Memo wasn’t bothered by the incessant running, baa-ing, or jingling. He just pressed his specs up the bridge of his nose and grinned. “My Zigzagoon does this too.” He made a spiral motion in the air with one finger. “The running and the crazy. I can relate.”

At least the little sheep was pretty cute and not purposefully aiming to blow peoples knees out with headbutt.

“‘One’ of your Wooloos? D’you have more?” He imagined Alexei Ivanov surrounded by cute little sheep. It definitely wasn’t a bad look.

fit | Alexei Ivanov | my son is cringe

Memo listened very intently to Alex as he described what sounded like his life of Wooloo telenovelas. It was a genuine interest-- you didn’t dedicate your life to preserving Pokemon as a Ranger without liking Pokemon, even the crazy ones. The way Alexei Ivanov spoke made it sound, he had a whole heap of nonsensical Pokemon he had to put up with. “I’ve just got the one,” he said. “One crazy one, I mean. The rest of them are… normal enough?”

“Oh, this one’s a dad?” Memo asked, taken aback. The Wooloo seemed so young! And strange! And made noises for no reason! That was like saying Memo was a dad. “Man, you really have your hands full." Then the Wooloo planted on his bum like a big dog and poked his tongue out and the two adult men devolved into giggles.

“I-- I don’t think I ever introduced myself. My name’s M-Memo,” he managed to squeak out between bits of laughter.

fit | Alexei Ivanov | they're CUTE

In the blink of an eye Alexei Ivanov had scooted close and whipped out his phone. Memo leaned in as well, shades shifting down the bridge of his broad nose. He caught a glimpse of the man’s camera roll and found it to be little more than a screen of white and matte black from his shiny Wooloo. He did as he was bid, looking closely and intently listening as Alex talked about his little adopted family, which he obviously adored.

“Aww, she’s so precious!” Memo said, genuine in his excitement. Why couldn’t his Pokemon be like that? “You must be so proud! Both of you!” It was extremely endearing to see someone so passionate about his Pokemon and the little world he’d built for them. It made him see Alex in a new light-- soft and warm and not just a terrifying figure of power as a Gym leader.

He opened his mouth to ask more questions-- where’d you get Smokey and William, why Wooloo, etc etc-- when the speed dating bell went ding. He was so engrossed in Alex’s pictures that he actually jumped a little in fright. “Wow, that went crazy fast. Time flies when you’re having fun. Since you have your phone out--” he pulled out his own-- “let me get your number. You can send me all the Wooloo pictures you want. I’d love to see the little one grow.”

fit | Alexei Ivanov | smooth smooth