017 // Video

[pipers_son]

[Here's Joker this fine morning, twirling a Glacier Badge between his fingers while Rogue the Furret stays wrapped around his shoulders with some pleased chirping noises. He seems exhausted, although in a pleasant way. Someone clearly just got done with a Gym battle.]

I have ta say, I'll give it ta that Pryce... Clever old codger. Gave my lot a run for our money even with the strength difference. Guess it's true what they say about age and experience, eh?

[He finally stops toying with the badge, tucking it away and giving a grin to the camera. Rogue gets a ear scratch for his troubles.]

It seems like a shame ta leave right after that in such a nice little town like this! Anythin' interestin' ta see, for those who've passed through before? Or... [A thoughtful hum.] Wonder if I could make it ta Blackthorn real quick... Wouldn't mind finishin' things up.

Comments

[pipers_son]

Ha, I liked him regardless! It's good ta have these sorta folks keep us all on our toes. Besides, he's an interestin' one ta talk ta.

[Even beyond the fact that he wanted Pryce's support for the circus, it was an interesting talk.]

Ice skating... Y'know, I can't ever say I've done that.

[islandshore]

Oh yeah? So what'd he have to say?

[Riku never made a habit of getting to know the Gym Leaders, but that was largely a part of his teenage ego. Maybe he should rectify that.]

But there's a first time for everything. Might as well give it a shot, right?

[pipers_son]

Just a lot a chatter about his experiences and such. Hear that he's the oldest gym leader in most a the circuits? Everyone else these days tends ta be on the younger side a things. He seems pretty happy about that, 'tho.

He seems ta be dealin' with his old age well!

[Which is good to hear. Joker knows it's unlikely that he'll get to live to that kind of age, but it's nice that there are others who enjoy every bit of life they get.]

I'll have ta give it a try, then! I'm sure a few of my own wouldn't mind givin' it a go, too.

[islandshore]

Gotta give him props for sticking with it for so long. I'm guessing the other leaders are standing in for parents or family members who retired. The fact that he's still going shows that he really cares about his job.

[Not that the others don't, but there's something about having a more seasoned battler that's pretty awesome in its own right.]

And, hey, skating might even help you prep up for the ice path, unless you plan to fly past it.

[pipers_son]

That much ya could tell just by lookin' at him. Whatever else we might say about this place, ya have ta admit they have a strong bond ta their Pokemon.

[Makes him feel bad about how they treated some of the animals in England.]

Nah, we're takin' the moral high ground on that one.

By which I mean completely high ground.

Where there's no ground at all.

[islandshore]

Hey, I can't blame you. Ice path's a pain, and even if you do melt your way through, it still takes way too long to get to the other side.

[He shrugs, leaning against the edge of his bed.]

Why go through all the trouble when you can breeze past it?

[pipers_son]

Exactly~. Besides, I've come ta like flyin'! It's not somethin' ya would ever get ta experience back home. We don't even have fancy machines to do it!

[At least, not in his time anyway.]

[islandshore]

What, not even airplanes?

[Geez, that's... kinda tough to imagine, so have a wide-eyed stare.]

But did you have cars? Boats? Anything like that?

[pipers_son]

There are cars, yeah, but they're a rare sort- I've only heard about 'em from my father.

[He gives a chuckle.]

And I can't think a any place that wouldn't even have boats.

[islandshore]

A desert? But it's not like deserts exist in a vacuum. There's gotta be an ocean out there somewhere...

[And aren't boats a natural means to traverse the sea? It'd have to be a pretty backwards place to not have even the most basic rafts.]

[pipers_son]

Suppose so, but that's all beyond me! Like I've told ya before, England wasn't much like any sorta desert.

[islandshore]

True. And, now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen any deserts here...

[Sure, there's islands like Cinnabar, but those are literally surrounded by water. They're also generally more tropical than arid.

So are there any deserts in this world, period?]

[pipers_son]

Well, that ain't unusual, is it? I can't speak much for Kanto, but with how close it is ta Johto... They don't seem too much that different from the isles I'm from. The weather seems usually the same as well, save for the more tropical places and places like the ice path.