paladinlost | 90th moon [video]

Everyone, look at the wonderful meal my team prepared for me! Is it not by far the tastiest-looking meal you've ever seen?

[Wow, Cecil sure sounds enthusiastic about his meal today. Overly enthusiastic, even, to the point that most of it seems faked. Just like a father loudly praising his child's particularly ugly macaroni artwork to the skies when witnesses are present.

Which is a surprisingly appropriate comparison, as the "meal" he now shows to the world only looks the part when compared to tar-coated cement. The chicken seems raw, the barbecue sauce has fuzzy grey and green bits, the pasta could be recognized as overcooked twenty paces away, the potatoes would easily replace the aforementioned cement...]

Why, it looks so wonderful, I cannot bear to ruin it with a bite! Perhaps I should freeze it, and keep it intact on a shelf as a testament to their talent-

[Multiples annoyed grumblings can heard, and a blue tentacle moves into the frame, holding a fork and waving it angrily. No, trainer, we prepared this so you could show the world our boundless talent and enjoy our efforts. You've done the first, now do the second. Or else.]

...If you all insist.

[The Pokégear is set down on the table and promptly picked up by one of the Pokémon present, allowing Cecil to appear on the screen, fork in hand. He hesitates for a few seconds, picks a piece of chicken up, brings it to his mouth, takes a wary bite...

His eyes quickly widen, and the Gear is promptly turned off just as a Lilligant calls out in alarm.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think that'll not be necessary. I was not quite foolish enough to swallow any of the food, though my refusal to do so hurt my team's feelings.

[Safety over feelings, though.]

Mm, I see...

[That's not good, but.]

I'm sure they'll understand. They can't stay mad at you, right?

...Hopefully not. I wished to spare their feelings, truly, but when the meat touched my tongue I could not quite bring myself to do it. but I do know they tried their best.

[It's just that their best was very bad.]

I think just the thought itself should be enough for them. At least you attempted to try it; it's not as though you ignored it completely. ...That itself should make them quite happy, Mr. Harvey.

Perhaps, once their upset feelings fade away. If I'm lucky, that happiness will even convince them to ask for my input and help, the next time they decide to try their paws at cooking. I've no doubt they could do much better with proper supervision.

That sounds like a good idea, I think. I hope everything works out for you.

Thank you. Still, I'm very lucky; they could have easily used ingredients not meant for human consumption, but they did not.

That's proof itself that they care much about you, Mr. Harvey. It's wonderful that you have such kind and caring Pokémon.

That it is, though I can hardly claim all the credit for it. Many came to me from other trainers, now long gone; those learned kindness before I ever met them, and have thankfully never forgotten those lessons.

Heehee, then you're quite fortunate to have received them.

That I am, especially since a few were my own Pokémon's children in the first place. This world is kind enough to not keep families separated, sometimes.

That's such a wonderful story, Mr. Harvey. I'm glad that everything worked out for you.

So am I. And I do hope you'll also have such pleasant stories to share, someday. They make our journeys memorable.

Ah, thank you; I truly hope so. If I do, I'll be sure to share them with you, Mr. Harvey.

That's very kind of you, thank you. I'll be looking forward to it.

90th moon [video]

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;