A game. For real, this time, hopefully.

[stfuscarab]

No way.

Seriously. No, even if I wouldn't have the scarab yelling at me anymore, [BLESS.] getting me a Pokewhatsit that acts just like it isn't any better. It could walk around and do what it wants! How is that a good idea?

[You can train it. And keep it in the ball. And--]

Doesn't matter! It's still a bad idea.

Comments

[sweettalker]

Not to be rude, but if your mun is serious about sending you I don't think you'll have many other options.

[stfuscarab]

[SIGH. SO HELPFUL, PIPER.]

Doesn't mean I still can't tell her how stupid this is, but we were already down this road. If I'm lucky, she'll forget about it a week later.

[HAHA NO SHE WON'T.]

[sweettalker]

[ALWAYS.]

Let me know how that works out for you. [Small smile.]

Even with charm speak I haven't been able to convince my mun not to put me in "fun" situations.

So, you're a super hero, right?

[hasnomentor]

Come on hermano. At least give it a chance?

[foreveraclone]

I don't know what's better having that or a monkey for a pokémon.

/slowly collects all the threads with you

[socrash]

But you get to keep it and name it and play with it and challenge other people to fights with it! [Someone just got a crash course in Pokemon 101.] What's not to like?

[stfuscarab]

[Is this the sort of helpfulness he's going to have to look forward to, Piper? Is it?]

Sure. I'll even write it down as a reminder. [Okay, okay, sass aside.] Yeah, you could say that. So..."charm speak"?

[stfuscarab]

Oh, come on! You don't see how stupid this is?

[Nothing says terrible idea like a hostile Heracross walking around and learning something like Close Combat.]

[stfuscarab]

I think the monkey wins. [Assuming it isn't hostile or anything.] What's your beef with them, anyway?

Yes, good.

[stfuscarab]

The part where it might act like the scarab, ese.

[hasnomentor]

Sure, it could be a stupid idea but then again maybe it'll all work out? I mean no Scarab means no fear of going on-mode, right?

[socrash]

Ohh, right.

[That...might not be such a good thing.]

But at least it won't be stuck to your back, right? That's gotta count for something.

[sweettalker]

[It'll be like having a female, non-homicidal version of the Scarab to give you equally helpful and unsolicited advice!

So in other words it'll be like having an older sister. You wanted one of those, right, Jaime?]

Seriously, though, if it makes you feel better then it still counts for something. I'm actually behind you on the whole "they should listen to us once in a while" part.

[... Shouldn't have said anything, SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID ANYTHING.]

It's-- [Sighs, running a hand in her hair self consciously.] --a "special talent" I get from my mom's side of the family. Basically I can convince people to do what I say, sometimes whether I like it or not... [I mean what.] It's very not crash.

[GUESS WHO IS LIVING WITH SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THAT SLANG, Jaime?]

[stfuscarab]

Okay, yeah. I won't have to worry about the whole Reach Apocalypse thing as long as I'm there. Wrapping my head around training a Pokemon like that is still pretty weird, though.

[stfuscarab]

Yeah, that's definitely a plus. And even if the Pokemon's hostile, at least I'll be able to actually train it.

[That's the only thing he's really dreading now.]

[stfuscarab]

[That's definitely better! She can be his surrogate Babs and/or Karen or something. Also, he's smiling a little.]

Good. If anyone actually was for letting the muns do what they want, then they need their heads examined.

[Deets. You should have known you were gonna have to provide them, Piper. YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.]

Are you kidding? That's kind of cool. [A beat.] Depending on what you ask, anywa--

[Pause. Did she just say--]

Crash? You wouldn't happen to know Impulse, would you?

[sweettalker]

[Yes, and they can swap stories about their hellish adventures fighting ancient deities and sociopath aliens and it will be magical. MAGICAL.]

It's useful some of the time, but it also gets me in a lot of trouble. [Like taking BMW's off the car lot when you're not even old enough to have a driver's license.

She grins, shaking her head.]

Not exactly? I do know some of your mutual friends, I guess. Wonder Girl is up here with me, so are M'gann, Rocket, Tye, Batgirl, and Zatanna. It's kind of crowded actually.

[hasnomentor]

See? Bright side. You can even name the Pokemon.

[stfuscarab]

[Not too much magic. It might hu--OH WAIT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. Yes. Magical indeed.]

What, did you accidentally order someone around once? [He can see how that could be a problem.] At least you don't have to worry about that much now, right?

Wow, Tye's up there, too? You gotta tell him I said 'what's up'! [And that he was worried and he's glad he's okay and wow Jaime. Jaime calm down please.] I can relate, though. It's pretty crowded where I am, too.

[sweettalker]

... [Why did you ask.] Something like that, if you call getting free cars ordering people.

[ANYWAY.]

He says hey. He'd come say so himself but we're still trying to talk the mundane into getting him out for some "voice testing". She's nervous for some reason.

I bet. It must be pretty loud up there with Charm Alarm, too. [Which makes her laugh.]

[foreveraclone]

This one ruined my second favorite pair of boots when I was there last. They're annoying. And my first encounter wasn't exactly.... memorable either.

[stfuscarab]

Free cars? So many people would kill for one. [Which is why people like you exist, Jaime. Okay.] But I can imagine how badly that went.

She doesn't have to be nervous. Pretty sure she'll do fine.

And don't even get me started on that guy. I don't know how mun tolerates it.

[socrash]

Just think of it like training a pet or something. Give it lots of treats and it'll do whatever you want it to.

[No, actually, that's called 'spoiling'.]

[stfuscarab]

I guess. Mun already thinks I should go with 'Paco'.

[See what I did there...]

[hasnomentor]

At least it isn't a horrible name?

[I see what you did there. XD]