revivalproject | +1 Babysitter

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+1 Babysitter

WHO: Steve Harrington
WHERE: Wandering in town and at the diner
WHAT: A Babysitter named Steve enters the chat
WHEN: Post sports day. He'll be devastated he missed it
WARNINGS: S4 Stranger Things spoilers but nothing else.

[Welcome to Even Stranger Things]

Steve still wasn't entirely sure what had happened to him. One second he was asleep in the hellscape that was now Hawkins, and then he was in some sort of alien city? The floating orb thing had explained it to him, kind of, but he didn't know if he could trust that information. After all, why would a group of aliens looking to hurt them just outright say that? It would be stupid. So who fucking knew what this whole thing was about.

Not to mentioned they were all kidnapped. That didn't seem like great behavior, all considered. Definitely not a super first impression.

But it didn't seem like he had a lot of say on it. He was here now and it was up to him to make the best of it. At least he had his bat. Steve rested it against his shoulder as he walked around the area, just getting the layout. Not that he was absorbing all that much, of course. He kept stopping short, seeing some sort of weird animal or strange looking building. Finally though, after his wandering, he saw something that looked more familiar. Someone to talk to, maybe. Another hostage?

"Hey! Wait up!" Steve runs to catch up. "Hey, I'm new here. Are you...uh. Kidnapped too?"

[Boy's Gotta Eat]

It's been a long few days of trying to get his bearings and settling in. Steve finally stopped bringing his nailbat with him but that didn't mean his guard is down. He'd had enough moments of thinking things were fine only to have a monster pop out of nowhere to ever be truly relaxed. Besides, he is still a hostage, nevermind that the aliens are pink and sort of adorable in an oblivious, Eleven sort of way. Have to stay on his toes.

And that means he really needs to get some food.

Steve saw the diner on the map and ventures out early in the morning. He isn't sure how he is going to pay or what sort of food will be in there, but he's finished the protein bars he'd gotten from the replicator and is starving. Beggars can't be choosers.

"Hello?" He walks inside and looks around. "Uh. Here for the food? As long as it's not like, alien worms or something like that?" Although he's hungry enough that it maybe wouldn't matter.

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"Guess we're gonna have to explain battles again, huh Buddy?" Ash asks Pikachu who nods. "See, where we're from Pokémon are all naturally really competitive and they love to show off their attacks by challenging other Pokémon to a battle. It's not really a fight though." As some people here seemed to think. "more like a competition. Although, Pokémon do tend to be pretty protective of their trainers."

"Pika." Pikachu nodded. He would definitely give everything he has to protect Ash, as would any of Ash's other Pokémon.

Edited 2023-05-08 01:31 (UTC)

Steve considered this for a moment, mouth opening and closing a few times. So this kid had a friend who was a mouse that also had lightning powers. And then that zappy mouse fought against other zappy mice in these battles. With the special attacks and stuff. Competitions. Which...if Steve put it into his own world's framework...

"Dude. Is that thing doing dogfights?"

Ash looks confused and then looks at Pikachu as if wondering if Pikachu knew what that was.

"No, I don't think so. A Pokemon Battle's not really a fight." A beat. "What's a dogfight?"

Steve's mouth opens and closes again. The kid looks young as hell, what was he talking about dogfights for?

"Uh. It's when dogs sort of...you know. Bark and stuff. It's a game. Never mind.

"So it's not really a fight, that's good. No one gets hurt or whatever. Nice."

Ash still looks confused. He's met Little Bear and he's aware of a few different Dog-type Pokemon. A dogfight was a game?

"It doesn't sound like a very fun game if fighting's involved." He states, Pikachu nodding in agreement. "So you said you're new? We've been here about three months now-which is the longest we've stayed in one place in a really long time." At least there's plenty to still explore.

"Yeah. Uh. Forget about it. It's not gonna happen here." What was he even thinking?! The kid is like eleven. God.

"Yeah. I just got here. Came from Earth, I guess? No Pokingmen there. Sort of sucks honestly, they seem cool. Like a pet with powers. Coulda used that."

"Sure." Didn't sound like something Ash wants to get involved in, anyway.

"Yeah? That's weird, the planet we're from is Earth too." Not for the first time Ash wonders how any world could not have Pokemon considering the Pokemon World was created by a Pokemon and Dialga and Palkia control time and Space. So, how does that work?

"Pokemon aren't usually pets though-they're partners. Pikachu and I do everything together. We have met a few that were treated that way but none of them really seemed to care much for that life style."

Steve 100% does not understand the Pokemon dynamic but he nods anyways. "Right. Partners. Or pets. Or..." He frowns, trying to think about a world where these creatures roam around. It's hard to envision. "So are they like...wild? Some of them?"

And if they were...

"Are you all like, vegetarians if they are? Or do you have regular cows and shi- stuff? I guess you must if you know what a mouse is..."

"Of course. Pokémon are all over the place. Once you turn ten, you can get your trainer's license and your first Pokémon. New trainers have a choice between a grass type, a fire type, or a water type. 'Cept I over slept that day so all that was left was Pikachu-not that I mind. I couldn't imagine starting my journey with anyone else."

"Pika!" Pikachu says happily, it's clear he feels the exact same way about Ash.

"Um.. come to think of it. No. I guess we learned about regular animals in school at some point, and my mom runs the only restaurant in Pallet Town but.. I've never actually seen one." He admits. "Though, I think there's still some normal fish at the Cerulean City Gym." He glances at Pikachu as if to confirm with him.

"Pikapi, pika pikachu pika pichu?" Pikachu asks.

"Oh yeah, I guess we did see some at the bottom of the ocean after the St Anne Sank."

"Once you turn ten you get to be a trainer for one of these Pokingmen?" Steve thinks about the kids he knows and, even well over ten now, he can't imagine them being responsible for something as smart and dangerous as Pikachu. Dustin had one weird Upside Down slug and it nearly ate him.

"And wait. Bottom of the ocean? You were on a sinking ship?"

"Pokémon." Ash corrects absently, gently rubbing Pikachu's cheek in just the way he knows his best friend loves, happy little 'Chaas' coming from him. Ash isn't surprised but he'll never understand why people seem so upset at the idea of getting a trainer's license at ten years old.

"Well, yeah. But thanks to a combined effort between my friends and I, we were able to get out okay. And besides, we've been far worse situations since then."

"Pika...." Pikachu agrees but he doesn't sound nearly as nonchalant as Ash does.

Steve is hearing absolutely nothing that makes him feel even a modicum better.

"Far worse... Dude." He looks at Ash more critically and can't help but notice he doesn't look much older than ten right now. If he's had all that shit happen to him and is off with these pokemon all the time...

"When do you have time for school? Aren't you still in like...fifth grade?"

"Huh? No. I'm ten so I got my trainer's license instead." He could go to school, if he wanted. However, all the schools he's visited are very against Pokémon being out during school hours for being Pokémon Schools. It never made much sense to him.

"Besides, I don't really like staying in one place and doing the same thing everyday - I like traveling much better and we learn a lot everywhere we go."

Steve isn't entirely sure about that but what does he really know? What could he know about another world? Maybe kids mature really fast on Pokeworld? Still, he can't help but frown a little bit thinking about a ten year old out in the world with only an electric mouse to help him out.

"Sure," he concedes. "That sounds...yeah. That sounds a lot more fun. I'm glad it's working out for you and Peeky-shoe."

Pikachu twitches in irritation from where he's sitting on Ash's shoulder. "Pi-Ka-Chu." He corrects, really enunciating each syllable.

"It is." Ash agrees. "We've been to so many different regions now, and we've traveled with some really great friends. It beats going to school, no doubt." He says enthusiastically. "Nothin' against people that go to school o'course. Just not a fan since they don't allow Pokémon to be in the classroom and when I was little I always got picked on 'cause my dad left to become a Pokémon trainer before I got to meet him-didn't really want to deal with that, besides I want to be a Pokemon Master and the best way to do that is by traveling an meeting all sorts of people and Pokemon."

"Sorry," he tells the mouse. "Pee-kah-chew. Got it."

Looking back at Ash, Steve's whole face falls as he keeps talking. Part of him relates to the idea of an absent father and then the thought of living up to his example. But his dad hadn't fucked off to never return. He came back like once a year or so. And, besides, he hadn't been ten and allowed to run off with animals.

"Sorry about your dad. That's rough... My dad is gone a lot too but to never meet your own dad is...Yeah. That sucks, dude."

"Pikapika." Pikachu nods in approval before giving Ash's cheeks an extra strong nuzzle. It's strong enough Ash has turn his head slightly against the force of it.

"Huh?" He blinks, face going unnaturally blank for a second. No one's ever apologized or treated the fact that his dad was gone like it was something wrong. His dad was a Pokemon trainer it wasn't uncommon for trainers to be gone years at a time.

"Hey, it's okay. If we keep traveling we're bound to run into him at some point, right Pikachu?" Ash asks.

"Pi?" Pikachu blinks. "Pi-ika pika." He agrees, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

"Besides, as long as I can keep traveling around and meeting all sorts of new Pokemon, I'm happy." Ash states

Oh boy. Steve looks at Pikachu with a sympathetic look. Is this how people feel when he talks about his empty house and forgotten birthdays? Jesus.

"Well. As long as you're happy," he says with zero conviction.

"Pika." Pikachu shrugs at the look. If he thinks that's bad, just wait until Ash inevitably has to save the world only to nearly die doing it-or to actually die doing it.

"Of course I'm happy. I get to travel all over the world. What's better than that?" Ash asks, back to his cheerful grin. "I guess there's a lot I could be sad over, but if I waste all my time thinkin' about that then I'll miss out on all the really great, fun stuff. You gotta keep going."

"PiKa!" Pikachu agrees.

"Riiiight...." Steve smiles even though he's definitely not convinced. Still, what is he gonna do, open a therapy center for abandoned children here? Pass. And something tells him he's not the best person for that particular job anyways.

"Well. Okay. That's... I'm happy for you. It's good to have like. A mission or whatever. And good...friends..." He looks at Pikachu and gives a small smile that's only a little confused still.

"Yeah."

"If you say so." Ash can tell that Steve doesn't seem to believe him which is... odd. However, there's not needs to try convince him-he's going to believe what he wants.

"Pika ka ka Pikapi Pikachu." Pikachu says proudly, standing tall from his perch on Ash's shoulder.

"Hey, I'm the Pokémon trainer. I'm supposed to be looking after you." Ash casts Pikachu a look that Pikachu doesn't respond to. "Since you just got here, do you know where you're gonna be staying? The hotel we've been staying at is-" He pauses, his enthusiasm wavering he tries to think.

"Pikapi..." Pikachu sighs, clearly exasperated. He gently tugs on his ear and points in the direction of the hotel.

"Over there." Ash indicates at Pikachu's prompting.

Steve looks over where Ash points and nods. "Cool. I'll check that place out. I have a few friends here that I knew from...before. I think one of them lives there, too. Eddie?" He has no idea if they've crossed paths or what sort of impression Ash would have of the metalhead if he did.

"Either way, I'll see you around, kid. And you too, Pikachu." He barks a surprised laugh. "Hah! Rhymes..."

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+1 Babysitter

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