[video]

[harlequinhater]

[The video starts off with John just trying to make sure his pokegear camera is working, showing a blurry view of a Cianwood beach, which is still scattered with various bits of debris from a storm. Soon enough the camera is turned onto John, however, whose skin looks several shades darker than it did when he was back at the moon prom. Somebody's been doing some work out in the sun.]

Hey, guys! John here. I've been stuck on this island for a while, and I've been trying to help clean things up from the storm. Things are kind of rough here. But that's not the point. What is the point is... this!

[The camera wheels back around to show a Nidorino. John is standing a safe distance away, which is probably a good thing, since the Pokemon has the barbs on its back bristled, like its ready to strike.]

Snik was always kind of temperamental as a baby, but now he's big and I am kind of worried about getting too close to him now that those poison spines are even bigger. Does anybody have advice on what to do?

[The camera's back on his face again.]

Also, if any of you are near Cian Wood, hit me up! The people here need help, and there's only so much I can do on my own.

Comments

Video

[bent_the_world]

Wow, that does not look like a happy Pokemon! Maybe try food?

Video

[harlequinhater]

You know, that's not a bad idea!

[John starts rummaging around in his bag before he suddenly pauses.]

...But what if it decides to charge me because I'm holding food?

Video

[bent_the_world]

Put the food down.

Slowly.

[video]

[captainash]

...Think they sell some nice medieval armor around here? That could stop a few poison barbs. Probably.

[You know, he's not actually sure of that. At all.]

[video]

[harlequinhater]

Well for one, I would prefer it if I could get my Pokemon to not attack me at all in the first place.

And two, I do not think I could afford medieval armor even if I could find it!

[video]

[captainash]

Believe me, sometimes that's asking for too much, and all you can do is mitigate the damage. As for money, I'm guessing this means you have not yet accepted the Glorious Meowth in your life?

[Video]

[callbacks]

I hear winning badges is supposed to impress the ornery ones.

...But maybe. I dunno. Invest in some Antidote, just in case?

[Video]

[harlequinhater]

I had been training Snik so that I could win badges in the first place. How am I supposed to win a badge when one third of my Pokemon team is out to poison me? This is bullshit!

And don't worry, I've already got a lot of antidotes from when he was a baby.

[Video]

[callbacks]

Huh. Is there anyone else on your team that's close to his level? 'Cause I mean, Wart and Streex have this thing going on that helped me out since Streex doesn't give a fuck about listening to me at all.

[video]

[topiaries]

You could try playing music for him.

[video]

[harlequinhater]

With what? I don't see a piano out here, do you?

[video] back from vacation!

[topiaries]

Can you sing?

text

[donoteat]

[What a scary looking Pokemon... Yachi's glad she hasn't run into this problem herself yet, or she'd come panicking to the masses here too.

Your Nidorino, maybe you could find something to cap the spines with? Like how they make soft nail caps for cats whose owners are afraid of scratching.

text

[harlequinhater]

that's a really good idea, actually!
though... i don't know how i would get close enough to put those on.
or where i could buy them.

text

[donoteat]

When I used to be scared of my Totodile, I'd approach him while he's asleep. Animals can sense fear, so it's better if both of you are calm.

As for where to get caps..... Maybe if you have extra cloth to wrap around the spines? Though it'll be hard to battle... and it might get hot... and Nidorino might get even angrier...

video;

[brocrux]

Assert dominance.

video;

[harlequinhater]

Exactly how do I assert dominance against a giant purple poison machine?

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[quadrangle]

SPEAK GENTLY TO HIM. MAKE SURE HE KNOWS YOU'RE NOT A THREAT. HAVING FOOD WILL HELP, BUT YOU NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR FIRST THAT YOU MEAN HIM NO HARM.
DO YOU KNOW WHY HE'S IN A BAD MOOD?

text

[harlequinhater]

i don't know!
he just evolved and now he is acting like this.
i mean, as a little poison bunny, he was always getting into trouble and stuff, but since he was so small it wasn't really a problem.
now it is a big problem.
i think he might be trying to troll me, but it's a lot more dangerous and scary when he's so big.

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

[Here's... someone you might not recognize, John, if you two haven't talked in person at least. But that ID number may look familiar.]

You have that kind of Pokemon too, uh... John?

[Hasn't really clicked yet.]

[Video]

[harlequinhater]

[John is sometimes oblivious even under good circumstances, and being stared down by an angry Pokemon is far from "good" circumstances. He totally doesn't connect the fact that he's spoken to this person before.]

Yeah! If you have one too, do you know how to handle it? Because, uh, I'm obviously having some problems here.

[Video]

[in4apounding]

Aw, how cute! He finally evolved!

[Did she not hear anything else in that broadcast? Maybe.]

[Video]

[harlequinhater]

"Cute" is not the word I'd use here, Penny.

[More like "god help me I'm going to die if somebody doesn't give me good advice."]

[eclectictype]

Whenever your Swablu evolves into an Altaria, it can sing a nice and soothing song to your Nidorino! You can also try changing your radio station to something relaxing, I think they have stations like that specifically for Pokemon.

You can also try putting hats on him!

[harlequinhater]

While I am sure that Snik would look hilarious in a hat, I do not think that is the solution to him trying to kill me to death.

The radio station sounds like a good idea, though! Do you think the stations are still working with the storm and everything?