🪽 CALLS.

— yoohoo! this is a 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀-𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋! — by ♡-ing this post, you're letting me know that it's cool to tag you in posts, interact with you on the tl, or pop into your dms for plotting or rp sometime! you're free to rescind and re-like this whenever you like!

ooc! fire away! feel free to make oliver spill his business 👁️👁️

that most certainly explains the malaise…it gives a similar behavioural energy to that of honchkrow. i should’ve guessed—ha!

fascinating! i sure hope it hasn’t called its *own* cronies to your place of residence—that’d be an awful lot of birds to care for! ^^

fun flying-type fact of the day! honchkrow are actually quite sedentary, often idling and preening themselves in their nests while getting their murkrow cronies to gather their food for them. they’ve been known to assemble more than a hundred murkrow at a time, just from one call!

i'm *sure!* you must've done quite a nifty job of keeping it in check—but oh, this poor thing...such a majestic creature, but there's an air of *malaise* about it. what's its typing, perchance?

shockingly docile for such a fierce creature...ah, its wingspan is so *grand!* how marvelous... ( he's alternating between scribbling notes and cautiously petting moltres, letting it press its curved beak into his palm. ) perhaps it's docile by nature. i have to see if there are other accounts...

oh, be nice! let the poor thing decide for itself. theeeere we go... ( his hand is gentle as it smooths over the bird's plumage—hesitant, but still excited to be able to examine such a bird up close. ) my goodness, what a beautiful comb—and such a majestic curve in its beak! how fascinating...

you—would you let me? would *it* let me? i understand how temperamental birds can be, but a bird of *legend* may not wish to be touched by anyone but its trainer. ( still, he very politely offers the bird his hand, not moving to touch it directly, but to show it that he's not a threat. )

( what on *earth* is it with everyone having legendary birds on hand these days?! his eyes shoot open, pupils dilating—unbelievable! ) i—wait, this is—! ( scrambles for his notebook, before flipping through its pages. ) i've heard the isle of armour has a strange influence on kantonian— +

i most certainly can try! i'd like to think i've studied bird pokémon pretty thoroughly—yes, by all means, i could. ( a rare look of pride crosses oliver's features. ) i'd love to see it!

i hope so. ( stop winking at him! he's going to pass out! ) but—i...um... ( his eyes dart off to the side, his posture stiff as a board, his brain scrambling for *something* to say. ) you're...you're very kind. thank you.

( holding a galarian zigzagoon like a hamburger. it seems very pleased with itself. )

( ah—so *that's* the way to get oliver's guard down. still tense, he visibly softens at the mention of his precious birds. ) you know, it *truly* is. there are so many different species of bird pokémon out there, you'll never be bored with what you find!

if...if that's what it looks like i'm saying, i can't argue with that, i suppose... ( a sheepish chuckle—breathless still. ) i've just—it's been...a long time since i've been complimented like this. forgive me if i'm...well...

“ i…i haven’t the faintest idea of what to say to that, that’s— ” ( absurd! ) “ —incredible! ” ( the open notebook is sitting firmly between oliver’s palms, only recognized once he looks back down at it. he jolts, as if awakening from a daydream— ) “ ah—right! the comparative study! look here— ”

aye, that—that would be quite nice, actually! i’ve never had sake before, there’s only a few galarian shops that carry it, and they’re all up north… ah, but that’s neither here nor there. i’d be delighted.

( the idea of raising a ho-oh from an egg is—frankly—absurd to him. his jaw is slack, agape, his eyes blown wide in disbelief. ) “ a *legendary bird?* you’ve raised a *legendary bird* from an egg? you’ve got to be taking the piss, i—mate, that’s *incredible!* you *have* to tel me everything! ”

goodness, i’m hardly a prof, but…yes, by all means! it’s not *technically* my research specialty, but i’d be delighted to talk your ear off.

“ oh, i get it! on paper, my specialty is ‘regional forms and strange evolution methods,’ but i’ve been fascinated by flying-types all my life! my corviknight— ” ( HO-OH? HO-OH SPECIALTY? his eyes are blown wide with interest. ) “ you’re joking! behaviours of ho-oh—my god, that’s incredible! ”

“ oh, please, by all means! i know it’s not my specialty, but it’s most certainly *a* specialty of mine! this and dragons, particularly—would you believe my wheelhouse is usually regional forms? ah, nevermind that, come, have a look… ” ( hastily opening up his notebook before he rambles too much. )

( blink blink blink. ) …well, i. i suppose i could share a few of them. ( vibrating slightly in excitement. )

“ *ISN’T* IT? and wait until you see the comparative studies i’ve done on the anatomy of corviknight and skarmory— ” ( uh oh. he’s pulling out his notebook. you’ve got him yapping. )

swear on my life!

you’re—ah, you’re just saying that… ( he looks away for a brief moment, breaking their eye contact, before slowly glancing back to him. ) i…would think of a comparison to yours, if i could think right now.

“ *absolutely!* okay, wait—did you know that— ” ( SHAKING with excitement. ) “ aside from pokémon of legend, the first pure flying-type pokémon originated from galar! and—and despite being aquatic, if it swims fast enough, mantine can jump and glide up to 300 feet in the air—what a feat that is!”

i can’t flirt to save my life. if you ever decide to hit on me, you are GETTING bird facts.

i…sorry, you just… ( there’s a distinct spark behind oliver’s eyes, if only for a moment. ) your eyes are…so blue. has anyone told you that before?

ah— ( oh, oliver all but melts into him at that. big green eyes stare at him, words bubbling in the researcher’s throat but never escaping. ) …ah…

i…that’s…! ( his hands reach up to frantically cover the red spreading rapidly across his face, though it’s already reached the tips of his ears. ) you…i…

the oldest trick in the book? i’d say the oldest trick in the book’s your mum.

“ well—i mean, i didn’t know what to say! seeing *you* stare at *me* caught me off-guard. “ ( a laugh slips past him. he’s certainly more comfortable now than before. ) “ i never know what to do there. first instinct’s to freeze like a stantler in headlights, i’m sure. “

oh—y-you—wait, i— ( surprise! the blush is even worse now! his entire face, down to the freckles, is redder than a talonflame’s molt. ) you—*surely* you don’t mean that!

yeah. a shame, too, bald boy.

( ack! no, there’s—there’s no need for a battle! he hasn’t battled in ages, he can’t— …siiiigh. slumps his shoulders, pulling out the bevy of friend balls in his bag. )

fell on the 30th of february this year, mate. terribly sorry.

“ oh! goodness, no—apologies! i simply get nervous around people i’m unfamiliar with, ‘s all. “ ( plus, the eye contact is hard for him to keep up. ) “ terribly sorry about that, madam; did you need something, though? perhaps i can help! ”

skills—?! i mean, i—i have *some* skills, but—likely not the type that you’re looking for! unless you’re…really into birds, or the like… ( oh, he’s going to start tweaking. what kind of skills could proton be referring to? )

( well—*had!* his gym challenge in his youth truly ended up a nightmare, but he did quite well, all things considered. blink blink. maybe this’ll be okay. offers her a sheepish smile and a wave in return! )

ah—! no, not at all, please don’t worry about me— ( snapping back to reality. do NOT get lost in his eyes. you’ll drown in there. )

ack—right, got it. you’re alright, mate, don’t worry. i tend to default to formalities with most people, champion or not, ha…sorry in advance if i end up slipping up. ( oliver’s posture visibly relaxes at that, fingers rubbing the back of his neck. ) oh, right, yes! i study regional forms and— +

( he doesn’t know whether to be more or less nervous, knowing his reputation. he’s giving lulu that irishman stare. 👁️👁️ )

( he’s going to start tweaking. )

( …a little bit red in the face. his eyes are so blue… )

( wow! what a vague and definitely subtext-less answer! oliver will for sure *not* spend the rest of his day thinking about it! ) depends on…what?

what a marvelous theory! oliver supposes that the stars' alignment may certainly affect *some* pokémon, especially ones that are more cosmically aligned. think gardevoir, gothitelle, beheeyem... ack! don't let him talk your ear off forever! get back to your papers!

ah, *that’d* most certainly explain why you look so familiar… ( okay. he’s standing face-to-face with a champion. externally, he’s calm, collected; internally, he’s so nervous that he’s about to throw up. a polite nod towards steven, followed by a sheepish smile. it’s a pleasure, mister stone. +

what could possibly be on steven’s mind? 💭