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Happy Father’s Day!

Tristan had heard about "Father's Day" from children at the playground. He'd wondered for a long time, what to give Urban that he didn't already have. He already had Sol. He seemed happy enough with her, too--so what would make Urban even happier? It had to be something special. Something with meaning. A cake? The minun pondered the idea as he paced in front of their home. No, that wasn't nearly good enough. A stuffed animal? No, Papa had Momma to cuddle with. He didn't need a stuffed animal. A screwdriver? He didn't think he'd seen papa trying to fix things before. A book? No... A lamp...?

This was too hard! The minun was almost in tears. What was he going to get Papa? He didn't have much time left. It was almost Father's Day! And--the minun froze, he'd spotted movement in a bush. "Hello?" he asked, blinking. He slowly made his way over there--and suddenly, found himself in the air. A long, black tail had coiled around him. "Do you want to play?" the shadow mew asked, tilting her head. "You seem unhappy."

Tristan paused, glancing back at his home. "We can play," he said. "But first, can I give you to my Papa? I want to give him the best present ever, and I think you're it!" The mew paused, blinking in thought. "Yes, I am the best present," she agreed. She was the best anything, after all. She was the best, period! "I will let you give me to your Papa." She put Tristan down, and allowed him to hold onto her tail as he led her inside. "Papa! I got you a Father's Day present!"

Urban was in the kitchen making a snack for himself and Tristan who he knew was playing out front. He'd been on babysitting duty for the day and didn't mind it so much honestly. He heard the door open and he called out "Your snack is almost ready Tris, have a seat at the table." and he came out then with a plate with fresh fruit on it, only to nearly drop it seeing him hanging onto...a cat? No...a Mew! ....what the..?

Tristan climbed onto his chair at the table, and took a piece of fruit and stuffed it into his mouth. "Papa, see, here's your Father's Day present! She said she's the best Father's Day present ever! Isn't she pretty? Can we keep her Papa? Can we, can we? Please? I found her out in the bush and I think she'll let us keep her! Please, Papa?" The minun set large brown eyes up at Urban hopefully. "I found her just for you!"

Oh the minun sure knew how to wrap Urban around his little finger honestly. Especially those large brown eyes and that hopeful expression. He was torn though...after all there was Solange to think about...but this was a Mew...who'd apparently decided to allow Tris to keep it....

"Alright Tristan we can keep her." The rest of the words hit him. "A fathers day present?" oh the surprise!

"Yep! I wanted to get my Papa the best Father's Day present ever!" the minun exclaimed, thrilled with with his father's answer. They could keep her! They could keep his Papa's present! "And I looked and looked, but I couldn't find any good enough. Because my Papa is the best papa ever and needs something special. But nothing was special enough..." the minun pouted. Honestly, shops needed to have more variety on their father's day gifts! "So I found her! And she likes us!" The mew in question wrapped herself around Urban's neck gently. "So I'm your present," she mused. "I wonder what you've done to deserve me."

Urban was very unsure of what to make of the Mew, especially the odd coloring, but here she was. He gave a light smile. "Well...I adopted Tristan here...and moved my girlfriend in...and got my friend away from his psychopath boss...normal things for me really as far as work is concerned." he didn't think he'd done anything special. but Tristan had different thoughts it seemed.

"Hmm..." Tania mused, playfully moving to rub her cheek against Urban's. "I suppose this is acceptable. The minun there seems to think you're quite special." Tristan interrupted, cheeks full of fruit, making him look like he'd just been to the dentist--or attempted to eat several socks. "I don't think he's special!" he exclaimed, mouth full. "He is special! He's the best Papa there ever was!"

"Don't talk with your mouth full Tris, you know you could choke." a gentle admonition as he reached up to lightly scratch the Mew's chin. "And do you have a name? Or do we need to think of one for you?" simply curious really, one never knew. "I'll have to find somewhere for you to sleep too. Maybe for tonight you can share Tristan's bed."

Tristan swallowed, making a face at Urban. He still hadn't gotten the hang of all these manners he was supposed to learn. Blegh. Why did they exist, anyway? He felt they must have been made up to bother him. "Okay, Papa," he agreed reluctantly. The mew on Urban's shoulder began to purr as he scratched under her chin. Mmm... He was special after all. Anyone who could find that spot--yes, yes, this man was deserving of her presence. "I have been called many things," Tania mused. "Children shout 'Mew, mew!' when they see me, but I do not think that is my name... Once, a woman called me Tania, but I think she was looking for someone else. Tania, I like that. Can I have this name?"

Urban's fingers continued to scratch under her chin then moved up to scratch behind her ears as he moved to the kitchen to get Tristan something to drink, it being set down, and he bending to hug the Minun. "Thank you for the present Tris, she's perfect." he smiled warmly, and then looked to the Mew. "Tania it is then. I think thats a fine name for you."

Sleepy shadow Mew (Tania's star)

Things had been interesting since Tania had arrived. Not bad interesting, just interesting. Tris was thrilled by her presence of course, and Sol had accepted her well enough. But man there were some days he thought dealing with the drunks and Reese was easier than Tania and Tristan! Still, he was content.

Today was no different. He was headed out to the store to get some stuff, and Tania had opted to come with and keep him company, which was fine.

Tania was in her usual perch, atop Urban's head. "You're very tall," she observed. "I can see many things from here. But from up there," she pointed to the sky, "You look small. I wonder why that is. Are you small to some things, and big to other things? Are you just big to me? Hm..." It was something she would have to ask Momma about. "Papa, will you buy me something at the store?" Tania loved buying things, but more than that, she liked being given things. They were usually cheap in price, too. She enjoyed ribbons and pretty things. "I want something blue today."

"I am very tall, its because I'm an Aggron." he chuckled softly. "I think from up there I look small because you're so high." was just a guess that really. "I can buy you something blue yes. What would you like today Tania?"

"I like blue today," Tania was agreeable. She thought about Urban's question before beaming. "Ribbons!" They were her favorite. She loved ribbons. But not so much when they were on her. Tristan so often liked to put ribbons on her tail.

"Blue is a good color." Urban smiled, and stepped into the store and picked up the things they needed back home, then detoured to the area with ribbons and began looking. "There's dark blue, light blue...medium blue...long ribbons...curly ribbons..."

"Straight ribbons!" the mew pointed to a pair of light blue ribbons. "Do you like these, Papa? Don't let Tristan take them, though! He likes to put them on my tail." She had once woken up with a tail full of ribbons. There had been about ten of them just tied there--but Tania hadn't been amused.

"Alright straight ribbons, and I'll do my best to keep them away from Tristan." he couldn't help the low chuckle from him as he put them in the cart and proceeded to pay for everything.

Tania beamed, still perched on Urban's head. "Wait, Papa!" Something had caught her eye near the cash register where they kept candy. "I want that!" she pointed to a large, silver shining star. "I like silver today, Papa. Buy that for me instead of the ribbons! Won't you?" She reached for the star hesitantly, almost reverently. "It's the prettiest thing I've ever seen, Papa."

There was a soft laugh from Urban as she changed her mind on what she wanted and left the ribbons there and nodded absently as he unloaded the things to pay for them. "Sure Tania, you can have the silver thing you see." he knew they were never expensive and thats why it didn't bother him. He put a couple of small things he'd picked up for Tris up as well, and pulled out his money turning to see what Tania had found.

"It's not just any silver thing, Papa," Tania corrected him, picking the star up. "See?" She showed it to him, waving it in front of his face. "It's a star! Isn't it--" she yawned, "Isn't it the prettiest thing you've ever--" the shadow mew fell against his head, having fallen asleep mid-sentence.

"A star?" oh look at his eyes widen a little as he saw what was being waved in front of his face. "It's very pretty..." he blinked as the shadow Mew fell asleep and reached up for her, cradling her gently in his arms. "Well...here we go again..."

I said don't do that!
(Urban gets frustrated with Tania refusing to listen to him)

Tania was so proud of herself. She'd been practicing her shifting ability that evening and was sure her father would be pleased! She could shift into Uncle Cam, and Uncle Timmy--and though she hadn't been able to get Timmy's skin tone quite right, she was pleased with the result. "Daddy, daddy! Look! Daddy, I can be you!" She took on a form identical to Urban's.

Urban had been busy cleaning up after the kids, Tristan was already asleep, having tuckered himself out playing, and Tania...well she should have been asleep...so her calling out to him was a surprise. He went to her room, and blinked seeing himself. "Tania...you're supposed to be asleep...and I've told you not to change into other people." he sighed in exasperation at her.

Tania crossed her arms, sticking her tongue out at him. "I'm not sleepy. I told you, Daddy, I can't sleep without a story and you didn't tell me a story!" She shook a finger at him, before pausing. "Daddy, I can't help it. I'm good at it and I like it. Look I can be you! See? I'm you! And I'm big like you, and tough like you, and strong like you."

Urban sighed and shook his head rubbing the bridge of his nose before he sat on the edge of the bed. "Tania, the reason I don't like you shifting to look like me, or anyone else is you could get hurt. I don't want you to get hurt because someone mistakes you for someone they're mad at....and even if you look like me...you're not strong and tough like me. You're still little."

"They can't hurt me, Daddy. I have powers," she informed him matter of factly. "I can protect myself! Because I'm strong and tough and brave, Daddy. Like you are. And if they tried to hurt you, Daddy, I could protect you, too!" The mew shifted into her true form before climbing into Urban's lap.

Urban sighed. "Tania, please don't argue with me or I'll have to put you in time out. I know I've already explained to you shifting into other people can cause trouble for you, and upset people. Thats why I don't let you change into Uncle Cam, or Uncle Timmy. I don't want you shifting into me, because I don't want you hurt by someone who knows me from work, powers or otherwise. If you're going to stay here, and if you're going to call me daddy, you will learn to obey what you're told young lady." he was just worried, really.

Tania blew a raspberry at Urban. He didn't think she was strong enough to protect herself? Why was he treating her like she was weak? She could protect herself from bad guys! Didn't he trust her to know how to defend herself? "You don't want me shifting at all, Daddy," she argued. "No one would hurt Uncle Timmy and no one would hurt Uncle Cam. I'm brave, Daddy. I am."

Urban gave her a hard look. "No, you're right I don't want you shifting at all. It could hurt someone’s feelings if you shifted into the wrong person at the wrong time. It could make someone angry, or sad. You don't want to make people cry do you?" he shook his head. "I have to say Tania, I'm tired of your constant arguing with us when we tell you to do, or not to do certain things."

And she wanted to say that she was tired of Urban telling her what she could and could not do. What was wrong with shifting? She had been born with the ability, it couldn't be bad. "But I like shifting, Daddy," she protested. "I've always done it, and no one's ever cried." And besides if someone couldn't take a joke, they deserved to cry.

Urban shook his head and got to his feet. "You know what..I'm done talking about it Tania. No story tonight. I want you to lay here, and think about why we ask you not to shift. About the reasons we've given you on why it worries us. If you can accept our rules, you're free to leave, just remember that. Good night." he crossed the room and flipped the light off with a quiet sigh, and stepped out of her room more than a little disappointed by her.

Tania flew out of the room, wrapping her arms around Urban's arm. "No, Daddy," she said, shaking her head. "I can't sleep without a story, I told you. You have to tell me one or I'll never get to sleep, and then I'll be cranky in the morning." Did he want her to leave? Just because she shifted? Daddy never seemed bothered by Tristan's misbehavior--he got away with painting on people and everything!

"You haven't behaved well enough for a story. You keep arguing with me, and you don't seem to understand the importance behind us asking you not to shift. You think this is a game, and it's not Tania. I know you're different than normal pokemon...but you're still just little. So many people could hurt you if they wanted and I don't want you hurt." he sighed and shook his head. "You think it's all fun and games...but what would happen if you shifted to look like someone that had died...and you really hurt someone’s feelings? Or turned into someone who hurt someone and scared them really badly? That's not funny, that's mean."

Tania hesitated. She frowned up at him, shifting into a form identical to his. "That doesn't explain why you get mad every time I shift at home," she said. 'You don't get mad at Tristan when he paints all over everything. I like shifting. It's fun and I'm not mean when I shift." She floated so she could lean against Urban's head. "Can't you tell me a story now, Daddy? I just wanted to show you I could shift into you now. I thought you'd be happy."

"To be honest...it's creepy when you shift into Solange. You're not her, and I don't like you looking like her, or other members of the house. What if we were trying to plan a surprise for you, and by shifting into one of us, it got ruined?" well that was one way to put it. "Do not shift into me Tania! I've told you, I have a dangerous job. I'm what's called a body guard, and I keep people safe from mean people. But those mean people sometimes see me when I'm not at work and are still mean. I don't want you to ever be hurt by one of them. Why can't you understand this!?" angry? A little yes... "As for Tristan..paint washes off...and I get mad at him when he paints all over. But it's not dangerous like you shifting." he sighed and shook his head. "No. You're still arguing, and not in bed. So no story."

Tania winced. She bowed her head and headed for her bedroom. Daddy didn't understand. Maybe he would never understand. Why did he get so upset? She wasn't defenseless! And shifting was just for fun! "Goodnight, Daddy," she mumbled, lip trembling. Maybe she'd have to find somewhere else to shift. What if it was her special talent, just like Tristan said painting was his? It wasn't fair!

Urban sighed as she went back into her room, and turned to stand there in the door way, and quietly told her a quick story, about a misunderstood princess...after a few minutes he tucked her in and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep Tania. We'll talk about this more later. But think about what I told you."

MoogerMint
All things considered, it had been rather eventful in recent weeks. Karma had shown improvements in zher ability to recall events and individuals with the aid of color-coded bracelets and artistic notes jotted down in a notebook that never left the ditto's side. Once all the activity, all the visits from family, had died down, though, Karma found zhimself to be quite bored with the old setup. Grayson was back to work, pouring his attention over... well, whatever had his attention this time, while Karma was left to zher own devices. There was so much the blue-haired child wanted to do, wanted to try out, now that zhe had the capabilities to... but the scientist, the trainer, did not think the ditto was ready to scour the city on zher own. And nobody was willing to take the strange little poke-child out. "This stinks," Karma complained to Grayson, who was proceeding to ignore the huffed whims of the child, "Doctor, I'm booored!"

Thaliawen
Karma wouldn't have to be bored for long. For behind her, invisible, was Tania. The mew had recently discovered the lab, and had immediately begun attempting to sneak in. It had been difficult, she had figured it would be. It seemed the professor here had taken care to make sure wild pokemon could not enter. The mew slowly made her way over to Grayson--and shifted so her form matched his. She smirked, gazing over at Karma, before tapping Grayson on the shoulder.

MoogerMint
While Karma's obstinate behavior may have given the impression that the colorful child was angry, zhe was merely using it as a means to pass the time in an unorthodox manner. With a pout, the ditto glared at the back of Grayson's head, as though willing him to turn around and look at the 'upset' child, to acknowledge that zhe was not happy. Zher fierce look quickly melted away with the appearance of a Grayson-double, Karma standing and staring in confusion... and then quickly whipping out zher notebook to look for any previously written material on such an occurrence. Was this something zhe needed to be concerned about, or was this something that was suppose to be normal..?

Grayson twitched at the poke at his shoulder, not realizing that the height needed to do such a thing would have had to have been taller than Karma was currently capable of managing. With a sigh, be pivoted around, "Karma, I told you, I'm bus-- Woah." He jolted, facing the replica with an astonished look. But Karma was off to the side, so it wasn't the ditto that had transformed... His gaze sharpened, "Who are you..?"

Thaliawen
Tania tilted her head at Grayson's reaction. "Mew?" she asked, blinking at him. She raised her hand and tapped him on the nose. She wasn't able to speak his language, even though she'd transformed into a human. She gave a giggle, putting both hands to her face. His reaction had been good, hadn't it? She'd surprised him! She shifted into her true form and floated over Grayson's head. She settled herself down on his head, wrapping her tail around his neck comfortably. She peeked down at him from her spot. "Mew?"

MoogerMint
Karma peered out from over the top of the notebook, nearly smooshed to zher nose in zher search for information on Grayson's mysterious stunt double. The reaction that the scientist gave to seeing it appear before him was enough to alert Karma to the fact that this had not, in fact, ever really happened before. Was it another ditto? Karma slowly closed the book and took a few cautious steps forward in curiosity, but stopped upon Tania's further interaction. There didn't look to be any sort of threat, at least in a dangerous sort of way. Karma giggled at the display.

Grayson continued to try to draw a conclusion from the display before him. With the verbal response given, it was only a matter of time before it clicked, however unlikely the conclusion was. However, upon shifting back to her default form, the answer was all but given to him tied to a brick. "A black mew?" he gaped, standing still as he watched her, wide-eyed and fascinated, as she perched upon his head and shoulders, "I never thought... really?" He didn't even know such a thing existed!

Thaliawen
Tania moved from Grayson's head. She shook a finger at him--which in turn caused the mew to shake her entire paw at the professor. "Mew, mew, mew, mew!" she said. Why couldn't he understand her? This was tiresome. Didn't he know she was the only black mew in the world, as far as she knew? Didn't he know that that made her the best? She made her way over to Karma. She studied the ditto child carefully. "He's weird," she said. "Why is he so excited?"

MoogerMint
Despite the fact that Tania was chewing Grayson out for acting so strange, the scientist could only find the interaction piquing more interest out of him. Of course, this was from a logical standpoint... he just wanted to see what would come with it, and failed to respond in an adequate manner. She was acting so human, with her mannerisms! "Interesting... I wonder, have you been watching the humans for a long time?" he asked absently, not expecting any answer that he could perceive. Instead, he slid his clipboard over and began jotting down notes as the mew floated over to the child.

Karma's giggles quieted as attention was turned toward zher, but the friendly smile didn't fade. "Haha, he is pretty weird, isn't he?" the ditto agreed, tapping fingers along the binding of the closed notebook clutched in zher hands. Humming a bit in thought, the mismatched eyes of the child, scanned the floor in thought, trying to see if zhe could come up with an explanation a wild pokemon could grasp, "Well, do you know what a scientist is? Or a researcher? Those humans that like to study pokemon to understand them better without ever asking?" Of course, Karma didn't get the hype... but zhe also didn't realize how rare of an encounter the current one was.

Thaliawen
Tania blinked over at Grayson, and instead of really responding to him, started to shift into Karma's form. She had in fact, observed humans for a long time. Years, if she remembered correctly. She generally wasn't as interested in them as she was this one--he seemed particularly amusing. "He is weird," she repeated. "A scientist?" she repeated, blinking blankly at the ditto. "Researcher? No..."

MoogerMint
Even though Grayson seemed to be paying more attention to whatever it was that he was writing, his attention was more focused on the play that seemed to be taking place with the shadow mew. If she hadn't been so unknown a specimen to the man, he may have been more concerned about the well-being of the lab equipment, but as it was, he was more intent on writing down every little observation he came across.

Karma giggled again as the dark-hued mew restated her assessment of the scientist before them, giving a sharp nod in agreement. However, zhe was much more at a loss for how to explain something zhe had been around zher entire life, more or less. It was like trying to describe taste to someone who had never experienced the sensation before. "Umm, well... well they DO tend to be on the stranger side, from what I can tell! They like to write down what they see pokemon do, and I suppose see what each type tends to do more often. Like... well I guess he'd be writing down what he thinks your interests might be, since he can't understand you," the ditto-child attempted to offer an explanation. It was hard to describe an occupation when you didn't understand it fully yourself!

Thaliawen
"Well," Tania said, glancing back at Grayson. "You should tell him to stop or I'll take what he's writing on from him." She went over to Grayson to make her point. She reached for the clipboard. "Mew, mew!" she said, reaching for it. He couldn't be allowed to write all day, that wasn't interesting! She shifted into her true form, attaching her tail to his neck carefully as she leaned forward to see what he was writing. She was unable to read, however, and instead tilted her head at Grayson expectantly. He'd better read it to her, or there'd be trouble.

MoogerMint
Karma leaned over slightly, as though to make sure Grayson wasn't doing anything other than his characteristic 'obliviously making too many notes.' "Hey Doctor, she, um..." Karma was about to relay the message before zhe realized something kind of important. Rolling back to stand fully upright in front of the red-eyed mew as the playful pokemon reached for Grayson's clipboard, Karma chirped, "Um, I'm Karma! What's your name? I'll tell him once I know that, okay?" It seemed a bit rude not to tell the scientist who exactly it was giving the message, and didn't... exactly know WHAT zhe was dealing with here.

Grayson paused for a moment as Tania reached for the clipboard, watching the actions with further interest. His eyes followed her as her tail snaked its way around his neck, watching her head tilt toward the paper he had clutched in his hands... and thought she might be showing a bit of interest in it. Could she understand it? He didn't know, and tilted it further upright so she could get a better view of the form he was using, quizzically glancing back at her to study her reaction.

Thaliawen
"My name is Tania," Tania said, blinking in Karma's direction. "And I am the greatest Mew on all the earth. Especially arund here. I'm not one of those weak pink ones," and here Tania made a face, wrinkling her nose. "I'm stronger than all of them. Hi Karma! That's a strange name. What are you? You aren't human. Are you a mew, too?" She turned her attention back to Grayson, and made a sound of impatience. Didn't he understand? He needed to read it to her!

MoogerMint
"Hi, Tania! That's such a pretty name!" Karma exclaimed. Her statement of being the greatest based on color, however, had the child fidget under the weight of such an assumption. It was not because Karma wasn't willing to believe such a thing, it was just that, well... "But Tania... I'm pink," zhe said meekly, "It's not so bad of a color!" Granted, some people considered it a light shade of violet, but that was beside the point -- a lot of people still considered it a pink. Holding up zher hands, the child blinked a pair of transformed eyes from the palms of zher hands, the current extent of zher own transformation abilities, "I'm a ditto! I wish I was a mew, though. That would be so much cooler!" Oh, but where were zher manners? Attention turning back to Grayson, the child held up zher end of the bargain, "Tania there says that you should stop being a scientist for a moment or she's gonna take your clipboard!"

Grayson looked slightly bewildered at what Karma had relayed, slowly lowering the clipboard in defeat and glancing back to who was apparently named Tania. "Stop being a scientist?" he asked.

Thaliawen
"You're not pink," Tania said, frowning towards Karma. "You're purple. A lot of nice things are purple. Ribbons, flowers, you. Pink is not good, though, and nothing good can be pink. So you aren't pink!" The mew's tone was decisive. A ditto? Hm... She'd heard ditto could transform. "You could be a mew," she said. "I could teach you to be a mew, like me. We could be two mews. The best two!"

Tania took up Grayson's clipboard, studying it carefully. She shoved it back at him in disgust, tutting at him. This wasn't interesting at all.

MoogerMint
"Oh, r-really?" Karma perked, a bit stunned, "You really think so?" Zhe fidgeted a bit in place, a slight blush appearing across the ditto's patchy features. The child never seemed to expect a compliment when it came, especially from someone zhe most likely had only just met! A grin split across zher face at Tania's offer, unexpected but entirely welcome, "An honorary mew? Really?" Oh this was spectacular! Did this mean Karma had actually managed to make a friend? "I would love that! And maybe I could teach you some things as well! Though, um... I'm not sure what yet, but I'll definitely try!" zhe stated enthusiastically, giggling in agreement, "The best two there ever was!"

"I didn't keep going, I swear!" Grayson coughed out as Tania snatched the clipboard, only to return it soon after. Glancing it over upon hearing the annoyance in her voice, he wondered if it was because there were no pictures... Turning slowly around so as not to jostle the mew too much, he pointed to a drawer on the other side of the room, "There are some books in there that might be more interesting." Picture books.

Thaliawen
"I like learning things," Tania chirped, eyes focused on Karma. "I like you, Karma," she said, blinking at the ditto. "You're the first pokemon person I've ever liked." And the first she'd ever met. "Yes, you're good enough to be a mew!" she responded eagerly. "You can learn to be a mew." The mew paused, looking over at Grayson from her position. Books, what were those?

MoogerMint
Karma beamed at Tania, feeling like the two of them had a lot in common. That was quite an unusual feeling, as the ditto oftentimes had felt much like an outcast for a good long while! "I like learning, too! It's a good thing that the Doctor likes learning as well, or I might not have been able to learn so much," zhe giggled, "I really like you, too!" The child held zher hands out, as though to offer a hug but not wanting to force the issue. Zhe seemed to be a bit saddened that it didn't seem like Tania had made any connections with anyone else yet, and after a momentary lapse of thought, came up with a suggestion, "Maybe that's what I could help with. Maybe I can help you make more friends?" Not that the ditto had the opportunity to do the same very often, but it was worth a shot! "Hear that, Doctor? I'm gonna learn to be a mew!" Karma exclaimed gleefully to a still-baffled scientist.

Grayson was still watching the shadow mew curiously, noting when she seemed to offer him a questioning look. He held up the clipboard that she had tossed away to indicate it, "They've got a lot less of these scribbles and more pictures in them. They usually tell a story, but Karma has some reference guides in there as well." He had no idea if she even understood half of what he was saying, but he wouldn't have doubted it -- she seemed rather bright.

Thaliawen
Tania moved from her spot on Grayson to float to Karma though she didn't hug the ditto. Instead she settled on top of Karma's head. "I am glad you like to learn," she said. "We will be good friends. You teach me and I'll teach you!" The shadow mew beamed, and then said, "Can you translate for me? I don't really understand... What are books? Will you read them to me?"

MoogerMint
Karma wasn't too disappointed from the lack of a hug -- zhe knew not everyone appreciated them -- and instead reeled in the outstretched arms, balling the fists and raising them to zher chin excitedly. For some reason, having Tania perched on the child's head was exciting, like being able to cart around a sibling to do something fun. "That's right, we'll get to learn a bunch of things together, teach each other... and be best friends together!" the ditto exclaimed. The smile on Karma's face was unmistakeable as the androgynous child hopped over to the cabinet with the picture books. "That's something that I can actually teach you!" Karma gaped, "I can teach you how to read and write! Oh good idea! That's like translating things from human to pokemon, and I can tell humans what you are trying to tell them as well. You'll understand in no time, I just know it!" It was very, very rare that Karma felt useful, in any sense of the word, and zhe wasn't about to let that chance escape now!

Grayson stood stunned for a moment, watching as Karma grabbed hold of the stack of books and toss them, sprawled, across the laboratory floor. Although he would always have the intense desire to write down all the information he could of the pokemon he encountered, especially the bizarre, he was capable of pausing in his endeavor to appreciate the little things, and he smiled at the view. Never mind that the floor was now a mess...