When you've run into a wall with no place to go

[ The feed turns on and there is one very upset Plusle. He'd been so excited - so excited! - about returning to Goldenrod and he and Rom and everyone can have fun! But this isn't the time for that anymore, because Goldenrod is the city of sleep for Rem's trainer and his best friend.

He whines, chorused by a small group of Pokémon huddled near a quieter Arcanine. ] Pluus.

[ More sad whining as he turns where he's standing, searching for his trainer. As the camera pans, it becomes clear that the feed is from inside Goldenrod's Pokémon Center, in one of the private wards. Has anybody noticed that - boy - these kids are here a lot? Because they are, and see? There's Miles, standing by the bed. He looks like he's fussing with one of Ken's Pokémon, trying to calm it down, but it's totally not happening it seems. Eventually he settles for letting it curl on the bed as he turns to Remus and takes the camera. ]

I've already heard of a few instances of this happening across Johto. It seems to be different from the week-long comas that were common back in the winter, since he woke up soon after. Does anyone know anything about it?

... Ken is.. acting strange. [ If he could be considered acting at all. He pauses before clicking off the feed. ]

[ Private Audio to Kisa ]

... The room is on the first floor. I thought you might want to visit him.

[ Private Audio to Mitsuru ]

He's not responding at all. I'll try to take care of him - Nurse Joy as well, but she's really busy - but I'm not su--

[ but he's hanging up before he can finish his own sentence. ]

[ It has been a good two weeks now since Miles and Ken got lost in the Ilex forest. However, as stated in our last airing of Shotas in Johto a few days back, the two boys have found their way to an actual path thanks to Pess remembering that she was a dog. After getting out of the forest, shoving the ever-jumpy Polydeuces, the ever-woobie Jason, a dazed Nyx, and the excited rest of their Pokémon onto Pess' back, climbing aboard themselves, and using the Pess Express for the rest of the way back to Goldenrod.... was a breeze.

Saturday: They stumbled into the city, still a bit giggly at how easy this now was, and after (a mental cheering of CIVILIZATION. CIVILIZATION) checking into the hotel and dumping their luggage, taking turns at showering - they made sure their Pokémon got cleaned up as well (minus Pess, who Miles took to the groomers in the Tunnel later) - both boys made their way to the Pokémon Center. Miles would now be working there again.

His plans for Goldenrod go as follows, in no specific order apart from #1:

1. Take a shower.
2. Punt Layton for getting stuck in an elevator.
3. Give Nanako her gift(s).
4. Send out all the White Day gifts (never mind that he isn't Japanese or even remotely close to it).
5. Get a job (because Franziska's brooch cost quite a bit).

And then, Sunday came. And guess who has finally gotten himself a new Pokégear after that last one took a misfortunate dive into the Slowpoke Well? Him. And Remus the Plusle is ecstatic that he can use this whenever he wants, now, without his trainer reprimanding him to make sure he asked Ken first (ffffff o9 ).

So this fine, fine Sunday, Johto will for the first time in weeks get a video post from a Pokégear from (1) Miles Edgeworth, and the feed opens up to show the boy crouched on the street by a vending machine, placing a can of lemonade into the reaching hands of a curious Charmander. Today is Cara's first day walking around in a big city, and it could be assumed that she'd pointed out the mysterious vending machine to Miles during her adventuring.

Remus records this scene for a few more seconds before, realizing that nothing special was really going to happen, he starts to pan the camera, searching for something interesting--

and finds a Box-n-Bag Monster.

A walking Box-n-Bag Monster.

A Box-n-Bag Monster who is coming closer to them, and trips ( "Ah--!" ) and nearly drops her boxes and shopping bags all over Miles when she is a couple feet away.

Needless to say, this is Miles, so he's already on his feet and helping this Box-n-Bag Monster with her luggage by the time she even trips, so there's one shota arm catching the toppling boxes, and the other shota arm reaching out to steady the little girl who tripped. ]

Are you alright?

Ah - yes, thank you... oh! Miles!

[ The little flustered looking girl that looks up at her savior is (1) Nanako Dojima , who smiles brightly in that cute Nanako way as she straightens herself, fixing her hold on the shopping bags that she managed not to drop. ]

You finally made it to Goldenrod! I'm glad.. you (and Ken both) have to be careful not to get lost again.

[ Miles shakes his head, hoisting the boxes more comfortably in his arms, when Nanako raises hers to carry them again. ] I'm sorry we worried you. We're fine now, but I'm worried you'll trip again. I'll help you carry these.

Oh..! [ Nanako smiles a little wider, and there's a giggle. ] Thank you, Miles! I just need to take these back to our hotel!

[ The camera is still recording as Cara, lemonade still held carefully in her hand, climbs up to Miles shoulder and perches herself atop one of the boxes (keeping herself on by clinging to a strand of Mile's hair) and the two children smile at each other and begin walking in the direction Nanako had been going. Remus follows.

A few minutes pass of idle chitter chatter, until Miles at his friend with curiosity. ] Say, Nanako, what are these boxes for?

Oh, these are for Big Bro! [ Nanako looks very, very proud of herself. ] It's his birthday today, so Dad and I are going to throw him a big party!

[ There is a short, short pause as Miles, who hasn't celebrated his birthday with anyone since DL-6, tilts his head thoughtfully because oh hey-- ] Today is your brother's birthday, too?

Yeah! Well, he's not really my brother.. he's my cousin, but he's like my big brother and it's his birthday toda--! [ She stops, then blinks. ] "Too"?

[ Birthdays aren't much of a big deal for Miles, especially not his own. He nods at Nanako's question like there's nothing wrong. ] I was born on the twentieth, as well.

[ And then the usually cheerful Nanako stops in her tracks, smile fading. Remus halts as well, and Miles stops a moment later, turning to her with another, quizzical tilt of his head. ]

Is something the matter, Nanako?

[ There is no response from the little girl to that question, but Remus' camera is still recording, and her face is quite visible. There was a thoughtful linefais she'd inherited from her detective father, a linefais when Miles affirmed her suspicions, but now that she's learned it was her friend's birthday today and oh my god she didn't know!?! that linefais tilts... down. In to a frown.

The frown grows deeper and deeper, her eyebrows furrowing, and she's silent the entire time until she eventually looks close to tears. When she speaks again, her voice is quiet. ]

Why didn't you tell me...?

Mm? [ Miles looks alarmed by the sudden look of not happy on Nanako's face, but he's apparently not sure why she's upset (great job, Edgeworth). ]

Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday today??? [ And Nanako is just flailing: she hops from foot to foot in a moment of of "WHAT DO" before, shoving the bags she was holding into Miles' hand, she shoots him a stern, ver very stern look. ] Um, you have to wait for me here, okay? I'll be back really soon!

[ .....And she's off, leaving Miles looking after her looking extremely confused, all of the girl's belongings held in his arms now. He blinks after her for a number of seconds before he finally takes note of the giggling Plusle beside him. He looks extremely flustered, and then even MORE flustered, when he sees the camera there.]

You were recording that, weren't you.

-- Mi! [ The giggling stops, and the feed cuts of hastily when Miles scowls at Remus. ]

[[ ooc: usedjunes has been written into this post with permission from her mun, Ame! Thanks for the dose of cute, Ame~ ]]

[Backdated to Friday, January 28th, early afternoon.]

[There were lots of things about Professor Hershel Layton that Miles Edgeworth admired. The British professor was kind and intelligent, and gentle, and he'd been one of the first people Miles met upon arriving in Johto. Most of all, Hershel Layton reminded Miles of his father. Gregory Edgeworth was an irreplaceable existence to the child, but the ten year old boy, who had lost his father so suddenly, couldn't help but see the resemblance. 

The thing that Miles found most intriguing was the two men's fascination with fancy hats.]

Professor?

[Good afternoon, Johto, this video is brought to you by Plusle Productions™ The weather appears to be slightly better than the preceding days, as there is no storm despite the gray clouds, and while it does look terribly cold outside the window at the side of the screen, the inside of the Goldenrod Department Store in which we find Miles and the recently-awakened, just-arrived-in-Goldenrod professor looks very, very warm. ]

Yes, what is it Miles?

[The two are seated at one of the cafés in the food court, sipping what looks like tea (knowing the professor, it certainly couldn't have been instant tea, either). The camera, held by Remus, is settled on a chair adjacent to Miles, and it doesn't seem like either Layton or Miles have noticed that they were being recorded. Layton sips that tea of his, smiling fatherly.

Miles lowers his cup, rocking back and forth in his seat, probably because he's swinging his legs or something. He also seems to have a bruise on his face, but that's another story (it's just a souvenir from Nemesis the Cubone). He peers up at Layton curiously.]

Why do you always wear that hat, Professor?

[Layton's smile changes a bit - sadder? more melancholy? nostalgic? - but it returns to the way it was before Miles' question, and a hand goes to touch the brim of the top hat.]

It was a gift from a dear person, my boy.

My father always wore a hat, as well. [Suddenly, there's a small smile alighting on Miles' face. It was a strange sight, probably, as he rarely smiled this way: childish, that simple pride children held for their parents. ] Whenever he went to speak to his client, or to court, or wherever he went, really - he had a hat.

[Layton chuckles, and then -- WHOA, LO AND BEHOLD -- the world ends.

I mean.

He takes off his hat.

And, reaching over, he places it on Miles' head. It's too big, though, and falls down over Miles' eyes.]

A true gentleman always wears a hat when he goes outside. Your father must have been such a man.

[Pushing the hat higher on his head, Miles leans back in his seat, grinning.] He was. [He glances up at Layton's hat.] I wonder if they have one like it, here..

[And now the Professor is back to gentlemanlily drinking that tea. (This is where Yun is tempted to put the image of Layton with sunglasses in the minds of anyone reading this because. It's in her head fr some reason.) He quirks a somewhat-grin at Miles.] Would you like to go see, after tea?

[The grin on the boy's face couldn't get any bigger. He's nodding very, very enthusiastically.] Yes, sir!

[And THOUGH THE DAY HOPEFULLY CONTINUED THIS HAPPILY, this is when Remus the Plusle turns off the Gear, stopping his recording as he gets thirsty and decides, instead of recording the whole happy day, to clamber up to Miles' shoulder and beg his trainer to share some of that tea. :|b

And Miles returned to his hotel room that day wearing a hat that looked very, very much like his father's. Awwyeah, Professor. You so freaking rock.

Action for: Goldenrod Department Store or the Goldenrod Hotel when Miles gets back, or just plain old video/audio/text by network works, too.]

[OOC: Professor Hershel Layton was written into this post with permission from his mundane, Ichi. :> ]

[Backdated to this morning. ALSO GUYS. FOURTH WALL EVENT? BEST. EVER. also backtagging for the rest of ever.]

[The Gear flickers onto video early this morning, but all that's visible is a worm's eye view of a Edgeworth curled up in the corner of Goldenrod's Pokémon Center, with a big blue pillow held tightly against his che--

no, that was a Quagsire. Phoenix's Butch. Sprawled across the boy's body and snoring away like nobody's business. 170 pounds of reptile blubber, right on top of a boy who was only a few inches taller than the Pokémon. Edgeworth doesn't seem so comfortable, either.]

Uh... can't-- breathe.

[With a small groan, Edgeworth wakes up... then he stares in wonder at the sight that greets him.

----This wasn't Violet anymore.]

......Where am I--smack!-- Ow! Butch, if you're going to sleep on me, please don't slap my face. [ D:< ]

Quaaaaag!

.....Uuuugh. Please wake up soon. I can't even reach my Gear...

[The boy gives the camera a helpless look, and then a small wave.] H-hello, everyone, um...it's recording, isn't it?

....Has everyone ended up where they weren't at before, as well? I--I think I'm in Goldenrod..

[Forward-dated to late Saturday morning, around 10:00 AM.]

[Good morning, Route! It's been a while since Edgeworth's last post to the network, and this time, too, it doesn't seem like he's the one making the actual post, because the kid's Pokémon seem to be more enthusiastic about the camera thing than he is.

Today, despite not having hands, Tadpole the Poliwag has figured out a way to use his trainer's Pokégear -- using his tail. Tadpole now is carrying the gear atop his head in what looks like a room in the Violet Pokémon Center. The camera keeps moving around and around at a dizzy pace because the creature is, well, pacing. Rather anxiously. On occasion, he would stop and cry up at his trainer, who is sitting on his bed, knees drawn up and a blanket tossed over his body.

Every once in a while, Edgeworth would cough or sneeze, then shiver and pull the blanket around himself tighter. Only a few people may realize why, but it seems the boy caught a... pretty bad cold while stalking Phoenix and Dahlia, but SHH THEY DON'T KNOW. Maybe.

The Poliwag continues to call out. ]


Waag!

---I'm all right, Tadpole, just keep it down, all right?

[With a tired, dreary sigh, Edgeworth raises his head and looks down at the camera. He's a real mess, though he does have a tiny shine of accomplishment in his eyes.]

It seems that my jacket wasn't sufficient enough in keeping me warm for the whole time, but...at least no harm came to him, right, Miss Iris? [And he gives a tired but rather triumphant smile. Phoenix apparently got through his rendezvous with Dahlia physically unharmed!]