[Text]/[Action]

[grapeeater]

Interesting. This network is more advanced than I would have thought from a place like this. Everything seems so... simple. There's definitely a lot more natural places around than I'm used to, if this map is right.

I suppose I'm a new 'trainer'. These creatures do remind me of something, though... has anyone here ever been to Zawame City? I'm guessing no, but I thought I might as well ask.

I guess I should get started on learning things about these creatures if I'm going to be here for a while...

[Action for Goldenrod Rocket Base]

[... Though maybe not so quickly. Anyone in the Goldenrod Base might spot the new recruit, looking vaguely uneasy at what he's read of his 'partner' Pokemon's species. Either that, or someone might spot him in a quiet corner, clearly trying to ignore something but... nothing that's visible.]

Comments

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ The Snivy's on the ropes too, as it happens. Fortunately, this means Overgrow has kicked in and grass-type moves are extra-powerful. Unfortunately, Wrap isn't a grass-type move.

And the Scratch hits, slicing into those precious last few chunks of HP. The vines abruptly slacken and the Snivy topples backwards, hitting the ground with a solid thump.

Well, that didn't go as planned. ]

Wh - !

[ Valmont stares helplessly at the unmoving Snivy on the floor. ]

Get up, damn you! Get up!

[ WHAT AM I PAYING YOU FOR

The Stunky, however, paws hopefully at her trainer's trouser leg. Let her in, coach! She can fight! ]

[grapeeater]

[The Absol lifts her head up and steps out of the vines, nudging Micchy's leg. Come on. You've got another thing. She's tagging out.]

... Hm?

[He is not comfortable with this thing touching him what is it even.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ Valmont, for his part, is doing his best to dislodge the Stunky from his leg. ] Well, it seems your cat thing wishes to forfeit the battle. Perhaps we can call it a draw -

[ The Stunky suddenly lets go of her own accord, causing Valmont to stumble briefly, as she leaps toward Micchy and his Pokémon. Screw that! She's got a trainer's honor to defend! ]

[grapeeater]

[Micchy takes a few steps back from the... well, it looks like a skunk, at least. He has no desire to smell like rotten eggs for a week.]

[His Absol headbutts his pocket and he raises an eyebrow. Fine. He really didn't want to do this, but... he pulls the other Pokeball out of his pocket, and presses the button, releasing a Vulpix.]

[She trills happily and crouches down, looking at the Stunky. Play! Wanna play? Micchy blinks in surprise. This is... not what he expected.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ He thinks this is bad, he should smell Valmont's room. Actually, don't. Please don't.

The Stunky blinks at the Vulpix. New friend? She loves friends! But she also loves her trainer, and she needs to protect him! What's a girl to do?

You don't wanna fight? The question is hopeful. ]

[grapeeater]

[Nuh uh! Micchy eyes them warily. They're... not all eager to fight? This is... strange. Not what he's used to at all.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ The Stunky steps forward and cautiously rubs her head against the Vulpix. Hi new friend!

Valmont, for his part, stares helplessly at her. ] What are you doing? You're supposed to be fighting that thing, not - not fraternizing with it! I demand you attack this instant!

[ The Stunky looks back at him with a pleading sort of look on her face, then, reluctantly, releases a cloud of Poison Gas. Unfortunately, it is smellable to everyone in range, including the humans. And it's... well. It's not pleasant. ]

[grapeeater]

[She nuzzles back, before shrinking back at the Poison Gas, coughing. No, why! Micchy takes a few steps back, pulling his sleeve over his nose.]

Fight back!

[Reluctantly she spits out an Ember, though she looks like she's about to cry.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ The Stunky just... kind of stands there and takes the Ember. She is heartbroken. fighting friends why ]

Don't just bloody stand there! [ Valmont coughs, just as affected by the gas as everyone else. ] Can't you produce vines or something, like the snake did?

[ No, Valmont, she kind of can't. She can make gas clouds and she can scratch. That's about it. Still very reluctantly, she does the latter, giving a halfhearted swipe at the Vulpix's side. This is not okay. ]

[grapeeater]

[The Vulpix yelps, and runs over to Micchy, trying to climb up his leg. No! She doesn't want to!]

Stop that!

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ Valmont looks from the Vulpix to the Stunky, who looks horrified, and finally to Micchy. ]

What are they doing?

[ He can't fathom not actually wanting to fight. This is very confusing. ]

[grapeeater]

... I think they don't want to battle.

[He picks the Vulpix up and holds her out at arm's length.]

Strange.

[whitehairedprettyboy]

They... don't want to battle. [ Valmont repeats incredulously, nudging the Stunky away from his leg, which she had been looking hopeful about rubbing against. ] So now what? How do we determine who won?

[grapeeater]

... I suppose it doesn't matter.

[She keeps trying to paw at his hands. Play?]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ Properly shooed, the Stunky instead turns her attention to the airborne Vulpix. Friend! I'm sorry I attacked you! ]

Hmm. I don't know that I can accept a draw. Isn't the loser in one of these competitions meant to give some money to the winner?

[ Valmont is far from an expert on this world yet, but by god has he memorized everything in the rulebook about making money. ]

[grapeeater]

[It's not your fault!]

Hm. I don't know. There's only one loser I see here, and it's not me.

[He glances to the side as he hears laughter, but then turns his attention back to Valmont. He can't appear weak. He can't.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ What's the boy looking at? Whatever. That's not important. What's important is the fact that he just called him a loser. Oh, hell no. It's on. ]

Would you like to settle this the old-fashioned way? I'd be perfectly happy to show you which one of us is the loser. [ He begins rolling up his sleeves. ]

[grapeeater]

You, fight me? Don't make me laugh.

[He may not be armored anymore, but he can still put up a good fight. Still, these aren't ideal conditions... and he really has no desire to get his hands dirty. He's not Kaito.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ Valmont pauses mid-sleeve roll. ] Scared, are we? Shall I consider that a forfeit? [ Please just give him some money he's so poor ]

[grapeeater]

I'm not afraid of you.

[He sets his Vulpix down and picks at his sleeves. This is getting ridiculous.]

I've fought much worse than you.

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ The Stunky immediately scampers back over to the Vulpix. Why are they arguing? It's not our fault, is it? ]

Oh, really. [ Valmont seems unimpressed. ] Have you ever fought a demon? Because I have, and I can tell you that between the two, you look a damn sight easier to beat.

[grapeeater]

[No, never! I think they're just that way. She nuzzles her friend gently. Don't be sad!]

I've fought creatures that can crush a human in battle easily. 'Demons' isn't the right word for them. They call themselves human, but they're a different kind of human.

[Of course, now he can't use his belt anymore... so this will be difficult.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ Yeah, I guess they are! I love my trainer, but he sure does seem to get mad a lot! ]

So what you're telling me is only one of us has fought a demon. If I were you, I wouldn't be particularly fond of those odds.

[ He's conveniently leaving out that he barely did any actual work in this fight, and that he certainly didn't take down the demon single-handedly. What Micchy doesn't know won't hurt Valmont. ]

[grapeeater]

They're powerful enough to take out missiles with a wave of their hand.

[Well, one of them is. But shh.]

[whitehairedprettyboy]

[ He raises an eyebrow. ] Impressive. The demon I fought was powerful enough to flood San Francisco.

[ Are you two actually going to do anything about this or are you just going to argue all day about whose is bigger ]