audio, backdated to during the Dragafloat Festival

[telewarped]

[Following a successful but taxing bounty quest, Shoka has been stuck in the Pokéclinic since the 15th—and judging by the way the clinic Pokémon look at her and the way her stupid, freak body keeps telling her it's somehow still on fire, even when it totally isn't, she's going to be stuck there for some time. She can still walk, kind of, and it doesn't hurt all the time, so if anyone were to ask her, she'd tell them that this amount of caution is entirely unnecessary... But no one did ask her.

The Grumpearl message comes in darkness; no visuals or even true audio—just pure thought:]

This bites. I wanna go to the festival!

Maybe I can sneak out...?

[This is almost definitely the Grumpearl version of a butt-dial. In Shoka's case, it's more of a head-dial, considering that her pearl is still stowed away inside the hollow of her disguise's false Pikachu head.]

Comments

Video;

[quirkynote]

[As someone who doesn't use a phone very often, it should really be no surprise that A.B.A has no concept of the butt, head, or anything dial.]

If someone's biting you, you need to bite them back.

...only much harder.

[telewarped]

Wha—ah! [A.B.A jumpscare! An actual, spoken voice, then:] Ugh, seriously? Hang on...

[A short flurry of overlapping thoughts, then, as she extracts her Grumpearl for a proper talk: Ugh! Turned on by itself—So dumb! Wait, A.B.A can—Ow, fucking ow—]

Words to live by, I guess. But, to be honest, the only thing I really wanna be biting right now is some dango...

[quirkynote]

Dango...? Dango...

[The word "dango" proceeds to repeat softly, almost like she's trying to look something up in a book. Except the book is her mind and she's coming up empty.

She HATES coming up empty.]

[telewarped]

Sorry. It's a festival food where I'm from. It's a kind of dumpling, basically.

[She thinks really hard about it until an image solidifies in her mind: the anko dango skewer from Kyoto Sweets back in Shibuya.]

Ugh, I bet they have some out there right now... Or at least something like it! But I'm stuck here...

[quirkynote]

[Oh! Well, dumplings she understands, and she can definitely confirm there's dumplings at the festival. But...Shoka can't get any? How can this be???]

Stuck? Is someone holding you hostage? Do let me know, I can have them eliminated quickly. I was wondering where you've been...

[telewarped]

Pfft! Sort of... Thanks, but no need for eliminations this time. But since you're here... Maybe you wouldn't mind doing me another favor.

[She could really use a noble steed right now, after all.]

Think you can come by the clinic?

[quirkynote]

[The...the clinic?! Shoka was at the clinic this whole time?! Why didn't anyone report this to her, specifically?! A.B.A's mane bristles, but there's a look of worry in those big, blue eyes.]

Of course, I...

[Shoka visited her, after all, and now A.B.A feels like this is her first REAL test to pass friendship class. She HAS to visit Shoka, it'll prove to not only her, but everyone else that A.B.A's capable of Normal People Relations. ......does she have to bring something? Shoka brought something. Malasadas right? NO! Don't be stupid, be observant, Shoka clearly stated she wanted her danglings.

What else did Shoka bring? ...Right, of course, her Paracelsus proxy. But she can't possibly bring that...right? That's...HER creepy stand-in husband, even just the imaginary thought of Shoka requesting that skull makes her bristle even more. It's utterly unacceptable!! What sort of homewrecking, worthless woman would request such a thing-

...but then...would she fail friendship? Bringing that skull made A.B.A SO happy when she was ill, she only wants to return that favor, give Shoka that very same feeling. It's just...as far as she knows, Shoka isn't married.

A.B.A takes a second to walk away from the pearl, although it's still very clearly displaying...everything. She goes into the corner of everyone's shared Spire room and starts shaking her head, stomping her feet, tugging her hair. Eventually, she just starts full on screaming before finally returning, still quivering in an undefined rage.

But thanks to the psychic connection, it...feels like she's trying to push it down. Keyword try, it's like holding back a flood with a toothpick umbrella. But she is...GOING to be a good friend, or SO HELP HER.]

Would you... Unk. ...like me to bring... Paracelsus with?!

1/2

[telewarped]

[Woah. What is even going on over there? Shoka watches in bewildered silence, at first unsure what to make of what she's seeing. Did she say something wrong? She didn't think so, but A.B.A does tend to take things pretty literally (and personally)...

Eventually, however, when A.B.A returns and asks her that, of all things, she... thinks she understands. A.B.A said once that her biggest fear was someone taking Paracelsus from her. To offer to bring him (it!) to Shoka...]

[telewarped]

[Shoka's first-thought response would be a hearty, Ugh, what? Hell no!

Instead, she gives an amused snort and says,] No thanks. Just bring yourself.

Video

[moondregs]

There will be other festivals.

[telewarped]

Well, sure... Next year.

[Still no visuals from her side... But it's obvious that she's pouting a little.]

[moondregs]

Uh, I’m sure they’ll have more this year. Not this exact one, but don’t most cultures have some every season?

[telewarped]

I mean... Maybe. But they're really pulling out all the stops on this one. And I'm just missing out for no reason!

[It's isn't for no reason, judging by the brief, pained hiss that punctuates that sentence.]

[moondregs]

No reason? Are you sure?

[telewarped]

[Ugh, what is this guy's problem? Can't he just let her complain in peace?]

Why are you even talking to me anyway? There isn't anything keeping you from the festivities, right?

[She talked first, but... it was obviously an accident!]

[moondregs]

I’m not exactly a festival kind of person. Besides, you addressed everyone.

[telewarped]

I didn't mean to, obviously.

[If she meant to talk, she would have talked instead of thought!

But maybe it wasn't obvious, since she didn't send her brief freakout at the realization directly to him. She probably should have just ignored the reply and pretended nothing happened... Too late for that now.]

Not a festival person... So not a good food person? Not a fun person? I kinda figured that last one already.

[She's just being cranky. If it's more a case of him not being a crowds person, she gets it.]

[moondregs]

Not a crowds person.

[ Though it being crowds of Pokemon does make it better. ]

I’ve been mostly sticking to helping around the guild.

[telewarped]

Surprise, surprise.

Well, unless that charitable attitude extends to bringing some of the festival fare to 'mons in need such as myself... I'm going back to my escape plan. Later, loser.

[Audio]

[bladeofnymeia]

...Shoka, why are you in a position where you need to sneak out?

[If you just want snacks Firoza will bring them to you]

[telewarped]

Um—

[She's going to throw her Grumpearl across the room!]

Who said that? Wasn't me.

[bladeofnymeia]

It sounded like you. Is everything alright?

[telewarped]

W-well—! Maybe you should get your ears checked, then. 'Cause everything over here's just peachy—

[Apparently, she's tensed up in a way that her injury really doesn't agree with; her voice is cut off by a sharp gasp as searing pain sweeps through her form. It's followed a moment later by a defeated sigh.]

... Is... what I would be saying if I could even get outta bed...

[bladeofnymeia]

[!!!!]

Shoka...what happened? I could bring you something...

[friendlyflower]

[And then there's a little annoying voice like a mosquito in her ear.] Hey, Shoka Suckarane, you left your Grumpearl on. How are you butt-dialing with no butt, genius?

[telewarped]

[By now, Shoka's noticed that her thoughts have been broadcasted to the entire Bay... but there's still a good few seconds' worth of internal, frustrated screaming audible in Flowey's mind before she speaks with her actual voice.]

Oh, wow. How long did it take you to come up with that one?

[friendlyflower]

Aww, isn't it obvious? I put loads of thought and care into my insults!

[He's as sarcastic as he can manage-- but the downside of being connected by Grumpearl is that Shoka can feel his concern once he learns she's in the hospital. He immediately stomps it down like an insect.] Say, what are you in for? Seeing if they'll put you down?

[sneaks in an Action]

[loopsiedaisy]

[It's a good thing most of the clinic beds are practically on the ground, to accommodate tiny Pokemon heights for many of the nurses... because otherwise Siffrin wouldn't be able to hop up next to Shoka right now. Impressively on the clinic's part, one of their forelegs is in a sling, and they haven't been able to squirm out. They're limping on a back leg, too.]

[Still, that doesn't stop Siffrin from starting right in with a,] Between the two of us, I bet we could find a way out.