bottlecaplogs | APRIL CATCH-ALL

[ He looks up at Ingo curiously, staring probably a bit longer than what might be considered polite. ]

Really? All on its own? How potent... [ He taps his snout with his paw, looking back at the berry in question. ] Baking doesn't mess with its effects at all, does it? Might be useful to take on expeditions, as prepped food and medicine.

Baking does not! Drying them does, though I do tend to carry some dry ones when I am home nonetheless. They are less potent that way, but they keep much better and will still do in a pinch!

[Here, he's not carrying much at all. No hands, no pockets, and the pack he bought is uncomfortable to wear at all times.]

There are other berries for other status effects, or just for healing! And some rarer ones that are extremely specific!

That does make sense, but seems like a fair tradeoff for portability. [ The vendor offers him a small sample, which he happily obliges. ] Ah, s-sweet! Not at all like the herbs back home... I bet it'd make a nice compote.

[ He might need seconds, but he'll wait for now. ] I've noticed berries seem to be popular, but I didn't realize how different they all are! What others have you tried?

A few! Oran is a very standard type of berry! It is small, round, and blue, and it will heal a small amount. Sitrus berries are better for healing, but quite tart! Not precisely to my taste, though they can be good when combined with other ingredients! I have had those both as a human and a Pokemon, but my tastes seem to have remained the same...that's a bit curious, isn't it? In any case, Cheri berries are also quite useful! They can cure paralysis!

[He can and will just keep talking about berries.]

[ He's back to staring, mesmerized yet trying desperately to keep it all to memory. If only he could write this all down! ]

Sitrus, oran... Oh, like the guild! I think I had a few at the clinic, too. Reminded me of blueberries, but the flavor was pretty unique. [ Definitely not as sweet as a Pecha berry, but not exactly bad, either. Another note for his mental journal. ] I'll have to be on the lookout for Cheri berries next. Just in case.

[ He smiles sheepishly. Luckily, no one's been paralyzed by him yet. ] I've been trying to see if I can taste any differences myself. But, you've tried these before, as a human? So that means, where you come from... [ His eyes go a little wide. ] Is it a lot like here? With Pokémon, too?

It is! Pokemon simply live in the wild there, not in their own villages like this! Unless we simply do not know about the villages, but probably not.

[Someone would notice, right? Certainly at least Emmet ought to know; his world's had more time to discover things.]

I am what is called a Pokemon trainer! It means I have Pokemon as companions, and I train and command them in sporting battle! And serious battle, as necessary.

Huh. Then even to you, this place is unique. I wonder... [ Laios doesn't get too deep into that thought, though. ]

Wait, really? You raise them—to fight for you? [ He had known some Pokemon were domesticated as pets and working animals, but this was a bit more than expected. ] I've seen some humans control monsters where I'm from, but it's still hard for me to imagine. Wouldn't battling be dangerous? I mean, here it's one thing, but when there's humans around...

Well, one does not do it in the middle of the town streets! At least, not ideally. In Jubilife Village - the largest settlement near where I live - there is land set aside and fenced off for a dojo. That is where I do my battle challenges!

Jubilife Village... [ He's aware of Alola and Galar at this point, but he has to wonder how big this other world of Pokémon could be. ]

I still can't believe it. A whole area just for Pokémon battles! It must be amazing to see how strong they are after training. [ He pauses, beaming up at Ingo. ] I bet being one can give you an even better appreciation of them, too.

I hope so! I have never trained with a Typhlosion in particular - that is what I am now - but there is still plenty to learn! Though I would not call myself an especially skilled battler just yet! I am still learning to use all of my moves!

[And also like. Move at speed.]

Oh! [ Typhlosion. Interesting name for a badger-like creature. He huffs lightheartedly. ] I guess this place wouldn't make it that easy for you, but learning is the best part anyway.

At least you have the advantage of familiarity. I'm still trying to distinguish what types Pokémon can be. Funny how some of them are a lot more obvious than others. I'm sure that'll come with more battling experience too, though.

I am certain that it will! You can often determine such things most easily via a battle - you can observe both what types of moves the new Pokemon uses, and also how they are affected by your own Pokemon's moves! Or, rather, your own moves, I suppose. Then, of course, there are simply some common visual patterns...for example, I have not seen your species before, but you strike me as an electric type!

[Yellow, fast, vaguely lightning-y. That's probably one of the more obvious ones, of course.]

Of course, it is more difficult to tell with me, at least like this.

Moves do make it a lot easier to recognize most of the time! Taking account of the whole spread of advantages and weaknesses, of course.

[ His tail wags at the correct guess. ] That's right! I'm a Boltund. They're popular for working with livestock, but with how fast I am, I can imagine they'd be good for hunting small game, too. [ Oh, he's reveling in having trivia for Pokémon now. ] They're from Galar, but I take it Jubilife Village must be far from there?

And actually, I was trying to figure out which you might be. Oh, but let me try... [ He looks Ingo up and down. Remarkably mammalian, with a darker fur pattern. ] Dark, possibly? Hm. [ It doesn't feel quite right. He moves on from sight to smell, closing his eyes to focus and find... a subtle scent of fuel! At least it seems like. ] I almost want to say fire, but you're a lot different looking than others I've seen. Even your scent isn't too strong.

Ah! Yes, quite far indeed! Though I have a friend who traveled there from Galar - I think he has mentioned the species, actually!

[Ingo knows a fair amount of Galar trivia, considering that he spent a while thinking that he might have come from there.]

Bravo! I am a fire and ghost type! Ghost and dark do often share rather similar aesthetics, and both that and the fire typing are far more visible when I am in battle!

[He ignites his collar, not as fully as he might if he were in a real battle but certainly enough to be visible.]

[ His eyes light up at getting the answer partially right, but it's nothing compared to the look on his face when he sees Ingo's collar ignite. ]

That's why you had the right scent! Your flames look different than others I've seen, too. Dual-types express their abilities just a bit differently, then. [ He tilts his head a little in thought. ] I'm still wrapping my head around ghosts, though. Some look undead, but others... not exactly. [ Case in point, Ingo! ]

Indeed! Usually, ghosts who are not particularly...hm, phantasmal have another type as well...though that is certainly not to say that a dual-typed ghost could not be that way! There are really very few hard-and-fast rules like that, when it comes to Pokemon forms and typings!

Phantasmal. That's a good way to put it. I'll have to remember all of this.

Adopting ghost traits without actually being ghosts... Pokémon really are unique creatures. Dual-typings must lead to a lot of interesting combinations. Even opposite types aren't exactly off the table, then?

They're not! It's not the most common, but it certainly happens! There are grass-and-water Pokemon, and ghost-and-dark - that sort of thing! Emmet, my brother, is a ghost-and-normal type! It's a particularly interesting combination, ghost types are usually completely immune to all normal-type moves, and vice versa!

That is interesting! Almost like a special kind of adaptation to their weaknesses, with extra resistances, too. That kind of coverage would be perfect for battling... [ His eyes are practically sparkling at the idea. A boy can certainly dream.]

What Pokémon is he? Are they rare where you're from?

It is very strong defensively! He is only extra vulnerable to dark-type moves, outside of certain very specific conditions! There are fighting-types that learn a move which allows them to strike ghosts, but they must use that successfully first, and Emmet's quite fast! He could get in some good hits while they set up!

[Of course it can be a viable strategy anyway in the right conditions - but it's complex! That's what makes it fun!]

[ Strategy too? Oh, now they're talking. ] That's right! Types are one thing, but moves can be just as unique. Enough to give even a fighting-type a chance... maybe if one coupled that move with a speed boost of some sort. That might give your brother some trouble, don't you think? [ Hypothetically of course.]

It certainly could! He cannot take many hits - or, well, his species typically cannot! I have not seen him in such a serious fight since we got here.

[Serious in tone, certainly, but the Swoobat didn't come that close to knocking Emmet out!]

There are also some Pokemon that have special abilities that can allow them to strike a ghost! In battle, things are rarely entirely clean-cut - there are always strategies one can employ to counter even significant advantages!

Hmm. Their speed works as their defense. That does make sense, but I wonder... [ He glances over at the vendor's assortment of berries again. ] There isn't a berry to help with that, is there? I know most can help with recovery, but it would be nice to get a boost.

—oh, and that's right! Abilities, too! So much to keep track of, and all during a battle... [ The admiration keeps growing. He can only imagine how cool Ingo must've looked with his whole Pokémon team. ] Do you know what ability you have...?

[ Laios trails off, realizing he hasn't gotten Ingo's name quite yet. The horror! ]

There are berries that can affect things like that, yes! Though they typically only work when consumed in a pinch, and they're rather rare! There are also some that weaken certain specific types of damage, but only when it is super-effective!

[Ingo. Does not pick up on this! He'll be mortified when he realizes his own failure to introduce himself, but just now he's too interested in the conversation.]

Ah, well - it is a bit difficult to test, considering, but Emmet believes - and I agree - that it is most likely Blaze! It means that my flames will burn hotter when I am hurt!

Berry farming must be quite the science with all these varieties. [ They're almost as interesting to him as Pokémon at this point, which is a little surprising. ] I've noticed abilities are little trickier to pin down... but that's incredibly useful! It'll help in a pinch during a dangerous situation. How cool...

[ A pause. ] N-not that I hope you have to use it anytime soon or anything! Just that it's a cool ability to maybe have!

APRIL CATCH-ALL

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