video/action | new bark town

[shotlocking]

[ Hello, Johto, you've received another new face! ... Er, one that looks pretty bewildered and more concerned than anything. She's not even aware that the Azurill she'd received is filming her, but Aqua does what Aqua does best: She gets information. Aqua makes her way around the town, doing her best to gather information. All the while, the Azurill is filming her... though, honestly, the camera's a little shaky. Um. More than "a little" shaky, because she's holding the camera with her feet.

... That sure is a thing that's happening. But she's trying, and that's what matters.

Several minutes pass before Aqua realizes her Azurill is filming her. ]

Oh! [ She kneels down next to the little one, smiling fondly (somehow, she notes to herself, because she's still getting used to the whole "not being trapped in the realm of darkness" thing). It's hard not to be in good spirits with such a cute critter, after all. ]

Can everyone see this? I've never encountered a device like this, but it doesn't seem too difficult to work.

Hello. My name is Aqua, and I've just arrived. [ ... ] I don't suppose I could easily find some sort of food for my friend, here. She does seem very hungry.

[ And sure enough, yup, that's the sound of the Azurill's tummy growling. At least she looks embarrassed about it. ]

Comments

permathat!

[shotlocking]

Thank you. I imagine it will--everyone seems to be so friendly, at the very least.

[ It's refreshing, because she hasn't been around people in so long... ]

I've heard about the berries, yes. I imagine there are numerous different types?

[paladinlost]

[Cecil nods.]

There are nine, each more unpleasant than the last. Luckily, between the supplies you received and the assistance of everyone on the network, you are unlikely to ever eat them accidentally.

[shotlocking]

Unpleasant for humans, but not for our little friends?

[paladinlost]

Luckily for them. They get their own source of food we cannot borrow, and can still eat our stashes of midnight cookies without ill effects. It's quite unfair.

[shotlocking]

Then I'll just have to make sure to bake plenty of extras for them.

[paladinlost]

With such an offer, you'll have no issue convincing Pokémon to join you, or making them love you. Even the rocks and the plants usually appreciate sweets.

[shotlocking]

--Rocks and plants?

[paladinlost]

...The Rock-type and Grass-type Pokémon. Not the regular, non-sentient rocks and plants. Not all Pokémon are animal-like, and some of their shapes can be surprising.

[shotlocking]

[ ... O... kay, this is perfectly normal. Uh. For this place, she supposes? ]

I have a feeling anything can be a type of Pokémon, then.

[paladinlost]

...I have three sentients swords. And my backyard is regularly invaded by sentient toxic sludge.

[Yes. Anything.]

[shotlocking]

... Does the toxic sludge harm you or your plants, too?

[paladinlost]

...I've not been harmed by such weak Pokémon, but my attempts at planting a vegetable garden have ended in tears and dead plants.

[shotlocking]

[ ... oh dear. ]

I'll keep an eye out for them, then, if they're that troublesome.

[paladinlost]

They're not that much more troublesome than the average Pokémon, truly, unless you are particularly sensitive to unpleasant smells. Ghosts are likelier to cause problems; they tend to be particularly mischievous.

[shotlocking]

Ghosts--of Pokémon who have passed on?

[paladinlost]

[Cecil shakes his head.]

In this world, ghosts are usually born- well, hatched, not made. They are a type in itself, with their own species, strengths and weaknesses. ...And a widespread fondness for pranks.

[shotlocking]

[ Oh, good. ]

I had worried about that. It seemed cruel to keep them here for us, if they were spirits of the deceased.

[paladinlost]

Even if they were, most Ghost-types seem far too happy to be trained for it to be considered cruelty. Though it'd still forcibly keep them in an unnatural state, of course.

[shotlocking]

Do they? I suppose it's a sort of instinct for all of them, isn't it?

[paladinlost]

Even the newly-hatched ones take to us instinctively, yes. Considering that the locals have been training them from millenia, it's likely that the majority of species have adapted to humans as a way to grow in strength more efficiently.

[shotlocking]

They really are incredible. I've seen how smart my Azurill is, so it's not that surprising, but-- it's still amazing.

[paladinlost]

They can match people in many ways. Some are artists, others musicians, a few have even learned to speak... Treating them like mere pets would be inappropriate.

[shotlocking]

They really can learn to speak, then! I was almost certain all she could do was say her name.

[paladinlost]

Don't get your hopes too high up; it's very likely that she'll say nothing else. But a few individuals have become surprisingly eloquent in their second language.

[shotlocking]

Well, I'm sure she'll try. She seems the determined type.

I'll keep that in mind, though.