005 // @strange.magic: video

[suckstobestrange]

[Hello Riverview! The feed blinks on to show Stephen, who might be looking somewhat under the weather here, paler than normal, the dark circles under his eyes a bit deeper. But that's not what he's here about, so like fuck he's acknowledging that!]

So is there anyone around who's a bit more up on Pokemon than I am? I was told they evolved as a method of growth, but I was unaware it was such a... sudden thing. One minute Wong was normal size, the next he's, well-

[The camera is turned, showing Wong, who is no longer the Lillipup that folk might remember but a Herdier. He's also three times his previous size, as seen by the fact that sitting up he was barely fitting on the small pillow-style dog bed just visible.]

Also, anyone who knows how to get him to stop doing this would be appreciated. [The camera pans lower to show that the dog bed was in fact upside down, having been pushed off the nearby sofa onto Sirius. The black lab hasn't moved even with bed and other dog on him, a long-suffering look sent Stephens way, as well as a slow thump of his tail.

He'd move but he's had enough of Wong's bamboozling for one day, thanks.]

Comments

[antietam]

Jealousy seems about right then. He was the only child for a while and now he has to adjust.

How do you react when Wong does that?

[suckstobestrange]

Luckily Sirius is patient and doesn't really seem too bothered by Wong and his issues.

Well I usually just pick him up and put him back where he was, if he does it again he goes back on the floor.

[antietam]

That's good, you don't want to reward him.

I haven't read up too much about pokemon, but I think you can train them with voice commands like you can with dogs. Ideally you'll be able to give him a command to stop.

Do you walk them together?

[suckstobestrange]

He's pretty smart, learned most of the basic stuff you want a dog to know. Sit, stay, get down, leave it, come, you get the idea. He's also stupidly stubborn though, which is part of the problem.

I do, yeah. Sometimes Wong can't come with us though, if I'm going somewhere that only lets service dogs in like at work, so I try and give Wong some walks on his own too. Time at the park, stuff like that.

[antietam]

Yeah, he has a stubborn look to him. Cute though. Must be hard to discipline.

As long as you walk them together occasionally. That'll get them to bond. Do you mind me asking what the difference is between Wong and a regular dog?

[suckstobestrange]

He also knows he's cute, the little brat.

It's... Well, Pokemon have abilities? Wong's are pretty mundane, like tackling, a specific type of bite, but some other pokemon have more impressive ones from what I understand. And well, he was about a third of this size and weight as well as did not have a mustache five minutes before I posted to the network, so there's that.

[antietam]

So he went through puberty. Maybe it'll come with some newfound maturity?

Is he pretty much the same as a dog behaviorally?

[suckstobestrange]

Pretty much. A ridiculously smart dog, but pretty dog-like. Herding dogs from what I've seen, he likes to make everyone go places. Not so bad as nipping ankles or barking, but he still tries.

[antietam]

Cute and useful. Have you ever thought about getting some sheep? Might distract him enough to give your other dog a break.

[suckstobestrange]

Knowing my home the sheep would eventually sprout fangs and develop a new and exciting bloodlust.

[antietam]

That wouldn't necessarily be surprising on this planet, but what is it about your home that increases the chance of bloodlust even more? Just curious.

[suckstobestrange]

Magic. A metric fuckton of magic.

[antietam]

What kind of magic are we talking?

Because I don't think I've experienced the kind of magic that turns livestock into vampires. [ And he is interested. ]