???? [video/action for most places] JINGLE BELLS JINGLE BELLS SEIHAI SENSHOU

[enjoymyatelier]

[Given how Kayneth reacted during that whole nightmare deal, one would think that he would be stoked to have his abilities back yet again, and that was possibly true during the first hour or so.

However, his spirits quickly darkened when he was made aware that he did not, in fact, receive a large amount of mercury to go with said abilities... instead, quite recently, something else had started following him around.

Something far more annoying.

The feed opens with an extremely sour-looking Kayneth, and... is that an instrumental version of Jingle Bells...? No, it definitely is. Also hail, for whatever reason.

Actually, upon looking at the rest of the picture, it becomes clear that the source of both is a boombox-wielding Abomasnow, who is staring at him somewhat expectantly... along with an assorted set of Delibird, Snover, Stantler, some very slightly unseasonal winter Sawsbuck, and some weird iceberg thing with inexplicably functional blinking Christmas lights hung all over it.

Expression aside, Kayneth seems to be doing his damnedest to ignore the Pokemon behind him, because he would not be in a seasonal mood even if it wasn't a month early.]

I believe that a day or so, someone suggested that we use these instances to try and explore locations we're not usually permitted to enter... has anyone actually had anything resembling luck with that? I've been doing my best to make my way to Saffron or Cerulean or somewhere, but I keep finding myself anywhere but-

[He stops, because a winter Deerling is gently nudging his hand. Rather than being charmed, he simply sighs in frustration. Well, it wouldn't discuss to talk about what he really wants to do with this crowd, but...]

Of course, this crowd seems to be following me everywhere, and I haven't been able to actually walk into a Pokemon Center to get any Fire Pokemon to frighten them off. Does anyone have some decent ideas on how to get some unseasonal Christmas carolers to simply go away?

[And hey, maybe if you run into him in person anywhere outside of Ecruteak, Cerulean, or Saffron, you can experience some holiday cheer too! ...even thought it's not even December yet shut up]

(OOC: I have no regrets. This was the only path.)

Comments

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

Well at least it's not one of the more disturbing songs I've heard around here. For supposedly being a celebration of peace and love, a lot of Christmas songs seem to be... remarkably creepy.

["He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake", anyone?]

But I'm guessing that doesn't really help you. Do you have a Pokemon you can use Fly or Teleport with, perhaps? I'm certain Deerling couldn't keep up with a flier and teleportation would put plenty of distance between you.

[Video]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...ah, yes

sometimes he forgets Twilight is a purple unicorn

and then Fourth Wall happens...]

There is that to be said, I suppose. Though, I'll confess that I find the majority of the popular secular ones to be incredibly irritating in tune regardless of whether the lyrics have worrying implications or not.

[they're all so pop-ish and overcommercialized...]

That's the thing... they seem to appear wherever I go regardless of what I do to elude them. Granted, I haven't tried Teleporting intentionally, but given that they seem to manage it when this place decides to place me somewhere else, I doubt it would help much.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

[One day you will get used to the idea, Kayneth.

One day...]

I'm not all that familiar with the songs in question, but I notice you specialized "secular". Are there religious ones which are less... grating?

[Not that she really understands human religion, but a good song is a good song.]

Oh, that does present a problem. Well... do you have Pokemon who could silence them somehow? Put them to sleep, perhaps? I doubt they could sing in that condition.

[You'd be surprised, Twilight.]

[Video]

[enjoymyatelier]

[someday in the far future]

Oh, plenty. They usually have some real artistry to them --- granted, some of the older secular ones do as well, but they're still something of a mixed bag. You have Carol of the Bells, which is fantastic, and then you have We Wish You A Merry Christmas, which is... overly saccharine.

[...he really isn't even particularly religious but damn the songs are good]

Actually, that doesn't seem like a terrible idea... though, I'll admit, the moves my Pokemon have that can accomplish that don't work as often as they could, and they can only target one adversary at a time. Furthermore, I do know most of them, but there's one that I haven't seen in... well... anything before.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

Well I can only hope that they decide to play a few of those over the radio this year. Last time I ended up just giving up and listening to the background noise about halfway through the month. I love a song about peace on Earth and unity between all people as much as anyone, but these took it to levels even I was rolling my eyes at... and that's when they weren't trying to be what I assume was romantic, and instead coming off as unnatural and bizarre.

[Seriously what the everloving hell, person who wrote "Baby It's Cold Outside"?]

Oh, a Pokemon you've never seen? Well, maybe if you knock the others out you could capture it. Though, you might not want to keep a Pokemon that keeps singing such an aggravating song...

[Video]

[enjoymyatelier]

Well, if nothing else, this place has caused me to become fairly adept at blocking out background music. I really do wonder if this place even has the better songs, though... I'm not actually expecting to hear any of the religious ones, since I'd imagine any god in this place would likely be a Pokemon of some sort rather than a human, and this isn't really the sort of place that encourages monotheism. So... yes, it's mostly saccharine fluff and love songs with distressing implications here.

And then, sometimes, they intersect.

[is "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" about a kid not knowing their dad is Santa or is it about holly jolly NTR? we just don't know]

Well, it's just... wearing colored lights right now, mercifully.

[He focuses the video in a bit on the unknown Pokemon (aka Avalugg).]

It doesn't exactly look like the sort of thing that would have a pleasant singing voice.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

Well now I'm wondering how they'd base this sort of music around a Legendary. Perhaps Ho-Oh or Lugia in Johto...

["Hark, the Three Johto Beasts sing! Glory to the Phoenix King!" Also trust you to jump to NTR related themes, Kayneth.]

Oh. That... is an interesting one. It looks like a combination of a turtle made out of ice and an ambulant iceberg.

[Video]

[enjoymyatelier]

Perhaps they only have proper carols in regions with more Legendaries to sing about? Granted, it does seem like it would be more likely in a region with a more prominent Ice Legendary or a Legendary more explicitly linked to the sun. Christmas is likely some sort of solstice festival here, and I'm sure the name must be some sort of strange coincidence.

[can you even rhyme articuno, regice, or kyurem in a way that isn't stupid

....and... yeah...]

It really does, doesn't it? I don't know what to make of it. I doubt it's a Legendary of any kind, but it's hard to say what it actually is.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

Or maybe a Legendary linked to the sort of thing we're supposed to feel around this time of year. Joy, togetherness, friendship... back home it was a celebration of the founding of Equestria, but I don't even know when any of the countries were founded in this world... or are there even countries? I wonder if the regions count.

[Well there is a gratitude Pokemon but this is the worst weather for Shaymin...]

Are you... going to attempt to capture it?

[Video]

[enjoymyatelier]

Honestly, with how things tend to go here, it would probably have something to do with the bonds between humans and Pokemon and what have you. The regions... they seem to resemble parts of countries rather than countries themselves, but given that the closest thing they have to a government is effectively a sporting league, who even knows?

[...the absolute pits...]

...I may. I believe I would have to deal with everything else first, though, and it'd be just my luck if they were stronger than expected.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

If it's the bonds between Humans and Pokemon... Maybe it's a celebration of the day someone created the first Poke Ball.

[That's sarcasm... mostly.]

How is your team right now? I'm guessing you weren't fortunate enough to get your ideal group to take on Grass and Ice-types.

: [Video]

[enjoymyatelier]

You're probably joking, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

...they wouldn't be objectively terrible, but at the same time, I couldn't count them to take on a whole group of level 100 Pokemon yet.

[Video]

[friendyousohard]

And there's no way of knowing what level the ones following you are... Well, that brings us back to the idea of status effects, but I imagine they wouldn't take kindly to you trying to put them all to sleep.

action WHEREVER HE IS, she's zapping around anywhere

[timelymaid]

Oh, why would you want to get rid of them??? We could have a party! We just need snacks, more people, and maybe some punch...hopefully not spiked.

[action]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...Megido...]

...well, one, even if I liked this sort of music, it's a month early for it anyway, and two, there are far more important things I'd rather be doing right now.

[action]

[timelymaid]

[ Did you expect anything less from her, Kayneth? ]

...Like what? Is there really anything anyone can get done in this sort of situation?

[action]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...

no.....]

Given that we all have our proper abilities, it shouldn't be terribly difficult to enter areas that were previously inaccessible.

...the key word there is shouldn't.

[action]

[timelymaid]

Oh, so you're trying to go get into something...? Well, if need be, I'd be more than happy to help out.

[ You have her telekinesis, if not her sword. ]

[action]

[enjoymyatelier]

Well, I'd like to get into Silph Company or the Bell Tower, but... well, it's really just a matter of actually getting to them. I haven't been near a city in about half a day.

[action]

[timelymaid]

If you want me to fly you there, I can!

[action]

[enjoymyatelier]

...I suppose we could try that, actually. I haven't had much luck accomplishing it on my own, but having someone else a long may change things.

[action]

[timelymaid]

It'll be quick and painless. I don't even have to carry you right now.

[ HOPE YOU DON'T MIND BEING FLOATED PSYCHICALLY IN THE AIR, THOUGH. ]

[action]

[enjoymyatelier]

Well, let's give it a go, then. It can't be worse than anything else I've experienced these few days.

[...admittedly, he might find it a bit undignified but that's a bridge they can cross some other time]

[action]

[timelymaid]

Then let's go! You just point me in the direction you want to go.

[ And wow you sure are glowing red and being lifted up in the air right now, WHAT FUN. ]

[action]

[enjoymyatelier]

[uh

...this isn't too bad, but he feels vaguely like a cat being held up by the scruff of the neck even though there is literally no reason for it]

All right, just let me open the map and see where we are...

[He'll just open his gear and...

...

what has happened to his map there isn't an indicator for his location]

...Actually, it wouldn't be a bother for you to do that, would it?