♕ TWENTIETH COMMAND | VIDEO

[sadisticwarfare]

This is getting ridiculous.

[Well that certainly sounds like Archer, though he's not on screen. The background appears to be a very boring room in what looks like a hotel, with a window showing that it is indeed still raining dogs. Apparently it was fine while it was raining cats, but Archer has finally lost his suspension of disbelief at the dogs.]

Does anyone have any idea why this is happening? I was willing to write the sharks off as a freak storm, but this? It's been two days of this now. How long is it going to rain animals?

[The camera turns then to focus on two Espurrs sitting on the hotel bed. They look as traumatized as any normal Espurr, but they're sitting upright and clutching each other's paws for dear life.]

I have another question. Has anyone ever had a Pokémon that has simply refused to do anything without being accompanied by a partner?

[Archer moves into the shot, proving that he's not actually filming this. He reaches out and scoops up the Espurr on the left, pulling it away from the second one. Immediately both the cats start wailing. It's very loud and the both of them immediately attempt to reunite, the one on the bed clawing at Archer's uniform and the one in his arms squirming frantically. Archer sighs and drops the cat on the bed and the two quickly join hands again and go silent, staring up at Archer like he's committed the worst sin possible.]

I can't get them to do anything. I didn't even want two, but when I caught the first one the second one wouldn't stop following me and crying.

[He sounds annoyed, but it was really just kind of depressing.]

I've never had two Pokémon this dependent on each other. Has anyone else had experience dealing with something like this?

Comments

[explosivecombat]

I'll see what can be done, then.

...Don't be surprised if I have at least one of those dogs with me, by the way.

[sadisticwarfare]

Hopefully it's well-behaved.

[He really hates dogs...]

[explosivecombat]

If it's not, it will be shortly. I grew up around them; I know what I'm doing.

[sadisticwarfare]

That's good to hear. Are you coming inside soon?

[...]

I'm taking shelter in the hotel, room 204.

[He can always explain to Kimblee why he's in the hotel instead of the base, but obviously that doesn't need to be posted on the network.]

[explosivecombat]

I'll be there shortly; it's just a matter of collecting the cat.

[...just...give him about twenty minutes and he'll be knocking on that damn door because he doesn't exactly have a room key, Archer.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Oh yeah, right, of course you don't. Archer gets up and opens the door, allowing Kimblee in.]

You finally managed to get the cat?

[Archer's cats are still sitting on the bed, still holding paws and looking traumatized, like Espurrs are prone to do.]

[explosivecombat]

I did, yes.

[The white overcoat he's wearing is long and perhaps unseasonably warm, which is more or less par for the course with him; most importantly, it's got deep pockets and the Espurr he's got with him is particularly tiny, and as such its head is sticking out of his waist pocket and it's...staring at the ground like it's either contemplating the meaning of life or really wondering what's for dinner. It's a bit difficult to tell with cats in general, much less ones with that particular facial expression...

That said, if he sees anything strange about the cats on the bed, he doesn't mention it; he just takes his usual station leaning up against the wall near the door, folding his arms casually across his chest and looking at Archer, his expression even.]

Is there a reason we're here, by the way?

[You know, as opposed to the base.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Ah, the storm started while I was taking a break outside. This was closer than the base and I thought the storm would be over shortly. Besides, I'm getting a bit bored of being in the same room all the time.

[He eyes the cat in Kimbley's pocket, but doesn't say anything about it. He's gotten used to this sort of thing.]

[explosivecombat]

Is that so?

[That will get you a bit of a strange look, Archer; you don't usually leave the damn room if you can help it.]

Just restlessness, or...?

[sadisticwarfare]

Yes, restlessness. I've grown bored of being cooped up all the time, I suppose.

[explosivecombat]

I've been considering returning to Mahogany for a short while; I don't suppose you would like to accompany me.

[sadisticwarfare]

...Well, it beats staying here alone.

[Ugh, Mahogany again?]

I suppose it is about time we start travelling again.

[explosivecombat]

[...look, he knows you like it in Olivine but he's not going back there again with you if he can help it. Not that he's ever going to discuss why, but that...no.]

It is. And besides, Isaac is fond of it up there and it's been a while since we've been.

[sadisticwarfare]

It has been awhile, hasn't it? I suppose it'll be nice to get away from the base for awhile as well.

[Too bad there's no escaping Isaac. Oh well, he'll put up with Kimblee's socially awkward boyfriend.]

[explosivecombat]

[Archer...]

I'm not planning on staying very long, either way - it's just a matter of restlessness on my end as well, I suppose.

[...it also tends to be...more convenient for them to be there through the 15th of September, but he's not going to flat-out say it.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Thank you.]

At least it won't be so warm up there.

[Because you know he wears long sleeves and slacks at all times.]

[explosivecombat]

Some would say we're perpetuating our own misery in that regard, you know.

[Says the man in the overcoat, vest and dress slacks.]

We ought to wait until it's no longer raining animals from the sky, but once that's passed, arrangements can be made.

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course. Hopefully this will be over soon.

[explosivecombat]

Hopefully.

[Not that he minds it while it's happening, admittedly; if nothing else it's amusing him.]

Until then, I'm assuming you continue to have no luck with the cats?

[sadisticwarfare]

None. They're well-behaved if I leave them alone like this, but the moment you try to separate them they start wailing. I didn't have a problem like this with any of my other Pokémon, not even the Gardevoir and Gallade I raised together.

[explosivecombat]

[...you know, there's a really rude remark to be made here, isn't there.]

Well, perhaps they'll get over it on their own. They did just take a rather violent drop and all.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Come on, Kimblee, don't be mean!!]

I suppose so. Hopefully I can at least get them to explain why they won't let go of each other after they've calmed down.

[explosivecombat]

Do they just refuse to talk to you altogether?

[sadisticwarfare]

They won't talk to me or Alekhine. I have no idea why.

[Probably because you and your Alakazam are both jerks??]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee glances down at the kitten in his pocket, who is...still staring at the carpet like he's got no idea that there's a conversation even happening in this room.]

Mine responds, but he does so in a manner that makes it incredibly obvious that he landed on his head, so I don't know how much help that is.