thedifferencebetween

Newborn Pokemon ain't like regular newborns. It's...

[Jack sighs and throws up his hands. He knows how crazy it all sounds, he does. He's been there.]

They don't grow up like animals do, they hatch and they're the size and shape they're gonna be till they evolve. Then there's a flash of light and bam, they're different.

I know I sound drunk, but I'm not.

That's... Really weird? But awesome? They must fully develop while inside the eggs, then. Kinda the opposite of marsupials. Instead of being born as little wiggling embryos, they're fully developed and ready to go.

Yeah, that's the theory. Hey, drink up, we can step outside. I wanna smoke and I got some Pokemon to show ya. I don't got any that just hatched or anything, but I got some neat ones. My dragon, my fire unicorn, my electric sheep - hey, hey, you might get a kick out of this.

[Jack leans over the table, grinning a very self-pleased sort of grin and half chuckling.]

My electric sheep, right? Guess what I call'er. Guess. I call'er...An Android's Dream!

I mean her name is Cherub, my remaining kid named her, but I call her An Android's Dream as a nickname. Cause she's an electric sheep!

Oh my God, that's amazing. Holy shit. I can't wait to see her.

[Newt takes a sip of his drink, and then pauses. He's not sure if he should bring it up, but...]

.. Your... remaining kid?

Yeah, she's pretty neat. More cutesy than I go for, but...

[He has his reasons for wanting one.]

Oh, uh, yeah. One of'ems not here anymore. Ironically, that was my biological daughter. Diana's adopted, but that don't make her any less my kid. You may have seen her around the network, she's a mouthy thing. Takes after her old man!

[Arguably more than Angel ever did, at least openly and obviously.]

She picks me up Pokemon sometimes, she wanders all over with this pink haired chick she's super into. But she stays with me a bunch, too. Hell, used to have a whole little perfect TV family here...my two girls, some other kids who were always hanging around, my husband...

Now it's just me and Di.

[Okay, one more drink before Pokemon show and tell, Jack needs it.]

Oh- I'm sorry, that sucks. At least you've still got one of them, though.

I've heard a little bit about people leaving this place, but also that it's not something people really decide they wanna do? And they just up and disappear without warning. Is that true?

Yeah, you just...poof. I dunno, it sucks, but that's pretty much how it happens. You never know when you're gonna lose somebody, and you're gonna lose a lot of people here.

[Jack knocks back his drink.]

A lot.

Jesus.

It's something I'm pretty used to, you know, uh- the possibility of people I care about just. Gone. But at least there's a tangible reason. Even if that reason is, you know, "got eaten alive by giant monsters"- that just- really sucks, dude.

[This is genuinely Newt's best effort at being comforting, which is kind of sad.]

Yeah. Yeah, it really does. No clue why some people vanish and some of us just stick around for years and years and friggin years.

[Jack stands, gesturing for Newt to do the same.]

If ya can't tell, I've been here for years. Multiple birthdays. And I still couldn't tell you how shit works. This is the weirdest friggin planet...

[It doesn't make any sense to him, it still doesn't. Even all these years in Team Rocket, with access to all their research, he doesn't get it.]

But screw that depressing stuff, let's show off our Pokemon.

Who's been here the longest? Aside from, like, the people who were already living here before people like us showed up. Unless everyone here is from another universe? Eh, I dunno.

[Newt stands up immediately at Jack's last statement, his Espurr mewling in surprise as she gets jostled around on his shoulder. He scoops her up and cradles her like a baby.]

Hell yeah, dude! I'm, like, so ready for this, you have no idea.

No clue. But yeah, there's locals. More locals than not. I think the longest anyone's been here's a decade? But don't quote me on that.

[This is just what Jack has heard, and it could be one of those 'girlfriend on Eden' kind of deals. Just something somebody claims.]

[Once outside, Jack pulls out one of his pokeballs and tosses it into a nearby open area to let out his shiny Charizard. Sure, Newt's seen it on the 'gear, but that's nothing like getting a look at the real life thing.]

[All six and a half feet of him, currently snorting and flaring his wings.]

There he is! My Warrior!

Huh. Was that person, like, the first person brought here, or were there other people here first who just didn't stay as long?

[Newt makes an excited little noise as Warrior appears. There are stars in this man's eyes and he is practically bouncing on his feet with excitement.]

Holy shit. Holy shit, can I pet him?

No idea. I think it's only been happening ten or a dozen years, though, so maybe.

[It's not something Jack's ever investigated, and it's nothing Rocket has info lying around on.]

Sure, knock yourself out! Shit, you can ride him, if ya want. He's friendly. Enough. I didn't bring any of my nasty ones - I got some that are kinda battle hungry, if ya get my drift? Warrior though, he's cool. He was a tiny little thing when he hatched! Looked kinda like a dinosaur.

[Newt reaches out one hand to tentatively, gently stroke Warrior's snout. His eyes wander to Warrior's unfurled wings.]

He's gorgeous, dude. Those wings are a little smaller than I'd expect for an animal so big, so he's gotta have some powerful goddamn muscles to be capable of extended flight. Does he have hollow bones? Wait, nevermind, you said something earlier about not, like, paying attention to stuff like that- but they've gotta be, right? You know, some people have calculated that if a human had wings, the wings would have to be at least 7 or 8 meters long to carry our weight, thats like at least 20-something feet in length, and that's not even counting the weight of the wings themselves, which probably wouldn't even be able to fly due to their size- and you look at that, and then you look at this guy, and just- holy shit, how does he do it? And it's not even something you'd think about, you'd take it for granted like, yeah, of course the dragon can fly, water is wet and all that, but it's really so fascinating to take that into account and then look at stuff like him and wonder how the hell he's able to do it! It's like he's a miracle of nature, you know?

[Jack has successfully unlocked the "Never shuts the fuck up" mode on Newt.]

Wow, whoah, okay. Calm down. We gotta get you on decaf! Uh...yeah, I think hollow bones. But strong? 'Cause yeah, I can ride him. And I mean...uh...probably something to do with the fire? Heat? Heat rises...I dunno.

[Jack's just spitting out logic that makes sense to him. Boy, Newt is really excited about this Pokemon, and it's not even the weirdest one Jack has to show off.]

But yeah, he's got weirdly small wings. Flies like an ace, though! Here, lemme show you the electric sheep.

[And he tosses out another ball, letting out his particularly dainty Mareep.]

I'm already on decaf, my dude, it's never helped a bit.

[Newt finally leaves Warrior behind to get a closer look at the Mareep.]

Ohhh, look at you! You're so cute! Hey, will petting her, like, electrocute me or something?

Well that's terrifying!

Nah, just feel tingly. She's real friendly, she likes people. I haven't had her too long,

[She certainly seems friendly, bouncing around and 'maaaaa' and 'reeeep'ing all over the place in excitement.]

[Newt pats the Mareep's head, the hair on his arms standing up on end from static electricity. He's already used to the same feeling from Yamarashi, luckily, and it doesn't stop him from continuing to pet the wool.]

Do people sheer these guys like regular sheep? And, where'd you get her?

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