March - April Test Drive

[indigo_league]

➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

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OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
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Comments

Hubert von Vestra | Fire Emblem | ota

[pegasinister]

Video; Outside New Bark Town

[The camera is set up to show a very tall, thin and darkly dressed man a few meters away, with a female Murkrow on his shoulder. He has a long length of twine with something shiny tied to the end: close inspection shows it to be a polished spoon. He starts swinging the twine and spoon over his head, getting some decent momentum going, before letting it go. He gives a sharp whistle, signaling the Murkrow to give chase. She snatches it out if the air easily, dropping it in his hand when he makes a different whistled command. This continues a few more times, each throw a different distance and height, the man even yanking the twine back once to force a sudden change of direction. Those that can understand Pokemon will be able to tell that Murkrow is loving this. Those that come from Fodlan will be able to recognize the whistles as pegasus training calls.

The man, Hubert, starts walking back to the gear, wrapping up the twine and talking as he goes]

Fasinating creatures. Their ability to understand and learn commands goes beyond any beast I've ever encountered before.

[he reaches his pack and puts the twine away, the spoon still in hand. He holds it up for the pokemon, but while she stares at it VERY intently she makes no move to snatch it]

Though I'm curious on how much of that is innate and how much is the machine they come in. I'm not interested in brainwashed loyalty.

[Murkrow makes an annoyed 'krrrr' sound at that, and Hubert turns to look at her. They stare down for a moment until Hubert appears to see something he approves of and nods]

Release.

[ and instantly she snatches the spoon, happily clacking it around in her beak as Hubert switches off the broadcast, seemingly satisfied]

[nellacerniera]

[It's a fascinating video to watch, honestly, Bucciarati can't really look away until Hubert's finished.]

I think it's innate to some degree--I've heard they can get rather unruly if you can't command their respect.

[There's a Slowpoke and a male Nidoran at each of Bucciarati's sides when he responds, and while the Nidoran seems rather focused on the video... well. The Slowpoke is staring off into space, as Slowpokes are wont to do.]

[pegasinister]

Not much different from any man or beast then.

[He'll rub Murkrow's little hat-feathers]

[nellacerniera]

Just so. And I think much like men or beasts, it'll vary from Pokémon to Pokémon.

[A Slowpoke can certainly learn and carry out commands, but those being the way they are makes the whole process a bit of a pain, Bucciarati's found.]

Your handling of that Murkrow is impressive, by the way.

[pegasinister]

Thank you. Those two creatures, have you had any luck working with them?

[he doesn't SAY the Slowpoke looks to stupid but...]

Well who's this tall glass of ten straight espresso shots, no sugar

[vrdantwind]

[Well, this is a complicated series of emotions for Claude to speedrun through. He doesn't exactly have the luxury of taking his time, because Dimitri's mental state has improved immeasurably since they first arrived but he's honestly not at all sure how it'll respond to the appearance of Edelgard's most loyal hound, so he'd really better get ahead of this first.

First, there's a sort of amused pleasure. Back in Garreg Mach, Claude had always rather enjoyed Hubert - more specifically, he'd always rather enjoyed aggravating Hubert. The guy just takes himself way too seriously, and it's so easy to needle somebody like that in countless entertaining ways. It didn't hurt that Hubert was smart - Claude's always believed that he, Hubert, and Sylvain were the most intelligent members of their respective houses, even if Sylvain usually tried to hide it. So Hubert had it in him to be a challenge for Claude, too, when Claude wasn't catching him off-guard, and that's always way more fun than going into a battle of wits against an unarmed opponent.

Of course, then there's also the bitterness and regret from the war, from their having become enemies. It's a little deeper with Hubert and Edelgard than with anyone else, too, because...well, thanks to Lorenz, Claude knows a lot more about Edelgard's terrible choices in allies than he did only a few weeks ago. And while other people in the Imperial army might have had no say in who their allies were...Claude feels that Edelgard and Hubert certainly must have. (Of course, Hubert would probably sit up on his haunches and beg if Edelgard asked him to, so if Edelgard decided to work with those shadowy figures in the dark Claude doubts Hubert would have questioned her judgment...but what's the point of being someone's retainer if you don't help steer them away from terrible ideas?)

And, finally, the deep concern. Whatever might have been in the past, Claude has no idea how things are going to go here. They'd been at war back home, after all. Claude may have no serious issues with setting that aside here, where the conflicts of home don't mean much and can't be affected by anything they do, but Hubert might think very differently. And that's setting aside all the potential for conflict with...well, just about everyone else from home. Dimitri might be the biggest concern, but he's far from the only one.

...oh, boy, and then there's all Claude's secrets that he's no longer playing so close to his chest anymore. Is that stuff going to get back to Hubert somehow? And just what will happen if it does? There's way too many possible variables in play here all of a sudden, all because of one pale nerd.

Well...nothing to do but sound Hubert out, he supposes. Test the waters. What's the worst Hubert can do? Make sinister allusions at him? Again? He turns his video on.]

Hey, Hubert, long time no see! [He speaks as cheerfully as if absolutely none of the complex mental calculations he's been doing have been happening at all, and in fact he hasn't even considered Hubert might be anything but happy to see an old classmate.] Interesting training technique. Especially for a guy, come to that. Don't pegasi generally refuse to have anything to do with men? I don't know what you'd need with their training calls...

[pegasinister]

[When Hubert sees Claude on the screen his viable eye widens just the tiniest bit. So little of a reaction most people wouldn't notice it- but a reaction none the less. Surprise... but not the level that would suggest seeing a dead man.]

That is largely superstition. Pegasi find the smell of men distasteful but it can be trained out of them if started young enough. How else could they stand fighting alongside men in battle? The effort is rarely worth the cost when wyvern are an easier option, so tradition maintains.

...

I didn't expect to see you again, Claude von Riegan.

[vrdantwind]

[It's a tiny reaction, but Claude is going out of his way to gauge Hubert's reaction to him here, and he's highly observant in any case. He notes the surprise, and wonders at it a little. It might just be seeing a familiar face in this world, of course...but at the same time, Claude doubts it. Hubert isn't fumbling with the new technology that the Gear comprises; he seems to have gained some sort of understanding of pokéballs already; he's already in the midst of training his starter, and has a grasp of its capabilities and intelligence. In other words, Hubert took the time to orient himself to this world, probably did some research and reconnaissance. And even if no one had mentioned people just randomly turn up here to him in all that, surely Hubert's own arrival would suggest to him that it might happen to other people...so why the shock?

He sets it aside for now; not enough data, and gods know asking Hubert for insight will almost certainly get him stonewalled. He'll just keep his eyes peeled for further hints.] Okay, so maybe a very carefully trained pegasi could stand having a male rider. But are you asking me to believe that rider would be you? No offense, but that doesn't really seem to fit your style. [His eyes are glittering with amusement. Honestly, the thought of Lord Grimdark himself, Hubert the sinister, sitting on top of a pretty white pegasus is a source of entertainment all on its own.] Oh, but let me guess - you'd make sure to get one of the rare black ones, right?

[He tilts his head at Hubert's remark.] Oh? Don't tell me you missed me once I left. [Because, of course, for Claude, that's what had happened. He'd handed the Alliance over to Dimitri and headed back to Almyra. Naturally news would have reached Edelgard and Hubert sooner or later.]

Re: Hubert von Vestra | Fire Emblem | ota

[cometkin]

[The man peering back at him through the screen is older, bearded, and balding.]

No, man, it's not like that. Pokemon do things when you've made friends with them. That's all.

[pegasinister]

Is that so... I haven't made any particular efforts to befriend this bird.

[Said as he casually strokes her sternum with a finger, making her fluff up happily]

I'm so sorry for him slkdjfgdfg I love Hubert

[bestswordmaster]

[Oh, shit.

That is Felix's first thought upon seeing Hubert von fucking Vestra on the Gear screen, and he immediately drops whatever he's doing to go find Dimitri. Just to make sure he's not already yelling about murdering anyone. And tell Gremlin not to let him use the network for at least a few hours. Or days. Or ever again.

That done, he replies to the message. He can't not. Of all the damned Imperials who could show up here, it had to be Hubert. Edelgard at least is someone worthy of respect, but Hubert? Ugh.]

Well, if it isn't the emperor's lapdog. Not interested in brainwashed loyalty, huh? Why, does it remind you too much of yourself?

[pegasinister]

[Thankfully Claude's comments about who they know here being largely Kingdom melee combatants... well it would be weird if Felix WASN'T among them. So he's not surprised. Unhappy, but not surprised]

If you think for even a moment that my loyalty is anything but my own choice you truly are delusional. As I should expect, considering your king.

[bestswordmaster]

Choosing to obey blindly is worse. And you'll keep your trap shut about my king unless you want to lose your tongue, you disgusting snake.

[Felix knows things were more complicated than any of them thought, from everything Lorenz told them. He knows Edelgard and Hubert were planning to betray those sick, twisted people pulling the strings. But while they were busy planning and having good intentions, the Kingdom almost fell, and they almost lost Dimitri for good. And the despicable witch who took Fhirdiad and held it in an iron grip was under Edelgard's command, as far as Felix knows. And even if she wasn't, he highly doubts Hubert gave a single shit about what was happening in Faerghus.]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[Oh wow, that's some impressive bird handling. Maybe this...rather gaunt fellow has experience with such things back home? Either way, it's quite intriguing to watch.]

Oh, do you mean the Pokeballs? No, they tend to be more...hm. They're sort of like...storage? And a little restful place they can stay? But also a way to keep other people from stealing them...Pokemon decide on their own whether or not they'll listen to someone regardless of who's holding their ball.

[pegasinister]

I see... I suppose this 'murkrow' is just naturally obedient.

[cyan_maid]

I think it also helps that you're using something shiny to attract its attention. It's essentially a crow, and crows like shiny things.

[Very basic, but even Jane knows that.]

That, and you seem to know what you're doing, and it probably senses that.

◇ video @dragon.type ◇

[fatefulprince]

[ _{Corrin was awestruck with the spoon trick, but ... the 'brainwashed loyalty' comment? Wow - what a thing to say about these lovely creatures! He takes a teensy eensy bit of offence to it and just assumes that the black haired man had a very different background to what this place entails.} ]

Well ... as far as I know, the devices that capture them have nothing to do with their loyalty to you. [ _{An Altaria appears behind the prince and cushions himself on Corrin's head to curiously watch the feed as well - which makes him burst out a fond laugh.} ]

Ehe-! And their friendship is as organic as you would expect. All it takes is a little bit of kindness.

[pegasinister]

I see. Then not so different from any domesticated animal.

[fatefulprince]

Heh. I don't know about you, but I've never met a domesticated animal who could use magic. [ _{Corrin has been here for a little while and now, and yet ... he still equates Pokémon moves to those akin to tomes. How can a thunderbolt attack not resemble a lightning magic attack from a spell book?} ]

In my home kingdom, you usually have to rely on tomes to use magic. These creatures can do the very same thing without one. Like - using a thunder attack. Or an attack which summons the likes of water or fire. But even though my world was torn apart by war, these guys ... really seem to like fighting one another. Strange, isn't it?

[video] @CheckTheSyllabus

[perfectteatime]

[ Ahh, and here is the professor. Blank and unreadable as ever. ]

Hello, Hubert.

1/2

[pegasinister]

Ah, hello Professor.

[Said with a tinge of... warmth? Likely something humanizing Byleth has never heard from Hubert. He also sounds... relieved?]

[pegasinister]

[Only for him to remember what Claude said. That there are no Imperials here. He has no allies. So that means-

-that bit of emotion cuts off suddenly as Hubert eyes Byleth with suspicion, much more similar to his school days]

[perfectteatime]

[ The odd little measure of warmth is surprising- but ah. He probably had a Professor of his own... one that- ah. Hm. He doesn't actually like to think about that too much. Still, it's enough to give him pause and consider how he approaches this. ]

Are you... doing okay? This is a lot to take in at first. I'm probably not the Byleth you remember. That said, I'm like to leave any prior conflicts at home. This place is peaceful for the most part.

Many people from our world are here, some you may have conflict with, but I implore you to please consider setting differences aside and enjoying this place for what it is.

I- [ BOY THIS IS KINDA HARD ACTUALLY. ] I ask that you please let me know if I can help in any way.

Re: Hubert von Vestra | Fire Emblem | ota

[crystalmaster]

[Radley enjoys watching the video. Pokemon are such incredible creatures.]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. They're not brainwashed as far as I can tell. They all have different personalities, and they're just as intelligent in the wild, before you ever put them in a Pokeball. I always leave mine out anyway. I like the company and I don't feel right about cooping them up, you know? Although I'm told they don't mind.

[a_mind_electric]

[The teen who pops up on the video screen is... odd. She has a pallor about her, and a deep black scar across her face that seems to have turned one of her eyes red. Light swirls in and out behind her pupils.]

I've had a couple of mine approach other trainers to fight them, and they always listen to me just fine. I don't make 'em do anything they don't want to do. A brainwashed critter wouldn't show preferences, yeah?