[video / action for Goldenrod]

[meteorman]

A. [Video]

[The camera turns on facing what looks like a grungy Goldenrod back alley. There's some boxes, a trash bin, some stray bags... why is anyone broadcasting this?

Well, the thing is, isn't not just anyone. It's Ford Pines.]

Look at this! Trubbish in their natural habitat! [He's whispering into the camera so as not to disturb them. One of the 'trash bags' stirs but otherwise they seem content.] I almost mistook them for actual trash; their camouflage is really quite something. And the smell...

[He doesn't seem bothered. If anything, he's geeking out. Good lord.]

I have to catch one. Come on, Nautilus. [An Omanyte scootches into frame. Suddenly the alley is full of wide-open bright eyes. The Trubbish scatter. In the ensuing commotion one of them takes a Water Gun straight to the face, and he throws the pokeball before it can collect itself. It wobbles and then does the signature capture sound. Victory!]

Ahah, excellent! -- But what do I call it?

B. [Action / Goldenrod Department Store]

[When he arrived in Goldenrod at the end of October, Ford only intended to stay as long as it took to take care of team Skull and then head back to Violet. It's now been over two weeks and he still hasn't left; in fact, he went ahead and got his job transferred from the Violet Pokemon Center to the Goldenrod branch. He probably won't stay here permanently, but there's such a wealth of places to visit and explore that he owes it to the city to give it a good couple of months.

And, while he's here, he can do some much-needed shopping. First on his list was an Everstone for his Starly Hermes, and after perusing the other available stones he's switched to looking at TMs. If he remembers anything from his breeding guidebook (and he'd like to think he does) then a Pokemon bred with TM moves is likely to sell for quite a bit more than one with its bog-standard moveset. It's worth looking into for that reason alone. He still can't get over Plumeria's Golbat and how it knew Overheat, either, and if he can expand some movesets... well. He does love fiddly strategy. His own Golbat, Claudia, is perched on his shoulder.]

What do you think? Sludge Bomb? It always hits and you'd have a good chance of inflicting poison. You can also learn U-Turn and it would be helpful against Psychic types, but I don't know how often it would actually come in handy...

[Claudia, who presumably hears most of his talking as endearing gibberish even if she gets the gist of it, yawns.]

Hm.

You! [He flags down a nearby shopper.] What do you think?

Comments

[Action]

[quickattackjack]

<sub>[Someone else has been thinking about Evolution lately! Jack stands nearby with a thoughtful look on his face and his Vulpix, Spitfire, in his arms. Her ears are flat and as other customers pass she huffs and growls at them.]

[When Ford calls his attention, he's pulled from his thoughts and offers the man a broad smile.]</sub>

Oh, hello! What do I think about what?

[meteorman]

[It's a pity about the whole 'surprise, you're human!' thing or Ford would be really excited about meeting a real-life animated skeleton right now. He is at the very least pretty excited to be meeting a fellow trainer who's not even old enough to be in high school. You win some, you lose some.]

I'm debating between TMs. Do you think it would be worth it to teach a Golbat U-Turn?

[quickattackjack]

Oh, absolutely! It's a great way for your Golbat to gain experience and avoid electric types all the while launching a nasty surprise on your opponent if you have someone who is higher-leveled waiting on your team!

_{[Jack's Vulpix looks between the two. Eugh. Happiness. Gag her with a spoon.]}

[meteorman]

[You snooze you lose, Vulpix, this is a great conversation.]

You see, that was my thought. It would also be valuable against Psychic types; Claudia is weak to Psychic, but Psychic is weak to Bug.

[Look at him, he's already picking up the lingo like nobody's business.]

It could very valuable to have a move custom-tailored to account for what otherwise might be a weakness.

B

[veggie_vamp]

I think your Golbat is sooo adorable!

[That's what you were asking, right?]

[meteorman]

[Oh totally. Claudia perks up at the attention, flaring her wings proudly.]

Careful, now -- she's already extraordinarily pleased with herself. Wouldn't want her getting over-confident.

[It does not occur to Ford that he is absolutely 100% not allowed to talk about being a little too sure of oneself when his ego, even after a sound puncturing by the actual apocalypse, is still Very Large.]

[veggie_vamp]

But she deserves it! Looks at those fabulous wings, and those sharp teeth!

[meteorman]

Oh yes. Her teeth need to be sharp or she wouldn't be able to eat; did you know that a Golbat's teeth can actually puncture all but the very thickest of hides?

[Video]

[agent3]

[- Oh my splat what sort of horror are those bright eyes in a dark alley? Sure, Thida's seen a Trubbish or three around while doing her deliveries, and has definitely spooked some of them by vaulting over trash bins, but that is a lot of sentient garbage bags in one place. Her face is pale and pulled back from the 'gear with a wary expression, while an indignant "Snubb!" is heard offscreen, and a Snubbull's tiny paws flail up at her in the corner of the video.]

Aah...lotsa bags...

[meteorman]

[Yeah, he kind of found Trubbish Central accidentally. Whoops?]

Oh, there's no need to be afraid. They're strange as Pokemon go but they're mostly harmless.

[As compared to like... Drifloon, or Malamar.]

[agent3]

[Clearly you've never met an Inkay who will make a very sweet and loving Malamar.

The Snubbull clamors up to where the girl is sitting and starts gently headbutting her side, demanding attention. She absently reaches over to pet it, but it's clear from its continued paw-waving that's not exactly what it wanted.]

So many though...! Can't even tell...'till they open their eyes! Scary...

[meteorman]

Yes, their camouflage is very clever as camouflage in the Pokemon world goes. I've found the best way to tell is by looking for the symmetrical tears in the back and the overly-neat bow tied on top. No one takes that much care with actual trash, but bilateral symmetry is common in living creatures.

[He hasn't noticed the Snubbull either. He's far too busy being a huge nerd.]

[action]

[captainash]

I... Huh.

[He thinks those winter socks on sale are the best purchase he's made in ages, but that wouldn't help, would it?]

...Why don't you buy everything?

[But this should. He hopes.]

[meteorman]

... You know, I hadn't considered that. It isn't as though she couldn't learn both. [He laughs, a quiet 'heh'.] I just wouldn't want to buy something only to never use it.

[captainash]

Well, around here, you'll never run out of opportunities to use it, believe me. Even if you don't go for the Gym challenge, there are aggressive swarms often enough to make wide type coverage a good idea.

[Ash doesn't sound particularly bother by the thought of aggressive swarms. Been there, done that.]

[meteorman]

... Aggressive swarms?

[Funny enough, despite showing up in August, he still hasn't experienced one of these. No one's ever told him about them, either.]

video;

[pipers_son]

[Well, that's sure a thing he just witnessed. Well, Joker can't judge- it's nice to see even the trash pokemon can be loved.]

[...That's not an insult, it's literally a trash pokemon.]

Well, most folks, what they do is that they name 'em after somethin' important, or accordin' ta personality. Although, since ya just caught yers, I guess it's a little early ta guess that, huh?

[meteorman]

[It is literally a trash Pokemon and that is the coolest damn thing. He's still not over it.]

Mm, yes. I've had trouble with naming before as well. In fact my Weepinbell is still lacking a name and I've had it for... [... yikes.] almost a month now. For some reason it gives me trouble.

[pipers_son]

[Joker's whistle is impressed, for all the wrong reasons.]

That long? She must be cryin'. Anyway, what a mate of mine did was name all his snakes after authors that were out at the time. Ya think about that?

Video

[thedifferencebetween]

...why the hell would you want one of those disgusting things? I've been stuck with one for months, I can't get rid of it. It's literal garbage.

[meteorman]

[... Dude. He'll fight you. Come to the alley in 20 minutes if you want an asskicking.]

You don't find it incredible that a sentient creature has evolved to so closely imitate a purely man-made and fairly recent phenomena to facilitate comfortable urban survival? As Pokemon go it's one of the most astounding cases of overt symbiosis with human society!

[Everyone should find this as cool as he does.]

[thedifferencebetween]

No, I find it disgusting. Pretty sure even a skag wouldn't eat one of those. And I'm also still sure that there's nothing natural about these creatures, they've got genetically modified and dumped on this planet written all over'em. I've seen it before. Some bio-scientist in a classified department gets a 'great' idea in their head, next thing you know, you're overrun with weird mutants.

Plus...trust me, that smell is ten times worse inside a house. Not to mention the...residue.

Video

[meowbel]

Weeeeelllll, I might have a few ideas! You know you can always pick your most awesomest and favoritest niece in the whole entire world right?

[Cough cough hint hint wink wink!]

[meteorman]

[Oh boy. Oh dear. It's so hard to say no to Mabel, but Mabel's naming sensibilities are... oh dear.]

Do you mean I ought to name it after you?

[That seems like a neat compromise, right?]

[meowbel]

You could! Ooooorrrr I could help you name it!

[Does Ford have the ability to break her heart into tiny little pieces? Can he do it? Will he be able to do it?

Looks like we'll have to find out!]