#scarlet and violet greeta

[littleeyesofpallas]

Now that i've made some headway into the new games I can revisit this* little series of posts:

*[Kanto] [Johto] [Hoenn] [Sinnoh] [Unova] [Kalos] [Alola] [Galar] [Hisui] [Champs] [Paldea] [Paldea2] [Paldea3] [Teams] [Misc.]

Katy's name in Japanese is Kaede[カエデ] from kaede[楓] the japanese word for the maple tree. While the link is likely the Japanese use of maple syrup as a natural sugar in a lot of traditional pastries, it's kind of an odd choice of design when the Japanese maple is so well known for its deep red leaves, and even other maple trees are distinctly associated with various shades of red, orange, and yellow... Yet she's all brown with just a dash of minty green in there?

I covered Brassius' name in the lead up to game release but his Japanese name is Korusa[コルサ] as in Colza, another name for rapeseed or canola. He shares a namesake plant with Natane and Nabana, in Sinnoh/Hisui, but appears otherwise unrelated. Weird that his design is plant themed yet totally unrelated.

Iono's name was one I wasnt sure of at first, in Japanese it's Nanjamo[ナンジャモ] which is a pun on Nanjamonja[何じゃもんじゃ], which is and exclamation that gets translated very loosely as something like "what the hell is that!?" What i didnt realize at first and that apparently Nanjamonja-no-ki[なんじゃもんじゃの木] is actually the common name of the Chionanthus retusus, the Chinese fringetree. Incidentally I also thought for a moment that her name was a reference to nanjamonja-goke[ナンジャモンジャゴケ], the Takakia lepidozioides moss. But Iono's English name seems to come from the "...iona..." in Chionanthus...

Kofu's name is Haidai[ハイダイ] from the chinese name hǎidài[海带] for a type of Kelp/seaweed(Saccharina japonica). The English name might be a halfbaked attempt at appropriating makonbu[真昆布], the japanese name for the same plant; noting that the ko...bu[こ...ぶ] and kofu[こふ] are written similarly. Anyway... Given the chef gimmick, the seaweed you have to barter for for him, and the fact that one of his town's unique features is a chinese restaurant, it would appear to refer to it specifically as food. It's also the logo on his apron.

Larry's name is Aoki[アオキ] from aoki[青木] the spotted laurel/Japanese laurel tree.(Aucuba japonica​) Funny enough it reminds me of Norman's name being Senri from the Senryo plant, which is a similar looking plant with red berries, and they're both normal type specialists. His highlights are similar in shape and color to aoki leaves. And they seem to have gotten Larry from Laurel.

Ryme... Her name is Raimu[ライム] as in Lime, homonym with Rhyme. She raps, but she does not appear to resemble limes... Her sister Tyme is taimu[タイム] like the herb thyme. I dont know why the english localization felt the need to remove the "h" in both of these.

Tulip's name was already Rippu[リップ] as in Lip from tulip.

Grusha/guruusha[グルーシャ] I've done before too. He's named in Russian, grusha[груша]: "pear." His big winter coat makes his head and torso pearshaped.

Rika's name is Chiri[チリ] like Chilipeppers, the genus Capsicum. Some other languages opted to name her after cayenne, but the English name Rika comes from Paprika. Funny enough it has nothing to do with Chili from Unova, as his name, like all his brothers', was originally a reference to corn, not any sort of pepper.

Poppy is popii[ポピー] is poppy. Although they come in a few colors they all have the distinctive black center, which I assume is meant to be reflected in the design of Poppy's hair.

It's just Larry/Aoki again...

Hassel's name in Japanese is Hassaku[ハッサク] from hassaku[八朔] aka the "jagada," a type of orange cultivated in Japan, known for being larger than most oranges; about the size of a grapefruit.

Geeta's name is Omodaka[オモダ] from Omodaka[沢瀉] a tree called the threeleaf arrowhead/Chinese arrowhead (Sagittaria trifolia). Its also prominently featured in Japanese family crests, like that of the Sawada, included above.

Might as well get Team Star is in on this too! In the same way Guzma and Plumeria were kind of villainous alternatives to trial captains, for bug and poison type respectively, the Team Star sub-bosses kind of occupy a sort of pseudo/demi-gym leader status.

Giacomo's name is Piinya[ピーニャ] as in Piña:"Pineapple." His puffy autumn uniform vest and spiky hair makes him look like a pineapple.

Mela's name is Meroko[メロコ] seemingly taken from the Meloco... Of melocotón, Spanish word for "peach." Her red is a little too vibrant for it to be obvious, but her yellow to red hair appears to be peach inspired.

Atticus's name is Shuumei[シュウメイ] from Shumeigiku[秋明菊] Japanese name of a flower called the "fall-blooming anemone"(Anemone hupehensis japonica​). It comes in a few shades of pink and violet that seem to match the poison type color motif.

Ortega's name is just a tiny tweak from Orutiga[オルティガ]:"Ortiga" spanish name for nettle, a broad family of herbs known for their stinging hairs.

Eri's Japanese mame is Biwa[ビワ] from biwa[枇杷]: "loquat"(Eriobotrya japonica) a tree with a long history of its fruit and leaves bring used for food and tea. It is sometimes erroneously called the "Japanese Plum."

And just to round things out a little...

Nemona's English name came from her Japanese name, Nemo[ネモ] from the Nemo nemphilia, a broad range of flowers known for their baby blue color. Oddly thats not reflected in her actual design..

Laughably Arven's name was Pepaa[ペパー]:"Pepper" and you would think it would refer to... You know... peppers. But given the English name, Arven from Mentha arvensis, it's actually a reference to peppermint which does make sense with his herb theme.

Penny's name is Botan[ボタン] from Botan[牡丹] Japanese name for the "tree Peony"(Paeonia suffruticosa) The peony has long standing cultural importance in China and by some proxy Japan, and is often compared to the Rose's prominence in Western Europe; this is incidentally why Chairman Rose's brother in Galar is named Peony. Incidentally this is likely why they had to name her Penny, as Peony had been taken.

Clavell's name is actually the same, Kuraberu[クラベル] approximating "Clavel" the Spanish name for the Carnation. He shares a flower name with Champion Diantha in Kalos.

Oops, first pass thru i forgot about the school faculty so i've added a post for those

[quietlywatchingwritingreading]

I saw @zeddertop-bugstersterster 's post about Larry and Greeta. It got me thinking, and I wanted to do a bit of my own analysis on the characters and their relationship. I wanted to link their post just because it inspired me to try my own analysis of sorts.

I'll post the rest of my thoughts under a readmore, because the post is very long.

Now to me, I think that Larry holds a certain sadness to him. In his very first battle against you, he talks about having to teach you that real life isn’t just being true to yourself. His star pokemon’s main attack becomes stronger when they’re suffering. 

Almost implying that Larry believes that there is a value/strength to sadness and pain. 

That he sees his current position in life as a mostly negative thing, but he himself has no desires to try and aim for anything better. Possibly even attempting to cope with this, by convincing himself that theres a strength to his sorrow. or that theres a value in continuing along the current path.

I imagine Champion Greeta is not a huge fan of this sort of mindset. Its the sort of defeatism that is generally very bad when it comes to education.

After all, without a desire to strive to be better, to do better, to find your own treasures to value and chase? Then why would you want to learn? What would you get out of school? Would you intentionally misread or stretch lessons in order to support your world views, rather then trying to challenge your world views?

We don’t see much of Greeta. But I feel that she doesn’t like that sort of mindset. That she doesn’t want that sort of belief system to spread around, and that she’s tries to counter that sort of defeatism whenever possible. I’m not 100% sure, but I believe that she’s done similar things in the past. For example, having Grusha join the elite 4, after his career derailed do to some sort of accident. 

I find it interesting that she not only forced Larry to be on the elite 4, she suggested Larry chose a different type in the Elite 4. It’s only in the remach that Larry himself realizes that she was trying to find some way to encourage him. That she wants him to fly to the skies. To find something he’s willing to both fight for, and drive him forward.

Something more then just trying to summon all his strength though suffering.

I believe that she was hoping that a change in perspective, a change in his usual patterns, might help him find that certain spark in life. Though the protagonist, and their strength, seams to be making more of a positive impact. 

[kokorowoutsu]

-- RP: @skullboneandunown

skullboneandunown:

Donovan rubs his forehead where Ashe flicked him, and he pokes her side in retribution. "I hope you realize, this means war Grandcrest." He somewhat could understand her hesitation about parenthood, but Donovan knew deep down that she'd be a great mother, but he knew not to bring it up anymore. He gives Leon a nod in greeting, and stands off to the side to let the lovebirds do their thing. The Darkrai in question slowly rises from the floor in the center of their little group, and greets Leon with some finger guns. "Sup buttercup. Your lady missed you." He turns to Ashe, and presses his fingers together, seemingly nervous. "Ssssoooooo....about that Briar chick...I went through her room here at the Academy and...she is obsessed with Area Zero. She has notes, maps, and a copy of that Scarlet and Violet book Donnie has. Apparently she got permission from that Geeta...Greeta....that 'Top Champion' chick to explore the lower levels of Area Zero. She left about an hour ago. If we want to do something about that, we need to leave. Now. I can teleport us there via my shadows." Donovan sighs deeply at hearing the news, and shoves his satchel into his face to muffle his yelling. "FUCK! Goddamit!" He pulls away from his bag, and takes a deep breath. ".....Well, it would give me a chance to test out my new armor, at least."

Ashe greeted Leon with a forehead touch and remained close to him as Lui'er explained about Briar. Her anxiety spiked as shown by her stance and Lucky's fur standing on end. Leon only had a stern look on his features. He still had nightmares about Area Zero even now -- but it should be under control... at least the top part.

"Guess no alumni reunion in order." 'Thank the gods?' "Yeah, that." Ashe hissed lightly. "Still, i'd rather be anywhere then about where we're about to go... but I guess it was inevitable."

She wasn't scared of the Darkrai's shadows -- no, it was if the possibility of Dialga leaving behind a steely resonance in the air from him setting things straight beforehand to prevent time travel up top.

'No worries, Ashie. I got this.' Lucky encouraged his trainer and stepping over to Lui'er, a pink shield glowed around the group. 'When you're ready, look into my memories for stuff about Area Zero. We'll have to rely on you to get us to the underdepths from there.'

Lucky spoke for Ashe in this moment while Leon seemed to be deep in thought. Bahamut hadn't moved a bit minus his tail swishing, but a low growl rumbled in his throat as he returned to his pokeball of his own accord, causing Leon to look over. Something was bugging the two of them -- if only for Ashe and Lucky's safety, and that of Donovan and his team as well.

[psychicduelistrbd]

So I think Pokemon Scarlet/Violet have been out long enough for me to talk about my perspective on the games.

So first to get it out of the way, yes the game is full of glitches, but that doesn’t really affect my gameplay (like due to being used to ESO’s glitches)

With that being said I enjoyed the storyline, mostly since the end is more connected to the Path of Legends, that the gym badge quest. My final team was Meowscerada, Ceruledge. Houndoom, Glaceon, Mismageus, and a shiny Dragapult.

Nemona is a fun rival, the friendly rival done right in a way she’s tough but isn’t mean when she looses.(Thou a bit too obsessed, you’d thing she hasn’t lost a battle yet until meeting the PC) She reached the rank of champion before you and is very passionate about battles, the final battle with her after the league was a close one, I tough I was going to loose and try a second time, but my Glaceon just hanged on and beat her starter with a freeze dry. Greeta was way too easy as a champion, definitely dethroned Diantha as the easiest champion. Maybe they wanted to make Nemona the harder battle.

Team star was was interesting and is nice that the game technically doesn’t have an evil team, these were just some kids that were fighting back against their bullies, and ended up getting in trouble for. I figured out Penny was Cassiopeia right away thou I doubt they were trying to hide it too well.

I wasn’t expecting the professor to be dead in the end or his AI being the final battle of the game. In hindsight the clues were there, saying the students id’s is something more correlated to tech showing the information rather than a normal person peaking. I feel bad for Arven sure at first I didn’t like him, cuz of the way he speaks about Koraidon/Miraidon. But the fact that not just Sada/Turo neglected him, but his other parent also left after he was born.(Not gona lie I sort of want ship Arven with my PC Lavander, thou it might go against the found family thing they might have wanted to do with him)

Not sure if the Sada/Turo AI telling Arven they love him was the truth, or something the AI felt was necessary as the AI is against Sada/Turo’s dream of bringing the Paradox pokemon and shutting down the time machine as they can’t find the logic on that desire if it destroys Paldea even having all the memories and feelings the original Sada/Turo have. Sure the journals you find in Area Zero might indicate some sort of love for their kid, and I get some parents need to focus on their job to provide especially if they’re a single parent, but even those parents have some time for their kids.

 Not going to say I wasn’t expecting some heartfelt reconciliation but some closure for Arven, but it feels like he didn’t get any. I wonder if we do get DLC would be get to meet Arven’s other parent, which I’m pretty sure it the other version’s professor. Thou if Arven was angry at Sada/Turo for being neglectful, the guy would be extremely angry at being abandoned...so maybe best not to think of that.  

It feels like Sada/Turo are like what they tried to do with Chairman Rose and actually succeeded

All in all fun game with a good story, definetly putting more into the NPC’s you interact with and get to know more about them. More on the Black/White and Black2/White2 well written that the other entries in the series.

[megahorous]

Finished Pokemon Scarlet !  I liked this one, once it got going 

-- At first it looked like it got some Breath of the Wild in it, which concerned me because I didn’t care for that one

-- I was afraid of not knowing where to go, but you can just ask the gentlewomen at the gas stations...until they started recommending one of the Star Bases that I wasn’t nearly ready for/couldn’t access anyway !  But by that point, I got the hang of using the map all by myself, so it turned out OK

-- I liked Greeta’s suit...but they let you heal/save in between the Elite Four and the Champion ? !  Why, back in my day--

-- Wasn’t expecting Larry to be in the Elite Four; they can’t do that !  [in the same game]  That’s too much for one man; no wonder he’s so full of Angst and Rage !

-- I liked the last section; it was like an adventure with all the pals you make along the way !  Just like in the anime.  They’ll probably all get married when they grow up.  And their Pokemon too, I guess

-- Professor Sada’s fate was sad...a !  They can’t just make a MILH Professor and fridge her like that--now Arven will be all alone !  Except for us, his new family

-- I was guessing that she would be trapped in the past, and Violet Professor trapped in the future; and you & co. have to work together to bring them back.  To the present

[sketchy--sketches]

Maybe...?

It's the face that makes me think this

[dysphoriaposting]

Bois, we got another one.

[skullboneandunown]

Donovan rubs his forehead where Ashe flicked him, and he pokes her side in retribution. "I hope you realize, this means war Grandcrest." He somewhat could understand her hesitation about parenthood, but Donovan knew deep down that she'd be a great mother, but he knew not to bring it up anymore. He gives Leon a nod in greeting, and stands off to the side to let the lovebirds do their thing.

The Darkrai in question slowly rises from the floor in the center of their little group, and greets Leon with some finger guns. "Sup buttercup. Your lady missed you." He turns to Ashe, and presses his fingers together, seemingly nervous. "Ssssoooooo....about that Briar chick...I went through her room here at the Academy and...she is obsessed with Area Zero. She has notes, maps, and a copy of that Scarlet and Violet book Donnie has. Apparently she got permission from that Geeta...Greeta....that 'Top Champion' chick to explore the lower levels of Area Zero. She left about an hour ago. If we want to do something about that, we need to leave. Now. I can teleport us there via my shadows."

Donovan sighs deeply at hearing the news, and shoves his satchel into his face to muffle his yelling. "FUCK! Goddamit!" He pulls away from his bag, and takes a deep breath. ".....Well, it would give me a chance to test out my new armor, at least."

-- RP: @skullboneandunown

skullboneandunown:

Jawbreaker huffs and scratches his chin. "I ain't saying she isn't. That little green gal is tougher than most Pokemon I've ever seen. And woe betide anyone who hurts Baloo's little buddy." He spies Lui'er slinking away in his shadow, and rocketing off towards the entrance faster than he can follow. "...That guy gives me the creeps. Hard to believe he and Donnie are related." The gator lets out a huffing 'laugh' at the fact that Leon showed up, and turns to slink back into the water. "On it, boss lady. Run off to yer man now. Arceus knows ya'll can't last a week apart." He shakes his head as Ashe runs off, and swims off to inform Donovan. As Donnie packs everything up, and returns Jawbreaker and Rampage to their Pokeballs, he darts off to the rest area, and arrives a minute or so after Ashe got there. "Is he here yet? Is he here yet?" He rests his chin on her shoulder. "Is dad here yet mom?"

A sigh came from the girl at Jawbreaker's comment. "Yeah, well, Donovan can't last without Flannery either!" She called after him before spinning back around to take off after Lucky. Upon arriving and feeling Donovan rest his head on her shoulder, she offers the loudest sigh before flicking him in the forehead. "Don't call me that, asshat." The thought of being called 'mom' didn't set well with her as she would soon tell him; "I can't imagine anyone or anything calling me 'mom'." Soon enough, Leon arrives with an amused grin, Bahamut in tow.

"I know we talked about kids, but I don't think it's that bad, love. Who know, one day you may change your mind." Ashe gave Leon a pointed look that he knew to bite his tongue on. Clearly they had been over this before.

"... Anyway, Lui'er was going to check something for me, and if i'm right it means we need to not be here but instead..." She notes the Darkrai's presence. "Well? Is she in the building at all?" If Lui'er said no, it could only mean they were going to Area Zero -- and honestly that was the last thing they needed to be disturbing. True, things had been set right by Dialga and Jackson, but they were talking about going deeper... and that was never good.