"I like Whirlipede. He's a good Pokemon."

Big, armoured, is all about combat? What could Mando possibly see in that particular Pokemon? Who can say?

"You respect them enough to follow their wishes if they say no, right?" Mando lightly head bonks the side of Shadowmaru's head. "You're not giving them orders, you're giving them options. Some might take you up on it, some might not. But you wouldn't feel any differently about them no matter what they chose."