Seventh Flake [Video/Action for Ecruteak]

[defyingfrigidity]

[For the first time in a few months now, the scenary in Elsa's video is no longer a small, cozy apartment or the towering skyscrapers of Goldenrod City; instead, the smaller and more elegant-looking buildings of Ecruteak City surround the young woman.]

To those of you who said I'd enjoy Ecruteak City as much as Goldenrod... well. You were right! [She lets out a soft laugh.] This place... it has such a different feel to it than the other towns and cities we've been to so far.

[She takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly, shivering slightly. Geez, it's still a little cold out...]

Anna mentioned that many of the myths of Johto originated in this town. Maybe that has something to do with it.

[And she can't wait to learn all about them!

Oh, but speaking of Anna....]

Elsa, Elsa..!

[It looks like Anna's causing more than a bit of a ruckus in the background; she's trying her hardest to keep the precious cargo in her hands balanced as she comes into view of the camera with a whopping seven different eggs! Anna, being the clumsy girl she is, has to try her hardest not to fall...]

Look at all of these eggs! Isn't it awesome?! Odin and Frigga had triplets! And Idun and Freya had them, too! Even Skadi! I never thought that our Pokemon would actually have eggs together! But the Ralts are probably gonna be like SUPER Ral--Woah...!

[She has to make an effort not to let one of the eggs she's showing off wobble and hit the floor, but, to her credit, she's handling it decently enough... Must be all of that waitressing!]

If you know anyone that wants one, you should tell them that we have a whole bunch!! Oh, but they have to promise to take good care of them!

[... Elsa, who had almost dropped her PokeGear when Anna came stumbling into view with the eggs, and very nearly dropped it again when Anna nearly lost her hold on them, just. Stares in shock.]

I... w-what...

[She. No. She's not gunna think about how this could've happened when they'd been traveling nonstop for almost a week now. Nope not gunna think about it she doesn't wanna know.

... Still. When the shock wears off, she does look rather happy when she finally turns her focus back towards her pokegear.]

W-Well then. You heard my sister. Looks like we need to find a few homes for these little ones...!

Comments

[defyingfrigidity]

It's perfectly okay to admit you do, you know. Most of us do. I'll freely admit that I do.

[bylight]

....

[She looks down at Sinopa and scratches her behind the ears, which earns her a soft, contented squeak.]

I only spoil her and Hope. The others don't respond as much to being spoiled. They seem fine with the attention I do give them.

[defyingfrigidity]

There. That wasn't so hard to admit, was it?

[Elsa laughs.]

I suppose that's not very surprising. Pokemon are just as diverse in personality as people, so it makes sense that not all of them respond to spoiling the same way.

[bylight]

It might just be easier to admit to another woman...

[She's more reserved with men, which she has good reason to be.]

My Starly, Sazh, seems outright offended when I try and offer him special treatment.

[defyingfrigidity]

I thing I understand how you feel.

[Elsa's never really had many confidants, but it's always been easier, talking to women. Her sister, Botan, Asami, Korra... they were the ones she was unafraid to be more open with.]

So she's stubborn then, hm? Be careful, she might change her attitude towards that as she evolves.

[bylight]

I have a few male friends back where I'm from that I can be open with. Though we went through hell to get to that point.

[That's a story for another day if these two decide to become friends.]

Maybe. Flying types seem to have a mind of their own that doesn't match up with the ones that stay on the ground.

[defyingfrigidity]

You must be quite the close-knit group, then. If you went through a lot together.

[Elsa knows better than to pry into personal matters, and a comment like that certainly seems to refer to something deep...]

Maybe having the ability to see the world from an entirely different perspective has something to do with that.

[bylight]

Let's just say we would give up our lives for one another.

[Whether it be their personal lives or their actual lives. They're family.]

You could say that about people who grew up in different places... or worlds.

[defyingfrigidity]

... From the way you say that, it sounds more like you're family, rather than just friends.

[She knows that friends can care for each other to that degree, but... to die for another without hesitation? That's more than just normal friendship, right there.]

Seems like these Pokemon are a lot more like us than some originally think, hmm?

[bylight]

... Yeah. Family. That sounds about right.

[She smiles wistfully, despite herself. Family was the perfect way to describe it. Serah felt the same way, right?]

They do seem to have something close to human intelligence. There might be some more intelligent than us. Every species is like hat.

[defyingfrigidity]

Oh, I have no doubt that some of these creatures might be smarter than us. The psychic-types, especially... every time I look at Odin or Frigga, there's this sort of. Glint in their eyes. If that makes any sense at all.

It's nothing malicious, not at all. But it just seems like something stronger than normal intelligence.

[bylight]

It does. I see it with Hope as well. He's always one step ahead of me. But... it's sort of a comfort. I know I can count on him.

[A sudden look of curiosity crosses her face as she pets her companion beside her.]

Sinopa... Are Vulpix capable of being psychic? She has some of the same mannerism that Hope has when it comes to understanding what I'm telling them. She also seems to be aware than he is at times.

[defyingfrigidity]

That's... a good question, actually. I don't have a Vulpix myself, but Anna does, and while I haven't seen her use any psychic attacks, there's just something about her...

Though that could just be attributed to the fact that pokemon are far more intelligent than regular animals.

[bylight]

[Lightning looks down at Sinopa, who just looks back up at her with her warm brown eyes. After a moment, the Vulpix reaches her paw up to powder-puff her trainers cheek. This earns Sinopa a soft laugh and more scratching behind the ears. Lightning looks very at ease when it comes to lavishing attention on her Pokémon.]

They certainly know how to read someone's mood. These guys demand all of my attention when I feel off. They respond better than people to comforting those they care for.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa's expression softens a bit as she watches the exchange. It never really gets old, seeing the bonds growing between pokemon and trainer, and with such a stoic woman like Lightning... it's even sweeter here.]

I know what you mean. When I first arrived here, before Anna and I reunited, I don't think Snowball let me get even five feet away from her. I think all of my companions comfort me more often than I comfort them.

[bylight]

[Hearing that was a comfort, yet oh so hard. Sinopa lets out a soft coo as Lightning drops her hand. That smile was gone now. Lightning can't help but feel jealous of Elsa and Anna being together. She hadn't seen her own sister face to face for hundreds of years... would Serah like it here? Would she want to travel with Lightning?

Sinopa practically headbutts Lightning's cheek in an attempt to nuzzle her, startling her trainer.]

S-Sinpoa! I'm fine!

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa laughs softly at that. She knew how it felt to get lost in yourself and your thoughts, so it wasn't too difficult to see the hints in Lightning's expression.

She wasn't really sure what to say, or if she should even say anything at all, so she's a little grateful for the vulpix for taking things into her own paws.]

I've found that, like people, if they start worrying about you, no amount of "I'm fine"s will be enough to convince them otherwise.

[bylight]

It's something I try to avoid saying. Too many lies, and you get lost in them.

[Lightning lets Sinopa nuzzle her as much as she wants. She figures it makes her Vulpix happy to have that contact.]

But telling the truth all the time can be difficult if you're trying to spare someone's feelings. So I don't. I'd rather tell the truth than sugarcoat anything.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa's smile fades fades at Lightning's words.]

... I wish I could be as honest as you. [Maybe not so... blunt, as she implies. But still.] Lying hurts people no matter what, so there really shouldn't be a good reason not to tell the truth...

[bylight]

Being honest with others can be easily done. Being honest with yourself...

[She's trying to think of a way to say this without revealing too much. She doesn't want to scare one of the few people she could get herself to call a friend here.]

If you learn to be honest with yourself, then you'll never need to lie to anyone else. I had to learn that myself.

[defyingfrigidity]

... I've found that's extremely difficult to do as well.

[Even more difficult, in Elsa's opinion. Because oftentimes it's easy to see what's wrong with yourself, but you just... don't want to admit that it's wrong...]

This is... very good advice, though. Thank you.

[bylight]

...

[Lightning looks more serious now, though her eyes don't show the same harshness that her face does.]

Find someone you can confide in, that you can trust with everything- including your life- and once you have that trust, it'll make admitting things about yourself easier. You won't be alone. You'd have someone there beside you who would see you for more than your flaws. My friends do that for me.

[defyingfrigidity]

Now that I can understand. For the longest time I didn't. I preferred to be alone, to lock myself away from others because that's what I thought was best.

But now, after being with Anna after such a long period of separation... I can understand how much at least one person is needed to keep you grounded.

Still... sometimes it's difficult to talk about certain subjects. But there's no need to rush into everything, right?

[bylight]

[She could go on about separation. How utterly crushing it was. Watching the timelines and seeing your own sister die, and being unable to do anything about it. Swallowing hard, she tries to be happy for Elsa and Anna. No need to be bitter about something she can't help.]

You don't need to tell your sister everything. There's things I've never talked with my sister about. You'll find someone one day that you can trust those secrets with.

[defyingfrigidity]

I know I don't need to, but...

[It's a good thing these videos can't show everything. Lightning is missing the way Elsa grips her 'gear so tightly her knuckles go white.]

I've kept enough things from her. Not telling her everything now just... feels unfair.