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Duh! I got them Pokemon treats. Although Richie got into the cinnamon candy. I didn't think she'd like it because it's really hot - almost too hot for me - but she didn't seem to mind.

Is Richie the Growlithe? I wouldn't be surprised if that had something to do with it.

Richie's the Poochyena. Blaze is the Growlithe. Maybe I'll give Blaze some of the cinnamon candy that's left and see if he likes it too.

Ah, so you've got a little thief on your hands, too. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.

[He laughs.] Her nose is a lot stronger than Blaze's, so she finds more trouble to get into. ["Scatters things often" indeed.]

How have you been?

This is my little troublemaker. As viewed during just about every mealtime ever.

ATT: IMG1041.jpg

And I'm fine. I've been on a few trips, beaten a few gyms. Miles is getting his strength a little more each day, so I don't worry about him as much anymore. He's a brave little Charmander, that one.

Wow, he's so cute! ...She?

I'm glad Miles is feeling better. That must've been really scary...

He. His name is Murphy, and he's quite the little bandit.

It was scary. No parent likes to see a child in trouble — and he is only a baby, despite also being a Pokemon.

[8(

8((((((((((((((((((

Shaun is quiet for a moment because ow.]

I-I...bet.

[LOOK AT HOW SUBTLY SHE LEADS INTO THAT NEW SUBJECT, MAN.

SHE IS SO GOOD AT THIS.]

I'm still learning how to be one, though. Trying to think of what the headmistress of my old school would've done, and imitating that.

[Headmistress. Not parents.]

[The subtlety hurts.]

I...I think you'd be a good mom.

[He's looking over at Calvin, who's fingerpainting with his little paws on some paper that was left over from the valentine's making adventures, and wondering if Calvin is expecting him to act like a dad.

Wondering if he can really fill the damn big shoes his dad left unfilled.]

[Right here is the moment where she could very easily say, "Do you think so? I never had one." But of course, she doesn't.]

Do you miss yours?

[She'll go with that instead.]

...Sometimes.

[Susie has picked up a lot of the slack that being separated from Grace left - things like not leaving him alone in the bath, and cuddling him when he wakes up from nightmares - but she's not a human, however much she acts like his mom.

He doesn't miss waking up in the middle of the night and getting up to get a drink only to hear her crying down the hall.]

It's easier knowing that time stops back home. Otherwise, she'd be really worried about me.

Especially since most of the people who come here, I've found, arrive when they're otherwise right in the middle of something important. It'd be terrible to think that the rest of the world was going on without them while they were here, being left behind.

[He hesitates.]

I...kinda like it better here.

[And there's the hook.]

There's a lot to like about Johto. What in particular makes you say so?

Back home was...

A lot of stuff happened. Bad stuff.

I see. So Agent Jayden's been taking good care of you?

Uh-huh.

...But there's another guy here. From my world.

Is that Lieutenant Blake? He's talked to me before. He wasn't very nice to Zack, either.

[There's a waver in Shaun's voice when he answers.]

He shot my dad.

He did what?!

[Her surprise here is actually authentic; even if she knew some of the details of Shaun's experiences prior to this conversation thanks to Norman, it's another thing entirely to hear it from Shaun firsthand.]

Some man dressed as a policeman kidnapped me and put me in a drain. He...He told me my dad was gonna come get me. He said I'd be okay, that my dad could save me...

I-I dunno how long I was down there, but then I woke up and my dad was there. I wasn't in the water anymore, and he was there, and...and... He promised me he'd never leave me again. He promised-- [His voice cracks, and a quiet sob crosses over the line.]

And then Lieutenant Blake shot him. He took my dad from me. And now he's lying!

Shaun. Shaun, don't cry...

[HOLY SHIT HOW DOES SHE EVEN DEAL WITH SOBBING CHILDREN THIS IS NOT EDUCATIONAL SHE IS A LITTLE OUT OF HER DEPTH HERE OH GOD EMOTIONAL CONUNDRUM HALP.

Okay no you know what she's cool she's got this she's Carmen Sandiego she can jump headfirst off a fucking building, this is cake. Yeah. Really.]

Shaun, listen to me. Don't cry. I believe you. Take a deep breath, all right? Is Susie there with you? Get Susie and bring her over, okay?

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