I WANNA BE THE VERY BEST, OR MARGINALLY OKAAAY~

[trustycrowbar]

Who: Gordon Freeman, Pokemon Trainers, NOT-pokemon trainers, people happening by.
What: Gordon becomes a grown-ass pokemon trainer
When: Late afternoon, after class, several weeks after his network post
Where: Gordon's teaching lab, outside in tall grass, other locations
Warnings: BALLS.

[A: Gordon's teaching lab]

Gordon has been busy. He's taken several weekends of Pokemon Training classes after his post to the network, and while he was the oldest in the room by five years (AND THAT INCLUDED THE TEACHER) he's wrapped his head around the technology and theory of pokemon training. He can even name more than ten of them without help, which was more than he could say when he started all of this.

Now they'd cheerfully alerted him that he was ready to catch any pokemon he wanted, provided it was low enough level. So he bought a handful of pokeballs of different types on the way back from the class. Now it's after physics class, and those around the science building can hear his voice echoing down the hallway from the lab.

"Come on, Maxwell! You said you wanted to fight alongside me, and this is how we can do that! Just get into the pokeball and then--"

BZAPP!

"GH! Dammit, STOP that!"

[B: The woods just on the border of the school]

Now it's dusk, and eventually he's convinced his pokemon into going along with this whole "training" thing. Now this grown-ass man is sneaking around in purple-hued autumn tall grass like some kind of auburn big cat in jeans. Someone do something before he makes an idiot out of himself.

Comments

A:

[awakeningwill]

Zero was on patrol through the classroom halls when the noise from Gordon's lab caught his attention. He hesitated for a moment, weighing whether or not it'd be anything that needed his attention. From his last network post, it seemed like he was having some sort of Pokemon trouble, but seeing as the reploid was the very furthest thing from an expert on the matter, he opted to stay out of it.

But the activity inside had picked up Croire's interest too. His cyber-elf was normally quite happy to just follow him around like a well-behaved satellite - it wasn't often that she actually wanted to investigate anything. What was Gordon doing that would catch the attention of a digital lifeform?

Zero opened the door to take a look, though he didn't quite invite himself inside just yet. His sparkly fairy companion hovered over his shoulder - detectable, but invisible to organic eyes.

"...Everything okay?"

[trustycrowbar]

Both Gordon and his electric-ghost companion stop what they're doing and turn when Zero speaks up. The Rotom, however, quickly takes the offered second and jolts Gordon one last time with an evil grin.

"GHK--No, no everything's fine here. I was just trying to convince Maxwell here that--"

And Gordon waves to empty space. Maxwell has already floated out towards Zero's sprite companion, looking a little transfixed. Chirp, beep, chirp, ooh, oh hi, hi, his name is Maxwell, what's yours?

"Oh what now?! There's not even anything up there." Gordon gripes.

[awakeningwill]

Croire's eyes lit up with glee, equally fascinated by the little electric ghost. A trail of sparkles followed her as she bobbed up and down in excitement, giggling. My name's Croire! Hehehee, you feel like me!

Zero watched the two of them, though he could only understand the cyber-elf's half of the conversation. Pokespeak was still foreign to his processors, even if the two digital creatures could commune on the same level of understanding. Though at least he could fill Gordon in on what was going on.

"Maxwell... seems to be interested in my Cyber-elf. He's a little like one himself, almost..."

[trustycrowbar]

"Your what?"

He squints at the open air that Maxwell seems to be talking to. There's no one... there... wait. He gets an idea, and takes out his tablet to view it through the camera. He's the only one in this room without electronic eyes, so maybe...

"So, ah, what's a Cyber-elf?"

Chirp beep ping Hi Criore! Oh, I know I know! That's 'cuz we're on the same, uh, uhhhh... frekin'see! My human goes on about freakin'sees all the time. I dunno what they are, but they sound important...

[awakeningwill]

"They're... like a living program. With the power to alter the world through Cyberspace." Zero couldn't claim he understood the science behind them at all - he was only familiar with how they were used in practice. But he'd traveled through Cyberspace before, seen them in action, and seen the potential power they had over reality. Croire was still young, and from what Ciel had told him, still had a lot of room to evolve. "I've been taking care of her... for a friend."

If Zero had even the faintest familiarity with Pokemon, he might've noted the similarities.

The camera on Gordon's tablet was definitely picking up something. It wasn't a clear picture, but in that empty space there seemed to be a distortion of image, almost like a faint glow. The type of visual that evoked old photographs of fairies or ghosts caught on camera, only in real time.

The sound of her voice translated to a faint twittering to the built in microphone, too hazy to make out her words. I think I've heard that word before! Ciel said it a lot! She was sooo smart... is your human a scientist too?

[trustycrowbar]

Squeak! Zzzt beep ping! Yeah he is! He builds portals and mixes chemicals and makes lasers and shoots monsters and everything! But he's kinda fulla himself. I like to zap him just to take him down a peg. He needs it, sometimes.

[Huh. Willya look at that. Gordon's eyes flick between the screen and real life, wondering what the actual form of this thing could look like.]

A living program... Maxwell is practically the same thing, encoded electricity that can inhabit anything with a induced magnetic field. Fascinating...

A!

[jonny_talbain]

Jon didn't spend a LOT of time in the Science wing. His own class was held in the stadium and sometimes in the Gym, after all. But today, it happened to be a shortcut to where he was going.

He heard the zap, the yelp, and the word 'Pokéball'. How could he not pop his head into the doorway?

"You know, not all Pokémon like to be kept inside the Pokéball. In fact, my partner won't touch hers outside of an emergency, and even then I have to do a little groveling."

[trustycrowbar]

Jon catches Gordon in mid-admonishment to a little floating plasma pokemon in the air, his hair still a little frizzy from his last bit of static discharge. Both he and the pokemon turn when he says that, and the pokemon chirps a satisfied 'See? Told you.' kind of noise.

"They don't?" Gordon adds, ignoring the peanut gallery. "Then what's the advantage of having them in pokeballs in the first place?" He's trying not to sound exasperated, but it's not quite working.

[jonny_talbain]

"The benefit is almost entirely on the Trainer's end of the partnership." Jon replied, letting himself in and walking over to get a better look at the Rotom. He could understand Pokémon speech just fine and he shot the electric ghost a small smirk. "They're registered with your Trainer I.D. once you catch them in a Pokéball, and there are some places - even in the Pokémon regions - where it's inappropriate to have them out of their Pokéball. Other than that I've found there's no advantage at all. Especially not on their end. And I'm sure you can understand how unappealing and frustrating that might be for an intelligent and sensitive creature. Or ghost."

[trustycrowbar]

Gordon grumbles. They didn't mention THAT in the classes. Well, they mentioned the trainer ID thing, and implied that they'd mostly just stay in their balls forever if you let them. It must have been one of those bullshit sets of social cues that aren't explicitly stated, just learned from birth if you were born there.

"...You don't say." He finally adds, as Maxwell the Rotom giggles and chimes happily at the compliment. Gordon looks up at him.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I didn't know you didn't like it in there. You don't mind hiding out in most of my OTHER electronics, so I didn't think this would be any different!"

He has no idea if Maxwell can understand him. Meanwhile Jon hears from the beeps and squeaks in response a chiptune equivalent of 'It's boring in there! All your other stuff has GAMES in em.'

[jonny_talbain]

"He says all your other gear has games in it, and the Pokéball is boring." Jon relayed. Hey, at least Gordon was TRYING, right? Jon would definitely give him credit for that.

"...ah, being not entirely Human myself, I can understand a good number of different creatures. Pokémon are among them. Most Pokémon can understand Human speech extremely well. That would, I believe, include your Partner here." He turned to Maxwell. "Isn't that right, chum?"

Brought By B

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Gordon.

There was a man hunting in the dark, his bird actually joining him this evening. Normally the little guy would be asleep in this hour, since he was still basically a child. Connor was just trying to keep an eye out for him while hunting some smaller game.

He then heard a rustling in the distance, and decided to take to the trees and out of plain eyesight. As unlikely as it was, consider him cautious, it could be something dangerous perhaps. Looking at his lifestyle, his reflexes were probably easy to justify. Skennen'kó:wa took wing and stayed by, following his human friend and adapting to his ways.

Connor quietly took to the trees and moved closer to the noise.

And he simply stared when he saw Gordon.

[trustycrowbar]

You'd think, as used to Connor's and Ziio's sneakiness as he is, Gordon would have noticed him up there. That doesn't mean he does, however. It happens that just as soon as Connor gets close enough to even potentially make a noise that he could have detected, the grass nearby erupts and produces a large and rather angry pidgey.

"GAH, frkn, Maxwell!" Gordon blathers, startled, and lobs a pokeball. It pops open and... nothing comes out. Gordon makes a noise that sounds like an air compressor about to explode, and dodges an angry swoop by the pidgey. "HOW'D YOU GET OUT OF THERE?" He yelps to the open air. "OKAY WHATEVER, YOU MADE YOUR POINT, CAN STAY OUT OF THE POKEBALL! JUST HELP ME OUT HERE!"

As though that were a cue, Gordn's coat sizzles and zaps and produces the Rotom in question. He must have been hiding in his tablet. He makes a noise that sounds like a Commodore 64 threatening to attack someone, and discharges a nasty jolt at the bird pokemon coming around to attack again.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Pretend Connor knew what a Commodore 64 even was.

Had Connor ever seen Gordon so flustered like this? That would be a big negative. He wasn't sure if this was embarrassing to watch or oddly amusing. Maybe a little both. He ended up staring out of curiosity anyway.

Skennen'kó:wa perched on Connor's shoulder, taking the hint to also stay quiet because Connor was. He recognized Gordon and Maxwell too, and ruffled his feathers in mild amusement.

If Mother could see this right now, Connor thought. She might be shaking her head like Connor was right now.

[trustycrowbar]

[GUESS WHAT, CONNOR? That's exactly what happens about a half-hour from now. As it is, right now Maxwell is in the middle of dogfighting with that pidgey, while Gordon watches from the ground and occasionally dodges lightning strikes and feathers.]

I thought he had to be GROUNDED for this to work!

[Stop trying to apply your silly SCIENCE to pokemon battles, Gordon. In short order his Rotom returns squeaking and triumphant and the poor pidgey is left to preen his wounds, to put it mildly.]

[mohawk_tomahawk]

Okay, so maybe now Connor should say something, after seeing that display. He just saw Maxwell beat the snot out of a poor small bird that proved some trouble. That was some sort of show if Connor ever saw one.

Suddenly, with a swift thud, Connor landed from the tree out into the open. If he shocked anything, he was sorry. But now it was time to leave the open.

Connor side eyed the scene and cocked his head as he crossed his arms, and his bird slowly glided down to land on Connor's shoulders; his favorite spot these days.

"Gordon," he remarked. "Is this 'training'?"

B. How can I not.

[nottheproblem]

Ziio hasn't necessarily made it a habit to go bugging around in the forest. Not since the explosion, anyway, and for a plethora of reasons not to. However, sometimes Gordon needs someone to keep an eye on him and she's not completely incapable of doing just such a thing. In fact, most of the time, she does have an eye on him, like she's just waiting for him to do something idiotic.

Strange how such an academically brilliant man can sometimes be so foolish...

But when he's not in the room she's tried to subtly occupy at a time he normally would be, it does raise some lesser noticeable alarms in the back of her mind. So maybe seeking him out wouldn't be the worse thing she could do, which is how she finds herself in the woods to begin with.

Watching him proves to be so ridiculously entertaining that she can't even be bothered to interrupt him immediately. He looks like a damned animal and it's not like he isn't one to some degree. And finally she clears her throat and raises her voice just loud enough for him to hear.

"Are you trying to visit your roots, Gordon."

[trustycrowbar]

Her voice cases him to pop out of the grass, standing straight and surprised by her voice. Oh god, she was WATCHING him again, wasn't she? He turns and squints into the trees, seeking out her tanned frame inevitably crouched on the base of a branch somewhere.

"No, not-- not precisely! I'm just exercising my pokemon!"

That... sounds like a euphemism, Gordon. And not one of your better ones, either.

[nottheproblem]

At least he knows where to look. If there are trees present, inevitably Ziio is in one of them, nice and low to the branches for the best view, and the best escape route. If necessary.

If she wasn't more 'in the know,' she'd probably ask. Fortunately, Ziio's not completly unfamiliar with the concept of pokemon. Not to say she's particularly condoning of what they're used for. However, that's another topic for another day.

"And in order to that, you need to be rooting around as if you were an animal... I see." A sly smile hooks into her mouth. "Is that your way of saying you won't be eating tonight?"

[trustycrowbar]

"What?"

ZZAP! Out pops Maxwell from... some shard of electronic gadgetry in his pocket. He giggles madly at Ziio's observation and flattens himself into a zappy, linear pastiche of a prowling creature. He even couches and sneaks through the air for a few feet.

"Ha ha ha." Gordon chimes in.

[nottheproblem]

Ziio doesn't really know the first thing about Pokémon. Except they exist at the academy. Except she almost inadvertently killed one. Except that they evidently can take on human forms. Except that they can be used for combat against one another. Trying to train one herself would never happen, and watching Gordon deal with his Rotom just solidifies that for her.

She relaxes against the branch she's made a home in and cradles her chin in the palm of her hand as she looks between the two the best her eyes can. "Are you making any progress at all? It looks troublesome." But maybe that's what Gordon needs, a little bit of trouble. It certainly beats a lot of shadow bugs and islands popping out of nowhere.

[kumagypsy]

It SOUNDED like there was a fight going on in one of the classrooms, and thus Kumatora was obligated to check it out and punch everyone into stopping. Instead of students, she found a teacher getting beat up by his pet ghost.

"Uhh, you need some help there, teach?"

[trustycrowbar]

"No, no, I can handle this." He replies automatically. While he's turned away, the pet ghost takes off and vanishes into a computer screen. Then he turns back.

"...We'll continue this conversation later, Maxwell." That's not a mere suggestion, from the sound of his tone. Meanwhile, the screen shows a gaggle of zombies and a rotom shaped like a shotgun chasing them. Now Gordon addresses Kumatora properly.

"Sorry about that. He's gotten rather rowdy lately."

[kumagypsy]

Kumatora eyes the screen and suddenly feels grateful that she never had a computer at home at Osohe.

"You ever dealt with ghosts before?" That was a rhetorical question, because she could already tell he hadn't.

[trustycrowbar]

"No, I can say with all honestly that they're ONE thing I never had to deal with back home." He answers anyway. "Although creatures made out of sentient plasma are slightly more plausible, which is what I think he may actually be."