prank #50 | video

[ghostytrainer]

So did anybody know that it's possible for Pokémon to be deaf?

[While John looks more or less fine, when he speaks there's a definite sort of half-squeaky grogginess to his voice that suggests he's only just recently gotten it back. Someone was pretty damn sick over New Year's (on his deathbed, one would think, the way he carried on) and has only just recently gotten over it. But at least his nose finally stopped running and he's done coughing. His lost voice just has yet to find its way back to him entirely.]

[He's sitting on the floor of his living room, leaning back against the couch. He's not looking at the camera, though. Instead, he's smiling somewhat fondly at a cheerful-looking Gothita playing with a squiddle doll a few feet away from him. She's chewing on one of the tentacles, giggling a little with her back to John.]

I feel like it really shouldn't be so surprising. I just never really stopped to think about it being a Thing That Could Happen, you know? [He turns his attention to the camera, finally.]

Anyway, so how was everyone's New Year? I missed ringing it in, myself.

[Time to play catch-up since he's been out of the loop for like a week now and fuck checking all the network backlog.]

Comments

video

[notchinese]

If animals could be deaf, I don't see how a pokemon couldn't. [She sheepishly scratches her head.] Though by the looks of your pokemon, I wouldn't call her an animal, no offense.

As for New Years, it was alright? Just spending all my time with pokemon. [So much pokemon....]

video

[ghostytrainer]

Ahaha, yeah she's definitely one of the more humanoid ones. But yeah, it makes perfect sense but it's just one of those things you don't really think about till it happens?

[He reaches over and lays a hand on top of the Gothita's head, mussing up her "hair". The little Pokémon giggles loudly, flailing her arms.]

That's good though! Pokémon are good for passing the time with.

action because why not;

[heartsplintered]

[Dirk wanders into the living room at the approximate moment that John is asking about New Year's, having seen him pop up on his gear and deciding to check in on him.]

[Once he's done talking to his gear, he chimes in from behind the couch;]

Holy shit it lives!

action; yes good

[ghostytrainer]

[John laughs.]

Ahaha, surprise! You all aren't rid of me yet. Disappointing, I know. You will have to save all the nice eulogies I am certain you all wrote while I was incapacitated for another day.

text;

[freshprints]

This seems as though it'd be an easier way of talking; it'll let you save your voice.

What kept you from New Year's?

text;

[ghostytrainer]

it's probably a good thing she's a psychic type.
i imagine when she's older we can talk that way. that's usually how that works.
at least with some species.

mostly the fact that i had no idea it was happening.
i was really sick last week. like the kind of sick where you don't get out of bed for a few days and completely lose track of time.

[video]

[quickattackjack]

Happy New Year, John.

I've never encountered a deaf Pokemon myself, but I have known a number of white cats that were.

[video]

[ghostytrainer]

Happy New Year to you too, Jack!

[You know like...a week late.]

See, I hadn't either till Stella hatched. I wasn't exactly sure at first? Like I thought she might have just had an attitude problem and was ignoring me or something but...nope. I am pretty sure at this point she can't hear me.

Why only white cats though?

video;

[pipers_son]

Well, if it can hear normally, no reason it can't hear, eh?

As for New Years, bit of a quiet affair. There was some celebration about, but I didn't get too involved.

video;

[ghostytrainer]

Some other way you mean? [John chuckles.] Yeah. I get the feeling that will happen somewhere along the line.

That seems to be what everyone has said. I guess people here just don't get as excited about New Year's as they used to back home. It seems like it's usually relatively quiet...

video;

[usedswift]

[The first thing on the screen isn't Tenten herself, but her Pokédex. She's trying to scan and figure out what kind of Pokémon that is, but after a bit of the machine telling her that's her Pokégear, she gives up and tugs it closer to her.]

What Pokémon is that? I don't think I've seen that one before! How do you always end up with all these cool Pokémon?

[But right, the question. An actual serious question, good job Tenten.]

But-- I didn't know a Pokémon couldn't hear. Giving her commands is going to be kind of tough, huh?

video;

[ghostytrainer]

Stella is a Gothita! I haven't seen many of them either, to tell you the truth. And never in the wild, now that I think about it. Though there were a few routes that I missed over in Kanto.

[He skipped Lavender. He will never not be buttmad about the Lavender Radio Tower.]

Did you see those Red-nosed Stantler over Christmas though? The ones that gave you presents? She was my present. Or well...her egg was. So...luck, I guess?

But yeah, at least for now it will be...basically impossible. I'm going to have to figure something out until she learns how to communicate psychically. I think she is still too young for that just yet. Because she hasn't shown any signs of it.

[video]

[soundmind]

Well, of course. Anything that has hearing organs has the possibility of being deaf.

I...think I was asleep, then the next day I think I fought Surge. Not really much for celebrations. [And always too wrapped up in work to check the time.] Did you make any resolutions? Rose was asking about that a while ago.

[video]

[ghostytrainer]

I should have known that you knew, Miss Smarty Pants. [He sticks his tongue out.]

How did it go with Surge? Did you kick his ass? And I...might have made some resolutions. Maybe. Possibly.

[We just don't know for sure.]

[Video]

[foolishwren]

Well, I've got a Pokemon without eyes.

He still seems like he can see though, which I'm not sure if that's convenient or just plain creepy.

[Video]

[ghostytrainer]

[...]

Is he...supposed to be like that or...

[wtf, Heather.]

Like I mean is that normal for his species or what.

text;

[capax_infiniti]

Such a defect isn't limited to humanoids alone. Any creature with a hearing apparatus in that style could suffer from such an affliction. However, there is little doubt in my mind that a pokemon could easily overcome such a thing through its other senses.

text;

[ghostytrainer]

Oh I'm sure she will as she gets older. Especially since she's a psychic type and they have even more senses available to them than some other Pokémon.

[Hence why he's not like completely freaking out about this.]

It's still just a little...I dunno, sad? It won't stop me from talking to her anyway though.

[Video]

[francia]

I haven't encountered any myself, but I would certainly not be surprised if there are. It could also be that it might hear differently from us, due to its unique biology. Does it appear to react to any kind of sound-waves, like from a radio?

[Video]

[ghostytrainer]

Maybe. I mean, she doesn't appear to have ears but there are plenty of Pokémon who are the same way and seem to have no problem.

[John scratches his chin.]

I haven't tried a radio though, I might have to do that later. So far the only thing that she has reacted to are vibrations. Like, if you drop something heavy near her while she's on the floor, she jumps a little. Provided she isn't focusing so hard on something that she's completely unaware of what's going on around her. That apparently is completely normal for her species. But the 'dex didn't say anything about deafness.

voice

[copycat]

Guess so, maybe you should talking to it first. You know, just to check and see if it can hear.

.. But you should take care of yourself first.

voice

[ghostytrainer]

Hehe, trust me, that was the first thing I did! But it's been almost a week now and she hasn't responded to anything. So I pretty much ruled out the possibility of her just ignoring me because she doesn't like me or something.

[He's had that issue once before. He was admittedly worried for a while there that this was going to be Tsundereevee take 2: Gothita style.]

I am fine now though! My voice is just a little screwy but other than that I am fit as a fiddle!

[Voice]

[belphe]

In some ways, they're just like humans. It wouldn't be surprising. What would make you think so?

[Voice]

[ghostytrainer]

Mostly the fact that she hasn't responded to anything I have said or done audio-wise in almost exactly a week now. Aside from talking, I've tried clapping, snapping, singing, party poppers, every variety of silly noises one could possibly think of and nada.

I can't think of any explanation other than the fact that she just plain can't hear me.

Action;

[tentacletrainer]

[Once John is finished with the video, Rose enters the room. She waited, so as not to interrupt him you see. In her arms she's carrying a couple of other toys to see if the little Gothita would be interested in any of them, Guile at her side. Nothing unusual there, though today she actually isn't accompanying simply because this is where Rose is going. She wants to visit the baby too.]

You didn't completely miss it.

Action;

[ghostytrainer]

Yeah, but only because you came in at midnight and woke me up.

[Baby would be happy to know this if she even know she had visitors. She's now staring intently at the blank TV as thought it is just the most fascinating thing in the world.]

There wasn't really much of a celebration for it...

video/action?;

[timelymaid]

[ She's still in the house, around the kitchen area. ]

I don't see why not. After all, they're still living creatures, you know...?

Also, while I have you here: did everyone find all your trick candy canes?

[ Because she has a candy cane and she wants to know if this is safe or destined to end in tragedy. :|a ]

video/action?; probably a little of both we just don't know. homestucks are ridic

[ghostytrainer]

[John's face twists into a mischievous, shit-eating grin.]

Hehehe, I don't know Aradia, you say that like I kept track of how many of each I put out and who got what.

[Lies. He totally kept track of both of these things.]

Guess there's only one way to find out!!

video;

[superordinary]

New Year's was pretty good. I had a lot of soba and mochi, and we cleaned the house... [ Though with 28 Eevees around the house the furniture probably didn't remain free from hair for very long. ]

This is the first I've ever heard about a deaf Pokémon.

video;

[ghostytrainer]

[That is still an absolutely preposterous amount of Eevees, btw. John thought Rose was bad.]

Same. It makes perfect sense biologically and regular logically but it still kinda took me by surprise. It's just something you don't ever expect to deal with, I guess..

..what's mochi?

[Soba are noodles, he knows that but what is a mochi he is a dumb American.]