[attr="class","beck"]it's a quiet night in slateport — the way it's meant to be.

the lights from inside the aquariums are enough to illuminate the dark room. his footsteps echo as he approaches the middle. the small box of a tv's playing a soap opera in a language he does not recognize, but he doesn't care.

he sits in his plastic chair and glances at one of the tanks to his right.

"good fishie."

[attr="class","noodles"]

[attr="class","beck"]another day, another fishie, this time a gift from Lulu Flint.

it's a beautiful fishie — with colorful scales and fins, he cannot quite comprehend why flint would simply give it up. was it a gift? a way of saying thank you for tolerating her? he spends little time pondering as he approaches one of the empty tanks.

he cracks open a pokeball and watches the bruxish splash into the salt water. it swims a little before stopping by the glass to regard him. it tilts its head, its fin, then winks. he winks in return.

"good fishie."

[attr="class","noodles"]

[attr="class","beck"]there's a FLOWER VEIL on his head like the ability FLOWER VEIL. he feels like he needs to be pretty today for his fishies.

theo goes to his fishie store and taps the tank on it. he sees a very nice fishie on it and it reminds him of his best friend priam.

theo decides that maybe he'll give his bff priam conrad his own assault rifle so they can go hunting someday.

"good fishie."

[attr="class","noodles"]

[attr="class","beck"]between work, more work, and Lulu Flint, theo's barely had time to visit his fishie store. but that changes now. no more neglecting his fishies.

he will make up for it.

today, he brings with him special treats — top-of-the-line fishie treats imported from kanto.

"i'm sorry for not visiting as much as i should."

he sighs, approaching a tank to sprinkle a few treats in.

"good fishie."

[attr="class","noodles"]

"hm."

in the darkness of his fishie store basement, he sits atop a plastic chair underneath the one light that just about illuminates the space. in front of him is a tank containing a fishie he's come to name fat qwil.

minutes pass, hours, maybe, before he finally stands. he approaches the side of the tank, bending down enough to turn his diary towards the fishie.

"what do you think?"

it's a sketch of the overqwil.

separated from the rest of its school, a lone wishiwashi floats inside one of the many tanks in theo's fishie store.

it stares at nothing in particular — the void, maybe — and it doesn't even turn to look at theo as he approaches with a bag of food.

"hungry?"

he scoops a handful into his palm before reaching over the glass. his hand dips into the water, sinking deeper and deeper until it finally reaches the wishiwashi.

it doesn't eat, however.

"i'll find your school. don't worry."

slowly, but surely, it begins trusting.