006 | Avert Your Ears

[diehardreaper]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[styxiedust]

[...She shouldn't laugh.

Not even a giggle.

Really, that's rude, everyone starts somewhere and it's not as though she can say she's even passingly familiar with instruments.]

Having some trouble there, Ronald?

[diehardreaper]

[ Nah man you can totes laugh. He and his pokemon know he's doing poorly... but if he's entertaining someone, then all's not lost.

The screeching stops though before hearing Ronald going "Hang on. Take five!" and picking up the Gear while setting a violin next to him. ]

Just a bit of trouble! Niccolo here thought he'd take it upon himself to teach me to play.

Turns out it'd be a bit harder'n I thought.

[styxiedust]

Most things in life are.

[That's what makes them worth it in the end, yadda yadda.]

I didn't even know you had the inclination to play. What sparked this interest?

[capitald]

...Is everything all right?

[That was... quite the interesting music. And perhaps a touch unpleasant, but then again, it's not as though he has experience with stringed instruments.

Still looking kinda baffled, though.]

I'd know idea Pokémon even possessed musical prowess.

[Well, he knew they could sing, but instruments are an entirely diffeent story.]

[diehardreaper]

Can't fault a lad for trying!

[ But he's grateful for the break, though. That kricketune can hurt when he wants to. ]

Was Niccolo's idea, really. Heard me playing on a leaf and thought he'd have a go at teaching me the violin.

[diehardreaper]

I'm as surprised as you are, really! He wasn't all that when he was a little thing but then he evolved and... well...

[ In the background, you can hear something that sounds like a cross between a violin and a cricket cry. But it's more melodious... like it was a composition all its own. ]

There you are then.

[video]

[awesmazings]

[When Jimmy answers the video, he's laughing. Not at Ronald, but just at the familiarity of this scene that's unfolding.]

You better listen to what he says! When my Sunflora tries to teach me how to dance, she's the boss. No questions asked.

[video]

[diehardreaper]

[ 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!

[video]

[awesmazings]

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.

[death_glare]

[ William should know by now that relaxing isn't something he's allowed to do. ]

Honestly Knox, must you do this right now?

[ As if any time would be suitable in William's book. Does he need to come over there and smack Ronald, as well? ]

[pinnedbangs]

[STRING INSTRUMENTS. STRING INSTRUMENTS!! Rin - is going to laugh his ass off but he's also going to be in complete awe. Ron never told him of his secret talent to frighten away every living creature! That's some kind of black magic!]

It looks hard to learn... Your pokemon's your teacher? I didn't know they could do all that.

[styxiedust]

That's very considerate of him, my Froslass tries to teach the rest of the team to dance sometimes.

[But never her, so why did she even bring that up? Who knows, it's Botan.]

You'll get better, Ronald! You just need to keep at it!

[diehardreaper]

M'sure I will over time!

[ And a laugh. ]

Who knows? Give me a few months'n I'll prolly stop sounding like a strangled cat, eh? How'd that thing with your Froslass work out though?

[video]

[diehardreaper]

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

[diehardreaper]

[ And have a curious look back, boss. ]

This? D'you mean attempt to pick up the fiddle?

[ Because there's always a good time for it. ]

[diehardreaper]

[ Dude, he has many skills and talents you are not aware of! ]

Neither did I! Niccolo prolly got the idea from when he heard me playing a leaf once.

[pinnedbangs]

[Teach him, oh great black magic master!]

You can play a leaf too? Like some Jump hero?! [RIN, THERE IS NO WAY RON KNOWS WHAT A JUMP HERO IS]

[video]

[awesmazings]

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.]

[death_glare]

What else would I be referring to?

[video]

[diehardreaper]

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.

[diehardreaper]

Thought you meant the lying about.

[ Have a grin back as he stands up again. ]

Just took Niccolo out for a bit of fresh air, sir. Wasn't going to stray far.

[diehardreaper]

Had to find some way of passing the time back home! It's easy!

[ And there's a confused little blink there. ]

What's a... Jump Hero?

[ Is it a hero that saves the world by jumping? ]

[pinnedbangs]

How do you do it? You just blow on it or turn it into a flute?

[SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-- HOW EXPLAIN JUMP] ...Uhm. It's from a magazine. It's called Jump and the stories have heroes?

[video]

[awesmazings]

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?

[styxiedust]

Ehhh...I don't think my others have much of a future in dancing, that's a bit of a disappointment to her, but she'll get over it.

I'm trying to avoid having her end up a diva, she used to be so sweet as a Snorunt!