I love you, so don't be mad ok

[anyprice]

[ Video Feed opens up to an image of (1) Sampo Koski. Anyone who recognises one of the main offices of PokeGO would instantly realise that he's sitting in one of the break rooms, and there's such an easy-to-see image of a certain Cold Dragon Young Dan Heng looming behind him, arms crossed, watching him like a mother watching their child apologise to their teacher for misbehaving in class. ]


Heyyyy, fam. It's your favorite fella, Sampo Koski. I hope everyone's having a GREAT day--okay, yes okay, I'm getting to it-- [ there was something like a sharp prod against his leg as he almost dodges the point, but he's GETTING to it, okay!? Put the tail away, Dragon Man! Sheesh when did you get so tall... ]

A-hem. Anywayyyyy.... So this lucky guy went on a walk around Kanto the other day with a real good pal and I found something prett-yyyy cool. Even though your old friend didn't. Realise how. Really cool it was, and all...
Look, really RARE things shouldn't just be sitting out in the open like that! It's easy to mistake a diamond for quartz when it's just in the middle of the first rock you pick up, you know?

Anyway.

Herba Mystica.

It's a pret-ty rare plant, all things considered and... well. I know there's been a-buzz about some people lookin' for really powerful medicinal things to help some people in the city with some ailments they're struggling with...

And since I'm SUCH a nice guy! And since all of you banded together to help me with my rock problem, well!
I just thought. Maybe.

I dunno.
We could get some folks willing to join me--US! PokeGo! Even if you're not with the group, you know--in being able to come along and maybe... help a guy find more of this plant? And this time not pick it without thinking?

...be a pal...?

No pressure, though, I uh. I'll be doing my best to help and do a lot of work too! So. Come on, whadda ya all say?

Comments

UN: Hikari-vi | Voice

[whiteshroud]

[....

The POKEGO botanist asks, in a small and almost fearful voice.]


What did you do to the Herba Mystica?

voice; un: Mr. ColdFeet

[anyprice]

Um.

It doesn't really matter, it was small anyway, we probably needed a bigger sample...

video; un: hextechnician

[hexcrafter]

What did you do.

un: Mr. ColdFeet

[anyprice]

....Sssso is that a no, or...?

un: yiling

[conseqweinces]

[...

After taking a bit to brew some tea so as to not scream at what might have happened to a goddamned Herba Mystica.]

You know I can feel Maple aura farming from across the screen.

[And it's only because Dan Heng gave Sampo The Look(tm) that Wei Wuxian isn't giving ol' clown friend the same Look(tm). We don't need two Moms giving him that.

Anyway, siiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.]

un: Mr. ColdFeet

[anyprice]

NO KIDDING. I've been SHOT before and I swear it hurt less...!!

Help meeee...... [ he clears his throat Yes! So! Help me... find some Herba? ...Please?

text | un: sinnoh

[blessed_bonds]

You got a chance to taste it before whatever happened to it, right?

[Arceus, that makes it sound like you'd be more disappointed if he didn't eat it......]

Re: text | un: sinnoh

[anyprice]

Weeeeeeghhhh Arceus I need a hug everyone's MAD AT ME I

...

Yea I ate the whole sandwich, it was ... really good... The part we salvaged was from Lycaon's sandwich...

voice | un: chaosraccoon

[actnormal]

Sam? What did you do? Dan Heng only gives that look when you fuck up and you fuck up big time.

un: Mr. ColdFeet

[anyprice]

Oh, easy.

I fucked up and I fucked up big time.

un: tm149; text

[goodolrika]

The "real good pal" you mentioned already brought me into the loop, so you can count me in for helping-- I know Herba Mystica from my past life, so I definitely want to lend a hand.

[And, actually, now that she thinks about it--]

I was already gonna bring my cousin to Kanto anyway, so maybe if he wants he can lend a hand too.

text: un: Mr. Cold Feet

[anyprice]

;____;

Thank You Rika abbaububuauu....

You're a real pal. [ thanks for not YELL AT HIM ]

Video

[prunedworlds]

"I mean, if it's something I can help with... Maybe I can see if any of my friends want to, too?"

Excepting a certain Archer, of course.

un: Mr. ColdFeet

[anyprice]

"I'd reallllly like ALL the help I can get you know...? These herbs are kind'a small and rare and... honestly...

The more people looking, the better. Sort of thing..?"

Thank you for not yell at him Ritsuka, sobs

video, un: jingnyan

[pranas]

[ :3 ]

You are in deep trouble now, my friend.

Video/Action

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[He sure is.]

A-Yuan, would you let A-Xing know that we're having takeout tonight? I'm going to be busy.

text; un: AUO

[throwmoreswords]

[ unfortunately for Sampo, Gilgamesh can read. ]

Samuel Anthony Kovacs.

What key lesson are you avoiding when it comes to putting strange objects you've no knowledge of on your person and particularly in your mouth?

text; un: Mr. ColdFeet

[anyprice]

[ ofc Gilgamesh has cause and reason of concern, given the whole ROCK situation and how that panned out, but...

without dramatics he's gonna answer gil honestly ]

I trusted Aha to tell me what plants and wild mushrooms were safe for eating for years. THEY said the mystica was fine to eat. THEY neglected to tell me it was 'rare beyond all belief'.

Video; un: lycaon

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon had been expecting this broadcast, but that did not make this whole situation any easier. He can't help but feel partially responsible.

His Noibat, Veronika, is resting on his shoulder and peeking into the feed. She recognizes that, pardon her bat language, absolute clown.]

Everyone, I would like to formally apologize. I did not know the importance of that plant as Mr. Koski picked it. It was this little Noibat who alerted me to it, albeit a little too late.

But she knows its scent after having it in her cave. I offer our assistance in trying to find more of it, if such a thing exists.

[fuegor]

[knows nothing Fuentes over here:]

Scent's better than nothing. Whatever's happening is something my cousin knows a lot about so I'll be helping you guys out in finding what you need.

text; un: Jute

[agy]

[Oh dear, that isn't good, now is it?]

I will volunteer to help.

[And keep an eye on this hurricane of trouble.]

un: Mr. ColdFeet

[anyprice]

Ol' Sampo THANKS you, miss Jute! You have my promises that I'll do my best to aid in the search, alongside everyone else volunteering too...

un: violetsmoke; voice

[infezione]

... So do you make a habit of putting every plant you can't identify in your mouth or--

[Clearing his throat.]

Anyway. I can't promise much since this is one of my off months-- [Waning element and wrong side of seasonal affect is a hell of a double whammy!] --but I'll do what I can to help out.

[anyprice]

No, just the ones deemed safe by the braingod who's been keeping me alive for over fifteen years while I was on the Run from the Black Order.

[ he's just a touch bitter that everyone's YELL AT HIM for something that's so... normal for him

like he wanted to make this mistake! sobs. you can see him wilting on the couch... ]

Thank you, Mr. Violetsmoke. I promise ol' Sam will make it up to everyone somehow...

un: lagenaria

[pharmacologic]

...Well. I suppose what's done is done.

[Baizhu's years of working in medicine have perfected the patiently judgemental look he's giving Sampo right now, a look that says simultaneously 'this was completely avoidable' and 'of course I'll help, that's what I do'.]

It would be very helpful to have access to those herbs. Since I have experience with herbalism, I might come along myself, assuming there are enough volunteers. I'm ah...not able to stay by myself in the gates for long without getting sick, right now.

[Chevy's answer to him getting killed in October is to make sure he doesn't go dangerous places alone. This apparently includes every stable gate, even the relatively safe ones.]

un: lycaon

[paraselenic]

[Ah, this is who Jun told him to get in touch with.]

I have the samples in my care, should you need them. I was able to salvage what I could from the sandwiches that weren't eaten.

[For proof, he holds up a ziploc with the Herba Mystical inside, preserved quite well, if a bit dull from being picked and losing its luster.]

video, un: polemos

[leontas]

[ there is no surprise in his face however... ]

Rock problem?

[anyprice]

Oh.

Um.
Right.
You wouldn't... know.

Uh. There was a whole. Situation. Where I got this cursed rock stuck--here it's still on me, see. [ he points to that ever-present choker he wears--with the sparkling, dark-purple stone in the middle of the silvery-iridescent metal casing. ]

Video | UN: HelplesslyWeak

[life_ethereal]

[Welp, Harumasa's in this whether he wants to or not thanks to Baizhu and Jun, but he does feel a little for Sam.]

Man, when the roommates get you into trouble, huh?

[Have some empathy, clown.]

Well, since some people I know are gonna be volunteering and since it'll help my dear bestie out, sure, I'll come along~.

Re: Video | UN: HelplesslyWeak

[anyprice]

Masa-chan, my heart hurts and I feel betrayed. If I knew it was a Mystica, I wouldn't have touched it let alone eaten it...

[ THANK YOU FOR THE EMPATHY HE'LL TAKE IT ALL AND WEAR IT LIKE ARMOUR ]

Really? You're gonna' come? I'D LOVE THAT. We can hang out and--... well. You know.
Look for plants rarer than white gold.

voice; un: midnightfishing

[illucesco]

[After scrolling back up:]

...good luck, I'm not getting anywhere near Maple when he's this disappointed. [You're on your own there bro!!] But yeah, sure. Any idea where you can find it besides Kanto?

[anyprice]

I don't blame you. It's crushing, even just looking him in the eye. Like a mother who you just presented a failed test score to when you told her you were studying every night...

Hrrrgh.

Well; Dan Heng said that another place it's found is in Paldea... which has a stable gate. In. Spain...

Video; Un; C6H12O6

[supercausal]

[The video turns on to Carolyns face far too close to the camera. She looks more rested than the last time she posted, but her iris’ are now red and look like they have scan lines.]

DOES THIS RARE HERB HAVE MEDICINAL QUALITIES NO OF COURSE IT DOES I MUST ACQUIRE SOME TO TEST WHERE DO I SIGN UP TO HELP ACQUIRE SOME I AM EVEN WILLING TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF MY EXPERIMENTS ITS FINE IF WE ARE GONE A WHILE MY TEACHERS ARE USED TO ME GOING AWOL WHILE I AM DOING TESTS.

[It’s hard to tell if she even took a breath during all of that.]

[anyprice]

[ holy shit he's terrified
he almost drops his phone
this is the most intense person he's ever heard in his life ]

--!

OOOKAY WE'RE AT A 17 AND I NEED YOU ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A 4. I'm all for chaos but sister you're scaring the pants off ol' Sampo here.

First off when we uh. Aquire some, we're gonna' have to make sure it's a secure sample so we can grow or aquire more of it. Official Business before personal experimentation, you know...?

...

Lady your eyes are wild do

Do I need to call someone for you???

text; un: doordasher

[doublethumbsup]

people r sick???

what happened ?? is it like
a City thing ???

???????


also wow dude you made like
everyone make the disappointed dad face in text format
thats
im kinda impressed

[anyprice]

Yeaaa there's been whisperings around the city about people trying to find a cure for something recently but I'll be real with you, iunno all the details.

so like
i found an ingredient that was probably real useful for that so now everyone's so disappointed
it's like i failed an exam after saying I studied for a week 🥺🥺🥺

voice; un: antiva

[mmmleather]

There are so very... very many things I could say regarding "rock problems".

Dare I ask... what sort of problem?

[anyprice]

Oh you know, no big deal, just.

I found a real pretty rock and it got stuck on my skin and cursed me for months, no big deal or anything.

[ he says with all the nervous energy in the world. ]

I got better.

voice: un:trienemybest

[droptheious]

...I look away for, like, one evening and you eat the Herba Mystica.

...But okay, yeah. No. Not to focus on right now. You're right, this could be really helpful, and we don't need to risk losing out. If we can get samples, then those can be tested and we might be able to make something out of it.

Thanks for finding this, Sampo. Even if you... ate it. I mean. Any discovery is a good discovery, right?

[anyprice]

Yeaaaah. Even I gotta' admit I messed up pretty bad. But in my defense, well.

Anyway.

If I found one sprig, there has to be more somewhere, right.
There's no way I was lucky enough to find the ONLY herb in the entirety of that world.

...Right?

voice: UN:bar_cat75

[wiseoldbartender]

You fell ass over sideways into fucking stupid town. What? You gonna eat yellow snow next, you Dipshit? Look at that, you got the nerds all squirrelly 'cause you can't stop putting stuff in your mouth.

[anyprice]

Be nice to me. I'm in so much pain right now. Everyone's being mean to me and I'd hoped my bestest friend ever would come and pat me on the head and tell me its okay. And instead he calls me a dipshit....

I'm gonna' start to cry.
I'll cry on you. And get all your feathers wet.

Knock knock, I'm coming over.

voice; un: h1ghw1nd

[fightbydawn]

[You know, everyone else has covered the disappointment, so Riku's just... going to lean... into the curiosity of this whole fuck-up.]

... did it tingle?

[anyprice]

[ ...you're one of his favorites so far thank you for not making him feel more sad. ]

It definitely felt weird on the tongue. Magical.
And it tasted *really* good.

...
But I didn't say that.

UN: MusicologyMinor

[youwouldntdownloada]

[This will probably become her job this month, even without considering the PokeGo stuff, but even through her hazy, Wintery Shadow-Month haze, something sticks out.

The set up. The expressions. The-]

You ate it didn't you...

[anyprice]

Are you gonna' yell at me too if I said yes....

voice, un: dancediva

[dancedwithplenty]

[OK, she probably shouldn't when Sampo sounds so wibbly, but Dani laughs.]

Sam, did you eat the wrong weed?

[anyprice]

[ WWEEEGH ]

...Yeah...

Yeah I did. ):

It wasn't even a fun weed. It's an everyone-is-mad-at-me-now weed.