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I have never been one for videogames. Not really. I have played them, I enjoy it most of the time, but I never got deep into them in the same way Ace or Odysseus had. I always feel antsy when I stay too long in a single place, and something like videogames, that require so many commands per minute, is non-negotiable. Besides, when I was growing up, with my siblings, Vil and the occasional kid back home being more on the physical side of things, I never had much reason to dive in….until Sirius entered my life of course
The guy just breathes for those pixels. More than once I had scolded him for staying until 4:00 am playing videogames, and while he usually obeys, weekends to him are a freebie. I will have a chat with him later in that regard. Doesn’t help that bastard Achilles is an enabler, I had heard from Grim he always tells him to indulge. The idiot has no discipline and is rubbing it on Sirius!. It is not like I care, because I don’t, but it will get him in trouble with housewarden Leona if Sirius keeps like this, and I rather save my housewarden the hassle. And Sirius won’t improve like this at all if he is too tired to give his all! Vil and Epel had always made fun of me because they don’t really see the difference with my training regime, but what do they fucking know?! At least I am being active, dammit!
In any case, I came here precisely for this, to get Sirius for our weekly regime.. I will get Sirius to the field, we will sweat quite a lot, maybe I can get him to town after for a protein bar. I do prefer the pear smoothies Sirius makes…heh, maybe if I get the fruits
— “Hey, I am here. Get-”
Not even a step in and I see Sirius, glued to that console of his, bundled up on a blanket burrito, and making those drilling command sounds that I hate so much! Grr ... .that 's it!
— “Oh hi Jack. Was that to-woah!”
Sirius has always been surprisingly light. I had lifted dumbbells that weigh more than he does. Doesn't mean it is too easy to hold him, given his tendency to squirm like a cat. If I wasn’t so annoyed, maybe it would be cute
— “Come on Jack! I was shiny hunting!”
— “Don’t care. Routines matter little if you just skip on them over videogames”
— “Jack please!” Sirius whines, almost like a spoiled brat. Maybe I had been too lenient with him “I had been trying for weeks!”
My ears do perk up a bit…that is too much for just a videogame
— “What can take so much time? Is just an RPG”
— “If you put me down, I can explain properly!”
I sigh, but I relent, dropping him on the bed. It is almost cute how…cute? Fuck, anyways, Sirius just gets up and start explaining
This is one of the games of his world, “Pokemon Scarlet” it seems. He explains the basics to me, small animals and things that are tamed like beasts for fighting and also the raising aspect…huh. Doesn’t sound half bad. And then there is the concept of shiny hunting, or trying to hunt for this “shiny” pokemon, pokemon with different coloration and some sparkles….that sounds stupid
— “That sounds stupid. So much effort for not even a stronger pokemon?”
— “Is the principle of things! The aesthetics! It is a matter of pride, Jack!” Sirius proclaimed, doing those theater-esque grand gestures he uses when he is fired up.
I just roll my eyes, but I can’t resist. I ruffle his hair. Damn dork…but I can at least get the pride aspect. Maybe Vil and Epel…no, fuck that!
— “Ok ok, you dork. You made your point. You are not off the hook, we have to go”
Sirius pouts, rather childishly so, but then he has that expression he always has when he has an idea. Sometimes good ideas, oftentimes very silly and kooky ideas
— “Say…why don’t you play with me after? I feel you would like it”
— “Not a chance. After that I need to study. You are not sucking me into your gamer rabbit hole”
— “Why? You're scared it is too technical for you?”
— “Fuck off, I am scared of shit! I will take on that game with my eyes closed!”
— “After gym then” Sirius smirks, petulantly so
Game on, Sirius. I will show you…
***
Gym session with Jack was as grueling as always, but the reward was threefold. I get to see Jack all sweaty and content with himself, I do get healthier and next week things won’t be as excruciating, and now Jack gets to play videogames with me. I still remember how on our first day on class, his first interaction with me was shutting me off because the sound of the console was annoying, but today, I shall show him the marvelous world of pocket monsters…and besides, playing games with him makes me feel somewhat closer to him. He is a man of few words, but his actions shine through. I am also lucky that despite his aloofness, he is very hot heated
Once on the Savanaclaw lobby, I make a new account for him on the switch 2 and up to play we go
***
I will admit, character customization was a bore. I was surprised they had my white hair, but everything was a wash. The first part of the introductory scene was a bit more interesting, presenting a school, a girl with a lot of spirit…I feel she could be in Savanaclaw, as well as the School staff of this Nar…Nar- the academy. The scene with the lizard flying off the chasm was so cool! And the giant dinosaur thing, man, the way it broke stones with one swipe, it was!..…I think it was fine. Yeah. Fine
Latter, after what felt like hours, it was picking my “starter pokemon” as Sirius called it. A small ducky, a very dim-witted croc or a green cat.
— “Ok, so once you level them hard enough, they will change form. Is called evolution”
— “So if you raise them, they get stronger? Makes sense”
— “Yep. Is not different from your training” Sirius grins…he looks a bit adorable, all fired up “The final evolutions are based on cultures of mt world. The kitty evolves into a stage magician. It is grass and dark type”
— “Dark? As if, it uses cosmic dark magic like we do?
— “Not exactly. Dark types fight using underhanded tactics, like sucker punches and-”
— “I don’t want it”
— “Let me finish speaking first!”
— “If it’s gonna fight dirty, I don’t care. Must be weak if it has to resort to that”
— “You are impossible” Sirius sighs, but nonetheless continues “ok, the croc will become fire/ghost. It can manipulate flames and spirits by singing”
— “Oh, so it’s like you then. It has good pipes”
— “I…I….yeah” Sirius looks away, his face a bit red “I…the last one will become water and fighting”
— “I thought all of them fought”
— “Y-yeah, but fighting types are different. They are disciplined fighters, and always go about it honorably…they reminds me of you. The final evolution, Quaquaval, is like a peacock-duck-thing. It moves with energy and delivers very powerful kicks, moving graceful and with confidence
Well…that sounds like Vil. I think about it for a bit…Sirius is right I can relate to the fighting type. So I picked that one. The small ducky, quaxly, is very cute, even I can admit as much
The rest of the early playthrough was catching pokemon and moving towards the main city of Menzagosa. I caught a small pig called Lechon first. Supposedly his rotund form is actually pure muscle. I wonder how he keeps it. Later was this very colorful butterfly, Vivillion…I guess being near Sirius always warrants butterflies. I got its “pre-evolution” scatterbug too. Then it was this brown axolot, Paldean Wooper
— “Is the ‘paldean’ on the name important?”
— “It is actually. It is to denote a regional form. Is basically convergent evolution, the one Professor Trein explained in biology”
— “So they have that in this game too, huh? Well that’s impressive”
I went around and found a lot of trainers. I won against every single one…will say, I can get why Sirius likes this. Never though some button mashing would give me that thrill of winning I get after crushing my dormmates on arm wrestling.
***
The hours pass and honestly explaining to Jack the basics of pokemon is fun. He tries to hide it every so often, but his tail wags and how his ears always angle to me when I explain type match ups…he is invested, and I love that. Back home I never really had many people to share this. It was always "childish" or “lame”. For Jack? He keeps asking questions about X or Y pokemon, the ins and out of pokemon battling. He got into Mensagosa, and after that into the adventure on top of Koraidon he went. He really likes it…maybe I could get housewarden Idia to reverse-engineer the switch 2. I doubt Jack will really become an avid gamer, but I kinda need the console myself and hey, I want to share with him a piece of my world.
Besides…I wanna introduce him to competitive pokemon. Knowing him, he will go all out. Maybe Captain Leona and Ruggie will enjoy this. I do know Captain does like Chess…
— "Jack, why don't you go to the left?"
— "The girl said the first gym was at the right. I don't wanna waste time"
— "You won't. Trust me"
Jack looked rather annoyed, further accentuated by how his tail thrwumps impatiently against the couch. He never has been one for beating around the bush, but once he makes it into the canyon...I can see his eyes light up when he first sees a Rockruff. He quickly catches himself and tries to feign indiference, but the ways his ears perk up says another story
— "So, this is it? This mutt?"
— "It does evolve into a wolf you know"
— "FOR RE- Ahem, sounds nice. Wouldn't hurt to catch it"
And so, Jack catches a rockruff...dude is just a fake Idgafer. I can see his tail wagging from here
As Jack kept playing, I decided to make something for both of us. The Savanaclaw kitchen was brimming with fruits, perhaps unsurprisngly so. It is a dorm for jocks and the atheletically gifted. Leona and Ruggie were nowhere to be seen, perhaps thankfully enough. I am sure Ruggie specially woukd tease me about "corrupting Jack". In any case, making smooties out of pears is surprisngly easy. But it would be a bit too plain. So I add pineapple, peaches, some blueberries, a bit of mint and it is done.
When I go back to the lounge, Jack seems fairly focused. Based in the music, must be fighting Katty by now. So I just set the smoothie next to him, which he takes withouth saying a word...but I can feel his tail rubbing against my leg. It is a way to say thanks, and one I dont mind. His wolf tail is so soft...so coarse but so warm. I give a look to his screen to see what he is up to- WAIT!!
— "JACK HOWL, FROM WHERE DID YOU GOT THAT?!" I point to the screen accusatorily...where I see a Shiny Fidough
— "This? I just got him. Is one of those shiny pokemon you were talking about, right?"
— "...yes. They are quite rare. Never expected you to find one so quickly"
— "Maybe you were just not looking right"
— "WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSTED TO MEAN?!"
Jack keeps a perfectly aloof face, but even I can note the way his lips curl on a hint of a smirk...the fucker likes this!
— "That's what you get for slacking off"
— "Fuck off!"
Jack doesn't speaks further, but the sheer smugness irradiating from here...he is lucky the way his tail wags is cute