[The feed opens up to that in the palm of Vani's hand, before it's shown being taken over to the desk where it gets placed into a badge holder, where all of the Johto badges gleam, along with Celadon's badge.]

Six more to go, then I'll have them all. [What comes after? Nun yo business. While showing off his badges had been the main focus, there's a couple blurs of blue and brown streaking by off the corner of the screen, and Vanitas is turning; his newly hatched Eevee doesn't look all that thrilled about the Glaceon smothering him with LOVE AND AFFECTION.]

Kit, lay off. You're probably cold to him. Whenever he evolves, Umbra should be able to handle you better by then.. [Kit, with all her dead-eye staring in the past, looks rather lively past the feed at her trainer this time; she's actually excited about another "cousin", another of her kind. With the distraction though and a hand reaching into the feed, the brown critter climbs his way up Vani's arm and eventually gets the feed turning to face him.

His bangs look a little uneven, but he's got a rather fresh looking haircut everywhere else! Half tucked behind his head is a dour looking Eevee, with a brand new spit cowlick mussing up his features; partially why he ducks away further with the gear turning his direction. Snorting, Vanitas cocks a bit of a grin.]

Anyone have tips on getting an Eevee to evolve into Umbreon?

[Looking rather well rested for a change, Vanitas levels the camera with an almost bored expression, some maps audibly crunching as he drags his arm over them to flatten them out.]

I know there are some Gyms unavailable for challenge here in Johto right now, but does anyone know which ones aren't available in Kanto?

[Muttering, Vanitas looks down from the screen for a second, writing something down.] Put this trip off for way too long... [A pause, before those gold eyes flit back to the screen.] By the way, Ventus is awake now. [He'd say himself, but it's pretty obvious, you know?] Call him if you need him.

I have the item you requested, and the kid was dealt with.

[Not dead, no, the fight ended in a surprising tie... but it's not as though Vanitas really wanted to kill him. It was just a job, and the loud-mouthed Commander wanted the item more anyway.]

I will be sending the item in a box, carried by a Murkrow. Put the rest of the money in the box; the bird knows how to count.

[The feed starts out with a bit of static, but it wears off soon enough with Vanitas talking.]

Out of Mt. Mortar, starting now.

[Off to the side, his tone goes sour.] Now, you're learning how to freaking swim, and we're taking the other route next time. You got that?

I don't see what the bulge fondling deal was. We made it out just fine!

You're learning how to swim. Deal with it.

So, essentially, what we have here is you not wanting to confront your fears so you're more or less attempting to force me to do what doesn't come fucking naturally to anyone indigo on down?

Don't know what you're talking about, and I'm not looking for a lesson this time. While you're here, you're human, and humans can freaking swim.

You don't know what I'm talking about... How about I shove you the merry fuck back in there and sit my Lapras in front of the goddamn exit? What then?

[There's dead silence for a moment, before the sound of a fist hitting a face. Yeahh. The network gets a few audio cues that tell of a fistfight going down, before the gear is dropped and it cuts out.]

I think it's time for an upgrade.

[To that, he's shifting the camera to show his Minun chewing on some crackers, lounging on his shoulder.]

"Runt" isn't a name that fits him so much anymore. Suggestions? [There's a sudden crash in the background, Minun jumping and dropping the rest of his cracker, but it's the video and Vanitas turning to find... well.]



... Why do you always look like I'm catching you in the middle of somethng?

[The yellow Pokemon keeps standing there with arms above the head, but takes a moment to slowly reach down and draw his "pants" back up. Vanitas sighs, his tone a bit annoyed, but leaves the feed on the new Pokemon.]

A name for this guy too. Hatched this morning and every time I look at him, he looks like this.

[Actually, the camera turns a little to the left and there's a broken potted plant pushed up against the desk, where... oh. He was after the crackers on the table. There's a moment of quietly looking between the mess and the yellow Pokemon inching out of the frame, but eventually Vanitas reaches and pulls some of the crackers down, handing them to the suddenly greedy hands.

With his "prize" in tow, the Scraggy starts to make a run and gets a few steps out of sight before tripping on his "pants", which have fallen again.]

Maybe I need to get you a belt... [Vanitas sounds like he's refraining from chuckling, clicking the feed off.]

( not an IC cut )

[video]

[With the feed turning on a second time today, Vanitas is wearing his helmet with the visor pulled back, but looking somewhat... pleased. Content, even. He doesn't even seem to care that his Minun is hanging out on the back of his head, giving him the illusion of blue ears.]

I'm curious to what Pokemon people have had trouble training. Where did you find them, and how have they proven difficult? Was it the typing that didn't fit your style of battle, or the personality too problematic?

[Since his team is all 100s (minus Smaug but he's getting there), Vanitas looking to expand his training experience; all them ice types are good to him but not good if he deals with a fire type again.]

[The feed opens up with a view of a full set of badges; all eight of them, shining briefly in some fire light.]

Done in Azalea. Now I will check out Kanto. Maybe they'll provide more of a fight than these 'leaders'. [Vanitas reaches to turn the feed off without really saying much else, but a loud squabble erupts behind him. Turning and unintentionally filming his Murkrow and new Charmeleon fighting over some shiny coins, Vanitas outright grunts.]

What am I supposed to do with another lizard?

[Wait, does that Charmeleon look familiar? If anyone knows Yumi Ozawa, that was her Smaug. There isn't much else to see in the partial darkness, outside of Vanitas breaking up the fight with some irritable words until the Gear times out.]

[When the Gear flips on today, it isn't showing Vanitas, but it is showing a nice fall scene of Ecruteak's burnt tower. Mostly burnt, anyway.]

It has been a long time since I've been here again.

[Heather, you're getting a text at obscure hour of the night.]

Check your window.

--aid get off my bed.

BARKBARKBARK

[Whatever it is on Vanitas' bed doesn't sound like it's something he's had before; that is distinctly barking coming through the microphone. Sounding exasperated and a bit out of breath from... probably yelling for the last twenty minutes, there's some footsteps before a loud sour grunt escapes him.]

Friggin -- don't you headbutt me you mongrel! Nasty little -- [Whatever he's going to say next is cut off by another headbutt, apparently, because Vanitas is angrily wheezing. It's tough to shove a dog off your bed when you've got a broken arm, you know?

With the sound of stumbling feet and then a quick yelp, Minun seems to have stepped in on this 'abusing his trainer' thing the Poochyena has taken herself upon doing. There's a bit of silence after the Pokemon has passed out, before the microphone scrapes on the floor as the Gear is picked up.

Is it on? Nah.... or maybe it is. Vanitas doesn't care all that much, actually, since the soft beeps of the PokeDex flipping on can be heard.]

Poochyena, the Bite Pokémon. Poochyena is the pre-evolved form of Mightyena. Its biting strength is superior to other Pokémon, and has the endurance to chase opponents down until completely exhausted.

Original Trainer: Terra

[................................................................ ew. No one but the Minun can see Vanitas' look of pure ew at both the original trainer and the name of 'his new Pokemon', but uh.. well, with the silence and a disgusted sounding "No wonder it attacked me on sight", the feed clips off.]