francia | [Post 040] Video/Action for Saffron City

[The 'Gear appears to be broadcasting a very summery flower arrangement atop a table situated carefully and pleasingly in front of a window. It appears to be early afternoon, so the daylight illuminates the set-up rather nicely, casting a small shadow. It looks, for all intents and purposes, like the front of a pretty boring greeting card.]

[From France's expression as he switches the focus of the 'Gear back to himself, he certainly doesn't look entirely thrilled himself.]

Back at Christmas, a friend of mine was so kind as to gift me with painting supplies. I am a highly accomplished painter, and this -

[He waves his hand at the still-life set up with a half-exasperated, half-pained expression.]

I could paint something like this in my sleep. I have, in fact, done so.

[He sighs dramatically before straightening up and making a flourishing motion to indicate Marianne, who is, for once, doing nothing more innocuous as lying contentedly in the path of the sunbeam.]

So, the question I want to pose to you is this: where could I find a more majestic setting to properly capture her and my other pokemon's beauty?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I've met a Vulpix by the name of Aidan that could give her a run for her money, but if there's one thing I've learned about beauty, it's that one lovely thing doesn't necessarily devalue another in comparison.

[Little does she realize who Aidan's mom is.]

She was your starter, then?

You do speak the truth there, but I always have and will always see Marianne as the most beautiful. She is mine after all!

Yes. I do think she's a sign that I have not been entirely abandoned here by God or luck, depending on how one views it. She's kept me safe even in the toughest of situations.

And the eye of the beholder is a powerful influence indeed. But regardless of who that eye belongs to, there's no denying that she's truly beautiful.

How do you view it? By God or by luck, or both?

My eye and intuition has never let me down when it comes to true beauty.

Ah, for me, it is always in the hands of God. These days (and, indeed, for all days, even when it was the time of kings) not everyone agrees, but God is still very much a part of me.

I'm not surprised, given your long history with the church.

I hope you'll forgive me a few more questions; I've never had the pleasure of chatting with an entire nation before. Is it possible for someone like you to have a favorite artist? Or would it be folly to try to choose just one from among all the greats that have belonged to you?

[These questions actually make France extremely happy. He gets to talk about himself and feel like he's not actually in this world but in his own, at least for a little bit.]

I don't mind at all. Please ask away!

I do not have a singular favorite artist, more a number of individuals I tend to prefer to others. As time passes and my citizens ideals and memories change, so do mine. In the same fashion, there are artists who are, in some way, personal to me. I will admit that the divide between these two states of sentiment is more than a little grey. Some Nations claim to be able to clearly tell their citizen's sentiments and their own apart, but I'm rather doubtful of that as I would be of choosing any singular person as my favorite artist.

[Then they're both going to be very happy for a long time, because she's eager to learn everything he's willing to tell her.]

Some nations? Then there's more than just you?

[OH MY GOD ARE YOU SAYING THAT SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, THERE IS AMERICA PERSONIFIED welp don't mind her just lighting up like a Christmas tree of enthusiasm.]

That does seem to be an interesting state of gray, though — influenced by the people you represent, yet still possessing of your own preferences. I'm sure it can't be easy.

What about a favorite period in history? Are you able to favor one era of ideals and sentiment over another?

[Post 040] Video/Action for Saffron City

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