[VIDEO] (Action too if folks want)

[seacub]

[The camera opens to what may or may not be a familiar scene right now. Swathes of snow along a trail. Tall, tall trees, branches weighed down by the same. However, what may not be so typical is the large Aurorus on screen that's attached to a sled, looking concerned at his passengers. On the sled are a small mountain of boxes as well as a very annoyed looking Espurr who, while adorably bundled in a wollen hat and scarf, is covered in icicles. Behind the little Espurr is a sneezing Glalie, who is occasionally being pulled away by Jotaro so he doesn't sneeze on the boxes.]

You got the camera working? [In the background, Emporio- spotted only by the gold of his hair and the accents of red against stark white snow clothes- gives a nod. 'Lemongrass knows where to point it- go ahead,' can be faintly heard if one raises the volume. So, Jotaro speaks.]

Hey, I'm doing medicine deliveries to various cities in Johto. I needed to ask if anyone knows which cities need more medicine than others. Preferably quickly because-

Guh-Guh- GLALIE!

[Jotaro practically has to football tackle the Glalie to look the other direction to stop him from using Frost Breath on the medicine. The Glalie releases a thick gale of ice behind him, further coating the ground in snow.]

... Because Omikuji also needs some help. Good grief... apparently Pokemon can sneeze their way out of Pokeballs... [Jotaro looks utterly exhausted. Emporio, coming closer to camera range, continues for him.]

We've been focusing on runs for the pokemon between Cherrygrove and New Bark- if people handle other towns without teleports, that should help a lot, but whatever this is, it's really contagious, [the teen adds, and more white reveals itself to be a pokemon from behind him as streaks of red appear- Haema the Hisuian Zoroark wearing...some sort of mask.

There seems to be an alolan vulpix in the crook of Emporio's coat wearing a similar mask now.] Like Dr. Kujo said though, every little bit helps!

Comments

[phdepression]

Makes sense. Prioritise her health... you'd be shocked at how quickly they show symptoms after infection. Omikuji caught it within hours of meeting a sick Snorunt.

[His heart is in the right place but it was definitely not worth it. The Snorunt was only slightly comforted and Jotaro has to periodically throw his Pokemon away from their medicine stash.]

We'll continue doing our runs between New Bark and Cherrygrove. But if it gets too bad in Kanto, I may take the ferry or train to Kanto and help out. It sounds you're pretty short-staffed there too.

[outofsynth]

We're trying. We've seen how bad it is out there. We don't want her coming down with this too.

[Their other Pokémon are probably fine? It doesn't seem like any other kinds of wild Pokémon are getting sick. But they're still worried about unintentionally exposing her somehow.]

Honestly, I think everyone's so caught out by it we're short no matter where we are. Hopefully once the Nurse Joys can start healing them we'll be able to get on top of it quickly.

[seacub]

Do you need us to send over instructions for making masks? [Emporio offers from around Jotaro.]

I'd say that the best option is to stay in the PC, but if she doesn't like being on 'house arrest'....

[phdepression]

Yeah, maybe you guys should mask up too when you get the chance. [There is the chance that most Pokemon are non-symptomatic carriers, which means the Froslass could be at risk either way. It's hard, given they don't know much about the disease.]

Sometimes Pokemon don't want to stay in the box, especially if they think they can do better outside of it and help other Pokemon of their species. [Not mentioning any names, Omikuji.]

[outofsynth]

It might not be a bad idea to have masks. Us too? I haven't seen any people getting sick.

[Look, his parents wanted him to have a career in finance and his personal passion is music. This is so far from any area of expertise he has.]

Or if they're just not used to being cooped up that way...

[It still might not be the worst idea to try it out if Boo's amenable to it. He'll have to talk to Ryan and see.]

[seacub]

It seems to be a Pokemon exclusive disease...

[Knock on wood.]

What has me curious is what started the breakout to begin with.

[phdepression]

It would be better safe than sorry. The disease could mutate, if nothing else. [Jotaro mutters, thinking positively as usual.]

Do people know where the Snorunt go when they're not coming into towns? Maybe something happened there.

[outofsynth]

Yeah. I guess you're right.

[Though Jotaro's next question has him pausing. They must come from somewhere, but where might be he's clueless to.]

I'm not sure. I don't know if I've ever seen them in the wild outside this time of year.

[Well. Besides the Weird Weekend that Ryan met Boo in, but those weren't exactly normal circumstances either.]

[seacub]

They're pretty exclusive to the icy regions most of the year- we can probably count on that keeping the spread down if it's still around by spring, but that could also...backfire, given what Dr. Kujo just said...

[He winces. He doesn't like the idea of it getting more intense.]

[phdepression]

Interesting. [Much like Min-Gi, Jotaro hasn't seen Snorunt outside of the start of the year. If it wasn't for Emporio, he could have easily made the assumption that the Snorunt only are found at this time for some weird reason. Good they're not and they're like regular Pokemon (at least in terms of having a regular habitat) but that did make the whole situation all the more curious.]

[Jotaro sighs. What a pain this all is...] Maybe we should talk to an expert instead of speculating. Whoever is near a Pokemon Centre should talk to a Nurse Joy and get more info. They'd know better than us.

[outofsynth]

Yeah! That's a good idea. I bet with everything that's going on they've really brushed up on Snorunts.

[That's if they didn't know already. They can't know everything, but every Nurse Joy he's spoken to has always seemed to have exceptional knowledge.]

[seacub]

That's...probably a good idea, huh.

[Whoops.] The professor in New Bark isn't really...well.

He's great for questions about pokemon breeding, but not anything like this.

[phdepression]

Yeah... The professor is an academic, not a medical practitioner. It's not a surprise he doesn't know much about the Snorunts compared to the Joys. [Jotaro rolls his eyes despite himself. Don't mind him.]

You don't mind doing that, Min-Gi? We're still a few days out from seeing the one in Cherrygrove City.

[outofsynth]

[Min nods in confirmation.]

I'm headed out in a bit. I can pass by the Centre in Vermilion and let you know what they say.

[seacub]

Great! Hope to hear from you soon then!

[phdepression]

Thanks. We appreciate it. Good luck then.

[Jotaro will tilt his hat to Min. He knows Min-Gi is a reliable guy so he has no doubt he'll hear from him soon.]