what would you do if you just got launched into THE WORLD OF YOUR DREAMS huh

[shirimasen]

[...who isn't experiencing culture shock as much as he is the total immense joy of being able to play with his Pokémon. He's got an interesting crew out with him (a Typhlosion, a Clefable, a Wigglytuff, a Bellossom, a Smeargle, and an Abra), and he's cuddling with them, as one is prone to do when one has never had the chance or thought of Pokémon being real.

(Well. He thought so, when he was like, eight or something? But he was a kid, and it hadn't been real. But these Pokémon -- they were! And his team from his Soul Silver game had been brought to life, just like that!!)

To the undiscerning eye, it might look like he's asleep. But he definitely isn't. Totally. 100% awake here. Really!! Just go over and see for yourself, he's seriously awake. It's not like he's his Abra or something, guys, hahaha, who the heck falls asleep in random places right --]

Comments

[shirimasen]

[Oh, no, she noticed -- as sneaky as Silver, for sure. Hibiki turns his face away with a huff.

Then, fairly softly and riddled with pauses:] Kotokuma's just a nickname, and she doesn't really like it, but it really fits her... She's cute and cuddly, like a bear, but really mean sometimes. A few years ago, we really were best friends, but nowadays it's kind of one-sided. I like her a lot more than she likes me, I guess.

[hum...]

She says we're getting too old for Pokémon, but she still plays when she thinks no one's looking and sometimes she'll even trade with me and battle me. She's really, really good at it, and me and Silver-kun never stand a chance. Silver-kun say people change, and that of course Kotone-kun wouldn't always like the same things we do, but...

[......]

She's a good person, but she's hard to get along with.

[goldenlyre]

[Sounds like a difficult lookalike...

And totally not like her! What is this Kotokuma thinking?! You should just go with something if you like it! That's why, even if Ethan would tease her about her fascination with ruins and puzzles, she loves what she loves!!!]

Huh! I'll never be like that! My love of puzzles and ruins will be known by all, once I uncover all the secrets of the Ruins of Alph! [Fist pump-- oh sorry Sprouty did that startle you shhh shhh it ok.] What do you mean by play Pokémon though?

[shirimasen]

[Duh, like playing a--

Oh, he let it slip. Hibiki waves his hand, hoping she'll just drop it; he doesn't want to sound like even more of a crazy person!]

Are the Ruins of Alph nice? [TOPIC CHANGE. He knows they are, because he's -- his character's -- been there, but anything, anything to not talk about what she's inquiring about.]

[goldenlyre]

They're totally amazing! Did you never visit them? I've been trying to get Ethan to go with me for like, ever, but he's not into them so he doesn't want to go... Do you like puzzles, Hibi-kun?

[Shortened his name. Hella. She'll grab onto his Pokémon thing once she's done with her passion.]

[shirimasen]

[Phew. Wait, what's with the familiar nickname -- well. He gave her one, or took it, so it's okay. Doesn't stop him from blushing but hey!]

I'm pretty good at them, so I guess so. How about you?

[goldenlyre]

[Each word will be punctuated with her leaning into him, and the last...]

I. Am. The. Best! [The last word, she tosses her hands into the air, scooting back to her spot beneath Sprouty. The Meganium lays his head back down, staring at the Typhlosion.]

I've beat like, all the puzzles in the ruins! They're super simple! I think the only reason Ethan doesn't want to come is because I'll beat him in solving them. [...] I twisted my ankle the first time I slide down though. The Unown are really nice!

[shirimasen]

[Just like him! Minus the ankle twisting.

His Typhlosion gives a something sympathetic look to Sprout, but doesn't make any moves to do anything but be really, really amused at his predicament. Sorry.]

It's too bad they're kind of useless when it comes to battling. They're amazing at the same time, though -- to think the world's entire writing system could've been based on them!

[...Pokémon world's writing system, anyway.]

[goldenlyre]

[She claps her hands together and then grabs Hibiki's humming happily. And talking pretty excitedly.]

I knoooow!! I actually have all of them caught, heheh... All of them have such different personalities, I can almost see them when I'm writing! Did you know that Johto and Sinnoh are pretty similar? They've got Unown there, too! But we're so so so far apart!

[Kirakira. So much passion about this. Sorry, Hibiki... If Bakudachi's feeling sorry and amused at Sprouty's predicament, then that's exactly what the Meganium is feeling for Hibiki's plight. Once you get her started, she has a tough time stopping.

... She's just friendly like that.]

[shirimasen]

[AHHH SHE JUST GRABBED HIS HANDS JUST LIKE THAT AHHH

he had a big crush on kotone when she was still cute and fun and he still does but literally shut up and lyra is not helping with keeping that damp?!?!]

Y-Yeah, they have punctuation-looking ones! I-I almost wonder if we really adapted from them, or if they're the one's adapting to us!

[goldenlyre]

[She stares at his reddened face, kind of curiously, then she grins widely and squeezes his hands.]

You know, Hibi-kun... [Oh no, has she figured it out...?] I think you might be onto something~! Like, wouldn't it be so cool if they adapted to us? Like how Grimer and Koffing and stuff came to be!




[Nope. You're cool, Hibiki. She's still wrapped up in Unown and ruins.]

[shirimasen]

[Thank

every god

ever.]

A-And Voltorb and Electrode! It-- it'd definitely be something cool if it was true, Lyly-chan! Definitely, definitely!

[goldenlyre]

[Why's he so stuttery though? Does Kotokuma not like, suddenly grab his hand often or...

Oh, wait, she probably doesn't. Lyra's determination grows and she will make it so their fingers are

in

ter

locked.

They will be friends. Good friends.]

You're not used to cute girls holding your hands, are you? You should be! You're cute and friendly and fun to talk to! Are you just shy? Silver's shy too, even if it's more of a prickly shy than an embarrassed shy like yours, but I'd never want to compare someone to Silver since no one's nearly as grumpy as he is.

[shirimasen]

[Don't call him shy! It's... a really big blow to his ego...]

Y-You just look a lot like Kotokuma, and [um !!!] it's just... a little weird, I guess! The Silver-kun I know is pretty shy that way too, but I'd never call myself shy, not at all!!

[He totally is though.]

[goldenlyre]

You totally are though. I guess someone like me must make you pretty uncomfortable then, huh!

[Despite that, she seems pretty cheerful.



But will let go of his hands yes. She knows she can be a little much. Sprouty's told her so.]

Do you like Kotokuma?

[shirimasen]

[AHHHh arigatou, lyly-chan.]

We're friends. [That's all. Kind of. They're kind of friends.]

[goldenlyre]

[That is not the look of a friend.

That is the look of someone who has been hurt by a "friend".

Lyra wonders if she just makes it worse, or... Well! There's no way to know, so she shouldn't worry about it. Except by asking.]

I'm not like, bothering you or anything, looking like her, right? She doesn't sound very friend-like if she's mean and doesn't hang out with you much anymore.

[shirimasen]

Ah, you're fine, don't worry. [He probably doesn't sound super sure saying it, but he swallows back his upset feelings.] Kotokuma's just difficult! We still have fun sometimes, and you're two different people, even if you look the same. So-- So it's okay, okay?

[goldenlyre]

... If you say so. I can so change my hairstyle or something if it ever does! I don't mind a bit. Promise! [She will leave Sprouty so she can scoot over to the freest side of Hibiki and lean her head against his shoulder, yes. Patting whatever Pokémon is there. Comfort comfort new best friend lookalike.

Sprouty is just happy to be free. Hello, Bakudachi. The Typhlosion he knows is quite something else. He'd like to get to know you too.]

Also, you can trust me not to judge you or anything, you know. I'm pretty weird myself.

[shirimasen]

[iiyAAH CRAP no just... He turns his face away, berating his quick-to-blush nature and shakes his head. The Pokémon on that side happens to be Pidachi, and he just loves getting attention. Even if he's the most careful of their weird posse.]

It's okay. [Maybe more for his benefit. And, hey, maybe ... he could be friends with this Koto-- err... Lyra, instead? It wasn't like Kotone would believe in Pokémon enough to tumble into the world. It pains him to think of it like that, but it's for the best at the moment.

Bakudachi's not too interested in getting to know a Meganium, but sure. He just has to keep being a pillow for Hibiki though. Does Sprouty like stretching out in the sun?]

Thank you, Lyly-chan. You're really sweet.

[goldenlyre]

[Sprouty loves stretching out in the sun. It's one of his favorite things, though he doesn't mind the rain either. What's Bakudachi's favorite berry?]

Well, even if you're someone different, I can't help but think of you as one of my best friends! That's just how it is! The name doesn't matter at all, because a rose by any other's still a rose! It's gotten me into some trouble, but I can't help it!

[shirimasen]

[Yellow ones. Aspear are easiest to get a paw of, so those.]

I wonder if it'd be the same for Kotone-kun... That is, if she met another Hibiki-kun, would she still be mean to him just because he was a Hibiki-kun, even if he wasn't me?

[A scary thought. Stay away, Kotokuma --]

[goldenlyre]

[They're so sour though! I like the blue ones best. For all the trouble she can cause, Lyra always makes sure to find me Chesto berries to eat...]

If she did, then that'd just be plain awful. Does she have any friends with an attitude like that?

[shirimasen]

[Chestos are so bad. They're better than Cheri and stuff, at least. He personally dislikes getting paralyzed and having to eat those to get rid of it quicker.]

Plenty! She only acts so mean towards me. [Heheh.] Kotone-kun's really popular at school.

[goldenlyre]

[They're not so bad... But they're definitely not on the top of his lists by far. What about Pecha? Or Persim?]

I guess it's just weird to think that there's a me who isn't like, totally besties with a you. [She just grins up at him.] Mind if I take her spot~?

[shirimasen]

[Middle ground. He usually just gives them away. Hibiki's fond of all kinds of berries though, so whatever they don't eat he gets.]

No one could replace Kotone-kun. [As bad of a friend as she's been, it's the truth. He's very firm on it.] But I wouldn't mind being friends with you, Lyly-chan.