diehardreaper | 006 | Avert Your Ears

[ And today, you are greeted by the sound of what seems to be a meowth being stretched on a rack. The camera isn't pointed at anything in particular but it does seem to be a rather good view of one of the routes. Too bad those sounds are ruining the scenery. These are screeches and yowls so vicious, you'd probably think it was two meowth fighting over a rattata. It goes on for probably five minutes in what seems to be a poorly attempted "Ode to Joy" and then stops abruptly due to a vicious

CRACK. ]

Ow!

[ Ow? Rattata don't go ow. And neither do pokemon. What you do get afterward though is the sound of ruffling and a "funf" as someone deposits himself right next to the Gear. ]

Blimey, Niccolo, can we take a break? At the rate you're going, m'prolly going to end up being unable to use this hand for a week!

[ And then you hear chittering.

ANGRY Kricketune chittering.

And a sigh from the poor belaguered Mister Knox. ]

Listen, I appreciate you trying to teach me the violin and all but could you take it e-- [ CRACK ] OW!

Alright, alright. Let's have at it again then.

[ To which the yowling begins anew. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Nope, he doesn't mind the laughing at all! If anything, he's just going to use this time to call for a break. After all, they've been at this for a while. ]

S'that right? Didn't know pokemon had it in them to dance!

Sunny sure does! Though, she really didn't start doing it until she evolved. Dancing's a lot easier when you got legs, and all.

Kind of like Niccolo. He didn't really play the fiddle 'til he evolved. Then he just picked it up, natural as you please.

Fiddle, huh? I don't think I've actually seen that Pokemon before, so that's a new one for me too!

[Though, he seems more built for that sort of thing, whereas Jimmy's Sunflora just up and decided that was something she wanted to do with her life.]

He's a... [ And a click of his tongue. ] A... cricketune, was it, Niccolo?

[ And that gets answered by a string of notes that sounds like an affirmative to say the least. ]

Yeah, there we go. He's a cricketune. Reminded me a bit of the crickets back home so it's prolly not that much of a surprise.

That's pretty cool!

[Then again, what with Pokemon shaped like ice cream and trash bags around here, he shouldn't be surprised that there's one with the body of a violin of sorts.]

What kinds of songs can he play?

Most anything, really! Sometimes, he makes up little ditties when the mood strikes him.

[ And here's a thought. ]

Wager he could prolly play something if you ask him to.

[That gets Jimmy grinning with eagerness straight away as he holds his Gear a bit closer.]

Really? Okay, umm...how 'bout you play one of your favorite songs, Niccolo?

[ The kricketune turns his head, peering over Ronald's shoulder when he hears himself being addressed by this small boy.

His favorite? He's certainly got a lot of favorites... so he pauses a moment, thinking it over before starting to play this.

This, of course, leaves his trainer ruffling his hair a bit. ]

Blimey, I don't know where to start with that. It's a pretty tune though, innit?

[...goodness gracious, this sure is a thing that's happening.]

Wow, it is! He makes it look so easy, too!

[ Niccolo in turn looks pleased as punch from all the compliments as he plays. Well, compliments and the way his trainer's all smiles from his song. ]

With how he's playing, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to put down a hat in Goldenrod and make a few coins on the side, eh?

[ And there's just a blank stare from the kricketune as if to say "Really, Ron?" ]

Buggering hell, Nico, I was just teasing!

[Jimmy snickers at the exchange, nodding.]

Well hey, he does seem like a real performer! I'm sure anybody would pay money to listen to him play.

See? The lad thinks it's an ace idea! Ow!

[ That 'ow' is caused by Ron's knuckles getting rapped again by Niccolo's bow. ]

Wager he's the "music is for everyone to enjoy" sort.

That's fine too! Maybe that's why he's trying to teach you how to play?

[You know, to try to drive home that message.]

Could be. Can't fault a bloke for trying to make a few quid on the side.

[ And a grin back as he shakes his hand to get the blood flowing back into it. ]

Just you wait! I'll be able to make music properly yet. It'll just take a while.

Haha, good luck! You'll hafta give us another performance once you really learn how to play!

You know I will, mate! You'll be certain to know, no worries about that.

006 | Avert Your Ears

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