PETAL GYM OFFICIAL OPENING! VIDEO + ACTION

[seacub]

[VIDEO]

[It's the first Monday of the week, and the time has finally come. The video opens to a picture-perfect framing of the Petal Gym in New Bark Town, fold out tables and chairs set out with celebratory signs and foods.

Emporio himself is grinning to the camera- dressed like some kind of poke-fan as always, though a hoodie and cargo bringing Dragonite to mind might be more casual than his typical- and once they're on-air, he waves.]

Good morning everyone! I'll have a text version of this post up so that no one misses the important part, but the Petal Gym is officially open for business- and that means, so is the Trainer Outpost!

[The actual Dragonite behind him pops a horn of confetti, while the teenager just grins.] We'll be open at all hours, with rotating staff- which means challenges can be placed at any time; but before any of that, what matters is what this gym will be doing alongside challenges.

Like I said, this is an outpost- we'll be providing tents, MREs, and weather-related clothes for any trainers setting out from here going forward. And, even more importantly, there's going to be lessons for those trainers and anyone else interested, so that everyone can be ready to camp on the trails ahead.

For now though... [That grin is back.] ...For now, for this entire first week, we're going to be celebrating! Courses and challenges are running naturally, but we've got party stuff going on while the week goes on- just little things, but we thought it'd be fun!

[ACTION]

[As promised, there's a whole bunch of little party stuff to enjoy in front of the new gym- small things like quizzes to test your wilderness safety knowledge, or chances to try out the food rations stocked in the place- or enjoy a round of pin the tail on the mudbray- but for the most part, it's all stuff themed around the Gym.

And speaking of the Gym of course, lessons are being held right out the gates with hired Rangers and Ace Trainers, with current courses focused on the snowy weather once again. There's the occasional caving run of course, but for now, it's a winter wonderland- but it's a great excuse to try out a tent with a fireplace inside, isn't it?

Of course, plenty might not be there for the lessons- challenges made will be challenges taken, and whenever one is placed, Emporio makes sure to situate himself at the end of the course with just enough time to spare.

Come at him, everyone!]

Comments

Action!

[loopsiedaisy]

[Look who made it to check out the gym!]

[And has been roped into one of those wilderness safety quizzes - the one about identifying which foraged flora is safe to eat. Which you'd think would be tricky, with Loop's colorblindness... but you can't miss something that you never had! They manage alright, as long as they're going off the actual thing and not a photo or description.]

[Currently, they're tossing an Oran Berry just above their hand and musing aloud:] Does it count if it's technically safe to eat, but you'll regret it?

[They don't seem to have any Pokemon out, but that's actually because all five have dispersed to look at the other attractions.]

[seacub]

[Well hello hello look who it is!

Emporio manages to come walking along right as that question meets the air, and he has a bit of a wry smile on his face.]

Given that you don't really get any nutrients from it...that one's a no, [he says, muffling a chuckle behind his hand.]

It's a good question though at least!

[loopsiedaisy]

[Loop starts slightly, then relaxes as they recognize Emporio.]

Maybe everyone should try one anyway, at least once.

Forever after, if you have to pack some really bland rations, at least you'll be able to tell yourself, "Oran't you glad you're not eating another of those berries?"

[seacub]

I can tell you having eaten one, it really does just taste like wax and do nothing.

[Sometimes, you just have to try the berry. It's true.] Though I do wonder what makes them different in other countries, because apparently you Can eat Galarian oran berries...

[Which is so weird to him??]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Loop may or may not be very familiar with the experience. Possibly. They have absolutely no comment on the things they tried to eat in their first couple of weeks here.]

I'm assuming those ones don't taste like candles?

shout out to galar for lettin us cook with berriessssss

[seacub]

Nope. They taste more like oranges, apparently. Or, well...they're described as a fruit that 'lacks sweetness', so maybe it's closer to a grapefruit?

The descriptions I got led me to believe it's some kind of citrus, at least.

craving grapefruit now ;__;

[loopsiedaisy]

Maybe it's something that just looks similar? There's a name for it, when things in different places end up alike...

[If they ever heard it, they don't remember now. They bet Odile or Isabeau would know, though.]

[...hm. Let's think about something else.]

[The drop the Oran Berry back on the table for the next person and move on to... a mushroom? The spots aren't as clear in grayscale, but if they look close enough they can still pick them out.]

Isn't this the kind that collectors get excited over?

[There is a doubtful tone to their voice when they say "collectors." Sure, yeah! That's definitely what you're doing with these mushrooms.]

Action

[phoenixwiz]

(He is looking forward to see the Petal Gym’s opening day and check out the facilities in there. So he had undertaken a journey from Blackthorn City where he had stayed in temporarily after the Swniub Scurry race, riding on Bonn the Cyclizar and eager to come over to New Bark Town.

After a few days of travel, Harry had managed to arrive at the gym and he gets off Bonn’s back before proceeding to check out the activities being offered in the gym. Bonn meanwhile is more interested in the food rations, sniffing at them in peak curiosity that it makes Harry giggle at the sight of his Cyclizar wanting to try out some of the food.)

My, my Bonn. You sure want to see what these things taste like, don’t you?

Cyc! Cyclizar, Zar!

[seacub]

Hehehe, first time seeing an MRE?

[Emporio grins- and after winking to the Cyclizar, waves at Harry.] Hey!

Glad you could make it- you want to try some too?

[phoenixwiz]

Cyc!

(Bonn eagerly nods in response as he attempts to eat some of the food rations. Harry hasn’t seen any of these before when he, Hermione and Ron went on the run in his world so he could also consider trying them as well.)

Hi there. It is a great timing that me and Bonn are able to come over here since we arrived from Blackthorn. I don’t think that neither he or I have seen these before so perhaps we can try some right now. Although it appears that Bonn seems to be more excited about them than I do.

[seacub]

I'll have to make sure they're pokemon safe in that case...are you going to be doing a lot of camping in the next bit Harry?

[phoenixwiz]

Well considering my current housing situation, I might be doing more camping for a little while, Emporio. Ever since the compound of Hermione’s travel companions became very empty of residents over time, it can feel lonely at times and I might be looking for a new place to live in as the result.

btw if harry would want to do this, I did check with jotaro's player in advance and she's willing!

[seacub]

Oh, huh.

[He actually didn't realize the nomadic life was because of something like that. Rough.] I didn't know it was like that...

...Are you looking for someone to travel with at all then? I'll still be going around occasionally, but I can't really afford to go too far from New Bark now that the gym's newly opened. But...

...Well, I know Dr. Kujo at least could use some company while he's travelling. It could be neat too, he was a marine biologist back home.

Video

[senorita_perfecta]

Wow, congratulations on the Gym opening! I think that it will be a great opportunity to hone one’s wilderness survival skills while also hosting Gym challenges.

Maybe one day I could come over and take some lessons.

[seacub]

Thanks!

You'd be more than welcome- actually if you want to try any caving courses, I might recommend signing up now even...we can only host those in just the right conditions, so they're kind of an 'on call' deal.

[senorita_perfecta]

A caving course? Nice! That sounds like a lot of fun to do. I never went caving before even in my world so I might sign up for one right away.

[seacub]

Yep- there's a lot of caves in Johto and Kanto, so it didn't feel right to not include. The issue is just that we're entering the rainy season; it's going to get really wet, so we can't keep the caves open all the time.

[senorita_perfecta]

Oh right, that is very sad to hear. But at the same time, it is for the best not to pursue it during this kind of weather.

I too don’t want to risk my life trying to climb my way around caves in the middle of the rain.

[seacub]

Hahahhhh, especially since we don't really have any flooded caves like that...or at least not in the sense that they'd be slick. The cave in the course is synthetically made, so it kind of floods if you're not careful...

video;

[outofsynth]

That's a good idea. It can be tough for trainers starting out.

[Says the guy who's only even set foot in New Bark because of weird weekend shenanigans. But look. He's seen plenty of trainers run into trouble on arrival, and he remembers worrying for Ryan in the days before they'd been able to meet up.]

[seacub]

Thanks! That thought was kind of what started the whole thing actually...Hermana, Dr. Kujo...both of them arrived in the middle of winter, and it was only luck that got them something for winter in their bags- and they still didn't have tents.

I'm hoping that this way...that can change.

[outofsynth]

Ryan got here in winter too, but I bet it's hard when the weather's hot too. It's good there'll be something there year round now.

[seacub]

Ough, yeah...It definitely gets hotter here than a lot of countries, so we focus on that during the summer...

That and water safety, it's easiest to manage the two together- otherwise I'd have to somehow balance waters that were always stormy instead of sometimes stormy....

[Not really ideal for starting people out on swimming, whooof.]

[outofsynth]

Yeah, that's kind of different here to back home too. Especially since it's kinda normal for people to cross oceans on Pokémon it can look a lot safer than it is.

[seacub]

Deceptively safe too...honestly I think if the wildlife wasn't so friendly, this would be something people thought of earlier...

...but maybe that's me being optimistic..?

[Where would they be without water pokemon prone to saving people...]