SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

[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!

✭ ✭ ✭


OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
NAVIGATION | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

Comments

Hunter | The Owl House

[cardinaldirections]

[A. Goldenrod City]

[It had been a while since Hunter had really been able to change his clothes. He'd gotten some when he'd first arrived, and those had been good enough to last him here, but he was ready for something- else. He'd gotten a good bit of money in his pocket just from training and battling, and he felt like there was something he was looking for-

Then he saw it. Stepping forward to a display of shirts, he reached up and grabbed the hanger, pulling the shirt down. A little chirrup sounded from his shoulder and he glanced to the Joltik there, holding the shirt, a stylistic Midnight Lycanroc against a blood moon, so the Pokemon could see.]

What do you think, Volt? [Sure, they couldn't communicate quite like he and Flapjack could, but he'd gotten good at interpreting the little clicks and squeaks and gestures of his assorted team members. And the little happy multi-eyed smile and waving of Volt's front claws spoke volumes.] Yeah. Me too.

[It was nice, actually getting to form his own style, even in a strange new world. Wonder what else was here?]


[B. Some route somewhere]

[Hunter didn't take being idle well. It wasn't even that it left time for his thoughts to wander- okay, it was, there was no denying that was a big part of that -but he also just wasn't used to that. He'd always been doing something, whether in the Boiling Isles or the human realm. But here? There was just a whole lot of nothing. Walk from town to town, maybe catch a Pokemon, maybe actually interact with someone else. Hit the town, explore a little bit, on to the next route. It was monotonous.

Today, on waking up, he'd been determined to actually DO something. Travelers passing by would see something of a strange sight: Hunter on one side of a small clearing, holding a thick, straight stick as tall as he was, and a Skorupi facing him on the other side. The Skorupi tensed, then fired off a few poison sting spikes, which Hunter deftly dodged or whacked aside. He smirked.]

C'mon. Is that the best you've got?

[Skorupi trilled something and shot a few more. Hunter dodged again, then ran forward and swung his improvised staff; this time it was Skorupi's time to dodge, leaping up and away. And on the two of them went, in this improvised training session.]


[C. Network]

[A somewhat bashful Hunter is going to address the network at large. He's in his camp, and there's- a small plume of smoke behind him?]

Trainers. I have a question. [Blunt and to the point, this one.] Is there... anyone good at cooking?

[Whatever resolve he'd pulled together to actually make the post dissolved a bit, as he rubbed the back of his neck and turned aside some. Ah. The plume of smoke is coming from the remains of a metal pot, which a western Shellos is still drowning in water to put it out.]

I tried cooking some of these- weird little green root plants. [He holds up the last remaining one, it's a large spring onion with the stalk still attached.] But I obviously failed. So I need... help. [Wow, the blush went right to his pointed eartips, didn't it?]

Thank you.

[And that's all.]


[D. Wildcard]

[Feel free to come up with something else, or to hit me up at zumidotexe to plot a specific one!]

Network

[soupguy]

Oh no, what a mess... But I think I can help.

Spring onions can be cooked a lot of ways. What were you trying to do?

[cardinaldirections]

Oh! Um. ...Cook them in the pan?

[HE DOESN'T KNOW THESE TERMS THIS IS WHY HE'S ASKING]

Just throwing stuff in a hot pan has worked before, more or less. It didn't work this time.

[soupguy]

[Oh that... That is almost physically painful for Boober to hear. He takes a deep breath before speaking.]

No, that... No. [A sigh.] Look, cooking isn't simple. Things need to be cooked at different heats, and for different amounts of time. You can't just throw things together at heat them, you have to think about how it all goes together.

[cardinaldirections]

Y-yeah, well-!

[He snapped, paused, then sighed and grumbled.]

I don't know all this stuff, okay?? I never had to learn before.

[soupguy]

[Boober isn't fazed by the snippy response, he just shakes his head.]

And that's fine, you have to start somewhere if you want to learn about it. But to learn, you'll have to listen, okay? Instead of getting defensive.

[cardinaldirections]

[The blush again. And do his ears droop a bit?]

...Sorry. I- No. Nevermind.

[A clearing, huff of a breath, and a nod.]

Alright. What do I need to do?

[soupguy]

[Boober hadn't really been expecting the other teen to cooperate. He smiles, pleased that someone wants to learn.]

The good news is that you can cook spring onions like that in a pan, but if I had to guess, I'd say you didn't use any cooking oil, so they burned. That or the fire was going too hot.

[cardinaldirections]

No, I had oil. I discovered pretty quickly stuff sticks without it. Must've been the fire...

How do I even control that, though?

[Meanwhile behind him, Shellos had finished their job, and was watching with amusement as Skorupi was busy scraping the charcoal out. They paused, then drew a line on Shellos' nose- and received a spurt of water to the face for their efforts.]

B

[outofsynth]

[Min-Gi doesn't pay the trainer up ahead that much attention at first. It's only when his Corvisquire he'd let out to stretch her wings decides to get herself in the way of the Poison Stings he starts to rush forward to catch up to her and the mischief she's got herself into this time. Thankfully she seems to have avoided getting hit by any, and flies herself over to Min to tuck herself into the safety of his shoulder.]

I'm so sorry. She doesn't think things through sometimes. I'm sorry if she got in the way.

[cardinaldirections]

[Hunter had been going for another block when movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention. Leaping back automatically, he brought the stick up for defense just as quickly- then paused, the battle-ready hardness in his eyes clearing to be replaced by surprise at another trainer and their Pokemon. He held his hand out to ease Skorupi back, and shook his head.]

No no-! It's okay. It was just an exercise anyway. [He eyed the bird, tracking her as she moved.] What kind of de- Pokemon is that, anyway?

[outofsynth]

[She peeks out, still interested in the other Pokémon and their partner despite the near miss.]

She's a Corvisquire. Her name's Red. I'm hoping she'll be able to be my flier when she evolves. They get a lot bigger.

[She's already too big to really be comfortable up on his shoulder, though she's not letting that stop her. She's got to make the most of it while she still can!]

[cardinaldirections]

Corvisquire. Huh.

[He continued watching her, while his Skorupi came up and crawled up his body until they got to his shoulder.]

I like the idea of our Pokemon helping us get around. I hadn't considered that before.

[He glanced at the bug, holding his arm up a bit.]

This is Venom. He's a pretty recent addition, but I've found some ways to do some special training with him anyway.

[outofsynth]

It comes in handy! You need a badge if you want to fly or surf, but if you have any that are big enough to ride on land you don't need to beat any gyms for that.

[She fluffs up her feathers, letting out an indignant "Corv!" at the other Pokémon as they climb up on Hunter's shoulders. As though almost getting caught in the firing line wasn't completely her own fault.]

That seems like a pretty dangerous way of training. Aren't you worried you'll get hurt?

[cardinaldirections]

[He's going to make note of that, for sure. It almost reminds him of the Palismen, turning into staffs to get around on.

But for now, he sets that aside and moves on to the question, half shrugging.]

Not really, no. I've got antidotes in case I do get hit but really, this isn't much different from what I've done before.

[outofsynth]

You've... done that kind of thing before?

[He does have some nasty scars, especially for someone who still looks like a kid, but geez...]

A

[shiningkindness]

[ With the weather starting to get colder, Fluttershy had come back to Goldenrod City for a while to pick up a few things. Mostly more knitting supplies to make accessories and things, but while she was here she thought it couldn't hurt to start shopping for more fall and winter clothes

Her Audino and Raboot were by her side as always, but riding on her shoulder was a Joltik of her own, and noticing the other Joltik with its trainer, Wattson gives a little chirp and wave. ]

[cardinaldirections]

[Hunter had been looking at a sweater himself, one that featured assorted stylized Pokeballs, when the Pokemon noises caught his attention. He glanced at Volt, then where the attention was pointed, and finally noticed the other trainer.]

Oh! Hey there. [He smiled, seeing the other Joltik.] So, you've got one too, huh?

[shiningkindness]

[ Fluttershy could at least hear that Wattson was greeting another Pokemon, so she isn't entirely surprised when another trainer addresses her. Glancing over, she manages a friendly smile as she nods. ]

Oh yes! [ She holds up her hand so that Wattson can crawl from her shoulder to perch on her hand. ] They're just so cute, don't you think? I couldn't resist.

[cardinaldirections]

Yeah, they're something else. [He can't succinctly say "Joltik's weird little face reminds him of the horrors (affectionate) that he'd see back on the Boiling Isles," so instead he suffices for-] They're definitely cute. [-while using his fingertip to scrub Volt's cheek. This elicits a happy little sound.]

I found him on a battery-powered lamp I have for camping. [He paused, trying to remember what the Pokedex said about Joltik.] Maybe he was trying to eat it...? I don't know, but he wanted to be part of my team.

[shiningkindness]

I believe Joltiks store electricity they get from other sources, because they aren't able to generate electricity themselves. [ With a smile, she nuzzles Wattson against her cheek before reaching up so the Joltik can sit on her head. ] They usually absorb static from larger Pokemon, or humans sometimes, but they have ways of drawing electricity from other places too.

But it's so sweet that he wanted to be part of your team too.

[cardinaldirections]

...Huh. Well, with everything else I've learned about Pokemon so far, I guess that makes sense.

[It doesn't, really, but to be fair neither do buses or phones to him, yet.

The mention of Volt choosing to join his team though, that gets a genuine smile out of him.]

Yeah! Yeah, the little guy wouldn't leave 'til I put him inside a Pokeball. It was kinda nice, being chosen like that. Even if it apparently started with lunch.

[shiningkindness]

Maybe he trusts that you'll be able to take care of him, since you technically were able to provide food for him.

B

[nellacerniera]

[Hunter and the Skorupi will soon find themselves joined by another Pokemon-- a Riolu that's found a rather large stick. The Riolu... seems to be copying Hunter's movements as best as the little Fighting-type can. Or trying to, at least.]

Ah, Valente, don't bother them--

[cardinaldirections]

[It was a round and a half before he truly noticed the Riolu, at which point he paused with a little chuckle.]

No, it's alright. [And then he addressed the Pokemon directly.] You're a little short for a coven scout- [Nevermind that those probably don't technically exist anymore but HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GET INTO THAT RIGHT NOW-] -but you look like you could probably defend yourself anyway, huh.