14th Grail: [Video]

[dressofheaven]

I don't tend to make a big deal out of this sort of thing, ordinarily. But under the circumstances it seems appropriate.

[Ilya holds up Claire's Rising Badge to the camera, then shows off the other seven badges pinned to her collar. She adds the last one and makes no effort to restrain her victorious smirk.]

That's the eight badges of Johto collected. I hope the elite battles over in Kanto give a bit more of a challenge. I don't suppose anyone can give me an idea of what to expect from them. I'd like to hear any stories you might have.

Oh, but I'm feeling nostalgic. Even if you haven't fought the elite matches yet, even if you only have one or two badges, why don't you tell me about them? It seems like as good a way as any to celebrate, at least until I get my little gathering underway.

Also, Claire, if you're listening. Gyarados still isn't a dragon type.

Comments

[dressofheaven]

Oh. I guess I wouldn't understand it all that well then. I'm a Magus, but technology is beyond me, mostly.

[wing_attack]

"Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." It's pretty much the same thing to us, but it doesn't matter. We still use it even if we don't understand it. Ax could probably explain it better, though he might have fallen asleep in that class.

I don't use all that much technology anymore. Talons aren't great for holding joysticks and stuff like that.

[dressofheaven]

I'm not so sure about that... Then again, if you've never used magic yourself I'm pretty sure it'd be hard to tell the difference.

[And frankly, she doesn't feel like hosting a magic 101 class.]

I can see the problem with your situation, though.

[wing_attack]

I guess. I'm not sure magic is a thing in my world anyway.

[dressofheaven]

No, maybe not. Probably not my type of magic anyway.

[After all, the various worlds all seemed to have their own ways of doing those things, if they had them at all.]

[wing_attack]

That's okay. I know all the worlds people come from are different. I wouldn't really expect other worlds to know about mine, either.

[dressofheaven]

Yeah. And honestly, if people come in from my world who know about our sort of magic and they aren't people I know, there's a good chance they'd be unpleasant, anyway.

[wing_attack]

... Do magic people - magi, sorry - are they not usually a nice bunch?

[dressofheaven]

That's a slight understatement.

[Really, going into detail would just be unnecessarily dark.]

[wing_attack]

... Sorry. That sounds kind of rough to deal with.

[dressofheaven]

Rougher for those who aren't used to it. I grew up with it, so it's not such a big deal to me.

[wing_attack]

[... He shifts a little uncomfortably, body rocking slightly.]

Even if you're used to it, that doesn't make it right. I mean, if people are jerks, they're still jerks whether you're used to it or not.

[dressofheaven]

Well, yes, but there's not much anyone can do about that. There's no point in complaining about something no one can change.

[wing_attack]

Yeah, I guess.

[He's quiet for a few moments before he sighs and continues.]

... I've just kind of got bad experiences with that sort of thing.

[dressofheaven]

I think almost everyone has bad experiences with unpleasant people. It's more or less what they do, and there are too many of them to avoid them all.

[wing_attack]

I mean - never mind.

[This is getting too personal. Rachel tries to lean in to see who he's talking to, and he turns the camera so that the Ursaring can see the screen.]

... Sorry, she just gets curious.

[dressofheaven]

[Ilya, however, seems quite delighted to see the bear.]

Oh hello there! You're a fierce-looking one. [She beams at Rachel.] And what's her name?

[wing_attack]

Her name's Rachel, since she reminds me of a friend at home that likes grizzly bears.

[Rachel huffs and nods a little bit. Okay. She sounds okay.]

[dressofheaven]

A friend with good taste.

[She raises an eyebrow, a thought occurring to her given what Tobias has told her already.]

A friend who can become a grizzly bear, perhaps?

[wing_attack]

... Yeah. She's one of the best fighters we have.

[There's suddenly a giant paw patting him on his head.]

... I'm okay, Rachel. I don't need you to do that.

[dressofheaven]

I imagine she would be, with an alternate form like that.

[She restrains a giggle at the sight of the Ursaring so obviously trying to comfort her trainer.]

She's a lot sweeter than she looks, isn't she?

[wing_attack]

Well, we all had a lot of forms, but yeah. That was her main battle form.

[He flushes faintly.]

Yeah. The phrase 'mama bear' exists for a reason.

[dressofheaven]

Awww, so she sees you as her cub?

[She doesn't even make the slightest effort to disguise the fact that she's teasing him.]

[wing_attack]

I guess. I've had her since she was hatched, but she and Regal are both pretty protective of me.

[dressofheaven]

That's adorable.

[It really is, but she might be exaggerating her reaction just a bit to mess with him.]