On mun looking at Victory Road

[cardboard_boss]

Hngh. Another game? Thought you got bored of that since I left the last one. [Yeah, he's not too pleased about it.]

Don't say you're joining me into this Pokémon game because Kaz is there? [Yep. That's what's happening, Boss.] I don't even know what a Pikachu is. Kaz is Japanese, ask him.

[Someone's not too pleased about it all.]

Comments

[shootaro]

Pikachu is an Electric Type Pokemon from the Kanto region.

Not all Pokemon are native to the Islands you know as Japan, though. Unova is an American region, for example.

[Hi, have a bit of a know-it-all Pokemon trainer.]

[cardboard_boss]

Sorry, kid, but you've lost me.

[He doesn't even know what a Pokémon is. His mun will explain it to him.]

So, these monsters are only from Japan?

[shootaro]

[He sighed a bit, but nodded.] Yes, Pikachu are only native to the Kanto region of Japan. I've heard they're popular even as pet-like companions there! But, they're not found in the wild where I'm from at all. It was a big shock when I saw one the day I started my journey! I'm from Unova, by the way. Corresponds to your New York, Mundane says.

... anyway, if you like to travel, becoming stronger, coming up with strategies, and can put in the effort to work together with very different creatures you won't know how to communicate with right away, I think you'll like it!
You can accomplish great things and, give or take a few occult ceremonies to summon near-divine entities and or crucify them every now and then, and the occasional hostile takeover of a major city or two, we're enjoying a very peaceful and advanced era!

[... that was said entirely too casually, it's hard to tell if it was a terribly dry joke or genuine. Which is worse?]

[cardboard_boss]

[He listens and lights up his e-cigar.]

Huh. Sounds like a lot to take in. [All the info, man. So, it's like one big zoo? Mother Base already has a zoo platform as it is. Does this mean he can collect more animals? Are there sheep?]

Any sheep Pokémon?

[/wow,/ sure did never get the notification, sorry! ^^:;;]

[shootaro]

[Well, fortunately, you have yourself a well-read trainer, because he can list them from memory!]

Hm? Oh, yes. In my region, there's Whimsicott. Grass/Fairy Type.

[He'll fetch his black pokedex and load up the entry.] See?

[A beep, then, a pleasant voice reads out:]

—Whimsicott, the Windveiled Pokémon. Whimsicott can pass through the tiniest cracks like the wind, leaving fluffy white puffs in its wake.—

[The most absurdly, teeth-rottingly cute ram you've ever seen, it's almost creepy. It's looks like some kind of dwarf or the result of some unethical breeding practices, but apparently, it's not only healthy, but suited for battle, judging by the listing of attacks... Also, it's strangely naked for a sheep, all the fleece seems to be coming from its head, like head-hair, aside from a ring around its neck... but what massive hair!]

We also have the Johto-native Mareep line in farms.

[This one looks more like a standard sheep except, hold on, its undercoat is blue? It's got... big, yellow-and-black striped ears and a similarly-patterned long tail?] Electric Type!

—Mareep, the Wool Pokémon. When Mareep's wool builds up with static electricity, its size doubles.—

... but you don't strike me as a wool and dairy farmer, sir.

1/2

[thatwasours]

[ARE YOU SHITTING HIM, VENOM]

2/2

[thatwasours]

[part of him doesn't even want to dignify that with an answer, but the much-bigger part of him that compulsively spits information when there's even a vague suggestion that someone might be interested wins out.]

It means-- [sparklesqueak is the immediate translation that comes to mind, but he is not saying that] --uh, some kind of mouse or rat, maybe, a sparkly or shiny one.

From what I've seen of the creatures, that sounds like that's exactly what it'll be.

[cardboard_boss]

[Nope. He's not shitting you, Kaz.]

A sparkly rat, huh? [Really? Do they even exist? First he's heard of it.]

I'm not really happy at being placed into another game but I don't get much choice. [Sparkly rats? Really?] You going to be in this place too?

[thatwasours]

Yeah, seems like it. Waiting on whoever stamps the paperwork there, at least.

If you don't like it, fight it. I'll be fine on my own, you know.

[cardboard_boss]

[Venom nodded.]

No. If you're going, I'm going. I don't want you on your own in a strange place filled with sparkly rats, Kaz. [Could be dangerous?]

[thatwasours]

Touching, but not necessary.

I made it alone for nine years in a lot worse.

[it's a statement of fact and nothing more.]

[cardboard_boss]

I wasn't there for nine years and I should have been. [He's still bitter about the whole coma thing.]

You won't have to be alone in any place again, Kaz. Not while I'm still breathing and alive. [Not in a coma either.] We'll tackle this new world filled with strange creatures together.

[thatwasours]

[he wants to brush the statement off with more bravado, but instead, it hits him deep.]

[being alone is par for his life. he's always taken care of himself, and when he had to, others, without help from anybody else. 'you won't have to be alone again' is a very meaningful statement to him, and he almost, almost believes it for a moment.]

Yeah. All right. I guess we will.

[cardboard_boss]

[He wasn't going to subject Kaz to torment by letting him face the unknown alone. Again. Snake should be there for him. Protect the guy. That was what he was going to do.]

We're a team. We'll always be a team.

[thatwasours]

[don't tell him you want to protect him, V, or he will beat you up with his cane.]

[for a moment, the old Kaz shines through, and he smiles.]

Not just us. Everyone on the base, too, even if we aren't there. They'll always be with us.

[cardboard_boss]

[omg, Kaz. you so kinky.]

Yeah, they will. The men are part of us now. [He looked at his shoulder patch and noticed a glint there. Diamond. Yep, he made the fallen into diamond dust to wear.]

[shoulda_toined]

(Totally missing the point.)

Oh, dat's da series mascot fer some reason or anuddah. Notcher type at all, I'm guessing. You look more da type ta go fer a metal gear.

(Knowing glance at the Fourth Wall, waiting for the inevitable joke.)

[cardboard_boss]

A Metal Gear?

[Snake is immediately on alert at the mention of those two words. What are you trying to say, rabbit? He looked at the picture of the strange cog-shaped thing and frowned.

Yeah.

That isn't a Metal Gear.]

I've had enough dealings with metal monsters for one lifetime.

[shoulda_toined]

(It's metal, it's a gear, what more could Venom want?)

Too bad. I hoid dat dey're pretty top tier competitively.