Sixteenth Flight. [audio/action for travel party.]

[newberktown]

[Among the background bustle--familiar sounds for anyone who's set foot in a Pokemon Center--there's a small whine from an Eevee, almost like a prompt for Hiccup to speak. After another second or so, he does.]

Uh... Has anyone ever, uhmm. [There's another pause. How should he put this...] Lost...half their pokemon? [He clears his throat before continuing, quicker this time like an excuse.] I still have all their pokeballs, and those are registered to all of them still, according to the people at the Center. But I can't find them anywhere...

[Hiccup sighs, and there's a subtle clunk as he moves his hand to the 'gear to shut it off. Before he does, though, there's one last mumble.]

I can't believe this is happening again...

Comments

[audio]

[newberktown]

They don't seem that dependent... Not on the same level as some of my other pokemon, anyway. But no, they hadn't tried getting my attention unless i just didn't notice them.

[audio]

[failures]

You...do realize how bad that last part sounded, right?

[Like, he wanted to audibly wince when he heard that.]

[audio]

[newberktown]

W-well...

[He didn't want to rule out the possibility. That just seemed irresponsible.

Irresponsibility all up in this thread.]

I mean, you can't always know, right? If you're...distracted, or whatever.

[audio]

[failures]

No, I gotcha...I think.

[He sounds very unsure about it. But he's willing to give the benefit of the doubt here.]

You could always check with your friends to see if they turned up there, or maybe your nearest PokeCenter. Other than that, I don't know what to tell you, man.

[audio]

[newberktown]

[You're a good guy, Larry.]

Astrid hasn't seen them and I'm at the center. I'll have to check with Carmen later, but... Thanks anyway, I guess.

[audio]

[failures]

No problem. I hope you find 'em. I can't imagine what the feeling's like... Well, actually, I kinda can. It's basically like your friends have disappeared.

[Well that got a little too depressing for comfort. Larry clears his throat.]

A-Anyway, like I said, I hope they turn up. I'm sure they have to be around here somewhere.

[audio]

[newberktown]

[Huh. Sounds like something this guy's got experience in. Bringing that up would be pretty tactless, though...

Then again, whoever said Hiccup had tact?]

You had some friends go home recently, then? Or have you just been here a while?

[audio]

[failures]

[Luckily Larry's willing to talk about it. You can't just keep it all bottled up.]

Uh, I wouldn't say "recently." They've been gone for over a year by now. But yeah, I've been here a long time too.