irenicly | 003 [video;]

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003 [video;]

[It's been a long time since Banjou was last on the network.

He has his same setup from the last time, playing away at his acoustic guitar. This time, he's playing something he probably heard on the radio.]

I have a question, for those of you who have been here a long time. How many Pokemon do you have? Where did you find them and what are their names?

I have a pretty small team, and I'm content with that right now, though I'm sure getting more wouldn't hurt. I'm just curious about everyone else here, especially from those who have been here for years.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

After nearly five years here, I have caught or received seventy-one Pokémon. Are you truly certain you wish to know all of their names?

[Because that is a lot of names, most of them with a meaning or story.]

That's.... a lot.

[He stops playing to actually think about just how many names that is before he starts back up again, into a slower pace.]

Tell me about the story behind the ones you've had the longest.

As you wish. My starter was Rosie, a lovely young Cleffa. She's a caring yet stubborn pink lady, my wife Rosa is a caring yet stubborn woman who likes the color... Once I accepted that a name would be necessary, the best choice was obvious.

[The poor thing still had to wait three weeks, but luckily she's patient.]

[...that's cute.]

Is your wife here?

Her younger self was in this world for about half a year, years ago. Luckily, she did not mind her new namesake.

[Ah...]

I'm sorry to hear that she's not here now. That must be tough.

It was at first, but after a few years one has no choice but to adapt. Though I do wish she had the chance to meet my whole team, instead of the mere handful I trained at the time.

....Maybe she'll come back.

Perhaps she will. And if not, I'll surely return home to her sooner or later. I merely need to be patient.

Yeah, that's true.

[He sounds like he's accepted that much, at least.]

Still, it's not like people can control when they return home. It must be hard.

...Counting the days since I last saw my world and watching the friends I've made here leave me behind can be difficult, yes. But the chance to help newcomers and tell others how this world has changed over the years is worth some pain.

I can understand that, at least.

The longer you're here, the more likely it is that the people you know are going to vanish; I'd do the same thing, I think.

Most do, sooner or later. But what is considered a long stay or someone with great experience keeps changing. When I first arrived, the old arrivals who could answer the newcomers' questions had only been here for three months.

That's... incredibly impressive.

[It'll be a year for him in a couple of months; he thought that was a long time.]

These days, three months is considered barely enough to see small glimpses of this world. You could say that we, as a group, have greatly changed over the years.

[In more ways than Cecil can count, really.]

I've been here eight months, so I can only imagine what it must have been like for the first groups.

There were fewer Pokémon species, at the time. Many of the services we now rely on did not exist, and the path to Ecruteak was blocked by vicious Sudowoodos. Only those who had earned the Plain badge could pass freely.

It... sounds like things have changed a lot.

I thought Sudowoodos were usually calm.

Most of the ones I've met since then are. Perhaps they were protecting their breeding grounds, and left when they realized they were outmatched?

[...That is a very depressing possibility.]

That would be very sad, wouldn't it?

I wonder where they all went?

I've seen a handful in their old territory, but not nearly as reliably as before. They might have moved to those routes we are not allowed to cross.

I've wondered about that, those routes we're not allowed on.

There's probably something there, right?

They lead to the Elite Four, as far as anyone knows. But those who first mentioned their existence also said that they are supposed to face challengers who have earned eight badges, and yet...

People with all eight badges haven't had a chance to face them yet?

That's strange, isn't it?

It is. Even those of us who have earned all sixteen have not yet had that opportunity.

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