♚ eleventh step ♚

[polarization]

[ In the library, there is a sleeping boy. This boy has an egg! It is an odd, yellow egg with one pink dot on each side of it and black lightning bolt patterns along the crown. How curious.

Unbeknownst to Sefton, the egg begins to stir, rocking back and forth from its cradle of his curled up legs and arms. It's making sounds! It's about to hatch!

Crack...

Crack... crackcrack—

Congratulations! Your egg has hatched into a Pichu! And boy, is the little tyke just SO HAPPY to be alive. In fact, it's so excited, it discharges some electricity on accident. Zzzap. ]

O—ow! What—... uh. Hi.

Pi pichu!

[ WELL YOU GUYS SAID IT COULD BE A POKéMON I mean, standard Sefton disclaimer, yadda yadda. ]

Comments

[polarization]

No. No, you're not. 'Cause it's not a bet.

[oliverplus]

[amused] Okay, how about I'm still right?

[polarization]

You're not.

[oliverplus]

And I told you, you're on.

[polarization]

It's not a bet. [ Frustration!

Pichu has, by now, laid itself on its back while nomming on the strawberry, staring at the two in confusion. ] Pi?

[oliverplus]

Nope, but it's on anyway.

[looks down at the creature] You think it's full?

[polarization]

[ He gives a small, unamused look for the subject change, then turns to Pichu. ] I... dunno. Maybe?

[oliverplus]

Or maybe he's just taking a break to scope out the entertainment.

[polarization]

... Think your definition of "entertainment" could use some work.

[ Pichu finishes its snack, grabs another from the melted package, then walks over to Sefton while holding it up for him and looking hopeful. ] Pichu?

[oliverplus]

[laughs]

[awww!] Hah, look at that! He thinks you're hungry.

[polarization]

[ Sefton just stares. ] But... I'm not.

Pi? [ It pushes it out a little farther. >: Sefton's not taking iiit. ]

[oliverplus]

Aww, are you really gonna turn the little guy down?

[polarization]

But I'm not... [ He tries shaking his head to Pichu, wondering just how much the thing is capable of understanding. ]

Pi... chu? [ Oh boy, here come the disappointed eyes! ]

[oliverplus]

[snorts, watching Sefton's face for how he's going to handle that]

[polarization]

[ His eyes open a bit in surprise, then narrow in nervousness - is it going to start crying? It looks that way. Then... he takes the strawberry and turns away huffily. ] Fine.

Chya! [ Pichu looks ecstatic with this and quickly bounds to the package and grabs another one for itself. ]

[oliverplus]

[grins] Looks like you passed the test, Sefton!

[steps over toward the Pichu, looking down at it questioningly] Do I get one, too?

[polarization]

[ Sefton rolls his eyes, taking a bite of the strawberry without properly acknowledging Oliver.

Pichu, however, stares up at him, blinks a few times, tilts its head... then finishes biting off the piece it had been working on before holding it up for Oliver. ] Pi pi?

[oliverplus]

[laughs] Not the one you're eating!

[polarization]

[ Pichu's ears twitch, and it tries holding the piece out further. There's nothing wrong with it! ] Pichu pi!

[oliverplus]

[points at the box, amused] How about one of those?

[polarization]

Scared it's got cooties or something?

[ Pichu looks toward the box, then sets the strawberry down and walks over to it. For a moment, it contemplates it, then walks around and begins shoving the package closer to the edge of the counter for Oliver. ] Piiii... piii... piii...!

[oliverplus]

[glances at Sefton] It hatched out of an egg, and you're thinking cooties?

[laughs] Not the whole thing! Here! [reaches in, taking one of the strawberries] See? Cheers, mate. [gives Pichu a smile to show he's quite happy with this and takes a bite of the strawberry]

[polarization]

What else'm I supposed to think of?

[ Pichu watches Oliver, very curious at what he's doing, then hops on top of the box and tries to pry it open and retrieve another one. ]

[oliverplus]

[amused] Maybe a real disease?

Whoa, hey, you can't open it when you're on top of it!

[polarization]

... shut up.

[ Pichu continues to pull, despite Oliver's warning, and ends up tumbling backwards off the lid; the lack of its weight lets it pop open easily. It rolls once, then sits there for a minute in absolute shock and confusion. WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

Meanwhile, Sefton is trying not to look amused. Or worried. Or both. So, he settles for bemused instead. ]