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At this point, it might not be a stretch to say that the wider Animal Crossing: New Horizons economy revolves around a smug cat. Raymond, the feline with heterochromia, is likely the most expensive thing you can buy on the black market. If you dare say you’ve got Raymond available for adoption, you’ll get inundated by hopefuls who want the grey villager on their island.
The fervor around Raymond is hot enough that one viral post saw a players receiving seemingly unhinged messages from other Raymond fans trying to pressure them into giving the cat up because they don’t “deserve” him. Another viral post purports to show a scam through which someone tricks another player into paying for the privilege of merely looking at Raymond, not getting him.
I love Raymond cause without him we wouldn’t have content like this pic.twitter.com/Mu7esZkCd0
— Chloe (@daisyymaes) May 10, 2020
These stories are hard to verify. One of the Twitter posts recounting an exchange has been deleted and the account is down, but more broadly, popular posts about Raymond and his hard-to-get status aren’t always true. A month ago, for instance, there was a viral post that claimed Raymond was being sold on eBay for $1,000, which is vastly over the general market asking price for the villager. Regardless of the truth, however, the mythos around Raymond has had a visible effect on the Animal Crossing community. While Raymond remains a highly-valued villager for the fandom at large, there’s also a growing backlash against Raymond and the people who want him.
A new meme sees fans joking about having “Raymond in boxes” — that is, having him ready to move or to be purchased — except the asking price is absurd, impossible, or just plain silly. Sometimes, the joke is literal, with Raymond drawn or photoshopped to be in or around actual boxes. All of these jokes point toward a general weariness of the Raymond phenomenon, if not a critique of the out-of-control way people can act when they want the villager.
Raymond surrounded by boxes. 100 nook miles tickets to look at him. 200 to talk to him. 300 to enter his house. pic.twitter.com/FMOTNYPWzI
— yadi (@sneepyhead) May 11, 2020
— Animal Crossing struggles (@acstruggletwts) May 11, 2020
I have Raymond in boxes. Dm me with your best offer. Serious inquiries only pic.twitter.com/ILCyAnA7Yx
— hot italian milfs in your area (@iscythea) May 11, 2020
hey i've got raymond in boxes and i'm giving him away for free. the dodo code is in my fine wine cellar, come downstairs with me if you're interested
— (@kisekisymphony) May 11, 2020
RAYMOND IN BOXES. SERIOUS OFFERS ONLY#ACNH #AnimalCrossing pic.twitter.com/kFKfLxZSgO
— N | giveaway (@trubbss) May 12, 2020
RAYMOND IN BOXES DM ME FOR OFFERS#villagertrade #acnhvillagertrade pic.twitter.com/wKkjzxkWdI
— Falcon/Sierra (@Splatchargers83) May 9, 2020
raymond in boxes pic.twitter.com/7pGBOXOni8
— jo☀️ (@bigskycastle) May 11, 2020
I've got Raymond in boxes pic.twitter.com/yqJIbwc68D
— Trinket (@popzotz) May 9, 2020
Hello my fellow Raymond Lovers! Just passing by to let you know that I have Raymond in boxes... and I won't give him to anybody!! I'll just let himm get erased to the non-existence and you can't do anything about it! :D
— 白 ⚪ - Shiro - しろ ♀️♂️ (@shirolamperouge) May 11, 2020
RT so everyone can see!!! pic.twitter.com/hvUo1oRwEO
HOLY FUCK YOU GUYS RAYMOND IS IN BOXES pic.twitter.com/p9avEQZaPx
— Ok Coomer (@nyxokal) May 10, 2020
Raymond’s in boxes. Sealed within the box is a radioactive atom. We won’t know Raymond’s status until the box is opened. The cat remains both alive and dead until the state has been observed
— Audrey @ HOME (@Turbocrit) May 8, 2020
Raymond has passed away last night at 8:23 pm. He was surrounded by his loved ones and he was in boxes https://t.co/RB2kQIBFKI
— ᴢᴀᴛᴢᴋᴀ (@stiegIitz) May 7, 2020
hey, #ACNH twitter! i have raymond in boxes! if you want him please read Victor Hugo's Les Misérables as translated by Christine Donougher and write a 2000 word essay detailing the intricacies of the relationship between Enjolras and Grantaire pic.twitter.com/cn2N6frQsv
— fey ✧ (@feywilde) May 11, 2020
I've got Raymond in boxes. If you DM me, I'll give you riddles for the location of each box.
— Vaughn Pinpin (@vaughnpinpin) May 11, 2020
Hey, guys! I’ve got Raymond in boxes today! 12,000 NMT’s please! #AnimalCrossing #ACNH pic.twitter.com/bnYMzVdOZY
— randy butternubs (@sukurimi) May 10, 2020
I got Raymond in boxes who wants to trade pic.twitter.com/CiQkTi8tB5
— Emiliano (@Emilianomario27) May 6, 2020
raymond's in boxes!!
— mental boom princess (@strangebun) May 11, 2020
seeking all of the following:
1,000,000,000,000 NMT
ur arm
do not forget the leg
credit card information front and back
ssn
ur first born child
hell, the second one too
ur soul
dm me if interested ^-^#acnh pic.twitter.com/l1tnLAnuwq
Is Raymond truly worth all this commotion? I don’t know, but the jokes are good, at least.
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