Riku

68 - video/action; - forward dated to midnight

2016-05-09T00:57:47Z

[The feed opens with ominous music. The camera's shaking. The town's dark. Everything appears rigid. Sharp. Off camera, a voice can be heard, slightly distorted.]

N-no way. Not again!

[The camera pans, ever so slowly, to show the following...]

[Seven feet of stiff pixels. It's not alone, either. Off to the side, viewers are treated to...]

[And as the camera continues to pan, more and more monsters seem to have met the same fate.]

[They flicker. Briefly, they move and look like normal Pokémon, only to stiffen up again. The music drones on and one. And on...

The camera pulls away. Riku looks to the screen, trying to keep his expression blank, but his lips twitch, trying to form a frown.]

This happened before. It's just like the first Halloween I spent here. The lanscape's blocky. My Pokémon are barely moving. Bet you anything there's a MISSINGNO. just waiting to pop up.

[The camera shakes a bit. The hallway, dark and pixelated as it is, seems to scroll behind him. Off to the side, images of more blocky creatures emerge, some in better states than others.

He passes through a doorway. The scenery abruptly shifts to Celadon City, not that you'd recognize it with everything reduced to pixels. Outside, Riku slumps against the wall of the Training Center, its graphics slightly garbled and vaguely resembling a Gym Sprite. File not found...?

When Riku speaks again, the audio shifts up and down in pitch. Static distorts the feed, though Riku doesn't take notice at first.]

D̮̦͕̳̳̳̖̬ͅo̺e͉̘s̢̟̱͙̬̩̼͢ͅ ̜̩̻̖̘͟a͕̰̙̫̦̟̻͇̕n̛̮̞̖̲͈͖͇͚̼ỳ̀͏̠͇̜̘ơ̮͙͉̬͕͔͍͜ṉ̴̝̦͚̕e̴͕ ̢̹͓͚̗r̞̩̜̳̹̥̝ḛ̷̘̫̫̰̱m̨̩̭̝͔͉e̜̙̭͖͓͙̜̩̝͟͞m̛̫̦̮̲͈͓̲͘b̺͓͔̺̀͞͠ȩ̬̳̬̬̤r̵͓̺ ̶̵͕̰̝̩͓̰̦͜t͈̟̬̬̬̟̘͍h̵͕̤̰̳͔͍́͘e̝̭͚͈̪͉̲ ̪̺͙̤͕͖͡f̩̟̱̤͘ͅì͔͖̼͙̀͘r̫̞̪̥̙s̮̪̰̗̼̙̦̯t̶̛̝̝͎̠ ̘̹͉̙̬̲̥͠͡t͕̺͟͞i̵͏͕͚̬̬̟ͅm͚͓̠̪͕̘͖͘͘é̥̳͕̫̦̻̜̱ ̷̟͖̩̼̱̻͇́ṯ̗̪̖͚̞͓͠h̛̬͔̘̲̙͈̪͘i͟͞҉͈̜s͏͉̞͉̬͉̫̰ ̘̼̯͉͓͎͝ẖ̙͙̥̲͕̺̖̮͘à̭p͏̤̞̟̣̮̯̜̰̀p͍̥̱̦̥̱̤ͅe̥͎͎̫͙͔̹͠͡ͅn̢͔̤̪̹̣͈͖̝ḛ̳̼̙̻̥̲͘ḑ͕̤̰?̸̹̠̟͕̠͟ The music kept going, playing this same stupid song for days. Everything was so l̘̗̗̲̟̱̪͚͔̰̻͇̟̤̫̋̑̆ͦ͝͡į̧̭̖̭͉̥̰͛͌̎ͯͪ̍̊͆ͥ̄f̴̺̹͉̖̤̦̲̺̩̯̓̆̐̉̾͗̂ͫ͌̈́ͯ̑ͪ́͟e͆̔̋̄ͮ̒ͫͭ̚͏̧̩̙̫̗̜̗̘̦͇̻̪̪̮̘̼͘͝͝ͅl̴̛̯͈͚̘͇̱̣̲̝̘͓̣̬͂̐̄ͧ̓̍̀ͮ͊ͣ̃ͅe̴̛͙̣̘͍̪̹̖̘̣̺̞̣̱̮̻̖̙̾ͫ̀́̉ͭͧ̃͆͋́̍̾͐͂ͪ̒ͨ̔̀͢͡s̨̛̔ͪ̒̋ͫ̾͋̚͟͞͏̹̖̱͔̠͈̤̹͇̙̭̩͍̪̗ͅͅsͨͩ̉̈̋̃ͣ͌̓̎ͭ҉͓̫̱̭̣̟̬̗̕.̀̄͑̍̂ͪ̉́ͣ̑ͤ͋̉̌̋̚͠͏̨͍͕̮̹.̵̷̡͉͍͇͔̖͙͍̜̞͓͔ͫͮͣ̏͛͂͋͂ͧͦ̽̃̈͌͘͟.̷͙͉̘͇̤̜̱͙̰̣̩̂ͥ̈̀͟

It's probably the same across the board, but just in case, is there anyone who isn't surrounded by pixels? I'm gonna do some recon, see how the locals are taking it, but if anyone's confused, I can try to--

[The screen ripples, then fills with a flash of static as this sound starts to play, if only for a moment.

Soon after, the following message appears.]

An error has occurred. To continue:

Press ENTER to return to POKéCONNECT or

Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart your device. If you do this, you will lose any unsaved information in all open applications.

Error : 0E : 016F : BFF9B3D4

Press any key to continue_

[Following the broadcast, he can be found wandering from Celadon across the various cities. He's a man on a mission, determined to sort out what's going on and find someone, anyone who isn't completely clueless about the situation.]

comments

67 - video;

2016-03-16T06:19:02Z

[It's late at night when Riku turns on the feed. Judging by the starlight surrounding him he's outdoors. Lights from the surrounding cityscape shimmer from afar. The camera hovers behind him as he rests along the edge of a roof.

It hovers closer, and he finally turns around, gaze distant despite the camera's close proximity.]

You ever stop to wonder about our place in this world?

[Why, yes, it's one of those messages.]

I mean, think about it. We're dragged from our homes, dropped here and expected to play by their rules. And sure, some of us are successful. We've had businesses sprout up from nothing, helped fight off giant monsters, been invited to proms...

Still, we're outsiders, and sooner or later, we might disappear, and all the work we do here gets left behind.

[He looks up, sighing softly.]

It just got me thinking... What do the locals think about us? Do we count as citizens, even though we aren't part of the world? And how much do they really know about us in the first place?

[Heh.]

But maybe I'm over thinking it. I mean, this is a world that somehow manages to sustain itself even without an obvious education, limited career paths, and a surprising amount of pacifism in the face of crime. Community service as catchall punishment's kinda light, after all...

[Leaning back, Riku shrugs.]

I don't know. What are your guys' thoughts? I've got time to kill.

comments

66 - video - backdated to the 20th;

2015-07-22T05:36:12Z

[It's around evening that the feed clicks on to show Riku... seated on a rooftop overlooking the ocean because hey, sunset. It's a great view, an even greater backdrop, and there might be some greater reason behind it.

In fact, there most certainly is.]

So, summer. Probably the best time to hit the beach. The sun, the sand, the surf... What's not to like? For all my complaining about the islands, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss them sometimes.

[He pauses, shaking his head.]

But this isn't about me. It's about Sora. See, his birthday's coming up on the 23rd, so we're gonna be having a party down in Vermilion. A beach party.

[He raises an index finger, grinning.]

But, see, Sora's a sap. He'd make friends with just about anyone, so this party's gonna be open to anyone who wants a good time. Might even make it a potluck-- celebrate the summer with a bang, before the temperatures drop. It is almost August now...

[After a few moments, his grin fades, and he looks toward the ocean with a calmer expression.]

Though I've gotta wonder. What do you think the average age is for guys like us? And for that matter, I wonder how many people have stuck around for more than a year... Seems like there aren't as many kids as adults nowadays. Kinda funny when you think about it.

[The locals start their journeys at age ten, yet so many of them are twenty and up...

He shrugs, waving a hand.]

Anyway, we can set up transportation if you're outta town. Otherwise, I'll catch you later.

comments

65 - video/action for Celadon/backdated to yesterday;

2015-06-28T04:14:59Z

[The feed opens with a view of the sky as twin Charizards zoom by, scattering streamers and confetti. One is large and bright orange, the other black and red, and as the duo swerves down, so does the camera, panning down to a sign with brightly colored letters and words that viewers may not be expecting.

Breeding Center.

A Hawlucha stands at the top of the sign, a rose in his talons as he takes a dramatic bow. He trills and dives at the camera, swooping up at the last second. Whoever's recording this is going a bit crazy with the choreography. Well, assuming it wasn't the Pokémon's idea.

A rose drifts to the ground, caught by a leaping Heliolisk who does a quick spin, and... okay. This is getting kinda silly. So silly that there's a whistle off screen, and the camera pans away from this silly display to show a silver-haired dork, about six feet tall and twenty years old, smiling wryly at his goofy party.

For a long time, the Breeding Center was one of the top trainer-run businesses in Johto and Kanto. It got its start around four or five years ago and kept going strong until last fall, when its owner disappeared and the place finally shut down.

It sucked, because the place had a lot going for it. Free eggs for newbies, a Foster Home for abandoned Pokémon. It was the go-to place for trainers and breeders alike. So, Sora and I decided to start working on bringing it back to life. And speaking of goofs, there happens to be a spiky-haired dork with him.

But what's the deal? Why the fanfare? Turning away from the building, Riku addresses the camera.]

So, some of you guys might remember the Breeding Center. Before it shut down, it was the place to go if you wanted to scoop up new Pokémon eggs. Thing is, they closed down last fall, and ever since, there hasn't been a central hub for egg sales. So, Sora and I got the bright idea to bring it back, and we're planning on bringing back the Foster Home for good measure.

[He casts a side glance to Sora.]

And no, you can't keep them all.

[It's said as a joke more than anything. Sora's roster's already huge. They're definitely gonna have their work cut out for them if people put their 'mons up for adoption.]

[ of course Sora has his arms full of eggs. as Riku makes the comment, he sticks out his tongue. ]

Ignore him. He's the one that always wants to breed. And it's not my fault that these guys like me!

[ Sora. the pied piper of pokemon. ]

[Well, that didn't sound awkward at all. So, it's not even remotely intentional, but it's enough to make Riku cough and avert his eyes for a moment.]

Hey, c'mon. It's not like eggs come out of thin air.

[Plus, it's a good way to make money and get people the Pokémon they've always wanted. A win/win situation in his book.]

Anyway, if you're new or just looking to expand your team, we've got a roster of about fifty-four species to start, and newbies get a free pick of one egg, plus a fifty percent discount on all other eggs. But more than that, we could use your help. See, Sora and I have a lot of Pokémon, but there's no way we can cover every species out there. So if you've got spare eggs or don't mind lending a few of your teammates, we'd appreciate it. Or heck, if you're out of town, we're always up for donated catches.

[And just when he's about to wrap things up, a Weavile takes his turn onscreen, speaking with a fake accent, though in fluent English. He's kind of a nerd.]

I, for one, would adore the company of an intelligent and refined member of my fine species. Or a Sneasel. The point being, I'm--

[Riku pushes him away.]

Getting kinda desperate, and this isn't a dating service.

[Ugh. Why's he gotta ruin the mood?]

So, if you've got questions, we'll do our best to answer them. And for those of you who just popped up, I finally got around to updating my guide if you're still feeling a little lost.

[This is still sounding like a glorified ad, so just to give people something to talk about...]

Think I'll close this off with a few quick questions. What kind of Pokémon do you prefer? Big, tough and intimidating? Small and cute? Do you like evolution or hate it? And just for a random curve ball, what's your favorite background music here?

[With that the feed ends, leaving a few attachments.]

Training for Dummies.txt
Breeding Center Contact
Foster Home Contact

comments

64 - video/action for travelmates;

2015-04-12T03:25:45Z

[It's around sunset when the video clicks on, as evident by the sky in the background. Seems Riku's sought to film this post outside, and when the feed starts up, he has a rather forlorn look on his face.]

Can't believe this...

[Sighing, he runs his hand through his hair, finally looking to the camera.]

Next month, I'll have been here for five years. When I first popped up, I was only fifteen, and now I'm twenty. That's a fourth of my life spent in this place.

[And yet, what all does he really have to show for it? He has a business, sure, he's collected all the badges, trained an enormous team, and explored both regions. He leads the PGC, though they've hardly done anything in recent months. Part of it's the stress, part of it's the relative peace.]

I always thought growing up would feel... I don't know, bigger. And maybe it's this place. Most people just become trainers. They don't go to college, they don't develop a career. Outside of badges, what is there to really strive for in a place like this? When I look back at how I was and how I am now, I've definitely changed, but at the same time, I don't feel different.

Never finished high school, since the schools here focus on training. Can you believe I'm actually starting to miss homework?

[Ha. How times change.]

I don't know. Anyone else ever feel this way? Maybe I'm just over thinking things...

comments

63 - video;

2014-12-09T06:21:25Z

[It's that time of year again, network. The time when two island doofuses set the stage for the ultimate bet of all time. A matter of life and death, of... okay, so maybe nothing that extreme. Still, here we have Riku, dressed in a black jacket and a scarf, looking slightly. So, right. He should probably get the ball rolling, but first, he turns to look at Sora and Kairi.]

You guys ready for this?

[ third year. it's officially a tradition. Sora? he's bouncy. two year victor here. he's pretty confident this streak is going to last. ]

I dunno... Are you ready to lose again, Riku?

[See that? That would be Riku slapping his face with his palm.]

Don't get ahead of yourself. A lot can change in a year.

[Not that he particularly feels invested by now, but it is tradition, and he can't ever turn down a challenge.

The camera pans down to Kairi, the lovely host for this little wager. She grips a pair of clip-on antlers in her hand, disappointed that she couldn't convince Riku to wear them. She will, however, make sure he at least ends the night with the glowing red nose.]

Hey everyone! It's time for us to see which one of these two is the bigger dork.

[Wait that's not it.]

We're looking to see who believes in Santa! If you don't know Santa, he's the big guy who flies around the world with his magic reindeer delivering presents to all the good boys and girls.

[And the fluffy red hat atop her head should make it easy to see what team she's on.]

Old Man Riku is such a stick-in-the-mud that he doesn't believe in magic presents anymore, so Sora wants to prove him wrong. Whoever loses gets to show off their "Christmas Spirit" for everyone to see, so make sure you all vote!

[Riku rolls his eyes, flicking Sora's shoulder.]

Hey, if I'm old, so's he. But anyway, consider this our Christmas tradition. So... place your bets. We'll see who ends up singing their heart out this time...

Pfft. Coming from the guy with white hair? I'm not so sure that you're not old... Foofyku.

[ Sora snickers, escaping to stand by Kairi and throws a friendly arm around her shoulders. ]

Just remember this, guys... Voting on Riku's side means you have to hear me and Kairi sing and do you really wanna have to put people through that?

[Riku smirks.]

Hey, we gotta shake it up somehow. Besides, Sora's gonna need a decent backup singer, otherwise it'd just be painful.

[The feed ends with Sora pouting and sticking out his tongue.]

comments

62 - text;;

2014-11-03T18:38:17Z

Anon Text;

[The feed begins with a series of snapshots. It starts with images of a war-torn battlefield lined with giant crystals, Team Aqua and Magma grunts and hordes of Pokémon and trainers alike.]

This world isn't safe.

[The images shift. New snapshots appear of Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon, taken from a safe distance above, but distinct in that they are indeed giant, glowing monsters.]

What happened last week is proof of that. You may all be content to enjoy a carefree lifestyle, but if it weren't for divine intervention, life as we know it would have ended with a whimper.

Together, we were able to hold off Team Aqua and Magma's forces, but the battle doesn't end there. If you could make a difference in the protection of this world, would you do it?

[The message ends there. About a half hour later, another text appears on the network, this time from a non-anonymous source.]

Text;

So, I think we all learned something valuable from that mess down at Tohjo: Don't summon giant lizards and whales to start the apocalypse. God doesn't like it.

There's a lot I could say. It was a busy few days, but if you look past all the legendaries, the explosions, and those cornball teams, there are two things that stick out to me: the weird power up some of our Pokémon got and the Pokémon god himself.

[Case in point? Here's an image of a Mega Sharpedo getting punched in the nose by a Mega Charizard X.]

So, what do you guys think that power was? Did any of you get a straight answer from Arceus? And how about that fairy type?

PGC filter:

By the way, looking for a status report from all remaining members. With so many of us gone, we're gonna have to shuffle the squads. That's also why I sent out a recruitment message.

comments

61 - video/text;

2014-09-07T04:16:09Z

[It's a beautiful day in Mahogany. No rain. No hurricanes. No falling cats and dogs. A few clouds, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

The camera pans around to show what looks like a weird amalgamation of a Rotom and a portable oven. Next to the oven we have two teenagers some might recognize as Sora and Riku. Grinning, Riku steps aside and turns to his friend.]

You ready for this?

[ and Sora looks about as giddy as ever. that means this is either going to be AWESOME ...or an utter disaster. probably a disaster but there's no way that they are going to stop this ]

Ready!

All right. Then let's get this show on the road.

[The Rotom whirrs and grins, as the read aura surrounding its body flickers and dances. It shuts its eyes, leans back, and then, WHOOSH!

Out pops a pizza, flying through the air like a frisbee. Riku's grin grows even larger than before, and he crosses his arms.]

Ha, I knew this'd pay off.

[Or so he thinks. Off camera, there's an audible SPLAT, followed by a shriek that can only be described as that of a banshee crossed with a screaming, red-tailed hawk. A shadow descends over the boys, and a flock of feathery figures descend, led by a bird coated in bits of cheese, sauce, and crust. The birds all have one thing in common: they're new, and they all have lucha masks.

The feed cuts abruptly as the cheese-stained bird hurls a rose at the dorky duo.]

text;

[Later, the following message appears.]

So bird wrestlers are a thing now.

Word of advice: don't hit them in the face with pizzas. I barely got out of there without getting reduced to jerky. The good news is, we found out you can turn Rotoms into portable pizza launchers. Anyone else try hooking them up to appliances?

Downside's that I wound up wasting almost all my Pokéballs. Anyone want a weird, masked eagle? They're free.

Might as well tack on a shameless plug while I'm at it. Our Pokémon had a little quality time together, and now we got eggs to sells. Charmanders, Treeckos, Gligars, Darumakas, and Gibles. I'll attach a list of prices and moves.

P.S. Could somebody explain why those birds have masks in the first place? I feel like I'm missing something.

[ooc: Eggs can be found here. Chars from the last app round and the upcoming one get a 50% discount.]

comments

60 - video/text/action for travel group;;

2014-07-15T04:44:58Z

[It's still raining. At least, it should be, but today we have a nice outdoor shot with little rays of sun shining down, while a Charizard lumbers around in the background, grumbling shaking off little droplets of water. There's a Toxicroak rubbing the top of its head and grumbling before a Vaporeon scoffs and squirts her with a stream of water...

And then the camera pans to Riku, looking slightly soaked, with his hair clinging to his skin.]

You know, at this rate, I bet the Department Stores are gonna run out of Sunny Day TMs. It's been, what? A week since this weather started? I'm surprised the routes haven't flooded yet...

[Groans, waving one of his hands.]

But anyway, I was thinking. We know these "Bloobers" are called Goomies now, and the Pokédex has some info, but has anyone ever thought about swapping notes on these guys? The Pokédex can only tell us so much, and if there's another region out there with tons of new Pokémon, then--

[Riku's cut off by an abrupt SPLAT, as a water balloon nails him in the cheek, splashing water all over his already damp hair and leaving bits of rubber stuck to his cheek. If that's not bad enough, the Sunny Day ends abruptly, and the downpour resumes with a vengeance, splattering him with big, wet droplets.

The culprit? That'd probably be the spiky-haired doofus laughing in the background. Once Riku pulls the busted balloon off his face, he whips around and charges...]

Oh, so you think you're funny, huh?

[And the feed cuts.

Later, a text message pops up on the network:]

Text/Filtered from Sora;;

So, Sora's turning eighteen on the twenty-third, and I'm wondering what you guys think is a good way to celebrate. It's kind of a big deal for him, and I really want to make it count. And if any of you guys are friends with him, I bet he'd love to see you around. Just gotta figure out the right location and hope we don't get nailed by more stupid rain.

Text/PGC filter;

Tenten's gone, which means we're down one of our group leaders. We've lost a few other members recently as well, and I think it's just about time to start recruiting again.

Tenten's loss means we're also down one team organizer, which means we're gonna need someone to step up. Preferably someone good at bookkeeping.

If you've got anything new to report, let me know.

comments

59 - video (action for Sora and Kairi)/filtered text;

2014-03-23T06:34:31Z

[Well, he probably should've seen this coming. After last year's turn out, it's no wonder Clair opted for another prom. And, well, after getting nailed on the head by at least three of those invite balls, Riku appears onscreen in what looks like a kitchen, leaning back against a counter.]

So, I know everyone's getting amped up for the prom, and I can't really blame you guys. Tohjo's a pretty sweet resort, but something about it still bugs me. That place is supposed to to be the Elite Four's private getaway, and we haven't even seen them over the past few years, let alone heard from them.

[He narrows his eyes, shifting his position against the counter.]

Gotta wonder what their deal is. Supposedly, they're the toughest trainers out there, but ever since I came here, they've been MIA. No challenges and no explanation, but the locals talk about them like they're these big-time celebrities.

[He waves one of his hands.]

Maybe this year will be different. Beats me, but I guess if anyone wants to hang out during the party, we can work something out. That's what parties are for, right? Not fussing over battles that might not even happen...

[Sigh. With that all said, he'll switch to a private channel.]

Filtered to PGC/Allies;

Heads up. I know the timing's kind of bad, I figure we won't have a better chance then this. Sometime during the party, we need to meet up and touch base. It's been a while since the incident down in Olivine, but I doubt the Rockets will stay quiet for long.

If you're worried about getting caught, don't be: the place is huge, and I'm sure almost everyone will be too busy with the party to consider tracking us down. But just for added security, we can pick a secluded spot and talk there.

comments

58 - text/PGC filter;

2014-02-05T04:24:13Z

Filtered to PGC and allies;

Listen up. I'm sure you all saw that little threat about "war" in Olivine, so I'm gonna say straight up: don't do anything rash. I bet you anything that he wants to lure us there. Thinks we'll be clueless enough to rush out and reveal ourselves with the smallest threat.

Now, those bombs aren't small by any means, but if we're gonna protect Olivine to the fullest, we need a plan. This isn't something we can charge into and expect an easy victory. With stuff like this, there's always a catch.

So my question for you guys is this: how many of you are dead set on going to Olivine? I think we should be careful about how many of our members we send. The last thing we need's to reveal all our cards at this stage, especially when we're still trying to rebuild the Corps. More importantly, we've got more to worry about than engaging this guy. What about evacuations? Giving the residents a heads up? The locals don't really keep tabs on the 'Gears from what I can tell. There's a few ways we can approach this.

So, I'm gonna open up the floor to any suggestions, plans, or whatever else you want to bring to the table. The PGC's a group effort, and every one of your opinions counts.

comments

57 - text;

2014-01-05T22:13:25Z

PGC filer;

Lightning and Hope are gone, which leaves us without leaders. That also cuts our numbers down to ten.

So, my question for your guys is "what next?" I don't think we should disband; just a quick look at the network will show that goons like Cobra are still at large. Still, we're gonna need some structural changes. New leaders, possibly new squads, and, more importantly, new members.

I guess I just want to know what you think. I don't know every one of you personally, but the PGC is supposed to be a team, so everyone should have a chance at giving feedback. I think if we sort out our strengths and weaknesses, that could help us with restructuring. It might be better to have multiple leaders so that if anyone disappears, there's people to fall back on. Maybe each squad can have one, beats me.

I'm gonna throw up an anonymous message in a sec to see about gathering newbies, though. If you've got friends you'd like to recommend, might as well bring them up now.

[Shortly after the PGC message pops up, a second message appears:]

Anonymous;

What does this world mean to you? Do you think it's something worth protecting, or would you rather sit on the sidelines and watch it burn? This place is more than sunshine and Pokémon battles. If given the choice to make a difference, would you take it?

[He remembers Lightning doing something like this before. He'll just have to keep his fingers crossed that it works.]

comments

56 - video;

2013-12-25T05:11:33Z

[Well, it's happened again. When the video starts up, Riku's dressed in an adorably goofy getup-- reindeer antlers and a fake red nose that actually glows! He slaps a hand over his face, grumbles, and after a few seconds frozen in that position, finally lets his hand drop with an enormous sigh.]

Sora won. Stantler can fly. Santa probably exists here... It's like this place wanted to rub it in.

[Ugh. Well, a bet's a bet, so after a few moments, he starts to sing in a very, very annoyed voice. He doesn't sound bad, just... remarkably unhappy.]

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas, and a...

You know what? I'm done. Can't go any further than this.

[Sora pops into view at about this time, nudging Riku and prodding him. He's dressed just as festively, donning a Santa hat.

After a couple more seconds, they both start singing, though Sora sounds much happier about it than Riku.

By the time they finish, Riku rips off the nose and flings the antlers aside.]

Well, I guess that's a wrap. Have a merry Christmas, don't get run over by Stantler and take it easy on the eggnog.

And please, just... don't laugh too hard.

[With that, he shuts off the feed.]

[ooc: Here's a list of gifts Riku got people. If you think you're missing, please let me know in the thread. Sometimes I forget things I really shouldn't.]

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55 - video;

2013-12-10T05:10:57Z

[Riku would not be the friend that he is if he let Sora off the hook for embarrassing attempts to get him a girlfriend. No, if Sora's gonna play that game, then it's only natural for Riku to follow suit, which is why he's addressing the network today.]

Hey, Johto. Kanto. Have I got some news for you.

[Riku grins wildly as he reaches behind his back and holds up a photo for all to see:]

See this guy? Dorky grin, messy hair, looks kind of like a goofball? Well, that's because he is, but that's not the point. No, the point is, he's feeling kind of down in the dumps. A bit lonely. Guy spends all his time glued to my hip, but deep down, he wants nothing more than to serenade someone special into the night, and--

[He has to stop himself because... man is he having trouble taking this seriously, but darn it. Sora needs a taste of his own medicine.

Right, after catching his breath, Riku continues.]

The point is, he's looking for a date. Or maybe a handful. Maybe even something longterm. Sora's a complete sap, making friends with everyone he meets, always wearing the same stupid smile, and, to be fair, he's probably the best friend a guy could ask for. But there is one little road bump: he actually believes in Santa Claus.

Which brings me to point two. See, I noticed a ton of people vouching for him, but I know there's gotta be at least some of you smart enough to admit Santa's made up. Even if you're not into bets, here's some incentive: speak up, and there's a chance you might get to see Sora belt out cheesy Christmas songs. Trust me, you'll get a good laugh.

[Well, Twilight suggested bringing it up. Whether or not it works remains to be seen.]

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4th wall - video/action wherever;

2013-11-26T02:27:00Z

[Having been in the Pokémon world for more than three years, Riku's come to expect those bi-yearly influxes of new arrivals. Of people regaining lost powers and forms, of random bursts of teleportation, and other strange phenomena.

What he hadn't expected was the piercing migraine. The flashes of images-- memories? Or maybe nightmares. Sora laughing alongside a group of strangers, having the time of his life. Without him. Kairi's body, locked in slumber. But why? These memories float aimlessly in his heart, as if they'd been forcibly inserted, unable to mesh with the three years worth of experiences he'd had free from darkness.

Yet he can't shake the feelings of jealousy, anger, loneliness, and fear just as he can't shake the pressure bubbling in his chest. Last 4th wall, he'd lost control of his body. This time, he remains in the driver's seat, yet that darkness remains, forced to the surface. Part of him wants to embrace it, but it's not right.

And so, as he addresses the network, he wears a weary expression, wincing every now and then and clutching his head, as if trying to keep his thoughts straight.]

So, it's that time again, huh? And who's decided to show up this time around?

[He snickers, running a hand through his hair.]

Anyone ever thought of making a list? You know, to see if there's any pattern to this mess. Feels like whenever this happens, we get so lost in the chaos that it's hard to make sense of it all.

Personally? I think we should take advantage of the situation while it lasts. Get info, test the limits. I'm sure it's been done before, but I'm half-tempted to scope out that cave by Cerulean and...

[His brow furrows, and he averts his eyes. No, maybe he shouldn't explore. First, he needs to find his friends. He has to make sure she's safe... But why? She couldn't have really lost...

Shaking his head, Riku looks to the camera again.]

...There's something I need to take care of first, but I'll be there if anyone else wants in.

[After making his message, Riku can be found throughout Johto and Kanto, sometimes riding on Charizard back, sometimes slipping through twisting corridors of darkness he didn't even know he could make. Regardless of where he appears, he's got a scowl on his face. His posture's tense, and he moves from place to place, slipping through the crowds of newcomers for familiar faces. As he moves through the regions, he can occasionally be spotted jotting things down in a little notepad.

Eventually, he'll settle by Cerulean Cave, determined to venture into the unknown and inevitably get his ass handed to him.]

[ooc: Quick explanation is this. For the duration of 4th wall, Riku's been hit with memories from later on in KH1 as well as some of those abilities. It's not a true canon update, however, as he's yet to truly experience those events and, post-4th wall, the specific memories will vanish.]

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54 - video/backdated to the 9th;

2013-10-12T03:24:12Z

( Pre-Post Action )

Video;

[It's late at night when Riku addresses the network. His hair's kind of a mess, and he looks like he hasn't slept at all. Still, he forces a faint smirk on his face and runs a hand over his head, trying to look a bit more presentable.]

So, about that fighting tournament... Anyone think we should have those more often? It's kind of a bummer I didn't get to fight most of you guys. Can't really get stronger unless I--

[He stops, sighing. His words came out halfhearted, anyway. Even a complete stranger could probably tell something's amiss. For the next few seconds, he stands there in silence, glancing off screen. A Charizard briefly passes by in the background, folding his arms and snorting. He gives a look that screams, "Stop being dumb". He and Riku exchange stares, complete with utterings of, "It's nothing". However, once Flare spreads out his wings and gives a low growl, Riku reluctantly turns back to the camera.]

...Never mind. That's not really what I wanted to talk about anyway.

[Granted, he didn't want to talk about this either, but with a persistent dragon peering over his shoulder, he's kind of been boxed into a corner. Sigh...]

I guess what I want to know is how you're supposed to deal with regret. I'm not good at talking about this sort of thing, but... let's say you get a reminder of some stupid mistake you made a while back. What are you supposed to do about that? Especially if it happened so long ago that it really shouldn't matter in the first place...

[It's dumb. He knows it's dumb and he shouldn't put so much stock into a nightmare, but given how little time he's spent with Slacker, who knows?

Either way, he'll just have to hang tight. Now that he's made his case, Riku clicks the video feed off.]

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53 - video/action for Cerulean;

2013-09-02T04:07:05Z

[The video clicks on, giving a view of Cerulean's water park in the distance, complete with towering water slides, wave pools, and other aquatic attractions. For a few seconds, Riku gazes at the park before giving a light shrug and facing the camera.]

You know, it's too bad summer's almost over. Cerulean's water park's gotta be one of the best attractions I've seen in Johto or Kanto. If you haven't seen them yet, you should really check out their water shows. Think there's only a week or two left before they shut down for the season. Come to think of it, the bug catching contest's over too, isn't it? Seems like all the fun stuff happens over just a few months.

[It's been a solid enough distraction after everything that's happened. Scooping up Kairi, his stubborn fixation on honing his own strength (and getting a few scrapes and bruises in the process). At least staying on the move satiates his wanderlust.

Ah well. After shaking his head and chuckling softly, Riku props one hand on his hip and continues.]

Anyway, you'd be surprised what happens when you've got hours of free time and nothing else to do. I talked to John about this a while back, but... Dodrios. You'd think that without wings they'd be grounded like ostriches, but they're not. So, I decided to teach one Fly and... well, just see for yourself.

[The tilts the camera up, giving a fine view of, well... this, just with a single Dodrio. There's nothing remarkable about it beyond its disregard to physics, but at least it'll make a good present for Sora. And now that he's shown off that little oddity, he'll turn the camera back on himself.]

But that's nothing new, right? Gastlies can learn punches somehow and Cubones hatch with their skulls. Now that I think about, do Farfetch'd start out with those leeks? I don't know. I'm sure there are stranger Pokémon attack combos out there, so if anyone's got any, I'd be happy to hear. Not like I've got any plans right now.

['til then, the feed clicks off.]

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52 - video/action for travelmates;

2013-08-11T16:38:22Z

[Here we have Riku. Or more specifically, we have Riku and a book. When he looks at the camera, it's with a soft chuckle. Then he starts reading off the page.]

A young man, callow and foolish in innocence came to own a sword. With it, he smote Pokémon, which gave sustenance, with carefree abandon. Those not taken as food, he discarded with no afterthought. The following year, no Pokémon appeared. Larders grew bare.

Just let that sink in for a second. A sword. Killing and eating Pokémon. Still with me?

[Then he'll continue.]

The young man, seeking the missing Pokémon, journeyed afar. Long did he search, and far and wide, too, until one did he find.

Asked he, "Why do you hide?" To which the Pokémon replied...

"If you bear your sword to bring harm upon us, with claws and fangs, we will exact a toll. From your kind, we will take our toll, for it must be done. Done it must be, and for it, I apologize."

To the skies, the young man shouted his dismay. "In having found the sword I have lost so much. Gorged with power, I grew blind to Pokémon being alive. I will never fall savage again. This sword I denounce and forsake. I plead for forgiveness, for I was but a fool."

So saying, the young man hurled the sword to the ground, snapping it. Seeing this, the Pokémon disappeared to a place beyond seeing.

[Riku snaps the book shut, placing it down. Afterwards, he shifts into a more comfortable position, arms folded over his chest.]

So, ignoring the obvious anti weapons message here, this story's pretty interesting. It's an old legend from the Sinnoh region, and if it holds any truth, it means that the people in this world used to use real weapons and actually hunted Pokémon. Plus, when you look at stuff like Skarmory's Pokédex entry, you see bits about forging swords from their feathers. You gotta wonder why they stopped and why they're so paranoid about people defending themselves.

You think it's because people abused that power?

[Either way, he's glad he swung by the library. Sometimes they actually do have interesting reads.]

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51 - video/action for Olivine;

2013-07-29T18:41:05Z

Video A, backdated to the event start;

[The feed clicks on revealing a very disgruntled Riku with his hair ruffled up, bags under his eyes, and a stiff expression as he fends off his vicious attacker!

Said attacker is one of the Zombie Archens, currently swooping at his head with a mouthful of sticks and giving a brood curdling Kraaaaa! as he swats it away.]

Seriously, quit it. My hair is not a nest.

[He raises his voice before addressing the camera.]

Say, anyone else end up with fossils before all this? Looks like that seance reached further than bonies buried under the ground; this thing used to be a hunk of rock sitting in my room. Now it's trying to--

[Kyaaaa! The Archen dives again, dropping some of the sticks. Ugh.]

Now it's trying to weave my hair into a mobile nest. Now, I know there are people with Archens out there. Please tell me there's a way to make them stop...

Video B/Action, backdated to 27th;

[When the attack intensifies and the more powerful Pokémon come out to play, Riku does something stupid. Namely, he marches out into the fray wielding nothing but a hunk of metal shaped like a giant key. Yup, he's trying to fight off vicious dino-zombies using nothing but his makeshift weapon.

A Kabutops swipes its blade at him, and he lunges to the side in order to dodge. Sneering, he smashes his weapon into its chest. It screeches upon impact, but just when it seems this crazy teen might have an edge. After parrying another slice, he knocks the beast upside the head...

And then there's a screech, followed by hissing. Riku looks up, only to get a face full of tentacles.

It would seem that the Omastar bomber squad has arrived, given the Aerodactyls dropping the buggers down from the sky. Before the feed ends, there's a shot of a Haunter snickering next to a circle of Aerodactyls giving the equivalent of dino laughter. Off screen, Riku can be heard shouting--]

Gah! Don't tell me you've been recording this whole time.

[The feed clicks off, but anyone in the Olivine area is free to stumble upon raining crustaceans.]

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50 - video/action for Olivine;

2013-06-29T04:38:20Z

[The feed clicks on with some radical footage of two teenage boys cruising on waves. Some may recognize them as Sora and Riku, both of whom have forgone their usual attire for swim trunks. Now, at first everything seems fine and dandy, until a particularly gigantic wave sneaks up on them, smothering them and dunking them below the water's surface. A blastoise decked out in shades zips by, trying to contain her laughter. The feed ends momentarily.

Cue another feed with both boys performing noticeably better. Riku looks to the camera and flashes a smug grin. They perform a few more tricks before returning to the shore and addressing the network properly.]

[ the first to formally pop his head in direct veiw of the camera is Sora, shaking out the sea water from his hair. ]

So glad that the snow melted. I mean, I love snow and all, but having it ruin our beach plans wouldn't have been cool.

[In the background, a fairly disgruntled Weavile wanders by, slurping some sort of smoothie. He stops just long enough to address the feed with a fake, stuffy accent.]

Tsk. Frankly, I would have preferred an entire week of snow. This summer heat is simply too much.

[Suddenly Riku regrets bringing an ice type to town. Heaving a sigh, slips into view just a few seconds later, rolling his eyes at his Pokémon.]

Well, at least it's gone now. At any rate, if anyone's hanging around Olivine, Sora and I are setting up camp out here by the shore. If you don't mind some rough waves, feel free to drop by. We're planning on whipping up some barbeque in a bit.

[Those in the area are free to drop by Olivine's beach, where the two KH dorks will be hanging ten, among other things.]

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4th wall - video/action wherever;

2013-06-02T04:40:36Z

Option A;

[So, early in the day, Riku happened to stumble upon a pretty wild discovery.

Those watching may notice some eerie music. Anyone around for the Missingno event of '09 is sure to recognize it...

Though the music abruptly fades to this a few seconds later as a small group of MISSINGNO. appear.]

So, anyone else feeling a little nostalgic? Because, seriously, these things take me way back.

[Now he can only hope that his team hasn't reverted to pixels again.]

Option B;

[When the camera turns on again, there's a strange darkness to the images presented. Black pools form along the ground with bulging yellow eyes, and Riku stands in the very center with his back facing the screen...

He lets out an eerie chuckle before turning to face everyone. The smirk on his face seems a bit more sinister than the norm, and when he speaks, there's another voice underlying his own.]

What a peculiar world... Here the denizens seem content to partake in childish spars. They are reliant on other creatures to suit their needs and therefore fail to function without these beasts as their crutches. They are everywhere, as if worshiped like gods.

[He folds his arms over his chest.]

Such a peaceful place... I do wonder how long this will last. After all, darkness claims all worlds in time, as well as every beating heart. This boy was a fool to think he could resist me. His stay has only delayed the inevitable, as you can plainly see.

[Why yes, that would be ~~Billy Zane~~ Ansem speaking through Riku. It was quite a pleasant surprise, too, finding him so vulnerable. Too bad it can't last forever. He just might need some help to dispel this creeper.]

comments

49 - text;

2013-05-20T03:23:34Z

[It's been months since they last talked. Months since they'd even seen each other. And with Terra wide awake now, Riku decides enough is enough and shoots Ven a message via PokéGear.

But the ID no longer exists. Riku instantly feels the weight of a thousand boulders rolling over him.

He tries again to no avail. And again. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. But still, for one of his most trusted friends to leave without even a chance to hang out for one last time...

There's a reason why he's writing this message in text instead of video.]

Ven's gone.

I don't know how many friends he actually made here, but I figured I'd pass the message along. It's probably what he'd want, right? And it's not like this place ever gives people a chance to say goodbye. Why change things now?

You'd think that after every other disappearance we'd all be used to it, but it never gets easier. Not with the people who really matter. But Kairi's left about a million times now, and I've lost plenty of other friends. Guess it was only a matter of time before he waltzed off, too.

Just... let me know if you wound up with any of his Pokémon, okay? Otherwise, I'll be around.

And no, nothing's wrong.

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48 - text/action for Celadon

2013-03-23T06:34:07Z

( Pre-Post tl;dr: It's just another day... )

[A text message appears in the early hours of the day:]

What does it mean to be strong?

I thought I had the answers, but I guess I got a little sidetracked along the way.

This place puts a huge focus on training powerful teams. Collecting badges, facing challenges, and I appreciate that. It's given me something to do, and it's hard to imagine life without those goofballs on my team to liven things up. But still, you can build a tough team without being strong on your own.

[There's a short pause before he continues his message. He has to search for the right words, try to piece together what he wants to say in a way that even he can understand...

Maybe he should get to the point.]

How many people here still fight? I've tried to keep up on my swordplay, but there's only so much I can teach myself. I know there are people out there better than me. Stronger than me... People with experience outside of play sword fights on an island day after day.

I guess what I'm really trying to ask is, well... Is there anyone out there who'd be willing to show someone else the ropes? I've done pretty much all I can with Pokémon battles, but I know I've got a long way to go with my own personal strength. And besides, I just... need something new to strive for. Something to break my routine.

[He ends his message there. It came out wordier than he intended... more like a rant than anything else. But with his thoughts out for all the see, he slips out into the city and proceeds to wander aimlessly with his 'Gear in hand.

Maybe he just needs a different outlook. He's got a much bigger world at his disposal now, and he's just barely scratched the surface...

But where does he start?]

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46 - video/action for Celadon TC;

2013-02-24T17:18:22Z

So, Starter Appreciation Day... You know, I feel like one of the only trainers out there who doesn't have a close bond with their starter. I mean, I still give him attention and keep him in good shape, but he's just not part of my main battling team, and the Pokémon I've bonded the most with came after him. Is there anyone else like that? It's kind of awkward when my favorite Pokémon came half a year after him.

[Sigh, but that's not what this is really about. He's got other issues to discuss.]

Anyway, got a few things to discuss, so I'd better get to the point. First, I've still got a pretty huge selection of unsold eggs from the Breeding Con. Treeckos, Gligars, Vulpix, Feebas, a Larvitar, some Riolus with Blaze Kick... And a whole slew of other eggs. I'm just throwing that out there in case anyone wants some last minute purchases. Otherwise, I'm selling them to the locals around town.

[He'd donate to the BC if he wasn't afraid of them getting sold at low prices, really. Those moves don't come cheap...]

Also, that anonymous post got me thinking... How do you guys feel about Pokémon trying to learn how to speak? Does it bother you? Confuse you? And I don't mean like Psychics, who can talk to anyone with telepathy. I mean trying to use human words instead of grunts, growls, barks and... well, if yours say their species name, that too. I tried looking for records of Pokémon accomplishing it for Slash and Ace to read, but the most I could find were rumors. Seems like it's pretty uncommon, and I've only seen one or two other Pokémon on the network even try.

[Like that one Meowth Slash couldn't shut up about and some Zoroark who can say "hi".]

So, yeah. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on that, especially given the way people react to nonhumans here, like the one who used to be ponies.

[There's the sound of throat clearing off-camera before a certain Weavile wanders in with a bow.]

All responses wiarll be fieyarlded to me, by the way.

[And cue a facepalm before the feed abruptly ends.]

[ooc: One last call for eggs! Otherwise, just assume they're going to NPCs. :|b]

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45 - video/action for Celadon TC;

2013-02-07T04:57:47Z

[The feed begins with a rather unusual shot. Namely, the tail end of a very black Charizard... squeezing herself underneath a bed. Or rather, trying and failing miserably.

There's an exasperated sigh as the camera turns to Riku.]

Anyone got tips for dealing with a Pokémon that has serious self-esteem issues? Cinder's always been timid, but ever since she's evolved, she's been trying to bury herself under my bed. And no amount of talking to her's convinced her to get out.

Grooogh... Grrarrghhhh!

[That'd be said Charizard, squirming, tail thumping against the floor. No, she doesn't wanna come out! Now she looks even less like Flare than before, and that's bad!

Riku promptly slaps his palm over his face. There's some chuckling from off camera soon after.]

I cood try and find Frrrr... Fyyy... Sigh, Farare, I suppose. We did have urgent business, anyway.

Yeah. I was getting there.

[Turning the camera away from the bed, the cameramon follows Riku closer to the doorway.]

So, while I wait for Flare to get his butt over here, there's something else I need to talk about. Well, me and my team. See, the other day, they up and decided that they want to be responsible parents. So, if you've ever bought an egg from me, could you at least tell me how the Pokémon are doing? If you can bring them on camera, even better.

After one of Flare's eggs hatched small, I just want to check in. Not just because of health, either; I'd love to hear how they're doing, period.

[And with that, he ends the feed. Time to try dragging out a seven-foot dragon before she breaks his bed... Sigh.]

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