13 [VIDEO | ACTION FOR ECRUTEAK]

[enjoymyatelier]

[Well, between winter not really being winter and Ecruteak being a vastly more interesting city than the last one he wintered in, Kayneth has decided to take in the sights... well, again. After all, he was all over the place ever since he got there, even in the cold...

...however, admittedly, he's not just doing it to look into the cultural highlights. He's a bit restless, actually. It's not so much that he dislikes Ecruteak or wants to move on --- indeed, far from it, particularly given that it's still winter and he doesn't quite know when the weather will become less pleasant and more seasonally appropriate, and... well, he could stand to stay here until spring just to see how the city looks.

He can't quite place it, really. He's been dealing with some vague sense of melancholy since November that he can't trace the source of.

Or, perhaps, he doesn't want to place the source of it.

So, as he goes through the Ecruteak Museum (again), an annoyance strikes him, and he decides to focus on that instead, because really, it's been giving him a headache for quite a while and sometimes you really just need to ramble to the internet for a while in front of the Burned Tower.]

You know, having spent over a month in Ecruteak, I'm really wondering why it isn't a more popular destination for travelers, given that it's absolutely stunning. Even in the slightly unfortunate drabness of a midwinter thaw, I can't think of a place I've been that's more impressive. Certainly not Goldenrod; one really has to wonder why that city's so popular, given that it pales in comparison to what I'd say is Johto's cultural center.

Perhaps it may have something to do with the fact that the local organized crime syndicate seems to enjoy using it for target practice for reasons I can't quite determine, as it just appears as though they're bored out of their minds.

[is it casually shittalk team rocket week or something...]

...Granted, on the subject of culture... I'll admit, I'm starting to miss works of art and literature that don't completely revolve around Pokemon. It's not like this place has nothing of cultural value, but every so often I come across something vaguely familiar... and it is, but there are always Pokemon awkwardly wedged in. Perhaps the natives don't find Whirlipede Heights and Mary Shellder vaguely offputting, but I certainly do. What I wouldn't give for proper literature...

[He pauses for a second, his expression flickering to... something else.]

...and here I am talking about it to some machine. I've really been in this place for far too long...

[He ends the feed, having kind of embarrassingly sort of maybe admitted he was homesick in the most pretentious way ever.]

Comments

[enjoymyatelier]

In fairness, I have heard the reasoning for people having something against the city --- perhaps from you, in fact? While I strongly disagree, I have to admit, I sympathize on some level. I'm sure it would be possible to become tired of even the most interesting of locales if you spent enough time there.

Well, perhaps I'll consider it. I'm admittedly more of an artist than a writer, though... granted, the art seems to have roughly the same issue, so at least I'm contributing in that sense.

[islandshore]

Probably doesn't help that every place has a short background track on constant loop. Tuning it out's helped a little, but sometimes it's hard to ignore the same old melody playing again and again.

[He emphasizes this with an exasperated sigh, running a hand over the top of his head.]

I'd be down for some non-Pokémon art, though. You ever thought about hunting down a gallery?

[enjoymyatelier]

It doesn't help at all. I'm sorely tempted to make a serious investment into some kind of portable stereo and compact discs...

I have thought about it, actually, but it's something I have in mind for further on in the future, after I've finally completed the gym challenge. It would be a bit inconvenient to just leave everything behind somewhere.

[islandshore]

Just make sure you get instrumental stuff. Most of the vocal tunes are cheesy songs about Pokémon and friendship. Trust me, I've looked.

[Some have catchy enough melodies, but there are only so many times he can take tunes like Pokémon world. In a way, lyrical songs make repetition even more apparent.]

And if you've gotta focus on the gyms, I guess there's no real rush. It might be better to start once you're finished, since it's not like they give us anything to do after the fact.

[enjoymyatelier]

I haven't even considered the thought for that reason, actually. That's one of the least surprising things I've heard.

That's roughly why I haven't been too bothered with it. It's not like I'm going to be making any records, and it really is just something to do to keep entertained. I'll probably challenge Morty when Ecruteak's music starts wearing on me and move on to see what Olivine has to offer.

[islandshore]

Olivine's not too bad, actually. It's a big city, but it's got a more laid back feel than Goldenrod. Plus, it's got some of the best beaches in both regions.

[The one downside's that summer's still so far away. A port town like Olivine's best enjoyed with the surf and the sun, not potential chills.]

[enjoymyatelier]

Well, it's a good thing I don't exactly plan on leaving Ecruteak until at least the spring. That sounds... tolerable, really, but it sounds better in warm weather.

[islandshore]

Hey, at least it'd be better than a trip to Mahogany. It's no wonder that place has a whole cave full of ice.

[Sure, it's a nice little town, but sweaters are pretty much mandatory there, and Riku could do without getting all itchy.]

[enjoymyatelier]

...yes, I have to admit, I'm not exactly looking forward to going there. Everything about that particular leg of the journey seems... unpleasant.

[islandshore]

Well, there's two ways to take some of that edge off.

[He tosses a Pokéball up and down as he speaks. Why? Just for the heck of it, really.]

The quickest way's to just fly over the cave, but if you're dead set on passing through...

[He snaps up the ball in his fist and sets it down on his nightstand.]

I recommend packing a fire type with you. Melting through some that ice makes the path a million times easier.

[enjoymyatelier]

...That is an easy solution, actually. Honestly, I'd imagine I don't really think about flying as much as I could because I haven't been able to do it for so long. I suppose it couldn't hurt to check up on any interesting Pokemon that might be in the area, but it'd probably be more practical to buy eggs instead.

[islandshore]

You could always fly to Blackthorn and just hang by the cave's exit, too. Nobody's telling you to hike all the way through, and I'd honestly advise against it.

It's way more trouble than it's worth.

[enjoymyatelier]

It certainly sounds as though that's the case. At the very least, you'd generally have the HM that teaches Fly before the point where you'd usually consider going there, which is a small mercy.

...With that said, the place itself seems fairly interesting, and I'd like to see precisely how it works. But... perhaps it would be best to delegate that to someone else.