Three years, huh. Kind of hard to believe it's been that long.

[It's probably not really all that surprising to see Ryner leaning on an open book on top of a desk while lazily examining some sort of CD-ish thing, though he certainly looks far more relaxed than he had all October. (Gee, I wonder why that could be.) To the side of the camera - probably elsewhere on the desk - there is the sound of someone intently drawing something with some sort of pen; meanwhile, there is an Absol sitting next to Ryner leaning his head against his trainer's chest (and receiving scritches), while a Joltik in a tiny top hat (...yes) is curled up between his neck and his shoulder blade.]

I guess it hasn't been a total waste of time, anyway. And, well, I can think of worse situations to be stuck in for years on end...

Haa, though, it'd be nice if bothersome stuff didn't keep leading up to Rose's birthday like this. Seriously, what the hell is with October, anyway? Especially this year. I'm really finding it hard to believe all of that was just a dream - even considering and despite everything I've seen. I mean, if anyone else's got any thoughts on what that was, I'd love to hear them, 'cause I have no idea, but...

["Fairy!" Rose chimes in a little, though mostly to get her dear partner's attention, and Ryner turns his attention briefly toward the Clefairy who is apparently the one who's been drawing off screen. After a moment, he smiles (though in a somewhat embarrassed way), turning the camera to show off what Rose has done - it's a many colored pen drawing of Ryner casting Izuchi like some kind of exalted wingless angel while moonlight shines down on him from above. ...In the style of a Clefairy with the skill of approximately a kindergartener, but.]

Ahh, that's really good, Rose! Even if it's a little much, honestly... and it kind of proves my point...

["Clef clefairy~" Rose is quite proud of herself as she clutches her new pen - one of those cool ones with several different colors of ink that you can choose between, which has a rose-quartz flower tassel at the end to mark it as hers and because it was fitting - and perhaps even more so when she unexpectedly puts the pen down and leaps into Ryner's arms.]

W-Wait, Rose, what are--GAAH!

[The 'gear is dropped onto the desk with the video pointed toward the ceiling, and there is the sound of a chair and its occupants crashing to the ground.]

...If you want a hug, Rose, you don't have to do that, y'know...

[The feed stays on for a moment before the Joltik (still in a top hat) scuttles on over, peers cutely at the camera for a moment, and then turns it off. Ryner will be a minute, after all. Falling over in chairs hurts.]

[Today's video feed is brought to you, for a change of pace, by a Ditto, blobbily flopped on a desk chair. And it seems this Ditto has a question! ...Sure only Pokemon would be able to understand it, but. He does anyway.]

So, everybody asks questions on this network, right? Because I could use a little advice.

[The video feed is then turned toward the bathroom door, where it seems one Ryner Lute is currently being kept quite busy trying to enter while keeping a Clefairy, an Absol, an Espeon, an Umbreon, and a Joltik from coming in with him.]

Ahhh, seriously, what's with you guys today? I'm just going to the bathroom, all right? You don't need to be in there with me for that! In fact, I don't want you guys in there with me for that!

["Fairy clef clefairy!" On the contrary, Rose, for some reason, seems to have decided that her dear partner is not to be left by himself for even a single second all month. And the others seem to be going along with that.

...Okay, well, the Eeveelutions appear to mostly be in it for the attention. But still.]

This really isn't funny! Let me shut the door already!

[The camera turns back to the Ditto, who doesn't look like he quite agrees with the Clefairy's methods.]

How do you get someone to stop holding a grudge? I mean, I don't hold 'em anyway, so I don't know, and this is just getting kind of sad, you know?

[On the left, there is a timid Yanma, quietly growling (to the best degree that a dragonfly can growl) and tensely, slowly inching forward, though never getting too far away from a safety blanket.

On the right, there is an Omanyte. ...Just sort of sitting there, blinking blearily at the Yanma like okay seriously what is your problem.

The Yanma inches toward the Omanyte, never once taking her eyes off it, getting closer, closer, closer... and then pokes out a front leg to touch it. As soon as this contact is made, however, she ZOOMS backward, scrambling back under her safety blanket.

...but only for a minute, because shortly afterward, she peeks out again and starts inching forward one more time.

This goes on for a little before commentary comes in from Ryner, who's holding the camera.]

Believe it or not, this is the most out-going I've ever seen Rey. ...Ahh, though, I guess maybe they have a couple things in common? Well, either way. She's finally making progress.

[Today's brief audio message is brought to you by a 'gear that appears to have accidentally been turned on inside a bag or something. There is the sound of frantic running, and also the sound of lots of flapping of wings and... Zubat cries. At least two dozen of them.

Oh dear.]

Dammit Rose, this is why I told you to leave them alone!

["Clef clefairy!"]

No, you can't just knock them all out with Thunderbolt, and you already know why!

[...well, I wonder what a certain lazy mage is doing in a cave, of all places. And in trouble with a horde of Zubats, by the sound of it.

Then Sion's voice comes up on the recording. This probably doesn't come as much surprise, really.]

Well, we should still do something about this.... Dusk, try to warn them off with Flamethrower!

[and then there is the sound of an Absol breathing fire before the recording ends.]

Haa, this breeding thing is way overcomplicated...

[So a certain lazy mage is currently slumped over a table, leaning on top of an open book as though he's about to go to sleep on it. Which, knowing Ryner, he very well probably could.]

I mean, somehow I get the feeling Rose and the rest are gonna have more eggs next month - that's around the time they always do, for some reason - so I thought I'd actually read up on things this time and see what to expect and maybe point out if there's something I notice, y'know? Though, seriously, whatever they do is up to them, I'm staying out of it.

["Fairy~" From off-camera, a Clefairy sounds pleased with that. (...She also sounds like she has her mouth full, but.) At that, Ryner briefly smiles a tiny bit, but then it's replaced by mild grump again.]

But seriously. The egg groups kind of make sense, I guess, or at least the way they're sorted does, if we're going to assume that giant moles that are on fire and deer that have plants growing out of their antlers being able to mate without someone getting hurt makes sense, anyway. ...and I'm really, really glad that Gyarados aren't in the Field egg group, by the way. I think Ferris would find a way back here just to kill me if they were... well, anyway.

These egg move things, though? How do they even work? I mean, the lists seem really kind of arbitrary, y'know? How is it that Eevee has Wish as an egg move but Deerling doesn't? Why do Igglybuff and Cleffa get Present as an egg move, anyway? How come Snivy only gets Iron Tail through breeding and no other way? You'd think that one would come naturally to them, at least, what with evolving into giant snakes...

["Clef clefairy clef!"]

...Another one already, Rose? Seriously, where do you put it all... But fine, since it's a special occasion and everything.

[He picks up the 'gear, and the moving video briefly shows a shot of... dango boxes? At least five of them, all polished off and with their sticks stripped bare of any treats they previously had on them, as well as a very happy Clefairy sitting on the other side of the table from where Ryner had been seated.

Before he turns the video off, though...]

...Ahh, by the way. The eggs I got at the convention hatched. They're healthy and doing well. They're back at the room with Senna and Jehra right now, but... Well, just figured I'd mention how they're doing, anyway.

Togepis don't take long at all to hatch, huh... Usually they take about a week, I've found, but this little guy only took about half that.

[Pictured on the video is a newborn Togepi, climbing up an Absol's back up to his head (with some assistance from a Wigglytuff and a Joltik) before sliding down his scythe-horn-thing like a slide and waddle-running around to do it again. It seems like they're having fun.

...Also, for those who are particularly familiar with Togepis, this one has a kind of reddish tint to it, and its spots are all the opposite color from what each usually would be. Also there might be a slight sparkle here or there when the light catches right. But that's surely nothing important...]

Jehra, Kaile, Glen, now this guy. Makes four of those eggs that just show up out of nowhere for everyone. Kinda have to wonder if there's some kind of reason behind them showing up, and for what comes out. Since people get different types and all.

[The Togepi accidentally loses his balance and falls off the Absol's horn rather higher up than is probably safe. The other three are immediately a little concerned (for good reason), but the Togepi just gets right up and happily waddle-runs back over to try again.]

...Ahh, well, either way. Guess I get to come up with a name for him now.

AAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!

[So a certain lazy mage just suddenly found himself buried in a huge pile of Larvesta.

...that are all wearing cute little jester hats.

...He could probably use some help getting un-buried before he suffocates from fluffy caterpillar things, yes.

(It isn't going to come from the red haired girl who just squeaked and hid behind a tree from the fluffy caterpillar pile, though, that's for sure...)]



[[CAMP!!! You guys can come play too!!]]

[So today, courtesy of buttons accidentally getting pushed on a 'gear that's buried at the bottom of a bag while pulling out other things in that bag, the audio feed (because even if there was video it wouldn't show anything except black) opens to a young woman bawling her eyes out.]

WAAAAAH!!! You're so... so mean! How could you... f-forcing such a cutie to... to...

[The experienced might recognize this cry as that of Whitney, gym leader of Goldenrod City, and with that knowledge, a lot can probably be gathered of the situation right there.

She is, of course, answered by a certain lazy mage who, despite coming in knowing this would likely happen, is at a loss as to how to fix the situation he's in.]

Seriously, you're assuming something bothersome like that? I never forced her to do anything, she's the one who forced me! And I even got you some things in advance as an apology...

Sniff... You mean... all this for me? ...Dango, too?

...Ahh, well, uh... I just figured, since I didn't know what you liked...

...W-Well... I guess you do have good taste in Pokémon.

...Thanks? I mean, I never really...

And in accessorizing, too! You've got to tell me where you got her that cute little rose clip!

Wait, hang on, now that's important...?

[Of course, it's about here that something else falls exactly into the right place in the bag and shuts off the audio.]

A volcanic island, huh.

[Guess where a certain lazy mage is today. If his description of the place isn't enough, the way he's using the camera to show off the scenery of Cinnabar Island as he wanders about might be. ...Or maybe the other way around, for those folks who've never been to Kanto.]

Apparently, there used to be a town here, until it erupted a few years back. Well, I guess there are reasons why they built it here and reasons why they maybe shouldn't have, can't really say anything about that.

If we were staying more than one night, it could be interesting to dig through the rock or something, I guess. Try and dig out some of the old buildings, see what life was like around here and stuff.

...If we were staying more than one night. But no, of course not. We can't stay in one place for too long. Why would we stay in one place for too long.

[It's like he's tired of constantly moving or something.]

...Haaaaaaaaaa, what a pain. I can't wait until this is over. Then maybe that guy'll let me stay in one town for more than a week at a time. Wouldn't that be nice, to get some actual sleep for once.