ohmyarceus | OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

[The Aggron bobs his head, rumbling something in greeting, too. And... proceeding to take Shiro's metal arm in his mouth. Shiro is used to this, though, and barely reacts beyond scratching the big guy behind his crest.]

It's... been more than three years.

[Which probably sounds crazy. He's had this conversation often enough to know that.]

[And all the more reason not to say anything about it. Jean doesn't need Shiro piling his baggage on him. That's not fair. Not to anyone.]

Well, yeah, they do. But once you start winning badges and battles, the income stays pretty steady.

It'll be all right, once you're more on your feet.

[ Three years. More than that, even. Her eyes go wide for a moment in surprise and in a sudden wave of sadness that washes over her.

Three years isn't that long.

Three years is enough to change everything.

Three years is enough for someone to move on with their life entirely.

Allura quashes her feelings viciously. This doesn't hurt her at all. Why should it? This is what she wanted, isn't it? For her Paladins to be able to live their lives in peace?

She swallows thickly and smiles at him. It's sincere, but there's a brittle edge to her now that someone who knows her well enough could easily see. ]

Oh, Shiro, I'm so pleased for you! Are you doing well? You look healthy! This world... it seems quite tranquil. Are... are you happy? [ Please tell her you're happy. ]

Spinel giggles, all brightness and cheer, when Jean flails his limbs and stumbles, her arms tightening around him to keep from behind thrown. Jean's command to cut it out goes completely ignored as if this is all part of a game to her.

Of course, everything is part of a game to her. Such is life when you've literally been made to be a living toy.

"It's okay, I can help." She leans over his shoulder, putting her face face-to-face with his. Unfortunately, being a human now, her body has become stiff and static, unable to stretch or bounce or do anything really fun. But Spinel is not letting that keep her down, still throwing herself around with little regard to her new limitations. "Friends always help friends."

Welcome to your new friend Spinel, Jean. You get no choice in this friendship.

[As if it were possible to go on and forget people who meant so much. He's been living and holding onto her memory since he'd found out she left this place way back in the beginning. Just hearing her voice again is...]

[He half wonders if he's dreaming.]

I'm doing okay. We're... we're okay here. Most of the team showed up. Matt's here, too -- Pidge's brother.

Where ... I can bring you to the house, if you want. [Please let him come find her. Make sure this is real.]

We've missed you so much, Allura.

Matt is here? [ Allura's smile is warm at that news--Pidge searched so tirelessly for her brother, and it had been a huge relief to all of them when she finally brought him to the castle. It's good to know that he's here among friends as well.

Shiro's offer to come and find here is met with another smile, this one a little watery. She nods, blinking back her tears so he won't be concerned. ]

Please--nothing would make me happier. I can hardly wait to see you. I've missed you, too. I've missed all of you, more than you can imagine.

I'm on... Route 29, somewhere. I'm not sure if this device has a geo-positioning system. Shall I make my way to the nearest city and meet you there?

I've got a friend from home who's always telling me I need more levels, or to diversify my types, blah blah blah... I'm not really convinced. This guy apparently has a bunch of bugs, and I've got an eagle big enough to ride on. [He thumbs over his shoulder at Penny for emphasis.] Can he really compare?

"Hey! What'd I say?" Jean shot Gaston an annoyed glance as he tapped the screen a little too hard for his liking. And he wasn't even tapping it the right away. You had to touch the words in the little squares to make the stuff come up. Usually. The lexicon of technology wasn't always consistent. "I had to hit the bricks when the one at the last center stopped working..."

Domino gave a knicker of agreement. That man looked like he would give a Mudsdale a hard time. As for himself, he wasn't sure he would ever get big enough for Jean to ride him, but he would like to if he could. Jean was tall, but he was lean and light, so it probably wouldn't be too hard.

Oh joy.

"I don't remember agreeing to that!" Jean started to swat behind himself once he felt he had his balance back. The weight of one little girl wasn't much for him... If she would just stop squirming! "If you're really here to help, you'd get off me!"

Domino was stomping his hooves, snorting, and tossing his head in the general direction of the kerfuffle. His spiky fur stood on end as a ripple of electricity ran down his spine, but he did not attack. He was a good Pokemon, and good Pokemon didn't attack humans unless they really needed to.

Armin...?

[It's a decent guess anyway. Who else "from home" would be telling Jean something like that? Maybe Annie, but...]

Maybe not in Violet. But afterward, you might, for sure.

Matt, Pidge, Lance and Keith.

[Just to confirm it for her. Hunk... Hunk had been here recently. But no longer. She looks so happy right now, there's no need to crush it. Not now. Seeing her smile -- Yeah. This has to be a dream.]

[Though, really, of course he's going to pick up on the way her expression changes. Especially with what she just said. It's concerning...]

Yeah -- if you can get to New Bark Town, I can come get you there. Long as you don't mind flying.

[ She picks up on the omission of Hunk's name, and finds herself feeling disappointed. So it isn't the whole team after all. She wonders if he's back on Earth alone, then? Surely not--even without the team, he still has his family to go home to, which is comforting.

She nods once, then looks around and changes directions to walk back where she came from. ]

I'm not too far out from New Bark Town. I don't mind flying at all. How long will it take for you to arrive?

The swats just ear Jean more giggles as Spinel wriggles about on his shoulders until she is practically hanging in front of him, reaching in to push her finger to his nose. "Boop!"

That done, she does drop herself to the ground, her hands on Jean's shoulder as she all but flips over him, neatly landing on her feet with the grace of a cat. Once on her feet, she mimes rolling back her sleeves with overly comical, exaggerated motions. "Okay, what game are you trying to play?"

Clearly, nobody does anything that is not some form of playing around.

A fairly runty looking Machop stands there, watching the proceedings, nervously wringing his hands together. When Domino starts stomping his hoof, he throws him a beseeching look. Please, forgive his human. She is... She is special. She means well. Really. Also please ignore the Mime Jr hanging around his neck, cheering on the situation. They really don't want to cause a fuss!

"I'm fixing it!"

Obviously. Gaston leans further over Jean's shoulder, getting completely and massively into his space, and taps at the screen again. "This is how it works on the little one they give you! It should work the same way on the big one."

Sadly, 17th century France wasn't great for technology either, and despite getting some lessons from more modern people, Gaston is still no pro. The computer groans a little when he taps it again, and the screen starts flickering. "You see? It's doing something!"

Steed is glad Domino understands, and whickers softly. She thinks Domino shouldn't have problems once he evolves. His trainer looks light and easier to carry. Hopefully they'll both evolve to be big enough to be the noble steeds they were meant to be!

Yeah, him. You know each other? He said he's been here a long time, so I guess it's not that surprising.

[Not Annie. Maybe never Annie. Jean's calmed down significantly after a few years of service, but it's still hard for him to reconcile his feeling about Marley's titan shifters.]

Well, I hope I can get some kind of steady funding by then. I'm getting a taste for this lifestyle.

"I don't think it's good when it starts making noises like that," Jean replied as he crossed his arms over his chest and backed off. If this guy ended up breaking the machine, he didn't want to be a part of it. There might already be wanted signs of him posted up in Violet Town... "Or when it flashes either. I just wanted to see if you can really put Pokemon in there for safekeeping, like everyone's been saying."

Jean covered his nose with his hands after being "booped" with a look on his face like an offended cat. A younger him might have sicked his Pokemon on her by now, but he couldn't bring himself to possibly hurt a young girl. Even if they were irritating as fuck. At least she was off his back now (literally) and he could take a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"I'm not playing a game." What kind of game would someone even play on these weird screen things anyways? "I wanted to see if you can really put you Pokemon in this thing, and it'll keep them for you, like everyone's been saying."

Luckily for the nervous Machop, Domino was more or less placated once the girl stopped touching his trainer. He blew his lips in an exasperated manner at the scrawny Pokemon. Does she do this to everyone she crosses?

If only Jean knew she was actually 6000+ years.

"Oooooh." The sound she makes is one of comprehension, but the vacant look she gives him right after when she scratches her chin proves that literally none of that really got anywhere. "Why would anyone wanna do that? Isn't it better to keep your friends around to play with?"

Oh yes. Really, she hadn't even formally caught him or beaten him in battle. He had, more or less, made the decision to follow her himself because he just couldn't see it going right if she was left on her own. The Machop (named Ruby for those keeping track) glances at his trainer, before looking at Domino, looking slightly helpless. After all, just look at her. Did the other pokemon really think she would be able to be fine on her own?

A couple hours. Skarmory's fast, but it's still a long way.

[And he doesn't want to push the old girl too hard. She might take it as a challenge, but she's still a living thing. Racing is one thing. Long distance travel is another.]

[He hesitates, though, looking at the feed.]

Just stay safe. Please.

I do know him. I've... known him for years now.

[Known him, adopted him, been saved by him. Armin is family, will probably always be family.]

[Like Jean had been.]

The gym should help out with that. And training against other people. It pays pretty well, somehow.

[ A couple of hours should be enough time for her to get back to New Bark Town. She's already walking in that direction. ]

You don't need to worry, Shiro. I'll be fine. And I have my new friend to keep me company.

[ Swablu flaps its wings, making Allura tilt her face away slightly with a bemused expression. ]

The town isn't big, but is there anywhere in particular I should look for you?

[ Judging by the blank and vacant look that quickly passes over his face as he tries to figure out why she's familiar with him.... that's one big nope, princess. He catches himself quickly at least. Can't look like an idiot here. ]

None from my own team, no. The Voltron Paladins are mostly accounted for, however.

You must excuse me though, time works oddly in this place. I don't believe I met you yet.

[ It's a surprise, and not an entirely pleasant one, but Allura takes it in stride. She smiles and nods, sighing softly. ]

I see. In that case, I suppose it's only polite to introduce myself. I'm Princess Allura of the planet Altea. I piloted the Castle of Lions and became the Paladin of the Blue Lion as well. The MFE that you fly is inspired by the technology of my people.

»Network«
Hey, everyone, check this out!

[The camera spins away from Steven's grinning face to a group of Kricketot that would likely be better described as a 'swarm'. One of them waves to the camera.]

I found these guys around Cherrygrove! They're amazing, watch this- hey guys!

[The mass of Bug Pokemon bumble to something resembling attention.]

You wanna show people what we practiced? Okay, one two three-

[The Kricketot start shifting and chirping, and in a few seconds it- kind of synchs up? It's still definitely insectoid chirping, but there's a moment like when a photo of two faces turns into a vase, where the noise flips into coherent music.]

That's great you guys, good work!

[The camera turns back to a grinning Steven.]

Are there any more Pokémon like this?

»Wildcard«
[Choose your own adventure.]

Oh. Huh. You probably know all about where we come from, then.

[It occurs to Jean that it's also quite likely this person knew him too, but... He doesn't want to bring it up. Too weird.]

It's a strange system they've got going here, but it suits me pretty well. I haven't had this kind of freedom in years.

OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

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WHAT NO, YOU'RE FINE

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sorry for Shiro! Sad space dad!

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he's fine it's fine

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Spinel has one braincell and it is her machop.

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Lol maybe one day it will be big enough to physically restrain her

Never.

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Steven Universe | Gay Space Rocks

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