Turn 002 // Voice-->Video (action for Route 35)

[best_laid_plans]

[Impatient with training, Malik's left a note on his desk for his Rocket supervisors ("Back soon. Look forward to gifts") and successfully escaped HQ. A profitable venture should cancel out the breach of conduct.

Except why is it so nice outside. Why is everyone so happy. People aren't, by nature, happy creatures. This unnerves him.

Turning to the PokéGear, he switches it on.]

Experienced travelers. This weather's an anomaly, correct....

[Except then the feed goes staticky; the Gear hits the ground and switches to video. A dark-skinned boy with a Duel Disk on one arm is twisting to get a look at what's knocked him over, snuggled against his back and hugging him.

For that matter, trying to kiss him.]

Smoochum! Smoo!

[What an auspicious beginning to his life of crime.]

Comments

[best_laid_plans]

[Smoochum is confident she has successfully captured a wild HUMAN. This is very exciting.

And she'll get more free reign to climb all over him as Malik's attention is caught.]

Some Pokémon can do that? --Can you talk back?

[k9tantei]

Well, Hell, y'can talk t'any of'em - they're a lot smarter'n a normal animal, even if most of'em can't talk t'give you a good answer without a lot'f charades.

I've heard some'f th'psychics can do clear speech an'all, Yuki mostly just sends images... an' I've seen a few times one of'em's figured out how t'work a Gear enough t'type.

[YEP. WELCOME TO JOHTO. YOUR PETS MAY BE SMARTER THAN YOU. And Heiji is entirely too chipper about this.]

[best_laid_plans]

[Malik has no doubt he'll be able to teach them who's boss around here, so he doesn't look too worried. In fact, that all sounds fantastic.]

That's incredible! I had no idea....

[And he certainly wouldn't have from looking at Smoochum, either.]

So long as she lets me hear myself think, I believe I can work with that.

[k9tantei]

She doesn't seem any worse'n Yuki was when she was still a Smoochum, thou they do get preeeetty strong personalities sometimes.

[At least she hasn't emptied out his backpack and then gotten it stuck on her head or something similarly stupid?]

Makes it easier t'work with'em, I've found, since they're smart enough t'work as a team pretty well as long as y'put some time into training'em and give'em some respect.

[best_laid_plans]

[She's made physical contact with him, which is more than he normally permits. Can't quite....get too upset today, for some reason.]

Yeah...I've worked with - people before in leadership positions. Intelligence is always a valuable asset.

Can I count on you for that?

[That was to Smoochum, who responds by kissing him on the forehead. He tries not to look too uncomfortable. Audience, et al.]