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

[Video]

[francia]

[France blinks before understanding dawns in his eyes. His expression softens a bit, although it's uncertain if it's due to a bizarre sort of nostalgia or pity.]

Ah, it's a traditionally religious holiday. Very deeply engrained for me, so I tend to have a bad habit of assuming. Generally, here in this place, it's not religious at all: the concentration is on gift-giving and spending quality time with family and friends.

[Video]

[majorcrotchgrab]

That just sounds like New Years though. I don't understand...

[Video]

[francia]

[France nods.]

It probably does. I don't know how long an explanation you would want, but the secularisation of Christmas in recent decades has made it very similar to your New Years celebrations.

[He remembers something as he says that.]

Ah, there's usually some sort of mysterious appearance on Christmas of something new in your belongings. In the past, we've had eggs and items from our worlds appear.

[Video]

[majorcrotchgrab]

Odd...

[Okay, the fact that he's going to get a random gift immediately grabs his full attention.]

Oh. Like, new pokemon eggs...? And what sort of items?

[Video]

[francia]

My Umbreon, Thérèse, and Serperior, Elzéar, were both born from eggs that I received at Christmases. As for items -

[France reaches up and adjusts the necklace he wears around his neck, placing the pendant in his palm so that Ivan can hopefully see it better through the 'Gear. It's a clear glass pendant that appears to have a couple of tiny pebbles and dirt inside of it.]

This is what appeared last year. I know that it looks very plain, but it's all I have besides myself and the clothes I arrived in of home.

[Video]

[majorcrotchgrab]

I wonder then...

[... if he'd get his old sketchbooks back.]

What if the belonging was lost before?

[Video]

[francia]

[France shakes his head.]

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how it work, or if it even has rhyme or reason behind it. I didn't own anything like this back home.

[His lips quirk, the light in his eyes self-conscious.]

My usual style is rather more gilded.

[Video]

[majorcrotchgrab]

Guess I'll just have to see when the time comes.

[Raikov blinks, giving the necklace another look. What if...]

... What if it's dirt from the land back in your world?

[Video]

[francia]

[France beams.]

That is what I'm quite sure it is. I can't always know things in the way I should be able to, but this place doesn't seem to do anything without some sort of reason, at least when it comes to gifting.

[Video]

[majorcrotchgrab]

... If it's capable of bringing that here, then surely I can get my old sketchbooks back...

[Video]

[francia]

[There's a softening to France's expression.]

This place isn't predictable in its whims, but I hope you can get them back.

Are you an artist or is it mainly a hobby?

[Video]

[majorcrotchgrab]

Mainly a hobby. I would have loved to gone career with it though.