75th moon [video]

[paladinlost]

[Johto, Kanto, today you get an overhead view of a mass of white hair.

Well, no, that's not quite right. You get an overhead view of a mass of white hair that has been previously vomited on by a Skittles factory. Seriously, there are enough beads in there to cover decently an exotic dancer, with colors that clash so much they could blind design students. The worst part? Two Gardevoirs can partially be seen, working on the beads, and they're still adding more.]

How does it look? The girls refuse to let me see the results until they're completely done.

[Break it to him gently, everyone.]

Comments

[paladinlost]

...That would quite probably be a very alarming description if I knew what a gumball was.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

It's a piece of candy in the shape of a ball, and you don't want to look like one.

[paladinlost]

I suppose not. One of my Gyarados loves candy, and her mouth is large enough to fit my head. She might get ideas.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Is that the dragon Pokemon that looks like it wants everyone to get in its belly right now?

[paladinlost]

Yes. I received three of them from trainers who disappeared.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

What do you mean, disappeared?

[paladinlost]

They've returned home, after stays that lasted months or years. I suppose we are meant to be happy for them.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

...Did they do that by choice or is it...enforced?

Because I really like it here. Really.

[paladinlost]

Enforced and unpredictable. You wake up one morning, and your roommate is gone without a trace.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

[Howard starts to breathe very quickly and shallowly.]

And this doesn't bother anyone?!

[paladinlost]

Of course it does. But as the months and years pass by and the people you know disappear, there is little you can do but grieve and move on.

[Goodness knows he's had to do that a lot.]

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

I mean...how does society not totally collapse?

[People randomly disappeared in his old home. His old home was a post-apocalyptic cesspool.

He brings a hand to his chest and tries to breathe a bit slower.]

[paladinlost]

It only happens to us, not to the locals, so they care little about it. And we've had enough returnees to know for certain that people are sent home safely, at the exact moment they were taken.

[Which can be a very meager comfort at times.]

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

I don't want to be sent back. I can't. I can't breathe.

[He releases his Sneasel from her Pokéball and pets her head, clutching a bit at her fur. She growls but doesn't resist.]

[paladinlost]

[Oh dear, that doesn't sound good.]

Are you alright? You don't sound so good.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

I need a minute. [gasp] Bye. [Howard shuts off his PokéGear. He'll deal with his panic on his own.]

[paladinlost]

Good-

[And it's off!]

-bye. That didn't sound good.

[But it looks like he can't help much with that.]