(Do not favorite my work if you are not going to decently comment, it's disingenuous to artists/writers who like positive feedback on efforts.)

It's been a rough year, and doesn't look like to be getting much better---be it for myself or a lot of people. So...we need our cathartic distractions more than ever and, let's face it, Pokemon is one of them. An amazing world with amazing creatures that can invoke as much from life as, well, anything real, maybe even more so.

And it's Pokemon Day 2025...and I realize I showed a commissioned pic of my series' main characters last year, so this year, went a bit smaller but still wanted to at least do something again---this time, with a multi-single-pic (made by the same artist,  SpaceMechanicAzul , thanks!) of some minor characters featured in THIS chapter.

So, sit back, enjoy, please drop some encouraging comments if you want to see more of this growing story.

---

Episode 5 Luminous

Chapter 1 Reach for the Stars

After getting the powder off my face---and Sol actually apologizing in his own way, by not being the least bit of trouble from that point till now---we left to head to the Berryton Contest Hall. It...wasn't exactly a destination on our regular route. Maybe it was because it was in the prime location of our town's media businesses...which I guess, to introverts like me and Sol, was kinda intimidating, since both local and visiting numbers were high.

The Starf District. The movie studios were here, the television and radio broadcast stations, and, of course, the Contest Hall. The last was here mainly because, well, it was a place for scouts to locate talented people and Pokemon---I guess---and since they broadcast the shows in town if you didn't go live. I suppose people who do well in the Contest Hall maybe got experience or something to go into the media industry rather easily since they were practically next to each other.

Coming off the trolley, we stepped into the colorful district that was, like the others, based on one of the many Berries the city produces. I guess it's ironic that the Starf Berry has a sort of 'star' look to it that matches the whole theme of 'stars in media'...add into the fact that, outside of here, Starf Berries are kind of on the rarer side of things---probably another reminder that true starhood is, well, just as rare to find.

Streamers, posters, cut-outs, photo-booths...a lot of clutter lined the walkways as me and Sol made our way through, trying to be discreet. My partner's itchy hands for mischief acted more benign this time as he snatched a brochure from a complimentary steel basket near one of the welcoming archways. I suppose it was accidentally encouraging that I snatched it from him a few seconds later---much to both his annoyance and wide smirk---and opened it to look.

A Starf Map. Yep, indicating the various businesses and 'tourist' locations. Good grab Sol. "Oh hey, look at that," I said, mumbling enough so that he could hear me and look over my shoulder. I made a mental note that Padded Productions, the movie studio that made Yin and Yang, was on the district map...maybe something to look into for the future. For now though, I started following the helpful walk tiles---colored line strips leading to the most major organizations in the district---that guided us to where the Contest Hall was.

We passed by what, I guess, was a tour group that had just left the 'Full Shorts' studio---makers of 'Scraggy Shorts'. It was...pretty obvious, given the Scraggy-hats on the heads of the kids, and the 'Sag-Bags' carried by adults, which were plastic bags that looked like diapers on the outside, and sagged with their 'load'...from the studio's gift shop. A bit on the nose, but kids loved having their parents spending money on Scrag-merch heh. Wonder if they met the Scraggy himself or not...

As we went down the thoroughfare---something I had first aimed to avoid, but if we were going to be coming back here at some point, might as well---there was plenty to see. Sol peeked out from my backpack as I looked along with what we approached, surprised at how busy it all was.

Along the sides of the walkway, there were a couple Smeargle sitting their padded rumps on stools set up in front of a canvas, painting...something, with occasional guidance from what must be their partner or a teacher or tutor or something; I guess they were street painters. As we passed by, I looked back and noticed that they all had different styles---ranging from simplistic to actually quite detailed. We averted our eyes as one was being changed between two set up canvases for discreteness, looking to the next one in line, who was handing off one of the paintings to a couple for some Pokedollars.

I spotted Sol raising a brow at what I was looking at---watching the Smeargle start on another painting, using their tail---making him glance at his own with consideration. Uh...yeah buddy, I don't think you'll be much of an artist dipping paint on your tail heh. Hm. Then again...wonder if a 'burn artist' was a thing, maybe? Err...maybe we best not be the ones to explore that new medium of art---especially Sol heh...

Looking at the map, I saw we were coming up to KangasProductions---a sign of a Kangaskhan holding up their diapered offspring to a shiny sun indicating it---a studio that got its start with an emotional show involving a Kangaskhan and their child. From there, they expanded to other emotional works featuring actor Pokemon, but also into more lively sitcom-esque television series as well.

"Is that...?"

I blinked a few times, realizing that...yeah, I think that's them. Up ahead, there was a large crowd---which I was skirting on the outskirts of---clamoring for autographs and fan feedback from...'The Family Nido'. Well, that's what they were, and also the name of the show they were from heh.

Within the circle of fans---being held back lightly by security---were a group of four Pokemon and their partners. The Pokemon, all padded of course, like the Smeargle earlier, were all from the 'Nido' family---a Nidoking wearing a tie, a Nidoqueen with a purse, a Nidorina with a clip-on earring, and a male Nidoran with a backwards cap; each of them smiling at the various attention they were getting. And why not? 'The Family Nido' was a Pokemon family sitcom about...well...a family of Nidos after all heh.

"Niiiido," the padded Nidoking remarked to a waving fan, giving a rather smug wiggle of their claws with one hand----to which the Nidoqueen beside him nudged him the side with a shoulder, giving him a terse look; the fan was female, for clarification heh.

"Riiiin," the Nidorina seemed to sigh as she watched the Nidoran slap his paw prints into a provided ink mat, to then imprint on an autograph book set to the side. She seemed annoyed that her 'brother' was being a bit too enthusiastic, given the number of black pawprints on the walkway near them.

The show was very slice-of-live, and a very direct showing of how Pokemon and their human partners can act like each other, especially when they come from a family origin like they did; the Nidoking and Nidoqueen being, obviously, father and mother, with 'teenage' Nidorina daughter, and the troublemaking Nidoran son---helps they all probably came from the same Pokemon family. Funny series, I must admit. Don't have to think too hard, just laugh at the absurdity...at least when the episodes didn't get into something serious.

I mused as I passed by, watching the Nidoqueen sign autographs with a pen, and the Nidoran basking in the attention. Wonder how it was having a whole 'family of Pokemon' around...oh well, I was just happy with Sol. Besides, I couldn't imagine changing the diapers of a Nidoking who was almost my own size---and double Sol's. Nope, I'll leave that to the sitcom scene thank you very much.

Then again, while we may not watch their show too much...I suppose do owe them a thanks in some way---specifically because they're Poison-Type Pokemon. There was always a sorta stigma against those types because, well...poison and all. That's one of the worries with Sol, being half that...but I guess it's not as much of a problem as it could, and maybe some of that is thanks to the Nido family, considering their show portraing their Type as not as dangerous as they could be...

*

Nearby, there was also another star from the studio getting some attention---albeit not as much, though that wasn't really their fault. Surrounded by a lesser crowd, was Hap, Tap, and Sap. If you think that's three Pokemon or three people, you're wrong---it's just one heh heh.

Hap, Tap, and Sap were a Dodrio---three heads, three times the comedy. This guy...or...guys---I'm not sure how that works---was the star of 'Feather Fracas', a comedy series about a Dodrio, whose heads consist of the 'brothers', getting into wacky situations which require them to either work together or...well, let's just say, hilarity ensues heh.

Though, that's a recent renovation that's starting up, hence the differing crowd around them right now; as the audience had experienced a shift. See, originally, Hap, Tap, and Sap were a Doduo; one of them, I'm not sure which, didn't originally exist---though, then again, not sure if having two heads, and the three, means a drastic change in personality or not....

"Rio..." Tap, the right head and 'heated brother', murmured, working on scratching his name in an offered plate of wood---looks like there was a stack nearby---with the tip of his beak. He wasn't annoyed by the task itself, more by the other head that was wearing a black, well-worn-looking, collapsible top hat on their head.

"Doooooo...?" the left head---Hap, as his signature was that hat, and the referred to 'happy brother'---seemed to inquired, moving rather close to Tap's personal headspace; Tap seeming all too aware of his brother coming into his declared personal space.

"Dodri...." the third, middle head, wearing an alpine hat, and with an uncertain expression, sighed, glancing between the other two.

Tap kept working to chip his three-lettered-name into the wood with his beak, his eyes occasionally darting to Hap near him...till eventually Hap said something that made Tap somehow 'trip up' his writing, his beak poking through the wood and seeming to get stuck.

"DOD. TRI. O!" Tap barked---I know ironically, a bird---at Hap...though it came out restrained his beak was caught. At first, I was a bit concerned about that, but either their partner or travel crew worked on getting him out of it...and considering the ease it took, their expressions, and the crowd seemingly informed...it must have been part of a comedy bit for the fans.

Anyway, the show's original premise---before they evolved---I think, was more of a 'roommate' situation, wherein...well...whomever they were before---I can't tell---were two brothers who assisted each other in their vastly different professions; I think one was a, literal, racer, and the other was in some kind of business. But, ever since they evolved, the studio had to go on reruns for awhile and figure out how to retool the show, now that their star had a third addition. Hard work, to be sure, but it worked out I think---they were funny guys as far as their show was...

...and it seemed they still were off-camera. Tap---the more aggressive head---was squawking at Hap---the positive thinker---while Sap rested his head on the back padding of their diaper. I dunno if it was right of the crowd to laugh at what was happening, but I hoped it was because the two actually WERE putting on a show, or ironically were and weren't aware of it.

As I was looking, Sol's head was at the edge of my eye line, just his head. Weird...in some ways, I guess me and Sol were each other's 'second head' in some ways heh. We certainly bicker at times like those three...at least it was just the two of us.

*

We passed the bickering bird, snickering to each other on the way, before I pointed something out to Sol, when I saw the logo on another studio; another one we were familiar with.

This one was a trio of Pokemon standing looking tough---a Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Hitmontop. Wow, that must be Scuffle Studios. Mentioned earlier, those three 'Hitmons' were popular martial-arts film protagonists. Lee was serious martial arts, Chan was hilarity, and Top was...I don't know actually, he's kind of the newer one...our favorite was Chan, though we respect Lee heh.

Sol pointed out another crowd, and I looked, wondering if that was the 'Hit-crew'. But I was disappointed...though surprised. Instead, walking along, flexing on occasion with a smirk to the fans, was a padded Machamp with a towel draped around his neck---as tall as I was. I watched them and the crowd start to pass by---my look catching Sol at the edge, my Salandit flexing an arm in slight mockery to the muscular Pokemon. I smirked a bit at that, before looking at the passing star...

...well, former I guess. That was Hartmon---ironically named---the star antagonist of a wrestling show, 'Babyface'. I know. But, seriously, it's a wrestling term that didn't come from here, one-hundred percent came from the actual sport. The comparison, to me, is a little regrettable but...I mean, guess that's one for the writer staff at early Scuffle Studios heh.

Anyway, Hartmon was, well, a champ, naturally, and had put many Pokemon on their padded butts in the ring. He actually started as a Machop but, like Hap, Tap, and Sap, he evolved, literally, as the series went on. Unlike Hap, Tap, and Sap, though, it was easy to work in Hartmon simply getting better at the sport.

Trouble was, the sport was a bit close to the whole 'battling' thing of Trainers, so the show was met with a bit of understandable controversy. It never got TOO heated, thankfully, as cool heads seem to prevail more in Berryton, but the debate was still ongoing given how variant things could be with what Pokemon came on the show and how things went.

Granted, the show had itself a turnaround when Hartmon became a recurring antagonist instead, one at the top of the game, instead focusing the show on newcomers who were trying to make a name for themselves. While Hartmon played his role well, he always had a moment of respect for those he beat---or even beat him---which helped improve his reputation among fans who saw the whole wrestling thing as controversial.

One young kid went up to Hartman, who crouched down to his level, large diaper crinkling as they and their padded Pokemon---a Patrat---to stand near for a picture. I spotted that the kid had a Hitmonchan plushie---and saw that Hartman saw it too, the Machamp giving a raised brow at it, then a smirk, before posing for the photo.

If you think this means he naturally has an antagonist off-television relationship to his 'Hitmon' fellows in the studio...that's fair. But, in fact, even though 'Babyface' was first, the movies produced with the 'Hitmon' group actually encouraged the idea that the 'fake fighting' in entertainment could be both fun and entertaining without, as Trainer battles would, harm to anybody. Ironically, it's thanks to the more popular films of the 'Hitmon' group that Hartmon still had his show, lifting it up to encouraging an acceptable display of fighting prowess in a healthy venue. Some fans are even clamoring for a crossover event at some point, both just because it would be cool, and also to acknowledge that respect.

So yeah, Scuffle Studios, and their main 'actors' were actually strict on the premise that they were NOT a battle-encouraging studio. While Hartmon's was questioned, Lee encouraged self-defense rather than aggression, Chan was for humor, and Top was...man, we really gotta watch one of his when we get the chance. Anyway, the point was, they made movies for overall entertainment and not to promote Pokemon battling. So far, that seems to have been the case...safe fighting for entertainment. Sure, debates still go on, but at least it's not anything serious.

I walked a bit backwards, one hand in pocket, the other on the brochure, looking down the thoroughfare at what we passed---spotting Hartmon pausing to lift three kids and a hanging Mankey with his burly arms---at the Pokemon stars seeing to their fans. If they don't regularly do this, they're probably gearing up for the Mew celebration...

...maybe we should get an autograph book for that...if we managed to deal with the crowds of course heh...

*

Eventually, we did make it to the Contest Hall...or rather, the street in front of it. I kept my hands in my pockets and Sol, still a bit wary after the whole powder thing, decided to stay in my bag instead of doing the whole 'lizard scarf' thing. That was ok, it let him look around this new place with a little additional 'protection'; especially since being near the Contest side of things was more unfamiliar than the movie studios, and there was more of a crowd here that wasn't distracted by stardom.

But as for the street...there were a lot of vendors selling food and other merchandise off to the side, trying to draw people over. I saw a few locals, given the 'normal' way they were acting, but also a few visitors, who were looking at some of the merchandise with equal parts 'huh' and reservation. Granted, did see some before as well, though they seemed either unimpressed or confused at why some padded Pokemon were getting more attention than others---probably because they’ve never seen our shows and movies before heh.

I ignored the food sellers for now. I just changed Sol and smelled a bit too sweet myself to think of food at the moment. As for the merchandise, it looked to be...a lot of fashion and cosmetic stuff. I don't know if this was to get Contest participants to buy up more stuff for themselves or their Pokemon, or to encourage those not in the circuit to take up some accessories and join in.

I noticed things like scarves, hats, flowers, glasses---Sol seemed to take an interest in some black shades, but scoffed and flicked his tail when I mentioned it---and a whole bunch of other things sized for both human and various Pokemon. There were diapers too, though it seemed to be of a cloth or cover variety, with designs ranging from absurdly showy to overly cutesy. I grimaced at them, thinking it was a bit much to have 'designer diapers' as a thing...just go basic.

Pulling off of the vendors, I made my way to the Contest Hall proper, looking around to see where we should go. It was a huge dome building with a blue-glassy top that was kind of hard to see through from down here; especially when the sun glinted off it at certain angles. Around the arc of the entrance, engraved in a large gold plate, was a bunch of...oh, dancing Pokemon in, I guess, mid-performance. There was a Lucario it what looked to be a short trenchcoat and fedora hat, a Ninetales with a multi-colored-red scarf fluttering to one side, a Victini holding up both hands that each had flags in them, a Kecleon wearing a pair of rectangular-rimmed glasses, and a Cranidos that looked to be bashing through the wall that bordered the plaque; all padded of course.

I didn't know it at the time, since I didn't pay attention as this wasn't me and Sol's scene, but each of those Pokemon on there were representing the five well known Contest categories...

*

I was...apprehensive about going through the front. I mean, technically, we were told to go through the back or side to get 'backstage' as it were. Eventually we tried for a side-door, moving through the halls with partial-impunity as nobody seemed to both us for a while. At one point I stopped, thinking I was lost, but Sol tugged the rear of my hair lightly and pointed to the door close by, suggesting I just start opening doors. Might as well...

First couple doors lead to mostly vacant rooms that were full of sitting cushions, plants, and a big screen at one end of them. At one point, I stopped opening the doors and actually looked UP at their labels, seeing that we had been looking into the 'Waiting Rooms', which I guess made sense. I guess this is where the contestants wait till they get on stage? Oh, and the screen must be a live transmit from wherever the stage was...I guess they could see their competitor's performance too...not sure how I would feel about that, being judged by competitors...

Then came the next set of rooms. They all looked the same, empty at first, with a table and chairs, another screen...but with a whole wall full of individual mirrors and light fixtures, with a couple of cushioned seats. One side of the room also had several sized tables with padded surfaces as well. Wonder what those were fo---

"...gah! Do you MIND knocking?"

"Ah! Sorry! Got lost!"

I quickly closed the door and looked away, grimacing. I saw Sol in my eyeline, looking at me with fake-disapproval as he pointed to what these rooms were named. Yeah, I didn't have to look...the girl with the poofy dress changing the diaper of an Azurill told me all I needed to know. Changing Rooms...yeah, that was a double literal.

Ironically it was about that point that one of the Contest people, given the official-looking badge and all, found us. After explaining the whole 'lost' thing and saying we were looking for Lillian, they escorted us to the backstage...the proper one.

*

"You're late."

"We got lost," I said, rolling my eyes and giving a sigh. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sol peeking through the red curtains at the stage beyond, not looking too displeased. Guess there wasn't an actual audience out there---good thing in my opinion.

"Well, guess it doesn't matter," Lillian sighed, moving to a case set on a table near her. She was wearing a different blue and white dress, I did notice, meaning she changed at some point...which made sense given...the close proximity to a water source recently; something I'm glad Sol didn't seem to want to bring up again, of which I was thankful.

She also, strangely enough, wasn't wearing her glasses, which I thought was weird. Weren't people not able to see well without them? Were they not prescription...?

"We've got a lot of work to do, considering you two aren't even amateurs," she told me, popping the case.

"We CAN just leave you know," I said without much threat, pointing in the direction we had come. Or...I think it was. I can't remember, this place is big, we just followed that official here. A sideways glance to Sol made me wonder if he could burn a hole through a wall...just a thought.

"Fine, fine, fine, you're not late," she said rapidly, taking a deep breath. Not exactly drawing me back there...

"So...how does this all work? What do we do?"

"Well, like Pearl, first need to get...attired," she said.

"Huh, oh yeah, where IS Pearl?" I asked, first noting that portion and looking around with the Water Pokemon not in attendance.

"Oh, she's just putting on some final touches she likes to do in private," Lillian answered with a wave of her hand, as if it was something she could do herself.

"Oh, alright then," I said with a shrug, looking about. Then I recalled the rest of what she said. "Wait, what do you mean by 'attired'?

*

"AN DIT!"

"It's your fault Lil, you should have told us."

"I DID NOT THINK HE WOULD BURN THEM! THAT SAILOR SUIT COSTS A LOT OF POKE!"

"Looked store-bought to me..."

"Dit!"

I gave the burned clothing another spritz of extinguisher---thank Arceus for clear instructions---before dangling it at my side, just in case. Lillian had guided us to her own Changing Room, much to my own hesitation. It wasn't the one I snooped in that was occupied, thankfully, where we saw Pearl blotting her cheeks with some kind of powder. Sol snickered at that, but then he caught MY look at such a reaction to the practice, and he caught his laughter in his throat.

Uh huh...REMINDER there buddy?

Then she opened the cabinet, which displayed a Wailord of many varied outfits, with occupational themes. Me and Sol stared at them for a moment as Lillian proudly gestured to them, and then we tried to look away, but caught sight of Pearl. She was wearing a black mini-dress with bright blue trim that went into contrast with the white parts of her body that came out of it, diaper included---which thankfully wasn't one of the custom ones like those vendors outside.

...oh crap.

It was a few quick seconds of Lil taking out outfits and holding them up in Sol's direction, that I started inching my way toward the fire extinguisher I saw in the case in the corner. Don't know if it was there for fire hazards, or Fire Pokemon, but my instincts were proven true when she held up the sailor outfit, said it looked the right size...and Sol swiftly put it to the flame.

"He's NOT wearing clothes Lil, aside from his diaper, since he needs that," I told her firmly, clinking the extinguisher against my leg. "Especially when it's something like THAT."

"DIT!" Sol agreed, pointing harshly, fire in his eyes. "...an," he added after a moment, expression sinking a bit as he was unsure how to take his diaper being compared to the stuff in the cabinet.

"Well that's PART of the performance!" Lillian argued, gesturing to Pearl, who was adjusting her bow and necklace, looking quite the snob in fashion. "Every Pokemon performing has some kind of outfit. It's standard in duets."

"Not standard to us," I retorted, unmoved.

"...dit," Sol agreed, coming off the diaper comparison and getting his confidence in resistance back, marching over to me with a crinkling wake, turning on a dime.

"Ugh, fiiiine," Lillian groaned, getting up. "Then YOU pick out something then, if MY taste for your lizard is too refined," she told us, marching over and sitting with a huff at one of the mirror cushions.

I looked down to Sol, and him up at me. He scoffed at the idea that Lillian had any kind of pull here. I kind of agreed, but shrugged. "Can see how terrible they all are," I offered with a chuckle. He scratched his chin for a moment, then smiled. Notably, I did NOT let go of the extinguisher...

"Saland?"

"No, please don't burn more..."

"And?"

"...maybe if its Arceus-awful..."

...see?

So, we took to looking at the stuff. I angled the cabinet in a way that me and Sol's faces were blocked from Lil...she would probably go red with the two of us whispering and snickering to each other at how bad this all was.

Sailor outfit was one, but there were so many cutesy dresses---polka dots, tacky western, absurdly-pink knitted---Sol made the point-into-mouth-tongue-out motion so many times, I was worried he might actually throw up! But, oh Arceus, there were so many gaudy colors, so many bright and shimmery materials, we had to avert our eyes here and there less we get our eyes fried with 'fashion'. Seriously, people JUDGED on this stuff?

This went on for a few minutes, and I was pretty sure there was NO way that we'd find something acceptable...which was fine, like said, all my lizard needed was his diaper and he was good. We had unceremoniously taken out nearly every outfit and draped them over the table, having at least the manners to not toss them on the floor. By then, there were only a few outfits left, and at this point there was no way any of them would---

"...huh."

I noticed something white shimmer a little---thankfully not in a blinding way---that caught my attention off to the side. I reached in with a smile at first, thinking this was another outfit worth devaluing with our outside-Contest-perspective. But, when I pulled it out, my eyes widened a bit in...surprise.

"Wow...this...might not be bad actually."

Sol turned away from sticking his tongue out at some frilly thing that looked like a Flaaffy went through a paper shredder and was made into a dress, and looked at me at first like I was making a joke. Then he saw I was not smiling or laughing at the next outfit in line. He glared at it, trying to discern something to hate about it, drawing up options. Me, on the other hand, was comparing it to something else.

It was basically...a white tuxedo. It looked...professional? Elegant? I mean it didn't have all that flair and pomp-and-circumstance that the other stuff had. Now THIS I could see as being worth some Poke, having seen a lot of them in high-end sets in series and movies. Which is what reminded me of...

Sol crinkled over to me, ducking to put his head between my outstretched arms, observing the attire with scrutiny. "Andit?" he inquired with skepticism.

"Kinda serious, yeah," I told him, moving the garment a little. "Really buddy...ya know what this reminds me of?"

"Saland and?" he offered with a wise-tail grin.

"No, not a steamrolled Abomasnow," I said dully off to the side---raising a brow at his clever comparison---then back to the tuxedo. "It looks like the tuxedo that Yin wore to the Crinkle Casino in the Royal Flush Arc."

Sol glanced up to me at that, taking in the comparison, before looking at the tuxedo with a...changing perspective. I think he was agreeing.

Yeah! That was a great series of episodes. Yin was infiltrating a Poke-R game at the Casino, and Yang used her calculating memory of cards to help him win---thanks to a communication wire Yin hid in his diaper. It was all to investigate the 'Rare Candy Conspiracy', where a criminal organization of Pokemon were de-evolving citizens. It was high stakes suspense---still get chills when Yang is nearly discovered when he almost got changed that one time---it was certainly one of their best.

And this one here really DID look like the one he wore...and it made sense, since he was an Umbreon, a typical black tuxedo would just be hard to see. So, he wore a white one like this, which actually...

"...made him look suave and...what was the word, debonair! There we go," I said out loud to Sol. He had his arms partially crossed, one hand raised vertically, holding the bottom of his head as he seemed to discern how he would look in something a TV star wore.

"...you watch Yin and Yang?"

I blinked, taking a moment to realize Sol was going to take the tuxedo for closer inspection. I let him, getting to my feet and looking over at the only other human-speaking person in the room. Lillian was looking at me without the pout, instead with some kind of interest.

"Uh...yeah, we both do," I answered cautiously, unsure of what this version of Lil had in store. "It's...actually one of our favorite shows."

Lillian looked at me for a long moment, and it kind of creeped me out. It was...kinda the same transitory look that Sol did when I started talking about the tux as something other than deserved-kindling. New...perspective.

"...wow," she mouthed, leaning back. "I...didn't think you were someone into something with great storytelling."

"Again, we can just walk out," I reminded, pointing in the same direction I had no idea where the exit was. Then I blinked, realizing. "Wait, great storytelling...? YOU watch Yin and Yang?"

"Of course!" Lillian told me, looking at Pearl, who nodded briefly while smoothing out her dress for the hundredth time. "Me and Pearl watch every episode for its intriguing sets and smart writing."

"Oh," I replied simply, blinking a few times.

"I assume...you watch it for the action scenes?" Lillian asked skeptically.

"Uh, not entirely," I said defensively. Stereotypical much there? "We watch it because it's an awesome show. The plots are fun and exciting, the characters are great, and the pacing keeps your attention with how everything flows. Me and Sol are team-Yin," I told her, grinning a bit, expecting...

"Oh, we appreciate Yang's sophistication so much more," Lillian said, hand to her chest.

"Osh," Pearl agreed, same gesture.

"Uh huh, well being in the field is more dangerous than behind a terminal," I whispered to myself off to the side; I was partly quoting Yin actually. "Anyway, I guess it's because the main characters are based off those rumors in Orre."

"The what?" Lillian asked, raising a brow.

"You don't know?" I asked back, smiling. Ha ha, who was superior now?

"They never mention that in the show."

"Of course not, it's not in the show," I told her, hands in pockets, looking smug. "It's on the fanboards. They say there was this Pokemon trainer who was partnered with an Umbreon and Espeon. Apparently they said he was some kind of redeemed thief that stopped some big gang or something."

"Really? I never heard of that!" Lillian stated, getting to her feet, looking genuinely surprised and intrigued.

"Yep, sounds real with all the stuff that popped up," I said, shrugging. "Don't know much about who the trainer was, but he definitely had an Umbreon and Espeon that seemed to be attached to him. Don't know if they were actually related to each other, but they were kind of partial inspiration to the premise of the show with Yin and Yang."

"Oh my...we should look into those fanboards," Lil said almost breathlessly, looking at Pearl, who looked skeptical at that remark.

"Not the global ones, unless you have legendary self-esteem," I cautioned with a grimace, scratching the back of my neck. The Network man...takes all kinds and gives all kinds...and not all 'kind' heh...

"Hm, maybe this won't be so bad after all if they have taste in that," Lillian whispered to Pearl...though I barely caught it.

Instead, I turned back to see how Sol was doing, having been mostly blocking him with my legs. I didn't smell flame or smoke, so that was a good sign...

"...heh." I saw him holding the tux up in front of himself, standing up and looking at the mirror in the back of the cabinet, getting a layer-on view of how it might look on him. He was making, certainly, his versions of 'suave' and 'debonair' facial expressions which were a bit funny to me at this angle...and maybe because I know him heh.

...though...to be honest...he looked like he could wear it pretty well.

*

White, contrast against the black. Trim spreading out in the rear to allow unrestricted tail flow. Diamond-looking cufflinks to secure the wrist. Under shirt ceasing just above the taping strip of the diaper....

"Dang Sol...you're looking gooood."

"Sal...and."

I excused the probable swear he just used, because honestly, I couldn't argue with the results. Having never worn clothes beside his diaper before, Sol definitely needed my help getting the tuxedo on---he wasn't about to let Lil or Pearl touch him, despite his joy at them gagging at changing his diaper earlier in the day.

It wasn't too hard, as I could just slip it on him at first. It had some light secure bits on it, like the cuff links and adjustable straps. Ironically almost like how I diapered him heh. But eventually, I got the thing on and with some adjustments between us, I stepped back behind him and we both looked ahead at the mirror to see how it looked.

And wow, he looked good, and he knew it too. The fit was practically perfect, I mean guess it was for a small Pokemon his size. There was a kind of adjustment to the back of the tux for either full coverage or for a tail, which of course, did the later, so that was convenient. Everything else just seemed to fall into place.

The white of the tux definitely stood out against his black and gray, and actually kind of matched along with his tail markings too. And it even matched up with his diaper, which was pretty cool, as it was a similar white.

And like I said before, it looked professional, less...Contest-ey. I mean, we were both looking at the image in the mirror, and he looked like some kind of Poke-spy or something! Or like a certain Dark-Type moonlight Pokemon who was a mystery series star.

I crouched down to my tuxedo-wearing lizard, taking a seat beside him for a moment as he admired himself in the mirror, doing a bit of a side stance to see how it looked from that angle. I just watched him for a moment, glancing between him and his mirror self, feeling a little better about this whole thing.

Oh ho ho...definitely one of the favors is: we get to keep this thing.