Victory Road!

[Will Dimitri ever start off a video with it in a steady position? No. Never. Enjoy that close up of his hand before he pulls it away from where he's presumably placed his Pokegear on a decently high and flat surface. It must be somewhere in the living room of his home, considering the camera focuses immediately on a large television screen on the wall opposite from it.]

[And what's playing on that screen, while a small little Rattata wearing some sort of VR helmet stands in front of it? Don't worry about it. Yes, Gremlin is playing Just Dance. Ease up.]

[As Dimitri pulls away, it's clear to see Dean the Emboar sitting just barely in from as well, giving polite claps of his hooves as Gremlin pulls off different dance moves in time with the video. There's also a Fletchinder on the Emboar's shoulder, bouncing up and down in time with the beat with a single leg decorated in pretty golden ribbon. He only has the one leg.]

[Try not to get lost staring at that too much, because Dimitri is pulling back into frame with a smile on his face.]

Good tidings, everyone. I hope that you enjoyed the Christmas holiday that recently passed, whether you are used to such things, or have experienced it for the first time.

There has been... a great deal of change for me, personally. Only a year ago, and I felt very differently. Things have been for the better, I suppose.

In my own homeland, the end of the year would actually not happen for another couple of months. We waited for the winter to end, before considering things to begin anew. I have had to adjust to it all myself, but it has not been too unpleasant.

I suppose it helps that winter festivities are very much the same, no matter where one hails.

[In the background, one can just barely see the head of a Midday Lycanroc come into the frame as she violently shakes the plush and Christmas-themed Crabominable she has in her mouth. It ends up going flying, almost into the little Rattata still dancing along to the video game... Only for some sort of psychic energy to envelop it and redirect the toy elsewhere - offscreen - so that the Lycanroc goes chasing after it and out of sight.]

[Dimitri remains oblivious to such things and just keeps talking.]

For example, at the end of winter in Faerghus, we have a holiday dedicated to one of the holy saints. It is encouraged to check up on one's neighbors in town, to make sure that all has gone well throughout the long winter, and to pool together resources for a communal feast.

That particular saint was known to be somewhat reserved, but someone who always used his hands to do good... So checking on those you have not seen in likely many weeks, even months, is thought do be in line with what he represents.

What sort of holidays do you know of in your own homelands? Or what form does Christmas take there? Ah-

[Sorry, he's being interrupted by squeaking, as the Rattata behind him has finished his song, and is bouncing up and down. Dimitri turns away to go crouch down besides him, holding out his large palms so those little rat hands can smack into them excitedly.]

Alternatively, you can tell me of what gifts you received over the holiday. I cannot speak for anyone else, but I received something... quite sentimental to me. [Armor he might even wear, instead of the black and battered one he tends to wear lately.] Gremlin here also received a rather fantastic gift. Something called.... VR?

[Dimitri clearly has no idea what he's talking about. It's fine.]

It is a dancing game, and he has been having a lot of fun... Ah, what a good score, Gremlin! [And then, a quieter aside to Dean the Emboar.] Is that a good score?

[While Dean is nodding reassuringly - it's a decent score, just a couple of missed spots or things the VR set might not have recognized - another shape walks almost dead silently into frame. It's an Alolan Marowak, and she lightly taps Gremlin's shoulder without making a single sound. He manages to pop the VR helmet off, blinking at her, before offering the helmet to her with a happy squeak. Yes, he is good boy, he shares his games!]

[The Alolan Marowak takes the helmet, turns her back to the Pokegear to show off those bone-like markings along her spine, and hunches over with her head bowed to start doing.... something. Martlet the Fletchinder tucks his face underneath one wing, while Dean looks up towards the ceiling. Gremlin covers his face with both of his large ears, and Dimitri averts his eyes.]

[This only changes when the Alolan Marowak straightens up, and, it's hard to tell, but is that... some metal peering out from underneath her skull helmet? Did she put the VR helmet under the bone one?]

[Don't you worry about it.]

[On the screen, one of the little dance avatars glitches out for a moment, changing from a stylized Rattata alongside some humans, into a Marowak. And then... She chooses a song.]

[And is kind of bizarrely good at it, movements perfectly timed and popped off without a single thing one wrong.]

[Gremlin clutches his face with his little rat hands, jaw dropped. Dimitri watches for a moment with the detached view of someone who still doesn't really Get video games, before turning back to the camera with a smile.]

The game has been very popular.