toothaches | VICTORY ROAD IC INBOX

Hey, uh...if I died tomorrow or disappeared, I just want you to know that you're the person I'd want Amelia and Tyra to go to.

I hope that's okay.

_{[Maurice is in the middle of eating a sandwich and flips the video on by accident. Most of it has dribbled down onto his shirt collar from surprise.]}

Woah woah what?

I was just making sure you wouldn't mind if you got them if I just went and poofed!

I was told you should have like...a pokewill or something. And Steven might be evil, so. I figured now or never.

_{[He peels a tomato off his shirt and distractedly puts it into his mouth as he tries to process what his friend is saying.]}

Wait is your Pokemon going to murder you? Wouldn't...wouldn't the little book they gave us have said something about that?

I would definitely hope so, but man. Steven evolved and I swear the look he gave me could kill if he wasn't already plotting my demise in his pokeball.

He like, flipped upside down and those cute little fins on is head are now his legs and he looks like some Cthulhu horror!

That's...not good. Maybe you should put 'em in the PC or something. Are you okay, dude?

Well...Maybe. I just feel bad.

[And while Hanna might have mentioned it to others before, he kind of looks real bummed when he mentions it this time.] I feel like a bad dad, or like I failed or something. I mean, if he really does hate me...

Oh man don't say that. I've seen you with your Pokemon. You're really good with them! But uh...hey. Wanna grab a drink? I know that usually helps me sort out tough stuff.

_{[No it doesn't.]}

But that didn't help Steven to not be a dick...I mean, you can't change people, so why should pokemon be any different, just...he never looked at me like that before. It was just stupid pranks.

[Hanna isn't usually one to drink when he's upset, though he's never actually had the money he does now. Spending a little hanging out isn't such a bad idea anyways...] I...could get a drink. Though, I gotta warn you I can mouth off a bit when I drink.

[And probably not in the way Maurice would expect.]

Hey, it's fine. Everybody has to blow off steam sometimes. Meet me out by Teeter Dance in a couple hours. Try not to think about it too much.

Yeah...Alright. I'll see you there.

I'll call again if something happens. I mean, I don't think it will, but. Just in case.

[He'll be there at the bar perhaps a little early. He's not sure if Maurice would mind if he started before him, but waiting around felt weird since he was nervous. But, at the very least he didn't remove Steven's ball from his belt. That felt like giving up too easily.]

_{[It's easy enough to spot Hanna's curly red hair when Maurice finally does show up. His brow creases with worry and he carefully places Sally down on his own bar stool before taking a seat himself.]}

Hey dude...sorry about your squid problem. Next one's on me, okay?

[Hanna sits up a little when Maurice gets there. He's not too far ahead. One drink turned to two. He's nursing number three, but at least he hasn't been slurping them down.

He's definitely sober enough to notice Sally anyways.] Woah! I didn't know you got another little buddy! What's it's name?

[Seems like ignoring the problem is Hanna's drinking strategy.]

_{[Maurice certainly isn't going to keep talking about the Squid Problem either because Maurice's main tactic to dealing with problems is drink about them until he forgets or they resolve themselves via fight.]}

Oh, yeah, she hatched a while ago! But I hadn't had her out in the hotel. She's sorta poky, aren't you girl?

_{[He carefully strokes the Nidoran's back, avoiding the spines. He orders a drink for Hanna and himself and then rests his elbows on the bartop, ready to listen to whatever Hanna throws his way. He, along side Dee, helped him with the frog deal. It's the least he can do.]}

[Hanna decides if Maurice is already ordering number 4, he's gotta finish 3 right quick. It's gone in a few good sucks of his straw.]

That's cool! Tyra's growing pretty good now too since she hatched...Hey girly! How're you? Cutie patoot... [He laughs, for no reason really and doesn't try to pet he. He'd probably poke himself on the poisonous spines.]

She's a funny color...not bad, just. Different. Tyra's funny colored too.

Her fur's really shiny, yeah. Every time she comes out of the ball, she's like TADA, IT'S ME.

_{[He ruffles her whiskers before giving his own hair a toss.]}

I know what that's like. It's so nice to have a reflection again.

[Hanna kind of stares at Sally a moment, then lifts his eyes, casually sipping his drink and staring at Maurice when he tosses his own hair.] Oooh, I bet you do.

_{[With his glass now in-hand, Maurice thumps the table with his free hand.]}

Hell yes! Like. Y'know. I don't ask for a whole lot from this existence. The ability to not look like a mop when I leave the house is all I really need to be happy. And this place gave me that an more.

[Hanna kind of snorts, nodding.] I felt like an ass. Conrad always looks so well put together...how did he do that? How...he couldn't see himself? Somedays I guess it was better he couldn't.

Who wears white chaps over slacks anyways as like, a style choice?

_{[He tries to imagine this style and strokes the scruff on his chin. Honestly it wouldn't be too out of place on one of the soaps his mom watches.]}

I'm gonna guess he didn't actually ride horses...oh man! Did you know they do make that kinda thing here? And I'm glad because riding around on Meatloaf is kinda...there's a reason I haven't decided to leave Cherrygrove yet.

Naw. He's a hipster. He probably drives a cool car or rides the bus like me.

[Hanna takes a long drink and almost chokes on it when Maurice mentions riding and chaps.] Rock spike to the junk must suck. Like, I don't blame you. We could walk though, I mean. Camping is fun. Oh...I guess. If you wanted the company.

[Even on his way to getting drunk he won't assume that Maurice totally wants to road trip with him.] I've got a tent.

Whether I ride or not, I'm gonna have to camp.

_{[He flashes Hanna a shark-toothed grin in what he hopes is an encouraging way. Poor Hanna seems to be so low in his spirits.]}

Me and my Pokemon would love t'have you along! We could even see if more folks wanted to come. Make it a big campin' party type thing. And the more of us means we're less likely to be killed by Beedril in our sleep.

I think you and I could fit in the tent....dunno about much else. Maybe Amelia if she was hanging from the top of it. I broke one of the rods though...gotta get some tape to fix it maybe.

[and speaking of dying...] OH! Oh right! Lemme get a...here we go.

[Hanna grabs a napkin and pulls a marker from his pocket, almost dropping his wallet in the process.] How do you write a will?

Oh, huh...well if we had a tarp and found a tree we could--

_{[Maurice is distracted from his boyscout woods adventures and nearly snorts his drink.]}

Dude! Dude, you don't need to write a will! I'm sure it's gonna be fine! Yours can't be the first ornery Pokemon somebody ended up with.

Naw it still works, it's just lopsided...I fit but if someone else was i'd totally sleep on the broken side. [Just for you. Or for anyone really. It's okay.]

But! Naw, man. If I die I want Amelia to go to someone who'd love her! You'd love her right? She deserves so much more than I can give her.

[Is he talking about a pokemon? Who knows. Not the other patrons.] Do you love Amelia?

VICTORY ROAD IC INBOX

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]