prank #51 | video

[ghostytrainer]

[Judging by the dim light, it's well into sunset by now and John's laying on a lounge chair on what can only be the deck of the S.S. Anne. On his chest lays a small Dunsparce, wearing a tiny and absolutely adorable light blue party hat. John's idly petting its back, eliciting a few content sighs from the little snake every now and again.]

I know we have a starter appreciation day, but there's nothing quite like the anniversary of your arrival to get you thinking about the Pokémon that started it all. Like really think about them, I mean. Not just kind of acknowledging that they were your first Pokémon.

Or maybe I am just sentimental, who knows. But I really think there's something kind of special about starters. Even if there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to why you were paired up together. Either way, Colonel Sassacre here and I have been together three years as of today. [The Dunsparce flitters his wings a little, maybe giving the camera the smallest of smiles.] Though it feels like it's been way longer than that, honestly. Time flies when you're having fun, right?

[He beams at the camera.]

So tell me about your starters. What was yours? What sort of things have you done together? I dunno, just brag about them if you want. Or we can just talk about whatever, you know I am honestly not too picky. There's just only so long I can appreciate complete silence, personally. But this chair is way too comfy and the breeze feels way too nice to go back inside.

[He's feeling chatty again, apparently. And also lazy. Though what else is new on either of those fronts, really?]

On that note, if you haven't done the elite battle with Blue or Claire to get your S.S. Anne pass, I highly recommend doing so. Just saying. Totally worth it.

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[kringlefuck]

_{[ nothing else matters, just: ]}

John!!

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[ghostytrainer]

[Wow, rude. He totally had all sorts of important things to say there.]

Hi Jake. How's it going?

[video]

[paladinlost]

Rosie spent my first three weeks in this world teaching me how to use the Pokégear, the various potions and the cash registers at work. Perhaps I should thank her with a cruise of our own.

[Because the MVP of his team kinda deserves it.]

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[ghostytrainer]

You should! She would probably appreciate that, there's plenty for Pokémon to do here. It's not just for people. Which...probably goes without saying since that's pretty much the rule of thumb here, isn't it?

So from the sounds of things, you got the perfect partner, huh?

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[heartsplintered]

I think you are just a hair sentimental, but I'm not judging.

[He shifts his gear so John can see Squarewave, perched in his usual place atop Dirk's head.]

You met Squarewave. His specialties are roosting in my hair and being obnoxious. But I guess we get along all right.

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[ghostytrainer]

Oh good, if it's just one, single hair then it's all good. That means I am still far away from maximum sap levels.

[He chuckles.]

Yes, I remember Squarewave, hello. [He wiggles his fingers at the bird.] I think that might just be a smaller bird thing though, to tell you the truth. Mister Spock was the same way before he evolved. So was Liv, now that I think about it.

[...Thankfully neither of them still try to do this because Xatu and Altaria are far too big to be perching on heads.]

So maybe Squarewave will too if he wants to evolve.

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[mayushiii]

Congrats to both of you!! Wow, that's a super duper long time to be here~

[Pipi the Togekiss stands behind her and gives off a happy cry as well.]

Pipi and me have been together for six months, we're never apart and she keeps me warm and safe at night.

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[ghostytrainer]

Thank you. There are people who have been here even longer than me though! But I am glad that I have stuck around as long as I have.

[John's eyes light up once he catches sight of the Togekiss.]

Ah! Togekiss! Hehe, they're really good at that, aren't they?

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[tentacletrainer]

[She waited for him to finish his video before approaching, balancing a plate carefully in hand. On said plate are two glasses of what could be champagne but is more likely to be juice of some sort, as well as a few treats for Sassacre and Guile - who is of course following at her heels.]

Happy anniversary you two. [A cup for you, Johh, and Rose is place a few of those treats onto his chest. Guile purrs, giving them each an affectionate nuzzle.]

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[ghostytrainer]

[Did you really just put Pokémon treats on his chest, Rose. Really. Really.]

Thank you. [John takes the glass from Rose, holding it up to her and inclining it slightly. Sassacre, meanwhile, is just going to help himself to those treats. Here's to another eventful year.

[Video]

[tearsofademon]

[well, since you asked]

Sometimes I wonder if whoever or whatever set me up with Rose did it to be a smartass.

["Fairy~" Rose knows her dear partner, who is petting her, doesn't actually mean that.]

[Video]

[ghostytrainer]

Hehe, you wouldn't be the first that I have heard something similar from.

[His own Rose and her starter are much the same way.]

I like to think there's a reason for our starters though, even if it's not really obvious. [A beat.] Beyond "doing it for the lulz," I mean. Truthfully I am still not sure exactly what the reason for mine was but I am not complaining because he's a great companion.

[Video]

[dressofheaven]

The first thing I did when I arrived in this world was to ride around on Berserker.

He was still a Rhyhorn at the time, so he wasn't as large and fearsome as he is now, but people still didn't appreciate it much.

[Guess who didn't (still doesn't) care?]

[Video]

[ghostytrainer]

[Oh he can tell she doesn't care. It's actually kind of oddly funny.]

Pffft, well I can imagine people might not be crazy about a Ryhorn traipsing through their town. Though I bet that made the first leg of your journey a heck of a lot easier.

[Dunsparce, why aren't you big enough for John to ride on? Why didn't you evolve into a giant, fearsome snake-y skybeast like John had imagined you would? He could have saved so much time in traveling early on.]

[Video]

[aflashoffaith]

[Starter appreciation day? There's way too many holidays in this place.]

I have to admit I thought she was a little too... cute, for my tastes at first. But Hachi has proven herself to be quite a loyal companion.

[Minato moved his 'gear, tilting the camera to show off the small Plusle at his side, wearing a white flame tipped cloak and doing some sort of... dance, for the Minun at her side.]

But if they're not training, they're dancing.

[He's rather attached to her now though.]

[Video]

[ghostytrainer]

The cute ones can sometimes be the most surprising! Some of mine have really taken me by surprise like that too. I like her cloak, it's very...

[Hold on, he's seen a cloak like that before. Squint.]

Actually...you wouldn't happen to be Naruto's dad, would you?

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[struck_out]

Keisuke's my starter. Used to be a Chimchar, but he's evolved all the way up to Infernape! He's a pretty awesome fire monkey an' he knows how to kick ass. He's really serious though, so sometimes if you catch him in the wrong mood he'll light your ass on fire especially when he's trainin' 'cause he doesn't like to be disturbed. I think he's got a crush on a girl too, 'cause he's been actin' real strange an' blushy but he won't tell me who she is.

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[ghostytrainer]

A serious monkey, huh? Hehehe, something about that seems a little backwards to me! [Because, you know...monkey business.] But some Pokémon just defy expectations like that. It's pretty cool.

Hopefully you can figure it out before he makes a move and they surprise you with a bunch eggs though. I swear that's how most people here figure out that their Pokémon have crushes.

[video]

[rocketralph]

That's nice and all for people whose starters don't hate them.

_{[Ralph, you party pooper.]}

[video]

[ghostytrainer]

[Aw, Ralph. That's so sad. 8(]

Oh...are you sure it actually hates you? Maybe it's just...bad at showing affection. My Umbreon was like that for the longest time. I was convinced he hated me.

[radeonthecity]

[Someone asking him to show off one of his Pokémon? Domri's up for that.

The feed opens on a Rhydon and a Rampardos sleeping against each other.]

Rubbleback was my starter. He's the one on the left. He was a Rhyhorn when I first met him though. Pretty much the first thing he did when I took him out of his Pokéball was charge a building. He made a really big dent in the wall! He likes smashing stuff. He's been fighting really well at the gyms, too!

[ghostytrainer]

Oh jeez. I hope you've found things for him to smash that are a little less...uhm. Well distinctly not buildings.

[Because Christ, man. That could be dangerous! PEOPLE ARE USUALLY INSIDE BUILDINGS. AND POKEMON.]

But he sure sounds like a one-mon gym wrecking machine. How many of the gyms have you defeated together?

[heartdive]

Three years... Wonder if I'll end up being here that long.

[ he's turning 18 this year and that's a scary thought! ]

Fluffy's my starter. He's still a pretty happy, bigger ball of fluff.

[ghostytrainer]

Hey, Riku has me beat and he's from your world so maybe!

[John's right behind him, going on 17. Everything is scary.]

Fluffy is...? Well, aside from a ball of fluff, I mean. Is he an Altaria or a Whimsicott or something? [Those are the only fluffy things he can think of off the top of his head that STAY fluffy as they evolve.]

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[angerpoints]

Three years, huh?

... damn. That's a long time.

[Very astute observation there, Yusuke! John's not the first person he's spoken to who's been here for that length of time, but Yusuke still looks a little taken aback when the video initially opens up. He's quick to slap on a neutral expression and move on to answer John's question, though, saying:]

Anyway, uh, my starter is...

[Yusuke pauses and glances somewhere off-screen.]

Hey, Puu! C'mere!

[It takes a minute, but eventually, an enormously fluffy Altaria comes bustling into view, damn near engulfing Yusuke in the mass of white feathers that makes up most of his body as he does. Yusuke grunts a little and scooches off to the side to accomodate Puu and his, uh, bulk, adjusting the 'Gear so that they both fit into the shot. The look on his face is one of mixed exasperation and irritation, but he still ends up slinging an arm over Puu once he's settled again. Clearly, he musn't be that mad about nearly being drowned in fluff if he's still willing to be a little physically affectionate with him.]

Yeah. It's, uh, this guy. We didn't really get along that great at first, but we're all right now, I think. Right, buddy?

[Puu lets out a chirp and tilts his head a little at the 'Gear, blinking inquisitively at John's image on the screen. Oh hey there, teenage dude with glasses! 'sup.]

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[ghostytrainer]

Heh, really it seems like a very short time. It's kinda weird, like I sit here and just go "really? Only three years? No that can't be right, it has to have been longer than that!"

[He smiles at the Altaria, giving it a small wave. Though, for the record: he's totally thinking of Winnie the Pooh right now. He is completely convinced that that is what he's named after and this fact slightly baffles him. Yusuke, really? Is it because of the fluff?????]

What changed? Between you and Puu, I mean?

[believeit]

[Naruto brings up the video, Gama-chan the Politoed bouncing beside him on the grass.]

My starter's really cool y'know! He's a toad-- I guess I got given it since I could summon ninja toads at home! And not just that, he's got these swirly markings on him and hey sorta look like the ones on our clothes? That's the symbol of Whirlpool, that's where my Mom comes from!

Anyway, he's really strong. At first he was sorta stupid, and wasn't very good, but it's all changed now! And all my other toads like to follow him around and listen to him, my Dad's too, he's really great!

[ghostytrainer]

Hehe, so he was a perfect match then? [A beat as it sinks in that that could have been a backhanded insult.] I mean aesthetically not...er. Look I wasn't trying to imply that you're stupid or anything with that. It was more the swirly frog thing. But it's good that he grew up!

A-Anyway, what's his name?

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[imthe_shit]

My starters, huh...

I haven't really got any fond memories of these guys yet. Unless a big Torkoal eating your cigarettes counts as "fond". My real memories are with my first starters, from the first time I was here. Can't really forget those times.

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[ghostytrainer]

Oh, you were here once before, Snake? [And you remember it? Wow congrats you are like the fifth person John has encountered who has pulled this off.] What was it last time?

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[superordinary]

I started with my Togepi, Yumie. Her only attacking move was Metronome so knocking out the Rattatas and Pidgeys on Route 29 wasn't easy.

[ He caught his Sentret the same day because Metronome turned out to be unreliable as hell and frequently resulted in attacks that didn't hurt the opponent at all. :|b ]

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[ghostytrainer]

Fffff...I yeah wow, kudos to you. Training Togepi is a challenge enough for that exact reason but having that as your starter too...I never really thought about how hard that must be. Did you have trouble catching something else too?

[Because John's luck is shit and he's pretty sure if it were him, he would have always gotten a ridiculously powerful move just as he was about to try and capture something.]