013; [video/action for Cherrygrove]

[keychained]

[if there's one thing Sora here is really good at, it's comfort-- whether it be an enthusiastic pep talk, or telling a silly joke or making a silly face to get a laugh out of whoever needs it, Sora can and does deliver! he's usually pretty successful at getting a smile, at least, though he's better at comforting when he has an experience of his own that he can relate to whatever's happening with a friend.]

[and... he's been trying his best with his friends this week. today, however, Sora will be marching into completely uncharted territory experience-wise when he turns on the feed-- it's so unfamiliar, in fact, that he doesn't even recognize it.]

... There's something wrong with Puddles.

[at least, he wouldn't be able to recognize it on a Pokémon. the feed turns to show the edge of Cherrygrove and Route 30, where the aforementioned Girafarig is standing. just standing there. and staring off down Route 30 longingly. maybe he missed a patch of grass on the way down here?]

I tried taking him to the Pokécenter, and they looked at him... Then Nurse Joy just kinda laughed and told me he's fine. But he's not! Ever since we got here, he's just been standing right there in the same spot like a zombie. Puddles! C'mere!

[Puddles bleats in acknowledgment, but does not move, nor does he refrain from staring off down Route 30 like there's a special Girafarigs-only treasure down that road or something. Sora sighs.]

I don't get it.

Comments

[video]

[restardom.livejournal.com]

... That's weird, he looks a little lovesick.

[video]

[newhero.livejournal.com]

Lovesick?

[Sora walks over to Puddles so both he and Rise can get a better look at him-- Sora's seen googly eyes in action before, but it was in people, not Girafarigs. it was also in a storybook.]

[but there Puddles is, staring off into nothing with a Pokémon's version of googly eyes. if it were possible, he'd have little hearts floating out of his head, too.]

[video]

[restardom.livejournal.com]

[ ... wow, right on the money. Rise studies the Girafarig for a moment, a little amused at how the expression is almost akin to Kanji's when it involved Naoto. ]

... Yep, definitely lovesick. I'd know that expression anywhere.

[video]

[newhero.livejournal.com]

Puddles! Are you really in love?

[Puddles turns toward Sora sharply, eyes wide. what? Puddles? never! Puddles is too hardcore to be in love! ... Puddles is really bad at lying. so his expression shifts to more of a "oh god help me Trainer how do I girls," and Sora's expression shifts to "oh god how do I give love advice to a giraffe."]

video

[usedflashcannon.livejournal.com]

Maybe he's sad about something.

video

[newhero.livejournal.com]

I hope not... Hey, Puddles!

[Puddles bleats again, and actually turns his head briefly to look at Sora-- then he turns back toward the route. Sorry, Trainer, starin' off into oblivion and pining is more interesting right now.]

He's never acted this way before.

video

[usedflashcannon.livejournal.com]

You should make him some tasty food, it always worked with me.

video

[newhero.livejournal.com]

Hey, good idea! Puddles loves to eat-- see how he's kinda chubby?

[w-what, Puddles, that was a compliment! Sora has to duck out of the way when the Girafarig is finally uprooted from his perch, and he trots over to headbutt Trainer.]

[freezetheskies.livejournal.com]

[Puddles isn't the only one looking down that way, though this guy isn't so much as pining as he is anxious to get moving. So look for a midget leaning against the nearby tree, Sora. Seen the whole thing, he has.]

He may be homesick.

[newhero.livejournal.com]

[how midget are we talking? Sora's on the short side himself-- he pauses to glance over at the new guy, then back to Puddles.]

I'm not sure I know where Puddles' home is. he's been with me since I arrived.

[freezetheskies.livejournal.com]

[4'4", and not getting any taller. Easily mistaken for a child.]

Down that route, perhaps. It might explain why he refuses to leave.

[newhero.livejournal.com]

[ah, Sora has him by a good seven or eight inches.]

I guess so. I never really thought much about it, but... maybe Puddles has a whole family back home.

[video]

[bakaitoukid]

...

Maybe he misses the city?

[video]

[newhero.livejournal.com]

Maybe... If he likes cities, I bet he'd really get a kick out of Goldenrod-- HEY! PUDDLES GET BACK HERE!

[yeah, Puddles heard the name "Goldenrod" and took off like a bolt of giraffe lightning. who knew a chubby little Girafarig could run so fast?]

[video]

[bakaitoukid]

[... snort] Sounds like that answers our question. What's in Goldenrod?

[video]

[newhero.livejournal.com]

No idea! The only things we've ever seen in Goldenrod are a few gym battles that were posted to the network. Maybe Puddles saw someone he wants to battle?

[Action] If this isn't okay, let me know!

[lightedways.livejournal.com]

[She was going to respond to his post, but...spotted him a little ways away, first. So she walks up behind him and smiles. Looks like she made it to Cherrygrove just in time!

Well...she was probably a little late, actually, but she'd run into some problems on the way there. (First, Lumina had spent two days refusing to move. Then she'd been chased by giant owls...it had been a mess, really.) But she was finally there, and that's what mattered.]

Maybe he misses someone.

[Action] of course it's okay! <333

[newhero.livejournal.com]

[typical to Sora fashion, he jumps about a mile when Kairi speaks-- and then he whirls around to grin at her.]

Kairi!!

[yeah, that grin is taking up the whole bottom half of his face. it looks like it hurts. he probably hasn't looked this happy since he last beat Riku in a sparring match back home.]

[Action] Awesome! <33

[lightedways.livejournal.com]

[She laughs and grins right back.]

I hope I didn't make you guys wait long.

[Video]

[roundtablemngr.livejournal.com]

It looks lonely. [Arthur recalls one of his hunting dogs wearing similar expressions after its fellows were taken on a hunting trip.]

[Video]

[newhero.livejournal.com]

Lonely? I hope not... he's seemed fine the past few months we've all been traveling together.

[giraffe psychology isn't exactly a subject one learns in school.]

[Video]

[roundtablemngr.livejournal.com]

You didn't lose another pokémon that had been its companion, did you?

[video]

[freshbreeze.livejournal.com]

Seems like something's got him distracted...

[alas, he doesn't know about being twitterpated]

[video]

[newhero.livejournal.com]

[they can be baffled together, big bro.]

Rise says he's in love.

[video]

[freshbreeze.livejournal.com]

[excellent!]

Riku is?