To be a true hero, kid, is a dying art

[around 4 or so this morning, Sora had been lying in his bed in the pokécenter, awake, not very comfortable, and bored out of his mind. not a whole lot was going on over the network, and Sora didn't want to wake Hope or Rise or Puddles or anybody else nearby. there were, however, two people he had no problem bothering: Riku got a smattering of text messages full of bad puns-- hey, he needed to practice them on someone! right? but shortly after he sent Kairi a text asking if she was awake, and where she was, a new message popped up on his pokégear screen:]

error: this number is no longer in use.

[... and that's when he silently swung his legs over the side of his bed and grabbed a few things-- including his pokémon asleep in their balls and his notebook-- and for the first time this entire week, Sora creeped out of his room and successfully snuck out of the Goldenrod Pokécenter.]

[first things first-- Sora lurched his way over to the closest vending machine and picked up two bottles of soda. he... made an honest effort to chug them, but wound up dumping the contents of the second bottle into a nearby sewer. it wasn't the soda he was interested in, anyway. next, he walked over to the radio tower-- he couldn't really see the ocean over the fence nearby, but he could hear it... seems no matter where you go, the ocean always sounds the same. he sat down, leaning against both the radio tower and a newly hatched Dratini for support, and began writing.]

( ooc cut: letter to Kairi )

[when the video feed clicks on later that morning, the sun's out in full force by the radio tower. the sound cuts in right in the middle of Sora saying something.]

--tini, could you throw this in the ocean for me?

[the Dratini nods, and wraps its tail around the neck of a bottle with a note carefully rolled up inside. with a grunt, it chucks the bottle right over the fence, and both Sora and Pokémon watch as it soars, then plunks right in the ocean. please don't berate them for littering.]

Thanks. I-- [and Sora turns, noticing Bell pointing his gear at him and recording. he still hasn't actually been out and about Goldenrod wearing something other than his pajamas, but he at least thought to put on some shoes and a jacket this time. he steps a little closer, looking down at the 'gear and Bell-- he's smiling genuinely, but there's definitely a tinge of sadness somewhere in there.]

Morning, you guys! I kind of have an odd question. Have you ever been on a date before? I think we're going to set Puddles up with Whitney's Girafarig today.

[well, this all started out innocently enough. after Dapper evolved into a Kakuna following a spectacular Caterpie smashing last week, both Sora and bug have been very eager to see how he turns out as a Beedrill-- so the past five days have been pretty constant training, stoutness exercises included! and now, after having finally gained a few quick levels, tada!! Sora is the proud new trainer of a very large and feisty Beedrill! and Dapper couldn't be happier; now he's finally able to carry out his one big, life-long wish.]

Dapper! Get back here!

[unfortunately, that life-long wish is doorbell ditching. it's the Teddiursa who's turned on the pokégear this time-- the feed displays the larger half of Cherrygrove, and a Beedrill gleefully fluttering to the closest residence, smashing the doorbell repeatedly with his stinger, then shooting up in the air to hover just above the doorway. poor Sora is not far behind, pokéball in an outstretched hand and his expression quite kicked puppy when he's suddenly left to deal with the residents answering the door.]

Hey, kid! Didn't anybody ever tell you you're supposed to hide after ringing the doorbell?

[Sora just barely manages an apology before he has to chase after Dapper again-- the Beedrill is even going into the Pokémart and center, ringing the bells at the front desks, then zooming off for his next victim. those listening to the feed can hear the Teddiursa laughing, despite himself.]

[now, Dapper here hasn't been with his Trainer for very long, but in the short time they have spent together, he's seemed to pick up on Sora's general moods and mannerisms (not that it's difficult to do so): there's the default pretty cheerful Sora, the determined-to-battle-and-win Sora, the frustrated Sora, and most likely Dapper's personal favorite, the Dapper-why-did-you-just-sting-me Sora.]

[but mopey Sora is definitely a new one- new enough for Dapper to see fit to record the occasion like a nature documentary! the feed flicks on to a shot of Route 31, just outside of Violet City. our rare specimen is sitting nearby with his back to the camera, knees drawn up to his chest to serve as a spot to hide his face. Puddles is sitting next to him, nudging at him with a bag of trail mix between its teeth, because food is always a good pick-me-up apparently.]

... It's fine, Puddles. Really.

[When the video feed first clicks on, there isn't much in the way of visuals except blackness, interspersed with the occasional flash of dull light. The sounds are much more fascinating than the sights, as it were: something is snuffling at the pokégear, and after a moment there's a series of sharp thunks, as if someone were rapping against the microphone. Something is trying to eat it.]

-- Hey! Knock it off! Look, there's food in the bag if you're hungry..

[The feed swings around wildly as Sora snatches away and tries to wipe the pokégear off on his jumpsuit, then stops abruptly as he turns it over in his hand and stares straight into the camera, his expression bewildered. This thing looks more high-tech than the lifts in Hollow Bastion.]

Okay, I'm.. not really sure what I was expecting, but the everlasting Darkness is weird.