eggs and nulls [video]

[ohmylord]

[The setting: a rooftop garden, that some people will be able to recognize as being part of the penthouse suite of one of the fanciest hotels in Saffron City. In this garden, a host of pokemon are milling around, some that may or may not be recognizable as belonging to their trainers. The camera pans to show a quartet of Type: Nulls. One has incredibly short legs, like a corgi might. Another seems to be sweating and a stream of Durants is crawling towards it--only drawn by some unseen magnetic force against the body of yet another Null, a nervous-looking one who (along with the Durants) has a fair number of other Steel-types stuck to it, as well as some forks and spoons. The fourth Null turns to face the camera and says, in a perfectly clear-sounding voice that sounds remarkably like Rick Gastly: We’re no strangers to love.

The camera then pans to Claudia Kishi, in a long, baggy, cream cable-knit sweater and leggings patterned after Milotic scales. A fan-shaped hair ornament holds up her high ponytail. She waves at the camera. Behind her are a plethora of eggs--something like three dozen of them.]

Hi! As you can see, everyone got kind of busy while we were out doing tourist stuff in Saffron! Speaking of which, it’s really sad that people order these special pokemon to be created for them with science and they decide they don’t want them after all and basically send them to the Null pound. If my friend Dawn were here, she’d be so mad. She’d probably be picketing Silph Co right now, but we just settled on adopting a bunch of the pound Nulls ourselves.

[She walks over to where the Nulls are standing, the camera panning to follow her, and gestures to each in turn.] These are Beep-boop, Mercury, Gilgamesh, and Clover! They’re all really sweet--could you believe that anyone wouldn’t want them in their home?

[You know the rules and so do I, Beep-boop intones. The stream of Durants heading toward Clover thickens. Mercury shudders as another Durant is magnetically drawn to its side. Short little Gilgamesh makes a sound half-squawk and half-bark.]

And there’s a bunch more Nulls that need families! If no one else is going to adopt them and bring them home from the Null pound, maybe we should.

[Claudia shakes her head as she walks toward a low table with an oversized sketchbook on top of it.]

Anyway. The other reason I made this post is to let everyone know that I’m selling eggs again and Shinobu’s helped me figure out what’s in each egg by talking to all the parents to see who they made their eggs with--did you know that boy pokemon can make eggs with more than one pokemon at a time? They also gave us their best guess on what’s inside the eggs. I made a new egg listing for what I think I’ve got--Shinobu even spellchecked it for me.

[Which seems to be her cue to open up the sketchbook and let the camera zoom in as she goes through her listing of eggs one breeding pair at a time. Each page of the sketchbook has been lavishly illustrated by the pair of parents and the number of available eggs they have.]

Catra and Thace already claimed some and I promised Dr Pines one of the Feebases, but I wrote them down already. And I’m gonna keep one of the Probably Espurrs for me. But otherwise, I’m gonna give you guys first chance at everything else, before I post about them on the local breeding boards, okay?

Comments

[ohmylord]

"Do I get to know the theory?" Claudia asks. "Or do I have to wait for the evidence?"

If the theory is that Clover is doing it on purpose because she likes Durants, then Claudia agrees.

[insidegalra]

"I'm wondering if attracting the Durants is some kind of spontaneous reaction to having ser abilities removed. I've seen one get protective since Clover join us, but it's not enough evidence to be sure."

Almost all Pokemon seem to be well able to protect themselves, usually, so Thace can see attracting allies for protection a way around not being able to.

[ohmylord]

"Oh!" Claudia says, nodding as if this makes sense to her. "Because she can't fight or do that stuff anymore, she just gets friends to do it for her."

[insidegalra]

"That is the theory so far, yes. We'll have to see if it's proven or disproven as things continue."

Thace is mostly being cautious because he doesn't want to encourage it if it's a different type of relationship. Mutualism is one thing. Parasitism is something else entirely and much less desirable.

[ohmylord]

Claudia sighs. "This is when I'd actually want Janine here. Uh, Human Janine, not Pokemon Janine. She's actually good at this science stuff. I can guess Parasitism is like when you've got a tapeworm, but what's Mutualism?"

[insidegalra]

"Mutualism is when both sides gain something from working with the other. Some species will provide food for others in exchange for protection, and so on."

Thace is happy to explain, at least.

[ohmylord]

"Oh! So it's just cooperating with a fancy name." That makes more sense. "So what we're hoping is that the Durants and Clover are both doing things to help each other, then."

[insidegalra]

"Yes, so if you could keep an eye on them that would be appreciated. You may catch some evidence I might miss."

Thace smiles at Claudia. He doesn't particularly think he'll miss much when he's present, but this way, Claudia will get to feel included and accomplished if she wants to help.

[ohmylord]

"Of course," she says automatically. "It's practice for pokesitting. I am going to make that a business, you know."