5. Video

[sleepallthewayhome]

[Apparently one of her pokemon is filming this because the camera is a bit further away then usual. You can see Newt sitting by a bed, and also off to the side there is an Eevee sitting on the floor. He is also holding onto a dolls head. It's for moral support.

Newt meanwhile looks at the camera.]

I have a question. If you're af...if you don't really like a certain type of pokemon that much. But you still want to get all the gym badges. Do you think it would be easier to get the gym themed for them over with first? Or should you wait and maybe you won't be so afraid of them in the future?

Oh and does anyone knows what this is?

[She holds up a Spell Tag]

Vasquez brought it back after Halloween but I'm not sure what to do with it.

Comments

Video

[yu_hoo]

Sometimes it's best to face fears head on. If you think that's what'll work best for you, then go ahead. But if you tend to do better if you have time to prepare for something, then by all means take your time. Maybe try seeing if you can meet trainers that have one or two of that type of Pokemon and get used to them.

[And then he leans closer to the camera to look at the item.] And that's... A Spell Tag, I think. Powers up ghost type moves, if I'm right.

Video

[sleepallthewayhome]

I'm not really sure what works best for me. Normally I just hide from things that scare me and then I'm safe. But that won't work if I want to get the badges.

....the trainer idea sounds...okay though.

[She's fought wild bug pokemon and seen ones that look like the monsters but those she can attack on sight and/or run away.]

Oh! That sounds useful. Can they only use it once?

Video

[yu_hoo]

Well, there's no harm in trying to see what works for you.

And no, items that power up moves work for as long as a Pokemon has it.

video

[lyingheart]

[ Annie's not on camera; it's filming her absol, Lute, because she has this in her hands and was fiddling with something else in writing at the time she responds to this video. She's still fiddling with it. Lute glances toward the camera, the bell he'd worn on Halloween once more around his throat. He huffs, shakes his head, and looks away again. ]

You could see about going to that gym with someone else, too. Even if you're not fighting together, having another person you know is around might help make it easier to face the fear you're feeling.

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[sleepallthewayhome]

Oh, I never thought of that. That's a good idea.

[She also waves hello to the Absol.]

And I guess if they did the bug gyms anyway, then maybe they could just come and watch. If it's not too much trouble.

[lyingheart]

[ The progress of Lute as they walk continues to be what broadcasts while Annie's voice comes through the speakers. ]

Ask your friends, then you'll know. There's a few people who probably particularly enjoy seeing the bug gyms defeated. I wouldn't mind seeing what's in Kanto after having been through Azalea's gym here, though I have some traveling to do before I'm out that way.

[ Point being, she's very sure people would be fine doing exactly this with and for Newt. If nothing else, it's a learning opportunity. ]

[sociallychallenged]

Do you have someone to go with for friendly support? People are willing to help you out. Whether it's taking on the gym or getting better at being around things you're scared of. I was around in case things didn't go too well for my partner.

By the way, I'm taking your advice and I'm going to try and get that Porygon. Even if I'm afraid of birds. I'm going to make an exception because it'll be useful and it seems like one that won't freak me out.

[Fucking asshole birds.]

[sleepallthewayhome]

Um, I have some people I could probably ask. I'd have to wait and see though, since I just stay with my pokemon by myself so I don't have anyone close by, I don't think.

[It's easy to lose track of people in this world with all the travelling.]

Oh! Good luck with the games, you'll have to play a lot but they can be fun. And a Porygon doesn't really look like a bird so I bet you won't be that afraid of it either.

[sociallychallenged]

Why don't you stay near someone?

[It's a legit question. He knows kids in this world can take care of themselves, but it seems generally safer if they at least stay near other kids. Even here, one can wander off the road and get lost.]

[He considers explaining something else, too, about how hard it was to get over his dislike of androids in the beginning. That it was really difficult, but some of the related baggage still stings. He decides to just point out-] I bet some of the Pokemon you're scared of go through an evolution where they look pretty dumb.

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[songoftime]

[It takes Link a while after he watches the video for him to decide how he wants to respond to it. He wants to help -- After all the experience he has with facing scary things... But he's never had to give advice about something like this before. Something this... personal, he guesses.]

I think it's okay to wait to face something scary until you're ready. You may find or learn something on your adventure that will make it easier to do it. Being brave can be hard. But you can get a gym badge any time, so you don't have to push yourself unless you want to.

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[sleepallthewayhome]

[She seems to think that over.]

I suppose. How do you know if you're ready though?

[Totally an easy question.]

[songoftime]

[Totally easy. So easy Link has to take another moment to think about it, his mouth twitching into a frown as he turns the question over in his mind.]

You could... test yourself. Something small. Like meet a nice Pokémon of the type that's scary. Or... Even one that reminds you of it. That way you can find out how much they still scare you.

Video

[bent_the_world]

I think it depends on just how much you really don't like that type of Pokemon.

Video

[sleepallthewayhome]

Well it's not all of them, but some of them look like the monsters from home that killed everyone.

So if I see one like that, I want to kill it. Or hide.

Video

[bent_the_world]

Hmm. I don't think trying to take on a Gym with types like that to get it over with would be a good idea.

But what you can do is try and get used to those kinds of Pokemon as the Pokemon they are, you know? Start out real slow and careful.

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[partiallysquirrelblood]

Gradual exposure in a controlled situation is considered the best treatment for phobia.

[Doreen isn't a therapist, but she is pretty good with people and has a tendency to hit the random page button on Wikipedia a lot .]

Depending on how quick you wanna get through the gyms, though? The gradual part might not be an option, exactly. I'd say take someone you feel safe with and talk to the Gym Leader beforehand? They'd probably be willing to help.

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[sleepallthewayhome]

How long is gradual?

I still have lots of badges to get so that's why I was wondering if I should wait or not.

[video]

[fuelthefire]

Which ones are you scared of? Catch a monster that eats the scary ones and take it with you to the fight!

[video]

[sleepallthewayhome]

I'm afraid of some of the bug ones. Some of them look like the different stages of the monsters that killed everyone.

Fire is good against them. Fire was good against the monsters back home too. That's why I like it so much.

[islandshore]

Hmm... That's a tough call.

[Riku tips his head down, arms crossed and a thin frown on his face.]

Guess it depends on the level of fear. And the level of your team.

[Since, well, a disadvantage strengthwise will make things trickier.]

Well, that, and where that fear comes from.

[But it's not his business, and he surely doesn't wanna pry.]

[sleepallthewayhome]

Some of them look like the monsters that killed everyone in my colony back home.

[Prying is if you ask about how she feels about what happened, the rest are facts.]

Not all of them scare me, and there's some in other types that look like them too. But the bug pokemon have the most I think. Or maybe I've just seen more of them.

But they scare me a lot because it makes me remember how scared I was with the real monsters.

[badluckbabe]

Hmm, seems to me you might want to wait until you have some strong pokemon who are perfectly situated to beat them.

Do you know what type of pokemon are strong against these pokemon you don't like?

[sleepallthewayhome]

Um....Fire, Flying and ....Rock.

I have two fire pokemon but I don't have any flying or rock ones. ....I should look for some of those.

video;

[shiro2hero]

I think it's all right if you need to wait a while, Newt.

Get yourself feeling more confident with your team. It'll be easier for you, I think, if you can take it on in one go, and have it done with.

video;

[sleepallthewayhome]

[She nods.]

I think that's what I'm going to do. I thought it might be easier to get it over with, but if I wait till I'm stronger then I might not be so afraid.

And maybe someday I won't be afraid of the ones that look like the monsters from home. Some of them are probably really nice but I don't ...like them. And that's not fair.