011 | Saffron City | Action;

[worktodo]

[So here's Albert.

Since coming to Johto, Albert's seen a lot of wacky shit go down. He's seen people mutating into some kind of hideous hybrid creature from an airborne mutant virus. He's seen ledges that defy the laws of physics. He's seen dragons and dinosaurs and aliens. He's seen people who claim beyond a shadow of a doubt to be actual ponies. He's been yelled at by a teenage Viking. He's been flown all over creation on a bird with clouds for wings and carried forcibly around by a giant green sparklegrizzly and endured patently stupid roadtrips that involved caves and forests and god only knows what else. He's been taunted by ghosts. He's been assaulted with puppies. He's fallen in a really big hole.

He's survived the freaking Armageddon and still didn't let it ruin Christmas.

And now, here on the third day of this latest bout of flagrant insanity, in his quiet home in Saffron City with a brand new swimming pool sparkling in the yard and a snarling levitating three-hundred-pound flesh-eating snowflake snapping at the end of its chain near the outhouse, he is stepping outside to collect himself with a cup of coffee and a moment's peace—

...

And there is a BIG DAMN TREE TRANSPLANTED RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF HIS FORMERLY PRISTINE SIDEWALK, and WHEN THE HELL DID THAT GET THERE and WHO THE HELL EVEN RIPS UP A TREE AND—

...

...

Silently, Albert sips his coffee.

Just another day in Johto, apparently.]

Comments

[estimates]

[Oh, hey.

That's weird. The tree. Sam's pretty sure he didn't notice that on his first pass around the perimeter of the house.

And is that — ?

A voice floats up from Albert's side, just like the thing that is literally floating near the source of said voice's shaggy blond head.]

Agent Rosenfield?

[worktodo]

[No, it's not.

No, it's not.

THAT VOICE.

he would know that voice anywhere and he does not want to know that voice]

What.

[WHAT IS THIS, HIS PERSONAL HELL?]

[estimates]

[Oh, yeah. That's totally Agent Rosenfield. No further confirmation needed. Sam squints, and Edmund the Solosis floooooats right up to eye-level with Albert, also squinting.]

What are you doing here?

[worktodo]

[...Albert is not entirely sure which he is more affronted about having on his property: a squishy green alien blob or Sam Stanley.

He decides to settle for "both".]

Perfecting the ancient art of bonsai pruning — the hell does it look like I'm doing here?

[estimates]

Drinking coffee and talking to me.

[ALBERT, Y U ASK THINGS?

Edmund drifts around to the back of Albert's head, then returns to orbiting Sam's. There's a lengthy pause, then:]

I didn't see any bonsai on your property. I was in the backyard before. But that's a very nice pool you have.

[worktodo]

[This is why he cannot have Sam Stanley anywhere near his person, job, lab, or preferably, choice of home continent. No appreciation for sarcasm.]

Why are you traipsing all over my property?

[Actually, more relevantly: ]

Why are you here?

[estimates]

[Good clarification, Albert, because he was about to point out that he's not traipsing. He's not even moving! Silly goose.]

I don't know. I was at the office about an hour ago.

[worktodo]

[Surely even Gandhi could not have infinite patience when it comes to contending with Sam Stanley.

Speaking of which, his namesake the hovering shiny Metang chooses precisely that moment to come wafting out, accidentally bumping into Edmund as he does.

WHOOPS. SORRY, FRIEND. DID NOT SEE YOU THERE.]

And now you're here.

[Dammit. Coop said he'd showed up once, and then ended up here permanently not long after. Harry'd shown up briefly, and then he was here.

IF SAM STANLEY IS HERE NOW AND HE APPEARS AGAIN IN SHORT ORDER IN JOHTO—]

[estimates]

[Edmund is so startled by the bump, but you'd never know it. He blinks, Sam blinks.

So many floating things.

Edmund's gonna go ahead and inspect the new thing, now, while Sam nods.]

I am.

...where is here exactly, Agent Rosenfield?