Video

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is sitting and writing at his kitchen table. Behind him, a window is half-open with the curtains blowing in the gentle breeze.]

So I've been wanting to organize a bi-weekly or monthly Duel Monsters get-together. I thought it would be nice for all of us who know about the Duel Monsters card game to get to know each other more, and to share the game with others here who might be interested. I talked it over with Marik months ago and was going to introduce it in July, but ... yeah, that didn't work out. I'm thinking now that with the hype of the upcoming tournament, it would probably be better to wait until that's over to start having the get-togethers, unless anyone would like to have at least one of them this month? I was just planning on casual games and socializing here at my restaurant in Goldenrod, nothing seriously competitive. Of course I'm sure at least some of you will want that at some point. [He smirks.] So if the get-together goes well, maybe sometime in the future I'll consider holding a mini tournament....

[He is suddenly interrupted by a wild Eevee jumping through the window. She lands on his shoulder, rubs against his head, and drops into his lap to keep cuddling. He laughs in bewildered shock.]

What the ... ?! Where did you come from?!

[Some of his Pokemon enter the video, bewildered as well. "Vee?!" Evie exclaims.

The wild Eevee keeps snuggling close, apparently with no intention of moving any time soon. Radley holds her, shaking his head in amusement.]

I don't even know this sweetheart. I have no idea why she randomly jumped through my window instead of someone else's, but I think she's decided she's adopting me?


((I was told this adorable story of a dog who basically did this and another about a kitty and I desperately wanted to incorporate it into Radley's story. I hope that's okay. He's only encountered two other Eevees in the wild, but he breeds them, so he has quite a few from that. I try to give him some variety in what else he has, and I think he's going to end up with six more cats very soon from unclaimed hatching eggs, but I really wanted it to be an Eevee claiming him this way.))

Comments

[crystalmaster]

[Radley smirks darkly at that.]

Yeah, that sure happened.

[He pets the Pokemon around him and the new Eevee on his lap.]

Maybe ask your Eevee if he'd like to do that?

[Radley definitely believes in the Pokemon being able to do what they want on something so life-altering as a permanent form change.]

[thetombkeeper]

Yeah, it did. It's good to be back...

[Chenzira peeps into the camera feed.]

And of course! I always let my pokemon decide when it comes to that stuff. Like Chen and I both decided it's best that he remains a Yamask.

[Getting a Cofagrius would be the perfect pokémon for him but... not through Chen. That's his baby.]

[crystalmaster]

It sure is.

[Radley smiles.]

That's great. Hey, Chenzira!

[Evie warbles. The new Eevee looks over.]

[thetombkeeper]

[Chen waves his hand then flops himself over Marik's shoulder as he always does.]

We actually just returned from the Ruins of Alph. Got to learn a bit more about what he is.

[He grimaces.]

That was... the only thing interesting about my trip there. I was really expecting the Ruins themselves to be... something other than alphabet pokémon.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley winces.]

That's too bad they're so underwhelming. Alphabet Pokemon? Really?

... But learning about Yamasks sounds really interesting! What did you find out?

[thetombkeeper]

Yeah. I was expecting something more about the ancient civilization. But nope. Just some vague messages about alphabet pokémon.

[He scratches Chen's head.]

That they're... bizarrely similar to something ancient Egyptians used to believe in. I can't believe I never made the connection before but they're like if you combined Shut with Ba, aspects of a person's shadow and personality. Their masks are definitely a form of death mask. Each one had a slightly different mask from each other. So... it seems like what the pokedex claims may have an air of truth to it.

[crystalmaster]

... Weird. What did they say?

[He ponders this.]

Like, literally the shadow?

[He glances at the wall.

He finds that spooky and rather sad about the masks, but doesn't want to say so with Chenzira there.]

That's really interesting....

[thetombkeeper]

The stereotypical mysterious messages that basically tell us to live in harmony with pokémon. Nothing exciting.

[Marik chuckles.]

Not just a regular shadow but your shadow. The shadow that casts from my body is called Shut. If you take in to consideration that they're carrying a death mask while being bird-like shadow creatures, it makes a lot of sense. They're the heart and shadow of their former selves, the mask showing you a glimpse of what they looked like.

[A fitting pokémon for himself if ever there was one, that's for sure.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley smirks a bit at that.]

I guess they think it needs to be drilled into us.

[He nods; he had got the "your" shadow part.]

... So they're like the spirit of a person?

[That's what he would think from the personality part, but the shadow part kind of throws him.]

[thetombkeeper]

Sure seems like it.

[Marik nods and Chenzira looks up at him.]

From what I've gathered, yeah. Their pokedex entry says they're souls that were once humans and the masks they hold are of their face from that time. It's why whenever they look at it too much they start to cry. They still have vague memories of their previous life.

I thought maybe it was just a ghost story at first but after interacting with them more, I think it's true. Chen's the most human-like of all of my pokémon in his behaviors.

[crystalmaster]

... That's pretty sad. I wonder which ones become Yamasks.

[He sure hopes that isn't everyone's afterlife here.]

[thetombkeeper]

Yeah...

That I don't know. There's numerous pokémon that they pokedex claims to be lost souls and are "reborn" as different ghost species.

... I'm not sure how I feel about that.

[Being a tomb keeper, you're supposed to make sure the physical remains are taken care of and venerated so the soul can pass on to the Afterlife. Those particular ghost pokémon hit pretty close to home for him because of that. Not that he's doing to disclose that information publicly.]

[crystalmaster]

... I really don't want to linger on that way.

[He doesn't want to die again any time soon at all after what he went through back home, and he hopes for a traditional afterlife when he does.]

[thetombkeeper]

Mnph. Sorry.

In... happier news, Chen made a lot of new friends. I think the wild Yamasks adopted him as part of their clan.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley will choose to think it won't happen to everyone. He doesn't want to believe otherwise. Maybe it's only with those who aren't ready to die to the point that they have unfinished business or something.

... Although with his luck, that could definitely be him....]

Oh, that's great!

[His Pokemon chorus happily. Friends are important!]

[thetombkeeper]

[Marik really hopes of they are, they're natives of the world. The last thing he needs is realizing his beloved Yamask could be someone he killed.]

It was cute watching them all interact. He really opened up to them. It always... makes me happy to see him happy.

[crystalmaster]

[He definitely supposes that it's only those living in this world. As for whether it's those who have always lived there, he will hope.]

I know the feeling. I'm happiest when I see my Pokemon happy.

[He smiles.]