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

[firstgirlwins]

[She leans back, looking thoughtful, against Tini.] That's pretty impressive. Quil tends to struggle against my friend's Feraligatr, but we manage to pull through every time. Isn't that right, Quil? [The Typhlosion grunts in reply.]

[shirimasen]

[Well, Hibiki just has the advantage of being a bigger nerd and investing more time into status moves -- most people just go all-out with power moves, and his best friends don't tend to be the exception. Maybe one day they'd learn.]

That's proof of how strong your bond with your Typhlosion is, isn't it? [...or superior IVs, but stats. Stats! Even if Pokémon are just pixels back home, he trumpets about having a good bond with them -- ahaha.]

[firstgirlwins]

Absolutely! Quil and I are as close as can be. We've been through just about everything together since I started my journey!

And the most important thing you can do is form a strong bond with your friends, after all! [Toge circles around Hibiki and trills in agreement.]

[shirimasen]

[Heheh. Well -- he can do that now, for real this time..!! (He's kind of floored that his team's as cuddly to him as they are, but Pokémon are Pokémon.) He holds out his hand a little hesitantly towards Toge, since he'd like to pet it... but he's not sure if it's proper to just got ahead and pet people's Pokémon. Mom always said to ask before you did anything to someone's pet, so...]

You guys must be unstoppable then. Have you ever lost a battle?

[firstgirlwins]

[Toge doesn't seem to mind any, nudging Hibiki's hand happily.]

Mmn, a couple. I've been given a run for my money plenty of times, but the first battle I actually lost was to the Champion, Lance.

[shirimasen]

[Yess, he loves Togetic. They're so cute, and they become super awesome when they evolve into Togekiss. He rubs Toge's head gently, a grin beginning to show on his face.]

Champions always are. [Hibiki, unfortunately, was usually overleveled for battles -- grinding does wonders. Being from a place where it's just a game and not real life is just wonders. He hesitates to say it, but he'll let himself have a little pride.] I haven't lost once -- um, aside from in competitive battle circuits, or against Kotone-kun. When I was pla... um, on my journey, I didn't lose any battles or anything like that.

[firstgirlwins]

My friend... the one with the Feraligatr? He was usually the one who gave me my tougher battles. The only other battle I've lost... it was to this guy who hung around Mt. Silver... Red, I think his name was. Kind of a weird guy. Really quiet.

[shirimasen]

[Oh, the final boss of final bosses. Hibiki crinkles his nose at the thought.]

I never tried, since Kanto doesn't really interest me. The Pokémon do [as evidenced by his team!!] but ... I like Johto a lot better.