008 || video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

[The feed starts and viewers are greeted to the sight of Raikov attempting to put little booties on Katya's feet. She already clad in a tiny scarf. Dat Joltik has sum style.]

... I'd take the crazy weather over terrorist-like attacks any day. Things might be quiet for now but who knows how long that'll last? Was it like this in any of the previous years?

[Because he really hopes this isn't a repeating offense. This place was supposed to be war free... It just doesn't feel right. He'd never admit it out loud but that weapon Cobra showed last week has him worried. The last thing this world needs is a nuclear super weapon or something like it.

He lets out an exasperated sigh. Always the drama queen. Katya just chirps and tilts her head.]

I've been meaning to ask a few other things as well.

For the pokemon that evolve via stone, when do you know is the "right" moment to give them one? Is there ever one...?

How difficult are the routes to travel during the winter?

And lastly... Why the hell is everyone doing their holiday shopping so early? New Years isn't for another month and a half.

[Someone isn't aware of "Christmas" outside of the Motherland. Oops.]


[Private to Scar//Unhackable;]
Hey. Is Kashet doing any better? Natasha's mood has been improving since their play date. I think it really helped her. Perhaps we should get together for another. Do you like tea?

Comments

[loveisanopendoor]

It could be worth a shot! I think that whatever's most comfortable is best; there's no reason to force it to evolve if it doesn't want to. I mean, you know me, I'd be satisfied even if, say, Magikarp never evolved...

[majorcrotchgrab]

[Blink. blink.]

Really? But Magikarp are... kind of useless in their first form.

[loveisanopendoor]

Hey now, don't say that..! Magikarp has plenty of potential, you know! It's just a matter of how you raise them! If you give them lots of tender love and care...

[majorcrotchgrab]

I've battled a few and they were rather pitiful, no offense.

[loveisanopendoor]

Hmph...people being so mean to the little guys are pretty much the reason why Gyarados are so aggressive by nature when they evolve, after all. All that pent-up frustration...

[majorcrotchgrab]

I wonder then... How well did yours do in battle?

[loveisanopendoor]

Up until he reached level 15 or so, he tried his hardest, but his Splash could only do so much, so he had to get some help from his friends...after he learned Tackle, though, he was really determined! Even when he was young he loved to thrash around a little, and after he finally learned how to attack with it, he started to get more and more independent...I was so proud of him!

[majorcrotchgrab]

Hmm... Perhaps your right then. A positive influence would make someone more genuinely determined to better themselves...

[He's kind of used to being a jerk and instilling fear into people to get them to perform better. Not so much with his pokemon though, thankfully. They're all spoiled.]

[loveisanopendoor]

I've always thought that the best kind of improvement comes with plenty of love and positive reinforcement! And even if training a Magikarp isn't as fast as training a Pokemon that you'd think is, y'know, a bit stronger or more intimidating or whatever the case may be...well, those are the Pokemon that need love the most, don't they? And Marlin is about as amazing as can be!

[majorcrotchgrab]

I'll have to keep that in mind then. ... Thanks, Anna.

[loveisanopendoor]

It's my pleasure, Mister Raikov! I'm really glad I could help! And hopefully you and Alexei can come to a decision over what he wants to evolve into! But I'm sure whatever it is you'll love him just the same.

[majorcrotchgrab]

[Raikov nods and smiles.]

He is a wonderful pokemon and I'm quite proud of him.

[loveisanopendoor]

It sounds like you train pretty much all your Pokemon with lots of love! That's honestly the best way!

[majorcrotchgrab]

I try.

[The Joltik in winter clothes seems to think so and chirps happily.]