victory_road | [05] [video] / [action

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[05] [video] / [action - goldenrod]

[video]

[If you wanted a Meowstic and a Luxray purring and rumbling over each other on video, today is your lucky day. Even Pinsy the Skitty seems in a pleasant mood, and peers at the camera from atop the Luxray's head. Their trainer is also in shockingly good spirits compared to his last few public broadcasts. And look! He even shaved the beard off!

Yes, the video's a bit crowded, but what matters is the message.]

Happy First Day! I don't know if that means much to anyone here -- there seemed to be a lot of partying last night -- but it has a bit of significance in my world. It's a time to celebrate the previous year and the friends and family who made it wonderful.

So, on behalf of most Thedosians here, I'd like to extend an invitation to everyone, friend and stranger alike, to a gathering this evening at the Goldenrod Inn. Just ask for the private ballroom. There will be food -- and free drinks.

[Anders gives a wink before shifting the camera to get Hawke rather than his team in the background of his shot, though her smile is about as sardonic as usual.]

If any of our friends are unable to attend but would like to see us today, let us know and we'll do our best to meet up before this evening.

[Attached is a file noting the address and time of the party.]

[action - goldenrod inn]

[The gathering itself is pretty low-key for the setting. There are a few tables set up together in a fashion suspiciously reminiscent of a medieval banquet hall. Some hors d'oeuvres, main and side dishes, and desserts for humans and Pokemon, nothing too fancier than you'd find at a casual dinner, are placed upon the tables, and drinks of both non- and alcoholic variety can be acquired from their own bar. The only hotel attendant actively engaging is here, and only to make sure minors don't grab the rum or something.

The rest of the hall is open enough for a few dozen people or large Pokemon to move around in comfortably. Eat, drink, and be merry!]

[Making your own toplevels for friends old and new is a go! uvu]

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[Dorian, on the other hand, wasn't familiar with parties that didn't have some amount of fighting or death. Espionage was always the name of the game when it came to the upper class families that the Pavus line associated with.]

[Nevertheless, he could restrain himself. He was, after all, trying to get on good terms with the host.]

Well then, it is as I said. A pleasure, Walter. [Dorian gave another bow.] The same can be said to you too, of course, Ser Chaos.

Chaos eased slightly, not so because of Dorian giving her a title but because the situation had largely been diffused. For now. She shifted to Walter's side, still watching over the proceedings.

Walter on the other hand was completely confused by the second bow. He bowed again in response. He had to, didn't he? He noticed the Servine however and immediately took note. He'd seen one other snake-like Pokemon, a Seviper, coiled up with large fangs and a bladed tail. This one seemed...not less dangerous but softer. More elegant, like the serpents he had seen in paintings. "What kind of Pokemon is that?"

[Dorian was grateful for the distraction. Endearing as Walter's first bow had been, the second was nearly enough to make the man cringe. Clearly he was out of his element, and it was becoming painful for the mage to watch.]

I was once told he was a Snivy, though I believe that has changed, hasn't it Viridis? [The creature gave Dorian as side-long glance, before coiling closer. He twisted around the mage's leg, squeezing almost uncomfortably tight.]

I believe he's known as a Servine now? [Viridis nodded.] Intelligent blighter, he is.

"Most Pokemon seem more intelligent than ordinary creatures from my world." He wouldn't have imagined being able to keep an animal like Chaos back in his world. She would have probably killed him, even as a cub, rather than choose to follow and obey his commands.

Chaos watched Viridis, flicking her tail. For a moment, her eyes glowed golden before dimming and she huffed, deeming the Servine and his trainer uninteresting. Or at least, not worth her time. She sauntered around her trainer, looking for other possible threats to Walter. He idly pet her when she came under his hand.

"Do you have many others?"

[If Viridis was concerned at all by Chaos, he didn't show it. He kept his gaze elsewhere, studying anything but the Luxray. She was of no concern to him, even though he knew well enough to know that he couldn't possibly take her on.]

[Worst case scenario? His trainer got a little roughed up. He deserved it.]

Just us, I'm afraid. [Oblivious to his Pokemon's thoughts, he reached down and scratched at Viridis' head.] I'm certain we'll find something interesting eventually but! Until then. [Dorian had been interested in a few Pokemon, but Viridis had quickly felled any beasts before Dorian had the chance to strike.]

"A pity. He is the one you started with?" Walter enjoyed seeing what other creatures people had captured and with Viridis, he had hoped that Dorian had other unusual Pokemon he could see. Alas, it seemed he had more experience in that department (for the moment).

"I captured Chaos not far from here. She was a Shinx back then." Unknown to Walter, that had factored into the Luxray's loyalty to him. For defeating her and then training her to the form she is today, she had a certain respect for him. Although she felt he was far too shy around other humans and needed protecting from them.

Indeed. [And Viridis was determined to be Dorian's one and only. The altus, of course, had other plans. He had already been to the game corner once or twice, and had set his eyes on one of the pokemon there. With some luck, he might be able to find himself in possession of one of those.]

[Viridis certainly couldn't stop him in that endeavor.]

So you've raised this one up from a cub, eh? [He grinned at her, despite his fear that she may well attempt to take his face off.] Hard to believe such creatures could ever have been young, isn't it?

Walter nodded. "She wouldn't let me pass until I battled her. She was sure she was a fierce lioness back then, as she is now." Chaos gave a huff. She had thought herself a mighty lioness even as a cub. Now she was older, she merely knew it better and could properly carry herself as one.

"My starter is still young. I don't know when he intends to evolve." Assumption was the strongest Pokemon he owned...yet still hadn't evolved, presumably by choice according to the advice he had gotten from others who had owned Cubones.

[Dorian's hand lifted, coming to rest at his chin and stroking it thoughtfully. Viridis had been more than eager to evolve, if only to have a little more height on Dorian. As if that would stop the pariah from haranguing him ]

Is that normal? For them to not actively want to get stronger? [He had understood that combat and training were natural parts of this realm. It seemed odd to him for a creature to go directly against that concept.]

"A Cubone is said to evolve when it accepts and moves on from the loss of it's mother. While he is strong in battle, he still cries for her."

Walter had been trying his best. But he hadn't exactly moved on from his own...complex mother issues. And he was aware of it, he just didn't know what to do about it. Assumption had grown closer to him and he had asked Jimmy about his Marowak, Omi, and how he had evolved. But Jimmy's information hadn't really yielded any practical advice about it.

"I've been trying to help him but it's very difficult."

Someone should inform him that mothers aren't all they're cracked up to be. [Dorian's tone was dry, his expression disinterested. He supposed that Pokemon likely couldn't comprehend the more complex relations that came with humanity. He also figured that the cubone likely didn't have the kind of mother that the Altus did.]

[Whoops.]

Rather brutal, don't you think? To produce a race of creatures that are weakened by the perpetual loss of their parents.

[ Funnily enough, the man who was raised in an orphanage and had a mother complex isn't impressed by Dorian's dry tone about mothers. But he manages a shrug of his shoulders. ]

Isn't that life? No species is promised a mother - or a caretaker - after birth. Pokemon hunt each other just as animals do. In time, he will evolve. [ He is protective of his starter, even in conversation that only implies he might be 'weak' ]

[Dorian shrugged in turn. While Walter had a point, that it was simply nature for it to happen, to have an entire species dependent on that seemed morbid.]

I'm certain he will. I am only saying that it seems wrong on a fundamental level. Promised a mother or not, damning an entire race to mourning seems like it would be a flaw.

[ Walter couldn't answer that. But his hand drops and gently cradles Assumption's pokeball on his belt absently rubbing his thumb over it. ]

There are many rumours about how his race began. There is a species known as Kangashkans, that carry their young in a pouch; it's thought Cubones began as a sub-species of them.

That... is slightly more comforting.

[A sub-species that befell a tragedy is easier to swallow than a species created on some whim of a god. Natural evolution, however farfetched it was, seemed easier on the conscience.]

Walter thought for a moment. Then dropped Assumption's pokeball, recalling Chaos. Perhaps it would ease Dorian to see one of them.

Assumption appeared in a small flash of light, blinking up at the two men with round, dark eyes. He waved to Dorian but beamed at Walter, greeting him with a cry and holding up his arms. Lift him please! Walter obliged, kneeling down and picking him up, so he could show Dorian the Cubone more clearly. Assumption didn't mind at all, quite happy to be held and to check out Dorian in return.

"This is Assumption."

[Dorian's brows raised. Looking at the creature, it was hard to imagine it longed for a mother. The blond appeared to have taken on the role, and there was nothing short of adoration in those eyes.]

[The former mage peeked over at Viridis, who eyed him knowingly. Its expression drifted into the "Don't even dare" territory, which might have made him laugh, if not for the tender moment in front of him.]

He seems a gallant and sweet creature, I will admit.

"He is." Walter assured him, tucking Assumption in the crook of his elbow, thumb idly petting his skull.

At being called 'gallant and sweet', Assumption wagged his tail cheerfully. He wasn't sure what 'gallant' meant but Walter hadn't taken offense so that meant it was a good thing! He replied happily, in that language only Pokemon seemed to understand. "Thank you! You look gally-aunt too. And so do you." Assumption had finally spotted Viridis, waving to him from Walter's arm.

"He seems young, judging by how he behaves at times." As if it wasn't obvious from the little Pokemon's behaviour right then and there. Walter couldn't help a fond expression as he looked over Assumption, although it faded back into his normal, placid look when he lifted his eyes back to Dorian.

[Even Viridis couldn't resist the cubone's charms. Though he tried to give the creature a speculative look, the way it spoke quickly charmed the serpent. He slithered over, touching his nose to the foot of the creature. Though its expression remained a scowl, its mannerisms were friendly, at least.]

Young indeed. [Dorian scowled down at Viridis, mildly annoyed that it had never been so friendly to him.] I suppose I can see how it would be difficult to process -- [He frowned.] things.

Assumption giggled when his foot was touched and tugging on Walter's sleeve. Down please! Walter glanced over at him. "I won't pick you up again." But Assumption nodded seriously, showing he understood. Once on the ground he smiled up at Viridis, not bothered by the size or type advantage the Servine had on him, and began to tap his club on the ground. Among other Cubones and Marowaks, the way he was currently rapping the bone on the floor would be a friendly message, rather than a warning of danger.

Walter nodded, thinking carefully before speaking up again. "Apparently the Pokemon we are given in this place reflect something about ourselves." He wasn't afraid to admit that much. He reached into a pocket to retrieve his PokeGear, intending to identify Viridis. "May I?"

[Viridis swayed to the side, his head tilting at the motions of the smaller creature. He gave an uneasy glance to his master, then looked back at the infant. After a moment, he lowered himself to the floor, curling up as to look both less threatening and to simply be on his level.]

[Stubborn blighter, Dorian thought to himself.]

[The mage nodded his permission to the other man, still mulling over his words. He crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at Viridis. He certainly could see the similarities between the two of them but...]

What is it that you two have in common, then?

Assumption grinned, lying on his belly with Viridis. He reached out and very gently booped Viridis' nose with his paw.

Walter hadn't expected the question. He hesitated, listening to the Pokedex give him a little information on Servines, albeit nothing about their demeanour. Once he tucked his PokeGear away he avoided looking at Dorian, instead focusing on Assumption and his childish antics. "I also grew up without a mother. Or a father. I was raised by priests in an orphanage, deep in the woods of Silent Hill." Although Assumption was orphaned by death; he had been orphaned by his parents leaving.

[Viridis reared back, snorting in offense. He glowered down at the creature, briefly considering administering a vine whip in retaliation. However, both a chiding look from Dorian and a glance at the innocent face of the creature below pacified it for the time being. He lowered himself once more, nudging his nose back against the Cubone.]

[The second Walter spoke, Dorian found himself gripped with guilt. A frown crossed his lips, and he too averted his gaze.]

I apologize for bringing it up. [He considered apologizing for Walter's circumstances, but instead bit it back. If anyone had apologized to him for his struggles, had offered any amount of pity, he might have slapped them.]

Walter shook his head. "That's...life." He said simply, echoing what he had said earlier about Assumption lacking a mother. "I never knew them. Assumption knew his mother." It didn't make it easier, knowing his parents had left after his birth. But even as a child he had found it easy enough to mention - it wasn't as if he was alone in the orphanage. In his eyes, Assumption's situation was far, far worse. To have a mother, and then to lose her...

It was a good thing Viridis hadn't attacked Assumption, not because it would sting the little Pokemon (Assumption was very high level and could endure a vine whip from him), but because Walter would not have been at all impressed. But Assumption merely giggled. He made a point of showing his paws and tucking them under his belly. No more nose boops! His tail wagged when Viridis nudged him again. Walter watched them quietly, gaze faraway as he delved slightly into his thoughts.

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[05] [video] / [action - goldenrod]

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