.007 Δ [Audio]

[ratherbelocky]

You know, I never thought I'd be that guy, but I guess I'm that guy.

[He is the Jewish guy. It's him.]

Back home, the past week or so would've been a holiday for some people. I'm not gonna get into the whole story--well, unless you want me to and you've got some time--but the short of it's that it's a celebration of freedom, and of the end of generations of oppression, death, and slavery.

[That is, hag pesach sameach, Route. Happy Passover.]

Now, there are a lot of traditions that go along with the holiday, most of 'em about food, but the important one's the retelling of that story. Figured I'd open it up to everyone, though, especially now that the big sit-down dinner parts of the celebration are over.

What I mean is, you guys got any stories you want to share about...deliverance, I guess? Of getting free from something that was bringing you down, or worse. I know turning up here in Johto's been a huge breath of fresh air for me, personally, and I want to know about you all, too.

[Later, another text comes from that 'Nathaniel' character.]

Hey, all. After a few weeks of testing out how it works, I'm happy to say EXCH△NGE is completely up and open to anyone who needs to talk.

EXCH△NGE is an anonymous, text-based peer-to-peer support network created as a space for those seeking help, but who are unwilling to reveal their identities, to have safe, understanding conversations from likewise anonymous volunteers. The idea is to provide a listening ear and coping tips from other transplants to Kanto and Johto who may have gone through similar experiences, come from similar worlds, or share other common ground, so that no one feels that they have to deal with their burdens alone.

For more information, you can read the introduction here. If you'd like to volunteer or you want to be paired with one of our volunteers, please contact me here.

Have a good one, guys. Nathaniel out.

Comments

[Audio]

[ratherbelocky]

Some, but there've been a fair number of call-ins who're in a similar boat. People who are still in the forty years of wandering stage, or maybe stuck between Pharaoh and the Red Sea, metaphorically speaking.

[Since it's...entirely possible people could come here from between Pharaoh and the Red Sea not metaphorically speaking. Yikes. Is Prince of Egypt an appable canon?]

So how're you doing? Sick of Massena's mother-henning yet?

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

'Least I've got some company, then... Umm, actually it's still kind of nice! She's always a comfort when I'm traveling, really warm and sweet... But of course I'll still send her back to you once I get to Goldenrod! Sorry I've been taking so long, I just wanted to...well, get the badges beforehand.

[Audio]

[ratherbelocky]

[He laughs.]

Hey, don't worry about it! Massena's a big girl, I don't mind letting her see the world without me. [A thought occurs to him, and he rubs his chin.] You know, maybe I oughta see if she'll be interested in breeding when she gets back. Talonflame's a solid Pokémon to have for traveling, and she'll pass on some pretty good moves to the chicks.

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Br-breeding... [That's a subject she's still very unsure about. You can just hear the blush in her voice.] You, uh, never know unless you ask her. Does...she have a special, uh...Poké...friend?

[...this did not go as planned]

[Audio]

[ratherbelocky]

Uh, not that I know of. [He's trying not to laugh. Kids are adorable.] When she left, I didn't have any other Pokémon in her egg group, so if she does have a special someone, breeding would've been out of the question. I guess we'll see if she likes the new birds and go from there.

Now, if you're looking for romance, though, D-2 and Beau? That's one for the ages.

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Listen this is like talking about your cat shacking up with a neighborhood tom or something, except your cat is less of a pet and more of a full-fledged sidekick, it's weird for her.

Biology was never Ashley's subject.]

A-are those some of your other Pokémon? [Pokéromance is a better topic than Pokébreeding.]

[Audio]

[ratherbelocky]

Yeah. Delta Two's my starter, she's a Beheeyem now. And then Beau's a Kadabra. Quiet, brainy types, both of them.

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Delta Two? What a name.] And they just...fell in love during your journey? That's so sweet.

[Audio]

[ratherbelocky]

Yeah, they're cute as hell. They actually got to know each other before I even caught Beau. That's the reason I took him along, really. He and D-2 asked if he could, like kids asking my blessing to go to prom. How could I refuse?

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Oh...! Adorable! None of mine have been- [...she pulls a brief discontent face. Eliot.] Most of mine haven't shown interest in that kind of thing, so I didn't know it could happen like that. Of course it can, though, right? Pokémon seem more and more like people and less like animals the more I interact with them.

[Audio]

[ratherbelocky]

Right? I mean, it was hard for me to really think of them as animals in the first place, when the one I started with was an alien-looking telepathic thing who clearly had human-like sentience, but what's surprising is how human their personalities can be. And what they pick up from us.

Massena, I think she gets some of her personality from North.

[Audio]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

The resemblance is kind of uncanny...

But I get what you mean. Some people described them as that to me, but I mean. My starter's a candle, she is definitely no animal. But...most of my others have been like that. Looking like animals, even if they don't act like it.