victory_road | [Video, August 31st]

_{[A few days after the Contest packs up from Olivine and leaves, presumably to resurface somewhere else in six months, a video is posted to the network!]

[Why, it's Wrath!]

[He's in more or less the same spot he was last time he uploaded a video, albeit with some noticeable differences this time. The room's no longer littered with wrappers or general mess, and that hole in the wall has a tarp fixed over it. It's evening, and the sliding door to the backyard is cracked open, letting the whirring of the Kricketots filter in.]

[Footsteps can be heard thumping elsewhere, too-- he's no longer alone in the house.]

[Next to him on the couch is Mad, sans the googly-eyes and angry eyebrows, determinedly chewing on a VERY BIG golden trophy. Unlike the many things she destroyed during her performance onstage, this thing is made of metal and fortunately invulnerable to her jaws.]

[Wrath, meanwhile, once again has papers and booklets spread out in front of him, but this time they're not drawings.]}

Hello network, it's "your boy" Wrath, and Mad, the "queen of destruction".

_{[Blatantly paraphrased from a news segment he'd heard about himself and the other contest winners earlier. As usual, it sounds stilted and frankly extremely weird coming out of his mouth, but he seems pleased with it, even if he's not really sure whose boy he's supposed to be.]}

It turns out when you win contests, people just give you stuff, which is pretty great.

_{[He taps the catalogue he's been looking at.]}

They said that I could have any Pokemon I wanted, I just had to tell them what and a nice person would "breed" it for me.

So I'm choosing, but it's hard.

_{[He lifts it up-- now that it's in the light better, it's apparent that it's a specific Pokemon Breeder's catalogue-- it looks like he was given several, with photographs and blurbs about the species and parents offered. There's QUITE A LARGE SELECTION, and Wrath has circled several in red marker.]}

I like this one because it's got wings, and it likes to hang upside-down so maybe it could keep Pipsqueak company since the rest of us get dizzy if we try to do that for too long.

_{[He's pointing at a shiny Noivern photograph, sleek, seafoam and carmine with a neat line of small fuzzy Noibats hanging next to her.]}

... But, I also like this one because it's two very good colors, and has knives on its face.

_{[Pointing to a shiny Haxorus that's as black-and-red as a Hot Topic advert. It does indeed have knives on its face.]

[He lowers the catalogue, shrugging expressively.]}

I can't decide. But I don't think they'll give me both so-- HEY!

_{[Now that he's said it OUT LOUD, Mad has suddenly realized that her trainer is talking about obtaining other dragons-- as though having Slime around wasn't bad ENOUGH! So in a violent lunge, she's leaped from her spot and seized the catalogue in her teeth, shaking wildly to try and wrench it from Wrath's grasp.]

[The video is now shaky footage of a tug-of-war with both participants yelling and lots of shredding-paper noises.]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'd suggest the first one. [If only because it's smaller and Lust is thinking of the house.] I'm still so proud of you for winning the whole contest! You earned those things they're giving you.

But...ah...a question, my little wildling.

[Because it sounds like human footsteps in the background, and everyone else who lives at the house is out and about.]

Is someone over at the house with you?

_{[Having completely calm conversations with Lust while engaged in vicious combat is more or less normal for Wrath now.]}

The first one? With the wings?

_{[He DOES like that one-- and he's seen people fly on their Pokemon. HE wouldn't mind flying.]}

Envy and his human are upstairs.

_{[This answer he gives distractedly, trying to literally pry Mad's jaws open with one hand.]}

Yes, that one. I like that one, for you. I think it suits you better than the other.

[Lust certainly isn't bothered by what's happening on the other end of the screen.]

Oh already? They really aren't wasting any time.

You haven't been lonely, have you? With all of us traveling so much this summer?

Why? The other one has our colors and also knives, like me!

_{[Don't get him wrong, he likes the winged one too. But man, if he knew what a 'fursona' was...]

[As for her other question, he shakes his head.]}

Nuh uh.

I have my Pokemon. And I'm always finding things to do.

_{[When he gets that hankering for a hug, he's always got Mama.]}

Well that should be obvious, you already have knives, you don't need a Pokemon with more. Besides, Pokemon that can fly are very handy.

Good. If you ever do get lonely, you can speak up and we'll make sure you have some company. Non-Pokemon company.

But there's no such thing as too many knives!

_{[HE IS ALL ABOUT MORE KNIVES!]

[But he nods.]}

I'm glad I'm allowed to use the phone in this world. It makes talking when you are far away so much easier!

All things in moderation, my dear. Including knives.

It certainly does. No matter where we are, it's like we're practically in the same room.