[Video]

[crouching_sin]

[Normally Naoya wouldn't bother with a post like this, but he's at his wit's end. He's done his best to try to solve it himself, but it's not working... so it's a rather frazzled-looking Naoya who appears on the screen, barely holding on to a very frightened-looking Ralts.]

[The Ralts in question is making tiny squeaking noises and looks like she wants to cry and hide rather than be anywhere in the area. Any Pokémon watching can probably hear her squeaking 'he is a bad and scary man'.]

Most of my Pokémon are rather well behaved. This one, however... doesn't seem to want to be anywhere near me. I haven't done anything to scare her. She just hatched a few days ago.

Has anyone else had problems with a Ralts that... doesn't seem to like them?

[He just... turns the video off. He'll put her back in her Pokeball now because... he doesn't know what else to do.]

Comments

[crouching_sin]

... If you think that's best.

[He's just kind of... tired of dealing with a crying child.]

[babel_hacker]

I'll be right back.

[And off he goes to the PC. Have fun dealing with your Ralts a little longer, Naoya. Atsuro will be back in after a moment.]

[crouching_sin]

Sure.

[He does his best to pick up Alice again and bounce her in his arms lightly, trying to shush her. It's... it's not working very well.]

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro, like he said, eventually returns with a Gardevoir following behind him. She gives Naoya a look, before turning her attention to Alice.]

Okay, Andromeda, can you calm her down?

[She nods and floats over to Naoya, holding out her hands for Alice.]

[crouching_sin]

[He hands Alice over carefully, watching them. Alice sniffles and curls up in her arms. He's scary!]

[babel_hacker]

[Andromeda gently rocks Alice, sending her comforting thoughts. He's a little scary, but he won't hurt you.]

[crouching_sin]

[You can feel it though, can't you? He's... his emotions are scary. Doesn't all of that hate hurt? She hiccups a bit like she's going to start crying again.]

[babel_hacker]

[Indeed, I do. Bottling in all of those dark emotions aren't healthy for anyone. That would mean he need to get the resolve to face them. But I know my trainer.

He would stand by good people. And that includes him, your trainer.]

[crouching_sin]

[... Okay. ... How do I make it stop hurting, though? I don't wanna be around someone who hurts me! She wants to try, she really does, but it's hard to get out of the childish thinking of 'but I don't wanna'.]

[babel_hacker]

[She's still so young...

It wouldn't be easy and it's likely to take a long time for him to heal. He...would need support in order to overcome it.]

[crouching_sin]

[... I don't know how to do that. She just sits down on the ground, pouting a little.]

[babel_hacker]

[By just being there for him and extending your hand, whenever he needs t.

There's no right way to go about it...]

[crouching_sin]

[I'll try... but it's going to be hard with him.]

[babel_hacker]

[Just as long you do your best. And if you ever need someone to talk to, ask for me.

She pats her head. Atsuro quietly watches and looks at Naoya.]

[crouching_sin]

[Naoya looks away briefly. This feels... intimate. Something he shouldn't be privy to.]

[Alice nuzzles Andromeda a little, before nodding. Okay...]

[babel_hacker]

[When Atsuro speaks, it's just a whisper to Naoya.]

...Seems like they settled it.

[crouching_sin]

... I think so. She seems calmer now, at least.

[babel_hacker]

Right.

...I guess I'll keep Andromeda on my team for a while.