Some things I didn't say before, I don't own pokemon, but if I did, it would go something like this…
Chapter 2
The Farfetch'd strode forward confidently, wings relaxed and leek swishing across the air at it's side. Across from it the Smeargle appeared slow at first, the only movement appeared in it's eyes as it scanned it's opponent, and the gentle flick of it's paint dabbed tail in it's hand.
Virgil placed his hands gingerly within his pockets, and smiled, "You going to make the first move or should I lead our little dance."
Owen remained as impassive as ever, strong eyes locked with Virgil. His lips tweaked open slightly as he began to speak, "Flame Thrower."
And as soon as that emotionless, non-distinct couple of words were spoken, it was on. Smeargle literally jumped into action, eyes narrowed at it's prey, leg shot out and stabilized into a defensive stance, Smeargle hauled back it's hand holding it's brush tail. All at once as the little creature slammed it's hand forward toward the Farfetch'd, it's tail bleed a deep red color, and then a massive grout of fire erupted from the simple red fibers of the bushy tail. A pillar of flare burst forward thickening and arcing out, charging air in it's path, and making a bee line for the little duck pokemon.
Farfetch'd stared it down coolly, awaiting it's masters orders. Virgil would not let the little duck down. Virgil pulled his hands out of his pockets, "Farfetch'd, Quick Attack!"
All at once, Farfetch'd screamed and burst up from it's smooth stance. It lurched violently to it's side and with a blur of brown and green, the Farfetch'd disappeared from view.
The flames spashed against brick road and dissipated as quickly as it had appeared.
Owen tilted his head to the side sharply, a certain quark Virgil had seen him do in intense situations, "Smeargle, brace yourself!"
Smeargle retracted his hand and looked from side to side with cautious eyes. He let his tail fall from his hand and pulled his feet back into a reinforced stance. There was only the slightest moment where the only sound was wind rushing by Virgil's ears, where no sound could be uttered otherwise as Smeargle froze in anticipation calculating every grain of dust that scattered before him. All pairs of eyes stood at attention for the next move.
"Left…" Owen mumble just low enough for Virgil to hear it.
Astutely, the Smeargle shifted ever so slightly to it's left side, no doubt transferring the focal point of it's body.
Almost on command, the brown blur that was Virgil's Farfetch'd broke through reality again and zipped into view to the left side of the Smeargle. Smeargle strained as the blur smashed into his side. Farfetch'd, however, glanced of the creature's side and zipped on by a few feet until the mirage slowed sufficiently so it could congeal back into the form of a very strained and tired Farfetch'd that glared back at the Smeargle as it came to a halt on the pavement. The Smeargle replaced his feet toward the Farfetch'd only the slightest discoloration appeared where Farfetch'd had struck it, no other effect seemed evident.
"Ah, graham crackers…" Virgil cursed in his own special way.
Owen remained impassive, what else is new, "Smeargle, Tackle."
The Smeargle reacted quickly and snapped forward, already in it's striking stance. Dashing toward Farfetch'd, it was evident that poor Farfetch'd wasn't going to make it out of the way in time by the befuddled look on his face. Smeargle crashed shoulder first into Farfetch'd's face, sending the little duck tumbling back head over heels several feet as it cascaded it's beak against the ground.
Virgil gritted his teeth.
"Again." Owen commanded.
Smeargle picked up speed and dashed toward Farfetch'd again. Farfetch'd made a pathetic attempt to return to his feet, but was soundly thrashed once again with a stiff shouldered shot to the lips from Smeargle. Farfetch'd was hurled back once again this time rolling off the concrete side walk onto the soft grass tearing a small patch from the top soil beneath in it's wake.
Virgil crossed his arms and made an uncharacteristic frown, "Now, Farfetch'd, Sand Attack!"
Farfetch'd pulled himself up with quickness and wielded his wings high as Smeargle stalked closer. With the force of a pile driver, Farfetch'd flung his wings forward creating sub-sonic winds that caught a hold of loose soil and clumps of grass around Farfetch'd and rocketed them at Smeargle.
Smeargle covered it's face as patches of shrubbery scratched at it's flesh, shielding it's eyes from further damage as it slowed to a halt before the force of green and brown scenery.
Virgil's frown turned to a sly smile, "Farfetch'd, Peck! A big one!"
With the velocity of a humming bird on speed, Farfetch'd leaped like a javelin with it's bill aimed right for the bewildered Smeargle. Like a connecting torpedo, Farfetch'd's bill slammed almost through Smeargle's midsection. The force of the blow was strong enough to smack Smeargle several feet through the air. It collided with the ground and bounced a few times before crumpling into a limp pile.
"Farfetch'd, Fury Attack!"
Farfetch'd pulled the thin green sprig from under it's wing and pulled it up in it's grasp like a baseball bat. Farfetch'd began a fearsome stomp toward Smeargle. Just as Smeargle was to pull itself back up onto it's feet, Farfetch'd came, and with a swing like a mafia hit man, slammed the sprig into the side of Smeargle's face. Smeargle went sailing, despite the seeming weakness of the onion leek and the Farfetch'd, and landed on it's stomach, sprawled out like a bear skin rug. Farfetch'd charged again and slammed the sprig into Smeargle's side, causing it to tumble several more feet and gain a lifeless glaze over it's eyes.
Virgil's smile trickled further across his face as his eyes looked with Owen's impassive stare and rock hard lips, "Got anything to say now, Owen my man?"
Virgil was never one to let a sticky situation get the best of him, and Virgil admired that, but Owen's calm demeanor and seeming disinterest in all of the most grave situations was almost creepy. It was in these moments that Owen pulled one of his famous come backs, which would lead one to think otherwise about the fellow's disinterest.
Virgil tilted his head sharply to the side, "I just advise you to not ignore the unpredictability of my pokemon, and me."
Virgil gave him a unconcerned wave and smirked to himself, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. All I know is, it's pretty predictable that my Farfignugin is going to beat the fushnugans out of your little Smeargle."
"Then finish this…"
That last comment was obviously Owen's own version of bravado, which would never concern Virgil, his own inflated self-view was far to superior to be concerned with the poor attempts at intimidation by weaker-thans, but Owen was a different case. His bravado was substantiated.
Virgil just gave a thoughtful raised eyebrow, "Farfetch'd, finish it, Fly up high!"
Farfetch'd gave a jubilant squawk and placed it's sprig between it's teeth. With a short set up, Farfetch'd leaped into the sky above the concrete walk way, flapping it's wings and escalating quickly.
"Virgil…" Owen called.
Virgil lowered his eyes slowly from Farfetch'd to meet Owen's gaze, "Yes, honey."
"I disagreed with my sister's teaching, only because of their tedium…"
"Yeah…"
"But her lessons were what was really important, and she taught me a valuable lesson about humility once."
"Are you saying I think I'm superior then everyone else, weakling?" Virgil jested, as he does so well.
Owen ignored him, "She told me cockiness and belligerence clouds your foresight, that you can't see something that's coming when you are convinced nothing is."
"Ok…"
"Because a battle is never over, until it's over."
"And you don't think it's already over?" Virgil said crossing his arms, the amusement drained from his voice.
"Not yet. Smeargle!" Owen yelled, raising his voice for the first time in their conversation, "Thunder Shock!"
Smeargle rose from the dead, pulling from off it's back to it's elbows. It clasped it's tail, now coated in a thick yellow lacquer. With one fell swoop, Smeargle flung the tip skywards toward the hovering Farfetch'd. Suddenly, brilliant threads of yellow lightning burst forth from the tip and screamed toward the duck. The various staffs of electricity connected with Farfetch'd's feathery body, singeing the tips of plumes and then all at once, exploding into a living meltdown engulfing the poor pokemon. Farfetch'd screamed in agony as a corona of energy caressed the back of it's throat and bleed over it's body.
Virgil looked on speechless.
Owen just stared at Virgil.
The barrage of lightning soon ended, and replacing the orb of elemental energy was a small, charred, and still smoking Farfetch'd, with glazed over eyes it fell from the blue of sky and smashed into pavement a few feet away from Virgil, obviously KOed.
Virgil stood, mouth a gapped, studying his ruined companion lying on the ground like so much brazed duck.
"This match is over…" Owen said with no hint of joy about his victory.
"How… how the hell did you do that? I…"
Owen crossed his arms, "It's like my sister said, belligerence clouds your foresight, as well as your memory. You knew my Smeargle knew how to perform Thunder Shock, you saw only three days ago in the match I had against that Eric Gellar kid and his Mareep."
Virgil dropped to his knees before his little charred mallard.
"You would also know, if you knew your type advantages, that flying pokemon are weak against electric moves."
Virgil drooped his head, "I know my type advantages, thank you very much…"
Virgil patted his Smeargle, which was up on both shaky legs by now, on the head, "Good job Smeargle." He said as he returned the painter pokemon to it's pokeball. He then crossed his arms as he looked at Virgil, "I'm almost disappointed in you Virgil, you under estimated me and let improper judgment cloud your intelligence. That Sand Attack with grass was a smart move, but stretching out the finisher for style, was not."
Virgil had to reluctantly agree.
"Virgil…" Owen said as he turned to leave, "You said you were my equal, and even though this battle hasn't show it, I still think you are. You should strive to prove that you're better then me…"
Virgil kept his shameful head down as he heard the gentle tap of Owen's shoes on the pavement, "I'm going to Fushia City first. Farewell, Virgil."
And like that, Owen was gone, leaving Virgil alone to feel sorry for himself. What cut him the worst was that all that Owen had said was true. Like the loser he was made out to be, he got cocky and let his guard down. If he hadn't been out to so embarrass Owen, he would have seen it all coming.
Maybe Erika and Odessa were wrong about him, maybe he wasn't ready for a real journey.
The little Farfetch'd open it's frosted over eyes to vaguely translate the new world after electrocution into his pan fried little brain. It slowly turned it's head over to get a good look at it's trainer knelt before him. Virgil smiled compassionately down at him gladdened that his friend could still move after such a beating.
"Hey, Farfy, buddy. How do you feel?"
Farfetch'd opened it's beak and immediately a few bails of black smoke puffed out. Farfetch'd smiled at it's little joke.
Virgil smiled to himself and nodded. As Farfetch'd lifted itself up onto it's elbows, or what ever passes for elbows in ducks, Virgil shifted back and landed on his butt, and put his arms around his legs, hugging them loosely.
"You know, Farfetch'd, I'm sorry about… letting you down. I was too cocky and now I just look like an ass…"
Farfetch'd looked at him with confused eyes.
Virgil pulled his legs closer, "What am I doing! Is this what it's always gonna be like… Why can't I have the same commitment like my family…"
Farfetch'd fumbled around with it's hand, or the stiff opposable feathers it used to grab things with, whatever, and found it's sprig, as Virgil watched the mallard's face for some sort of reaction. Farfetch'd brandished the leek up in the air, and then gave it a light toss right into Virgil's forehead. The leek bonked him right between the eyebrows and flew of in some direction, leaving Virgil still looking forward, slightly confused. Then Virgil smiled, as what his little buddy had done may have made the most sense all day.
"Thanks bro." Virgil lifted himself up to his feet, as did Farfetch'd, "You're right you know. I can't spend my time worrying about crap and stuff. If I wanna be a pokemon master, I most stay the course…," Virgil looked off at the horizon idealistically, a verdant landscape of green flaura, and stuck one finger off into the sky pointing toward a bright future, "For the road of a master is long and hard, and I can't be beset by the random pot holes in the walkway of life." he said in his best self-help tape voice, "It's just like you said, my dear Fartemis, "In this world we can pout and whine, or we can pick ourselves off, dust ourselves off, and try try try again, until we've conquered the world!"
Farfetch'd looked up at him with the accusing look you get when you're talking to a madman, or a loser.
Virgil then noticed his partner and retracted his finger. He then leaned down to Farfetch'd, "That was what you meant, wasn't it?"
Farfetch'd looked off and shrugged, then turned back and nodded with a smile.
Virgil jumped up and pointed off at the horizon again, "I can feel it in the wind, Farfaratti, as it drew Owen to Fushia City, it draws me to Saffron, the City of New Beginnings, and so begins my new beginning, for at the beginning of this beginning I have begun again! For no matter how many blisters I get from handling your poke ball when you get clobbered, no matter how many smelly ointments I have to rub on your second degree burns, no matter how tired I get of standing up while you get stepped on by Dugtrios and other feetless pokemon, I will not loss hope!"
Farfetch'd chuckled as he shook his head, obviously happy that his friend was back to normal.
"Off we go, little Farfopolis, into the horizon… uh, but, let's stop at Odessa's first, you're starting to peel…"
---------
(isn't Virgil a card, tee, hee, hee…)
Chapter 2
The Farfetch'd strode forward confidently, wings relaxed and leek swishing across the air at it's side. Across from it the Smeargle appeared slow at first, the only movement appeared in it's eyes as it scanned it's opponent, and the gentle flick of it's paint dabbed tail in it's hand.
Virgil placed his hands gingerly within his pockets, and smiled, "You going to make the first move or should I lead our little dance."
Owen remained as impassive as ever, strong eyes locked with Virgil. His lips tweaked open slightly as he began to speak, "Flame Thrower."
And as soon as that emotionless, non-distinct couple of words were spoken, it was on. Smeargle literally jumped into action, eyes narrowed at it's prey, leg shot out and stabilized into a defensive stance, Smeargle hauled back it's hand holding it's brush tail. All at once as the little creature slammed it's hand forward toward the Farfetch'd, it's tail bleed a deep red color, and then a massive grout of fire erupted from the simple red fibers of the bushy tail. A pillar of flare burst forward thickening and arcing out, charging air in it's path, and making a bee line for the little duck pokemon.
Farfetch'd stared it down coolly, awaiting it's masters orders. Virgil would not let the little duck down. Virgil pulled his hands out of his pockets, "Farfetch'd, Quick Attack!"
All at once, Farfetch'd screamed and burst up from it's smooth stance. It lurched violently to it's side and with a blur of brown and green, the Farfetch'd disappeared from view.
The flames spashed against brick road and dissipated as quickly as it had appeared.
Owen tilted his head to the side sharply, a certain quark Virgil had seen him do in intense situations, "Smeargle, brace yourself!"
Smeargle retracted his hand and looked from side to side with cautious eyes. He let his tail fall from his hand and pulled his feet back into a reinforced stance. There was only the slightest moment where the only sound was wind rushing by Virgil's ears, where no sound could be uttered otherwise as Smeargle froze in anticipation calculating every grain of dust that scattered before him. All pairs of eyes stood at attention for the next move.
"Left…" Owen mumble just low enough for Virgil to hear it.
Astutely, the Smeargle shifted ever so slightly to it's left side, no doubt transferring the focal point of it's body.
Almost on command, the brown blur that was Virgil's Farfetch'd broke through reality again and zipped into view to the left side of the Smeargle. Smeargle strained as the blur smashed into his side. Farfetch'd, however, glanced of the creature's side and zipped on by a few feet until the mirage slowed sufficiently so it could congeal back into the form of a very strained and tired Farfetch'd that glared back at the Smeargle as it came to a halt on the pavement. The Smeargle replaced his feet toward the Farfetch'd only the slightest discoloration appeared where Farfetch'd had struck it, no other effect seemed evident.
"Ah, graham crackers…" Virgil cursed in his own special way.
Owen remained impassive, what else is new, "Smeargle, Tackle."
The Smeargle reacted quickly and snapped forward, already in it's striking stance. Dashing toward Farfetch'd, it was evident that poor Farfetch'd wasn't going to make it out of the way in time by the befuddled look on his face. Smeargle crashed shoulder first into Farfetch'd's face, sending the little duck tumbling back head over heels several feet as it cascaded it's beak against the ground.
Virgil gritted his teeth.
"Again." Owen commanded.
Smeargle picked up speed and dashed toward Farfetch'd again. Farfetch'd made a pathetic attempt to return to his feet, but was soundly thrashed once again with a stiff shouldered shot to the lips from Smeargle. Farfetch'd was hurled back once again this time rolling off the concrete side walk onto the soft grass tearing a small patch from the top soil beneath in it's wake.
Virgil crossed his arms and made an uncharacteristic frown, "Now, Farfetch'd, Sand Attack!"
Farfetch'd pulled himself up with quickness and wielded his wings high as Smeargle stalked closer. With the force of a pile driver, Farfetch'd flung his wings forward creating sub-sonic winds that caught a hold of loose soil and clumps of grass around Farfetch'd and rocketed them at Smeargle.
Smeargle covered it's face as patches of shrubbery scratched at it's flesh, shielding it's eyes from further damage as it slowed to a halt before the force of green and brown scenery.
Virgil's frown turned to a sly smile, "Farfetch'd, Peck! A big one!"
With the velocity of a humming bird on speed, Farfetch'd leaped like a javelin with it's bill aimed right for the bewildered Smeargle. Like a connecting torpedo, Farfetch'd's bill slammed almost through Smeargle's midsection. The force of the blow was strong enough to smack Smeargle several feet through the air. It collided with the ground and bounced a few times before crumpling into a limp pile.
"Farfetch'd, Fury Attack!"
Farfetch'd pulled the thin green sprig from under it's wing and pulled it up in it's grasp like a baseball bat. Farfetch'd began a fearsome stomp toward Smeargle. Just as Smeargle was to pull itself back up onto it's feet, Farfetch'd came, and with a swing like a mafia hit man, slammed the sprig into the side of Smeargle's face. Smeargle went sailing, despite the seeming weakness of the onion leek and the Farfetch'd, and landed on it's stomach, sprawled out like a bear skin rug. Farfetch'd charged again and slammed the sprig into Smeargle's side, causing it to tumble several more feet and gain a lifeless glaze over it's eyes.
Virgil's smile trickled further across his face as his eyes looked with Owen's impassive stare and rock hard lips, "Got anything to say now, Owen my man?"
Virgil was never one to let a sticky situation get the best of him, and Virgil admired that, but Owen's calm demeanor and seeming disinterest in all of the most grave situations was almost creepy. It was in these moments that Owen pulled one of his famous come backs, which would lead one to think otherwise about the fellow's disinterest.
Virgil tilted his head sharply to the side, "I just advise you to not ignore the unpredictability of my pokemon, and me."
Virgil gave him a unconcerned wave and smirked to himself, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. All I know is, it's pretty predictable that my Farfignugin is going to beat the fushnugans out of your little Smeargle."
"Then finish this…"
That last comment was obviously Owen's own version of bravado, which would never concern Virgil, his own inflated self-view was far to superior to be concerned with the poor attempts at intimidation by weaker-thans, but Owen was a different case. His bravado was substantiated.
Virgil just gave a thoughtful raised eyebrow, "Farfetch'd, finish it, Fly up high!"
Farfetch'd gave a jubilant squawk and placed it's sprig between it's teeth. With a short set up, Farfetch'd leaped into the sky above the concrete walk way, flapping it's wings and escalating quickly.
"Virgil…" Owen called.
Virgil lowered his eyes slowly from Farfetch'd to meet Owen's gaze, "Yes, honey."
"I disagreed with my sister's teaching, only because of their tedium…"
"Yeah…"
"But her lessons were what was really important, and she taught me a valuable lesson about humility once."
"Are you saying I think I'm superior then everyone else, weakling?" Virgil jested, as he does so well.
Owen ignored him, "She told me cockiness and belligerence clouds your foresight, that you can't see something that's coming when you are convinced nothing is."
"Ok…"
"Because a battle is never over, until it's over."
"And you don't think it's already over?" Virgil said crossing his arms, the amusement drained from his voice.
"Not yet. Smeargle!" Owen yelled, raising his voice for the first time in their conversation, "Thunder Shock!"
Smeargle rose from the dead, pulling from off it's back to it's elbows. It clasped it's tail, now coated in a thick yellow lacquer. With one fell swoop, Smeargle flung the tip skywards toward the hovering Farfetch'd. Suddenly, brilliant threads of yellow lightning burst forth from the tip and screamed toward the duck. The various staffs of electricity connected with Farfetch'd's feathery body, singeing the tips of plumes and then all at once, exploding into a living meltdown engulfing the poor pokemon. Farfetch'd screamed in agony as a corona of energy caressed the back of it's throat and bleed over it's body.
Virgil looked on speechless.
Owen just stared at Virgil.
The barrage of lightning soon ended, and replacing the orb of elemental energy was a small, charred, and still smoking Farfetch'd, with glazed over eyes it fell from the blue of sky and smashed into pavement a few feet away from Virgil, obviously KOed.
Virgil stood, mouth a gapped, studying his ruined companion lying on the ground like so much brazed duck.
"This match is over…" Owen said with no hint of joy about his victory.
"How… how the hell did you do that? I…"
Owen crossed his arms, "It's like my sister said, belligerence clouds your foresight, as well as your memory. You knew my Smeargle knew how to perform Thunder Shock, you saw only three days ago in the match I had against that Eric Gellar kid and his Mareep."
Virgil dropped to his knees before his little charred mallard.
"You would also know, if you knew your type advantages, that flying pokemon are weak against electric moves."
Virgil drooped his head, "I know my type advantages, thank you very much…"
Virgil patted his Smeargle, which was up on both shaky legs by now, on the head, "Good job Smeargle." He said as he returned the painter pokemon to it's pokeball. He then crossed his arms as he looked at Virgil, "I'm almost disappointed in you Virgil, you under estimated me and let improper judgment cloud your intelligence. That Sand Attack with grass was a smart move, but stretching out the finisher for style, was not."
Virgil had to reluctantly agree.
"Virgil…" Owen said as he turned to leave, "You said you were my equal, and even though this battle hasn't show it, I still think you are. You should strive to prove that you're better then me…"
Virgil kept his shameful head down as he heard the gentle tap of Owen's shoes on the pavement, "I'm going to Fushia City first. Farewell, Virgil."
And like that, Owen was gone, leaving Virgil alone to feel sorry for himself. What cut him the worst was that all that Owen had said was true. Like the loser he was made out to be, he got cocky and let his guard down. If he hadn't been out to so embarrass Owen, he would have seen it all coming.
Maybe Erika and Odessa were wrong about him, maybe he wasn't ready for a real journey.
The little Farfetch'd open it's frosted over eyes to vaguely translate the new world after electrocution into his pan fried little brain. It slowly turned it's head over to get a good look at it's trainer knelt before him. Virgil smiled compassionately down at him gladdened that his friend could still move after such a beating.
"Hey, Farfy, buddy. How do you feel?"
Farfetch'd opened it's beak and immediately a few bails of black smoke puffed out. Farfetch'd smiled at it's little joke.
Virgil smiled to himself and nodded. As Farfetch'd lifted itself up onto it's elbows, or what ever passes for elbows in ducks, Virgil shifted back and landed on his butt, and put his arms around his legs, hugging them loosely.
"You know, Farfetch'd, I'm sorry about… letting you down. I was too cocky and now I just look like an ass…"
Farfetch'd looked at him with confused eyes.
Virgil pulled his legs closer, "What am I doing! Is this what it's always gonna be like… Why can't I have the same commitment like my family…"
Farfetch'd fumbled around with it's hand, or the stiff opposable feathers it used to grab things with, whatever, and found it's sprig, as Virgil watched the mallard's face for some sort of reaction. Farfetch'd brandished the leek up in the air, and then gave it a light toss right into Virgil's forehead. The leek bonked him right between the eyebrows and flew of in some direction, leaving Virgil still looking forward, slightly confused. Then Virgil smiled, as what his little buddy had done may have made the most sense all day.
"Thanks bro." Virgil lifted himself up to his feet, as did Farfetch'd, "You're right you know. I can't spend my time worrying about crap and stuff. If I wanna be a pokemon master, I most stay the course…," Virgil looked off at the horizon idealistically, a verdant landscape of green flaura, and stuck one finger off into the sky pointing toward a bright future, "For the road of a master is long and hard, and I can't be beset by the random pot holes in the walkway of life." he said in his best self-help tape voice, "It's just like you said, my dear Fartemis, "In this world we can pout and whine, or we can pick ourselves off, dust ourselves off, and try try try again, until we've conquered the world!"
Farfetch'd looked up at him with the accusing look you get when you're talking to a madman, or a loser.
Virgil then noticed his partner and retracted his finger. He then leaned down to Farfetch'd, "That was what you meant, wasn't it?"
Farfetch'd looked off and shrugged, then turned back and nodded with a smile.
Virgil jumped up and pointed off at the horizon again, "I can feel it in the wind, Farfaratti, as it drew Owen to Fushia City, it draws me to Saffron, the City of New Beginnings, and so begins my new beginning, for at the beginning of this beginning I have begun again! For no matter how many blisters I get from handling your poke ball when you get clobbered, no matter how many smelly ointments I have to rub on your second degree burns, no matter how tired I get of standing up while you get stepped on by Dugtrios and other feetless pokemon, I will not loss hope!"
Farfetch'd chuckled as he shook his head, obviously happy that his friend was back to normal.
"Off we go, little Farfopolis, into the horizon… uh, but, let's stop at Odessa's first, you're starting to peel…"
---------
(isn't Virgil a card, tee, hee, hee…)