ohmyarceus | Test-Drive Meme - August & September

Yee-up, took me a minute to figure out what that meant, too.

[Dell ambles on over, tipping his hard hat to the befuddled Loop and the poor kid. He fishes a Pokéball from his toolbox and tosses it underhand into the air, where a Rotom pops out. It looks more than a little relieved to be out again, and zips over to Dell's outstretched hand.]

Turns out these little critters do the fightin' 'round here. Where I'm from, we'd usually just do a little bare-knuckle dancing, but it ain't so bad once you get used to it.

[The kid, fed up with waiting, attempts to barge into their conversation, but the engineer holds up a silencing hand. Adults are talking! He's got a lot of questions for someone who's clearly a transplant like him, and not a lot of time to ask them. But manners first.]

What's yer name, pardner? You can call me Dell, on account 'a that being my name.

[He offers his other, gloved hand to Loop, and his Rotom zing-zip-zaps its erratic way over to try and greet their partner Beldum.]

[It's kind of messed up that such a basic question can be something they desperately don't want to deal with answering, right? But when it's that direct they can't quite squirm out of it...]

[Loop hesitantly accepts Dell's hand as a stalling tactic. They shake as if they're not used to doing it, pasting on a smile.]

...I'm between names right now! [Hahaha what a totally normal thing to say moving on - ]

[They glance sideways at the kid.] It feels even weirder to have a... pet? [They think?] - do the fighting for me.

[That can't be normal. Self-defense against wild critters they understand, that's basically like having a sheepdog, but... would that make something like this pit fighting??]

[In the background, the kid starts to insistently object that it's not weird at all, you're weird.]

[Loop's Beldum does an excited spin and lets out several mechanical-sounding beeps! Hello new little zappy friend!]

[It's not the response he expected, but it's also not the weirdest one he's ever heard. With a good-natured chuckle, Dell nods in agreement.]

Y'know, that's what I said to the first squirt that tried to take me on. Seems to me like the li'l guys like it! Sorta like when brothers get into a scuffle - if they, uh, have brothers where you're from.

[Yeah, it's an odd qualifier, but he has a feeling that he can't really take anything for granted in a situation like this. He decides to change the subject before making his conversational partner try to answer another question on the spot.]

Here, watch 'n' learn. C'mere, Sparky--

[Dell motions to his Rotom, who seems very put out to have to break off the riveting beepy-zappy conversation it's having. Its grumpiness is short-lived, however, as Dell points at the kid's Ratata. (He must have gotten impatient and sent it out anyways.)]

Use, uh... what was it called, again? The lightnin' one.

[It's close enough for Sparky to figure out what he means. It glows to life with excitement and unleashes a Thunder Shock, blasting the poor Ratata back a few feet as its trainer cries foul play for a sneak attack. Dell isn't even looking towards the battle; he's turned towards Loop, enjoying his natural environment of teaching.]

See? His critter's fine, and look how chipper Sparky is about it! G'won, you give it a try.

[He scritches under his Rotom's chin, who buzzes happily having gotten to ~~commit violence~~ get into a Pokémon battle.]

[Hmmm. Is the Rattata fine? That looked pretty violent!]

[But no, it's back upright already, grinding its teeth and chattering angrily. Loop guesses it is.]

[They look over at their Beldum - which is spinning furiously, its head turning to stay in place like a tripod. Its gaze is locked on to the Rattata, and its single eye is practically sparkling. Apparently it really wants to fight! Loop has been keeping the two of them at a safe distance from even wild Pokemon up until now, and that really isn't cutting it.]

Um... attack whenever you're ready, then? [Loop doesn't actually know any of the Beldum's attacks. ~~And will probably be naming them all with terrible puns instead of their official names once they do.~~ Fortunately, as it turns out, Beldums only have one!]

[The Beldum zooms at full speed into the Rattata, flinging the poor little rat again. The two start trading blows - the Rattata actually manages to latch on to the Beldum at one point, but its teeth and claws don't seem to be doing a ton to what is basically just a flying steel brick.]

[Meanwhile, the kid is yelling again,] Hey! No fair making this a surprise double battle!

[He starts digging in his pockets desperately for another Pokeball, sending out a Pidgey. Unfortunately for the kid, this one's clearly lower in level than the Rattata - which is at least putting up a very determined fight!]

Shoot dang if your metal buddy wasn't rarin' to go. These things might be even crazier'n I thought.

[As the Rattata gnaws at Loop's Beldum, Dell can't help but chuckle to himself. He respects the fight it's got, at any rate. It's kind of like the emotional inverse of watching a dog with a bone - it ain't makin' any progress, that's for sure. The kid sending out his Pidgey is enough to get him to turn to the actual battle.]

Alright, fair enough. Sparky, git 'em!

[With an excited electrical chitter, his Rotom dashes forward, phasing in and out of sight as it prepares an attack. It goes for the strike - then passes through the Pidgey harmlessly. At its trainer's command, the Pidgey's full-body tackle... also passes through Sparky. ~~someone's never heard of type matchups...~~]

I think somethin's wrong with mine. Y'wanna trade dance partners?

[Dell gives Loop a bit of a perplexed shrug as the Pidgey and Sparky squabble ineffectually at each other. It seems there's a lot more to this whole critter battling thing than he'd thought.]

[Oddly enough, Loop is very familiar with type matchups! They're just used to a much smaller list of types. So they pick up pretty quickly on what's going on, even if they couldn't say why.] It looks like they're immune to each other...

[How weird, though... it was mostly only really big unusual Sadnesses that had any sort of immunities, and while these little guys are certainly unusual, they're not especially big or imposing. Loop unconsciously folds their fingers into a scissors shape, wanting to try out a Scissors attack on the Pidgey - but of course, nothing happens. Still, seems like Sparky should use a different type of Craft.]

Maybe if you try the thing with the lightning again? - oh. Yeah, we can trade. Orrery!

[The Beldum spins like a tiny washing machine, finally flinging the Rattata off, and rotates its head to look at Loop. Loop points at the Pidgey - their hand still in the scissors shape, two fingers out instead of one - and Orrery refocuses.]

[The Beldum seems to interpret this as a command to be protective of its new friend, and it zips in between the two battling Pokemon, glaring at the Pidgey.]

[Dell issues a short, high whistle with his ungloved hand, and Sparky stops what it's doing, looking up at its trainer as the enemy Pidgey klonks headlong into a Beldum that wasn't there a second ago. He points over to the Rattata.]

You heard 'em, pardner. Try yer electric move again!

[Sparky salutes with one of its electric "arms", then zips back over to the Rattata and hovers ominously in front of it. To its credit, the mouse does attempt to throw itself at Sparky in self-defense, but that only serves to put it right in harm's way. Its trainer is too bewildered by how weird this Pokémon "battle" is to give it meaningful commands anymore. With a flash of light, the Rotom sends it flying back once more, and this time it doesn't get back up.]

Sharp shootin' there, Sparky! Looks like you finally got that varmint.

[As Sparky zig-zags its way back to Dell for a little celebratory twirl, Dell makes a mental note of the gestures and comments Loop's making. While they're not weird per se (any more than anything else is here), they definitely seem like they know something he doesn't, and that gets his attention. He has full confidence that a flying hunk of metal can take out a songbird, so he sits back to wait until this kid is sent packing.]

[Dell isn't wrong! The Pidgey is faster than Orrery, but that's kind of all it has going for it. Once Orrery's managed to wind up and smack into the bird two times, it's down for the count. Heck, the Beldum seems to be more scuffed up from its own collisions than anything the Pidgey managed to do...]

[As soon as Orrery sees the other trainer recalling the fainted Pidgey, it zooms back to Loop and Dell with a proud beep, butting Loop in the chest - much more gently than its attacks. Loop starts at the physical contact, then hesitantly reaches a hand up... and awkwardly pats it on its metal back ridge.] ...good job?

[Orrery seems satisfied with this!]

[The kid, meanwhile, crankily digs through his pockets for some money and equally crankily shoves it at Loop and Dell.] You're gonna have to split it, I wasn't ready for a double battle. [ >:[ ]

Well, would ya' look at that. I'd reckon this makes you a bonafide trainer, now! Can't say I'm much of an authority on the topic, but yers beat his, an' in my books, that's how most things work.

[Over his shoulder, Sparky emits a sound that could pass for a phantasmal, electric giggle. It looks pretty pleased with itself. Now that the fighting's over, it drifts back to Orrery, presumably to talk in Pokémon language about how cool the two of them were just now.]

[Dell takes his hard-won money in one hand, and pitches his thumb over his shoulder with the other.]

Now g'wan, squirt. I think they got one'a them Center things back in the town thataways. Better get goin' 'fore anything else happens to ya'.

[As the kid scampers away ~~and narrowly avoids whiting out~~, Dell watches him go until he's out of sight. Satisfied, he turns back to Loop, unclenching his fist and offering his half of the earnings.]

I've already got a nest egg from odd jobs around town, but if you're anything like me, chances are you showed up here flat broke. Git'cherself somethin' nice.

[It's definitely not much, but even behind his goggles, there's something on his face that says he'd much rather Loop take the money.]

[Orrery happily beeps back at Sparky and zooms in excited circles around the Rotom. They are, in fact, the coolest. The two of them have clearly just defeated the most ferocious Rattata and Pidgey in existence!]

[Loop, meanwhile, watches the kid go with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the kid was being very pushy. On the other hand, it feels equally weird to win victory money from a kid. It shouldn't work like that when they're the adult in the situation, right?? The kid's running off before they can say anything about it, though...]

[Unfortunately for Dell, Loop is terrible about accepting things.] No, it's fine - you deserve your half.

[The shrug the shoulder their messenger bag is slung over, drawing attention to it.] I didn't realize at first, but - but the person who made me take this bag snuck some money in.

[They were meeting Dell's gaze until this point, but now their eye slides away. They don't want to think about "Mom." Their bemused mood is sinking right back into a bad one.]

[Hey Loop, maybe smile and deflect before you start thinking about how you don't deserve something nice and then stay awkwardly quiet for too long in front of this nice stranger -] Besides, you jumped in first~

[They turn toward where the two Pokemon are chattering, raising their voice slightly.] Good job to you too, Sparky!

[Well, a merc job's a merc job, even if it is taking candy from a baby. Dell shrugs and pockets his earnings - no sense in pushing charity.]

Those two are a real sight together, huh? Made short work'a that kid's pockymen- er, whatever they're called. If you're goin' my way, wanna mosey together? I'm headin' up to that there Violet City to look fer some proper power tools.

[As if to explain why he needs power tools, Dell picks up his toolbox again and pops it open. The tinny rattle it gives suggests that it's nearly empty, and as he removes a Pokéball from it, Loop catches a glimpse of just two more balls and a wrench inside. It's definitely seen better days.]

Alrighty then. Sparky, let's get you back in the ball.

[Sparky spins to look at its trainer and pouts. It's having fun with Orrery! It just won a battle!!! How could you be so CRUEL--]

D'you want another run-in with those Hoppy guys?

[His disappointed-father-like tone says that the last "run-in" wasn't just bad, it was embarrassing. Sparky averts its gaze for a minute, weighing whatever happened then with the indignity of being in a Pokéball... then chooses the latter. With a flash of red light, it disappears.]

If nothin' else, we could use the help. I'm still gettin' the hang of this here battlin' thing, but you're a natural. And to be honest, Sparky ain't much for conversation.

[Loop... wasn't actually expecting someone to ask them to travel together. (Maybe ever again?) They tilt their hat brim, hiding some of their face.]

[There's a messy knot of emotion stuck in their throat, something made up of things like: yes, they really want a traveling companion. But also, they want specific traveling companions they don't have a right to anymore, because they're selfish and ungrateful. And, and being asked along for help with battling really feels eerily similar to the last time, and it's making their chest hurt. And, what if they accept and it ends terribly all over again. And they really shouldn't be making such a big deal over this when it's just to the next town -]

[haha oh no now they really have been silent long enough for it to be awkward]

S-sure. I'll come along.

[...they're not sure how they feel about their own answer, but they guess they've committed now. When they raise their head to tilt their hat back up, they've got a totally normal(...?) smile back on their face.] Though I don't know what you mean, Sparky seems like a great conversationalist. Electrifying wit.

[They were so distracted by their own thoughts that they haven't even really registered the toolbox. Probably for the best, they have no idea what a power tool is. But they do now notice Sparky being recalled.]

[They and Orrery glance at each other, and Loop gives the Beldum a tiny shrug. They haven't recalled Orrery since the first time the Beldum came out of a Pokeball, and they don't really see a reason to now. Aside from it being a reason to kids to bug them for battles, apparently.]

[It's not unlikely that Sparky'll get out again on its own, but it's as good a time as any for a quick nap after a battle. Dell gives the metal box an affectionate little double-pat, then looks back over at Loop, a little smile tugging at the edge of his mouth.]

It's certainly got some zip in its giddyup, I'll tell you what, but it's a bit closer t' chattin' with a fritzin' lightbulb than a person. Fer starters, y'all use words.

[With a classic down-home chuckle, he waves Loop on as he starts to amble off to the north.]

I won't try an' keep ya too long, seein' as I'm sure y'got more important business than chattin' with an old hardhat. Shouldn't be more'n...

[He flips open his PokéGear and taps at it, his grin fading a little as he reads. His momentum grinds to a halt and he stands still again. Suddenly, for no particular reason at all, he misses his pickup truck.]

...well, in any case. Somethin' tells me you'll get plenty of chances to experience Sparky's "electrifyin' wit" for yourself. Think there'll be a place to grab some grub on the way?

[Dell might also not be the best conversationalist, but there've been too many little pauses and eye-contact-avoidances for him to just leave this poor fella out to dry. If he has a battle-ready buddy while he figures out the rules of this place, it's probably worth the trouble of whatever's clawing at them behind their eyes. He's seen the kind of crazy that'll wake you up with a scalpel between your ribs, and this ain't it, so a few days of travel to try and eke one or two details out of Loop is fine by him. Heck, maybe even a name!]

[Heh. Seems like Dell might not be used to traveling on foot. Maybe, what with that "giddyup," he normally travels by horse...?]

Not used to hoofing it? [It's meant to be another pun, but it's going to be a total miss...]

I haven't seen any inns along the routes yet, but I've got some stuff I can share. And there's plenty to scrounge up in the woods. [They're glad their foraging skills came back pretty quick, all things considered... it's a lot of how they got by until Cherrygrove.]

Just have to be careful about the berries... some of them are fine for these guys [- they tilt their head at Orrery -] and not so good for us.

[They learned this the hard way, not so much because of being unintentionally careless, more... actively lacking self-preservation. They're becoming a bit better about that, now that they're getting used to having Orrery to take care of.]

[The furthest Dell's used to hauling himself around under his own power is either from his house to the truck, his truck to the bar, or from wherever he is to the nearest teleporter. Cardio isn't exactly his strong suit, and the sigh he lets out reflects that.]

You could say that, but I'm not even sure they got horses 'round these parts to do the hoofin' for you.

[Traveling with Loop has already paid its dividends - he might have read a few books on wild plants back in the day, but he's no survivalist. The meal his "mom" gave him lasted him the better part of his first trip, but he hadn't quite packed enough granola bars and water bottles for the journey after that.]

[Loop's nod towards Orrery gives Dell pause. Does something that robotic need to eat? Wait, does Sparky need to eat?? Of course animals need to, but he's never had to feed a dispenser before...]

[With interest, he meanders over to Orrery and starts looking it over.]

This li'l fella can chow down? Wonder where it all goes--

[Yeah, he always asks this many questions. He catches himself before he starts interrogating Loop again, then gives Orrery the classic hair-tousling pat one gives to cute little things (minus the hair) and upnods to the both of them.]

All'a more reason to get a move on. You [he points a gloved hand at Orrery] might be able to survive on berries, but I'm gonna need a juicy t-bone when we roll into town.

[Come to think of it... or rather they have thought about it, and then decided not to think too hard...] I'm not actually sure how Orrery's digestion works...

[It's like the thing with the eggs all over again.]

She eats rocks sometimes, but it's very particular rocks. I've tried offering her ones I find, and she's very polite about it, but... [Clearly not interested. Loop's not able to pick up on something Orrery is.] So I started sharing my food instead.

[It's probably not ideal, but Orrery seems fine so far.]

[How does the Beldum eat? The same hole as her eye. Don't worry about it.]

[Orrery nudges Dell's hand happily in response to the pet, then returns to hovering behind her trainer's shoulder. Loop, meanwhile, follows along when Dell starts heading down the path. They're quite a bit shorter than Dell, and have to take more steps to keep up, but it seems like that's something they're very used to doing.]

[Loop digs through their bag as they walk. Distractedly, they add:] I have seen a horse! ...it was on fire, but someone was still riding it.

[Ah, there's what they were looking for. They can't provide a steak, but - packet of fish jerky. They hold it out to Dell silently, offering it.]

[As a man of few words himself, he fishes out a piece of the jerky and nods his thanks with an equal amount of silence. He munches thoughtfully as they mosey up the footpath in the general direction of Violet City.]

Y'could ride a flamin' horse back where I'm from, but only fer a minute.

[A pause, then he finishes quietly to himself.]

Prob'ly a different kind'a horse, here.

[Dell's content to walk for a ways without words, the quiet clanking of his toolbox and the buzzing of Ledyba in the trees filling the air instead of words. It's obvious he's mulling something over in that noggin of his, but whatever he's thinking, he hasn't fully formulated it yet.]

[It doesn't take long for Sparky to get bored and release itself from its Pokéball, sneaking behind its trainer and tapping Orrery on her shoulder(?). With one of its zappy arms, it points to something in the treeline - the unmistakable pink of a Pecha berry tree. It giggles a mischievous "Rotototo~" just quiet enough for Orrery to hear, then starts making a jagged beeline for the fruit, hoping its new best friend ~~forever and ever~~ will join in the fun.]

[Loop also seems unbothered to be walking in silence. Unlike Dell, they're trying to avoid getting lost in their own thoughts - but everything in this country(...?) still feels fresh and unique, even the types of trees growing around them, so there's plenty to distract themselves with.]

[The undergrowth to the sides of the trail rustles as wild Pokemon move through it. Loop watches with interest as an Espurr pops its head out from some tall grass to take a look at them. Not long after, a Skwovet follows Loop and Dell for a good ten minutes. It hops from tree to tree to stay above their heads, waiting to see if anyone drops any food.]

[Orrery beeps softly back to Sparky! Hello again friend!!]

[She hesitates for a moment before heading after it, rotating her head sphere to evaluate the distance between the tree and her trainer. She doesn't want to go too far, she's not filled with confidence about Loop's sense of self-preservation if left alone... but no, that should be fine.]

[After Sparky she goes!]

[Sparky isn't nearly as concerned about its trainer's safety as Orrery; whether that's due to his seeming air of confidence or Sparky's wanton disregard for consequences is less clear.]

[It doesn't take long for the two floating Pokémon to silently make their way to the Pecha tree. In a (literal) flash, Sparky yanks on a branch, sending a bunch of the sweet pink berries tumbling to the ground. It immediately starts scarfing down as many as it can, glee plain on its face. It's eating, so it's oblivious to the world...]

[Unlike Orrery. There are plenty of berries to go around, but Orrery can clearly see the group of Spinarak that've been disturbed from slumber as they descend behind Sparky. The look on their faces say that this might be their tree in particular...]

So, uh... pardner.

[There's a slight undercurrent to the way he says it that belies a number of obvious questions about address that are, for now, smoothed over by the grace of Southern honorifics.]

Where ya' from? I was born and raised Texan, but I've been workin' out in Arizona these last few years. 'Least, that's the last thing I remember. What about you? Y'seem a little out of place, like me, beggin' yer pardon--

[But before he can properly finish his question, he glances up over Loop's head.]

Err-- more importantly, where's yer buddy?

~~[insert flashing dotted line in the shape of a Beldum]~~

[The last place they remember before here is Vaugarde, which they're pretty sure is right. But they're from -]

[They're from... they're from...! Their, their country, it was an island, it was - no, they've lost it again, they can't remember -]

[Stars, of course they can't remember. They've been over this! Nobody is ever going to remember!]

[They're not blinding dealing with this again! It's gone forever, they don't even get a ~consolation prize~ like their stardust did, they refuse to keep thinking about this. Can the Universe just give them FIVE MINUTES without them being an absolute mess trying not to cry right in front of someone -]

[Oh look! A distraction! Great~~]

[Hold on, where is Orrery. Loop turns around slowly, scanning their surroundings - and taking the moment they're facing away from Dell to take a deep breath in, then out, trying to force themselves to calm down. They don't think they showed any of - of all that on their face, aside from immediately not being able to look at Dell's face, but - okay, no, focus, focus. Orrery is...]

[~~Yep, blinking dotted line~~]

She was here just a minute ago...

[Right when Loop's starting to get worried, there's a dull thunk and a single Spinarak comes bouncing out onto the road in front of Dell's feet. It lands upside down, little legs twitching - it's knocked out.]

[Loop watches it bounce, then turns their head in the direction it came from. Half a second later they've taken off running.]

[Despite the impression that fainted Spinarak might give, Orrery is getting slowly overwhelmed. The Spinarak are all extremely low in level, but there's a lot of them. Despite her complete immunity to their poison and resistence to their other attacks, she just can't keep up - they seem to have decided to try capturing her in a flood of String Shots, and they're actually getting to the point where they're pinning her down.]

[That is, until Loop comes running out of nowhere and tackles two of the Spinarak at once, tearing through a giant chunk of web. For the viewers at home: this is not a recommended way to interact with wild Pokemon.]

[How's Sparky doing?]

Edited 2024-09-06 01:24 (UTC)

[While Dell isn't the first to dive into battle, he's spent enough time on the battlefield to know when it's go time. He's hot on Loop's heels, one hand holding his hard-hat so he can haul ass.]

[It takes him a minute to even figure out what he's looking at. Spiders the size of hubcaps? Maybe this place is hell, and he did die, after all. It's not really the time to think, but he didn't exactly have a plan for getting attacked by giant spiders, so he's a little slow on the draw in issuing commands...]

[Not that Sparky needs them. The little electric sprite isn't going down without a fight - arcs of electricity lash off of its arms at any Spinarak that get too close, but each one in sequence gets less and less Tesla-esque. It's flagging, and the source is clear: purple lines criss-cross its tiny body. Poison.]

What in Sam Hill are THOSE? Git'cher mandibles off'a our pals!

[Like any rational person, Dell is a bit apprehensive to go toe-to-toe with a magic monster, but at this point he's got three _{(more or less)} allies elbow-deep in Spidersville. With a sigh of resignation, he hefts his metal toolbox and wades into the fray, sending a Spinarak sailing with a sonorous KLONK before it can land a venom-filled bite on Loop's heel.]

Grab yer' metal gal and let's high-tail it! Sparky!

[He whistles loud enough to startle any of the Spinaraks near him - they're all looking his way now, but more importantly, they aren't looking at anyone else. Sparky takes the opportunity to zip somewhere out of sight, but Dell's "quick thinking" has him in hot water.]

[Loop is either not a rational person, or is very used to brawling with magic monsters. Probably both! They're sure not hesitating to wade into the thick of things and boot Spinaraks aside. At some point they snatched up a stick from the ground, too - the way they're waving it around, they're used to something sharper, but it's something that's not their bare hands.]

[They're just lucky that their cloak and hat make their silhouette deceptive - there's at least one confused Spinarak that's tried to sink its fangs in, latched onto nothing but the heavy fabric, and fallen away baffled.]

[Maybe that's what they were banking on, or maybe they just care far less than they should if they get bit.]

I've got her - get back to the path, they won't be able to keep up there!

[With their stick, they saw at more of the threads wrapping Orrery, and the Beldum finally bursts free. She immediately smashes into a Spinarak sneaking up on Loop's blind left side, then bulldozes through a row of the ones Dell's distracted. They're sent flying - none of them knocked out, but she is something like ten times their weight, and that's not nothing when she picks up speed.]

[She beeps urgently at Dell - go go go! - and then slingshots herself back around to make sure her stupid trainer gets out too. If she's not getting ganged up on and slowed down, she really doesn't have much to fear here.]

[Dell might be armed with a great big metal thing, but he's not nearly as adept with it. The best he can do is spook the critters before they can get in position to make a lunge. Then, with all of the grace and beauty of a freight train, Orrery happens.]

[He's seen this one before - it's like watching an übercharge as Orrery tears through the Spinaraks, the sound of chitin thunking off her hull like music to his ears. He takes one wild swing at a flailing spider before booking it out of there with his own hide intact. Once clear of the thick of things, he glances over his shoulder to check if Loop has also broken free.]

C'mon, we're faster on two'n they are on eight!

[Back on the road, Sparky is having a rough go of it. Up until now, it'd been nigh untouchable in battle against the bevy of Normal types on the road. But this - and a surge of poison emphasizes it with a painful throb - sucks. Sparky just flops itself down on a relatively flat rock on the side of the road and shuts its eyes. Not unconscious yet, but definitely working on it.]

[Loop takes a bit longer to extract themselves, even with Orrery's help - at one point they straight up just trip over a tree root on their blind side, and while they recover without falling over, it's several steps of pinwheeling their arms to catch their balance. They have to abandon their stick when a Spinarak latches onto it, and they're favoring one leg slightly - whether it's because they wrenched it tripping or did end up getting bit once or twice. But once they get moving they're still going pretty fast.]

[They burst back onto the road in a flurry of leaves, spinning around on their uninjured foot to see what the Spinarak are doing. (Orrery flings the same leaves back into the air in her wake as she zooms after.)]

[Fortunately, most of the spiders apparently want to stick around the tree, and the few that have chased everyone all the way back to the road are nervous about scuttling out of the undergrowth. Every once in a while one psychs itself up into doing a bluff charge, then reconsiders once its front legs hit the worn down path. Especially when Orrery warns them off with furious grinding mechanical sounds.]

[Loop backs up several more steps, then visibly checks on their three traveling companions, one by one. ~~No more blinking outlines, right?~~]

[...something doesn't feel right. They can't actually make out the purple lines covering Sparky; in grayscale, the red of the Rotom's body is virtually the same shade. But the way it's flopped over...] Is Sparky okay?

[A: Route 30]

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[1/2]

[2/2] also I just looked up spinarak and they're 18 lbs. terrifying

Re: sizes - charizard is 4'10". pupitar is 330lbs. pokemon are just whatever size huh

it's great. why is joltik so much smaller than spinarak? don't worry about it!

well you see it's because joltik is very smol

meanwhile, applin, an apple that is 8 whole inches tall,