[CLOSED] Play Nice

[truthdecided]

Who: Akechi, Ren, Ingo
What: Play Nice
Where: The woods bordering the outpost.
Warnings: Wacky shenanigans with a Pelipper

Though Akechi brought his Safety Goggles as a precaution, the wooded area marked on the map presents far less of a daunting atmosphere than the Northern Forest. Perhaps it's to be expected, as the area's been thoroughly scouted out thus far.

As they make their way forward, Akechi hovers above the tall grass, but stops when a curious pair of eyes peers back... and then promptly disappears with a rustle.

"Wait! If you have a moment—"

Nope. Too late. Grumbling, he lands momentarily and gazes at the others.

"We should remain alert, just in case. Given the dangers beyond the outpost, there's no guarantee we'll remain in safe conditions."

Comments

[colorsflyinghigh]

And Ren, much to his own chagrin, backs off. Much as he'd like to join the front lines, he's not allowed as much, and he's sure Akechi and Ingo would have some words if he tried...

Still, that doesn't stop him from whiffing a Bite so he's no longer a grass type, giving him, while not a resistance, a better chance against the flying type-moves from Pelipper. Protean activates and he feels a change as the dark type is bestowed on him.

Meanwhile, the Pelipper squawks as the Infernal Parade connects- and immediately manages to land a burn! Flames flicker around the bird, and it hisses in pain.

"Ohoho! Two can play at that game!"

It whips up a Tailwind of its own, upping its speed to match with theirs, and riding the newfound wind in its back, it shoots forward with a Wing Attack towards Akechi, though it's weakened by the burn.

[truthdecided]

Akechi tries his best to swerve out of the way, but the Pelipper's size proves more irritating than he'd hoped. The Wing Attack still grazes him, and while he flutters his wings to steady himself, he flashes a Scary Face to hinder the Pelipper's mobility.

"Clever, but you'll find I've plenty more tricks up my sleeve!"

[offtracks]

"Bravo, Akechi!" Ingo winces a little as the attack hits, but it's not too bad. Between the Rookidee's focus on status moves and the successful burn, Ingo's tracks are clear. He just launches off another Infernal Parade - it hits burnt foes harder, and it's a ghost-type move besides!

Perhaps he ought to hang back, considering his own water weakness...but letting Akechi hold the frontline himself feels too bad. Ingo remains where he is, simply bracing himself.

[colorsflyinghigh]

Ren stays back from the battle, but with a deep inhale, blows out a Leech Seed- but whiffs it due the distance.

The Pelipper, meanwhile, greatly slowed down by the Scary Face, is unable to avoid the Infernal Parade, crying out in pain as it capitalizes on its burn. It falters briefly in the air, but it's not done yet. Changing tactics, it screeches out a Supersonic towards Akechi in order to confuse him, before diving for Ingo with a Water Pulse, hoping to hit his weakness!

Ren watches the entire thing, before deciding to jump in with a Helping Hand, ready to help Ingo with his next move against the Pelipper!

[truthdecided]

The moment the Supersonic shoots Akechi's way, he swerves out of the way, feathers fluffed up at the ear-splitting sound. While Ren prioritizes empowering Ingo, Akechi's taken enough time to rely on status skills for now, instead beating his wings to launch an Air Slash with the intent to flinch their foe.

By some miracle, the Air Slash does flinch the Pelipper, giving Ingo an opening.

"Now, Ingo-san, while it's still disoriented!"

[offtracks]

Ingo sees the water attack coming, but he's not nimble enough to dodge. He simply braces to take it. The splash across his face and chest is sharp and stinging. It hurts! This isn't his first time taking a water-type move, and of course it has Pelipper's power behind it, but some part of him still has not stopped reeling at it. It takes so little for mere water to harm him now! And he is not even a full fire-type! How strange, to have one of the most basic elements of human life turn on him!

Existential musings or not, he's hardly down for the count. More power surges through him as Ren's Helping Hand takes effect, and more purple flames spill from his jaws towards the Pelipper.

[colorsflyinghigh]

The Pelipper, frozen from the flinch, is unable to retaliate against Ingo's boosted Infernal Parade. The purple flames engulf it, and it cries out in pain, hanging on for a few moments longer... before it plummets to the ground, with a thump. Ren tenses as a wing rises from the grass, but the bird's voice cuts through the tension.

"Alright, I give, I give!" it shouts, pushing itself upright with a chuckle. "I'll admit it, you guys know what you're doing. You don't see that kinda teamwork every day."

Ren closes in again now that the battle is over, shaking out his fur. "We did say so," he hums, somewhat teasing, and the Pelipper barks out a laugh.

"That you did! You really gave me a run for my money," it admits. "I'm impressed! Tell me, what are your names?"

"I'm Amamiya Ren, but just call me Ren," Ren introduces himself to the bird, who nods, then turns to the other two expectantly.

[truthdecided]

Oh, good. The fight's settling down. Heaving a small sigh, Akechi flutters down beside Ren and folds his wings at his sides. "Goro Akechi. Akechi will suffice."

That begs the question of how names work with Pokémon, really. Is every natural born Pokémon expected to use their species name, even when others of the same species exist? For now, he keeps these thoughts to himself, but it has crossed his mind once or twice.

[offtracks]

"My name is Ingo! It is excellent to make your acquaintance!" The naming schemes of Pokemon just make instinctual sense to Ingo; that's sort of how it was back home, after all! He just isn't close enough to any local Pokemon to call them by a personal name! "Now, if you will excuse me for a moment!"

The Typhlosion steps back from his companions a few paces, then shakes the excess moisture from his coat. Burning his flames low should help to evaporate the rest!

[colorsflyinghigh]

The Pelipper takes the names in with a few nods, holding its wing up to its chin (???). While Ren steps back as Ingo shakes out his coat, the Pelipper doesn't seem bothered.

"Ren, Akechi, and Ingo, then. I'll be sure to remember that," it says with a small smile. "You may call me Pelipper!"

And thus, the mystery of pokemon names continues to go unsolved. Alas.

"It's nice to meet you, Pelipper," Ren replies with a smile. "So, what do you say? You coming with us?"

"If all Pokemon back there are as interesting as you lot? I'd be an idiot not to." It perks up. "Show me the way to that Bottle Bay you came from!"

"Bottlecap Bay."

"That's what I said!"

[truthdecided]

"Close enough." Really, this bird seems so scatterbrained. What point is there in semantics? Instead, he turns toward whence they came, thankful to his wings. "Seeing as I'm the one equipped with wings, I suggest you follow me. We won't stray far from the others, of course, but surely you can keep track of me without getting too distracted."

"Yup, yup! You got it!"

Akechi is not entirely certain they've 'got it,' but he keeps such thoughts to himself.

"I suppose that's one mission accomplished, then. Well done."

[offtracks]

"Bravo!" Ingo agrees loudly. That was easy enough! It's a relief after how badly several of Ingo's more recent forest missions went. "I will keep my flames burning slightly, so that we are more visible on the ground!"

He didn't do this on their way out there. Akechi, he trusts to keep close. Pelipper? Unclear!