embezzling | ✯ ii ; video/action for cherrygrove ✯

[ Lights up on a room at the Cherrygrove Inn. The Gear is apparently just sitting atop a pile of blankets made evident by the fluffy waves of fabric lining the lower-most section of the feed. There is no visible Stan in the picture-- maybe that's a good thing for anyone watching or who has been exposed to him since his arrival. However, a backpack filled to the brim with knick-knacks and clearly made up for someone who is going to hit the road again soon. On the wall, he has evidently spread out a paper map with a few pins put in on the major cities, though the focus seems to be on the points marking Goldenrod and Ecruteak City. Some vague scribblings can also be seen, but not read as the map is across the room.

~~But they definitely are pinpointing the location of the most SUCKERS in Johto within reach.~~

Half of the screen is suddenly taken up by the rotund form of a large Pumpkaboo who is trying to toddle her way into the blankets for a soft retreat. Before she can even think of doing so, though, a large cat's paw FWUMPS against the bed and spooks the pumpkin ghost out of her intentions with a SCREEEE! of a squeal.

Ah! It's Misery the Meowth and a new friend. The former looks like she is on the hunt and her prey is as slow and waddling as a wounded duck. But that's just how she is. ]

Miz, what're you doing?

[ Misery's attention is barely pulled away by the man's voice. Now her big eye is peering directly into the camera. ]

Is this thing on again?

[ The man dressed to the nines in his black suit (somehow having not wound up weather-beaten) picks the device up. ] Stupid thing turns on and off all the time.

[ But since we're here, we have some questions. It doesn't appear that he is too happy about having to address the public buuuut that's just how his face looks. All the while, Misery is trying to bat the Gear and the Pumpkaboo is whining in the background. ]

So I gota a couple more Pocklemin. [ That's still not how you pronounce Pokemon........... ] Bought 'em off some folks as eggs and hauled them around while I was walking. Never had any kids of my own but I know how to hatch an egg. [ Or just toss it against something and hope for the best. ]

Important Question: Where would you kids say the most people live around here? Just curious. I have a couple of ideas I wanna set into motion but this isn't a good spot. Need to get a few more monsters and set up this whole "Breeding Thing" I'm supposed to be doing. Being a businessman back at home, dense is not always best so I'm tryin' to scout a place to set up shop that isn't gonna cost me more than what I'll make. Also what do you look for when shopping for a new pet? Gotta know what the customers prefer... Size, color, breed, whatever...

[ That might be the most intelligent thing he has said so far. He DOES know what he is talking about. ]

We're gonna get outta here tomorrow. Snappy replies would be nice.

[ Misery wails until Stan flips the camera over to her and she can give the "audience" a wave and show off that she has tipped the Pumpkaboo over where it is rocking side to side in futility to escape.

rest in pumpkaboo ]

(( OoC;; If anyone wants to do an action tag, he can be found perusing the PokeMart and getting disgruntled over their prices or trying to get Misery out of a tree. ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When Chihiro starts a video up to respond to this man, he might just happen to notice the sight of two Persians with matching collars stretched out on his bed like they own the place. They're both sleeping, though judging by the flick of their ears when Chihiro starts talking, it's light at best.]

If you're looking for a town with a lot of people in it, then Goldenrod is no doubt the biggest in Johto that there is. It's the largest in size and population...and it has the biggest Department store in the whole region.

[Plenty of shopping for a breeder who picks up TMs and spools of yarn on the regular.]

If you're a breeder, the one thing I would suggest is to try and get at least one Pokemon of every type. Or...most of them, if you can. It really helps if you want to breed several clutches with some variety.

See, I don't wanna go where there're too many people. It's bad for an independent business, ya see.

[ Misery takes notice of the Persians first, growling in greeting whether they can hear her or not. ]

I was thinking of finding a niche market that'll cater to certain people. Somethin' I was really good at back home. Expand from there. The whole bit.

Nice cats you got there.

Certain people...? Well...if you want to breed for trainers that are looking for strong Pokemon to train for gym battles, being in a town with a gym is a good start. There are quite a few of those in Johto.

[One of the Persians nearer to the camera lifts her head with a soft Mrrr, blinking one eye open to regard the camera with it.]

Personally, I would suggest visiting Ecruteak. If you like it there, you could try staying for a while...it's a quiet place, but very nice and historic. A lot of people visit to see the Dance Theatre and Museum there.

[Chihiro blinks, glancing over his shoulder briefly.]

Ah-? Thank you. That's Rich, and that's Alice. They've been with me for some time now.

Ecruteak is kind of a trek from where I am. Sounds like the place to be though.

[ Misery the Meowth is all over trying to catch the attention of her kin. ]

... Is that what Misery's gonna "evolve" into? They're cats. She's a cat. They got stuff in the middle of their foreheads.

[Alice keeps watching the screen, her expression best described as bored. Rich, meanwhile, seems to be completely passed out next to her.]

That's right. If you train her enough, she will. These two are Persians.

Though...they used to belong to a friend of mine, so I didn't raise them myself.

Do those still make money like everyone's saying?

[ It's important. ]

Is that what everyone is telling you?

[Well, a Meowth's reputation for using Pay Day precedes it, he supposes...]

They do, yes. They actually make a lot more the higher level they are.

[So much for the economy.]

[ Economy, schmeconomy. ]

I was just checkin'. I don't want her to evolve and stop being a makeshift ATM...

She shouldn't, so long as she still knows Pay Day.

Though...she can do far more than create money.

Like? I've never had a cat but I've had enough digging through my garbage at home that I know they're good for tearing things up, being loud, and eating too much.

I'm sure you know some things about battling and how Pokemon have different moves, right?

[Particularly moves, being a breeder and all.]

I know all about it. Most of them for the cats look like they're all about tearing things up. I ain't much of an animal-lover. I'm just gonna toss that out there.

[Chihiro nods, folding the hand in his lap that isn't holding the Gear.]

Most of the ones they learn naturally, that is. Do you know what TMs are?

I skipped that part because it wasn't interesting. [ At least he was being honest. ] Shorthand it for me. What are they?

TM stands for "Technical Machine". They can be used to teach your Pokemon new moves. Both Meowth and Persian are Normal Type, and a part of the Field Egg Group. That means that they can learn more TM moves than most other Pokemon can. Normal type Pokemon are known for that, and some trainers use it to their advantage...

To give you an example, both Rich and Alice here know the move Thunderbolt after being taught the corresponding TM. It's not a move they can learn naturally, but now that they know it, any eggs that they breed will know the move as well. Eggs that have TM moves bred down onto them are usually more sought after, as well.

[ Something inside of that little old man brain of his begins to turn. Now it made sense kind of. ]

The pumpkin one-- [ He pauses and gestures toward the Pumpkaboo who has since turned herself right side up. ] She came with a bunch'a moves like that. Both parents gotta know a move before it gets passed on, yeah?

[ See, we're learning. ]

[Chihiro nods with a smile, glad to see that he's starting to understand.]

Mhm! There are also moves called Egg Moves that can be passed down sometimes, though those moves are only passed down if certain Pokemon are bred together. Pokemon don't necessarily have to be the same species to breed, just the same egg group.

It may seem complex, but once you actually start trying to breed and see what works and what doesn't, you'll get the hang of it.

I don't have a ton to work with right now. It'll all come together real quick when I get the idea. Bought a couple eggs from other people when I was looking around. Once they hatch, I'll figure out what we're cooking with.

Annnnd your name is...?

There's certainly no rush or anything. You'll have plenty of time to figure it out.

Ah...my name is Chihiro Fujisaki. It's nice to meet you.

Stan Pines. I've got a feeling I'm gonna be here a while. It can't hurt to be ahead of the curve. You're a good kid. Thanks a lot.

You're welcome. If you ever have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them for you.

✯ ii ; video/action for cherrygrove ✯

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]