110th moon [video]

[paladinlost]

As everyone should know, it's now November. If you were not aware of that fact, I hope your coma was pleasant and not filled with traumatic discoveries.

[Cecil is making use of his Official Kingly Voice(tm), today. Or his Unofficial TV Presenter Voice(tm). The difference is hard to tell, sometimes.]

What you might not know is that November is a... special month. One that often involves unexplained visitors, unexplained cases of random teleportation, unexplained memory loss, and unexplained Legendary Pokémon who enjoy homemade sandwiches. Such incidents can occur anywhere in both Johto and Kanto, and they can last for days. During that time, this world's definition of 'normal' is unstable at best, and alarming at worst.

[As if it isn't already, but Cecil ignores that thought and continues.]

Your team is suddenly replaced by a school of Magikarps? That is normal, and they'll return to their regular species when it all ends. You live in Cerulean, but find yourself waking up in the Ice Cave? That is normal, and that is why you should wear warm clothing at all times until December. Your long dead grandmother is in your kitchen, commenting on your wallpaper? That is normal, and you should enjoy it while it lasts. You manage to walk from Ecruteak to Olivine within an hour? That is normal, and an excellent opportunity for spontaneous region tours. You wake up with holes in your memory? That is normal, and you should not panic unless your surroundings are damaged or unknown to you.

[Four or five years ago, those words would have been tinted with tired acceptance. But he's long past the tiredness, and it shows.]

This was your friendly November Public Service Announcement. Please enjoy your day.

[If you still can.]

Comments

[paladinlost]

...Mist would have found it, surely. She can find dust in a glass of water, surely she'd be aware of any cockroach in the house.

[islandshore]

Hmm, point. But just watch. I bet one of these days, we'll have a surprise infestation.

They'll eat us out of house and home.

They'll steal all our socks.

They'll... probably smell like garbage.

[paladinlost]

It'll be a region-wide week-long swarm, of course. In the middle of inclement weather that favors them, right as we recover from some world-threatening attack.

[islandshore]

Okay, but what if the world-ending attack was from an even bigger roach?

Just imagine it. A Legendary infestation to end all infestations.

[paladinlost]

...A Legendary infestation, leading to a legendary demand for Flamethrower TMs... So of course, Goldenrod's store will be the one to get all the sales. We'll get yelled at by the manager while cockroaches fight their way into the office to murder us all. How lovely.

[islandshore]

Huh. Wouldn't that lead to inflation? I the demand exceeded the supply, then suddenly they could afford to up the ante.

Breeders could benefit, too, by breeding fire moves...

[He's kinda imagining dollar signs now, given his menagerie of charizards.]

[paladinlost]

...I've always considered the time and TMs spent on Flare a good investment, but I never considered that might someday become literal. Considering the high number of potential pairs in my team...

[islandshore]

Tell me about it. I've practically got my own zoo of destructive monsters.

If the market crashed and TMs stopped being produced, guys like us would have an edge.

[paladinlost]

For certain species, yes, but our subsequent captures and brand new species would have as little to pass on to their offspring as any other Pokémon. Though the few reusable TMs we've received would help with that.

[islandshore]

...Right. Eventually it'd probably devolve into inbreeding, huh? Just like purebred dogs and cats, I guess.

Man, isn't that a weird thought? Guess we should be grateful a TM market crash hasn't happened yet!

[paladinlost]

Definitely. Dealing with surprise clutches and spontaneous romances is bad enough; I'd not survive the horror of choosing which grandchild to breed with a particularly strong grandparent.

[islandshore]

Ugh. Tell me about it. Flare and Spitfire's "courtship" was...

[Deep breath.]

Heated. And I'm not just saying that for the pun. Made me glad I had a Blastoise on hand.

[paladinlost]

I understand your pain. Mist and Kayne always argue, but speaking of their potential children makes it worse... and more likely to involve a few Draco Meteors.

[islandshore]

So, how often do you have to pay for property damage from unruly monsters? 'cause I gotta tell you, maintenance fees at the TC can be a serious pain.

[paladinlost]

Less often than I used to, now that I know every empty field near the city and how to recognize the signs of a growing argument. But during those early days, it could be as often as twice a week.

[islandshore]

Still, how'd you manage to pay for it back then? Egg sales? Repeated battles against random trainers?

Either way, I'd like to hope they've settled down a little by now.

[paladinlost]

Hours upon hours of work at the highest salaries available in town. Thankfully, they've little time to argue these days, with so many other playmates to torment.

[islandshore]

Yeah. Guess that's one of my benefits, too. Enough egg sales, having such a diverse team for people to practice against.

It pays the bills, but having a built-in zoo is taxing to say the least.

[paladinlost]

Especially when that zoo includes less... social and friendly personalities. Not that we should expect to meet nothing but helpful and loving Pokémon, of course...

[islandshore]

Ugh. Tell me about it. I still have to keep an eye on Quake and Draco during open hours, and don't even get me started on Terror...

They're... better these days, but still. It's a hassle.

[paladinlost]

...Are they better because they've matured somewhat, or because they've realized that acting in such a manner does not always advantage them? Sometimes, it feel as though Rosie and Avenger now get along only because it reinforces their authority in the eyes of the younger ones...