002 ★ video + action [backdated 4/30]

[scourgingstars]

[video]

You were all terribly overdramatic to warn me so much about that delightful little party. Why, I haven't been to such a lively event in ages, I can scarcely wait to do it again.

[That cheerful broadcast came from...somewhere in a tree, the Pokegear perched in such a way to show Ardyn presumably sitting on a branch, a bottle in his hand. One probably hopes it's actually grape juice, for his and everyone else's sake. One is probably wrong.]

But I'm no less convinced this is my own personal hell. [Said with a smile before taking a drink from the bottle in his hand.] This ridiculous state of affairs is enough to drive me mad twice over! How do any of you tolerate this absurd humanity?

[Asking a question both rhetorical and a little weird, Ardyn rolled his eyes.]

No matter, I suppose. It's occurred to me that I forgot myself when last I spoke, and utterly failed to give a proper introduction. [He lifted the half-empty bottle slightly in a casual affectation of a toast.]

You may call me Ardyn. Ardyn Lucis Caelum is my name, and take care not to forget it, if you would.

[action; violet city]

[April 30th fell on a Friday this year, unluckily enough.]

[Unluckily, because the tree Ardyn was in gave him a good view of the city's gym--and of the gym leader himself, a man in blue with short hair in the midst of performing his scheduled falconry exhibition. He'd been hoping to just get a look at the ostensible competition in this city, but...]

[Ardyn knew immediately what the problem was, and just as swiftly decided he didn't care. Through no fault of the leader's own he had decided on sight that he just despised Falkner. And there was only one thing to do about that now that he'd made that conclusion.]

...Rakshasa. [The Zorua curled up on the branch next to him perked up, tail wagging in excitement. Ardyn hopped down from the tree, his partner following to land on his shoulder.] Let's resume training. I think we've a leader to dethrone.

[There were worse ways to spend one's birthday after one had long since stopped counting.]

level 1 • video

[necrodentia]

[ The video opens with a cheerful, excited voice issuing directions to the slowly drifting camera. It would seem that Rainer has gotten in the habit of using her starter Duskull as a cameraman. ]

No, this way, Dusky! Over here!

[ The camera pans over to show a smiling blonde woman in a wheelchair, cradling a newborn Yamask in her lap. ]

Hi, everybody! My name's Rainer, and I'm new here, but I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who's helped me get acclimated so far! I know I still have a lot to learn, but before I do, I want to say a little something about Sweet Potato here.

[ The Yamask 'mrrp's and looks up at her, looking somewhat bashful. ]

Now, Sweet Potato only just hatched today— thanks Morgan for the egg, again!— but I understand that a bunch of these little fellas were to blame for a big shindig going sideways recently. I just wanted to remind you all not to judge a book by its cover! My new Yamask is the sweetest, gentlest little creature you've ever met! She'd never hurt a fly! ...Outside of a battle, I guess... But I digress! She's so sweet, and so gentle. That's part of why her name is Sweet Potato! Just because she's a Yamask, or just because she's a ghost, please don't think that means she's out to get you or anything. I promise that's not the case.

[ Sweet Potato, for her part, looks happier to hear her trainer day such nice things about her, and she floats up to give Rainer a hug with her ghostly arms, before zooming away to join Dusky behind the camera. ]

I will admit, it's a little weird to think of a ghost hatching out of an egg, but... Oh well. I can roll with it.

[ That is definitely not the weirdest thing she's heard of when it comes to Pokemon. ]

Oh! Before I go! I need help thinking of a name for my rat— uh... Rattata. Big purple rat I caught. So far I've got Dusky the Duskull and Sweet Potato the Yamask, but I can't think of a good name for the Rattata. So I'm open to suggestions!

Thanks!

... Okay, Dusky, you can turn it off now, I'm don— [ End of video. ]

42nd Recipe [Video, Goldenrod City]

[cyan_maid]

[Jane knows there's going to continue to be a flood of "what the heck was THAT" sort of posts about Prom for a while. Really, she shares the sentiment. But this is...she's got to do something, and she's got to make it known and make it count. Let people know she's on the case, whether that gives them cause to be relieved or makes them sweat. She's in her kitchen, a stack of local newspapers off to the side and a mug of coffee in her hands.]

Good morning, everyone. I...erm, if you don't know me, that's fine, of course. My name is Jane Crocker, and I want to say something about what happened last month.

[Her delivery's a little stiff, because she is nervous. A touch nervous.]

From what I'm hearing and learning about the events in the ballroom on the night of our yearly Prom...I'm concerned. [That's a very light way to put it.] It's become more and more obvious that Team Rocket was behind the events, in a plot to rob our hosts blind, and their methods were nothing short of deplorable, as usual. I already cannot abide while they continue to hurt and terrorize the people of this world, and this just furthers my resolve.

[A pause, a deep breath. Jane's hands tighten around her mug.]

Which is why...I've decided to make my efforts to counter them more serious. I can't exactly run something like that out of my house, but as someone who's completed her challenge of the Elite Four and as a member of the Aurora League, I've been given the opportunity to open my own gym, and I've decided to take it.

[Her face brightens a bit, and the nerves seem to ease. It feels so weird to say it out loud, but once it's said, continuing feels easier.]

I've already submitted an application and design, and I know it'll take some time for it to be complete, but I will let you guys know when we're open, because I'm not going to just take challengers. I'm going to take cases.

[She reaches over, and - oh, that's a very nice hat! On her head it goes~]

I can think of no better way to give back to a world that's given me so much than by working to curb the trouble Team Rocket causes its people. So, I'll be operating as an independent investigator, and once we're open, I hope you'll pay us a visit.

[Her smile, still warm, seems to take on a touch of an edge at the end. There's sincerity in there that goes both ways: one way to those who would want to push back against Team Rocket, and another way that stares Rockets in the face and says, "Come the fuck at me".]

Ah, but, for now I'm going to stick to combing the classifieds in the paper. Build up a reputation and all that. You guys have a lovely weekend, alright?

1st ☠️ Video;

[rancorice]

[As the feed blips on, the camera shows the viewers the top of a raggedy hood, sloppily sewn together with fabric that has probably seen better days, and those days have long since been gone. It doesn't seem like this is the intent of the person behind the video, in fact they don't seem to notice at all as they prattle on.]

Dear Diary—

[uh oh]

I honestly don't know why I'm here of all places. I can't imagine that Dark Enchantress Cookie would have sent me here, yet there's no other feasible explanation! Who else has that kind of power? No one!

I know I did everything I was supposed to—sure there might have been a slip up here and there along the way—but I did way better than the others! They can only dream to measure up to me!

[There's a slight jostling of the camera as he clearly shifts a little, maybe he's taken a seat somewhere. Either way, there's some forehead in the shot now, and some tightly twisted hair that looks like dreadlocks, but not enough of it is in view to see for sure.]

It's a little funny, I'm used to having to write in a diary, but this is so much more convenient, even if I'm still not used to this weird gadget. Nothing I can't figure out!

Anyway, where was I?

...

[...]

Oh, right! I don't know how she's done it, but that's probably one of the many marvels of her frightening and formidable powers! But I gotta admit I kind of hate this! I already had my servants, I don't need these horrible...meat animals!

[Another jostle of the camera as an audible THWAP can be heard, followed by the clear chittering of a Noibat. A very agitated Noibat, at that.]

Ow—hey! I'm trying to make a very important and necessary entry for the sake of posterity, here! So cut it out! You're my servant, aren't you? You're supposed to listen to—

[And then the camera goes spinning, tumbling, and when it eventually stops, there's just the view of the sky and some far off squawking of annoyance from none other than the diary's author. It isn't he who gets the 'gear first, however, but instead the clear visage of an annoyed Noibat looms over it with a glare, before picking it up in his mouth and—]

HEY!! GET BACK HERE, OR...OR ELSE, YOU HEAR ME, BAT-CAT!?

[Looks like this diary entry is over with, even if the feed doesn't for quite a few minutes...until it (apparently) gets dropped, which is a dizzying spectacle as it tumbles and spins—then it suddenly stops, and the feed is cut.]

2nd 💀Video;

[amaure]

I do suppose half a moon is more than enough time to allow the dust to settle on that unseemly misfortune, and I am certain some—if not most—of you would feel much more at ease if I were to speak on it.

[That's how the video starts, Emet-Selch addressing the viewer immediately, his voice controlled, even, and professional. Before him are his gloved hands resting on the surface of what appears to be a wooden table, fingers interlacing, his expression the picture of reserved despondence.]

I would first like to address all of you who had fought so bravely, and were able to fend off those menaces with the fervor matching that of storied heroes. It was by your swift and precise action did we see to our victory over such unscrupulous foes, so that the event did not end in a far larger tragedy than what could have been.

For that, you have my unwavering gratitude.

[He sounds utterly and truly genuine in his thanks, though there is the slightest tinge of remorse coating his words, perhaps guilt? His expression shifts more to that proposed emotion as he continues.]

However, as some number of you may recall, I am Solus zos Galvus, the begetter of the masquerade. I ask not forgiveness for the turn that event took, for I do not expect it. I had believed with a little touch of enchantment to the masks—to blind one of sensory recognition, thus allowing naught but the heart to lead—it would stir deeper passions within us all for such a romantically inclined event, and for those less inclined towards romance, it would serve as an entertaining facet to the evening festivities.

Yet, this would likewise give such villains the means to infiltrate and take advantage of not only our most humble and magnanimous hosts, but everyone who attended. That I would overlook such possibility is...inexcusable.

[He closes his eyes for a moment, his mouth pulling into a thin, straight line as he draws in a breath through his nose, holds it for a moment, before breathing it out in a dejected sigh. Once more he opens his eyes, fixing them on the feed.]

Viewed thus, it is clear I owe all of you an apology for what damage was done and what losses occurred for such negligence. And so, allow me to say my sincerest apologies for the tragic turn it took. That such amoral men were allowed to sully what should have been little more than a memorable evening of entertainment and romance.

[And with that, he gives a polite bow of his head.]

You need not forgive such carelessness, but well do I know such remorseful expression was well overdue. Perhaps one day these scoundrels will see the justice they so rightly deserve, for I shall endeavor to make it so.

[And with that, he reaches towards the 'Gear with an apologetic smile and cuts the feed.]

video

[braveloyalhugs]

[Scorpia is very excited, and the two very well groomed Eevees and the Jigglypuff on her lap seem to have caught it too. So there's lots of ~vee~s and puff~s and hugs and snoot boops going on while Scorpia rambles on, hardly taking breaths between.]

Guys, guys! I had an idea! Since Hugs for Bewears went so well, I wanted to do something else for charity, right?

What if a free Pokemon spa, and donations go to charity! People could come and have Pokemon give them the best relaxing spa day ever, and while they're doing that, I can give people's Pokemon a grooming too!

Anyway, I was talking to a friend about it, and he said the network would probably know lots of different spa treatments and kinds of massage and stuff they'd like, and what Pokemon would be best at them!

Like, some of my water types can learn Scald, and we can use that to keep a hot tub just right. My Coalossal can help keep the sauna hot and steamy too! And I was figuring my Bewears would be good at massage, but my friend suggested that they just do deep tissue, and we find another Pokemon for regular. But there's other kinds too that I probably don't know about it, so here I am!

Let's make Pokemon Spa for Charity a reality!

((Blame (or thank) Steven for her excitement. And...not trying to use Bewears as the primary masseuses for her spa idea))