002 | video | forward-dated to tuesday morning

[sfaccendato]

[the feed clicks on to show Oshitari sitting cross-legged on the cave floor, looking at the camera with utmost solemnity.]Good morning, dear denizens of Johto. I am sending this missive on what is, alas, Day Four of my sojourn through the grand marvel of video game geology known as Mt. Mortar. While I have thus far avoided being trampled by

Comments

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

You needn't sound so upset, just think of all the training your Pokemon are getting from this little ill-favored jaunt of yours.

[video]

[sfaccendato]

Oh, did I sound upset~? [is not. at all. may or may not actually be lost, even.]

This is very true. Eugene does seem to enjoy defeating all the Geodude we run into.

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

A bit. [Well, maybe more melodramatic than upset.]

Eugene is a cute name, what kind of a Pokemon is he? I'm sure he must be getting rather strong by now.

[video]

[sfaccendato]

[oh, well, those aren't the same thing at all~]

He's a Mudkip. They're water types, and the cave has a good number of rock and fire types, so he's doing quite well. I think he may be due to evolve soon.

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

[Tennis players, so melodramatic all the time.]

How exciting. You seem to have taking to the battling quite well, I'm impressed. You don't find it a bit barbaric?

[video]

[sfaccendato]

A bit, yes, but this world seems to essentially be a glorified video game. And thus follows video game logic, where pitting small creatures against each other in battle is perfectly normal and acceptable.

...Plus most of them don't seem to mind too much.

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

I'm afraid I don't know much about video game logic, that was always my teammates' area. They do seem to enjoy the fighting, as strange as it is to see... still, I'd prefer other ways of resolving conflicts.

[video]

[sfaccendato]

Really I don't think they view it as a method of conflict resolution so much as a sport. Sort of like Roman gladiators, but less bloodthirsty and adapted for small children.

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

But it is rather bloodthirsty, really. I don't see why they shouldn't try to cultivate methods that require less damage to the Pokemon themselves. After all, they are living creatures, not tools.

[video]

[sfaccendato]

It doesn't seem to cause any permanent damage, though. And it's a bit rude to tell them they can't do something they enjoy because we think it's causing them too much damage, isn't it? They seem perfectly capable of determining their own limits.

But, what would you suggest instead?

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

It would be rude, but I'm not sure they're ever given any real choice. After all, we capture them rather than asking them if they want to fight for us, and they aren't often given other options. Of course, they're only animals, but some of them are rather intelligent.

I'd suggest sports, of course. A different kind of physical contest, one that's less brutal.

[video]

[sfaccendato]

Ah, yes, the capture process is a bit barbaric, I'll agree with you there. I think I like receiving them as eggs better.

[laughs] So basically you want to teach them tennis?

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

As do I. It's much more humane, and I feel like it must create a stronger bond - though of course I have no evidence for that.

[That makes him smile.] Basically, yes. I've already tried with mine.

[video]

[sfaccendato]

Plus, waiting for them to hatch is rather exciting~

Oh? And how did that go?

[video]

[loseyoursenses]

Worse than I hoped, but better than I expected. My Chikorita evolved, though - that was certainly unexpected. So perhaps it's possible for them to grow stronger through sports instead of fighting.

[video]

[sfaccendato]

Interesting... though how did you get a Chikorita to hold a racket?