(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.)
Well...lackluster views, dismal favorites, and not very enthusiastic comments...but eh, that was kind of expected. Oh well.
Anyway, I guess I'll still post this chapter since it took a lot of work and means a lot to me. For it, we get a tour of how Poke Poofs are made, the diaper brand involved heavily in the series. I actually took the time and effort to show how this process is done, and in a way of groups working together toward a purpose, so it's actually something I'm a bit proud of being the first to detail in.
Chapter 6 Dealing in Diapers
"...you're late."
We had been standing in this exceptionally long hallway for about three minutes now. We had passed a few signs pointing the way toward the 'tour track' as it were, but I had mostly concentrated on keeping up with Jemma. She seemed to concentrate more on her tablet and earpiece than me, yet she seemed quite aware of her surroundings that we had got to our destination rather swiftly.
The hall we were in extended pretty far. White and gray colors made it mostly non-descript color-wise, but I did see the conveyor belt on the floor that reminded me of those ones I'd seen in airports in modern movies. From the look of some of the scuff marks, it seemed like it was a one-way belt. Against the right wall was a walking path with occasional silver handholds, the spaces between, I guess, were left open so people could get on and off the conveyor at their convenience. The left wall was inter-spaced with large rectangular window shutters, which were closed for the moment. I guess whatever you were suppose to see on the tour, gliding on the belt, was on the other side. Below there was a long tube that went along the wall, and at the end, closest to me, was what looked to be some kind of rectangular screen with round speakers hooked to it.
I had just finished inspect of the hall when Jemma spoke, and I heard a buzz noise behind me.
"Gah," I said, mildly startled, to see a Rotom beaming at me. Honestly, I guess the lack of anything exciting in the past few minutes had muted my surprise.
"Monitor Sixteen..." Jemma commented, half-way out the door we had come from. I was unsure what she meant by that, till I watched the Rotom move past me and suddenly merged itself with the screen hooked to the right wall tube. Within seconds, a squished version of the Rotom's face showed up on the screen.
"Welcome to the tour!" a monotone voice sounded from the speakers. That made me start, after all, this was the first Rotom I've heard speak before.
"I'll see you at the end..." Jemma said rather unenthusiastically behind me. I was going to respond, but heard the door soft-close before I turned my head. So...my focus returned to the Rotom. Or, the Rotom face...screen...thingy.
"Oooh! Special guest! Special guest!" the Rotom stated rather happily, the face on the screen bouncing up and down.
"Special...guest?" I repeated, unsure how to take that.
"Never toured for one person before!" the Rotom explained, it's face shrinking to half the screen, the other half showing a bunch of human silhouettes that quickly faded away till there was one left. "Nope! Never one! Oh, is there just one? Do you have a Ghost Pokemon with you? They generally don't wear our product. Is that your partner?"
"I..."
I was a bit confused. This Rotom's enthusiasm was a little infectious. But the partner comment brought me down again. That's right...people probably took these tours with their Pokemon too. It's rare to see a person, except maybe mostly young kids, without one. I would have stayed a little in that depressing thought, that I had still not found my own, till I remembered I hadn't seen Jemma with one. Did SHE have a Pokemon somewhere?
"Uh, hello? Are my speakers broken?" the Rotom commented, a question mark appearing on the screen. "I didn't hear a response. Testing for problems. Beep...BEep...BEEp...BEEP---!!"
"S-stop! I can hear you, I didn't say anything!" I said quickly and clearly, realizing that the Rotom was increasing the volume of it's test-beeps with each one.
"Oh, weird. Not much of a talker?"
"Can...can we please start the tour...thing?" I asked the screen, grimacing. I really just wanted to move away from the whole 'partner Pokemon' thing right now.
"The what?"
"The...tour," I told the screen, raising a brow. "The...thing you're suppose to do?"
"I'm doing a tour?"
"Yes, of the Poke-Po---"
"Oh! Right! THAT!"
I...took a step back from the screen. I've seen a movie where an actual machine exploded due to complex problems. I am not taking a chance and ending up like that scientist dude...
"Lets see," the Rotom eventually said, calming my initial fear of an explosive start to my day. "Accessing tour flash cards. Umm....uh heuh...yep...ok...who made this? Ah I'll skim it."
It was really weird, hearing a monotone 'clearing of the throat' noise...considering Rotom didn't have a throat in either the forms I've seen it in. Eventually though, I looked to my side to see the conveyor belt starting up. The scruff on it let me see that it was moving at a leisurely pace, nowhere near anything that would match exercise equipment.
I looked up as I heard a small swooshing noise to see that the Rotom-screen was starting to move just as leisurely down the tube it was attached to. Apparently, the tube was it's way of conveyance to keep up with tour guests. It got about two feet before it suddenly zipped back to where it started. I saw the Rotom eyes swish to my direction in particular.
"Umm...step on the conveyor please?"
"Oh, I didn't know I...ok."
I stepped onto the conveyor, allowing it to slowly glide me right-ward. At the same time, the Rotom-screen followed. Suddenly from speakers somewhere in the ceiling, I started hearing a kind of tune. It was kind of like elevator music, or whatever kind of music people call 'elevator music' that is. Whatever it was, it was a little upbeat, almost whimsical, as if to try and draw people into some kind of commercial pitch. Made sense I guess, it WAS a tour that was basically a much more personal advertisement of Poke-Poofs.
"Welcome to the Poke-Poofs production experience!" the Rotom exclaimed happily, his screen-face bouncing to the beat of the music as we drifted. "In this part of the tour of our fabulous company, we will show you fine people and Pokemon how we make our critically acclaimed diapers!"
"Production experience?" I questioned softly. I guess there were more parts to the tour than I thought.
"Here, you will see most of the process to how we make our most important product! The padding right on the backsides of your dearly beloved Pokemon!" the Rotom explained. "Oh...right."
I grimaced slightly. Yeah...just me Rotom...just...me.
"Ahem! Anyway! Making this amazing product is a labor of love by human AND Pokemon hands! Or claws, or leaves, or insert word here..."
That got me a slight smile.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and Pokemon of all types! We introduce you to some of our hard-working staff that help keep Poke-Poofs churning out the greatest padding on the planet!" Rotom exclaimed, images of human and Pokemon figures on the screen holding hands with a diaper design in the middle.
"...whoops, was a little slow there. Adjusting."
"Adjus---WHOA!"
We were about half-way through the first rectangular set of shutters by this point. Apparently, that was a little further than we were suppose to be. On instant, the conveyor belt and the Rotom-screen shifted like a switch left-ward a few feet, nearly tossing me off my own. I grabbed one of the handholds behind me, staying where I was for a moment, glaring at the Rotom for the lack of tact.
"Sorry about that!"
"It's...fine," I eventually said, holding back more aggressive words. This Rotom was trying his best...right? I mean, it seemed from the start that this wasn't his regular job. Or...maybe it was. It was kind of hard to consider, since this was a talking Pokemon and all.
I still had a light touch on the handrails as the first of the window shutters opened rather quietly. Beyond was what looked to be a large room with...was that a...jungle gym?
"Poke-Poofs diapers haven't always begun at the manufacturing stage," Rotom continued on as the shutters continued to open. "There are over eight hundred different types of Pokemon know in the world, but there may yet be even MORE that have remained undiscovered. To ensure the pinnacle of performance for Poke-Poofs' product, we maintain.an Index of Berryton's various Pokemon that allows us to make custom-designed diapers for each species!"
The shutters for the first window locked into the ceiling, and I could see fully into the next room. It looked like a playground. There was the jungle gym I saw earlier, but also a slide, swing set, small pool, and various other things you could find at a neighborhood park. Above it, I saw various hanging hoops, perches, and acrobatic tight wires. That portion dominated the room, but on the left side, behind a glass wall, looked to be a room with exercise equipment, from weights to those walking machines and peddle bikes. Weird place...half playground, half gym? I was still trying to figure it out, thinking I spotted some pink blob behind a bicycle machine, before Rotom started talking again.
"The room you see here is our Model Data Chamber!" Rotom started up, showing different pictures that I half-paid attention to. "Odds are, you may not be seeing much right now, but when Poke-Poofs HQ is informed of a qualifying Pokemon in Berryton not yet in our Index, you might see it in this room!"
I became more thorough in my observations for such a Pokemon.
"Currently...there is not."
Wait, what? I thought I saw...?
"Here in the MDC, Poke-Poof scientists and engineers observe newcomer Pokemon in various activities, mostly common to their natural behavior. These stress tests in activity and movement are collected and used to develop the most customized diaper for that Pokemon species, made perfectly for their body and quirks!"
I looked up from Rotom's image of pixel-Pokemon wearing white and exercising to look back into the room. Stress tests? Observation? Wow, I didn't think about how the custom-species variant of Poke-Poofs were made...but it seems like quite process.
"However, you may be surprised to note that while our regular variety of diaper, of which you can find in your local PokeMart or Center, and fit most Pokemon, is not what we use here to determine our custom-variants."
I made a face, looking down at Rotom, who was grinning border-border on the screen. He seemed literally quite cheeky about being in the know of this fact.
"Nope. In fact, it's thanks to our Morphic Model Team!"
"Morphic Model T---gah!"
I stepped back as a pink blob plopped against the window...and...smiled at me.
"Oooh! Seems one of them decided hello! Let's all say 'Hello Ditto'!" Rotom announced, and to add to the effect, he seemed to have called up an audio cue of canned laughter for the enjoyment of the rest of the tourists. Oh right, it's just me. Thanks Rotom...
I decided not to be annoyed too much though, prodding the glass as I watched the Ditto slowly slipping down the other side of the window. Honestly, I hadn't seen a Ditto in person before, or at least, I think I haven't. Like Rotom, they were an oddity, a Pokemon capable of transforming into...anything I think. Not sure if it was just limited to Pokemon. It was actually kind of interesting, at least I thought, how such a simple looking Pokemon could form itself to be so many other things.
"We can't forget our most important members of the MDC staff, the Morphic Model Team, made entirely up of Ditto!" Rotom continued, looking upward toward the window. "Simply watching a Pokemon's performance is not enough to determine how to design it's customized diaper-wares. Our Model Team goes the extra mile, even more than that literally, to create the finest diaper for every Pokemon Poke-Poofs serve!"
I raised a brow at that, wondering how Dittos helped with that. Then, I noticed, as the Ditto was sliding down, still with a smile, there was some sort of shimmer to it. As some of the lights in the room reflected off it, I noticed that there was something...off.
"It's all very technical of course," Rotom explained. "But the technology that helps make these particular products is similar to that in your favorite movies of the recent times!"
"Really?" I said out loud, clearing my throat and looking around...before I remembered I was alone.
"That's right!" Rotom answered, making me feel a little better about my forgetfulness, brief as it was. "You see, for this process, our Ditto team is fitted with special meshes filled with sensors similar to that of motion-capture technology!"
Oh! THAT'S what that was. Yes, I could see now, the Ditto had a kind of...extra layer on it, kind of translucent, made in hexagon patterns. But...why would they put those meshes on the Ditto and not on the Pokemon they're suppose to...?
"It all begins when a new Pokemon arrives to help us perform a custom-fitting procedure. Of course, we begin this process depending on the Pokemon themselves, as it is in the best interest for all parties that they were recently changed."
The canned laughter came up again, and I had to smile at it. I suppose that's true. If you wanted to bring a Pokemon to a doctor or such, most people try to do so after getting them into fresh diapers for formality, and decency sake.
"Although, this is more to the benefit of our Morphic Model Team."
What?
"After a showering process, the new Pokemon is met with one of our Dittos, who proceed to transform around them into a pseudo-diaper."
"Wait...wha?"
Rotom chuckled in robotic tones, seeming to watch along with me as the Ditto from the window starting moving about the MDC room. "That's right. A to-be-indexed Pokemon is not brought to the MDC in normal padding, but wearing a transformed Ditto-Diaper."
"Oh...wow," I mouthed, a bit surprised at that. First, Dittos transforming into fake-diapers? But then being WORN by Pokemon? That seemed a little...
"Some of you may find this quite strange, but we at Poke-Poofs ensure you of this necessity," Rotom continued. "Our Ditto staff are committed to producing the most accurate diaper for each and every Pokemon species, and to do this, they act as such a diaper for the duration of the tests."
On the screen, I saw a Ditto transforming into a pixel-diaper and layering over another Pokemon. Looked to be a Charmander.
"With the fitted Ditto-Diaper, the new Pokemon interacts with the various equipment in the MDC. Each piece tests various elements of a Pokemon's form, movement, and strain, with each of these changes, and more, being measured by the meshes that our Ditto have equipped."
Oh, so that's why they're wearing them?
"But that's not all. Like any Ditto, our team not only transform into objects, but can alter and adjust their current form for maximum performance. So, while the Pokemon being tested is performing a variety of activities, and our scientists and engineers collect data from the special meshes, our diaper-Ditto makes slight adjustments to create the optimum design for a custom-diaper of the Pokemon's species."
I watched some man in a blue suit open a doorway in the room, smiling at the Ditto on the floor, letting it slip into the hallway with him before shutting it. Apparently the Ditto may have snuck into the room or something...
"Wow, that's a lot," I said out loud, wishing I could have actually see what Rotom was describing for myself. Instead, looked like this first shutter was closing, the end of that portion of the tour.
"You all must be quite in awe of just how much work goes into just the BEGINNING of a Poke-Poofs custom-brand diaper!" Rotom noted happily, almost as if he himself could be smug about that fact and was looking for praise. "That is just how dedicated our staff, human and Pokemon alike, are to our company creed of bringing our kinds together."
I let Rotom go on for awhile, letting my own thoughts on this process be the forefront for now. Wow, so they use Ditto, transformed as diapers, to basically making the framework for how they make the actual diapers for every kind of Pokemon? Have to admit, that DOES seem kind of personal, with the Ditto so...close like that. Then again...diapers WERE personal after all. I always knew Poke-Poofs was important economy-wise, and for some relationship between humans and Pokemon, but I didn't imagine just how dedicated Poke-Poofs actually was.
"---thank you, don't forget to tip your Rotom hehehe!"
I shook my head out of my thoughts, realizing the tour was just starting, looking up as the next window shutter.
"Oh, next bit...hm hm hm...do do do....ah! Here we are! Whoops, went a little further again."
"Wait wha---oh!"
I'm glad I had a close grip on the handrail.
"Ro...tom," I mumbled as the conveyor stopped shifting again.
"Sorry! Next bit up!"
That was a little quick of an apology.
"Ahem! So, whether it be our common or type brands, or our custom-fitted variety, the creation of a single diaper is a many step process, more than you may think. But, thanks to our dedicated staff, we manage to supply the needs of every Pokemon in the city!"
I steadied myself against the railing and watched as the next window shutter opened, and this time, I saw much more movement behind it.
"Poke Poofs diapers are made in a similar fashion to regular ones, albiet with the specialty of Pokemon in mind! The first layer to these fine products is a thin soft plastic made for the comfort and ease of a Pokemon's partner, caretaker, or friend. The second layer is a plastic barrier to help hold the more...solid products any change would be aware of."
Canned laughter again. I didn't smile this time. The cost of the conveyor belt thing. Still I listened, watching the shutter open.
"Of course, aside from the practical application of these layers, these are diapers for Pokemon. Whether it be from personal activity or roughhousing, Poke Poofs products are aware that most Pokemon are prone to cause more stress to their padding than a human. As such, we treat our plastic covers..."
I saw what looked to be a production line like in any major factory. However, aside from machines, I saw humans and Pokemon behind it. Sitting comfortably on the left in a cushioned chair, wearing, what else, a Poke-Poof diaper, was a bunny-looking Pokemon with a kind of furry scarf. A woman behind the Pokemon was slowly petting it's white fur, producing a clearly contented look on the Pokemon's face, while a man in front was holding a vial in his hands, half filled with some kind of clear liquid.
"The pampered, in more ways than one---" Rotom continued, canned laughter following. "---is a Cinccino! One of several that help us with every diaper Poke-Poofs creates. While I'm sure you all admire it's white furry fluffyness---"
Not really...wait...did Rotom? Was it blushing on the screen?
"---erm, while you might admire it, we don't use it in the way you think. In actuality, it's the oil that Cinccino produces."
"Oil huh?" I wondered out loud, figuring that was what was in the vial the man was holding. Honestly, the surprise of the first section of the tour was really getting me interested.
"That's right!" Rotom exclaimed. "You see, Cinccino's fur oil is actually a protective secretion that helps protect it's body. I other words, this oil repels attacks and damage!"
Through the window, I saw the man finish with the vial in his hand, giving a small pat to Cinccino before turning to what looked to be a large vat nearby. From where I was, I couldn't see what was inside much, but whatever it was seemed to be slowly spinning from within. Some kind of mixer? Whatever it was, the man slowly turned the vial upside down, the oil spilling into the vat's contents.
"Our plastic production is similar to normal diapers, however, to accommodate for Pokemon, we treat our plastic with Cinccino oil," Rotom continued on as I watched the application process. "Creating the plastic layers is the same process as it normally would be done, but by mixing in Cinccino oil, our plastic is supremely resistant to tearing, piercing, and just about any form of damage it can sustain from ANY source, human or Pokemon. Which means your playful Sandslashs won't be tearing up each others Poke-Poof brand diapers any time soon if they fight over that last slice of pizza!"
Rotom loved that canned-laughter filter. Or...then again, maybe he was doing it for my benefit. I did get a smile at that comment, picturing that would probably be a fight me and my Pokemon, whatever it could have been, might have. I was still thinking about both things when the shutter started closing and we were moving on.
"That's right folks. I'm sure even Trainers would be quite surprised at how 'battle-ready' our diapers are!"
The laughter was this time accompanied by my own little chuckle. Ok, that was funny. A 'battle diaper' ha...yeah, Trainers would find that quite preposterous. Still, it was pretty cool to know just HOW resistant Poke-Poof diapers were. No wonder they didn't rip up or leak...
Rotom was still making jokes as we started coming up to the third window...and still was when we were going through it.
"Nope nope nope, getting off the belt," I said really quickly before Rotom looked like he was about to say 'oops". My intuition served me well as the conveyor belt shifted back once again. From his position, the Rotom's screen eyes dipped down to me with a slightly hesitant smile. After a moment, I rolled both my hands, signaling him to just continue. I could stand to walk. I started a slow walk to the next section, stopping to wait for Rotom to catch up.
"Ahem. Lets move on to the 'bulk' of our product shall we?" Rotom continued as the third window started opening. "The third, fourth, and fifth layers of a Poke-Poof diaper is the most important step, with each layer acting together for the service of what said-diaper is for."
It was another production line, but there were many more people and Pokemon. There was a pen in one section, filled with what looked to be floating cotton bundles. Another had a bunch of similar-looking bundles running about chasing each other, leaving bits of white behind as they did so. There was also two orangish Pokemon, both diapered up, that were dashing about the whole area, seeming to encourage the others.
"While some of a Poke-Poof diaper is manufactured with synthetic materials, such as absorbent polymers in the cores---" Rotom went on, suddenly being technical. Guess he was going on-script for this bit. "---a material is needed to help 'move things along' and add to both the absorbancy and comfort of each Pokemon being serviced. The most common, and plentiful, of course, is cotton. Which is produced naturally and harmlessly by our playful Cottonee and Whimsicott divisions!"
I looked between the Pokemon, soon figuring out which was which thanks to quick descriptors on Rotom's screen. This was simple to take in, but it still seemed admirable. Pokemon helped make the most important bit of diapers for other Pokemon. And from the looks of things, they were having fun doing it.
"Of course, we need plenty of this material for production, so to help encourage our cotton-team is the victory Pokemon, Victini!"
Oh, so that's who the two orange fellows with huge V-shaped ears were.
"We tend to try and have Victini encourage our staff whenever possibly to improve efficiency. Their boundless energy can sometimes be the pick-me-up our crews need for a quota!"
Huh, a victory Pokemon huh? Boundless energy? I could use some of that. I thought I could feel some of it right now, but I guess it might be a proximity thing. Wonder if that was the type of Pokemon for me. One that always seemed happy...is that what I needed?
I was already walking when I realized we had come to the next to last window. Wow, had I been deep in thought there a moment ago?
"So, we have the scaffolding, the protection, and the fluff for our diapers. What's next? Can anybody tell me?" Rotom asked, eyes darting about. I started to consider the question for a moment. "...anybody?"
Honestly, I had no idea. I decided to watch the next shutter start to open.
"H-here's a hint!" Rotom exclaimed, seemingly worried that nobody (me) wasn't getting it. "It's what helps keep a Poke-Poof fit and snug on your Pokemon!"
"You mean...the tapes?" I answered, a little confused. There was a process with THOSE too!?
"That's right!" Rotom announced, with some kind of relief.
The shutter opened to reveal another production line. There were a lot of leafy-caterpillar-like Pokemon---not Caterpie, I knew that much---along with a few humans. One was seemingly asleep in the corner with it's leafy-top covering it's face, while others were working with the human employees on small rectangular pieces, lots of them in different sizes. The people used small machines to layer pieces on top of each other while the Pokemon sprayed portions of it with some kind of sticky thread.
"Accessibility and personal preference on comfort is important, but so is making sure a Pokemon's droopy diaper doesn't fall off," Rotom commented. This time it was his own robotic laughter that came from the speakers. I gave him an almost pitiful smile, but he continued on anyway. I did find the image humorous though, with any Pokemon, not just the one I didn't have...
"From the MDC process, we learn just how large the tapes are needed for each type of diaper. We aim to maintain the classic one-per-hip instance, with an additional to accompany holes for tails and similar appendages. The tapes themselves are easily made with the help of machines---like me!---but it's the special adhesive, produced by our Sewaddle helpers, that's important."
So that's what they were, right. I watched as one of the Sewaddles shift it's way along beside the product line, as if judging the quality of the tape it had helped thread a few seconds ago.
"We at Poke-Poofs want to make sure that every diaper tape is able to securely and comfortably adhere itself and endure any rigorous activity that would be performed by any type of Pokemon so that it doesn't snip off for any reason other than a desired change. However, at the same time, we want to allow younger or inexperienced practitioners of padded-Pokemon care to fix mistakes or make adjustments if need be. As such, the combination of our Sewaddle and synthetic materials allow Poke-Poofs to be untaped and retaped multiple times without wear and tear."
"Huh," I mumbled. I had heard about that, but hadn't really thought about how important that could be. Sure, I suppose if you didn't have much diapering experience, or if it was a new Pokemon, if you incorrectly taped it on, you could have ripped the diaper up trying to untape and fix it. Wow, Poke-Poofs even thought of that too...
"The combination of Sewaddle thread and synthetics allowed us to have a substance that sticks firmly when attached to tape-landing zones, but constructed in such a way that exposure to air allows a peel-off without damage to tape or diaper. This is why there are lose little extra bits on diaper tapes that don't have adhesive are there, so you yourself can unknowingly start a de-taping process to make adjustments without regret!"
I started moving again as it seems we were to go to the last window. The look on my face was one of contemplation for all this information, but I didn't comment out loud on it, we were about to finish after all. Still, I will say, wish I had a notebook or something...
"A frame, plastic, core, and tape. We have what we need to make our Poke-Poof diapers! While we do use a mechanical process as well for mass-production, we still have talented Pokemon at the forefront that bring all these materials together to form Poke-Poofs!"
The last shutter opened to reveal a line of thin leafy Pokemon similar in color to the Sewaddle, though they were all focused on the task before them, operating in an admirably efficient fashion. One used it's arm cutters to slice off an overhanging row of hourglass-shaped pieces of cloth, while another used sticky silk to bind plastic and fluff layers, and a third attached diaper tapes with eerily precise speed.
"Meet our Leavanny," Rotom informed. "These Pokemon rival Chansey in their helpful nature toward other Pokemon, as well as being exceptionally skillful at creating clothing. It is because of this that our Leavanny are the ideal Pokemon for placing all the pieces you have seen so far together to create a Poke-Poofs diaper! Of course, there is also a phase for all the designs of our various diapers, but that intensive process is too extensive for current tours, our apologies."
I was a little mesmerized, I admit, at how efficient these Leavanny were. Even when looking away toward each other, as if they were gossiping like women at a salon, they worked their arms and sticky silk autonomously. I guess they must have been at this a long time. Maybe they were thinking of which kind of Pokemon would wear the diaper they had just completed. Must be nice to enjoy your work...
"Of course, it's our staff and all these Pokemon that make Poke-Poofs as a whole possible," Rotom announced as the shutter started to come down. "We hope you all have a better grasp at all the work that goes into those comfortable pieces of padding your Pokemon all wear in our precious city. And, like you've all seen the pieces that help to make our brands possible, we hope you start to see the pieces that make connections between Pokemon and humans possible as well."
I stopped at the end of the conveyor, seeing the hallway going off to the side a bit to where I guess the exit was. I waited for a moment though, waiting for Rotom to catch up. Even though he had a few bugs loose...I couldn't help but be a little courteous. Actually, as I started to see his screen, I saw little teardrops under his screen-eyes, as if what he was saying was actually getting him emotional, though his voice wasn't betraying it.
"We hope you all enjoyed the Poke-Poof's Production Experience portion of your tour! Please, do take a free sample from our nearby display! If it doesn't fit your Pokemon, take one anyway and give it to someone who could use it!"
I had been watching the emotion on Rotom's screen more than my surroundings, so I failed to notice the little table at the end of the hallway. Before a three-sided poster board featuring a diapered Charizard, Feraligatr, and Sceptile, each posing rather coolly in their padding, was a dwindle stack of Poke-Poofs diapers. They looked almost identical to how the Center diapers were, but the designs were different, with colored red, blue, and green circles and a little star design with 'Poof Tours' printing on it. I guess this was a simple, but exclusive design that you only got going through the tour.
I took a step back from my observations. I didn't have a Pokemon to use it for, so I didn't need to---
"Umm...did you take one?" I heard Rotom asked. I stepped back again so Rotom could see me from his screen face.
"I...don't have a Pokemon with me. Oh, I mean, with me as in..." I trailed off, not wanting to insinuate that Rotom WASN'T a Pokemon.
"Oh, but that's ok! As said, you can give it someone else who could use it!"
"Like...who?" I found myself asking.
"Well isn't that a point of the diapers?" Rotom suddenly asked.
"What?"
"To make connections between Pokemon and humans? Thought I heard that somewhere...was it in the notes..." Rotom mumbled, which was weird in monotone.
"Well, I guess so," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Yeah, those types are so lucky they get to wear them," Rottom commented offhandedly, his eyes darting further on the screen from me. "Some of us don't get it too much because we don't need'em or...can't."
I raised a brow. My 'can't do something' sense was tingling. It was usually something that was brought up for myself as part of a depression streak. But for some reason it seemed to kick in for Pokemon too.
"Are you...jealous?" I decided to chase asking.
"W-what?" Rotom commented, an exclamation mark appearing on his screen for a moment. "Why would I be jealous? That whole biological stuff seems like such a hassle."
"Uh huh..."
"I mean, it LOOKS comfortable, doesn't MEAN it's..."
I smirked a little. Maybe this was a proper revenge for the whole conveyor belt thing, instead of going the hurtful-word route. I leaned over and took one of the display diapers, holding it up in front of Rotom's screen. His shrunken eye expression told me he was a bit surprised by what I was doing.
"You mean THIS looks comfortable?" I asked, a slight smirk to accompany it.
"Err...I suppose," Rotom confirmed, eyes darting to the side.
"Then why don't you wear one?" I asked, before my brain caught up with my words. I instantly regretted even trying to tease Rotom about this...even without his upset expression, I was aware of the reason. Thing is, I don't think he knew I WAS.
"Because I can't," Rotom confessed, giving a robotic speaker-sigh. "Like the tour said at the start, only 'qualified' Pokemon are put in the Index. That means having a biological body of sorts, and being able to wear one in the first place. Rotom don't qualify for either."
I grimaced. I kind of got that. As much as people may want some Pokemon in diapers, for some reason or another, sometimes it doesn't work out.
I heard once in the news that Poke-Poofs tried diapers for the Wailord of some fisher near the docks, but they recalled the idea because the amount of material to make ONE Wailord diaper was equal to about ten or so for others. Since it was difficult for a Wailord to be a 'community Pokemon' of sorts, the media and public were quite accepting of this reluctance from the company.
Of course that was one example, but there are others. Rotom, though, was able to speak about his envy. Being a Pokemon working at a diaper company, where it's creed was using said diapers as a bridge between human and Pokemon, and being unable to enjoy it's product yourself, as a Pokemon, was probably depressing.
I rose a brow, suddenly understanding something. "Is...that why Jemma was upset with getting you? Are some Rotom...envious like you are?"
"E-envious?" Rotom questioned, screen fizzing a bit in confusion.
"That's it isn't it? The mess ups with the conveyor, trying harder than you needed to..."
I watched Rotom's eyes droop off to a corner of the screen, rise slightly, then fall. Yep, I hit the nail with the hammer on that one. Suddenly I felt more bad about getting mad at him for the slip-ups and trying to tease him. Dang it. Why do some things turn out this way? I figure things out too late, think the wrong things too early, and end up regretting my actions at the end...
"You're an observant, caring human aren't you?"
I didn't look up for a full five seconds. "W-wha?" I questioned, surprised at what he had just said. On screen, Rotom's face had perked up a little bit.
"I've done this tour around four times now, sometimes by request so I could see humans and Pokemon together like the company says," he told me. "But, this is the first time I've done it with just one person. One without a Pokemon no less."
I grimaced at that mention, but Rotom continued on quickly before the face stuck.
"I guess that's how you noticed huh? Everybody else was so focused on themselves or their Pokemon that they forgot about me. It was more personal this time...but I don't think that's all it is..."
I looked up at the screen again, seeing Rotom's eyes looking me over. "It's more...you. You seem to be trying to figure something out too. That's how you knew the same was for me too right?"
"I guess," I admitted. I didn't know myself, but Rotom made sense. I guess depression recognizes depression.
"Hm hm," Rotom chuckled. "It's true, like other Pokemon, I won't be able to experience what you have in your hand there. It's just the way it is. But...I'm glad to have met someone who took even a moment to understand how I feel."
"I guess," I repeated, shrugging, running a thumb on the plastic layer of the diaper in my hands. "I mean, trying to kill me with a conveyor belt aside, I did enjoy your tour Rotom," I said, looking up and trying my best to put a smile on.
"Thank you! I did do good didn't I..." Rotom replied, drifting off for a moment of silence. "Hey...how about you coming around for another one sometime?"
"Again?"
"Yes, but---" Rotom began, eyes drifting down to the diaper in my hand. "The next time you do, I want to see one of those comfy things around YOUR Pokemon ok?"
"Mine?" I asked, squeezing the garment in my hands.
"Yeah. A kid who takes the time to feel for a non-pamperable Pokemon like me certainly will find the right one for him."
I stared at the diaper in my hands in shock a little. Weird. I've heard people say something like that before. Teachers, Center workers, occasional seemingly-well-intentioned passersby...but this was the first time I've heard it from a Pokemon. Strange...it seemed to resonate more clearly to me than all the others.
I heard a crackling noise, and saw my fingers and the top of the diaper glow a bit, making me look up. Floating in front of me was Rotom, having emerged from the screen, smiling at me. After a moment, I returned it, moving a strand of purple hair from my eyes that lifted from the proximity static cling.
"Thanks Rotom. I'll...try to take another one when I...when I have a partner."
Rotom swayed in the air with trails of electricity following, still smiling. Right, he couldn't speak outside machines. Then again, maybe he felt he didn't have to speak. It was a moment of feelings rather than speech.
After a moment of staying there, staying in the electric charged air of Rotom's presence, he cocked his body to the side and seemed to point with electric strands toward the exit.
Right, there was more to do today. I already felt informally and emotionally drained a bit, but I slowly got better as I walked beside Rotom toward the exit, with a diaper in my hand that we both, it seemed, hoped would one day wrapped around a Pokemon of my own...
...whomever that...could be...
Well...lackluster views, dismal favorites, and not very enthusiastic comments...but eh, that was kind of expected. Oh well.
Anyway, I guess I'll still post this chapter since it took a lot of work and means a lot to me. For it, we get a tour of how Poke Poofs are made, the diaper brand involved heavily in the series. I actually took the time and effort to show how this process is done, and in a way of groups working together toward a purpose, so it's actually something I'm a bit proud of being the first to detail in.
Chapter 6 Dealing in Diapers
"...you're late."
We had been standing in this exceptionally long hallway for about three minutes now. We had passed a few signs pointing the way toward the 'tour track' as it were, but I had mostly concentrated on keeping up with Jemma. She seemed to concentrate more on her tablet and earpiece than me, yet she seemed quite aware of her surroundings that we had got to our destination rather swiftly.
The hall we were in extended pretty far. White and gray colors made it mostly non-descript color-wise, but I did see the conveyor belt on the floor that reminded me of those ones I'd seen in airports in modern movies. From the look of some of the scuff marks, it seemed like it was a one-way belt. Against the right wall was a walking path with occasional silver handholds, the spaces between, I guess, were left open so people could get on and off the conveyor at their convenience. The left wall was inter-spaced with large rectangular window shutters, which were closed for the moment. I guess whatever you were suppose to see on the tour, gliding on the belt, was on the other side. Below there was a long tube that went along the wall, and at the end, closest to me, was what looked to be some kind of rectangular screen with round speakers hooked to it.
I had just finished inspect of the hall when Jemma spoke, and I heard a buzz noise behind me.
"Gah," I said, mildly startled, to see a Rotom beaming at me. Honestly, I guess the lack of anything exciting in the past few minutes had muted my surprise.
"Monitor Sixteen..." Jemma commented, half-way out the door we had come from. I was unsure what she meant by that, till I watched the Rotom move past me and suddenly merged itself with the screen hooked to the right wall tube. Within seconds, a squished version of the Rotom's face showed up on the screen.
"Welcome to the tour!" a monotone voice sounded from the speakers. That made me start, after all, this was the first Rotom I've heard speak before.
"I'll see you at the end..." Jemma said rather unenthusiastically behind me. I was going to respond, but heard the door soft-close before I turned my head. So...my focus returned to the Rotom. Or, the Rotom face...screen...thingy.
"Oooh! Special guest! Special guest!" the Rotom stated rather happily, the face on the screen bouncing up and down.
"Special...guest?" I repeated, unsure how to take that.
"Never toured for one person before!" the Rotom explained, it's face shrinking to half the screen, the other half showing a bunch of human silhouettes that quickly faded away till there was one left. "Nope! Never one! Oh, is there just one? Do you have a Ghost Pokemon with you? They generally don't wear our product. Is that your partner?"
"I..."
I was a bit confused. This Rotom's enthusiasm was a little infectious. But the partner comment brought me down again. That's right...people probably took these tours with their Pokemon too. It's rare to see a person, except maybe mostly young kids, without one. I would have stayed a little in that depressing thought, that I had still not found my own, till I remembered I hadn't seen Jemma with one. Did SHE have a Pokemon somewhere?
"Uh, hello? Are my speakers broken?" the Rotom commented, a question mark appearing on the screen. "I didn't hear a response. Testing for problems. Beep...BEep...BEEp...BEEP---!!"
"S-stop! I can hear you, I didn't say anything!" I said quickly and clearly, realizing that the Rotom was increasing the volume of it's test-beeps with each one.
"Oh, weird. Not much of a talker?"
"Can...can we please start the tour...thing?" I asked the screen, grimacing. I really just wanted to move away from the whole 'partner Pokemon' thing right now.
"The what?"
"The...tour," I told the screen, raising a brow. "The...thing you're suppose to do?"
"I'm doing a tour?"
"Yes, of the Poke-Po---"
"Oh! Right! THAT!"
I...took a step back from the screen. I've seen a movie where an actual machine exploded due to complex problems. I am not taking a chance and ending up like that scientist dude...
"Lets see," the Rotom eventually said, calming my initial fear of an explosive start to my day. "Accessing tour flash cards. Umm....uh heuh...yep...ok...who made this? Ah I'll skim it."
It was really weird, hearing a monotone 'clearing of the throat' noise...considering Rotom didn't have a throat in either the forms I've seen it in. Eventually though, I looked to my side to see the conveyor belt starting up. The scruff on it let me see that it was moving at a leisurely pace, nowhere near anything that would match exercise equipment.
I looked up as I heard a small swooshing noise to see that the Rotom-screen was starting to move just as leisurely down the tube it was attached to. Apparently, the tube was it's way of conveyance to keep up with tour guests. It got about two feet before it suddenly zipped back to where it started. I saw the Rotom eyes swish to my direction in particular.
"Umm...step on the conveyor please?"
"Oh, I didn't know I...ok."
I stepped onto the conveyor, allowing it to slowly glide me right-ward. At the same time, the Rotom-screen followed. Suddenly from speakers somewhere in the ceiling, I started hearing a kind of tune. It was kind of like elevator music, or whatever kind of music people call 'elevator music' that is. Whatever it was, it was a little upbeat, almost whimsical, as if to try and draw people into some kind of commercial pitch. Made sense I guess, it WAS a tour that was basically a much more personal advertisement of Poke-Poofs.
"Welcome to the Poke-Poofs production experience!" the Rotom exclaimed happily, his screen-face bouncing to the beat of the music as we drifted. "In this part of the tour of our fabulous company, we will show you fine people and Pokemon how we make our critically acclaimed diapers!"
"Production experience?" I questioned softly. I guess there were more parts to the tour than I thought.
"Here, you will see most of the process to how we make our most important product! The padding right on the backsides of your dearly beloved Pokemon!" the Rotom explained. "Oh...right."
I grimaced slightly. Yeah...just me Rotom...just...me.
"Ahem! Anyway! Making this amazing product is a labor of love by human AND Pokemon hands! Or claws, or leaves, or insert word here..."
That got me a slight smile.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and Pokemon of all types! We introduce you to some of our hard-working staff that help keep Poke-Poofs churning out the greatest padding on the planet!" Rotom exclaimed, images of human and Pokemon figures on the screen holding hands with a diaper design in the middle.
"...whoops, was a little slow there. Adjusting."
"Adjus---WHOA!"
We were about half-way through the first rectangular set of shutters by this point. Apparently, that was a little further than we were suppose to be. On instant, the conveyor belt and the Rotom-screen shifted like a switch left-ward a few feet, nearly tossing me off my own. I grabbed one of the handholds behind me, staying where I was for a moment, glaring at the Rotom for the lack of tact.
"Sorry about that!"
"It's...fine," I eventually said, holding back more aggressive words. This Rotom was trying his best...right? I mean, it seemed from the start that this wasn't his regular job. Or...maybe it was. It was kind of hard to consider, since this was a talking Pokemon and all.
I still had a light touch on the handrails as the first of the window shutters opened rather quietly. Beyond was what looked to be a large room with...was that a...jungle gym?
"Poke-Poofs diapers haven't always begun at the manufacturing stage," Rotom continued on as the shutters continued to open. "There are over eight hundred different types of Pokemon know in the world, but there may yet be even MORE that have remained undiscovered. To ensure the pinnacle of performance for Poke-Poofs' product, we maintain.an Index of Berryton's various Pokemon that allows us to make custom-designed diapers for each species!"
The shutters for the first window locked into the ceiling, and I could see fully into the next room. It looked like a playground. There was the jungle gym I saw earlier, but also a slide, swing set, small pool, and various other things you could find at a neighborhood park. Above it, I saw various hanging hoops, perches, and acrobatic tight wires. That portion dominated the room, but on the left side, behind a glass wall, looked to be a room with exercise equipment, from weights to those walking machines and peddle bikes. Weird place...half playground, half gym? I was still trying to figure it out, thinking I spotted some pink blob behind a bicycle machine, before Rotom started talking again.
"The room you see here is our Model Data Chamber!" Rotom started up, showing different pictures that I half-paid attention to. "Odds are, you may not be seeing much right now, but when Poke-Poofs HQ is informed of a qualifying Pokemon in Berryton not yet in our Index, you might see it in this room!"
I became more thorough in my observations for such a Pokemon.
"Currently...there is not."
Wait, what? I thought I saw...?
"Here in the MDC, Poke-Poof scientists and engineers observe newcomer Pokemon in various activities, mostly common to their natural behavior. These stress tests in activity and movement are collected and used to develop the most customized diaper for that Pokemon species, made perfectly for their body and quirks!"
I looked up from Rotom's image of pixel-Pokemon wearing white and exercising to look back into the room. Stress tests? Observation? Wow, I didn't think about how the custom-species variant of Poke-Poofs were made...but it seems like quite process.
"However, you may be surprised to note that while our regular variety of diaper, of which you can find in your local PokeMart or Center, and fit most Pokemon, is not what we use here to determine our custom-variants."
I made a face, looking down at Rotom, who was grinning border-border on the screen. He seemed literally quite cheeky about being in the know of this fact.
"Nope. In fact, it's thanks to our Morphic Model Team!"
"Morphic Model T---gah!"
I stepped back as a pink blob plopped against the window...and...smiled at me.
"Oooh! Seems one of them decided hello! Let's all say 'Hello Ditto'!" Rotom announced, and to add to the effect, he seemed to have called up an audio cue of canned laughter for the enjoyment of the rest of the tourists. Oh right, it's just me. Thanks Rotom...
I decided not to be annoyed too much though, prodding the glass as I watched the Ditto slowly slipping down the other side of the window. Honestly, I hadn't seen a Ditto in person before, or at least, I think I haven't. Like Rotom, they were an oddity, a Pokemon capable of transforming into...anything I think. Not sure if it was just limited to Pokemon. It was actually kind of interesting, at least I thought, how such a simple looking Pokemon could form itself to be so many other things.
"We can't forget our most important members of the MDC staff, the Morphic Model Team, made entirely up of Ditto!" Rotom continued, looking upward toward the window. "Simply watching a Pokemon's performance is not enough to determine how to design it's customized diaper-wares. Our Model Team goes the extra mile, even more than that literally, to create the finest diaper for every Pokemon Poke-Poofs serve!"
I raised a brow at that, wondering how Dittos helped with that. Then, I noticed, as the Ditto was sliding down, still with a smile, there was some sort of shimmer to it. As some of the lights in the room reflected off it, I noticed that there was something...off.
"It's all very technical of course," Rotom explained. "But the technology that helps make these particular products is similar to that in your favorite movies of the recent times!"
"Really?" I said out loud, clearing my throat and looking around...before I remembered I was alone.
"That's right!" Rotom answered, making me feel a little better about my forgetfulness, brief as it was. "You see, for this process, our Ditto team is fitted with special meshes filled with sensors similar to that of motion-capture technology!"
Oh! THAT'S what that was. Yes, I could see now, the Ditto had a kind of...extra layer on it, kind of translucent, made in hexagon patterns. But...why would they put those meshes on the Ditto and not on the Pokemon they're suppose to...?
"It all begins when a new Pokemon arrives to help us perform a custom-fitting procedure. Of course, we begin this process depending on the Pokemon themselves, as it is in the best interest for all parties that they were recently changed."
The canned laughter came up again, and I had to smile at it. I suppose that's true. If you wanted to bring a Pokemon to a doctor or such, most people try to do so after getting them into fresh diapers for formality, and decency sake.
"Although, this is more to the benefit of our Morphic Model Team."
What?
"After a showering process, the new Pokemon is met with one of our Dittos, who proceed to transform around them into a pseudo-diaper."
"Wait...wha?"
Rotom chuckled in robotic tones, seeming to watch along with me as the Ditto from the window starting moving about the MDC room. "That's right. A to-be-indexed Pokemon is not brought to the MDC in normal padding, but wearing a transformed Ditto-Diaper."
"Oh...wow," I mouthed, a bit surprised at that. First, Dittos transforming into fake-diapers? But then being WORN by Pokemon? That seemed a little...
"Some of you may find this quite strange, but we at Poke-Poofs ensure you of this necessity," Rotom continued. "Our Ditto staff are committed to producing the most accurate diaper for each and every Pokemon species, and to do this, they act as such a diaper for the duration of the tests."
On the screen, I saw a Ditto transforming into a pixel-diaper and layering over another Pokemon. Looked to be a Charmander.
"With the fitted Ditto-Diaper, the new Pokemon interacts with the various equipment in the MDC. Each piece tests various elements of a Pokemon's form, movement, and strain, with each of these changes, and more, being measured by the meshes that our Ditto have equipped."
Oh, so that's why they're wearing them?
"But that's not all. Like any Ditto, our team not only transform into objects, but can alter and adjust their current form for maximum performance. So, while the Pokemon being tested is performing a variety of activities, and our scientists and engineers collect data from the special meshes, our diaper-Ditto makes slight adjustments to create the optimum design for a custom-diaper of the Pokemon's species."
I watched some man in a blue suit open a doorway in the room, smiling at the Ditto on the floor, letting it slip into the hallway with him before shutting it. Apparently the Ditto may have snuck into the room or something...
"Wow, that's a lot," I said out loud, wishing I could have actually see what Rotom was describing for myself. Instead, looked like this first shutter was closing, the end of that portion of the tour.
"You all must be quite in awe of just how much work goes into just the BEGINNING of a Poke-Poofs custom-brand diaper!" Rotom noted happily, almost as if he himself could be smug about that fact and was looking for praise. "That is just how dedicated our staff, human and Pokemon alike, are to our company creed of bringing our kinds together."
I let Rotom go on for awhile, letting my own thoughts on this process be the forefront for now. Wow, so they use Ditto, transformed as diapers, to basically making the framework for how they make the actual diapers for every kind of Pokemon? Have to admit, that DOES seem kind of personal, with the Ditto so...close like that. Then again...diapers WERE personal after all. I always knew Poke-Poofs was important economy-wise, and for some relationship between humans and Pokemon, but I didn't imagine just how dedicated Poke-Poofs actually was.
"---thank you, don't forget to tip your Rotom hehehe!"
I shook my head out of my thoughts, realizing the tour was just starting, looking up as the next window shutter.
"Oh, next bit...hm hm hm...do do do....ah! Here we are! Whoops, went a little further again."
"Wait wha---oh!"
I'm glad I had a close grip on the handrail.
"Ro...tom," I mumbled as the conveyor stopped shifting again.
"Sorry! Next bit up!"
That was a little quick of an apology.
"Ahem! So, whether it be our common or type brands, or our custom-fitted variety, the creation of a single diaper is a many step process, more than you may think. But, thanks to our dedicated staff, we manage to supply the needs of every Pokemon in the city!"
I steadied myself against the railing and watched as the next window shutter opened, and this time, I saw much more movement behind it.
"Poke Poofs diapers are made in a similar fashion to regular ones, albiet with the specialty of Pokemon in mind! The first layer to these fine products is a thin soft plastic made for the comfort and ease of a Pokemon's partner, caretaker, or friend. The second layer is a plastic barrier to help hold the more...solid products any change would be aware of."
Canned laughter again. I didn't smile this time. The cost of the conveyor belt thing. Still I listened, watching the shutter open.
"Of course, aside from the practical application of these layers, these are diapers for Pokemon. Whether it be from personal activity or roughhousing, Poke Poofs products are aware that most Pokemon are prone to cause more stress to their padding than a human. As such, we treat our plastic covers..."
I saw what looked to be a production line like in any major factory. However, aside from machines, I saw humans and Pokemon behind it. Sitting comfortably on the left in a cushioned chair, wearing, what else, a Poke-Poof diaper, was a bunny-looking Pokemon with a kind of furry scarf. A woman behind the Pokemon was slowly petting it's white fur, producing a clearly contented look on the Pokemon's face, while a man in front was holding a vial in his hands, half filled with some kind of clear liquid.
"The pampered, in more ways than one---" Rotom continued, canned laughter following. "---is a Cinccino! One of several that help us with every diaper Poke-Poofs creates. While I'm sure you all admire it's white furry fluffyness---"
Not really...wait...did Rotom? Was it blushing on the screen?
"---erm, while you might admire it, we don't use it in the way you think. In actuality, it's the oil that Cinccino produces."
"Oil huh?" I wondered out loud, figuring that was what was in the vial the man was holding. Honestly, the surprise of the first section of the tour was really getting me interested.
"That's right!" Rotom exclaimed. "You see, Cinccino's fur oil is actually a protective secretion that helps protect it's body. I other words, this oil repels attacks and damage!"
Through the window, I saw the man finish with the vial in his hand, giving a small pat to Cinccino before turning to what looked to be a large vat nearby. From where I was, I couldn't see what was inside much, but whatever it was seemed to be slowly spinning from within. Some kind of mixer? Whatever it was, the man slowly turned the vial upside down, the oil spilling into the vat's contents.
"Our plastic production is similar to normal diapers, however, to accommodate for Pokemon, we treat our plastic with Cinccino oil," Rotom continued on as I watched the application process. "Creating the plastic layers is the same process as it normally would be done, but by mixing in Cinccino oil, our plastic is supremely resistant to tearing, piercing, and just about any form of damage it can sustain from ANY source, human or Pokemon. Which means your playful Sandslashs won't be tearing up each others Poke-Poof brand diapers any time soon if they fight over that last slice of pizza!"
Rotom loved that canned-laughter filter. Or...then again, maybe he was doing it for my benefit. I did get a smile at that comment, picturing that would probably be a fight me and my Pokemon, whatever it could have been, might have. I was still thinking about both things when the shutter started closing and we were moving on.
"That's right folks. I'm sure even Trainers would be quite surprised at how 'battle-ready' our diapers are!"
The laughter was this time accompanied by my own little chuckle. Ok, that was funny. A 'battle diaper' ha...yeah, Trainers would find that quite preposterous. Still, it was pretty cool to know just HOW resistant Poke-Poof diapers were. No wonder they didn't rip up or leak...
Rotom was still making jokes as we started coming up to the third window...and still was when we were going through it.
"Nope nope nope, getting off the belt," I said really quickly before Rotom looked like he was about to say 'oops". My intuition served me well as the conveyor belt shifted back once again. From his position, the Rotom's screen eyes dipped down to me with a slightly hesitant smile. After a moment, I rolled both my hands, signaling him to just continue. I could stand to walk. I started a slow walk to the next section, stopping to wait for Rotom to catch up.
"Ahem. Lets move on to the 'bulk' of our product shall we?" Rotom continued as the third window started opening. "The third, fourth, and fifth layers of a Poke-Poof diaper is the most important step, with each layer acting together for the service of what said-diaper is for."
It was another production line, but there were many more people and Pokemon. There was a pen in one section, filled with what looked to be floating cotton bundles. Another had a bunch of similar-looking bundles running about chasing each other, leaving bits of white behind as they did so. There was also two orangish Pokemon, both diapered up, that were dashing about the whole area, seeming to encourage the others.
"While some of a Poke-Poof diaper is manufactured with synthetic materials, such as absorbent polymers in the cores---" Rotom went on, suddenly being technical. Guess he was going on-script for this bit. "---a material is needed to help 'move things along' and add to both the absorbancy and comfort of each Pokemon being serviced. The most common, and plentiful, of course, is cotton. Which is produced naturally and harmlessly by our playful Cottonee and Whimsicott divisions!"
I looked between the Pokemon, soon figuring out which was which thanks to quick descriptors on Rotom's screen. This was simple to take in, but it still seemed admirable. Pokemon helped make the most important bit of diapers for other Pokemon. And from the looks of things, they were having fun doing it.
"Of course, we need plenty of this material for production, so to help encourage our cotton-team is the victory Pokemon, Victini!"
Oh, so that's who the two orange fellows with huge V-shaped ears were.
"We tend to try and have Victini encourage our staff whenever possibly to improve efficiency. Their boundless energy can sometimes be the pick-me-up our crews need for a quota!"
Huh, a victory Pokemon huh? Boundless energy? I could use some of that. I thought I could feel some of it right now, but I guess it might be a proximity thing. Wonder if that was the type of Pokemon for me. One that always seemed happy...is that what I needed?
I was already walking when I realized we had come to the next to last window. Wow, had I been deep in thought there a moment ago?
"So, we have the scaffolding, the protection, and the fluff for our diapers. What's next? Can anybody tell me?" Rotom asked, eyes darting about. I started to consider the question for a moment. "...anybody?"
Honestly, I had no idea. I decided to watch the next shutter start to open.
"H-here's a hint!" Rotom exclaimed, seemingly worried that nobody (me) wasn't getting it. "It's what helps keep a Poke-Poof fit and snug on your Pokemon!"
"You mean...the tapes?" I answered, a little confused. There was a process with THOSE too!?
"That's right!" Rotom announced, with some kind of relief.
The shutter opened to reveal another production line. There were a lot of leafy-caterpillar-like Pokemon---not Caterpie, I knew that much---along with a few humans. One was seemingly asleep in the corner with it's leafy-top covering it's face, while others were working with the human employees on small rectangular pieces, lots of them in different sizes. The people used small machines to layer pieces on top of each other while the Pokemon sprayed portions of it with some kind of sticky thread.
"Accessibility and personal preference on comfort is important, but so is making sure a Pokemon's droopy diaper doesn't fall off," Rotom commented. This time it was his own robotic laughter that came from the speakers. I gave him an almost pitiful smile, but he continued on anyway. I did find the image humorous though, with any Pokemon, not just the one I didn't have...
"From the MDC process, we learn just how large the tapes are needed for each type of diaper. We aim to maintain the classic one-per-hip instance, with an additional to accompany holes for tails and similar appendages. The tapes themselves are easily made with the help of machines---like me!---but it's the special adhesive, produced by our Sewaddle helpers, that's important."
So that's what they were, right. I watched as one of the Sewaddles shift it's way along beside the product line, as if judging the quality of the tape it had helped thread a few seconds ago.
"We at Poke-Poofs want to make sure that every diaper tape is able to securely and comfortably adhere itself and endure any rigorous activity that would be performed by any type of Pokemon so that it doesn't snip off for any reason other than a desired change. However, at the same time, we want to allow younger or inexperienced practitioners of padded-Pokemon care to fix mistakes or make adjustments if need be. As such, the combination of our Sewaddle and synthetic materials allow Poke-Poofs to be untaped and retaped multiple times without wear and tear."
"Huh," I mumbled. I had heard about that, but hadn't really thought about how important that could be. Sure, I suppose if you didn't have much diapering experience, or if it was a new Pokemon, if you incorrectly taped it on, you could have ripped the diaper up trying to untape and fix it. Wow, Poke-Poofs even thought of that too...
"The combination of Sewaddle thread and synthetics allowed us to have a substance that sticks firmly when attached to tape-landing zones, but constructed in such a way that exposure to air allows a peel-off without damage to tape or diaper. This is why there are lose little extra bits on diaper tapes that don't have adhesive are there, so you yourself can unknowingly start a de-taping process to make adjustments without regret!"
I started moving again as it seems we were to go to the last window. The look on my face was one of contemplation for all this information, but I didn't comment out loud on it, we were about to finish after all. Still, I will say, wish I had a notebook or something...
"A frame, plastic, core, and tape. We have what we need to make our Poke-Poof diapers! While we do use a mechanical process as well for mass-production, we still have talented Pokemon at the forefront that bring all these materials together to form Poke-Poofs!"
The last shutter opened to reveal a line of thin leafy Pokemon similar in color to the Sewaddle, though they were all focused on the task before them, operating in an admirably efficient fashion. One used it's arm cutters to slice off an overhanging row of hourglass-shaped pieces of cloth, while another used sticky silk to bind plastic and fluff layers, and a third attached diaper tapes with eerily precise speed.
"Meet our Leavanny," Rotom informed. "These Pokemon rival Chansey in their helpful nature toward other Pokemon, as well as being exceptionally skillful at creating clothing. It is because of this that our Leavanny are the ideal Pokemon for placing all the pieces you have seen so far together to create a Poke-Poofs diaper! Of course, there is also a phase for all the designs of our various diapers, but that intensive process is too extensive for current tours, our apologies."
I was a little mesmerized, I admit, at how efficient these Leavanny were. Even when looking away toward each other, as if they were gossiping like women at a salon, they worked their arms and sticky silk autonomously. I guess they must have been at this a long time. Maybe they were thinking of which kind of Pokemon would wear the diaper they had just completed. Must be nice to enjoy your work...
"Of course, it's our staff and all these Pokemon that make Poke-Poofs as a whole possible," Rotom announced as the shutter started to come down. "We hope you all have a better grasp at all the work that goes into those comfortable pieces of padding your Pokemon all wear in our precious city. And, like you've all seen the pieces that help to make our brands possible, we hope you start to see the pieces that make connections between Pokemon and humans possible as well."
I stopped at the end of the conveyor, seeing the hallway going off to the side a bit to where I guess the exit was. I waited for a moment though, waiting for Rotom to catch up. Even though he had a few bugs loose...I couldn't help but be a little courteous. Actually, as I started to see his screen, I saw little teardrops under his screen-eyes, as if what he was saying was actually getting him emotional, though his voice wasn't betraying it.
"We hope you all enjoyed the Poke-Poof's Production Experience portion of your tour! Please, do take a free sample from our nearby display! If it doesn't fit your Pokemon, take one anyway and give it to someone who could use it!"
I had been watching the emotion on Rotom's screen more than my surroundings, so I failed to notice the little table at the end of the hallway. Before a three-sided poster board featuring a diapered Charizard, Feraligatr, and Sceptile, each posing rather coolly in their padding, was a dwindle stack of Poke-Poofs diapers. They looked almost identical to how the Center diapers were, but the designs were different, with colored red, blue, and green circles and a little star design with 'Poof Tours' printing on it. I guess this was a simple, but exclusive design that you only got going through the tour.
I took a step back from my observations. I didn't have a Pokemon to use it for, so I didn't need to---
"Umm...did you take one?" I heard Rotom asked. I stepped back again so Rotom could see me from his screen face.
"I...don't have a Pokemon with me. Oh, I mean, with me as in..." I trailed off, not wanting to insinuate that Rotom WASN'T a Pokemon.
"Oh, but that's ok! As said, you can give it someone else who could use it!"
"Like...who?" I found myself asking.
"Well isn't that a point of the diapers?" Rotom suddenly asked.
"What?"
"To make connections between Pokemon and humans? Thought I heard that somewhere...was it in the notes..." Rotom mumbled, which was weird in monotone.
"Well, I guess so," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Yeah, those types are so lucky they get to wear them," Rottom commented offhandedly, his eyes darting further on the screen from me. "Some of us don't get it too much because we don't need'em or...can't."
I raised a brow. My 'can't do something' sense was tingling. It was usually something that was brought up for myself as part of a depression streak. But for some reason it seemed to kick in for Pokemon too.
"Are you...jealous?" I decided to chase asking.
"W-what?" Rotom commented, an exclamation mark appearing on his screen for a moment. "Why would I be jealous? That whole biological stuff seems like such a hassle."
"Uh huh..."
"I mean, it LOOKS comfortable, doesn't MEAN it's..."
I smirked a little. Maybe this was a proper revenge for the whole conveyor belt thing, instead of going the hurtful-word route. I leaned over and took one of the display diapers, holding it up in front of Rotom's screen. His shrunken eye expression told me he was a bit surprised by what I was doing.
"You mean THIS looks comfortable?" I asked, a slight smirk to accompany it.
"Err...I suppose," Rotom confirmed, eyes darting to the side.
"Then why don't you wear one?" I asked, before my brain caught up with my words. I instantly regretted even trying to tease Rotom about this...even without his upset expression, I was aware of the reason. Thing is, I don't think he knew I WAS.
"Because I can't," Rotom confessed, giving a robotic speaker-sigh. "Like the tour said at the start, only 'qualified' Pokemon are put in the Index. That means having a biological body of sorts, and being able to wear one in the first place. Rotom don't qualify for either."
I grimaced. I kind of got that. As much as people may want some Pokemon in diapers, for some reason or another, sometimes it doesn't work out.
I heard once in the news that Poke-Poofs tried diapers for the Wailord of some fisher near the docks, but they recalled the idea because the amount of material to make ONE Wailord diaper was equal to about ten or so for others. Since it was difficult for a Wailord to be a 'community Pokemon' of sorts, the media and public were quite accepting of this reluctance from the company.
Of course that was one example, but there are others. Rotom, though, was able to speak about his envy. Being a Pokemon working at a diaper company, where it's creed was using said diapers as a bridge between human and Pokemon, and being unable to enjoy it's product yourself, as a Pokemon, was probably depressing.
I rose a brow, suddenly understanding something. "Is...that why Jemma was upset with getting you? Are some Rotom...envious like you are?"
"E-envious?" Rotom questioned, screen fizzing a bit in confusion.
"That's it isn't it? The mess ups with the conveyor, trying harder than you needed to..."
I watched Rotom's eyes droop off to a corner of the screen, rise slightly, then fall. Yep, I hit the nail with the hammer on that one. Suddenly I felt more bad about getting mad at him for the slip-ups and trying to tease him. Dang it. Why do some things turn out this way? I figure things out too late, think the wrong things too early, and end up regretting my actions at the end...
"You're an observant, caring human aren't you?"
I didn't look up for a full five seconds. "W-wha?" I questioned, surprised at what he had just said. On screen, Rotom's face had perked up a little bit.
"I've done this tour around four times now, sometimes by request so I could see humans and Pokemon together like the company says," he told me. "But, this is the first time I've done it with just one person. One without a Pokemon no less."
I grimaced at that mention, but Rotom continued on quickly before the face stuck.
"I guess that's how you noticed huh? Everybody else was so focused on themselves or their Pokemon that they forgot about me. It was more personal this time...but I don't think that's all it is..."
I looked up at the screen again, seeing Rotom's eyes looking me over. "It's more...you. You seem to be trying to figure something out too. That's how you knew the same was for me too right?"
"I guess," I admitted. I didn't know myself, but Rotom made sense. I guess depression recognizes depression.
"Hm hm," Rotom chuckled. "It's true, like other Pokemon, I won't be able to experience what you have in your hand there. It's just the way it is. But...I'm glad to have met someone who took even a moment to understand how I feel."
"I guess," I repeated, shrugging, running a thumb on the plastic layer of the diaper in my hands. "I mean, trying to kill me with a conveyor belt aside, I did enjoy your tour Rotom," I said, looking up and trying my best to put a smile on.
"Thank you! I did do good didn't I..." Rotom replied, drifting off for a moment of silence. "Hey...how about you coming around for another one sometime?"
"Again?"
"Yes, but---" Rotom began, eyes drifting down to the diaper in my hand. "The next time you do, I want to see one of those comfy things around YOUR Pokemon ok?"
"Mine?" I asked, squeezing the garment in my hands.
"Yeah. A kid who takes the time to feel for a non-pamperable Pokemon like me certainly will find the right one for him."
I stared at the diaper in my hands in shock a little. Weird. I've heard people say something like that before. Teachers, Center workers, occasional seemingly-well-intentioned passersby...but this was the first time I've heard it from a Pokemon. Strange...it seemed to resonate more clearly to me than all the others.
I heard a crackling noise, and saw my fingers and the top of the diaper glow a bit, making me look up. Floating in front of me was Rotom, having emerged from the screen, smiling at me. After a moment, I returned it, moving a strand of purple hair from my eyes that lifted from the proximity static cling.
"Thanks Rotom. I'll...try to take another one when I...when I have a partner."
Rotom swayed in the air with trails of electricity following, still smiling. Right, he couldn't speak outside machines. Then again, maybe he felt he didn't have to speak. It was a moment of feelings rather than speech.
After a moment of staying there, staying in the electric charged air of Rotom's presence, he cocked his body to the side and seemed to point with electric strands toward the exit.
Right, there was more to do today. I already felt informally and emotionally drained a bit, but I slowly got better as I walked beside Rotom toward the exit, with a diaper in my hand that we both, it seemed, hoped would one day wrapped around a Pokemon of my own...
...whomever that...could be...
Category All / All
Species Pokemon
Gender Any
Size 294 x 234px
I like the Rotom's personality. I think he's hiding some pain behind his peppy facade.
You did a great job with this one! Rotom’s personality came across quite well, I think. Also I’m only now realizing your name is Reviewatar, and not Reviewater, as my brain has been so helpfully filling in for... honestly I don’t wanna know how long xD
Comments