Naoya

[The video opens on a young boy, maybe twelve or so, digging in the dirt in a park in Goldenrod. He's got on loose pants but no shirt, and his skin is tanned. He's also got messy brown hair, like he's never heard of a hairbrush.]

[He hasn't, they weren't invented yet.]

[He seems intent on what he's doing, other than muttering slightly.]

The ground here is strange... where are my tools? Mother... Father... Abel...

[The camera turns, revealing a very concerned-looking Gardevoir.]

He's been like this all morning. I... I'm fairly sure this is my trainer, but he looks very different. He doesn't recognize me, and it was hard enough to convince him I wasn't a 'demon' and that he should wear pants.

Can... can anyone help me? I'm not sure how to handle this on my own...

[[ooc; Anyone who wants to encounter them, they're in a park in Goldenrod!]]

[Today's video finds Naoya sitting and drinking a cup of coffee. He's bundled up in a green sweater, and he looks fairly amused.]

I thought I'd tell you a story today, for those of you who care to listen. This is a story about the Norse gods, and mistletoe. Let me define a fe things before I begin, for those of you who do not know those terms.

( Definitions are under here so this post isn't horribly long. )

Now, on to our story. One day, the queen of the gods, Frigga, had a dream about her son Baldur - the god of light - dying horribly. Baldur had the same dream, and Frigga set out to see that it didn't happen. She traveled all the realms, making each and every object swear that it would never harm Baldur. Every object swore an oath - except for mistletoe, because Frigga thought it too young and unimportant to swear an oath.

The gods heard of all of the oaths sworn, and played a game where they threw things at Baldur and watched them bounce off. However Loki, god of fire and mischief, heard of this, and found out that mistletoe had not sworn that oath. He took mistletoe and made an arrow of it, and handed it to Baldur's brother, the blind god Hod. Hod threw the arrow at Baldur, which killed him.

Frigga went to Hel, the mistress of the dead, and pleaded for her son back. Hel agreed, on the condition that every living thing in the world weep for Baldur. She went to every living thing and begged for them to weep, and all did - except one. That was the giantess Thokk, and because she would not weep, Baldur did not come back to life.

[He takes a sip of his coffee, before speaking again.]

It's unclear whether Thokk was Loki in disguise or not. Certainly, he'd never tell one way or the other, god of mischief that he is. The fact remains that, though many see mistletoe as a symbol of love, it's in fact the reminder of a dead god.

... Though said god did reappear recently, though that's a story for another time.

I hope you all learned something today.

[Aaand the video clicks off.]

[All that can be seen at first is a big pink eye, before the Pokemon holding the Gear pulls back and reveals itself to be an Espurr. The camera is pointed at the ceiling, but as the Espurr paws at the screen, an argument is plainly audible off-camera.]

[Or... half of one, at least. Naoya sounds very angry, but the other voice isn't audible.]

I told you, no. I don't think that's a good idea.

[There's a pause as a response comes, and then there's the sound of a fist slamming on a table.]

I said no. You will listen to me. I am the one in charge here. Don't -

[There's a frustrated 'Voir!', and Naoya practically growls.]

It won't end well. You know why. I've explained this to you! I'll look for another solution. There are many Pokemon who can -

[He stops talking, and when he speaks again his voice is quieter and more controlled.]

I'd have to rotate Pokemon to prevent them from getting sick from it. It's not worth it.

[... There's silence, and then Naoya sighs. The Espurr mewls, and a Gardevoir leans down to pick her up. She blinks in surprise at the camera, and reaches out to turn it off.]