025 - video

[blacklodged]

[It's probably been a while since the network heard from this guy. It's safe to say he's been preoccupied - between being lightly obsessed with Tetris, the Halloween possession thing happening (which actually affected him more than he cares to admit), the train hijacking and those three days ... he's had a lot to think about. And, in truth, still

Comments

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[usedlaserbeam]

[Speaking as someone who's been playing grandpa to six rambunctious baby Eevees for the past few days? The authenticity in his tone (and let's be honest, the vague weariness in his expression) is unmistakable.]

Decidedly jealous, Cooper-san.

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[blacklodged]

[Cooper looks a little amused at that when he turns the gear to himself, an eyebrow slightly raised.]

You sound it, Yagyuu. Rough week?

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[usedlaserbeam]

[He's just kind of tuckered out on his very nice couch, letting them run around tiring themselves out while he sits and supervises; true to form, it isn't long before one furry little face appears at the edge of the camera, sporting a forest-green collar.]

Lady decided she wanted a family for Christmas, and obliged me six times over.

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[blacklodged]

Wow. I'd say congratulations are in order, but you almost look like you consider them a curse rather than a blessing.

[It's teasing, really, but kindly so. He knows little ones can be a handful - Eevees are definitely no exception in his experience.]

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[usedlaserbeam]

I don't recall Lady being this much trouble when she first hatched.

[As if to emphasize his point, the Eevee in the green collar twitches its nose, cocks its head a little to the side, and then sneezes so mightily that it knocks itself right off the couch.]

Or this, ah, fraught with misfortune. Regardless, I suppose they're growing on me, in their various unique ways.

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[blacklodged]

[Oh my god that's actually really cute and sort of hilarious, and Cooper is practically marvelling at the screen for a second there before he snaps out of it and instead gets a rather fond look about him.]

There's really no defense for that. They can have you enamored with them in the blink of an eye if you're not careful.

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[usedlaserbeam]

[Poor little Sneezy. His life is so fraught with peril. As is that of the Eevee in the yellow collar, whom he lands on after he pitches off the couch. Fortunately, Yagyuu's been doing this for a few days now, so he's mostly unfazed. Mostly.]

And sometimes even if you are careful. Luckily, Lady and Aya have been pitching in to help corral them when they start getting out of hand-Leonidas, don't sit on his head-and Arsène is proving to be a surprisingly adept baby monitor in his spare time. So it's working out.

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[blacklodged]

I can relate. I mysteriously got a young addition to my team recently and my other pokémon are all inclined to help me care for her.

[See, that's a little bit of a test, even if he sounds neutral. He thinks Yagyuu might be responsible for the little Absol, but if he plays it off as not knowing anything about it Cooper will leave it as well. If it was anonymous, there's probably a reason.]

[It's just that it's in his nature to prod around a bit first.]

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[usedlaserbeam]

Did you?

[He tips his head a bit, letting his interest show; it's entirely possible that Cooper is talking about the egg he sent, he knows, but there's also a fairly recurring trend around Johto to send mysterious eggs to random beneficiaries, so he decides to do a little further prodding of his own, just to see if he's right.]

An anonymous Christmas gift, I assume?

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[blacklodged]

A rather early Christmas gift, in that case. Not to say that that excludes the possibility of it being one.

[He tilts his head slightly as well in a mirroring gesture. He's already very fond of the Absol and appreciates the gesture, whoever it was from, but he's still very curious as to the reason he got the egg to begin with.]

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[usedlaserbeam]

Perhaps a gift of the standard variety, then. Did you recently do someone a kindness, Cooper-san?

[As he says this, another Eevee, this time in a blue collar, wiggles into his lap and perches cheerfully, ears twitching with delight.]

It might be a token of gratitude.

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[blacklodged]

[Which Eevee is that, number four? He keeps count, entertained - yet somewhat absently.]

Though I make it a point to meet people with kindness and love wherever I can I can't think of any action of mine that would warrant an egg.

[There's a tug to his mouth in a sort of halfway smile, though.]

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[usedlaserbeam]

[Thank goodness they're all color-coded, or he'd never be able to keep them all straight. Especially since half the time he can't keep them straight even with the color-coding, anyway. It's a work in progress.]

That's a modest way of looking at it. What about the encounter on the train?

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[blacklodged]

[He's probably doing an excellent job. Coop isn't worried, at any rate.]

[And he raises an eyebrow slightly. Are we heading in your direction, Yagyuu?]

I've considered it. The majority of the people I managed to help were locals with, I expect, very little means of getting in touch.

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[usedlaserbeam]

[The longer the discussion goes on, the narrower the list of likely suspects becomes. At some point he'll cut it off and leave the rest to circumstantial evidence, but for now he's as much enjoying the conversation as he is probing for answers.

For the moment, he'll take his chance ball and go for a bold play.]

You know, in all this time, I don't believe you've actually mentioned what sort of egg it was. Perhaps that would shed some light on things.

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[blacklodged]

[Cooper is quite enjoying this little game himself and the answer comes with a quick, wide grin.]

An Absol, Yagyuu. The Disaster pokémon.

[And then, in a sort of verbal nudge,]

I believe I only know two people with one, not including myself.