yarn

[the_very_best]

Bella leaves in due time. She calls Sherlock a week later with one of her father's Pokémon on the other end of the line; it is learned that being boxed is sort of like having almost fallen asleep or woken up but not quite, a drowsy half-conscious state with little attention to the passage of time. It is not unpleasant, at least in this 'mon's opinion.

Three weeks later, Bella flies to Lake Acuity again.

Comments

[the_very_best]

"...How are you on the 'wider social implications'?" Bella asks.

[bitofafiction]

"Slightly uncomfortable."

[the_very_best]

"I don't suppose there's anything I can do about that, is there?"

[bitofafiction]

"I can't think of anything, no."

[the_very_best]

"Well, if you do, let me know?"

[bitofafiction]

He nods.

"I will."

[the_very_best]

"I think it's cool, though."

[bitofafiction]

"Really?"

[the_very_best]

"Yeah! You can talk to Pokémon! You can sound like anybody you want! You managed to be a perfectly convincing teenager in three and a half years!"

[bitofafiction]

"None of which sound like very exciting accomplishments to me, but I suppose I take your point."

[the_very_best]

"Come on, how is that not exciting?"

[bitofafiction]

"Now you are just reminding me of Tony."

[the_very_best]

"What, really?" laughs Bella.

[bitofafiction]

"He also gets very excited about things."

[the_very_best]

"I don't get excited about everything, but about this, heck yes. Although there goes any hope I had of just straight up learning to understand Pokémon."

[bitofafiction]

"Hah. Yes."

[the_very_best]

"This is not information for public consumption, I assume, as far as my parents are concerned you understanding Pokémon is 'just one of those things'?"

[bitofafiction]

"Correct."

[the_very_best]

"Okay, I can do that."

[bitofafiction]

"Good."

[the_very_best]

"Wow," says Bella again.

[bitofafiction]

He smiles.

[the_very_best]

"...Have you ever told anybody before?"

[bitofafiction]

He shakes his head.

[the_very_best]

"I feel all special."