Term One Rex

“Oh, uh, thanks! Rex Ramos,” he shook his hand and noticed the confident grip. “Pleasure to meet you. And I'm not in any of those, I worked construction with my dad. Never thought much about it to be honest. You in any or...all?” He crouched to see the little Pokémon and smiled, “And who might you be?”

The Inkay in his hands watched the Pokémon skeptically and Rex watched it dart behind his back when the Pokémon hopped forward. “We give them names don't we? Ah, I'm not used to this. I've never been away from home before. Or had a Pokémon of my own. I hope I don't mess it up.”

Feeling silly for running his mouth he straightened and cleared his throat, smirking at the tentacles that dropped over his shoulder to peer down at the other ‘mon in the room.

Rex glanced at his phone and immediately Inkay tapped the screen, messily drawing a line that was definitely not the password. He laughed, easing the phone out of its reach. “I'd like to get to know my roommate a little better, seeing as we’re stuck with each other for a while. “So do we take turns doing chores and buying stuff or do we just handle ourselves? Actually, how about we grab some lunch and sort everything out then if you're not too busy?”

Inkay was reaching for the phone and after a moment, Rex relented. It's white tendrils held and tapped, opening and shutting the internet and cooing at the music that played in his library.

“I was thinking of calling this one Shipwreck but I'll have to see what comes to mind. And hello Lancelot.” He watches in awe as Inkay holds his phone and smiled appreciatively, “So smart!”

While listening to Randall, he could have sworn he heard someone speak but his lips didn’t move. “Ah…” Rex rubbed at his ear and smiled, “That's my dad.” He must have zoned out for a moment and answering made him feel a little embarassed. He patted Inkay’s back and watched the tendrils loop around his fingers. “And barbeque sounds great. Been awhile since I had any cookout. You a burger kind of guy or hotdogs?”

Rex pushed his belongings on his bed and left the room, locking it behind them and grinning at the waddling Lancelot. Randall was friendly, and he could appreciate a man who started a conversation over some grilled food. He could eat his weight in steak despite his mother's chastising and dad’s boasting that he could eat more.

He wanted to hold Inkay but he knew he had to give the little Pokémon some space until they got to know each other better. It - he? She? Ha, if Rex wanted to delude himself the voice from before sounded kind of like a males but that would be silly because there was no way Inkay could have spoken - preferred to rest on his shoulder and examine the photographs of his friends and family.

“My Dad had this big Machamp that helped us with construction. We didn't need to buy extra forklifts and cranes when Bear could carry all of the stuff himself.” Rex focused on remembering the path they took into town, “Makes me glad I have a cute little friend like Shipwreck. It's a nice change.” He scratched the Pokémon under its beak, testing the name on his tongue. “So where are you from?”

‘Shipwreck makes…me…’

Rex glanced at the little pokemon watching him and shook his head to clear his thoughts. During the walk he payed full attention to Randall and pushed away the distracting idea that Shipwreck could talk. Ha. Rex could hear the venom in Randall’s voice and hummed, “No, I can’t say there are many with special abilities in Johto. At least, none that I know of. And I read a bit about Rangers online. Aren’t they the kind that don’t really have pokemon? Don’t they kind of…borrow them for a bit?”

Walking into town, Rex can’t help but gently take his phone back from Shipwreck and snap a few pictures at the bustle going on around them. He’ll delete them later when he remembers the layout better and lowers the phone slowly at the sight of the Pokemon Fashion booth.

“Think we can check that place out first? And that guy giving out free coupons later because it might have some great deals. Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned.” Rex proudly put his hands on his hips and grinned toothily at the voice that shouted out the special sale for today. “Who knows what they’ll have.”

3d6·3d6

This is it, the voice speaking with “I” and “me” can belong to no one else but Rex doesn’t know how it can happen. He quickly remembered that Inkay was part psychic but not all psychics could read minds right? He smiled and took one of the ribbons from the pile and gave the soft material a testing tug. “Shipwreck you…you don’t mind if I put this on you do you?”

Before whenever he spoke to pokemon it was one sided for the most part, they’d respond but the language barrier on Rex’s side kept them from having full conversations. He coaxed him into his hand and wrapped the black ribbon around the middle part of Inkay’s head, tying the ends in a neat bow to keep it in place.

Would it say something? Rex didn’t know what to do. “If you have any hats coming in later I’d appreciate it.” He peered down at the adorable girl, “Any nautical themes would be great.”

Rex desperately hoped Shipwreck wouldn’t mind Rex’s desire to have his partner covered in cute things. He fished his wallet from his pocket and made to pay, “So, coupon store or lunch?”

Hopefully no one could tell how bad Rex was nervously sweating through his shirt.

Rex hoped for a captain’s hat of some sort but none were found, maybe he could try his hand at sewing and make one himself. He could only think of how ironically cute Shipwreck would be wearing one.

“I’ll be there in a minute!” He called, checking the hats and wondering for himself. He couldn’t get sunburnt on his head could he? His buzzcut would prevent that right? He waited until Randall was out of earshot and the girl was looking at the next potential customer to quietly ask, “What is it you don’t like about him?”

His pokemon could talk. He wouldn’t have to guess anymore he could just ask and listen. This was incredible.

“Well I happen to like your amazing abilities. And it shouldn’t matter what anyone thinks because I think you’re perfect.” Rex cooed, smiling at his companion. “Also please don’t fight humans.”

He dropped off the payment and walked in the direction of Randall, eyeing the fishing rods wondering if he should buy one. Catching and releasing was one of the things he and his father agreed on. There was always something magical about returning one of the beasts back to the waters and coming across the same one months later to see how it had changed.

Before he could ask Shipwreck how he’d feel going fishing later, to ask questions and also to see if they can engage in some friendly competition with the wildlife, he hears Randall across the store. He peered around an aisle and jogged over, wondering what they would be talking about.


2d6

Rex pointed at the TM’s, “see any you like, Shipwreck? I’ll get one for you if you do.”

Rex wanted to know how smart his partner was, whether it was basic intelligence and he would learn overtime or somehow on the same level he was. Would he know what TM's were? “Snarl sounds pretty scary. You could work on your fearsome face.” Rex desperately wanted to see a squid as cute as Inkay try and be ferocious. That cute little beak and those big eyes squinted. Like an angry puppy. He narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth, hoping Shipwreck would copy him.

His head snapped back around to Randall and he grimaced, being rude to the worker was no way to haggle a price. He lingered in the back until he saw Randall turn on his heel and start to stalk away, quickly catching up to him. “Hey, what’s the matter? What happened back there?”

Rex was somewhat glad Randall distracted them before he could make a fool of himself further. Shipwreck was smart, and it didn’t seem like he’d fall for Rex’s plots to get him to be adorable anytime soon. He’d have to up his ante.

“Was never much of a camper myself, but I do know how some people can try to make you think you’re getting a good deal.” Rex wondered if he should look more into it later but the small monkey-like pokemon distracted him. The bigger man standing beside the Mankey looked about his size and he didn’t know how read his expression.

Keeping his distance to judge whether or not he should intervene, Rex tried to make out what they were saying.

2d6

Rex tore his gaze away from the boy returning his pokemon to its ball and smirked, “Wouldn’t dream of it. I’d like our first fight to be one we have to be on even ground. A nice dry, flat spot somewhere, where we could talk about rules and then have a friendly duel.”

He pursed his lips in thought, “You don’t think this is a regular occurrence do you? Freshman fighting higher levels? It’d be kind of like hazing wouldn’t it? Bullying the newcomers. Doesn’t seem very nice. And Randall? I’m sure he’s a respectable sort I mean look at him. He’s smart enough to know better than to rush off into battle without thinking.”

Rex gave Randall’s arm a light smack and crossed his arms over his chest, “You’d like to get to know a lady first right?


2d6