gratitude

[the_very_best]

Bella flies away. She visits her parents, hits up the guild for matches and wins enough to pay her guild dues, and tools around random wilderness beating up on the wildlife.

She doesn't really expect to hear from Sherlock and Tony again.

Comments

[toblameforit]

"It's not like Porygon are known for their fashion sense."

[the_very_best]

"Yeah, I'm just imagining poor Bob in something in two shades of green and red-orange. With a pompom on top of his head."

[toblameforit]

"I promise you, if you send me fluffy Porygon sweaters, I will find Porygon who want to wear them."

[the_very_best]

"I suppose you haven't got a shortage, there's probably three in the flock with taste as terrible as Renée's."

[toblameforit]

"Yeah, that's what I'm thinking."

[the_very_best]

"So if Pokéballs work by magic, how does PC storage work? I don't quite trust it for my 'mon but I know people who rotate out a few extra critters. I tend not to associate with outright collectors, but some people can be sincerely friendly with ten 'mon, or can only manage three out at a time and have to store three but love all six, you know."

[toblameforit]

"PC storage works by more magic!" says Tony. "I don't totally understand it, but apparently the development process involved reverse-engineering Porygon. Dad got kinda mad about it."

[the_very_best]

"Were Porygon harmed in the process?" asks Bella, frowning.

[toblameforit]

Tony spreads his hands. "No way to know," he says. "We don't track every single Porygon in the world. I mean, they said none were, but Porygon code is tricky stuff."

[the_very_best]

"Oh dear."

[toblameforit]

"Yeah. So. Not that I can prove anything, and maybe they didn't hurt anypory, and I'm sure the system works just fine, but - I don't use PC storage."

[the_very_best]

"I had no idea there was anything dodgy about how it was invented. I just didn't think I ought to be taking possession of a creature I didn't plan to keep around."

[toblameforit]

"Yeah, I hear ya."

[the_very_best]

"Slightly more tempted to devote some time to some sorta activism project, now, but I don't think I could actually make a dent, it's too convenient and like you say it works, the 'mon never seem traumatized - though I suppose I wouldn't know, I can't actually understand - you ever talk to a Pokémon that's been stored, Sherlock?"

[bitofafiction]

"Not that they mentioned, no. Should I go and find some and ask?"

[the_very_best]

"I'd be interested in the results if you ever did. I suppose you'd have to go a bit out of your way to hunt them up."

[bitofafiction]

He shrugs. "I like a challenge."

[the_very_best]

Bella laughs a little. "Come to think of it, I think some of Charlie's standard-issues might've been boxed before he got them. I'd have to ask, but it wouldn't surprise me."

[bitofafiction]

"I will happily talk to them if so," laughs Sherlock.

[the_very_best]

"I'll call him after I talk to Renée about Porygon sweaters," says Bella.

[bitofafiction]

"Perfect."

[the_very_best]

"Maybe I should just call now, Renée will be home now and by the time she lets me off the phone Charlie probably will be too," muses Bella, and she starts cycling through apps on her Pokétch.

[bitofafiction]

The boys leave her to it.

[the_very_best]

Bella departs the tower to avoid disturbing them, although if they happen to be curious they could open a window. She phones Renée, makes small talk, listens to Renée talk about ill-fated baked goods, then explains that she has this friend who has this problem with these Porygon, and she was thinking sweaters. Renée takes the idea, squeals over it, and says she'll start figuring out a pattern right away. And she's going to let the kindergarteners vote on colors. Joy. There's a little more catching up - stories from the school, news about neighbors and Renée's Pokémon - and then Bella hangs up.

[bitofafiction]

"Did I hear that right about the kindergarteners?" inquires Sherlock, out of the window.