Video 5: Now with Bonus Swablu Hat! (Action for Traveling Party or Azalea)

[justanexpression]

[For once, the feed clicks on and Jack looks, not happy or excited or even amused, but vaguely confused and unimpressed.

A large part of that may have to do with the Swablu cooing and preening his hair. It's wrapped itself over the top of his head like a hat, and while it looks a bit worn out like it's just reached the end of far too much traveling, it also looks supremely pleased with itself.]

So, uh... Akito? I think this is your fault?

[He tries to look up at the Swablu only for it to coo even more loudly and hunker down on top of his head, as if it knows he's thinking about trying to pry it off. He sighs, but it's offset by a tiny smile.]

I think I need some advice. Don't get me wrong, okay. It's cute. Like really cute. But...

It won't move. It hasn't moved, and it's been like an hour since it came out of nowhere and landed on me. It won't even go into a pokeball. Here, watch.

[He pulls out a pokeball, and the Swablu gets pulled in at first, but soon enough, the ball pops back open as if he'd tried and failed to catch a wild pokemon. The bird flutters straight back to his head, cooing an admonishment this time.]

So yeah. Advice.

Help?

Comments

[yoctogram]

They know about themselves.

[it's something that fascinates Sho, really]

It's like...

[And then he wandered off into maths. Computational maths. Maths about computer notation. Somewhere in there the phrase Z Spot Notation came into play.]

[justanexpression]

[And about the time Jack's eyes glaze over from math-overload, a miracle happens.

The Swablu had been listening intently, tilting her head this way and then, and finally, she coos proudly and... actually leaves Jack's head.

Just to sit on Sho's instead, it's true, but it's still a miracle.]

...What'd you say?

[yoctogram]

...Which part?

[Sho asked, distracted from his rant]

[justanexpression]

I don't know?

[Would asking about it make Sho start in trying to explain it?

Whatever it was, though, the Swablu shifts her weight, obviously not caring about Jack's thoughts on the subject. She pecks lightly at Sho's hat, cooing encouragingly.]

[yoctogram]

[He sighed and started going through the same rant, only more slowly, searching Jack's face for even the slightest hint of understanding.]

[justanexpression]

[Nope, not a single thing.

Not from Jack, at least. The Swablu coos and trills along happily. She may not be able to do math, but Sho's voice sounds so nice and clean and orderly when he talks about it.]

[yoctogram]

...Which is how you use Z Spot Notation...

[Sho said it slowly, reaching up to let the bird (biiiiird) tongue his finger]

[justanexpression]

Swaaaaaaaaaaablu~! [She nuzzles and nips his finger lightly. Is he going to keep talking?]

Are you trying to win over my bird?

[yoctogram]

No. I am trying to explain my theories on pokemon and computers.

[But, hey, if the bird wants to hear maths, who is he to not oblige it?]

[justanexpression]

Why do you have theories, plural, on pokemon and computers, anyway? [Wait. That was a question, wasn't it? He's doomed.]

[yoctogram]

...Knowledge is power, Jack.

[Sho said, quite seriously]

Power lets you do what you want, in the ways you want. Could be kind, could be cruel, whatever kind of person you are. Learn everything, test everything, take nothing for granted.

Not asking the right questions led to the worst decision of my death. The first one.

[justanexpression]

[Jack has learned, and learned well, that questions are quite dangerous things around Sho. Immensely dangerous. You never know when one might lead to endless maths.

And yet...]

The worst decision of your death?

[yoctogram]

Yes.

[It was soft]

I don't...remember everything that happened. I've died too many times. The first time I died I entered Reaper's Game. Won. Decided to become a Reaper.

So stupid. So very stupid.

[justanexpression]

[There are two choices here. Give in to his own curiosity and ask Sho more about the Reaper's Game and possibly make him upset... or ask him about math and make him happier.

Sadly, that isn't even a choice. He gestures up at the Swablu who has decided that Sho just needs a feel-better grooming and is trying valiantly to unseat his hat.]

What did you say earlier that got her so interested?

[yoctogram]

Pretty sure it was talking about the Z Notation Spot.

[pause. Look at Jack. Put a hand on the bill of his hat so that the bird can't knock it over.]

It's a computer thing.

[justanexpression]

[She compensates by leaning over the bill to stare at him upside-down.]

Swablu?

[Jack snickers.] A spot?

[yoctogram]

Z Notation Spot.

[Sho corrected, staring back at the bird instead of Jack]

[justanexpression]

[She ruffles her feathers, head tilting to look at Sho from yet another angle. By now, Jack was watching her, too, curious and amused.]

Swaa?