video;

[sassymaru]

Perhaps a foolish question, but one that begs an answer, nonetheless.

[Oh, hi Shadowmaru. Good of you to make an appearance. He is seated on the porch of his little house in Olivine, the ocean breeze in that dyed purple hair of his, and looking pensively out at the dunes, and beach grass.]

[Where it appears an adorable little shiny Deerling is snoozing.]

Is it common for one of these creatures to constantly shift in their appearance? I do not speak of evolution.

I speak simply of their coat color changing abruptly from one month to another.

Comments

[video]

[captainash]

It's not common in general, but it's normal for Deerling and Sawsbuck, at least. The colors and plants just come and go, with no other effect on their movesets or health.

[Proof: the very healthy Sawsbuck sniffing the Pokégear as he speaks.]

[video]

[sassymaru]

Ahh, I see... how wonderful to hear. I have long been concerned she was not flourishing as she should be.

[video]

[captainash]

As far as I can tell, she flourishes plenty. ...But now I have to wonder if the vividness of their colors could serve as an indicator for their health. Or if a hypothetical absence of change could be a symptom of a deeper issue.

[sassymaru]

I would not be the individual to consult, alas.

She has not changed her color before now, but I have not had her terribly long.

[captainash]

Which means you haven't seen her full range yet! She has a few more to show, unless she evolves first.

[sassymaru]

More?

I was unaware deer were a form of chameleon.

[captainash]

Spring went through... three? Four? A bunch of colors, before she evolved, but we took it slow and didn't rush her evolution. Maybe she'd have gone through the whole rainbow, given enough time.

[video]

[tearsofademon]

Deerling and Sawsbuck change with the seasons like that, yeah.

[video]

[sassymaru]

I take it this "Sawsbuck" is the more... adult form of my creature, yes?

[video]

[tearsofademon]

Yeah. Deerling evolves around level... 34, I think? Might be off by a couple. It's been a few years since Ellie did...

[sassymaru]

Mm, then I fear it may be quite some before I see such a creature.

Battling is not our forte.

[tearsofademon]

I get that. Honestly, there's no reason to rush, or force things. If it happens eventually, it happens.

...Ahh, but if you want to see a Sawsbuck, I can call Ellie over.

[sassymaru]

I could hardly say no to such a generous offer.

[video]

[epitaffio]

Cristina turns purple when she's hungry! It was really weird at first.

[Cristina is, presumably, the Morpeko in Doppio's arms. It's... actually trying to free itself right now, its fur in the process of shifting colours.]

[sassymaru]

[Um.]

[Well that's a new one.]

I - hesitate to inform you. Your creature appears rather different than mine.

[epitaffio]

Oh. But... They're both Pokémon, aren't they?

[The Morpeko squeaks in annoyance, unable to reach its pockets.]

[sassymaru]

True. But one would also argue a cat and a dog are both animals, yet they have very different ways of living, no?

A cat would be very out of place, gnawing a bone. And a dog hardly cares for catnip.

[epitaffio]

Right... So I guess that means you were just asking about those deer-looking guys, huh?

[Well. This is kind of awkward now.]

Uh, yours is... cute.

[sassymaru]

Indeed I am. I do not have one of those... interesting creatures you possess.

Yours seems - perturbed.

[ohmylord]

I've got a hamster friend I found in the swamp named Jeff who does the same thing as that other guy's. He's yellow when he's full and purple when he's hungry.

[sassymaru]

A... hamster you found in the swamp?

What ever was it doing there?

[ohmylord]

I'm not sure. It wasn't supposed to be there. The swamp rangers called them an invasion species.

[sassymaru]

Given how little a hamster seems inclined to swim... I believe they would be correct.

Goodness. One wonders how it ended up there at all.

[ohmylord]

I dunno. There were a lot of them. The swamp rangers wanted us to catch them if we could, so they could make get them out of the swamp. Or at least make it so that there weren't so many.

[sassymaru]

A swamp infested with angry hamsters.

If they weren't our beloved pokemon, that would be quite an amusing image.