tentacletrainer | Chapter 33; Accidental Video

[[Today, when the gear turns on, you get a lovely view of the sky and the calming sounds of water nearby. It's a beautiful day, for those of you not outside.

This serene setting is broken by a squeal from a Pokemon and a splash, then all falls quiet and calm again.

It's a few minutes before you hear something again. This something being another splash. And then on screen appears a Dratini with a quite pathetically wiggling Magikarp in it's mouth.

With a happy chirp it disappears off camera again, only to return a few moments later to rub all over the 'gear. And then off it goes. There's a squeal, a splash, and a few minutes later the familiar sight of this Dratini with another Magikarp, struggling in it's grasp. It disappears, it reappears to smother the Pokegear, rinse, wash, repeat.

This show goes on for some time, until finally - during one of its rubbing sessions - it stops and looks up. And then it simply begins to trill in excitement. Almost like if it doesn't make noise, it'll explode. It's also wiggling.

There is so much wiggling from this Dratini.]]

...V-vodka...what are you doing?

[[It seems this Dratini is none other than Vodka Derptini - also lovingly known as John - belonging to resident Rose Lalonde. And said trainer has found the little dragon Pokemon.

She appears momentarily on screen, picking up the 'gear, before turning to look at...oh.

It seems all those Magikarp the little wiggling dragon type had been collecting are in quite the pile of flopping. Meanwhile, the aforementioned culprit of this karp congregation is sitting next to said heap, wiggling as if waiting for praise.

Apparently those fish are a gift for his trainer.]]

...That's...very nice of you, John. Thank you very much. How sweet.

[[A few pats to the Dratini's head, followed by a multitude of elated chirps, lilts, warbles and purls, and the 'gear is shut off.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Supposed to be, John, but not always are. Have you, by chance, ever read a series of novels known as "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R. R. Martin? The first in the series being "A Game of Thrones".

[Rose, did you seriously just ask him if he's read a book other than a comic book? No, okay he's not that bad, but still. Really?]

...no, Rose. I can't say that I have. Though I'm guessing it involves un-charming royalty? [John, that isn't even a word...]

Oh the most un-charming. Joffrey was positively repulsive. And his parents weren't much better, in my honest opinion.

Huh. Well that's interesting. So were they the villains or something then?

Not necessarily villains, no. In a battle between royalty, every side can be viewed as evil, depending upon who you serve under. However, generally, the Lannisters were seen as the evil of the battle-field, yes, and it was likely the aim of the author to goad the reader into disliking them as well.

Which is of course the house that Joffrey served - and therefor ruled - under. Generally cruel and ruthless, to the point Joffrey refused to show mercy to his lady's father, had him beheaded, had his head mounted upon a stake and forced her to then look upon his head to warn her about traitorous ways.

Despite this, though, I'm rather fond of the character Tyrion Lannister however. Intelligent, witty, and quite amusing.

[Vacant boggling is a-go.]

Oh. I see. Well that sounds.........pleasant. [He...guesses?]

[[Chuckling, she smiles. She had a feeling this would be his reaction.]]

It's quite the violent set of novels. The point is, royalty does not always need to be charming.

It sure sounds like it. [Oh hey...weren't we having a fish toss? Let's start doing that again, wheeee!] And I suppose that's true. It's just...not the norm, I guess? Anyway...so King Arthur was here and Merlin is here, what about the others? YOu know...like Lancelot or something?

As far as I'm aware, no. Just Merlin now. [[oh yeah...kind of need to do that, don't we?]]

It would be interesting if they were here, however.

Hmm...yeah. Wait, okay...I can never remember. Was King Arthur just a story character or was he real?

He is indeed a real person.

Mmm...but the story wasn't? Like he was a real person but the story of the sword in the stone and Excalibur and all that was fictionalized? Is that how it works?

Well, to be fair, his existence is debatable. Many historians do not believe this man of romance and fable every lived, yet others are certain he did indeed, and that he accomplished all that was written down.

Arthur Pendragon, from my knowledge, did indeed fight with a sword named Excalibur, did indeed serve under Merlin, however the movie I know you are referring to over-fantasized many, many parts of the story. Likely to appeal to children.

Oh. Okay. Because I was just thinking...about how weird it would be if fictional characters showed up here, you know? It would be cool but...really, really weird at the same time.

[He's spoken to Harry Potter before but...still doesn't know the kid's name or anything.]

Well John, Harry Potter is here, is he not?

[[A chuckle and another fish is tossed in the lake.]]

...is he?

He is indeed.

[[See this gleam in her eyes?]]

Seriously? In the flesh? You're not pulling my leg here?

No legs are being pulled here, John.

[Silence.]

...wow.

[Apparently that's all there is to say on the matter.]

[[And a snort from her.]] Indeed. You also remember Droog, Slick and Clubs, don't you? From the Midnight Crew? Fictional characters are apparently very likely to be taken.

And that's really of no surprise, considering Johto itself is a fictional place.

Oh that's right! I completely forgot about them...but didn't they end up actually being real? Even before they came here? I'm pretty sure Karkat said they were exiles in his session.