|10| [Video]

[wing_attack]

[... Oh. Tobias happened to look at the date, and think back. It's... weird to think that he's been here so long, but he feels the need to reflect on it. He's not really a public person, but... there are things he has to say. So when he turns the video on, it's with him sitting on a couch with Regal's head on his lap.]

I didn't notice it earlier in the month, but I've been here a year. Kind of. I mean... I went home for a bit but I came back, so adding it all together I've spent a year here. It's... kind of weird here, still. Not that I'm a stranger to weird creatures, but it's... different. This place is nice, and with the exception of one of those teams starting trouble, it's peaceful here.

[He looks down to scratch Regal's head gently, before looking back at the camera.]

... There's a lot of people here that don't care who you are or where you came from, and I mean that in a good way. As long as you don't start trouble with people, people are usually nice. You could have been someone high ranking or you could have been the janitor or something, and it doesn't matter. I mean... I'm a bird most of the time at home, and people here don't seem to mind. People are friendly and nice and...

[He needs to stop that line of thinking, he's having an emotion.]

... I mean. ... There's a lot of great people here. And as far as I'm concerned... this place is more of a home than a lot of places I've been. So... I guess I just wanted to say thanks to people, even the people who aren't here anymore. And... here's to some more great years.

[He turns the camera to Regal, who squawks happily at the feed, before turning off the Pokegear.]

Comments

[audio]

[wing_attack]

[Honestly he'd prefer no murderers at all but...]

Exactly. And most Pokemon are pretty cool. Some of them are weird, but they're good listeners. And some of them can talk back, too.

[audio]

[stonebones]

I don't have one that can do that yet, but Stilzchen and Spencer definitely listen to me. They both kind of...surprised me, but they aren't bad! And Lua isn't either, even if she is still, um... A little less attentive.

I think it'd be nice to be able to talk to them, though. Do you have any pokemon who can talk to you?

[audio]

[wing_attack]

Um... sort of. I have a few Psychic types but most of them aren't much for talking. My Braviary talks back but not in the same words we'd use. I can read his body language pretty well, though.

[audio]

[stonebones]

[Psychic again... They must be really interesting pokemon, with the number of people who had mentioned their special abilities.]

Oh, that's right! You said...you were a bird? I guess it makes sense that bird body language would come easy for you, in that case.

[audio]

[wing_attack]

Yeah. And Regal's a bird of prey... or he's supposed to be even if he's way too gentle than most birds of prey I've seen. I was a hawk at home, so a lot of things transfer over. The way feathers will get raised in alarm, or the tension in his wings... or if he's on his side or back... it's pretty easy to spot if you know the right things to look for.

[audio]

[stonebones]

That's great! I bet he loves having a trainer who already knows all that stuff, even if it means you're a human here. I've...met someone already who didn't like being turned into a human.

[Not...sure if you're the same way...]

[audio]

[wing_attack]

Yeah it's... hard for some people. And I can get that. I grew up as a human before I ended up as a bird, but... some people didn't. It takes time to adjust, and some people never really do. But I don't mind helping those kinds of people out.

[audio]

[stonebones]

Oh! Well, that's lucky. [And...sort of confusing, but in the familiar sense. Didn't want to push that issue too much, just in case. Best to be on the bright side!] It's great that you feel that way, too... I'd like to help out, but my experiences might be...useless, in comparison. You know? So it's good that there are nice people like you out there!

Especially since it sounds like you've got a lot of experience in this world as well... You like it here too, huh?

[audio]

[wing_attack]

Oh? You can tell me why you think they'd be useless if you want, but you don't have to.

[There's silence for a moment while he tries not to fluster.]

Yeah... I... it's kind of the best sort of home I've had. And things are... easier here than at home.

[audio]

[stonebones]

It's just... I'd only ever been human. Being like this is natural for me so I don't really know what people would need help with. I only know that it can be scary to be something else, and... Well, they would have figured that out already for themselves.

[Emil makes a thoughtful noise, nodding to himself.]

I understand. Congratulations, then! On a happy anniversary.

[audio]

[wing_attack]

That's fine. There's a lot of value in that, too. There's some people who haven't ever been human before, probably... and having someone there to just be understanding even if they don't understand exactly is valuable.

... Thanks. I'm Tobias, by the way.

[audio]

[stonebones]

Mmn... But it'd be better, I think, if I could already know what parts they'd have trouble with on a physical level. I talked to someone who was having a hard time because she was "leaking"... [He gives a short, unhappy laugh.] You wouldn't think so much about sweating and stuff going from human to not, but to suddenly be doing that... It must be really strange. And normal humans wouldn't really think about it to explain, you know?

My name's Emil. It's really nice to meet you, Tobias.

[audio]

[wing_attack]

I guess. But even just listening can help.

It's nice to meet you, Emil.

[audio]

[stonebones]

Mhmn. I know that from experience... [He had his friends there for him. Even when discussing their problems wasn't in the cards, just having them stay by his side helped a lot. More than they'd ever be comfortable hearing, knowing them...] I just... I wish I could do more.

[audio]

[wing_attack]

... Yeah. But I think that's good, you know? It means you care.

[audio]

[stonebones]

Oh, well... Yes. Would people really not care about something like that?

[audio]

[wing_attack]

[He's quiet for a few moments, thinking that over. ... Well.]

Some people are jerks.

[That's... really the only way he can put it.]

[audio]

[stonebones]

Ah... Right.

[THAT.

Yeah, he'd...probably met a few jerks.]

...Oh! But not so much, here. I don't know if it's because we're all in the same situation or that's just the way people are, but I haven't met anyone like that since I've been here.

[audio]

[wing_attack]

I haven't really, either. People who I don't get along with, sure, but not people who are outright mean and cruel.

[audio]

[stonebones]

Uh-huh. Even the people who were a little weird sometimes were pretty nice.

It's really good to hear that from you, though, since you've been here much longer. That's kind of amazing!

[audio]

[wing_attack]

It kind of is, but I'm grateful for it. You can really just... build your own life here.