#redcanon

ANIMAL : dog

COLOUR(S) : red, black, navy

SONG : anthem, soldier's eyes, hell or high water

PLANT : pine

TIME OF DAY: morning

SMELL : metal, oil/grease, leather

SEASON : winter

PLACE :  moscow

CANDY : khvorost

GEMSTONE : none - plain silver

ASTROLOGICAL SIGN : capricorn

FABRIC : wool, canvas

DRINK : black coffee, vodka, beer

VICE : bitter, stubborn, grudgeful

VIRTUE : protective, loyal, courage

"[Okay so, this varies depending on what region that you're in, but this is how it works in Kanto.]"

"[Number one- identify what your needs are, and how your pokemon help you get those needs met. For me, I need help navigating flashbacks and shutdowns, as well as crowd control and alerting to danger, since I discovered not knowing if something was safe or not was keeping me from living daily life. I also sometimes struggle with tasks that require dexterity in my hands- I had some issues with frostbite that left me down two fingers and with lesser mobility in the ones that are left. I also occasionally have seizures- it's pretty rare nowadays, but obviously I'd need help with dealing with that, especially if I'm out in the field. Find what tasks you need help with, and brainstorm how a pokemon could help with that.]"

"[Number two- now that you have the list of tasks you need help with, think about what pokemon would be able to help you with those tasks. It may be a partner you already have, or you might need to go out and get a new pokemon for that purpose. Either way, make sure that you, in turn, can ALSO meet their needs! Don't get an allergen alert Growlithe if you can't keep up with their need to go on walks and long play hours- Pikachu and even Rattata can be trained for the same task with much simpler needs. There's no excuse to neglect or stifle a pokemon in order to get your needs met- find what works for you. ]"

"[Next, once you know your tasks and have your partner or partners in mind, work on training them for these tasks. There are classes you can take together to train these tasks specifically! In Kanto a class is not required and you can train on your own if you're confident in that. I took classes with Pikachu because I had the money and the time, but Jess took to tasks to naturally that I'm training her on my own now. You don't have to be a world class trainer to self train your service pokemon! I reccomend beginners take a few classes, but if you have the patience and the willingness to learn alongside your partner, you can do just fine.]"

"[In Kanto, that's it! There are no official registries for service pokemon, and while buying those vests or sashes help with people not bothering you and your pokemon (both Pikachu and Jess have 'on duty' gear), they're not required. anyone trying to sell you an 'official registry card' in Kanto is a scammer. The laws are really similar in Johto, and most recognized service pokemon in one region will be permitted out of ball in others as long as they aren't a public nuisance, though if you plan on moving regions do check to see the local laws to make sure you don't need to take a specific class or register- some places might have a registry!]"

Another intermission until I get some asks answered...

Awful awful dark humor

Light sleeper

Enjoys watching the TV shows that make humans look awful (The Jerry Springer Show, Jackass, AFV) and of course South Park

For some odd reason, he prefers to use earbuds rather than headphones

Is a lightweight drinker (also, he needs to be a wee bit tipsy in order to dance)

If he’s laughing too hard, it’s almost guaranteed that he’ll start snorting

His meme interests are as dark as his humor (+18 dank meme hell)

Downloads music illegally on his phone

Is not a big sweets fan, but he’ll devour anything that’s deep-fried (churros, funnel cake, fried chicken, etc)

Red grinned. He loved being able to talk about service Pokemon, how important they were, and to be able to brag about how bright Pikachu was.

“[It wasn’t super hard! Pikachu’s already really task-driven, and a lot of the behaviors ideal for a service pokemon came super naturally to him. That Gold kid was the one who offhandedly suggested it when he helped me get down from the mountain forever ago. About 6 months later, we were doing some research and there were classes that pokemon could take to qualify.]”

“[There aren’t a ton of restrictions on service pokemon, at least in Kanto, but small to medium sized pokemon that aren’t a public hazard are almost universally accepted across all regions as long as they perform a certain number of tasks for you- in Kanto, it’s two, I think in Johto it’s three but I haven’t really looked- Pikachu was able to pick up a large amount of tasks that no one even really questions it.]”

“[The class itself, while it was easy for Pikachu because he takes to the work super easily, was pretty expensive. It’s not an issue for me, but it does keep a lot of service pokemon teams from getting professional training. Professional training isn’t a requirement, but it definitely helps, especially in the cases where the pokemon aren’t as quick to take to the job as Pikachu is and need a little extra guidance.]”

“[And while I’m on the topic! The sash that Pikachu sometimes wears that says “service pokemon” or the little cards we had made for him to give out explaining what he’s doing if he’s helping me and I can’t answer when someone asks are not required at all, and don’t automatically make your pokemon a service pokemon. Most people don’t question my need for one, but that’s because I happen to have some more commonly accepted disabilities- I’m mute and an amputee.]”

“[ But Pikachu’s not just trained for that sort of stuff, he’s actually got more tasks for meltdowns and flashbacks than mobility based tasks, or just getting my notepad when someone I’m interacting with doesn’t know sign. But again, a lot of service pokemon teams end up being bothered because their disabilities are more invisible. Which also super sucks. Basically, unless the pokemon is causing problems, don’t ask invasive questions to their human, because its none of your business to decide who does and doesn’t need a service pokemon.]”

going back about four years, marvel retconned alexei's backstory (yet again). it happened around the same time as the bw movie came out, so roughly 2021.

prior to 2021, alexei's backstory was vague, just that he had joined the army, became a war hero, skilled test pilot, and married a famous balshoi ballerina - natalia romanova. their marriage was publicised at the time due to his status and propaganda. his death was later staged by his superiors and alexei became the red guardian, with natalia going back to the red room/her previous role as a black widow.

post 2021 retcon, alexei's backstory states that in 1942, the red skull was storing a weapon in the russian village/town of kronas, with intentions to use it in the battle of stalingrad. general vasily karpov was tasked with locating an destroying the weapon, alongside the invaders. the battle went awry and the entire village/town was burned to the ground, with much of its population being killed as a result of the the battle. among the burning wreckage, karpov found two male youths and pledged to raise them as his protégés - alexei shostakov and aleksander lukin.

i take some liberties thereafter, with alexei having had a younger sister who survived also, and she was then sent to live with an aunt of theirs in moscow, but for the most part i actually liked the retcon and felt it definitely tied alexei closer to department x/karpov and lukin and the winter soldier. it would also explain why alexei was selected to become the red guardian candidate and become their own super soldier, given karpov's former dealings with captain america and other team members.

🍒- sixteen.

she was the daughter of a doctor that worked closely with karpov, before the started speaking out against oppressive policies. andrei belinsky's differing views were ignored for a long time due to his skill in neuroscience, and that's how alexei came to know his daughter, tania.

she was his only daughter, and isolated due to her father's controversial views, whereas alexei had been the newly-fostered/adopted son of a famed general. they found each other.

andrei belinsky was later exiled to siberia for his public denunciations of soviet policies and karpov stationed him in department x's compound in kolyma. tania and alexei parted ways for a few years, but met on again in their late-twenties. at that stage, tania was a neurosurgeon working for department x, alexei was a famed test pilot.

they were in a relationship on and off until 1957, when alexei was introduced to natalia romanova. it was more fitting for a skilled test-pilot and war hero to marry a famed ballerina of the balshoi than it was for him to marry the daughter of an exiled dissident ... so he broke up with tania. it was meaningful to him. she was his first love, and his longest relationship - but times were different, social expectations were different and duty was a priority.

[From the Berry Ask List!]

Red has released quite a few pokemon, actually.

First, Red released every single pokemon he had other than Pikachu after the events on Mt. Silver. He couldn't trust himself to keep them safe and take care of them, so he let them all go.

After that, he had let go another round of pokemon, who all needed things that Red himself couldn't provide.

Latias left because she needed to seek her homeland, and Magnemite went with her. The two were very close friends, and he's not seen either of them since.

The first Eevee gifted to him actually went to Green, still in his care. She eventually evolved into a Leafeon, and while Green doesn't use her in battle rotation, it's good to see her from time to time.

The second Eevee left on her own not long after the team started dwindling. She wanted to find joy elsewhere, and Red let her search.

cornn berry - is your muse allergic to any pokémon?

durin berry - is there a specific trainer that your muse looks up to?

kelpsy berry - has your muse ever released any pokémon? if not, have they come close to releasing one?

pamtre berry - is there any specific victory or achievement that your muse takes great pride over?

persim berry - if your muse could go back and do over a part of their journey, what would they have done differently?

yache berry - what ‘key items’ did/does your muse haul around with them on their journey?

[From the Berry Ask List!]

coba berry - is your muse a follower of any deity or legendary? are they religious in any way?

Red is more spiritual than religious. He considers every legendary to be a deity in their own right. He considers Arceus to be the creator of things, and finds a deeper connection to the pantheon from Sinnoh than anywhere else, but that's more to do with his heart living there than anything else- it feels like home.

cornn berry - is your muse allergic to any pokémon?

He's not, thankfully! At least, none that he's encountered.

durin berry - is there a specific trainer that your muse looks up to?

Green. Without a doubt Green. He's strong, smart, and well. He's got his crush. Outside of that? Probably Ingo! He feels like he would understand him. Not Emmet though, at least not right now. He's got stupid pointless beef with Emmet.

kelpsy berry - has your muse ever released any pokémon? if not, have they come close to releasing one?

Answering this one separately because someone else also asked!

pamtre berry - is there any specific victory or achievement that your muse takes great pride over?

Red takes great pride in his victory over Brock, specifically. At the time his team consisted only of Pikachu and a pidgey he eventually parted ways with years down the line, and it took a combination of budding strategy and brute force to get over the major type disadvantage.

He also takes a lot of pride in his first step into Sinnoh. It was a trip with an alternate of his, met on Mt. Silver where the space between realities is particularly thin, and that first fearful step was the first step on his new journey. It helped him become who he is today.

persim berry - if your muse could go back and do over a part of their journey, what would they have done differently?

He would have never gone to the shore of Cinnibar island. The events that took place on the shoreline is what lead to the most traumatic, horrific events of his life, that fundamentally ruined his life and ended five others. He would show up, get the badge by steamrolling with Blastoise, and leave. He could find somewhere else to train.

yache berry - what ‘key items’ did/does your muse haul around with them on their journey?

Back in the day, Red traveled extremely light. Just garbage he found on his journey in his pack, some healing items, sodapops, pokeballs. This resulted in lots and lots and lots of gold nuggets appearing spontaneously in his old bag, even to this day, a side effect of reality breaking apart in just a specific way.