grapecape | 006; video/text

006; video/text

[Today's broadcast comes from the interior of the Goldenrod Breeding Center House, where Ondorus has settled himself down in the living room. The fire is crackling warmly in the hearth, and a Luxray is rolling slowly on the ground in front of it, soaking up the heat from all angles like a giant kitty rotisserie.

'Tis the season.]

Winter is the cold month of the year. It belongs to the blue spirit and the element of water, and it masters rare minerals and hardy plants. It favors mountains and highlands, and shies away from the tropics and other places ruled by summer.

It also seems to be a time for camaraderie and goodwill, in Johto and elsewhere. A time of harsh conditions, reminding us how we depend on and are depended upon by our fellow creatures - to share what we have, and reconnect with our community.

[...he sounds (and sort of looks) a little sniffly. Three guesses who spent too much time out in the snow this week?]

I have two things to ask. First, there are a number of Pokemon in the Goldenrod Foster Home at this time; Pokemon whose trainers have departed from Johto, leaving them here with the hope that another trainer will step up to take care of them. I encourage anyone who has the resources to care for another Pokemon to investigate the Foster Home, especially in this season of charity.

And the second. If you leave with me a name and location to deliver to and some description of your likes and dislikes where food is concerned, I'll send a small Christmas gift. You may respond privately, of course, and the gift comes entirely free of obligations.

Have a very happy holiday, everyone.

[The video ends, but the post isn't over - added on to the end is a text portion with simplified and travel-friendly versions of these recipes.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Okay. [Melody now sits before her, intent on whatever snack is on her plate.] What's the problem?

Simply that - while I have no reason to doubt what you're telling me, and indeed am inclined to believe you - I have no memory of such an occurrence, and no memory of a time when it could have taken place.

It was after he stopped that rampaging monster in the Vale. ...You do know who Micah is, right?

Of course. [But what's this about Vale?] An adventurer who frequents the settlement...he fought off the Skelefang that attacked us. Do you mean to say that he made contact with the people of Sharance?

Made contact? He lives there. Inside the Sharance tree.

[how]

And they're alright with that?

[He sounds confused, but looks happy.]

[There's a lot of silence on her end, broken only by an insistent cry from Melody, who would like to clean up the mess she made at this table, please. Raven spills a bit of her glass of water in a 'go to town' gesture.

She tilts the gear one way and another, finally narrowing her eyes at the video feed.]

You think he's a wooly.

["Of course he is."

Except that if what Ondorus knew was the entire truth, then why would this woman be implying otherwise?

So...]

....Ah.

[That's the sound of someone connecting dots that they didn't even know had existed.]

[So this is what "different times" is supposed to mean.]

He showed the villagers what he was and that...Univir weren't savages. [And that one silver-eyed dwarf who'd tried twice to attempt to flatter her by talking himself up. Most people didn't need to learn that lesson more than once.]

[give ondorus a second he's just

reeling a little

infodump hello]

That...that does sound like Micah.

[He's getting out his journals, flipping through them...skimming over his notes. Memories, worlds..."time".

His mind is whirling. Questions, reservations, emotions. Where does he start?]

Then you must be from Sharance yourself. You know me already [or] - will know me, I suppose, [this is so weird] but I don't yet know who you are.

Raven.

[It's weird, this whole situation is weird.] I make accessories.

It's an honor to meet you, Raven. [They reconcile. They reconcile. He's waited his whole life for this. Bless your little wooly self, Micah, you godsend.

No time for the accompanying uneasy thoughts. They reconcile and it doesn't end in blood.]

Is Johto treating you well so far?

['No and I want to go home.'

Except she's stuck on 'an honor to meet you' because no one has ever said that to her before.]

I guess.

And your new friend?

[show him your pokemans!]

My new- [He means the pokémon?]

Here. [She displaces the Swablu from wherever she has perched, holding her in both hands instead.]

[...she's all fluffy...]

It's a pleasure to meet you, too.

[Olivia tilts the Gear a little, peering over and into the camera upside-down. She coos appreciatively, something like "You have such beautiful wings!"]

Be sure to take care of each other.

[Take care of...each other? Melody responds in the cheerful affirmative. She intends to take care of Raven starting with making sure her face is never dirty.]

What about you? How long have you been here?

Since about...ah, that's another thing you should know. The years here are much longer. Twelve months to a year, and a season lasts three months, give or take.

That's three years - twelve months. What kind of world is this?

A very different one.

But to answer your question, I've been here about...four months, as of next week. [Yeesh, has it been that long already?]

[So about a year. For them. Raven's eyes narrow at the screen.]

Do you...like it here? [What do they think about people who are monsters?] What happened to your horn?

I do. It's not home, of course, but traveling Johto has been an incredible experience, and I don't regret the time I've spent here.

[That question was abrupt.] Ah...that's the one least pleasant aspect of Johto. It seems that everyone that arrives in the manner that you or I did is turned into a human if they were not before, and stripped of any powers that this world's humans cannot possess, if they had such.

[Raven brushes careful fingers over the tip of one ear, feeling its point. Huh. Doesn't seem to have affected her.]

So...you're a human.

As far as I can tell. My horn is gone, and my powers with it.

[Oh.

That would be...]

Sorry.

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