FIVE [Action]

[dunkinchili]

[A happily whistling Chili strolls into the kitchen, starts taking out ingredients for confectionery (sugar, flour, vanilla, chocolate, some spirits) when he heads to check the fridge for cheese, he finds a... cupboard, instead?

Still grinning, if momentarily confused, he opens a door. A block of ice.

It's a literal icebox.

Smile starts to waver, then...]

WHO DOWNGRADED THE KITCHEN BACK TO THE ICE AGE?!

[So loud, it just might sound out to the rest of the village.]

Comments

[capturespecialist]

I just broke my arms when I was a kid. [No big deal, right.] I still had to train while I was waiting for them to heal, so I just got used to using my feet.

[That's all! Man, if there ever were a hacky-sack competition in Luceti...]

[dunkinchili]

[You said that way too casually.]

Y-you put yourself through that kind of rigid training...?

[Or did you have one horrifyingly strict teacher?]

[capturespecialist]

[But it's no big deal!]

Of course I did. [Why is that even a question??] I think I would've gone nuts doing absolutely nothing the entire month while I waited for my arms to heal up... And it's not like I was alone -- a group of wild Pokémon helped me out since they'd been dealing with the same Pokémon who'd broke my arms.

[So. Nonchalant. Are all trainers from Johto like this??? Is there something in the water???]

[dunkinchili]

[Must be it! Chili's staring at her as if she'd just grown a second head that spoke fluent martian, because this is astronomically strange.]

... they name you queen of the forest too? [That's all he can manage to say, otherwise lost for words. How do these people function.]

[capturespecialist]

[More like how do you people function. When you're got painkillers as strong as a Parasect's spores, you really don't need to worry!

Also, she's starting to feel like maybe she's still got soem food on her from the way Chili's looking at her, so she'll just start sneakily brushing her clothes off.]

Why would they? [She brushes through her hair next -- okay, nope, nothing. Maybe she's just being self-conscious over nothing.] No, just "the catcher".

[dunkinchili]

Ah...

[A long, quiet pause before he adds, looking back at his Pokemon.]

Johto trainers sure are somethin', aren't they, Pansear? [That's one-third awe, two-thirds resignation to never understanding these people.]

[capturespecialist]

[Is that a compliment or an insult.]

We sure are. [She's gonna take it as a compliment!] Guess that means you've gotta be pretty familiar with Gold and Silver, huh? They're two of my best friends.

[dunkinchili]

[It's a complinsult.]

Yeah, or at least Gold. Silver doesn't seem much of a talker. [And Chili also kind of insulted him a little maybe.]

Did you travel together?

[capturespecialist]

For a little while. It's more like... We've saved Johto a few times together?

[She's trying to be modest about it, but there's no way to humble saving an entire region. Arguably more than once.]

[dunkinchili]

... no way, get out!

[This trainer was just too amazing! The leading Pokemon Prof's aide, saved the world, operates pokeballs with her feet—

He has to be careful around this one!]

You're amazing! How'd they drag you in here?

[capturespecialist]

Just like they drag anyone else in? [Such flattery though!] And I'm not amazing, I'm just hardworking. Saving Johto's just like... something I - we - had to do. I'd never be able to sit by and watch anyone get hurt when I could do something to stop it.

[Grade A hero here.]

[dunkinchili]

[Wow, Crys. Wow.]

There's a fella here named Ash, you two would get along just fine.

[capturespecialist]

[That's... a good thing, right.]

I like to think I get along with anyone anyway. [Uh. Mmmmostly.

Ah -- there, how about that be the last of the cleaning they gotta do? It's not totally spotless, but the majority of the food that sprung out's in the bags now. It's enough to satisfy her, anyway...]

[dunkinchili]

That fixes it! [It's nearly spotless and that's good enough! He couldn't have done half as neat a job without her help.]

Now, we won't get scorched by Cilan when he sees the place— here's a tip for a long life, don't mess with food, Cilan gets really scary when he's mad.

Thanks, Miss Humble Hero!

[capturespecialist]

Thanks for the tip! And helping with clean up was the least I could. [It was kinda her fault...] I think I'm gonna take a shower.

[...because ew, seriously. Later, kid, keep outta trouble and... good luck with that whole literal ice box thing.]