird pokemon take off flying, a Fletchling and a Pidgey. Apparently Jason is visiting with his Pokemon and letting them get some social time in. There is one pokemon remaining with him though, a Pikachu. He looks down.]

What? You're not going to go with them?

[Pikachu shakes his head. He's not interested in hanging with those birdbrains. He'd rather spend time elsewhere. Jason doesn't pick up on all of that, but shrugs and is happy to spend more time with Bolt.

Both Jason and Pikachu pause when they hear a terrifying roar echo through the Habitat. Jason and Bolt exchange a look before the electric rodent takes off to check it out. Jason, never one to be left behind, quickly follows.

They aren't too far from pond and Jason catches sight of the Gyarados right away. Bolt tilts his head back to stare up Dory, clearly impressed. Jason comes up beside him.]

Wow.

[And then Jason notices the boy with him...completely soaked.]

Uh...why are you soaking wet?

[Action]

[heartstorage]

[Sora turns to look over at the new person addressing him. And yep, he is very soaking wet]

Ahaha...oh! Hi! Um, it's a long story! I'm trying to train my newly evolved Gyarados and...well, it could go better!

[Action]

[notthatjason]

Ah.

[Jason finds his eyes continually drawn back to gape at the Gyarados. It's...really big and he's not used to that. He probably should get used to it though considering he wants to be a Ranger. They probably encounter all kinds of HUGE pokemon on their trips out of the city.]

Are they giving you trouble?

[He wasn't even sure of the gender of the pokemon so he was trying not to offend the large creature looming over him. Otherwise he was doing a pretty good job of hiding any of his nerves...aside from the staring.]

[Action]

[heartstorage]

[Dory meanwhile looks over at Jason! She has big sharp teeth that looks like they could nom a person pretty easily. BUT she seems to lower herself in a very happy way. Hi new person! We haven't met before right???]

Sorta....she's sorta still stuck on using moves she did as a magikarp.

[Action]

[notthatjason]

[She. Right. Okay. Jason reminds himself he's supposed to be a big, brave Ranger and shouldn't flinch from a Pokemon. So as Dory gets closer Jason manages to stand his ground and holds up a hand in greeting. She's not going to eat him...at least he hopes so.]

Huh. That's interesting. Do you know of anyone else that has a Gyarados that you could ask about that? Maybe it's common.