victory_road | Video

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Okay! O-Okay! Alright! I get it, I get it, I'll- Togie! I get it, you win! You can stop lecturin' me like gran now.

[All of this is said over the voice of a very stern Togepi, who seems to be giving Neville an earful. Pointed Pi's and impatient Togi's can be heard as the little creature lays into him. At the moment, only audio is going, seemingly turned on by Togepi in his effort to get Neville to take the gear.

After a little more arguing, a vaguely flustered Neville appears on screen.]

'lo...

[Neville's voice sounds just as forced as his smile as he holds the gear uncomfortably close, having still not found quite the best angles for these "vi-dee-oh" things.]

Togie seems to, er, think I need to get on this thing and... I dunno...

Togepi!

Oh. Right, make friends. Yeah.

[Something something moping around Violet City for the last several weeks- or months? Goodness, he's lost track of the time, but it's just so hard to get used to this place. He doesn't know anyone, he'd spent far longer in the forests than he'd ever wanted to trying to find this place and he's just. very out of his element.]

I guess Togie thinks I haven't been getting out enough, or something, so... here I am- name's Neville. I- what was it you wanted me to say again? I like pant- no plants, right- I like plants! And- uh... Togie this is stupid, no one cares! Let me just go back to bed already.

[Neville manages to turn it off before anyone can hear the indignant cries of Togie the Togepi, but if it's anything like it had been in the beginning, he's getting quite an earful from his little egg.]

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Oh! I see you're still doing well!

[Look! It's this guy again!

Fortunately the dog is not onscreen. Instead he's looking after...

oh its a snake...] A pleasure to see you, Neville! I fear I may not have given you my name during our first conversation, so as to my own name, I am Jonathan Joestar!

You say that you like plants? [Jonathan is already thrilled, somehow.] I drew quite a few during my time as a student! It served as wonderful practice for other subject matter, and plants themselves can often be vital in identifying other matters in regard to history! It's quite a curious thing here however, where so many pokemon seem to be integrated with plant matter itself.

Siiiiliii..

Oh- There there, you've not had to deal with snow for sometime now... [He assures the rather sad looking noodle of a snake.]

[Neville almost seems to stop and consider the doing well bit, because he can't really say he has been. It's not that anything terribly bad has happened or anything, the few weeks in the woods were extremely stressful, but on the other hand they made it! Eventually!

It's just, he misses home so deeply. He hasn't managed to integrate into Poke-society all that well, he feels, and honestly just going home would be nice. But. Still, he's alive. Togepi is a good friend, even if he can do scary things sometimes.

But doing well? Ehhhh-

He was doing better before his eyes land on the snake and then his mouth goes a bit dry and he stutters over his words as he tries to get some sort of pleasantry out.]

Oh, h-hi! Yes I do, they were kind of, uh, the only thing in school I was good at. I've heard there were plants here that are like... y'know, alive? I've been wanting to meet them, but I haven't really had the chance.

[Togepi makes a bit of a skeptical noise somewhere in the background, as if to say hasn't made an effort, more like to which Neville doesn't acknowledge. Neville seems genuinely more distracted by said noodle and the way he seems to talk to it, which while the context is vastly different Neville is still a bit unnerved by. Talking to snakes is not the greatest thing back home.]

Are you a par- [He stops himself abruptly, as if he's caught himself saying something he shouldn't. It's not like he's over there hissing, he can't be and Neville's probably just broken the statute of secrecy in 500 different ways.] Never mind, never mind.

I would be happy to show you some grass-type pokemon if you wish! Some of them are truly fascinating after all, and-

[Anddddddd-] Par...? Particular? I do beg your pardon?

[ ..... Ah, well, he's come up with his own conclusions at least.] Oh, you've spotted the silicobra! The poor fellow. He's ground type, you see, so he doesn't fare well with the ice and snow at all- far less than any serpentine pokemon I've seen yet! Though I suspect the grass-based ones would similarly struggle...

Regardless, I found him curled within my backpack, and I've decided to let him keep here for the time being. I'm debating on if I should register them...I fear Erina may have some words however, as I've quite a large number already. But...he simply looks so sad!

[It's true! Such droopy eyes...] Silllliiiiiii....

I do quite enjoy how distinct the creatures here are, I must say. It was always quite the gamble, whether the snakes within the grounds of my family's estate would be the harmless grass snake or the...far from harmless adder, after all. [he gives a bit of a wince.]

You... you found a snake in your backpack and decided to keep it?

[Neville sounds absolutely flabbergasted by this fact. If he were in that situation- he can't even imagine it. But then again, he has to remind himself things are... different here. Or similar, really? It wasn't too rare to find people keeping odd, even dangerous pets back in his world.]

I mean, if you know how to handle them and... like it, I suppose. I guess they just aren't really my thing. Some really bad fellow I used to know had one.

Indeed! And oh- that's quite a shame, [he remarks a bit sadly.] I imagine it would have been a truly terrible sort to leave that impression. Snakes can certainly have a frightfully terrible reputation, but they can also have an impressive one! Why, in many countries, they're viewed as symbols of healing in fact; and still others as guardians, and protectors.

But I perhaps digress. Pokemon are a little less animalistic I often find, so they tend to understand more easily when it is that they're being helped, and act in kind. And ultimately, they all have hearts. It can be difficult to reason with, but there is after all a reason why trainers here are capable of caring for such impressive things as 'dragons' and the sort here.

[ It's hard not to giggle just a bit at the sight of a teenage boy being bullied by his tiny egg pokemon for the greater good. Kind of reminds her of her froslass , but far more vocal. It looks like she's sitting in her own bed, with the occasional trill or mew from the other side of the room just barely audible over her own voice. ]

Have you looked into any of the grass types? They're fascinating. My petilil, Blanca, is a very talented little lady. [ From off camera there's a delighted little liiii, and Jinx giggles. ] Aaaand she won't let you forget it. I hear that when they evolve, the flowers on their head is considered a challenge for even first-rate gardeners. If you ever want to meet her, she'd be delighted- she loves to show off . My other grass types too.

[ Given that she's sticking around Violet until the snow melts, they might actually have the chance to do just that. Not that they'd actually know at this moment in time. ]

Oh- I'm called Jinx, by the way.

[Neville smiles a little at her interactions with her Pokemon. In a way, he's a little envious because she makes it seem so effortless. He has a great relationship with Togepi, the nagging is just because Togepi cares. But Neville is struggling with the concept of getting out there and acquiring more Pokemon, everyone else seems to good at it.]

I have heard of them, yeah!

[He just... hasn't had the motivation to go out and try and meet them himself, which is perhaps why Togepi seems to dead set on getting Neville to do something involving other people.]

They sound... incredible, honestly, I would love to meet her sometime! All of them, really... if I can figure out how to, uh, cap... capture? them?

[He's still trying to figure out all the lingo and whatnot, even though it just sounds so... well, mean. But how bad can it really be if everyone's doing it? Neville is full of confliction.]

Is it 'catch' or 'capture'- I actually don't know... Oh, uh. To be honest, some of them came to me? like, my espurr- a purple little cat- snuck into my backpack because it was warm? And then he decided to stay. And then Lumi hung around for a bit one day and when I offered her a chance to come with me, she accepted.

Some want a person to care for them, and some want a trainer to help them grow more- ones falling in the latter category may be the ones who'll try to challenge you out in the wild. Oh, but they aren't all battle-happy. They'll tend to let you know what they want.

[ After a moment, Jinx gives a little call, and what looks to be a doll made of leaves approaches with a chime. It gives a little twirl for the camera before nestling down beside her trainer. ]

This is Blanca. I wish I could show you in person, but I have no idea where you are- [ not to mention the people in her life might get mad if she tries to leave the apartment while recovering from a cold, or have someone over- ] but she's probably one of my most determined. I think she wants to evolve soon.

She and the others are a bit tired during colder days, I've noticed, but I'm hoping come spring they'll liven up a bit more- maybe get some more color in their leaves.

[Neville just makes the universal "idk" hand gesture as she speculates, because frankly he doesn't know. Between catching and fighting- no, battling, and "potions" that do nothing but "heal HP", he's got terminology twisted every which way and nothing makes sense.

Nonetheless, he listens to her pretty aptly, just to see if he can get a better understanding of how it all seems to work. And when she shows off a few of her Pokemon, his mouth falls open a little because they're all so different but still so intriguing. He's only met a few of the wild ones so far, which in the area he's in tend to look a bit... interesting, yes, but not nearly as fantastical as he's used to even in his world.

But there are the ones out there that are fantastical, some that even resemble plants and those are the ones that have captured his imagination. But even then, the ones he may not be as interested in are no less fantastic, that's for sure.

No less than a hundred questions seem to bubble up, but one thing in particular spills out first.]

What did you mean by "wants to evolve soon"?

Oh- almost every pokémon can transform into a stronger form, and it's treated as like... a part of growing up? Some of it's based on how strong they are, and some of it requires a specific item. However, with the item-based ones can lead to a halt in their growth if it's done too early.

Blanca will stop learning new abilities at a certain point, at which point it's optimal to give her a Sun Stone, which will let her take her next form. She's working hard to get to that point.

[ There's no hiding the pride in her voice, and Blanca nods to confirm. Soon, she will be strong enough and then she'll be a lilligant! ]

I found out how this all works unexpectedly? It was really surprising, and it threw me off a bit, I'll admit. Like, I knew that "evolution" was a thing in the guide book, but actually seeing it happen was something else...

Oh! Wow, that's pretty amazing. I mean, I'd read a bit of the book but after a point my eyes just kind of glazed over. None of it made sense, but now it's... sort of starting to.

[Some things are just easier when you have someone smarter to guide you through it, like Pokémon and Potions.]

Apparently Togepi can evolve? I hadn't really known what that meant until now, but. Hmm. I mean, we've done a few fights so far, but only when the feral ones out in the woods attacked... I dunno if he ever will, at this rate. I dunno that I'm cut out for all this.

[And he sounds sad about that, like he's. letting Togepi down or something.]

Some things you need to see in person, to be honest. And it helps to read it in small chunks.

... You're very new to this sort of thing, and everyone's going to adjust on their own pace. You and your pokémon will support each other, but don't compare your progress to anyone else's here. It's a lot. You both have to adjust, and figure out what both of you want and need.

[ Even before she came here she was a leader and that meant taking care of the people you had- and that extended very easily to pokémon as well. But not everyone has that sort of background. ]

Plants are all right. Not super my thing, mostly they're just kind of there, but I can see the appeal.

[He is trying not to laugh at this bullying from what sounds like an irate plush toy of some kind.]

The pants have taken some getting used to, though.

Believe me, I know they aren't everyone's cuppa.

[Neville chuckles a little as he thinks about how many people would struggle so much with Herbology back home, sometimes people and plants don't mix and that's okay. More plants for the other people, eh?

But he gives a bit of a nod in agreement to the last part, which turns into a wistful sigh.]

Robes were way less complicated, you didn't need to think about 'em much.

Clothes in general have been kind of an adjustment.

[That's a normal thing to just say, right.]

The not freezing to death is nice enough, I guess.

Wha-?

[Now that is a little farther than Neville might have taken it, but there were some very eccentric people out there in the wizarding world, so. It's not too far out of the realm of possibility. Just be polite, Neville.]

Err, yeah- yeah, this winter's, uh, been a bit brutal hasn't it?

I'll have to take your word on it, I guess. I'm not used to cold at ALL, so it's all pretty intense.

[wow Neville you can't just ask people why they were nudist]

Yeah... I mean, I wasn't ready for it at all so it was awful when I first got here. It was still late summer back home! If it wasn't for all the nice people here, I might've froze to death.

[He shudders at the thought.]

Are you doing alright? Somebody got me a nice coat this Christmas, I could send it over to you for a while, as long as you promise you'll give it back sometime...

[Cassandra stares for a moment, blinking. Then she collects herself.]

Are you all right?

Huh? Yeah?

[Neville doesn't sound nearly as sure of that as he would like to believe, but he's still managing a confused enough look regardless.]

Why wouldn't I be?

[She mostly gets that impression from the arguing with his pokemon. Also, the stammering and awkwardness. That's a little too familiar. Which is why Cassandra's initial response is to blurt out:]

You sound like me.

[And then she realizes just how bad that sounds.]

I mean... No. No reason. I'm sorry.

[There are some things Neville is slow on the uptake about, but sometimes there are things he catches and manages to understand well enough.]

You aren't the best with people either?

[He offers a small smile.]

It's okay, you were right... I'm not really alright, just pretending to be.

Not really, no.

[As he's just seen.

And then she nods.]

It's... a lot, isn't it? Going from where you were to this. Even without... other things... this world's logic is so different.

[She has no idea what he might have been going through in his world, and she doesn't want to speculate.]

[Armin can't help but feel sympathetic. He knows what it is like not to have any friends. And how awkward it is to try and make some, especially when your interests don't align well with those of other people.]

Plants, huh?

I'll admit, I'm not much of a gardener apart from these. [Armin moves his gear for a moment to focus on his window sill, which seats three adorable little pokemon-shaped planters with very basic, easy to take care of plants inside.] But I do have a few grass-type pokemon I could show you. If you'd like.

[In spite of his gloominess, Neville is immediately cheered up when he's given a glimpse of Armin's little plant project. While he may be more keen on magical plants, at the end of the day plants are plants. They grow, they need water, protection from pesky bugs, it's really all the same.]

You seem to be doing a great job so far, mate! They're getting plenty of sun in that window, yeah? And I haven't had a chance to get a grass type yet, but I've heard some interesting things about Sprout Tower and I've been meaning to head there one of these days.

You should. It's an interesting place. Or you should head to Ilex forest when the weather eases up some. It is an incredible place to explore. The trees are pretty dense, so it almost feels like you are cut off from the rest of the world. It's very peaceful. It's where I first met my Oddish.

Wait, hold on--

[He lays down the gear for a bit, and when it starts up again, Armin pans it around to focus on a Vileplume sitting in a chair on the other side of the desk (boosted by a pillow or two). She gives a cheery little wave at the camera.]

She isn't an oddish anymore, but meet Holly.

[When Neville sees Vileplume, his stomach bursts with excitement in only the way it does when he's in the presence of a particularly amazing plant and sometimes Trevor, his toad, after a particularly lonely day at school.]

She's beautiful! And those petals are so thick, you must be taking amazing care of her. Do they have any special properties? Most of the plants we keep back home are good in po- err, cooking. and whatnot.

[Oh, flattery, good sir. That does get you very far with Holly indeed. At Neville's gushing, she puts her... hands? paws? vines? to her 'cheeks', which flush a brighter green with chlorophyll. Do keep going.]

They are filled with toxic pollens. They use their huge flowers to attract prey, and then their pollens to deal with said prey.

Of course, Holly here is a trained pokemon, so she is very contentious about not scattering her pollens around other people or pokemon. Unless it's in battle.

[Oh!!!! Dimitri is already smiling in relief when he turns on his camera for video, taking a break in somewhere that looks maybe a little dark and damp - the basement of an inn, as a matter of fact. Listen, sometimes you gotta work where you gotta work.]

It's good to see that you are doing well, Neville. I have some friends of mine who also like plants. I'm sure they would like you as well.

Where are you staying?

[Neville cheers up immediately when he spots Dimitri on the screen. Neville is still incredibly grateful for that coat he'd been given, it had gotten him through the coldest of nights on the road between towns.]

Good to see you too! Hope you're doing well. I'm always up for meeting fellow plant lovers! It isn't something most people find particularly interesting, you know?

[It seems to take him a moment to realize he'd also been asked a question.]

Oh right, I'm staying some place called, uh.. Violet? I think the name is. It's that place after the second place, after the first... you know what I mean. All these town names are kinda hard to keep track of.

It is certainly something that takes a certain patient passion, which sounds contradictory to some. Still, when I have seen places such as well cared for greenhouses, I can see why it draws some towards it.

If you ever meet a young man named Ashe Ubert, I am certain he would be able to share your interest.

[Ashe is friendly, after all, and kind. He's sure they'll get along.]

Violet City... Yes, I am familiar with it. The more you travel, if you decide to, then you'll slowly grow familiar with the different names.

Actually, you may have an advantage here. From what I have seen, most of the cities and towns in Johto are named after various plants - flowers, mainly.

I'll be on the look out for him, then!

[Neville seems to stop and think for a moment, putting the names together in his head before nodding.]

Oh, yeah you're right! I mean, my expertise is more the plants back home... they're a bit different, but I can probably manage to adapt eventually. Though... I'm not really sure I wanna do much more traveling, the forests are pretty... intense. I might stick here a while- at least maybe 'til spring...

Completely understandable. You're also young, and traveling on your own, aren't you? In that case, your safety is the most pressing concern.

When the weather grows warmer and you decide to go on the road again, do let me know, and I can give you advice on the roads and cities ahead of you. I think you'll rather like Azalea.

[Well, this is awkward.]

Your pokemon is very insistent.

What kinds of plants?

[Neville gives a bit of a sigh, glancing at Togepi who appears to be taking a nap after all of that. He lets out a fond chuckle, forever amused at how often he seems to tire himself out.]

He is, but... I appreciate it. Mostly. And, well... all kinds? I mean, I'm better with plants back home but the ones here are turning out to be pretty amazing.

Sometimes it's really helpful to have someone like that around... even though it's a lot to take sometimes.

[Shinobu has people like that in his life. He knows.]

Yes, they are. The life here in general is amazing, but the plant pokemon are fascinating.

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