[Video] Log 1

[firstonesexpert]

[The video opens on a shock of purple ponytails, bunched up in the shot so badly that the arms of the young woman in purple overalls - not to mention the background - aren't immediately visible. When she realises that she is indeed recording, a huge grin breaks out across her face, and she lowers one hand from holding the camera to wave.]

Hi, everyone! I'm Entrapta! [There's a shuffling of hair, and an Impidimp pops his head out between the two ponytails, and rests his chin on her forehead.] This is Leslie! Oh, and--

[The camera whips around in a blur of motion to point across the table she's apparently sitting at: an Absol is lounging across the chairs on one side, and opposite her a tall man in black body armour, with a tiny Skitty on one shoulder, is moving to sit down - but when he sees Entrapta pointing the camera at him, there's a flash of discomfort across his face and he pushes off the table with his metal hand and quickly steps out of frame.]-- this is Winter and Fuzzlebutt, and Grace --[The camera focuses on the Absol, but then drops towards the out-of-focus table. Astute people might recognise the place as a Pokemon Center by now.] I don't actually know if you named her, did you? She looks like a Grace. ...okay! [And then the camera whips up onto Entrapta's gleeful face again.]

According to our ID cards, Winter and I are Pokemon Breeders! [She looks down, rummaging, and pulls up the Guide To Pokemon Breeding a moment later to show off.] We've both been reading through it but it's not completely comprehensive, so I wanted to see what other people thought about it, and how this whole thing's supposed to work. I've never had to deal with organic creatures on such an intimate level before, and Winter doesn't remember much at all so this is all very new for both of us.

Okay thanks!

Comments

GRANDPA IS HERE TO TLDR

[meteorman]

Welcome! Not to toot my own horn [except absolutely to toot his own horn] but I've been studying Pokémon breeding in-depth for upwards of four years now. I can recommend to you some excellent journals on the subject; Pokémon Letters is a comprehensive publication, while Egg is specifically for articles and discussion relating to breeding.

If you're looking for more of a textbook, The Ideal Egg is an excellent place to start! That said you may have to accept some, ah... mysteries about the whole process. Despite humans and Pokémon having a symbiotic relationship for thousands of years, no one has ever yet been able to observe the actual breeding process. It's all speculation.

[He has his own theories, of course. Don't ask about them or he'll never shut up.]

Ultimately what matters for success as a Breeder is communication with your Pokémon. They aren't dumb animals, they're sentient and often very intelligent beings, and I've found once you start thinking of them in those terms things become much simpler.

BEST GRANDPA

[firstonesexpert]

[The Impidimp ducks out of sight with another rustle of hair as Entrapta looks delighted.] Ohhh, that would be excellent! Leslie, can you-- [And a notebook and pen and thrust into view.] Oh, thank you!

[She drops the notepad on the table and writes those titles down.]

I've been treating my Pokemon the exact same way I treat my robots back home! They're all special and unique, and that makes them all wonderful! Leslie's already proven herself to be incredibly receptive to the needs of Winter and myself, so I'm wondering if that's part of her innate Fairy talents or if she's just incredibly perceptive.

[The Impidimp appears in the camera, far too close, blurred and giving the camera a resigned look. Impidimp are one hundred percent male, after all.]

[meteorman]

[... Yeah, don't think he doesn't pick up on that. Ford has been here for several universal, uh, 'hiccups', where new Pokeémon just kind of appear as though they'd always been. He pretty much always reacts by reading up on all the new ones ASAP. Don't worry. He'll circle back around to it.]

It could be either. I've worked with plenty of fairy types that are dumb as a box of rocks.

[He did just say they aren't dumb animals but he means like... human dumb. Some people just be that way.]

My Primarina, Elton, has two talents: grooming himself, and battling specifically only when he feels like it. He can enact a strategy that isn't his, but off the field-- well. I once watched him try for thirty minutes to locate a pair of sunglasses he was already wearing.

Getting to know their unique personalities is one of the best parts of working closely with Pokémon, in my opinion.

[firstonesexpert]

[Entrapta sticks her camera up high, and it's possible to see her tucking her legs up to her chest, which wedges them against the table before she lowers it again.]

I've already encountered a great many different personality types already, it's fascinating watching them interact with each other. It's the kind of "mingling" [with one hand lowered so she can make visible air quotes] that is truly engaging for me to watch. It's like Princess Prom every day!

Like Fuzzlebutt! [The camera whips around again, and focuses on the Skitty on the other man's visibly tense shoulder (even if it's made of metal). The Skitty has a distinctly unpleasant aura that Entrapta is fully ignoring.] This Skitty has an unfounded level of aggression for something that's allegedly only a few weeks old! [andawayagain back onto Entrapta] It's incredibly fascinating!

Text reply from "Winter Soldier"

[worthallthis]

how much do they understand about us


[Because "intelligent" fits the Absol (Grace?), and Leslie. But also makes him nervous. He's not a great person, after all.

(So does using this damn device. But text is better than Entrapta turning the camera on us, Jesus.)]

username: AllStar. wait does vr do usernames. oh god it's 5:30 am i remember nothing

[meteorman]

I'm not sure I understand the question? Do you mean in terms of our speech, our culture...?

when I asked the mods said you could input your own name so maybe?

[worthallthis]

either

both

[Sorry, man, he is not the most communicative guy.]

video;

[amaure]

[Okay, how can she have the type of conversation with him just the other day, and then go around making a post like this?]


...Really. You know not how creatures breed?

[He's too old for this. He knows these creatures are kinda...odd, but it cannot be that difficult.]

[firstonesexpert]

[She seems confused, rather than offended.]

I never said that. I'm familiar with the breeding process on a purely theoretical level, I've just never actually encountered it in person.

[And she will continue to not to, because Pokemon.]

[amaure]

'Tis not difficult, and if you understand it theoretically, then you are well on your way already. All you must needs do is provide a proper environment based on the species, make certain each beast is of healthy stock, and allow nature to take its course. With the proper research for each type, the basics should relatively be the same, but be mindful of each case needing specifics.

Some creatures can prove themselves to be rather finicky when it comes such intimate matters.

[How he says it is with a tone of utter boredom. Honestly, he probably shouldn't have replied at all, yet here he is.]

Or are you looking for some other explanation?

[fingersandteeth]

Hello, Entrapta. My name's Steven. I'm not a breeder but I have on occasion been surprised by the mysterious production of eggs and one thing I can say is that Pokemon don't really need to be of the same species to reproduce--they just need to be in the same 'egg group.' What that basically means is that most ghosts can reproduce with each other, most plants can reproduce with each other, and so on and so forth.

Also, their children can be either the mother's or the father's species, but not a hybrid of both. It's as if a horse and a donkey bred in the normal world and instead of having mules, they just had horses and donkeys.

[firstonesexpert]

Hi Steven!

The book does go into the different subcategories of egg groups and a little bit of what typically defines each Pokemon's inclusion into such, but it doesn't have a comprehensive list of all of the different Pokemon in each section. Probably that's a good thing, seeing as it makes special note of how more than one quarter of all Pokemon fall into the Field group alone.

That makes sense, as well! If their biologies are so strictly structured it makes sense that there would be very little overlap or crossing of genes during the breeding process.

[fingersandteeth]

I'm sure there's a list of them somewhere. You really ought to talk to Armin Arlert if you get a chance—he's another breeder like you two and he's the most knowledgeable person when it comes to Pokemon I know.

video;

[schachmeister]

It's nice to meet you, my name is Armin. When I first arrived here, I was actually a trainer, but I've been a breeder for a few years now, so hopefully, I'll be able to answer your questions.

Is there anything, in particular, you are curious about? If you've read the book [and thank you for doing so, Armin always approves of Reading The Guide.] you must have some knowledge of the basics already, so going over them again might be a waste of time.

[firstonesexpert]

Hi Armin! Steven already mentioned you, he said you were the most knowledgeable person he knows about Pokemon!

[She leans forward on one hand.] I understand the concepts of all the egg groups and their defining features and the basics of what breeding entails, especially with regards to abilities and what are known as shinies, but I'm not actually all that familiar with Pokemon as a species. [And then drops her arm onto the table so she can rest her chin on her forearm. The sound of movement under the table suggests she's swinging her legs.] I'm aware that there's numerous different types but I'm not sure of the true extent, nor of their actual potential and use in this world!

[schachmeister]

[Armin immediately becomes flustered.]

Oh, that's--- he's over-exaggerating. Don't listen to him.

[Like, the indirect compliment makes him feel warm and all, but also, he is not!! He cannot be the most knowledgeable person. He just can't.]

I think by anyone's last count there are over 850 different kinds of pokemon. Though, new ones are discovered all the time. We've actually recently been seeing a lot of new pokemon pop up here and there.

Take that Impidimp you have with you. I've been in this world for years, but until a few months ago, none of us knew that species existed at all. Apparently they are from a region called Galar, but somehow, word of their existence had never made it over here.

All known pokemon can be sorted into one or two of eighteen known types, though honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they ever find more types. That has happened before too.

audio;

[sassymaru]

Greetings. I am Shadowmaru... of the Brave Police.

[That's where he'd have dramatically bowed if he uh. Had hit the "video" button.]

May I ask, what it is you mean when you say you have never dealt with organic creatures?

video back atchya

[firstonesexpert]

Hi Shadowmaru! You're not a bird horse are you, like Swift Wind? Your name makes you sound like a shadow horse.

[An Impidimp hand tugs firmly enough on one ponytail to jerk Entrapta's head, but she doesn't seem to mind.]

Oh-- I grew up surrounded by robots, and I've rarely had interactions with other people for most of my life. The two are actually mutually exclusive, I just... don't really get along with most people. They don't really like me. Robots are easier for me to understand.

video;

[sassymaru]

Alas, I am afraid not. I am, however, known as the illustrious ninja detective.

[And thanks to the nice lady, he can, now, bow for the camera.]

Ahh, I see. How fortunate then! Prior to my arrival here...!

I was such a being.

Video

[lioness_rampant]

I'm not a pokemon breeder, myself, but several of my pokemon have produced eggs of their own.

[ Here she directs her camera to a pair of sheepish-looking pokemon nesting in a box lined with towels: a shiny plusle, a minun, and a small clutch of their speckled eggs. ]

Nature will take its course with very little prompting--in face, they'll often breed even if you'd prefer they didn't--but as a breeder you'd be able to help them produce stronger and more resilient young than might be possible for a trainer like myself.

[firstonesexpert]

Ooooh, so Pokemon will continue to breed regardless of whether their trainer is capable of properly caring for eggs. Good to know!

[Don't... please don't get offended Allura. She's just Like This.]

What are those ones? I've never seen their species before!

[lioness_rampant]

It's... less about being capable and more about wanting to find good homes for all their offspring. Between my partner and I, we have over sixty pokemon. Taking care of a few more isn't difficult--adopting the eggs out to people we trust to care for them can be.

[ But okay, we're moving on. Allura sits down and the pokemon both hop up onto her shoulders, looking adorable all the while. ]

This is Twinkle, my Plusle. This one is Sparkle, a Minun. They have complimentary abilities that make them excel when paired together as a team.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Breeder" is kind of a broad term. It's a catch-all for anyone with Pokemon who isn't a trainer. You don't actually have to go into the egg business. Unless you want to! But you're free to live your life here however you want, as long as you don't cause trouble.

[firstonesexpert]

I don't know how good I am at not causing trouble. I don't try to but my experiments have caused my friends a lot of problems in the past, so I don't think they like me too much for it.

But I don't know how much of them I can repeat here so it's probably fine!

[forsaintcecilia]

Well, I think as long as your heart's in the right place, you should be fine. Like, you aren't gearing up to be a Rocket or anything.