.003 Δ [Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Okay, so does albinism happen to run in particular Pokémon species? I thought it might've been a newborn thing, but it's been a while and normal fur hasn't grown in yet for him at all.

[A young, energetic Sneasel clambers his way up the back of York's chair. He's kind of excessively pink.

Someone's got his first shiny is what's happening here.

The Sneasel waves at the camera, then slips back down in an undignified tumble before running off again to play with York's Rotom. York watches him go before shaking his head.]

I ask 'cause I know that can cause eye problems, but he hasn't complained about it and Delta Two hasn't picked up any bad news from him. But he's a Dark type and a baby, so I dunno how much she'd be able to get from him, anyway. Do I need to get him glasses? Keep him out of the sun?

--Also, anyone celebrating Hanukkah this year, hope you had a good one. York out.

Comments

[Video]

[dangerousidol]

[Looking a lot more tired lately, Rise gives York a small smile.]

You've never seen a shiny Pokémon before?

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

[York notes that weary look, but doesn't say anything yet.]

If it's something different from the standard, reflects-a-lot-of-light definition of 'shiny,' then no, can't say I have. Why?

[Video]

[dangerousidol]

Shiny just means that they are a different color, like "they're shiny and new" I think. I have a shiny Glaceon, and he's a much paler blue than a normal one. I've seen someone with a gold Altaria, and their normal color is blue. Shinies aren't any stronger or weaker than the non-shiny ones. So your Sableye is fine the way he is.

[But...] I think he'd look kind of cool with sunglasses.

[Video]

[monge]

[Albinism is a big word, and Komasan has no idea what it means, but he knows one thing for certain:]

I think he's beautiful, zura~

[Pink is a pretty color.]

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

[Queens hears that and comes back over to try to peer over the armrest of York's chair. York smiles and tilts the feed so Queens and Komasan can see each other.]

Hey, this kid thinks you're pretty, buddy.

[Queens puffs up with pride and does a little twirl before tottering a little--he's still a toddler, essentially--and running off again.]

I think that means thanks. What's your name, dude?

[Video]

[monge]

[Komasan just eats that up, his eyes practically sparkling as he watches Queens twirl away.]

Monge~ And he's so graceful, too... [!!!] He should try to get a job at the circus, zura!

[Because that's a thing toddlers do, right? Get jobs?

But enough nonsense, it's time for introductions. Komasan calms himself down and holds up one of his hands in a sort of half-wave, all in the name of being polite.]

My name is Komasan, it's very nice to meet you, zura! I-I'm sorry I couldn't answer your question, but your Pokemon was so monge~ I couldn't help myself, zura.

[Video]

[sneezelikeakitten]

[THAT IS PAINFULLY PINK]

It's the same color as Pepto-Bismol...

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Yeah. A kind of lightish red, huh? Doesn't seem to bother him, but he's supposed to be black.

[Video]

[sneezelikeakitten]

Maybe there was a mutation in the pigments, or something happened to him while he was in the egg.

[Smart kid time.]

[Video]

[wing_attack]

Oh, he's fine. Some Pokemon just have different coloring. It's rare, but they're perfectly fine. Like... John, come here a minute.

[He gestures over a Gallade with blue coloring.]

The Ralts line usually has green coloring, but he has blue. He's perfectly fine though. Right?

[The Gallade nods, shifting his weight a little from side to side.]

... Yeah, it's okay. You can go.

[The Gallade moves away, and Tobias smiles.]

Sorry, he's a little shy.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Hey, that's okay. Delta Two was shy for the longest time. She's still pretty quiet.

[Prompted by her name, a Beheeyem leans her ponderous head into the background of the shot, waves a few blinky traffic-light fingers, and then returns to whatever she was doing out of frame.]

Is it always just one variation, or are there different patterns? Should I be breeding for this kinda thing?

[Video]

[wing_attack]

I think it's pretty rare, but I don't know if there's different patterns. A breeder who's been here longer than me might know - that's sort of their area. But I don't think they're much different than the standard-color Pokemon.

[He waves to Delta Two, though.]

Sorry if I'm not much help for that. Also... uh. You're Jewish?

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Your sneasel's not albino, he's what's called a 'shiny'. It's simply a rare color gene that crops up from time to time.

[Lust turns the 'gear to show her gray and dark blue houndour and her silver ninetales.]

Most of us who've been here any length of time have one or two.

What's Hanukkah? Is that like Christmas?

Video

[ratherbelocky]

[He nods to the stuff about shinies--it's reassuring to know that it's fine and that it's so widespread.]

Uh, I guess it's sort of like Christmas in that the two usually crop up around the same time of year. Different religions, though, and they celebrate different things. Hanukkah's Jewish.

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Oh?

I've heard of those people, the Jewish people.

[Mentioned in passing, once, when she had been speaking on the history of Ishbal.]

Someone...once compared my people to them. Could you tell me about this holiday?

[islandshore]

...He's pink.

[Give Riku a moment. He's never seen a shiny Sneasel before. This is a whole new world for him. A new secret revealed...

In the background, his Weavile looks up from the game of poker he's playing with a Lucario and Zoroark. He taps his chin, then returns to the game at hand.]

Pretty sure you've already heard by now, but I wouldn't worry too much about the fur color. It's more of a novelty thing. A rare... I don't want to say mutation, but it's mostly for looks. At least, I haven't noticed any huge differences with my shiny Charizard and Aegislash.

[ratherbelocky]

Hey, nothing wrong with a little cosmetic mutation here and there, long as it's not hurting anybody. The leader of my squad was a mutant like that.

[...

...]

'Cause she's a redhead. Red hair's considered a recessive mutation, if you didn't know that before.

[islandshore]

...Seriously?

[Wow, that's news to him. He knew about dominant and recessive genes, sure, but that little factoid makes him rub his chin for a moment.]

Huh. Wonder if the same's true for silver hair...

[VIDEO]

[adai]

Oh, that's a shiny Pokémon! They're very rare, but from what I've heard the only difference is the coloration! Your Sneasel should be just fine, so don't worry!

[...]

What's albinism?

[...thanks, rossiu]

[VIDEO]

[ratherbelocky]

Albinism's when something's born without as much skin color as it's supposed to have. Happens in humans, too, but since color in the eyes is important for sight, it can lead to problems. I just wanted to make sure Queens here would be okay.

[adai]

Oh, I understand. I've never heard of that before.

[Something to research, then!]

I've never heard of shiny Pokémon having health problems, but I think the nurses can tell you more about that! I think your Sneasel will be just fine though!

[video]

[styxiedust]

Goodness, congratulations on your first shiny hatching, Mr. York!

[Botan is naturally all sunshine and happiness while the Weavile mother of Queens is sitting next to her with arms crossed, nodding as if to say "yep, yep, that's my kid."]

It's a special little perk we breeders get, if Pokemon that are bred have one or both parents as shinies there's a chance one of the babies will be shiny too! You can't tell from the egg that anything's different, though, so it's a special surprise.

[And he's such a charming color, too! If only all shiny Pokemon were pink, that would be lovely.]

[video]

[ratherbelocky]

You don't say?

[Before York can say anything else, Queens pops up again, lights up when he sees the Weavile next to Botan, and climbs all over a protestng York until he's safely in position to sit in York's lap and wave both his clawed little hands. York snorts and rubs between his ears.]

They all this, uh, bright?

video;

[irenicly]

Looks like you've already been told about shinies.

I don't really understand the color variations, though. It seems strange that it's usually just one standard type, and then occasionally a completely different one.

video;

[ratherbelocky]

Right? I thought with animals, usually you got a bunch of different colorings depending on breed and environmental factors and stuff. This is just weird, man.