keychained | [017; video/action for Goldenrod, backdated to Monday]

[a few hours after watching Riku completely thrash Whitney in a gym battle, Sora's making the trek through the bitter cold back to the gym from the pokécenter. finally, his very first gym challenge? his very first badge? ... sure, why not!]

[this is it. this is the big moment. this is the big time to shine! the feed opens to Sora standing just outside the gym doors, puffing out visible, nervous breaths in the cold. there will be pretty much only one chance to pull this off, so it needs to go off without any hitches. after a moment his face hardens into a determined expression, and he steps confidently through the doors. Teddy the Teddiursa toddles along after him, recording with the pokégear in his stubby paws.]

Whitney! I've got to--

You again! You're the friend of that jerk from earlier; I remember you! No, go away, I'm not going to battle you!

[and just like that, Sora's confidence deflates like a balloon. pfffffffhhhhhhhhhhh.]

No, wait, that's not why I'm here! I just need to ask you something.

[if the way Whitney is stomping with her hands on her hips is any indicator, she is still not at all pleased about the jerk with silver hair who flattened her poor Pokémon and was a huge pile of RUDE about it.]

Are you just here to make fun of me, then? Don't even try it; I'm just as tough as I am cute!

Well, I-- [Sora's... not very good at this tact thing. he turns briefly back toward Teddy and the pokégear, wearing a look of "oh geez I clearly have no idea what I'm doing, but now that I'm here I can't back down-- STAND STRONG, SORA." he turns back to face Whitney. if he can't be tactful about this, may as well go for bluntness.]

My Girafarig wants to date your Girafarig!

[.....................]

... My, you're forward, aren't you? Well, okay, I guess you're pretty cute. I get out of here in another hour-- you can take me to dinner!

What-- What?! No, no, I'm serious! My Girafarig-- [he fumbles to retrieve Puddles' pokéball, then lets him out with the usual pop and flash of red light. if giraffes could sparkle in all of their manliness, Puddles would be right about now: he's freshly cleaned, groomed, and is wearing a pretty suave little bow tie around his neck.]

-- wants to date your Girafarig. I thought maybe they could... I dunno, go graze together or someth-- PUDDLES GET BACK HERE!

[it's like Puddles doesn't even hear Trainer's voice, when he trots right past Sora and a flabbergasted Whitney toward the object of his affections since November. with Whitney's Girafarig mere feet away, Puddles almost loses his cool... but then he bleats, and rears, kicking his front hooves in the air. not exactly the pose Sora tried to teach him earlier, but deeply ingrained Girafarig mating instincts are kicking in right about now. Puddles is trying to show off how fit he is (spoilers: he's chubby).]

[Whitney's Girafarig looks... well, bemused. a few seconds of total silence pass. seconds meld into minutes. just before the awkward moment turns into an embarrassing one, Whitney's Girafarig bleats once, then rears back.]

[HOLY MILTANKS SHE SAID YES DID YOU SEE THAT TRAINER OMG OMG I GET TO GO ON A DATE WITH WHITNEY'S GIRAFARIG Puddles is now freaking out, and galloping circles around the gym and the girl of his dreams as both pokémon pass by their trainers and trot off to do whatever it is giraffes do on dates. eat spaghetti and watch the sun set, or something.]

[the door slams shut with a loud bang behind them, which cuts into the silent building. Whitney... needs a minute to recover.] That... I. You...

... ... ... ... ...

THAT WAS SO CUTE! Oooohhhh!

[and for the second time today, Sora has a sobbing Whitney clinging to him and crushing his poor ribs. when Teddy cuts the feed off, Sora's flailing wildly and inhaling squeakily, in pain.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[no no no no no he is not getting trapped in the dang pokécenter again. he's endured Nurse Tank enough for a lifetime, thank you very much.]

You think so? The bow tie really sealed the deal, I think. [grinning like a proud dad over here.]

I just hope he knows what he's doing.

_{[NURSE TANK: DESTROYER OF PEACEFUL SLEEP. Heather... may need to deal with him, herself. Because Phoenix will not let her rest until she goes to the Center about those hands...]}

Most definitely. The bowtie was essential.

[... if Sora ever finds out he'll be shoving Heather to the pokécenter along with Mr. Phoenix. just a fair warning.]

That's a relief! I'm glad I got it for him. Where are you right now, Heather?

_{[THIS IS WHY SHE DID NOT SHOW UP AT THE GYM IN PERSON to congratulate him on Puddles' big success. She's got his number now!]}

Me? Oh-- I'm in my hotel room. Sorry-- would've come to see you at the Gym but I just got home from work. _{[Which was a liiiieee she'd taken the last couple of days off. But hey, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him! She didn't want the kid to worry.]}

You didn't get sick from rolling around in the snow the other day, did you?

[Sora... may be hurt if he knew. Heather stuck by him when he had to put up with Nurse Tank; he'd want to be able to do the same for her.]

Huh? What, naw! Just tired from work.

So hey, you free from the Center yet?

_{[Aw, Sora. Don't take it personal! She... can't exactly keep it a secret for long, anyway. Just doesn't feel like dealing with the inevitable D8 WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HANDS conversations so soon...]}

Well, stay warm! And-- yeah, more or less. Kairi came back, so we're gonna head to Violet real quick to meet up with here! And then I think we're coming back here for Christmas.

-- Hey, what do you want for Christmas, anyway?

Heh, don't worry, I plan to-- and whoa, Kairi's back? That's great! _{[THERE'S someone she hadn't seen in a long time... of course, there was no guarantee that this Kairi would remember her, so... oh well. Still.]}

You guys had better stay safe-- and... huh. Haven't thought about it much, to be honest.

How about you, kiddo?

Yeah! She doesn't remember Johto, but she does remember a lot more stuff that's happened back home.

[-- and, without missing a beat:]

What do I want for Christmas? A beard.

_{[... A mischievous grin.]}

A beard, huh... not sure I can manage that, but we'll see.

_{[She was going to find the most ridiculous-looking fake beard she could and put bows all over it. And give it to him.]}

[oh, excellent, he'll have somewhere to store his comb-- yes, he does brush his hair. ... he attempts to brush his hair.]

It's okay, Heather! Having you and all my other friends here is a really good Christmas present already.

[017; video/action for Goldenrod, backdated to Monday]

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