[Video 02]

[seasaltkey]

[It's clearly dark out, so there's a lantern set to the side to illuminate Roxas sitting on the ground. He's got a sleeping Zubat in his lap. Roxas doesn't look too happy about this. Who would be when you're camping under the stars and awoken for no good reason.]

I know not a lot of people are going be awake right now, but here I am.

[He sighs as he pulls the rather guilty looking Shinx of his closer. She's doing her best not to look at her trainer or the camera. This little girl is clearly in trouble for something, and she doesn't want anyone to know.]

If you have a Pokémon that's afraid of the dark, put them in a Pokéball or keep a light on. Else they'll attack the first thing that gets too close to your camp. Which is either you, or this Zubat. At least she was sleeping outside of the tent... Goodnight.

[With that he turns the gear off as the now freed Shinx runs off into the tent.]



[[ooc: if any of the other newbies are on route 30, feel free to find him. also assume it's later than the timestamp]]

Comments

[friendyousohard]

I have tried every single thing I can think of. No luck. He usually ends up just staring blankly at anyone who tries to communicate with him.

[seasaltkey]

I'd have Vivi talk to him, but I don't think he's going to listen to a tiny mouse if he's not listening to anyone else. Vivi's the only reason Saix hasn't tried to challenge me to a fight anymore.

[He really needs to stop naming his Pokémon after violent people.]

[friendyousohard]

I appreciate the thought regardless. What species are those two?

[seasaltkey]

Vivi is my Dedenne, my new starter. Saix is a Rufflet... almost as bad as my Murkrow was... at least he hasn't attacked strangers yet.

[friendyousohard]

Oh. Well, be careful with him, when he evolves into Braviary he might get even worse.

... Or growing up may mellow him out. Sometimes it can be hard to tell.

[seasaltkey]

If he does get worse, I know someone who'd be more than happy to try and tame him. Rin's a lot better with Pokémon like that than I am.

[Roxas will not fight them man-to-beast like Rin would.]

[friendyousohard]

Well it's nice to hear you've got backup if you need it. I'd offer more suggestions, but frankly the only solution I've been able to find for my more combative Pokemon is to have a counter-type on hand that can take them down almost immediately.

[And this is why you always have a fighting-type on hand when training a Tyranitar, kids.]

[seasaltkey]

I've got two electric types, so that helped when he tried it before. But I don't really want to keep doing that... doesn't seem very fair to Saix.

[He really hates having his Pokémon get hurt. Even though sometimes it's necessary to get anywhere.]

[friendyousohard]

It's hardly fair to anyone he encounters to be suddenly attacked by an angry Rufflet, either. It's not fair to you for him to act the way he does, for that matter. He needs to learn that his behavior is unacceptable, or you're never going to get anywhere with him.

[seasaltkey]

[That's harsh, Twi. This kid is not good at disciplining anything.]

I guess I should try harder with training him.

[friendyousohard]

[All the more reason to teach him how to do it.]

What methods have you been using to reign him in, thus far?

[seasaltkey]

[Better from you than from Sora.]

Vivi will shock him if he gets to close. Or I have Sky, my Altaria, use Sing. I have her use that more than shocking him.

[friendyousohard]

That's good enough to make him stop, but it doesn't do much to teach him the error of his ways. You'll need to do a little more in the area of discipline, which I'm guessing is a bit outside your comfort zone.

[Not exactly a stretch for her to assume that, really.]

[seasaltkey]

I don't want him to hate me. That's why I'm not doing anything else but those things.

[Being hated would be the worst thing.]

How can I be stricter without him disliking me for it?

[friendyousohard]

Well, that's a bit tricky, but it's important to figure ways out.

Think about an authority figure in your life. Your parents, a teacher maybe. Someone who you had to take orders from, who you respected but still liked. What were they like? What did they do when you did something wrong? How did they correct you?

[Twilight, not everyone had a Celestia in their lives.]

[seasaltkey]

[All of the authority figures in his life used him as a tool, and the one who didn't he couldn't see as an authority figure.]

They were all mean to me.

[friendyousohard]

... Oh.

[And suddenly, everything is explained. A massive well of sympathy rises up in her for Roxas, because what must that have been like?]

Well, I mean... alright, so you don't have much to build on. That's okay. We can figure out ways to make all your Pokemon respect you without you turning into a cruel person, I promise.

[seasaltkey]

[It wasn't fun. Especially in the end when he started acting out against them.

He nods, petting the Zubat in his lap.]

Is it weird to think that the ones who like me might not respect me? How do I know if they do?

[friendyousohard]

It... wouldn't be surprising if that was the case, really. Liking and respect don't necessarily go hand in hand. Still, it's important that they do respect and look up to you, if you're going to be a proper trainer.

[She smiles, hoping to be reassuring.]

Don't worry. I learned from a very good teacher. I've got plenty to teach you about this. Now. One of the first things we need to work on is word choice. How do you usually talk to your Pokemon?

[seasaltkey]

[This all makes a lot of sense. And makes him hopeful that maybe this time around he could be a proper trainer to his Pokémon. Even if he was a breeder.]

Thanks.

[How he talks to them?]

I talk to them like I talk to people.

[friendyousohard]

Alright, that's a good start. The problem is, I'm guessing you've never been in charge of anyone back home, am I right?

[It's a bit presumptuous of her to assume that, yes, but he's just so reticent...]

[seasaltkey]

No, not really. My friends and I were pretty equal. But...

[It was okay to talk about this, right?]

I had Nobodies I controlled. But I never really had to tell them what to do.

[friendyousohard]

The point is, you have no real experience talking to people from a position of authority. Which is, really, the root of all your problems.

I won't lie, this will be difficult to fix, but it can be done. The first thing you have to do is remember to be polite, but firm.

[seasaltkey]

[Now he really feels like he's being looked down on. It's never a nice feeling.]

Polite? I can't talk like I normally do?

[friendyousohard]

[Had he ever had a decent teacher in his life, he'd recognize how she's talking to him a little better.]

Well you aren't normally rude, so it's not like you'll have to change that much. It's really the firmness that I think needs work. Honestly, Roxas, you're a little soft.