laplaceattorney | Third Day. [video/action for goldenrod department store.]

[The thing Keisuke has learned these past few days is that he is especially terrible at buying gifts for others. This task would be next to impossible if he hadn't received birthday gifts of his own, last month. At least he has a frame of reference, as well as a scale for equal reciprocation.

The thing that he hasn't learned yet, is that there is a Jumpluff floating nearby, recording him as he stares intently at the shelves.]

I wonder...what would be best... Maybe I should check the other floors more...

[But there is another pokemon around that doesn't seem to agree with that idea of Keisuke's, giving a loud "Shellder! Shell!" in protest. The eighteen-year-old looks over just in time to see--]

Bufu, no!

[Too late. The Shellder has already tackled one of the shelves hard enough that a water stone falls close--right in clamping range. Screw those other six moves, Keisuke! He wants to be big and strong!]

I can't...believe you just did that...

[Just before the feed clicks off, viewers will be able to hear the snicker of a newly-evolved Cloyster, as well as the yelp from his trainer as he closes his shell on the boy's outstretched hand.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well, hey, now there's a familiar face on the network.]

That looked like a painful pinch. Are you all right?

[He would text back, Carmen, but his hand hurts.]

I will be, eventually. He didn't break anything, at least. Used Aurora Beam, though...

[Hey, there's an easy way to fix that. Not that she's ever minded texting in response to a different form of communication before, but hey, letting him hear her voice has its own advantages.]

Ah, so he's a cheeky little clam, is he?

[...OH.]

Oh. It's you.

[Well that's awkward.]

I see he's not the only one.

[COME ON, KEISUKE, it's called subtlety, don't blow this now.]

[Carmen, when has Keisuke ever been subtle? You spotted him on Rocket business twice, woman.]

Sorry--I just didn't realize.

And I wouldn't say he's cheeky so much as just badly behaved.

[Hey, man, she wants to believe. SHE WANTS TO BELIEVE.]

Ah, but bad behavior is something you can fix through patience and effort. His nature might be considerably more immutable.

[...Bufu's nature is 'adamant', too. He is never going to change. The only thing to break the silence as Keisuke realizes this is a defeated sigh.]

[Keisuke, you have no idea how tempted Carmen is to try going Clam Whisperer on Bufu right now. Her voice makes angry guard dogs behave; why not a temperamental shellfish?

Still, she chuckles a little under her breath.]

That doesn't mean he won't change; just that you'll have to be more creative in finding the way to make him stop. But you won't have any success if you're mistaking his personality itself for a bad habit to correct.

[Carmen, please take his clam and make it not be a jerk. Keisuke would love you forever.]

...You're certainly all about change and choices, aren't you?

[Where is Aquaman when you really need him.]

No. Some of the best things are the ones that never change. But solving a problem is like playing a chess match; to be truly great, you have to be conscious of the whole board, not just the isolated skirmishes.

I was never very good at chess, I'm afraid.

[And, as proven in the lockdown, his viewpoint had always been pretty narrowly focused.]

It's never too late to learn.

Third Day. [video/action for goldenrod department store.]

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