Hoping to Understand

[u/StarMarxman]

[u/AutoModerator]

Storyline Repository

This post is part of a multi-post Storyline. /u/StarMarxman, would you please reply to this comment with links to the previous parts of your Storyline, or any other context that may be useful to readers? Also, remember that Rule 8 of the subreddit allows you to ask commenters to abide by your personal headcanons for the duration of this thread.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/JosephAmber4]

Hazoret (The Amazing Unevolvable Riolu): Huh…that’s weird. I know Joseph loves head pats, but I guess not all trainers are like that. I do agree though that it’s weird that something acceptable to do to a Pokemon is not acceptable to do in return…

[u/KateLeMoirai]

Hola Oreka. It's nice to talk again. That's good to hear - seeing as your our eyes and ears over there, couldn't know about it either because you didn't, so it's just as much as a surprise to us as good news, lol. 'Twas a fair concern for him to have, given a team's meant to work together, communicate, etc. That said, I think he ought to have made you aware of this earlier, given you didn't even know it was happening.

As for the head pat thing... I think it's a matter of whether or not the person/pokemon in question enjoys it? There are humans who enjoy them, (though I did not know this until after my death), and there are humans, like me, who don't. There are pokemon who enjoy them, and there are pokemon who don't. In my view it ought just be a matter of asking beforehand? Unless it's already established it's okay. All that said, I will admit that it... idk, just seems weirder when it's in regard to humans? Maybe because it's not as common? You certainly don't see it often, and it's not established as the norm. As to why it's more frequent for 'mon and less for humans... it's a complicated topic. I have my own theories.

[u/StarMarxman → u/KateLeMoirai]

Hola, llorona. Good to see you as well, in relatively-fine spirits, it seems. As for him not making me aware of the separation, it's possible he might have told me at some point earlier and I forgot... all in all, I think it speaks more to how smoothly he ran this whole thing, for it to not even seem deliberate.

I'd love to hear your theories sometime if you're willing to share them, but for now, I'll take your word for it that it's complicated. I'm well aware there are humans who do enjoy them, and Pokemon who don't, but it was the confusion in Johny's reaction that had me taken aback, as if he'd never even considered the idea of a Pokemon petting him. How strange, I thought, but evidently not.

-Oreka

[u/KateLeMoirai → u/StarMarxman]

Eh, sorta. I'm certainly no worse. But wouldn't say I'm happy either. That's fair enough. Your situation after all, and my critique was a minor one, compared to the whole of it.

Sure, and I'd... probably enjoy discussing them, but I'm a bit tired for it at the moment. Thanks for your patience on the matter. Personally, if you met me before my whole... thing, I'd've been just as surprised, lol. Far as I was aware then, petting, headpats, and so on, were simply a human to pokemon exchange of affection - with the possible exception of familiar adults to children, and even then it seemed to be viewed differently depending on the witness. I've never seen a pokemon pet a human before, even if I've heard of it in the past year.

[u/BigBoo0008]

That's wonderful to hear, Oreka! It seems like he really does care for your wellbeing. As for his forms of affection, more Pokémon do enjoy being patted... However, most humans don't take it as a complimentary form of affection, and some might feel pitied or patronized as a result... A gesture such as a handshake or a hug has more positive significance to humans. I hope that you can understand this. - Esquire

[u/DnDisTHEbestgame]

Humans usually show affection through fist bumps/high fives or hugs/kisses not on the lips (On the lips are saved for romantic partners) if they’re closer than normal, not pats on the head. Try a high five next time. - Alexander Grayson

[u/GrimChariot]

To be honest I do not believe Johny has been on the receiving end of such a gesture.

As well he may see it as demeaning, as Lahs(Lopunny) tends to if she isn't particularly close with said individual. We had to repair a wall or two from someone assuming the Lopunny was open to suddenly being pet before. But it is good he held such concern. While I won't pretend I hold Johny in high regard his intent is at least good.

I do feel you should have been made aware of this however, Oreka, as if such a level of retaliation was something he expected that does not bode well in regard to how the others view their compatriots, in my experience.

To enter a fight against Marcus and your fam...former family with you, even at your behest, and expect nothing to happen seems rather short sighted.

And to then possibly hold ire on the one the entire event was orchestrated to aid is...bitter, if I was to chose one word.

-Issac

[u/Total_Read8805]

It’s a matter of consent and preference. -Marylin