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.

[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.

[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.]

[It's been a long day of traveling and training- well, okay, traveling and watching Puddles graze instead of battling- but today was not an entire waste! Now that things have settled down a little, Sora can focus on a new task he's assigned himself: he's managed to scrounge up a pen and a few small scraps of paper, though he'll write all over his map if he needs to. When the video flips on, that's exactly what he's doing, hunched over with his tongue poking out in concentration as he scribbles.]

[After a moment, he looks up, like he'd forgotten he'd turned on his pokégear. That's not the case, though:]

Hey! Can you guys help me with something?