embezzling | ✯ III ; video azalea town ✯

[ Finally having escaped the death-grip of Violet City and the fusions, a message from Johto's favorite swindler pops up. He is seated in a rather comfy-looking (albeit hotel-quality) chair with a lithe, gorgeous Persian seated at his right with her face on his leg, and a tall, foreboding Xatu who towers above at his left with his folded neatly in front of him. The latter seems to just stare at the camera with that characteristic, unblinking foresight gaze the species is famous for. He just looks a little more... direct. ]

Hello there, Johto! [ Stan boasts. Misery the fresh-face Persian growls out a greeting of her own as if to "translate". ] Is all of that weirdness over now? I'm not seein' anyone walking around with spikes or paws or anything anymore. Looks like I got off easy with that one. This place isn't too different from home after all.

But hey- look how much Misery's grown in the past couple weeks. I found Hitchcock over here at the Ruins and he drew like a weed too. [ I mean, just look at that bird who doesn't even acknowledge the fact that he has been referred to. ] I've got some real good stock over here I wanna get going...

[ Behind him floats a Gastly and Duskull who just seem to be tumbling through the air leisurely. An Eevee is trying to climb up the chair but fails miserably. It looks like someone has maxed out his party. ]

I got a favor to ask. Anyone wanna gimme a ride over to Ecruteak? I got some business over there that I wanna get started on. I was gonna take a trip through Goldenrod but I can always just come back later. I'm losing valuable time if I keep screwin' around with this whole walking thing. I'm an old man. My knees are gonna explode if I keep this up. [ Oh, woe is him. ] Won't >anyone outta the kindness of their heart fly me there or something? All I got's a little cash and whatever eggs might come about when I start putting some of these guys together. Just tell me what you're after and I can probably fetch you a good price. I got a ton of things in my box now after trying to catch those goofy alphabet whatzits.

I can't let you in on what my plan is, but I'll give you a VIP pass when I open. [ don't believe him on the vip thing please ]

[ The Gastly and Duskull drift back through the background, bringing with them an object which is floating between them as if their combined spooky aura is carrying it. It is an old photograph of two young men-- one holding some sort of trophy while the other has an arm thrown about him with pride. It is clearly on the dated side but the ghosts have no problem playing with it until Stan notices their tomfoolery and turns around to swat at them with a hand. ]

PUT THAT DOWN. You're gonna rip it!! [ He swipes for it and they float higher and then forward to bring it in full view of anyone viewing the message. ] Merlin! Sabine! Quit it!!

[ The feed stops when Stan leaps forward, successfully knocking the device over and forcing it off. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's good to see that Misery evolved, Stan-san!

[She looks very confident with her new self, at least. At Stan's request, Chihiro seems to contemplate that for a moment because, well...after all of the recent fusion shenanigans, getting outside of the house isn't a very exciting prospect. But Stan is also....mmmmnnold, for lack of a better term, and he doesn't feel right seeing this and just leaving him to his own devices when he has so many Pokemon to fly on. It wouldn't be much of a trip to get him over there, either...]

If you would like, I wouldn't mind helping you get to Ecruteak. It isn't very far at all when you're flying...but, um...only if you're sure that you haven't seen anyone else still changed, recently.

[He's fine, and he's pretty sure Hagakure and his other housemates are okay, but...well, you never know.

And he could just as easily let Stan borrow one of his flying types, but...if he's never flown before, maybe actually going with him would be a smarter idea.]

[ Oh hey, Chihiro. Look how fuckin' proud he is!!! this is, of course, after the ghosts have been given a stern lecture on why they shouldn't be screwing around. Misery recognizes the person on the screen and slinks over to get a better look. ]

I know my bird can learn it, but I haven't gotten the thing for it yet. I haven't seen anyone changed in a few days. I think it's safe.

Oh, that's good.

I wish I had the HM for Fly myself, but I don't...it's just lucky that breeders don't need the badge to actually be able to use it.

How soon would you like to leave? Ah...and you don't need to pay me for it or anything, by the way. I don't mind.

ASAP would be nice. If you can manage it.

--Oh, that reminds me. I got Misery a boyfriend while I was out working on the Ghost Army.

[ By the scruff of the neck, and then holding it properly, he shows Chihiro an athletic little Eevee with the bushiest tail you ever did see. ]

Whatcha think?

That shouldn't be a problem. I'd just like to let my friends know I'll be gone for a little while, but then I'll make the trip over.

[Chihiro blinks, and he can't help but smile a little when he sees the Eevee in Stan's arms.]

Oh! How cute...we have a lot of Eevees living in our house. They're wonderful Pokemon.

[And very, very energetic.]

Do you know if you might like to evolve him into something, one day?

Let me know when you make it to town. I'm just over at the Inn for now.

[ The Eevee wriggles about in his arms, squeaking cheerfully. ]

I was lookin' to evolve him into the Dark-type one. I'm a little old to be out training him at night. I try being in bed by eight.

[ why you gotta be old, stan ]

I will! It shouldn't be very long.

[Hey, old people can have fun too.]

Umbreon is a good choice. I evolved my first Eevee, Henko, into a Flareon...but that was her choice, not mine. I would have been fine with anything, or her not wanting to evolve at all.

[ being old isn't supposed to be fun. ]

Kazimir's a little too precocious to be running around with fire. I have a hard enough time wrangling my niece and nephew. Not sure how I feel about having a dog who can spit fire running around...

[ Kazimir squeeeees!!!! ]

I know, I know! Calm down...! [ He wriggles about and a paw reaches up to bat the Gastly still with that photograph from earlier in the feed floating by and obscuring Chihiro's view. ]

If I were thirty years younger, this all might be easier.

[Chihiro covers his mouth with his hand not occupied with the gear, giggling softly at Kazimir. Yep, Eevees can be little spitfires, he knows that first hand.]

That's understandable...

[He trails off a little when he sees the Gastly floating by, recognition dawning in his expression.]

Ah...did you get a picture too?

[ Stan abandons Kazimir to his lap in order to grab the picture before Merlin can put it in further jeopardy. ]

Yeah.

Lots of people got 'em I guess. Did you?

[He nods a little, glancing off screen.]

I did, yes. I, um...got a picture of my father, actually. It was a bit surprising...

✯ III ; video azalea town ✯

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