enjoymyatelier | 15 [VIDEO/ACTION FOR ECRUTEAK]

[WELL IF IT ISN'T A NICE DAY IN ECRUTEAK CITY! The feed opens up to Kayneth bedecked in a fancy short-sleeved shirt and sitting in a lawnchair with a glass of champagne, a (finally) nice and well maintained lawn in view... though, there are some spots where it looks like grass and flowerbeds and whatnot have only been put in recently.

Funny, that!

Well, let's not dwell on Kayneth's gardening history for now, for he is, of course, going to talk at the camera, because of course he is.]

Well, it's certainly been an odd few weeks, hasn't it? Some things far more odd than others, of course, but that's simply par for the course here. Nevertheless, it does seem like the excitement has calmed down a bit, so I believe it's a perfect time for me to do some research.

I would, of course, ask you all for assistance in this, but it's not as though you'll go uncompensated for it.

[He gestures at the camera with his free hand, and it pans over to a fairly large pile of eggs, with a sign listing prices and species on it.]

I have quite a few Pokemon eggs on my hands, you see, and I'm quite interested in the results of my current breeding pairs. If you're willing to give me a brief report on the Pokemon you've bought once they hatch, then I'm willing to let you name your price --- to a certain extent, of course.

Furthermore, I have trained all these Pokemon, so if you'd like advice on what you might be dealing with, I'll be quite happy to provide you with the details.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is it really?

[She just kind of looks down at the egg in her arms.]

Well, that saves me some trouble. I was coming to ask you if you knew of anyone trustworthy who might want to adopt one — but when I saw your little collection over there, I got worried you might already have your hands full with finding homes for wayward eggs.

Well, we could easily help each other out on that front. I'd be perfectly willing to trade you --- after all, if interest dries up on the PokeConnect, there's no shortage of natives who'll be interested if I pitch things right.

[he never thought he'd take an interest in showmanship, but here he is.]

...unless, of course, you're giving out that one because you have too much on your plate and not because you already have one, in which I admit, I have to sympathize.

[In that case, over she comes, offering him the egg with a smile.]

Here, then. It'll have a few egg moves, I think; I recall Tux did, himself, back when he first hatched.

[Her Empoleon is named Tux E. Doe. And no one was surprised.]

And as for your little brood — well, you mentioned a pitch, so consider me a willing audience. Maybe you'll convince me there's something I can't live without.

Well, I can't complain about that.

[...he probably would complain about the pun, but who cares about what he feels.]

I'll be sure to keep you posted on how he turns out, but I suspect you might be around to see that for yourself.

[...he pauses, looking a bit thoughtful.]

Well, I'm interested in seeing how the Hoothoot turn out. I feel like most people tend to pass them up because they're incredibly common Pokemon you tend to find around New Bark Town, but they're actually far more versatile than one would expect.

[wow, who knew he could have actually feelings about something common as dirt

amazing....]

Then again, I'm possibly biased --- my starter wasn't... terribly good at combat or much of anything, so my Artemisia is really much more like my starter than my actual starter.

[Well, believe it or not, the mention of a Hoothoot actually brings a rather nostalgic sort of smile to her face, so evidently the pitch worked. Or at least, the mention of the owlybirds was a good one...]

A dear friend of mine had a Hoothoot as a starter. When he left, I'd sort of hoped it might find its way to me, but...

[She shakes her head a little, still smiling.]

Maybe it is time I had one of my own. You're fond of her, your Artemisia?

Ah... I see. That's a shame, then...

[...well, at least it seems to be a good kind of nostalgia...]

...honestly, I've always considered those sorts of bequeathments to be something of a cruel gamble anyway... but yes, I am very fond of her. There are some I've bonded with a bit better, but... well, like I said, without her I likely would have never made it past Cherrygrove.

[...okay, without her and Tohsaka, but details]

[Memories of your dearly departed boyfriend do tend to be, yes.]

His name was Holmes. He was a Noctowl by the time I met him, but...well. He was a lovely bird; almost like family, really.

If you feel the that way about Artemisia, then I think I'd like having one of her progeny be part of my family, too.

[...is it intrusive to ask further? Hell, he's a mage, they're bad at feelings.

So he probably won't, because he's at least gained a drop of self awareness. Character development!

He will, however, head over to the pile and pick out the Hoothoot egg he thinks looks the nicest and brings it over.]

Well, it sounds like this one has two admirable Pokemon to live up to. Here's hoping, hm?

[...but no pressure, embryonic owl]

[GO KAYNETH GO. Do that feelings thing!]

Shall I keep in touch about how he or she is doing? Between their natural hatch time and Ringo Fyre's assistance, I doubt it'll be very long before we're seeing this one's handsome feathered face.

Of course! The father is a Psychic-type, and given Hoothoot's propensity for learning moves of that type anyway, I'm very ---

[...and then something clicks.]

Ringo Fyre...? Really?

...You've never been properly acquainted with my roster and their naming scheme, have you.

[It's nothing but puns. THERE ARE SO MANY PUNS.]

The parents of that egg you're adopting are Tux E. Doe and Zamm Boney, for example.

...

I'm not even sure if I should dignify those with a response.

[what on earth has he gotten himself into...]

Oh, don't tell me. You're going to say they're the lowest form of wit, aren't you.

Actually, no. They do, however, require a certain je ne sas quoi so that they aren't...

[...how does he tell the girl he likes he doesn't like her puns...]

Well, it's difficult to explain.

15 [VIDEO/ACTION FOR ECRUTEAK]

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