Victory Road IC Inbox

[pidge_out]

 


Hey, it's Pidge. Can't answer right now-- Rover quit it! --so leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.
Rover, what did I say--?!?!

Comments

8D

[pidge_out]

on my way

are you ok?

[shiro2hero]

Yeah! everything's fine -- actually fine

Don't worry. Just wanted to get your take on something.

[pidge_out]

ok then
i'll be there in a minute

[And, true to form, Pidge steps out onto the porch momentarily. With a very confused, curious look on her face.]

Hey. What's going on?

[shiro2hero]

[And there he is. Perched on the porch railing, with his Meowth up on his shoulders, and his big Aggron's head draped over the railing at his hip.]

Hey.

[There's a genuine smile before he seems to straighten up a bit.]

[Matt... said this wasn't necessary. But Shiro didn't want to just dump everything on him. He had enough to worry about, with the observatory and his work. Shiro's the bum taking care of the house.]

[So...]

You... know how I said I'd been here two years now? A lot happens in two years.

[pidge_out]

[Just the gesture of him straightening up like that is enough to get Pidge even more confused. Sure, he said that everything's fine - actually fine, and not Shiro Fine - but there's still plenty of room for Pidge to have her doubts.]

Yeah, I know. Of course.

[That's how time works, Shiro. Where is he going with this?]

[shiro2hero]

[Space lion Jesus why is this difficult...]

Right.

So... sometimes when you’re... in a different place, time or... situation. Your... uh. Interactions with people change. They get more relaxed. Sometimes.

[Both Luna and Kuro are giving him a sideways look now. Seriously Dad?]

[pidge_out]

[What... is happening right now...]

Okay. So... I guess something happened to you?

[shiro2hero]

You... could say that.

But it’s not bad! It’s a good thing. I... just wanted to give you an idea of. Timeframe.

How long it’s been and how. Things change.

[The Pokémon have expressions identical to Pidge right now.]

[pidge_out]

[She keeps switching between looking at Shiro and looking at his two Pokémon. Because she's pretty sure they'd be better at this than Shiro is proving himself to be.]

Uh- Sure?

You know I don't- It's okay that everyone's from different points along the timeline. I don't mind.

[Is that what this is about?? Pidge is starting to think she'll never know.]

[shiro2hero]

[This is the point where Red the Incineroar and Blue the Gallade poke their heads into the porch to watch the show. Blue takes one look around and ... in a move he probably picked up from Lance... mashes his weird Gallade hands together. Trying to mime putting a finger into a fist. Red stares at him for a very long disdainful while.]

Yeah — yeah I know that. This isn’t about that. It’s... about how things change while people are... here. Interacting.

[FOUR Pokémon roll their eyes.]

[pidge_out]

[An eyebrow aaaaaaarches up.]

Interacting.

[She echoes the word like she has no idea what it means. And Pidge is totally looking over at Blue and watching the way he's pushing his hands - ?? - together.]

[shiro2hero]

I... yes. That's generally what I mean. People getting along... more than getting along.

[Blue just keeps doing what he's doing. Finally, alongside him, Red sighs. Her Incineroar paws aren't really suited for this either, so she just mushes her fists together. Like two mouths kissing.]

[She looks incredibly bored.]

[pidge_out]

[Pidge is definitely paying more attention to the Pokémon right now. Because they're a lot easier to understand than Shiro is. They've dropped great hints and Pidge has absolutely picked up on them.

But why is this so hard for Team Leader, here?]

Right. Like how friendships are formed.

[shiro2hero]

[Kuro the Aggron isn't helping with gestures. He's just here for moral support. Looking at his trainer, then at Pidge. And back again. Seriously, dude. You can say this to Lance and Keith but not her?]

And... more than friendships.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge has to very carefully keep her expression blank.]

... Okay?

[shiro2hero]

And... that's... what I'm trying to say. Happened.

Is happening. Here. In this timeline.

[The pokemon have not stopped. Green has been attracted, now, peering over the top of Kuro's head.]

[pidge_out]

[She tilts her head to one side, folding her hands behind her.]

Right. People becoming friends and stuff.

[Right, Shiro? Friends!]

[shiro2hero]

I... mean.

I mean more than friends.

[Oh boy. Now there's a Marowak peering up onto the porch too. Clearly, everyone wants to hear this information.

[pidge_out]

Uh-huh.

[She tilts her head the other way this time. Keeping her face just as blank and innocent.

Honestly Pidge is kind of excited to see how many of Shiro's Pokémon will come wandering up to see what's going on.]

[shiro2hero]

...



Good talk, Pidge!

[Oh my god, Shiro.]

[Literally every pokemon gathered at the porch looks like they want to simultaneously strangle him. Including Haunter the Gengar. Who is standing in the doorway, blocking its trainer's path.]

[pidge_out]

[It is so hard to resist the urge to smack her own forehead.]

...Shiro, is that really all you called me out here to tell me.

[Because SHE SURE AS FUCK KNOWS IT ISN'T.]

[shiro2hero]

... If I say "yes", you're going to shoot me down, aren't you.

[His pokemon nod.]

[Several times.]

[pidge_out]

[Pidge is just going to position herself in a way that he won't be able to move past her, cross her arms, and stare at him until he speaks again.]

[shiro2hero]

...

Sometimes, the people you knew on a tiny spaceship were the person you wanted to be closer to all along?

[Haunter looks sidelong at Pidge, shaking its whole... self. It's so ashamed of its trainer right now.]

[pidge_out]

[She's raising an eyebrow at him again.]

Shiro, I have no idea what that's supposed to mean.