Test Drive Meme - January & February edition

[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

Echo Darkglass | OC

[re_verbed]

((OOC: Info on journal. Tl;dr - feral teenaged super soldier from a nebulously far in the future in which Tim Curry was regrettably wrong and capitalism has, in fact, corrupted space.))

»Video«

They've been doing this for- ...I don't actually know, I didn't think to time it.

[Echo's hushed whisper is the only sound in the otherwise utterly silent video, showing what might be recognizable as Route 29. The air is crisp and almost visibly cold, overcast skies and snow-packed ground muffling all other noise.]

[On camera are a pair of Espurr, standing about a foot apart.]

[Staring.]

[Straight at each other, silent and unblinking.]

I saw them kind of walk up on each other out of nowhere and just stop.

[There's a small dusting of snow accumulating on them.]

What am I looking at, here? -oh, shit-!

[A third Espurr has wandered up, joining the standoff.]

»Action«
[You are walking along the route of your choice, minding your own business. Probably hoping to reach your destination quickly and take shelter against the biting winter cold.]

Hey you, battle!

[You have just been pasted in the head with a ballistic snowball, or had one whiz by your face.]

Am I doing this right?

»Text«
the berries are a trap

you see pokemon eating them and think it'll be fine

it's a lie

warn your loved ones

can't believe i'm dying as one of those dumb psa ads



can anyone get me to saffron like super fast, i wanna fight all of silph so i go out doing something cool

»Wildcard«
[Choose your own adventure.]

Video

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is trying not to laugh, not wanting to disturb the wonderfully weird and amusing sight.]

Wow. Those guys are really going at it. I've never seen Espurrs stare that long before.

Action!

[stormstar]

Alri--

[ Crookedkit's eager acceptance is soundly silenced by the offending snowball connecting with his forehead, sending him into a cartoonish backward stumble. He shakes the loose snow from his hair once he's recovered his footing with some paltry approximation of a growl. ]

Hey! Not even close, frog-brain! Where's your Poke-mon?

[ His is right beside him, giggling into her paws. Her trainer sounds pretty angry, but his buddy doesn't seem bothered at all. ]

text

[tougherandsmarter]

Now, there's no need for all the dramatics. The berries are unpalatable, I'll give you that, but a waxy oversized blueberry is not going to kill you. If you ask me, the hardest thing to swallow is that the texture means there's no escape from spending on food.

Video

[scalpelofmarmora]

Yes, apparently they do this. I don't know if they are communicating or if it is a way of determining who would win in a fight. Irkut won't explain.

[At this, Irkut - a male Meowstic - will start poking his head into frame, trying to see when he heard his name]

I am quite familiar with Espurrs.

[Oh look! Kittens!]

Action

[curuiosity]

[Rui, being in musical theater for as long as he has (and escaping from security as often as he has) is nimble enough to just barely dodge the snowball. He grins, and quickly bends down to get his own ammunition.]

It depends on what you're going for. If you're aiming for a snowball fight, then, you've hit the mark...so to speak anyway.

[Rui tosses a snow ball back in her direction. He's had about as many snowball fights as Pokemon battles, that is to say, none. But he's more than willing to try either.]

If you were looking for a Pokemon battle, then perhaps you should stick to just saying so.

Kazuma Kuwabara | Yu Yu Hakusho Anime

[eatmysword]

[Action]:


Kuwabara had no clue where he was or what he was doing. For anyone who tried to to explain to him what Pokemon were and what his purpose was....it went above his head. He also didn't think it was fair. Why battle these cute creatures? They shouldn't be forced to. And keeping them in a little ball? He struggled with that concept.

While he didn't mind fighting himself, he didn't think it was right to force someone who didn't want to fight. It was wrong.

He eventually found himself out grassy area. "This is so dumb. I don't know what to do here or why we got to fight these little creatures. Give me a demon, I'll fight those." Kuwabara muttered.

Only he didn't know during his stomping around that he had upset a flock of Pidgey. They did not appreciate his noisy entrance and began flying at him.

"Someone help me!" Kuwabara shouted as he ran through the field covering his face from being pecked at.

[Video/Network Post]

[At first there's a lot of yelling and echoing cries of angry Pidegy. Then there's a shaky image of a figure dressed in a blue school uniform running through the field.]

Some body get these birds off of me! I didn't do anything to them!

[The video abruptly ends as it sounded like it got dropped in the rush to run.]

Action (Pidegy Problems)

[phoenixwiz]

“Lily, use Aura Sphere on the Pidegy now,” a voice rings out as several Aura Spheres are being sent onto the path of the angry Pidegy.

The birds are then knocked by said Aura Spheres, causing the birds who didn’t cross paths with the Aura Spheres to fly away in a panic. Out of the forested area came out a young bespectacled man and a tall owl with a leaf and feather hat and vest like plumage. The owl looks rather dignified even while she is not feeling great.

“Hey, is everything alright? I thought that me and my Decidueye could come in to keep those birds from attacking you.”

[ video | un: keith ]

[tempredmental]

Do you have any rock types? Or electric? Pidgeys are weak to rock and electric attacks.

[action]

[styxiedust]

And who should be walking in the opposite direction but a lady in a kimono, casually walking a shaggy sheepdog-looking creature while she carries a bag of groceries.

Then she hears the screaming.

Then she sees the figure running in her direction.

...And sidesteps while tugging her Greavard along.

The Greavard, however, wags its tail looking very excited and happy at seeing this, panting while it looks up at her as if to say friend? Friend? Friend? Play?

Friend?

...Does she know that guy?

"..."

The screaming and flailing and ending up in misfortune is definitely familiar, but...she can hardly believe it. He's in his school uniform and everything. It's been...waaaay too long.

"...Ummm...well, Houta, I suppose you should use Roar to scare those little blighters off."

Not that Botan really likes battling much, but Houta is always eager to do so, bouncing along while wagging his tail. The dog-Pokemon uses Roar...

By barking very very loudly in a boosted BWORF. BWORF. BWORF.

[Network Post]

[sinningtree]

Safe to say Kuwabara might only get a message from Kurama once all of the excitement has died down, considering his message was interrupted mid-run and Kurama is equally new to the place... but that doesn't stop him from trying to make contact.

"Kuwabara- is that you? Where are you?"

[divine_braid]

What the hell? Duo stared at the incoming flock of angry birds, more surprised by that then the big guy running towards him.

"AAAAAAA!" And then he turned tail and started running, too. He was fast, but it didn't really matter that much. As long as he was faster than the other guy...

[Action]

[shiningkindness]

[ It's been a while since Fluttershy had been down this route, but it was nice being to visit every once in a while.

She's chatting with some of the wild Pokemon with her Audino when she hears a scream, and looks up in time to see a figure being chased by a flock of Pidgey. ]

Oh dear...

[ Reaching into her bag, she pulls out several berries and poiffins, and tosses them onto the ground hoping to attract the bird Pokemon's attention. ]

I know this is old, feel free to ignore me, but this is the first time I saw a KUWABARA!!!!! MY HERO

[hadaeemadatawila]

[on dreamwidth, so.... feel free to ignore or let's thread? just once? /ooc and now gonna go to ic / ]


Network, voice

Birds are honest creatures. Are you sure you haven't done something to their young?
Just kidding. [Or is Kakyoin kidding, truly?] I might help with my Morelull, just tell me where you're at, unbirdly stranger.

Duo Maxwell | New Mobile Report Gundam Wing

[divine_braid]

{OOC: Trying to decide if Duo's going to be a Rocket or not, so I have one option for non-Rocket, and one option for Rocket.}

Non-Rocket

So, is this how it is all the time? [Duo flopped on to a bench in Cherrygrove after walking out of the PokeCenter. The Duskull with him bobbed about, the red eye kind of just shifting back and forth behind the skull mask. They'd caught a few along the way, but sheesh. He'd definitely learned the hard way to stay out of the tall grass right now.] I can't believe a place this big doesn't have cars.

[He stretched his arms over his head with a groan and then clasped his hands behind his head.]

Duskull, right? You look like a mini grim reaper or something. Maybe I should call you Shinigami.

[The ghost-type didn't seem to mind either way.]

Skulllll...

Right. Sure. We'll go with that, then.

[He spotted someone walking by and attempted to flag them down by waving and shouting at them.]

Hey! Know anywhere around here I can get a good steak?

=====

Rocket

Really? A lock-picking class? [Duo raised an eyebrow at the schedule he'd been handed after waking up.] Dude, I can do half this stuff in my sleep. [The senior grunt in his section didn't look impressed.]

Okay, okay! I'm going.

But I am not cutting my hair! [It was bad enough they were demanding he wear a uniform. He leaned over to whisper to the other person next to him.]

Just what the hell is this place? Some sort of evil military gang?

Rocket

[sinningtree]

"Your guess is as good as mine, I'm afraid."

Kurama didn't like any of this, but it wasn't the first time he'd had to work with a group he didn't trust to get his own answers.

"I take it you're also new, then."

Quatre Raberba Winner | Gundam Wing

[gundamofthedesert]

Action

[Quatre hadn't really been expecting to be here, but here he was. And with a rather interesting friend too. A Flamigo was trotting along side, periodically looking over at him before running a little ways ahead to survey.

Even though this world was strange, the Flamigo was familiar - like the flamingos of his world - which made it a little more normal. Plus it was his friend so that was even better.

Quatre thought this as his Flamigo paused beside him before running a little ways ahead again... until it got distracted by the sound of a nearby Pokemon that it turned to look at while still running forward]

Watch out!

[It didn't help much as his Flamigo suddenly ran into someone as it wasn't paying attention]

I'm so sorry. [Quatre said this to the person his Pokemon had run into as the Flamigo was running back over to Quatre] Are you alright?

Video

[Quatre had found a spot by the water so that his Flamigo could play. He had thought if it was similar to the flamingos of his world, it would want to and he was right. He stood just far enough from the water so that he was less likely to get wet, wearing a pink shirt and purple vest]

This place is remarkable. I've never seen such amazing creatures like this. Of course we have animals in our world, but they all seem so intelligent here.

[divine_braid]

Oof!

[Yeah, that was sure a weird looking variety of flamingo that slammed into Duo along the trail. His Duskull partner hovered over them, bobbing up in down in concern. It flailed it's wispy little arms, but really couldn't do much to help either party up off the ground. It didn't exactly have hands...]

Wow, dude... watch where you'r- [Duo spotted the familiar figure behind the pink monstrosity.] Q?

Shuichi Minamino | Yu Yu Hakusho

[sinningtree]

There's a young man with red hair sitting [on a bench outside/in a cafe somewhere/pick a random location!] by himself, reading over some of the material provided to new arrivals.

Or moving around in the grass, training/attempting to catch some new Pokémon.

Choose your adventure:

A.) Approach. Maybe as a fellow newbie or someone just looking to help out. A moment of eye contact could seem like enough of an invitation to start a conversation!
B.) Recognition! Actually, you've seen him before. Perhaps at a local store or Team Rocket HQ.
C.) Chase after a disobedient or wild Pokémon that caused enough of a scene to be impossible to ignore.
D.) Take note of a vulpix, limping over with the saddest performance she's capable of. She's practically dragging that leg - surely, she needs help?
E.) Wildcard. Throw something else at me!

(ooc: Thought I'd go with an unorthodox top level for this one.
Feel free to wildcard your own thing, contact him on the network or hit me up at thesinnerwithin to discuss something else! )

D

[shiningkindness]

[ As much as Fluttershy tries not to butt into other people's business, it's difficult when it comes to animals or Pokeone, especially if one seems to be injured. As it happens, she can't help noticing the limping Vulpix as she's passing by. ]

Oh goodness, are you all right?

Rui Kamishiro | Project Sekai

[curuiosity]

I. Rain

[As much as Rui loves nature, he'd honestly rather not be working on machinery in it. There's too much dirt and other debris that can get in to things. However, he doesn't have much choice after his Rotom broke their new robot that Rui made them to possess. So now he's trying his best to fix it and keep it clean inside.]

Don't worry. I'll get this fixed real soon for you.

[And maybe that was true before, but now its started to rain. Rui rushes to put everything away before it can start pouring, but maybe he could use some help.]

II. Street Act

[No matter where he winds up, Rui can always count on one thing: Cities are busy. Whether its Tokyo or Goldenrod. Which is great! That means there's more potential audience for him and his Sprigatito.]

Alright. Just like we practiced.

[The pair of them split up for just a moment, going to opposite ends of the street. With a nod from Rui, they start approaching each other, getting faster as they get closer, ending with Rui skidding on his knees to be able to pick the cat pokemon up in a hug.]

Nepeta! Its been so long! I've been looking everywhere for you! I-I thought...I thought you were...

[Rui looks like he is about to cry, shoulders trembling and all. The Sprigatito mewed, pawing at his face.]

You're right...you're back. That's all that matters. I should be happy. We should be happy...Oh, Nepeta...I'm never letting you go again...

[They play up the happy reunion for a few more moments, before Rui stands up and bows. The Sprigatito at his side does her best to mimic the action.]

Erebos | OC

[loves_mustard]

[OOC: Will update journal, but short version is he is a half-blood monster hunter from a world that's more or else Victorian-esque in tech level]

Action

[Erebos hadn't made it very far in his journey since leaving the first town, pretty much just a town or two down the road. Even though it was a straight line and there were sign posts, he was rather worried about getting lost. His sense of direction in the woods was terrible and this place was unfamiliar, even more so than the places at home. A town at least had people who could point him in the right direction.

He glanced up from the bench he was sitting on to watch his ... Hisuian Zorua playing with a toy that he had gotten for her. She was quite enjoying it. She had seemed very sad when he first met her, so he had wanted to give her something to make her happy.

Were there different types of Zorua, he wondered to himself. Since she was Hisuian, there had to be at least another type of Zorua. He poked at the... Pokedex, but he had little idea how to use it so he wasn't sure if he could actually look anything up.

He looked back from the Pokedex as his Zorua hopped up next to him with her toy, sitting down beside him. At least she seemed to like him. He couldn't help but smile at her]

Hello there.

Video
Let's see if this works.

[What opens is a video of a rather pale looking teen with at least shoulder length, pale blond hair. Over his shoulder peeks a Hisuian Zorua after a moment, having to push his hair out the way. She yipped at the screen]

Is this working?

because you had to give him a zorua

[sinningtree]

[Kurama had yet to see anyone else with a Zorua since arriving here, so he certainly hadn't seen the type Erebos has, until just now at least.

He pauses a few feet from the bench they're sitting on, his own Zorua running over to greet his Hisuian counterpart while his trainer is busy trying to process the situation.]

Hiei, don't-!

[He's not listening, hopping up and putting his little front paws on the bench beside her.]

Huey Duck | DuckTales 2017

[goingbythebook]

Network
[Huey has been here before. And, at the time of this post to the network, has been back for a little while. The last time he was here, his ID had been registered as a trainer; this time however, he was a breeder. And there was a new little aspect to that that couldn't hurt getting a little networking in, as his brother would say (and so, so often tells him).]

Hello there, fellow breeders and trainers! Huey here. I have been working on something that I think others of you might be interested in!

[And he pulled up a little jelly jar, though this one was filled with small pieces of food.]

And at the risk of sounding like Louie- [Mild smirk there] -I wanted to gauge some interest. See, I've been developing a Pokemon snack that is palatable to many different types and temperaments with a benefit to health, and is more "on the go" than Poffins and the like. And I may have something here! It's a mixture of a few different berries mainly, then home baked. The ideal trail snack, good for training rewards, working into breeding nutrition regimens, and the like.

And, um. [Shoot, running out of steam!] Well-! Well I'm giving away some free samples. So if you want any, just let me know...? And- I'll get them sent straight away!

[This is why Louie is the businessman, not him.]


Wildcard
[Feel free to hit me up with anything, or chat with me at zumidotexe to plot something specific!]

[network]

[pennyloafer]

[The risk of sounding like Louie? Okay that's uncalled for... In the brotherly kind of way where it's actually fine, but of course he's got to give Huey a little bit of a hard time.]

Aw. [There's sass dripping off just that sound alone.] I think it's really flattering that you're looking to take after your older brother, Hue.

[He wasn't even planning to bring it up again but Huey had to go and be a smart alec!]

Adaine Abernant | Dimension 20: Fantasy High

[furiousfists]

New Bark Town

[ This would not be Adaine's first time getting kidnapped. And frankly, the fact that she awoke in a bed, in what appears to be an actually livable bedroom, and not inside an arcane bubble that was constantly rotating just enough to prevent her from getting any actual rest, means this is officially her favorite kidnapping yet. It also helps that she's fairly confident none of her family members are responsible for kidnapping her this time.

She gets out of bed quietly, trying not to signal to anyone outside the room that she's awake. But it doesn't matter. Someone— a human woman claiming to be her mum?— opens the door anyway, hands her a backpack, gives her a litany of information that is somehow simultaneously too much for Adaine's recently awoken mind to comprehend and also not enough to answer all her questions, and shows her the door.

And so, Adaine is left standing in the street, backpack in hands, unsure where to go next. She's momentarily distracted, however she's not alone, she finds out quickly. Because there beside her, bouncing lazily up and down on a coiled tail, is an incredibly ovular grey pig with a pink pearl balanced atop its head. Adaine, being a sucker for little guys and an even bigger sucker for round ones, can't help but be amused by it. As she turns to walk down the street towards the edge of town, the pig follows along, bouncing to keep up.

She doesn't seem to have her crystal on her, or any of her other belongings, but in digging through the backpack, she finds the PokéGear and it doesn't take her long to discover the map function. If she runs into anyone else on the way out of town, she'll approach them with a tentative smile and a wave. ]

Hello! Are you also headed to... [ She quickly pulls up the map on her Gear again to double check her route. ] ...Cherrygrove City?

Text

[ It's late. Probably later than anyone ought to be awake and online. But there comes a text post from a new Trainer ID. ]

Sorry if this is an embarrassing question to have to ask, but...
We're meant to be able to catch these animals, right?

How does one do that?

There's a very round owl who's just landed in a tree by my campsite and I would love to take him with me if I can.

Wildcard

[nightyorb]

[Riz is in Cherrygrove for-- well, it doesn't quite matter why Riz is in Cherrygrove. What are you, a cop? It's top secret business! 'I'd-tell-you-but-I'd-have-to-kill-you'-level secret.

(He volunteered to pick up up Shadowmaru's newest order of specialty shampoo and hair oils.)

For once, Riz's steps are slow and meandering as he walks the streets, all so Sarge, his geriatric Mabosstiff can keep pace with him. It's fine. Though Riz usually prefers to move more quickly, there are advantages to a slow pace too. It gives him time to think, for one, and there is always plenty to think about. Additionally, it gives him a better chance to observe his surroundings, idly noting new changes -- There is a new shop selling tableware, sprung up in the building that previously housed a hair salon. A flyer stuck to a pole asks for help with a missing pokemon; Riz might have to inquire with them later, see if his services are needed. A girl who looks just like Adaine is heading in the direction of the pokemon centrum, accompanied by some strange springy pig.

Hold on.

Riz's head whips around so fast it nearly knocks his hat off his head. He could be wrong, of course. It could just be a trick of the eyes or his homesick heart seeing what it wants to see. He should verify things before he gets his heart broken. He should make sure. He should--

Riz abandons his earlier sedate pace for a run, chasing after the girl that looks so much like Adaine -- that could be Adaine -- before she can get out of sight and he might lose her again.]

Adaine!

[please don't turn around and be the wrong person, please]

Shiranui Kyo | Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan

[walkinggunshow]

Team Rocket Post Only-

[Shiranui appeared to be bored and half asleep as he turned on the network post. One might notice an elaborate dragon tattoo on his right arm. He had a short arm brace on the arm as well and a long arm brace on the other. A green scarf was wrapped around his neck. He wore a simple black outfit with a sleeveless tank top.

He was never one for school and having to sit at a desk and learn how to steal wasn't his thing. It also didn't help he doesn't know how to read. He never needed to know. And he learned with the device he could have everything translated for him if necessary. He would rather be out on the field.]

What's the point of classes? Give me a task. I rather be out in the field doing the job. I go from being part of a war and being part of the yakuza to stealing Pokemon? Cute. I do not having my gun let alone all my powers taken from me. I guess I get to see what it's like being human.

Action-

[Shiranui can be seen outside training his starting Pokemon, a litten. The cat appeared to be crouching low as it was focused on another Pokemon. Shiranui ordered the attack and the litten followed through which involved catching the Pokemon which was a bunnelby.]

Goodjob! We now have another member for our team! [Shiranui stated proudly as he rubbed the cat behind it's ears.]


[When he wasn't training, Shiraui could be seen sitting on one of the benches allowing his litten some time to stretch. Only often it liked to run up to a new comer finding them curious.]

He's perfectly harmless, just wanting to meet you. I'm sorry if he scared you! [Shiranui called after as he went to retrieve the litten.]

Team Rocket - Locked

[sinningtree]

[Kurama frowns at the broadcast, the first thing to catch his attention was that tattoo, but the words were certainly also an interesting choice.]

Yes, it seems that being here is an adjustment for every one of us.

Pieck Finger | Attack on Titan

[warriorworkhorse]

Arrival in New Bark Town:

That wasn't her mother. The lady called herself 'Mom', but that was not her mother. She remembered her mother clearly. And though that was disturbing, being rushed out into the town with a backpack of equipment and a little red and white ball--

She stopped not far outside of the house. Not because she wanted back in, but because it had been a house - and out here, there were trees. It was still standing. It smelled like growing things and fresh air, and over the last while, Pieck had become more and more sure that that wasn't going to be something she smelled for years.

Looking around the environment, she took a few uncertain steps, a hand raised to her mouth as she could swear she felt her eyes burning with happy tears. Yes, she was worried about her father, yes, she was a little unsure about just how this had happened, but... This world...

First Capture:

The music was...

Maybe, Pieck thought, that should be the entire sentence. The music was. After a while, it mostly faded into the background except for those times a battle began and it turned momentarily dissonant before gaining urgency until the conflict ended. Her little bird, which she was still deciding on a name for, had grown a bit from where she'd started, and she'd learned quite quickly that it did its best against the little creatures that looked like bugs. How sensible.

Amazing, really, that this seemed to be the worst conflict that existed in this world. For the last thirteen years, most of what she'd known had either been wars, battle, or training for wars and battle. And a battle in one of Marley's enemy nation - well. The only thing that might pass for music with that kind of conflict was the percussion of artillery occasionally punctuated by screams. While this animal fighting wasn't really something that she was used to, here, it was a way of life - and she didn't even mind losing.

The first time she'd lost, she'd learned about giving some money to the winner, and that was fair enough. Especially since most of the people who were new, like she was, were children. Children more educated in this world's rules than she was, by far. All she ever really asked in return was to have their company to one of their Pokécenters to get her Rookidee healed.

Now, though, with that background music having returned to its calm, background state, Pieck sunk down to sit on the ground, staring with a little confusion at what she'd done. Not that it was anything unusual here, but for the first time, she'd dared to fling one of those pokéballs at a creature she'd learned was called a Sentret. It had twitched, rocking back and forth a few times, but then sat there, secure, and all she could do was look at it, vaguely aware that someone was nearby.

"...Huh. I guess it really is real."

arrival

[bigporkenergy]

Dying, as it turns out, is easier than Galliard thought it would be. He'd been aware of Falco's titan lunging down, and its mouth closing around him; there'd been a brief flash of pain, unpleasant but nothing he couldn't deal with--and then... an endless plain of silver sand, with a tree made of light in the distance. He'd been whole there, no longer bleeding and missing half his head, and he'd started to move towards the tree for lack of anything better to do. Three steps in, though, and his foot had gone through the sand, plunging him into... wherever this was.

Definitely not his mom, despite her insistence that she was. She'd made sure he was stuffed in some kind of uniform and pushed him out the door. As soon as she was out of sight, Galliard had rifled through the rucksack she'd given him, and breathed a sigh of relief when he found his battered bomber jacket inside. No arm band, which sent a spike of anxiety through his chest, but at least he felt a little less out of sorts once he had his jacket on.

And then he'd just started walking, although he didn't get very far. Someone else was getting shoved out of the house next door, someone very familiar, and Galliard stops dead in his tracks.

"Pieck?"

No... no, they can't have gotten her too!

Dahlia | Wish

[onesmartcookie]

Network

[A teen fumblingly starts up her pokegear's camera. She appears to be posting from Route 29, just outside New Bark Town.]

I thought maybe I could get the hang of- of whatever's happening by myself. I read the whole book before I even left that town! [She holds up the handbook that was in her backpack.] But all the creatures - all the Pokemon - that were there were little animals, things like birds. But when I needed help from one of my own...

[Dahlia turns the camera to show a Drampa. Despite its size, it hardly looks intimidating. It's simply staying still as a Bunnelby uses it's long neck as a slide.]

That is not a bird. That's not like anything I've ever seen.

[While climbing back up Drampa's neck for another go on the "slide," the Bunnelby slips and starts to fall. Drampa catches it in the crook of one of its fluffy arms and cradles it from side to side.]

Although... It doesn't really seem dangerous.

Action (Goldenrod)

[Dahlia's first visit to Goldenrod City also marks her first time seeing a Fidough, which catches her interest right away. However, she's traveling with her Flapple at the time, who is less excited about running into a fairy-type. The result is an unprovoked attack from Dahlia's Pokemon, and she's determined to make sure the little pup wasn't badly injured.

That's what leads to Dahlia approaching others in the city with a determined sense of purpose, accompanied by a Flapple who's looking oddly sheepish. She clears her throat before getting right to the point:] Have you seen a dog made of dough run by, covered in seeds?

Wildcard

If those prompts don't work, you can go for something else!

[Network]

[tutarosa]

Yeahh, I don't think the guidebook is exactly as descriptive as it maybe should be, for people who aren't all that experienced with Pokemon.

Still, plenty of times Pokemon aren't as fierce as they look, so at least there's that. And it'll go the other way too, the little cute guys turn out to be badasses...

[He considers a moment.]

That doesn't help much. Well, there's always the PokeGear...? The Pokedex side of things can help you figure out the way different Pokemon might act, if you're unsure and want to check before you engage. Generally a smart idea, if you ask me.