grapecape | 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

[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.

[Shakes his head.] What's done is done. I presume I'll be restored when I am expelled from Johto.

Edited 2012-12-31 16:06 (UTC)

Do you think that'll be soon?

Well-

[There's a sudden commotion from much closer to the Gear, and the camera catches Ondorus looking startled for a moment before the view jostles all over the place.]

Olivia, it's all right...!

[Sad coos.] It's possible. But I don't wish for such a thing to happen just yet. [Touched coos...] I would be disappointing a number of people here if I did.

...Yes, Olivia, of course. For as long as Johto wills it.

[Oh. She upset it. Raven looks away.]

Never mind.

No, it's-

[The camera just drops, and there's a lot of fumbling for a minute or so before it's righted. It's either propped against something or being held by someone else now, because Olivia the Xatu is currently leaning against Ondorus' back and pouting as much as a Xatu can appear to pout. Ondorus himself looks a little bit amused.]

It was a good question. By now...I'm not really sure what to think, where Johto is concerned.

But I'm causing problems for your monsters.

[Worthy of apology, is what it is. Even here she can't escape being a source of discord, huh?]

Did you ever...want to be human?

[Huh.] No. Though I can't say I've never wondered what it would be like...in a sense.

[He would never wish for the Univir to not exist, but every now and then he thinks about what life would be like if they still lived among the humans somehow...]

Edited (i've been playing too many VNs wow) 2013-01-02 15:49 (UTC)

[Then that line of conversation is officially dead, for now. Shouldn't bring it up with him anyway.]

Humans and monsters live together here and nobody thinks it should be the other way.

Indeed. [something he looks really happy about! or intensely content, at least.] The system for it is far from perfect, but it's nice to be amongst people who are so comfortable in the presence of monsters.

[Quietly, as though to herself really.] Is it any better to make them fight each other?

[nail on the head.] The fact that it's so institutionalized, and that some people treat monst- Pokemon like commodities because of it, often worries me. It seems that many Pokemon genuinely enjoy competition like that, so...hmm.

In order to travel from place to place...we don't have a choice. No weapons. [No magic, but nothing about that has clicked for her yet.] But...

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with relying on Pokemon for safe travel, so long as they're not simply being used. I know I'd gladly use my own magic to help a friend through the desert, or protect innocents from danger.

Mmh. [So, so unprepared to have this conversation as of now.]

I would fight too if I could. It's...weird not to.

And accepted as normal. I've heard things about blades in this world - that they can't be sharpened to a usable edge. It's as though the land itself discourages humans from wielding power.

[Then how do you eat your food? Raven isn't a huge meat-eater but Sherman or Colette would starve.]

Maybe it's good for them.

It doesn't seem to discourage conflict. Have you been told about Team Rocket yet?

Not a lot. ...I heard they steal monsters.

[ggghhh] Among other things. Their methods vary, but their ultimate goal seems to be gaining power and control in Johto, and their members won't hesitate to harm humans and Pokemon alike in search of it.

...try to avoid them. They're hard to identify when they're not causing trouble, but...keep it in mind.

[Ugh. Great. Instead of the human-monster conflict there's plain old human-human conflict.]

What do they want to do with their power? [Since she's already heard of monsters at least twice as large as powerless humans.]

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