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VICTORY ROAD IC CONTACT
"Hey, uh, you just reached me and I wasn't around. It's Zuke. Leave a message or a text and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
"Hey, uh, you just reached me and I wasn't around. It's Zuke. Leave a message or a text and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
[A letter arrives by Pidgey Post a day or two after Christmas, with a drawing of an odd little green creature in a santa hat below the text:]
Thank you very much for the snacks! They're really good!
Chip Abaroa
Thank you very much for the snacks! They're really good!
Chip Abaroa
[Dimitri may or may not have teared up when he retrieved those drumsticks from Zuke, well aware of how much thought must have gone into them, and how much more expensive they must have been.]
[So it takes him some time before he manages to figure out what he wants to say, visibly holding the sticks close to himself when he sends off the video.]
Zuke- [He really feels as though he should make this more formal, somehow, or more polite - the rigidity offers guidance in its own way. But that's now how they do things here, and he flounders for only a moment.]
I wanted... to send my thanks for this gift. This is more than I could have ever expected.
I only wish I had the proper talent to put them to use, but I will look into it as soon as possible.
[So it takes him some time before he manages to figure out what he wants to say, visibly holding the sticks close to himself when he sends off the video.]
Zuke- [He really feels as though he should make this more formal, somehow, or more polite - the rigidity offers guidance in its own way. But that's now how they do things here, and he flounders for only a moment.]
I wanted... to send my thanks for this gift. This is more than I could have ever expected.
I only wish I had the proper talent to put them to use, but I will look into it as soon as possible.
[When Zuke turned the feed on, he seemed to be invested immediately. Because Zuke was doing some cleaning of various tools before he clearly decided this was more important. He was covered in dirt even. But the moment he saw Dimitri holding his drumsticks sincerely being held...he smiled brightly.]
They got to you safe, I’m glad.
[He listened to him say more.]
Look, skill always comes with practice. Practice comes from loving something enough.
I just wanted you to be able to jam, on your own terms. Then maybe we can jam on the drums together someday.
They got to you safe, I’m glad.
[He listened to him say more.]
Look, skill always comes with practice. Practice comes from loving something enough.
I just wanted you to be able to jam, on your own terms. Then maybe we can jam on the drums together someday.
Wise words...
[Dimitri makes sure to tuck them away inside of his chest. He's not sure if he's ever gotten into a lot of things, started practicing a lot of things, because he's loved them enough.]
[...It would be nice to do that sort of thing. Maybe here, he can try.]
Still, I apologize - I seem to have interrupted you during something.
[Dimitri makes sure to tuck them away inside of his chest. He's not sure if he's ever gotten into a lot of things, started practicing a lot of things, because he's loved them enough.]
[...It would be nice to do that sort of thing. Maybe here, he can try.]
Still, I apologize - I seem to have interrupted you during something.
...Oh, this? Oh nah, I was just wrapping it up. See?
[Just to cover all bases, Zuke had no problem showing what he was working on. In one side of Zuke, was an egg carrier, all shiny and perfectly running. The egg inside was dancing a little bit.
On Zuke's lap was a variety of cooking utensils and pots; and plenty of bags of formula.]
[Just to cover all bases, Zuke had no problem showing what he was working on. In one side of Zuke, was an egg carrier, all shiny and perfectly running. The egg inside was dancing a little bit.
On Zuke's lap was a variety of cooking utensils and pots; and plenty of bags of formula.]
Oh!
[Dimitri's voice is quietly delighted, eye going wide.]
So you received a mysterious egg as well, Zuke? Well - I suppose it is not too much of a mystery from who the recipient was... Still, we have been the same over here - almost all of us save Felix and Chip.
[Dimitri's voice is quietly delighted, eye going wide.]
So you received a mysterious egg as well, Zuke? Well - I suppose it is not too much of a mystery from who the recipient was... Still, we have been the same over here - almost all of us save Felix and Chip.
[Zuke’s eyes were completely lighting up.]
Everyone’s got a cool little gift, I heard. I haven’t done too much of a whack at Pokemon breeding yet. But after reading up on it I think I’m raring to really give it a go.
[He gave the carrier a bit of a pat.]
It’ll be exciting, I think.
[It’s moving...a lot. The egg.]
Everyone’s got a cool little gift, I heard. I haven’t done too much of a whack at Pokemon breeding yet. But after reading up on it I think I’m raring to really give it a go.
[He gave the carrier a bit of a pat.]
It’ll be exciting, I think.
[It’s moving...a lot. The egg.]
My - friend Sylvain is also a breeder, although the term is... awkward to use in such a way. [But that's a lot of complicated stuff Zuke doesn't need to know just yet.] We do not understand that aspect yet ourselves...
[They will... probably get to it.]
[But as Zuke pats that carrier, it naturally draws Dimitri's eye, and he pauses.]
Zuke, is your... egg all right?
[They will... probably get to it.]
[But as Zuke pats that carrier, it naturally draws Dimitri's eye, and he pauses.]
Zuke, is your... egg all right?
Yeah, uh, no need to say much else on that then.
[He made an awkward yet reassuring smile, placing his free hand up.
That sounded wrong.
These two were grown men and Dimitri was right, that was weird.]
Regardless, being a parent? Kinda? Not a bad gig when it's only partially true.
[Still though, he then turned to look at the carrier. Suddenly, when Dimitri said something, it got him to be alert with a fire in his ass.
Sure enough, the dancing around got really ferocious all of the sudden.]
--Yo! Hey! Hey hey!! I think it's happening! Oh jeez, we're ready!
[WHOEVER WAS IN THE EGG WAS REALLY BANGING ON THE SHELL, IT STARTED CRACKING LIKE WILD.]
[He made an awkward yet reassuring smile, placing his free hand up.
That sounded wrong.
These two were grown men and Dimitri was right, that was weird.]
Regardless, being a parent? Kinda? Not a bad gig when it's only partially true.
[Still though, he then turned to look at the carrier. Suddenly, when Dimitri said something, it got him to be alert with a fire in his ass.
Sure enough, the dancing around got really ferocious all of the sudden.]
--Yo! Hey! Hey hey!! I think it's happening! Oh jeez, we're ready!
[WHOEVER WAS IN THE EGG WAS REALLY BANGING ON THE SHELL, IT STARTED CRACKING LIKE WILD.]
[OH BOY, OH BOY- Dimitri has to put the Pokegear down against something so that he doesn't grip too hard and break it. And, honestly? He needs to do something with his hands, even if it's just digging his fingers into his pants.]
Make sure to have the blanket on hand!
Make sure to have the blanket on hand!
Yeah-! Yeah, woo! I got it!
[Zuke did, and despite his initial shock he was just now into the zone. Pfff, he got this. He got this. It was babies. Babies being born. Easy stuff. It’s not a human. He gestures to his Thwackey, old Terbangan.]
Hand me the blanket! The baby blanket!
[He opened the carrier to let the egg out just as a tiny pink arm fought its way through the egg.
It was seconds. The baby Pokemon flung the top of the egg off her and soon she was staring into Zuke’s little eyes.]
[Zuke did, and despite his initial shock he was just now into the zone. Pfff, he got this. He got this. It was babies. Babies being born. Easy stuff. It’s not a human. He gestures to his Thwackey, old Terbangan.]
Hand me the blanket! The baby blanket!
[He opened the carrier to let the egg out just as a tiny pink arm fought its way through the egg.
It was seconds. The baby Pokemon flung the top of the egg off her and soon she was staring into Zuke’s little eyes.]
[ Pidgey delivery! Some lovely homemade macarons of various fruity flavors, alongside a postcard painting of the sunset from Violet City, specifically referenced from the passing holiday... not that. He'd know. But shh. ]
During the Christmas raid, I received assistance from a man named Greg. He commented that Obstagoon looks as though it wears "heavy metal" makeup, and, after some discussion, he said he would send me some songs in such a genre.
Today, he did so, and I have not been able to stop listening to them. I feel woken up for the first time in a week's time; it is incredible.
Hold on, and I will have Gremlin send you the songs that were recommended to me. I do not know if they fit the words you just used.
[He is but a simple viking man. What is reggae? We just don't know.]
[Fortunately, what Gremlin knows is how to send links, and he does so promptly of one, two, three different songs on Staryutube.]
Today, he did so, and I have not been able to stop listening to them. I feel woken up for the first time in a week's time; it is incredible.
Hold on, and I will have Gremlin send you the songs that were recommended to me. I do not know if they fit the words you just used.
[He is but a simple viking man. What is reggae? We just don't know.]
[Fortunately, what Gremlin knows is how to send links, and he does so promptly of one, two, three different songs on Staryutube.]
[Zuke was just smiling so wide on the other end. Being awakened by rock, and telling Zuke about it? He's felt nothing but warmed and honored.
He gave them a listen, and they were songs he hadn't heard of yet. And Dimitri was sharing this with HIM.
He...felt something. Something significant enough that he held a hand to his chest. Maybe if he imagined it enough, it would have been like if he shared an earbud with someone special. But they were farther away. But he could pretend.]
These are great, Dimitri. I can see why you'd like them.
He gave them a listen, and they were songs he hadn't heard of yet. And Dimitri was sharing this with HIM.
He...felt something. Something significant enough that he held a hand to his chest. Maybe if he imagined it enough, it would have been like if he shared an earbud with someone special. But they were farther away. But he could pretend.]
These are great, Dimitri. I can see why you'd like them.
Yes, they are incredible. I believe this might help my Paliens feel more motivated as well for morning training.
It has been for me as well. I needed something to help me wake up a little bit.
Will you ever make something like this, Zuke? By which I mean a collection of songs under one title.[give him your mixtape, zuke]
It has been for me as well. I needed something to help me wake up a little bit.
Will you ever make something like this, Zuke? By which I mean a collection of songs under one title.[
[...Paliens? Nah, that didn't matter.
What mattered was the second part. Songs. Under one title. A theme. A story.
Something Zuke wanted to share and tell, through his art. And Zuke took a little while before responding again. It took maybe around an hour.]
You know, maybe that's a good idea. Maybe that'll be how I set up my career for real.
I started here as a street musician, it could be a big break. A real project for me and my crew.
What mattered was the second part. Songs. Under one title. A theme. A story.
Something Zuke wanted to share and tell, through his art. And Zuke took a little while before responding again. It took maybe around an hour.]
You know, maybe that's a good idea. Maybe that'll be how I set up my career for real.
I started here as a street musician, it could be a big break. A real project for me and my crew.
[Dimitri hadn't thought that his question would require such deep thought... but it seems to have helped, and he couldn't be more glad for that.]
I hope it goes well for you, Zuke. Please let me know how things progress, and if you need any help whatsoever.
I hope it goes well for you, Zuke. Please let me know how things progress, and if you need any help whatsoever.
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