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[jojoceanman]

I've been trying to find ways to relax. I'm not really any good at it. Just came back from being at sea for two weeks, isolated from society. It was extremely pleasant.

[ and around this point there some links to show photographs he had taken. all very pleasant... if you ignore the starfish eating a fish at the end. ]

Now I'm back and I find myself lost in society and its stresses. I work 12 hour days and sleep about 6 to 7. Research is my only outlet, my field being in Marine Biology. That and watching too much true crime dramas, but watching serials about betrayal and murder might not be a healthy way of de-stressing. Allegedly.

So I'm fielding suggestions. I'm sure you're all a very calm and collected bunch who can be of help.

[ ... ]

On an unrelated note: fish don't smoke. And never will. Evolution doesn't work that way.

[ callout because that's just one of his recent stresses. ]

Comments

[versusseeker]

[You don't have to tell him twice - Red is happy to oblige, flipping on his video feed to reveal himself, clad in his usual red attire, hat and all. On his shoulder sits another every day accessory - Pikachu.]

Pik-a-chu?

[jojoceanman]

[ !!! ]

Fascinating. [ that's a normal thing to say? yes, definitely. ] I've never seen a rat so large.

[versusseeker]

[Red and Pikachu exchange a look, both of their noses wrinkling a little at the word "rat". Then he turns back to face Jojo.]

He's a Pikachu. [Correction.]

[jojoceanman]

Pikachu, right. [ ...still looks like a big rat though. or mouse, maybe. ] I'm impressed by how pronounced it sounded. Is that the only sort it makes?

[versusseeker]

[Red shakes his head.]

Pika. Pika-pi!

[See? It makes a ton more sounds.]

[jojoceanman]

A variation of a single sound. Not too different from other animals.

[ though it's very bizarre how it was named after the sounds it makes. that would be like... a dog being called "bark" or a cat being called "meow." it's weird. ]

A shame it isn't an aquatic creature. I could communicate with it properly then. For what it is... it looks healthy.

[ and a little adorable but he won't dare say that word. ]

[versusseeker]

[Red nods and the Pikachu trills. Then, he tilts his head to the side a bit and says:]

I have one.

[There's a pause as he realizes he probably needs to clarify that statement.]

Blastoise. He's water.

[jojoceanman]

[ Hm. Blast-toise. ]

Is it a tortoise creature-- pokemon.

[ "tortoise" being where he gets this from. ]

[versusseeker]

[Nod, nod.]

Wanna see?

[jojoceanman]

If you wouldn't mind. Over the camera is fine.

[versusseeker]

[Another nod, and then Red holds up a finger. The communicator gets a little shaky, then - he's holding it down by his side while he makes his way to the backyard. Blastoise needs a little more room than Pikachu does, and the last time he let it out of its Pokéball in the house it broke a chair.

[Once outside, he pulls the communicator up to face the backyard, tossing a Pokéball into frame. With a burst of light, it busts open, blinding the communicator for a moment. When the light fades, there stands Blastoise, letting out a loud roar and firing a burst of water from each of its cannons.

[Red reaches around the communicator to give it a thumbs up.]

[jojoceanman]

[ there's a lot to unpack. first off, he thought this would be a lot smaller. and it's firing water out of cannons that seem to be inside its shell. how does it even fit inside what looks like a small capsule ball? so he's silent for a good period of time as these thoughts race in his head.

over to the side, unseen on camera, he can feel his stand already drawing out what he sees in fine detail... without him telling it too. good grief. he hates when star platinum has a mind of its own. ]

Let me try this out.

[ he's only ever done it close up with the creature, never before through a live feed, so how well it works is touch and go. he breathes in and focuses in on the blastoise... but nothing. ]

Hm. It seems I need to be in person to read its thoughts. What does it normally say when you speak with it?

[versusseeker]

[Red turns the camera back on himself, shrugging a bit.]

Depends.

[There's a pause.]

Ask him something.