002 Video in Violet City Inn

[begetsvengeance]

[When the camera turns on, viewers will be greeted by an image of Jeane casually sitting down on her bed, with 1 mop top-headed blue dragon on her lap. Unlike the last time she used the damn gear, she's actually dressed sensibly for a change. Shocker, huh?]

You know, when I bought that Deino egg a few weeks ago I really didn't know what to expect. However, this...

[She gestures to the dragon on her lap, scratching it on its head.]

-wasn't something even I'd consider. Seriously, this thing looks like a crossover between Ringo Starr and a dog, with some lizard bits sprinkled in for good measure. If I wasn't a fan of the Beatles, I'd probably be angry.

But I'm not. Even named him Ringo for good measure. Hopefully he grows three more heads when he evolves so we can have the whole band.

[She puts him down on the ground, watching him for a few seconds as he walks off screen before turning her attention back to the camera.]

Anyway, now that the update all the "cool kids" do is out of the way, I can get to the main point of this message. I've been in this place for about a month, give or take. During that time I've been watching the network. People give updates like the one I just did all the time, telling us about shit we really don't care about, yet the one thing I never see is people complaining about this place.

We're taken from our homes to order a bunch of animals from a video game around for no apparent reason, yet I can count on my right hand the number of complaints I've heard, not counting newbies. So that got me thinking, why is that? Is it because bitching about our situation is pointless? Or...is it because back home just flat out sucks.

[A smile creeps across Jeane's face as she shrugs.]

Dunno why I'm so curious all of a sudden. Maybe I'm just up for a game of "if you tell me yours I'll tell you mine". It's probably the boredom sinking in, but feel free to enlighten me either way, I'll be sure to return the favo-

[Right before she finishes talking, Ringo appears behind her on screen yet again and...walks right into a wall. This must happen a lot, since Jeane just pinches the bridge of her nose and looks disappointed as the scene unfolds.]

...also tips on how to raise a blind dragon would be appreciated. Thanks.

Comments

[ video ]

[unended]

It's not that I don't miss home, but it seems like it would be petty of me to complain when I'm sure a lot of others have it a lot harder.

[ he doesn't know much about blind dragons so he can't offer much on that end. ]

[ video ]

[begetsvengeance]

That's something I've never understood; why care about how petty you are in one aspect when you're just going to be petty in another?

Besides, complaining about it to others might enable some progress when it comes to getting back home.

[ video ]

[unended]

It's something that's easy to avoid.

...that never occurred to me. I figured I shouldn't complain if I have no idea for a solution, that's all.

[ video ]

[begetsvengeance]

Ever hear the saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"? It's like that. I don't recommend bitching often, as it'll make me want to punch you, but if you complain about something and someone thinks the same way, you can work together to fix the problem.

I'm not the kind of girl that likes to get help, but even I know there's some things you can't do on your own.

video

[islandshore]

If it's any consolation, they aren't blind anymore once they've evolved.

[He turns the camera towards the two Hydreigons curled up in a corner snoozin'. D'aw, isn't that cute?]

As for complaints... well, my only real complaint is that there are way too many people hanging around Goldenrod City and there really isn't as much to do competitively when you've gotten all the badges.

video

[begetsvengeance]

[Adorable. Although it's a bit disappointing that they don't even look like Ringo any more.

Pity.]

That's a relief. How long until he evolves?

[And after listening to that next bit...]

So you don't mind this place. Cool. Doesn't answer my question, but cool.

video

[islandshore]

That's the one downside-- it'll take a few months to get there, so for now, I guess the best advice I can give you is to help guide him along. One of my friends used pillows to curb the biting habit, if it helps.

[As for the next bit, he falters a little because... yeah. He kinda did ignore the question, huh? Or at least gave a lousy response.

But does he really like everything about the world? ...Not really. And the lack of complaints kind of is weird. Maybe he oughta take a different approach. Even he'd be an idiot to say he likes everything.]

And as for a real answer... I guess the way everything centers around Pokémon to a point where you can't even carry a weapon to protect yourself or find books, movies, or anything without ties to them does get a little overwhelming. I mean, just look at me, focusing so heavily on it myself.

I've seen people complain about it before, and I definitely get why. You definitely wouldn't find a society centered around... say, fish and seagulls in any world I've heard of.

[He brings a hand to his chin, contemplating for a moment.]

It's like... on one hand, it gives people something to do, but on the other, not everyone is into it. And judging by your comment on boredom, I'm guessing you're not too thrilled at the idea.

video

[begetsvengeance]

Not exactly looking forward to investing money on chewtoys, but I'll give it a shot, thanks.

[She honestly hopes this thing isn't a total waste of money. It better be useful later on...]

A little overwhelming? I can't even turn on the TV without having some godawful Pokémon parody of a show I know greet me. If I have to sit through another episode of Samurott Champloo I'm going to find the TV director, rip his arm off, and then shank him with it until he learns what "quality television" is.

Don't think I won't, either.

[It sounds like she's pretty upset. Maybe she's overreacting, sure, but what do you expect. God forbid someone doesn't want to have Pokémon be the dominating force in their life.]

...and yeah. I don't mind the battling and training, but it's not something I want to do twenty-four seven.

[video]

[enjoymyatelier]

I suppose the fact that it's downright pointless to complain is the biggest factor, though I'm still endlessly annoyed with it. I'll admit that certain aspects of this place have endeared themselves to me after some time, but I'd really prefer to be able to come and go at will.

[video]

[begetsvengeance]

That sounds pretty reasonable, actually. I'll admit this place has grown on me a bit, but really; anyplace is better than Santa Destroy. Mostly because calling my hometown a dump would be an insult.

To dumps.

[video]

[enjoymyatelier]

...yes, in that case, I really can't blame you. I'm from London, which is about as far away from what you're describing as you can get. Admittedly, I can't say it's perfect, but I'm generally fond of the place.

[It's a city but it has things of cultural and historical value! And proper transportation!]

[video]

[begetsvengeance]

[Meanwhile her city is the murder capital of the world. Quite literally.]

Yeah, I'd say that's pretty far, in terms of distance, social standing, economy, and whatever else you can think of.

Still, from the sound of things I'd say you've been here a while. Am I right?

[licentious]

First of all, Deino are notorious for chomping on everything in sight. As such, you might want to prepare a type of gauntlet or glove that it can happily nip at. If it's comfortable and sweet when it evolves now, the chances of its temperament changing dramatically when it evolves is very little, which might happen if you don't pay any close attention to it. [ What would she give to have a non-sociopathic Hydreigon existing in Johto... ]

[begetsvengeance]

He only hatched today, but from what I've seen he's pretty chill. A bit on the dumb side, but I have experience when it comes to dealing with the intellectually-challenged. No big deal.

As for the other bits you mentioned, I'll be sure to keep them in mind. Picking up a gauntlet will be the first thing on my supplies list before I head out again. Don't want this little guy biting off more than he can chew, nor do I want a three-headed dragon out for my blood later on. Not that I'm worried; my Gyarados didn't start to hate me when it evolved.

[In fact her personality didn't change too much at all. Odd, considering Jeane's special brand of "tough love".]

So with that out of the way, is there anything else I should know?

[licentious]

Still, they do radically change with each evolution. I'd start conditioning and trying to corale his behavior while he's still young, as they still are known for biting quite often.

I do hope he continues to have a cooler personality as his growth goes on, as, from my experience, they are quite warm blooded. [ She's very lucky in that case, because she has seen many a Gyarados that just kinda demolish everything in some sort of buttrage. ]

I do think investments in chewing gum would also be worthwhile in terms of entertainment. Also, you should try encouraging the use of other senses beyond taste. Smells and hearing particularly seem favorable.

[begetsvengeance]

Right, that sounds like the best approach. I'll be sure to keep a close eye on him and my Gyarados. Make sure they stay harmless.

To me, anyway.

[Anyone else? Well, it'd definitely suck to be them. Not that Jeane cares.]

So, after I do all this for him, does he ever stop gnawing on everything? Or does he just stop doing it as much?

video;

[positivelynormal]

[ Wow this girl is really hot cool and handles her pokemon in such a cool manner!! ]

Actually I think it's really fun here, and I miss home a lot too. Oh, and for Ringo?

[ Haruka holds up her hands cupped together filled with ribbons and hair clips. ]

Accessorize!

video;

[begetsvengeance]

[Maybe she'll teach Haruka how to act the same way.

...also wow this girl has got some pep to her.]

I don't really miss home too much, just wish there was more to do here.

...and accessorizing isn't really my thing.

video;

[positivelynormal]

[ gurl you have no idea ]

Oh, not for you. I really like the long bangs look and style you have! You remind me of an older version of one of my friends, a little. She's really pretty too.

But the accessories I meant for your pokemon! You could clip Ringo's hair away from the eyes.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[... Well, for all her reluctance to get into personal details in their first conversation, it's a legitimate question. One she can't blame Jeane at all for wondering about, especially in general. It's gotta be bewildering, getting kidnapped somewhere and finding that all the others in the same boat are mostly content, complacent. If she herself were just arriving now, she'd probably assume it was some sort of mass Stockholm Syndrome.]}

It's a little of both.

The longer people stay, the more they figure out that flapping their gums about how unfair it is that we can't go home is pointless.

And for some people this place is just flat-out better than the shit-heaps they come from.

[Video]

[begetsvengeance]

[Well look who it is. If it isn't her fellow freckled blonde, what a shocker.]

I figured as much. Both seem equally likely, and everyone's different. Still, hearing no complaints at all seems pretty surreal. You'd think someone would let a complaint or two slip on occasion...

[Jeane looks down for a few seconds to think. Honestly, thinking about it is relatively pointless, which she knows, but at the same time she just can't help it. It's not like there's much else to do right now.]

So. What's your reason for not bitching?

[Video]

[foolishwren]

Eh. People do bitch, I guess they just don't do it on the network much anymore.

<sub>[She says this with a shrug. Perhaps if it felt more like being held captive... but with so much freedom to move around (hell, you can even own your own property) and a lack of any solid figure to blame, it honestly gets to feel more like some sort of cosmic accident than a real kidnapping. At least when the going's good.]

[Johto can turn sour in a heartbeat, though...]

[Her tone is low and level when she answers the question.]</sub>

Home's got nothing for me.

Here, I've got it all. All the stuff that isn't around back there. _{[A family. Friends. Security. ... For the most part.]}

I can't even think of a reason I'd ever wanna go back.

[video]

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Hey, it's that blonde girl. She'd been one of the sanest people Blake had talked to when he first got here.]

Shit. That does look like Ringo. A blind dragon can't be good for much, though. You could get him a seeing-eye turtle.

Anyway, that's a good question. From what I've heard, a lot of people stop caring and give up. Some of them act like seeing anything wrong with all this, that what's crazy.

And some people, hell, they come from shit that's worse.

For me, reality doesn't smell like roses, but it's reality. You can't forget about it and go run off to play with fireponies.

[video]

[begetsvengeance]

[Oh look who it is. One of the few people she actually "likes"...What'shisface.


...she really needs to start asking people for their names.]

Told ya so. But yeah, even if I could get him something to help him get around he'd probably eat it. Seriously, he gnaws at everything that his head doesn't smash against.

[A pause.]

No, you can't. Still, if I'm going to be here for a while I might as well make the most of it.

[video]

[lieutenantantichrist]

[When it comes to things Blake has been called, What'shisface is one of the nicest ones.]

You could always find one that bites back.

Not much choice except to play along, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it or pretend it's not a pile of bullshit.

Got any plans?