Analogical Week

Thomas had let all his Pokémon out of their balls for a well deserved stretch of their limbs. His shiny Sylveon Patton excitedly ran around checking out the scenery while his Zoroark changed into an Ekans and draped itself over his shoulders, classic Janus.

Roman and Remus were play-fighting, he hopes the Pikachu doesn’t rip Mimikyu’s disguise again. Remus hated not looking like his brother and taking his cover to fix it was always a horrible experience for all involved. His last Pokémon, a Meowstic named Logan, was sniffing at a frosted over bush. Thomas was going to tell Logan to come back just incase whatever had frozen the bush was still around when a weird looking Sneasel dashed out of the brush and behind Logan. Another, normal looking, Sneasel sliced the bushes away with freezing claws and headed straight for Logan and the other Sneasel. Ice claw! “Janus, Remus, use dire claw!” The two called on Pokémon are too far to make it and Logan is at a type disadvantage!

Stic!

Logan’s little paw darkened with a shadowy aura and he met the Sneasel with the charged attack. The move is super effective and the attacking Sneasel is chased away. The victorious Meowstic turns back to the cowering Sneasel checking the frightened Pokémon over with a calculating look.

Meow Mee Meowstic

Snee Snease Snee -cough- Sel

The other Pokémon all look at Thomas expectantly before Patton squeaks in the tone Thomas knows means that Sylveon is upset. “Guys I don’t know what you want me to do, does it need a soda? A center? You know I’m useless at first aid!” Sometimes he wishes he could understand Pokémon, they always seemed to have something to say.

Logan huffs and uses his esp to pull an aspear berry and a bottled water out of Thomas’s bag. Oh, yeah, that made sense. The odd Sneasel had been hit with ice claws and who knows what other ice moves since the flora was iced over, it must be suffering from the effects of being frozen. Thomas watched as Logan helped the Sneasel open the water and eat the berry, it was so beat up that the water barely seemed to help. It nuzzled into Logan’s warm midnight blue fur and gave a rumbling purr, thankful for the help. Which reminded him.

“When did you learn sucker punch? I don’t remember getting that T.M.”

Meow mmmstic

okay that was a stupid thing to ask, again he wished he could understand.

The weird purple and dusky Sneasel wearily walked up to Thomas, if this was a rare variant or a natural crossbreed then it might not have seen many humans. If it was a man made crossbreed it might have every reason to be scared of humans. Either way he would let it take control and decide if it wanted anything to do with him.

Sel Easel Sne Sne?

Carefully it bumps the blunt side of its claws on his bag hopping back when he slides the bag off his shoulder so it can see inside.

SNE!

It plucks out a luxury ball Thomas won in a raffle and hands it to the human, pointing from the ball to itself. When Thomas doesn’t move Sneasel looks at Logan and gestures at the human with clear annoyance. Logan makes a motion with his tail and Sneasel shrugs and bumps it’s jeweled forehead to the ball, a beam of red light sucks Sneasel in and the ball clicks in an insta catch. Thomas is so confused and made even more so when Logan pushes the button to let the new teammate out. Sneasel pops out and immediately is nuzzling Logan and giving that low rumbling purr, surprisingly Logan was purring too.

“Did that Sneasel catch itself because you two like each other? Oh my Arceus, that is so cute! Now what do I name you? You have a long ear feather so I guess you’re a boy. Mark, no, Sean? Ew no you are not a Sean. Victor…vi, Vi, Virgil?” Sneasel chirped at that so that was the name he registered on the ball. “Welcome to the team Sneasel! I can’t wait to get to know you.”

A few months later and a trip to the daycare left Thomas with the new knowledge that 1) Virgil was part of a thought to be extinct verity of Sneasel 2)This type on Sneasel had swapped feather lengths for males and females 3) Virgil was now a mommy to a whole litter of these extremely rare species. Logan was helping one of the Sneaselits try to take their first steps, a very proud look on the papa’s muzzle.

He threw open the door and stalked straight to Janus' room, not bothering to knock as he bursted inside.

"Remus? A bit early for- oh, Virg-"

Virgil grabbed him by the clasp of his caplet. "Where. Is. It." He hissed, glaring at him with pure hatred.

Janus smirked. "You'll have to be more specific than that sweetie."

Virgil growled. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, snake. Now give it back, it's not funny!"

Janus chuckled. "I disagree, you being riled up so early in the morning is hilarious, I'm almost sorry I'm not the cause of it… this time."

"Liar." Virgil spet. "Give it back now or I swear to god I'll-"

"You'll what? Whatever it is you're looking for, I don't have it." Janus shrugged, breaking away from Virgil's grasp easily.

He eyed Virgil, noting he's still in his pajamas, and smirked when he realized what he's looking for. "Is your signature jacket missing?" He teased.

"Yeah cause you took it! Now give. It. Back." Virgil insisted.

Janus rolled his eyes. It was fun at first, but now it's getting tedious. "Why would I take such… tasteless item? Anyways, I'd love to stay and chat but this is getting quite boring, goodbye Virgil." 

And before Virgil even had time to blink, he was standing outside in the hallway. He crossed his arms and blew his bangs out of his eyes. "Stupid snake." He grumbled, reluctantly turning his attention to the green door next to Janus'.

He sighed, better get this over with…

He braced himself, then opened the door. The stench overwhelmed him despite preparing himself for it. "Remus! If you did something to my jacket you'll regret it!" He yelled into the messy room.

For a moment, nothing happened, then something crashed onto Virgil from above and he fell to the ground painfully as the air was pushed out of his lungs.

"Ooh you're a great landing surface Virgy!" Remus chirped as he hopped off of him.

Virgil grunted as he got up and dusted his clothes. "Were you on the ceiling?!" He questioned.

"Sure was!" Remus spread his hands proudly.

"Why?" Virgil asked, exasperated.

Remus shrugged. "Why were you not on the ceiling?" He shot back with a grin.

"I… I don't know! Gravity? Look it doesn't matter, did you do something with my jacket?" Virgil tried to focus.

Remus picked his nose, shrugging again. "Nope! Not yet at least." He giggled.

Virgil sighed. "Whatever." He said and quickly rushed out of the stinky room, breathing in fresh air as soon as the door closed behind him.

Seems like two of his main and obvious suspects are not guilty… though he still suspected Janus, he always did, but he's not in the mood to go back there and beg for him to give it back… might as well check with the others.

He felt weirdly exposed as he walked down the hallway with his pajamas, without the comfortable heat and softness of his jacket and no pockets to tuck his hands into… What do normal people do with their hands? Do they just… swing them around?

As he was focused on figuring this out, he suddenly bumped into someone.

"Virgil! Good morning kiddo!" Patton smiled at him when he realized who's in front of him.

"Morning Pat, listen. Have you seen my jacket?" Virgil asked, quite frantic now, he couldn't have lost it… right?

But Patton just burst into barely controlled giggles. "Oh, yeah! Yeah I saw it! I saw it real good." He giggled, barely able to stop himself from full out laughing.

Virgil frowned. "What's so funny?"

"Ah I can't say it without laughing! Just go to the kitchen kay Virge?" Patton wiped some joyful tears out of the corner of his eyes, patted Virgil on the shoulder and moved on.

Frowning, Virgil walked to the kitchen, mind rushing through the possibilities of what he'll find there. What he ended up seeing was… not a possibility he thought about.

Before he could catch the logical side's attention though, he was pulled towards the living room by his wrist.

"Wait, Storm Cloud." Roman stopped him with a grin. "I don't think he noticed." He whispered, snickering.

Virgil looked again, Logan quietly humming to himself as he spread jam on toasted pieces of bread and… wearing Virgil's jacket.

"You sure? I mean… it's Logan." Virgil whispered back as they watched Logan make himself breakfast.

"C'mon, Emo Nightmare, do you really think he'll walk out of his room like that if he knew?" Roman shot back, barely holding himself from doubling over with laughter.

"Why would he be wearing it anyway- wait, no. I know that look, princey, don't you even go there." Virgil rolled his eyes, cheeks slightly warm as Roman grinned at him suggestively.

"I told you, Virge. Honestly, you need to listen to me more." Roman teased as he nudged Virgil's ribs lightly with his elbow.

"This… this proves nothing! There could be so many reasons why he'll want to wear my jacket. It's very comfortable, I'll have you know… he could have just been cold or-"

"Or wanted to wear something with his crush's smell?" Roman added with a grin, making Virgil's blush go a deeper red.

"You don't know that!" Virgil insisted. Roman just winked at him before opening his mouth.

"Whatcha wearin there, specs?" Roman called out, making Logan turn towards the two of them.

He frowned at Roman. "My usual attire, Roman, as you can clearly see." He said evenly.

Roman lost it, bursting into a boastful laugh as he clutched his belly. "A-and on t-top of that?" He asked between laughs.

Logan's frown deepened as he slowly looked down at himself and Roman looked closely at his face as it turned brightly red, clearly delighted at the rare sight.

"I… Well, you see I…" Logan stumbled then trailed off with a sigh. He took the jacket off with one swift motion and held it up for Virgil to take. "Apologies I… shouldn't have taken it without asking for your agreement, I hope I didn't upset you too much. I planned on giving it back to you before you got up but… well… it seemed to have slipped my mind."

Virgil just stared at him, making the logical side get even redder. Slowly, he reached out and took his jacket, their hands lightly brushing and sending a jolt of warmth to his hands. "Why did you… why did you even take it to begin with?"

"Yeah teach, why did you take it?" Roman asked knowingly, making Logan turn to him with a glare.

"If you must know, I was cold at night and at the time it seemed like a reasonable solution." Logan explained.

"Oh yes, I'm sure that's why." Roman replied with a snicker as Virgil finally put on his jacket, rolling his eyes at the prince's teasing.

"C'mon, princey, leave the nerd be." 

Roman chuckled. "Yeah you're right, better leave you two lovebirds alone so you can talk huh?" He nudged Virgil in the ribs again, making him and Logan blush deeper before sinking in and disappearing from sight.

"Roman and his nonsense." Logan said in order to break the awkward silence. 

Virgil snorted. "Yeah. Um… thanks for… giving this back. Next time just ask alright?"

Logan nodded. "Of course, I apologize again for not doing so earlier."

Virgil shrugged. "It's cool… I'll um.. go back to my room now, this search kinda drained me." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Right, of course, have a good day, Virgil." He said, turning his attention back to his toasters.