it’s time for a cookout!

[indigo_league]

Who: Everybody!
Where: Poco Path
When: April 26th
Summary: Arven welcomes you to experience Paldean customs and food, and share the food of your own homes, in a unique take on Calçotada!


Arven and his helpers have set up Poco Path as the perfect spot for a cook-out! Tables and benches line the route, and there are also baskets holding picnic blankets around for those who prefer that experience. The weather is finally playing nice again, after all, so why not?

There are grills for anyone who may need them, as well, and Arven - along with his Toedscruel and Gargancl - will be making the rounds to assure everyone has any needed equipment... And that no one's putting the cook-out at risk of going up in flames, of course. But whether or not you're making or even brought food, the host is happy to see you here. And so is his Mabosstiff! The gentle old pokemon will be making his own rounds of begging for table scraps!

When it seems like the arrivals have slowed to a stop, Arven takes a moment to address his guests. While he starts off nervously, he keeps a hand on Mabosstiff at his side, and as he goes on his bashfulness fades more and more.

"I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came here today! When I heard about how you lot aren't, er, from around here... Well, I knew had to do something like this. It's important! You're all far from your homes in more ways than one, after all. Food can go a long way to bring people together!"

Mabosstiff gives a gruff bark in agreement, and Arven laughs heartily.

"Thanks, bud. And thanks again to all of you! I'm seeing some dishes I just can't wait to dig into. If you aren't eating already, what are you waiting for? Bon profit!"

Comments

[crystalmaster]

[Radley chuckles.]

She kinda reminds me of a Slowpoke right now.

[Evie is happy for the attention and takes it as a signal to continue talking. She's telling all about their adventures in Paldea and what their home is like in Johto.]

[outofsynth]

Maybe she'll be more active once she evolves.

[Or maybe she'll just keep conserving her energy for when she's feeling really reactive.

It's kind of a scary thought when it comes to Skeledirge...

On the plus side she's definitely not mean. She may not be over chatty herself, but she answers any of Evie's questions, and even occasionally asks for elaboration at certain points in her stories. Usually with as few words as she has to spare.]

[crystalmaster]

Maybe. I'm not too familiar with them. What do they evolve into?

[Evie is definitely enjoying how much attention is being paid to what she's saying. That means more to her than the number of words used. She starts talking about all of her friends.]

[outofsynth]

Crocalor, then Skeledirge. Eventually she'll look more like a regular crocodile. Sort of.

[At least in shape, and, he's reasonably sure, size.

Friends. Yes. Good. Friends are good. She makes small sounds of approval as she keeps talking.]

[crystalmaster]

... Skeledirge? Is that part Ghost type?

[He's not sure whether to laugh or be afraid by that name.

Evie talks also about the Eevee colony and how fun they are and how she hopes they will all come home with them! Probably not a reasonable hope, but one fitting an innocent Pokemon like Evie.]

[outofsynth]

Mm-hm. [He nods, glancing affectionately at where she's still lying and listening to Eevee.] She'll be my second fire and ghost type.

[It's kind of funny how that's worked out with both his Alolan Marowak and future Skeledirge being the only Pokémon he has of either typing, and making up half of his hidden ability Pokémon, but they both seem to fill pretty different niches when he's looked more closely.

Baby tilts her head ever so slightly at the mention of home, intrigued since she will be going back there too. Tell her more about home, Evie.]

[crystalmaster]

That sounds like a pretty useful typing.

[Evie talks of Johto and all the pretty towns and routes and how big Goldenrod is and all about their property and the cafe.]

[outofsynth]

It is. They have a lot of weaknesses so you have to be careful, but they resist a lot too. Normal and fighting type moves can't touch them at all.

[A standard for pure ghosts, but fire typing definitely adds some helpful additional resistances.

At the mention of the café, Baby starts to perk. Her languid expression becomes sharper, and her whole body seems to be on the verge of vibrating. Min-Gi's tune stutters as he notices, turning his attention briefly to Evie.]

Don't talk to her about food, Evie.

[She's new to his team, but he's already starting to be able to pick up the warning signs.]

[crystalmaster]

That's pretty cool.

[Radley looks to the Pokemon too.]

... She loves food, huh?

[Evie tilts her head. "Vee?"]

[outofsynth]

Yep.

[Min-Gi rolls his eyes.

For her part Baby is looking the most interested she has the entire conversation. Her gaze is sharp and fixated on Evie. Don't listen to her trainer. Tell her more.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is amused.]

Well, I can't blame her for that.

[Evie looks from Min-Gi to Baby. She wants to please! But it looks like she can't please both. She tells about some of the kinds of food they serve: enchiladas and burritos and lasagna and fried fake chicken and Poke Puffs....]

[outofsynth]

Maybe, but you can still blame her for how she gets.

[Which might seem a strange comment when besides visible interest she's actually still being fairly restrained, but given Evie's fall to temptation they're about to find out why.

It doesn't take long for Evie's descriptions to work her up. The vibrating goes from subtle, to twitches, to a full bodied thrash that scatters the Surskit. Min-Gi startles, reaching out to grab her before rethinking and putting down the min-synth next to him first.]

Baby, no!

[He picks her up, her flailing not slowing down in the slightest.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley and Evie both jump.]

Oh boy....

[Evie's ears soon droop as she realizes she should have listened to Min-Gi.]

Is there anything I can do to help? What will calm her down?

[outofsynth]

[Lucky for Evie he's too caught up in settling back down the Fuecoco before she causes any more problems to call her out on ignoring him. He clutches her to his chest, slowing her ability to flail though far from stopping it.]

I don't know... She's still new, so we're still figuring that part out.

[Food technically does help, but he's not sure that's something he wants to encourage.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley has the same thought about food. They don't want to make her think she'll get fed if she flails.]

Does she like your music?

[outofsynth]

Sure, but...

[He nods down to where he's struggling to hold her still. Honestly, even if he did have free hands he's not sure it would help.]

Once she gets like this I don't know if she can even hear it.

[crystalmaster]

Uh oh.

[Radley ponders.]

Does she have any other interests? A favorite toy or something?

[outofsynth]

Maybe? Can you look in my bag? Front pocket. There's a chew toy we've been trying.

[It's kind of weird to be asking Radley to go through his things, but he can't exactly drop Baby now. He's pretty sure the toy is where he thinks it is, so hopefully he won't have to ask him to go through everything.

Thankfully he's remembered correctly, and Radley should easily find the toy if he does open Min-Gi's bag. It looks very tough, and barely touched, as though he bought it especially to try and appease the Fuecoco.]

[crystalmaster]

Sure.

[Radley looks, and is relieved to find it quickly. He holds it out to Baby.]

You want your toy?

[outofsynth]

[Does she want her toy...? She seems uncertain, though her thrashing has changed to something more calculated. She seems to be trying to act more like she's out of control rather than actually being that wild now.]

We got it just for you. Remember?

[That does get her to pause. She stops and looks at Radley with an intense square, then leans in. When she snaps her jaw shut around the toy it's a a powerful and deliberate. She's definitely making sure not to unintentionally get Radley, but it's still kind of scary how strong her bite is.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley flinches and jerks his hand back.]

Wow.

[Scary indeed.

He watches her to see if she really calms down now. Evie peeks up too.]

[outofsynth]

[It's clearly not as satisfying as being allowed to chow down on a tasty snack, and she does still seem to be considering whether she should kick off again, but for now at least she hangs limply as she chomps languidly at the toy.]

Yeah. Lucky she's friendly, huh?

[crystalmaster]

It sure is. I'd hate to meet a nasty one somewhere.

[He supposes there are some, but he would like to blissfully hope they're all nice.]

[outofsynth]

They're supposed to be a common starter type for this region, so I think most of them are probably okay.

[They have their quirks, but most of them must be handleable enough for kids. Or at least he hopes so.]

[crystalmaster]

That's a good point. Yeah, it wouldn't do if they were potentially really dangerous.

[Although he imagines any Pokemon could be dangerous if they didn't control themselves well.]