014 [video/action for route 31]

[cheapblusuits]

 [Hello again, everybody! Since his last message, Phoenix has been travelling at the speed of light to get back to Cherrygrove and meet up with his childhood-friend-turned-rival-turned-childhood-friend. Of course, given his rush, he, well, hasn't been paying much attention to where he's going.

And so the feed opens to a shaky image of, well. This,

Comments

[justicepuns]

Are you alright, Mr. Wright?

Is this what you meant by "if we ever get there"?

[cheapblusuits]

Perfectly fine, thanks.

That and the fact that Butch keeps...wandering off. That's how I managed to fall down this stupid thing in the first place.

[justicepuns]

Maybe you should take it easy anyway. Just in case.

Couldn't you put him inside his ball?

[cheapblusuits]

Don't worry, I'll get there even if it kills me. [Don't jinx yourself, Phoenix.]

...well, er...I don't really like keeping them in their balls. [He shrugs.] I don't think it could be very comfortable in there...

[justicepuns]

Maybe you shouldn't say that, sir.

They do look a bit...cramped. I don't even want to think how they fit in there.

[cheapblusuits]

...you know, just "Phoenix" is fine. [Calling him sir just makes him feel. Old. Although it HAS been weird being called by his given name (by Heather and Jack, namely) for the first time since Mia...]

Exactly. Butch doesn't act like he's too fond of it, either. Besides, he could use the exercise.

[justicepuns]

R-right. [This'll be weird.]

Which one is Butch?

[cheapblusuits]

[I don't think Phoenix really cares at this point, what with all the "weird" that's already happened. Sob.]

Butch is -- [At the sound of his name, the Quagsire rears up into range of the camera and lets out a hearty "Uuuuagsire!"]

-- this one. [And Phoenix gives him an affectionate rub on the head.]

[justicepuns]

[Apollo's still mostly uninitiated. But he'll get there.]

He's very...outgoing. Hi, Butch.

[Of course, unnamed Growlithe has to pop in and say hi too. It stands on its hind legs and leans on Apollo's arm, poking its nose against the communicator]

[cheapblusuits]

[If Phoenix can do it, so can you! Be strong!]

He's friendly, that's for sure. Say hi, Butch.

Quuuagsire quag!

[--and when Apollo's Growlithe pops on the screen, Butch wiggles excitedly and his barks(?) increase twofold. More small, orange fuzzy things!]

[justicepuns]

[Apollo kneels down so that his Growlithe doesn't have to stretch so much. Growlithe chats back happily at Butch.]

I guess they've really hit it off. [His Growlithe has half-crawled into Apollo's lap and now takes up most of the screen.]

[cheapblusuits]

Other Pokemon seem to really like Butch. He even has a girlfriend. [More excited barking. Phoenix is barely visible behind the Quagsires roung, blue head.]

[justicepuns]

[Apollo gently moves his Growlithe so that it only takes up half of the screen.]

A girlfriend? Um, congratulations, Butch. [Apollo's Growlithe seems to express his congratulations too.]

[cheapblusuits]

Well, it's as much of a "girlfriend" as these Pokemon can have, really. They're really just good friends...

[and Butch basks in the congrats, puffing out his chest and grinning all the wider.]

[justicepuns]

[Apollo is a bit amused. Oh, Butch, you're a character, aren't you?]

Still, he seems pretty proud of himself.