Lucky smiles and nods to the friendly guy who said hello.

"Hello to you too."

He nods to Joe.  "Holding up well.  Not getting rich quick, but that was never the goal."

To Maverick he raises an eyebrow.   Well... to Rune he does.

"Wow..." is all he says before he hears the tinkle of the coin.

He listens patiently to Rune's introduction, thinks for a moment, then presses a button on a stop clock.

"Rune says, 'My name is Rune and this is Maverick.  He's excellent at understanding Pokémon.  Maybe not as good as a Pokémon such as you.  So perhaps he wants to hear a literal interpretation for a change.'"

Click!  He presses the button to stop the timer.  All of 6 seconds passed.  Clearly, Maverick will get his money's worth if the clock is only ticking when Lucky's speaking.

"Nice to meet you, Rune," Lucky says with a smile, "Such a handsome rattata.  And you too, Maverick."

Koo chuckles a littls at Joe, "Yeah I've been with them since day one.  To most other than themselves, their mother, and me they may look alike but I can tell them apart easily."  He ohs at the translation thing going on and sits down on the ground, his lap immediately lost to the vulpix horde.

  Joe wonders, if like Huey Dewey and Louie, the Vulpixes would go from identical (color palletes aside) looks and voices to different styles and voices for the EXTREEEEME 90's?  Wait, no, that's stupid.  They'd have to get matching outfits in the first place for that.

  "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't biased, but Lucky has wonderful service quality.  Does Rune normally sound like a free web translation to you then Maverick?"  He looks back over to Koo and comments "I suppose you and their mother would have more incentive.  Much more crushing guilt for either of you to mix their names up."

Maverick looks at Joe. "...I understand Rune's meaning most times, but not the word-for-word translation. Which can make a difference."

He turns back to Lucky. "Thanks for the compliment." he then looks at Rune. "You are correct, Rune. So my question that I need a translator for the answer is: What is your favorite food? Not of the stuff I feed you, but of everything you've ever had."

Rune nods. He looks at Lucky. <Pizza. Maverick took me to this one pizza place called Mamma Mia's. That was the best.>

Rune then looks over at the vulpixes. <Hello there.> A Pokémon can tell other Pokémon apart with relative ease.

Lucky is really enjoying all the friendly company and finds the human at least as cute as the vulpix dogpile on top of him.

"I can tell them apart," Lucky says slyly, "That one's that one.  This one is this one.  And that other one there is that other one there.  Nice to meet all your acquaintances by the way.  As mentioned, my name's Lucky."

Lucky gives a bright smile to Joe.

"Thanks, Joe!  Very nice of you to say."

He chuckles at the requested translation and doesn't bother with the stop clock.

"I'm sure you already know the answers.  Mamma Mia's Pizza.  Can't say I've tasted that specific kind myself, but I'm sure it would make my top 10 at least if I did."

Raiko smirks some "None of them would let us live it down if we forgot."  He nods to Lucky, "Nice to meet you, I'm Raikoo of Team Vulpix. And this is Firesong, Firefox, Firestar, Pyredream, Flarewind, and Bob."  He says, pointing out each of the six who in turn say their own hellos.

  Superbird wingflaps, <subtitles>"When the favorite food is revealed to be Pizza, the response revealed in turn is DUH."</subtitles>  Joe meanwhile asks "I wonder if they do delivery to here?"  Pizza delivery is probably the most dangerous profession in the world if you aren't just delivering within town.  Would you want to risk going through the tall grass when carrying pizza? Or even a paved sidewalk.

  "Hi long list of names, I'm Joe and that's Superbird."

Maverick says, "I wanna know if there is anything specific I can do for him or the others."

Rune says, <This kid is something else. He loves me and the others he's caught like we were siblings. Then wants to know what else he can do. Tell him I honestly don't know. Maybe make some more human friends for his own sake?>

Maverick nods to the vulpixes as they are introduced. "I wouldn't keep that many names straight even if it was six completely different races with different sizes. Not until I've gotten to know them anyway."

He then looks back at Lucky.

Lucky chuckles at the introductions.

"You bunch could start a pizzaria of your own.  With so much warmth between you, you're like an oven all to yourselves."

He glances at Joe.

"Joe is a very practical human in my humble opinion.  A good friend to have."

He glances between Rune and Maverick.

"Rune respects you for your big heart, Maverick.  He requests that you make room in your heart for friends of your own kind.  I would recommend Joe here.  And I'm sure the vulpix six would recommend Raikoo."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:20, Thu 16 June 2011.

Koo's vulpixes all murrmurr amongst each other then pipe up, <We want Pizza!> <Lotsa Pepperoni!> <Extra cheese!> <Mushrooms and black olives please.> <No way, no olives, get barbeque chicken on it!>  <You're all way wrong.  The ultimate pizza topping is bacon.  Lots and lots of delicious bacon.>  A pause, then in unison, <YEAH!  WE WANT BACON PIZZAS!>

Koo hmms softly I've got some money to chip in if everyone wants some mizza."

  "Thanks for the vote of competence Lucky.  Though at least I have some practice with the friends gig." specifically, the shorter than him friends gig, as Liberty is aware of.  He considers the end result as suggested by Koo, and says "I approve of this topping end result, and will pitch in too I guess."

  Superbird wingflaps <subtitles>"How come there isn't any giant warm pretzel toppings on menus? It's a crazy tragedy."</subtitles>

Maverick says, "I'm good for pizza." he says before looking at Joe. Then looking at Raikoo. "So you guys wanna be my friends?" he asks in a straight-forward manner.

He then reaches for his belt, considering letting all his Pokémon out.

Lucky chuckles at the food debate and resulting conclusion.

"I'll pitch in too if we're going with bacon as Team Vulpix agreed on.  Lot of mouths though.  Will be a big order.  And sure I'll be your friend."

To Superbird he just shrugs.  Considering some of the toppings that DO make it to the menu... yes it IS a tragedy.

Koo isn't exactally a Pizzatoppingologist, so he can't say one way or another as far as the tragedies that surround the processes behind which toppings are selected for pizza.  He just enjoys eating the stuff.  He looks to Mav and smiles, "Sure.  Why wouldn't I want to be your friend?  You seem nice enough."

  Perhaps one of the issues would be such a thing is as hefty as a good section of pizza?  Or something.  Dollars (or whatever currency be called in Pokemon) be provided, and Joe says to Maverick.  "I'm gonna go with yes, don't really have a reason not to.  Think if it comes up you could be pals with a girl I know?"  Liberty, NOT the same person as Maverick dangit!  Though also could use more pals.

Maverick huhs? at Joe. "Who would that be?"

Meanwhile, he does make with the releasing of his other 5 Pokémon. He has an Eevee, a Teddiursa, a Wingull, a Kakuna, and a Taillow. They don't pile on his lap, but they do press against him one way or another. The Kakuna hovers like a sentinel in front of Mav, looking menacing. The Taillow lands on Maverick's left shoulder while the Wingull lands on Maverick's right shoulder. The Teddiursa hugs Mav's left side while the Eevee brushes against Mav's right side. Rune goes to actually be in Maverick's lap.

Lucky releases his own Pokemon.  A Houndour, a Poochyena, Growlithe, and other dog-like pokemon.  They keep quiet and watch the goings on.

"Would you be so kind as to order us some pizza?"

The dogs don't look very interested.

"... Bacon pizza?"

All six of Lucky's pokemon rush off barking!

Koo's foxes look curiously at the dog'mons and vul in various tones.   "Seems everyone likes bacon pizza, cept maybe the bacon.    Maybe we should get some soda to go with all that pizza?  I know I'll be thirsty."   And yes, money's passed over to Joe, who is apparantly the one taking care of the order.

  Joe's player is an old out of date so and so who only ever played Red and Blue, so he doesn't know what most of those are <.<  >.>  he'll check a wiki later.  "Liberty's a nice girl I know, just recently started out in the whole Trainer thing and Lucky's met her too.  Hopefully if I'm up to his standards, then she'd be somewhat higher on the bar."

  As Lucky sends the pack off for food, he blinks, then asks "So, safe to assume the delivery service has their own translators then?  But yeah, soda good."

Maverick blinkblinks. "He has a point. How will your friends order the pizza?"

The wingull on Maverick's shoulder says, <They'll just give the pizza people the puppy eyes?>

The Teddiursa says, <That usually works for getting free food, but if that's so, the pups'll just get scraps.>

The Eevee says in a soft tone to Lucky, <Are the trained to speak like you? And if they are, can I learn too?>

Lucky does that lazy kitty cat stretch and yawn bit and smiles.

"Liberty's a nice girl, yes," Lucky agrees, "Soda sounds good.  How 'bout we go over to the pizza place and see for ourselves how well the pups did ordering pizza."

He glances over at Evee.

"Sure I can teach you to talk human talk.  Takes a lot of time to learn, though.  You can start by practicing the sound Fee.  Lot like Vee, but humans will get all confused if you say veer instead of fear."

Raikoo nods, "Yeah it's probally for the best we go there.  Who knows, maybe they'll even have a nice spacious outdoor eating area we can all hang out in."  He grins down at the firefoxes, "Come on, let's get going, kay?"  The vulpix army vulps and pixes and reluctnely surrender Koo's lap so he can get up.

  Joe thinks that the Evee having 'Disadvantage: Adorable V accent' to help pay for their language training would work out just fine.  Even if philosophically Joe's player is against disadvantages for points, it's cute and funny therefore awesome.

  Either way, Joe heads off in the direction of Pizza placenes.  It would be rude to pull a bicycle out of his inventory screen and zoom off ahead of everyone so he refrains from such.  "For some reason I'm under the impression learning human would be easier than learning your style.  Unless I'm pleasantly wrong there."  Not like there are a lot of words to learn in that case.  You learned, Geodude.  That is all.

Maverick says, "Well if I ever meet this girl, I'll be sure to befriend her."

He and his Pokémon get moving, following Lucky's pack of dogs. The Eevee says, "Vee... vee... vee..." seeming to have a hard time making the "f" sound.

Rune says, <Learning Pokémon is different from learning language. It lands somewhere between learning how to wiggle your ears and how to communicate to someone who speaks the same language without any confusion. So human speech is only more complicated in it's number of sounds. Pokémon is more complicated in that it can not be so easily taught in that we Pokémon just are born knowing it.>

Lucky translates Rune's explanation for Joe.

"I wouldn't know, really," he says, "I've never met a human with enough patience and interest in learning to speak pokemon when most pokemon they meet already understand human anyway.  A lot is communicated with body language, so audio recordings of pokemon only convey a general idea of what was actually being said...

"I hear humans came up with a pokemon speak of their own once.  Morse code.  Only one sound to the whole language.  Very impressive."