â€œOh, you want to keep staring at me through periods of intense eerie silence. Well gee, thatâ€™s a new one, we could totally do that. Great idea.â€<br/><br/>Jack didn't seem too happy, but that was fine. For all his attempts to turn Irvine into a peaceful and sociable creature, the Sneasel had just as many agendas to turn his trainer into a cynical man with no interest in the affairs of others. Try as he might, he couldn't help but allow a wry smirk to spread across his face. It looked like he had won this round, at least for the time being. Jack had given up and gone back to talking with the other humans as they prepared food for themselves. With nothing more pressing on his mind, he saw fit to listen in.<br/><br/>"...My fascination is ghost pokemon. I only have one, and that happened much by accident really."<br/><br/>â€œ...I, well... I havenâ€™t been a trainer long, but Iâ€™ve sort of grown to appreciate fire types. After being with Serafine here for awhile I couldnâ€™t help but grow attached.â€<br/><br/>That topic of conversation could only lead one way, and he knew it all too well. Jack wouldn't be able to resist taking advantage of such an easy excuse to talk about his favorite type. He had heard the young Professor's obsession vocalized before, but repeated exposure hadn't brought him any closer to comprehending it.<br/><br/>â€œWell like I said, I prefer to research dark-types, and theyâ€™re definitely my favorite type to work with for battling too. Jhotoâ€™s pretty limited in them, but the variety out in Unova grants a particularly vibrant team with which one can beat the ever-loving hell out of snobby psychic type fanboys that so often stream out of Kanto." Jack started, quickly allowing his personal history to bleed into the subject. "Though in Unova weâ€™ve got our share of misguided youths who cling to their psychic types, unable to stand on their own two feet without trying to cheat their way through life with their PokÃ©monâ€™s abilities...â€<br/><br/>Irvine had briefly considered that a trainer's preference for a given type of Pokemon was similar to his own preference for certain kinds of humans - mostly ones that kept their distance and weren't prone to sudden outbursts - but given how radically different Shades, Kicks, and Othello behaved in comparison to each other, it seemed unlikely. He eventually concluded that it was a matter of challenge more than preference, an idea which Jack's disposition conveniently supported and his own perspective clearly understood. Hardship was a catalyst for growth, and a team that faced its many disadvantages and succeeded in spite of them would surely need to be stronger than one that only ever fought on its own terms. The trainer that led such a team through it all would have to be far more clever and well-prepared. It was a way for both of them to prove themselves, or so Irvine thought. To whom was largely irrelevant.<br/><br/>â€œ...In any case, dark types are probably the type we know least about, with ghost types right behind. Itâ€™s a field ripe for some serious research.â€<br/><br/>His type was also apparently Jack's primary source of fascination with the Sneasel and his kin. Why dark types weren't native to Kanto, why their dispositions could vary so much without consequence, why they were utterly immune to psychic influences... all mysteries that came as second nature to Irvine. The greater question was why any of it mattered. His interest in most species, humans included, ended soon after the inquiries ceased to be practical. What let his opponent breathe fire upon him was far less important than the knowledge that it could, after all. His thoughts were already occupied enough focusing on<span style="font-style: italic">individuals</span>and their strange habits as it was.<br/><br/>His gaze drifted over the two sleeping fire types in the group and quickly turned into a spiteful, accusatory glare. Some individuals more than others, certainly.<br/><br/>â€œPlus theyâ€™re cool as hell. Donâ€™t even get me started on my Murkrow, Othello. The little bastard pretty much oozes swag. Irvine here beats the hell out of whateverâ€™s gotten in his way since we met, which has unfortunately included me more times than Iâ€™d like to admit. He beat on Shades pretty bad once too, but Kicks set him straight after that, even if the poor guyâ€™s still nervous around Irvine.â€<br/><br/>That was a painful memory if ever there was one. As the newest member of Jack's team, Irvine had found himself in the regrettable position of being a focal point for Shades' attention without the knowledge of what that implied. He hadn't handled the little Sandile's "curiosity" very well, and left it in a truly miserable state before he was stopped. Rather than recall him as expected, Jack sent out Kicks to fight. A Sneasel's bones, thin and hollow as they were, would shatter like glass under an impact half as powerful as the one he had received on that day. He still didn't think too highly of Jack's Scraggy even after the fact, but he did learn to keep his abuse of either of the two Pokemon to a bare minimum. Fortunately, Othello was still fair game, much to the bird's continued regret.<br/><br/>â€œSo dâ€™yall want to try and make it through Mt. Moon together? Thereâ€™s plenty to see, and I figure someoneâ€™ll toss a fossil our way. Even though I donâ€™t care much for the types, Iâ€™d at least like to snag a Kabuto at some point and send it home. Theyâ€™re really rare back there, yeah? Plus, Omastar is terrifying.â€<br/><br/>It seemed that his trainer wanted to travel with the others. He gave a sound of protest at the idea of intentionally seeking out more company than was absolutely necessary, but it went largely ignored. At least, it did until he heard the next thing Jack had to say.<br/><br/>â€œPlus I hear Rockets like to start trouble in there; weâ€™d be better off givinâ€™ them the boot together, even if they are idiots usually.â€<br/><br/>The statement perked Irvine up instantly, his complaint already forgotten.