One | Video

[sunpendant]

[It begins with a sigh. A long-suffering sigh, far too deep for someone who has only been in this world for a few hours. In view of the camera is an enthusiastic Swablu on a tabletop, splashing her wings in a puddle of spilled water before rushing to the far corner to scrub at the edges.] What are you doing? It’s not even our table.

[Swablu does not appear to care. Raven picks up the gear and turns it to address the network properly, despite being uncomfortable with this whole entire thing.]

Mmh...does ‘training’ mean teaching them not to do things like...this in public? She just keeps cleaning.

[And she looks very pleased with herself to have done it, too! Raven makes another uncertain noise as her partner fluffs damp wings and hops up to rest...on top of her head. One cottony wing drops down to scrub at Raven's left temple.

The affection merits a scowl.]

I'm not dirty.

Comments

[video]

[machinamonkey]

That's a Swablu thing! Some of them really like cleaning.

[video]

[sunpendant]

[There's a pause.]

Swablu is you, right? [An affirmative chirp!]

Who are you?

[video]

[machinamonkey]

I'm Rikku! It's nice to meet you!

[video]

[brokenmemories]

Maybe its a habit for the Pokemon's species? Some certain species have habits that might come and go if it evolves.

[video]

[sunpendant]

Raven.

[It's not nice to meet you back. It's not nice to meet anyone, most of the time, especially when they are this...chipper.

Speaking of chipper. Swablu is happy to meet anyone and chatters back at the video.]

[video]

[machinamonkey]

It sounds like your Swablu's a chatter box.

[video]

[sunpendant]

"Evolves"?

[This is already shaping up to be a beautiful conversation.]

[video]

[sunpendant]

Mmh. Yeah. [Like most birds.

Most...ordinary birds.]

She's...little.

[video]

[machinamonkey]

They get bigger. Hey, Cordon!

[Cliff's Altaria swoops into view]

See?

[video]

[brokenmemories]

You're new here, aren't you?

Evolving could be seen as a way for the pokemon to mature and become stronger. It's possible to avoid the evolution process if you like the pokemon the way it is, though.

[Was that a good explaination or]

[video]

[sunpendant]

[That is a much larger bird. Raven's eyes widen. This little fluffy chick is going to grow up into that?]

That's a lot bigger.

[video]

[machinamonkey]

He's an Altaria!

[Who is currently grooming Rikku and her head of braids]

Swablus evolve into them.

[video]

[combat_butler]

... suddenly, I am filled with the desire to get one of those for myself...

[video]

[sunpendant]

Why would you tell them not to mature?

[These are monsters, right? Fairly straightforward.]

[video]

[sunpendant]

[Stare.]

Why? [Hey, hey! Swablu doesn't like all these implications that she's annoying. Forgetting that she's in view of a camera, Raven reaches up to pat one of her ultra soft wings.]

[video]

[sunpendant]

[There's that 'evolve' thing again. Raven tilts her head in curiosity, silently watching Altaria preen Rikku. Swablu, also watching, starts to idly tug at Raven's hair with her beak too. Grooming down is far different from combing hair, and the humanish one of the pair keeps wincing.

But not stopping her bird friend. Not yet.]

[video]

[combat_butler]

Because having a Pokemon that likes to clean has massive appeal! It's like it was made with my line of work in mind! How I never knew about this all this time is truly baffling...

[video]

[machinamonkey]

D'you know about evolutions?

[video]

[sunpendant]

[A callous person would say that Hayate could have this bird. Raven lifts her head like she wants to look at her puff companion, and in an instant Swablu takes off, landing with a contented chirp in a damp resting pose on the table.]

Then you should learn more.

[video]

[combat_butler]

--guh!

Be... Being told that by a newcomer somehow hits harder than I thought it would...!

Voice

[for_realsies]

You could take the water away?

Or put it back in its Pokeball?

Or... wait, why is it even a problem, do you want the table dirty!?

[video]

[brokenmemories]

[She shrugs.] Who knows? Some people like them the way they are, others think its better to wait before letting them move onto the next stage for training purposes.

[video]

[sunpendant]

Not really. [And she sounds kind of disinterested.] It matters more that I can't go back.

[video]

[machinamonkey]

[Rikku nods, smiling a little sadly]

Yeah, some people come and leave right after they get here, but my boyfriend's been here for a year or so. No one knows how to get home.

[video]

[sunpendant]

[She hasn't thought to mention - and will not think, either - that she didn't read the little instruction manual thing after she got the lecture about being here.]

What do you want? [Swablu responds by...moving to the next table to wipe clean the surface, and Raven sighs.]