Test-Drive Meme - August & September

[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!
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➞ Have fun!

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CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

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Comments

[practicalproblemsolver]

[This isn't the first time Dell's had to step up in a clutch moment, but frankly, he hadn't expected to be doing Jeremy's job while doing it. Not that he minds, of course. Gotta do what you gotta do.]

[He returns the nod, then waves for Orrery to follow him.]

Let's cause a ruckus, shall we?

[With his rattly metal toolbox in hand, Dell quick-steps his way in a big quarter circle around the tree, making sure to give it a wide berth until he absolutely has to get closer. Deep breath. Steady on... Steady...]

[Go time.]

Hey, you lily-livered sons 'a slugs! Me'n tin-top here wanna steal ALL your berries! Bet'cha can't stop us!

[It probably doesn't matter what he says as he shakes his toolbox violently, drowning out a lot of the words in the clattering racket. It's impossible to miss - or ignore. Big black eyes swivel to fix on Dell and Orrery, and with a hiss, more Spinarak than expected start to pour out of the tree, charging through the undergrowth at them.]

Move 'em out!

[Not like Orrery needs the order, but Dell turns to haul ass out of there, still shaking his toolbox the whole time. It's only now as he looks ahead to the deeper forest that he realizes making a whole bunch of noise in the woods isn't a great idea, even back where he's from...]

[Still, here's hoping they've bought Loop enough time to get in and out un-spidered.]

[loopsiedaisy]

[For all her best efforts with loud beeps and whirrs, Orrery can't make anywhere near as much of a racket as Dell. But just you wait until she's a Metagross. Fortunately, Dell's toolbox is plenty loud enough for the both of them.]

[She follows Dell, sometimes doing a little loop-de-loop to get a glimpse of all the Spinarak behind them. Most are staying pretty clumped together, but occasionally one gets a bit too fast and confident and closes in, and she has to thump it out of the air mid-leap. The ones staying on the ground instead of hopping from tree to tree quickly fall behind altogether.]

[Loop, meanwhile, creeps up to the Pecha tree, stepping lightly. There's some berries scattered on the ground, but they're not sure how fresh those are, and whether or not that matters - so instead they find a low branch they can reach and snap it off, berries in various stages of ripeness coming with it.]

[Any spiders around? ...if there are, the ones left are the ones too timid to defend their tree, and they stay quiet and unmoving.]

[They back off, heading to the cover of the normal trees - just in time, too, as they start hearing the rustling of the more easily discouraged Spinarak returning.]

[Loop pauses thoughtfully. Then they pick up a nice fist-sized rock from the ground, toss it in their gloved hand a couple times... and fling it toward the upper half of the tree as hard as they can.]

[There's a thump as it hits the trunk, off-center, making all the leaves it passed through shake. The returning Spinarak immediately hiss loudly and charge back at the tree, and Loop slips away toward the road.]

[From there, they try to head toward where they last heard Dell's shouts, gently scooping up Sparky on the way.]

[practicalproblemsolver]

[Low-hanging branches and obtrusive roots do their best to make Dell eat dirt as he crashes his way through the undergrowth. While one Spinarak isn't all that fast, get enough of them going in one direction, and you'll find the fast ones soon enough. He's more than appreciative that Orrery's with him for this part.]

[The heavy clank of chitin on metal from behind him tells him that the worst of it's being kept off of his back. Orrery can keep up by virtue of not having to navigate the forest floor, so Dell just focuses on running and staying upright, only occasionally glancing backwards to check--]

WHUNK

[If it weren't for his hard hat, he'd have split his skull open on the sturdy hardwood he'd just headbutted by accident. The blow just leaves him dazed, but at the moment, that's as good as dead in his book. He whips around and sees twice as many Spinarak coming for him as before - no, wait, that's just the double vision from the impact. Still, he's surrounded.]

[Until four pointy, roughly-spherical things drop out of the boughs from above and land like cannonballs in the loam.]

[Now, in his addled state, Dell doesn't quite know what to make of these things, but the Spinarak stop dead in their tracks. Some hostile chittering is exchanged, followed by agitated leering (though not literal Leering), before the horde slowly disperses in random directions. As far as they're concerned, this problem is about to fix itself.]

[Dell rubs his temples as he tries to get his vision to stop swimming. While he might not recognize them, Orrery is more than likely able to identify four drowsy Pineco stirring from slumber around them.]

[Some ways in the distance, picking carefully past the retreating Spinarak, Dell makes out the unmistakable silhouette of Loop as his sight starts to resolve again. He calls to them with a little worry in his voice, unaware of the living explosives at his feet.]

Well? Didja get the magic apple thing?

[loopsiedaisy]

[Loop is holding Sparky carefully in the crook of one elbow, and the branch of berries in their other hand. They lift the branch and wave it slightly - the berries swing back and forth.] I hope so!

[Fortunately for Loop, they pause once they see the Spinarak retreating, assuming Dell and Orerry will just join them closer to the road. Let's not drag poor Sparky through all those low branches and bushes if they don't have to.]

[Unfortunately for Dell and herself, while Orrery is familiar with a good amount of Pokemon from being a starter, she doesn't quite know them all - or if she does, she doesn't necessarily know how they act in the wild. She swivels her eye down to the Pineco; they don't seem to be doing anything yet...]

[Orrery's uneasy about the Spinarak all retreating, though. There is Something Wrong with this situation and she would like to leave. Still watching the Pineco, she bumps into Dell's back, gently shoving him in the direction of Loop and the road.]

[practicalproblemsolver]

[Sparky is light enough that carrying it is more like trying to corral a balloon in your arms than holding a limp living creature. It's emitting low buzzing noises, and all this time they've been getting quieter... but they're still going.]

[A wave of relief washes over Dell like sunrise on Sunday morning. He stumbles forward a step or two at Orrery's insistence, steadying himself with a quick arm pinwheel, his boot clunking against one of the Pineco's side.]

Alrighty then! I'll come out t' meet'cha, you just stay right there.

[The tunnel vision is real as he begins his triumphant return. Only when the forest's quiet ambiance is pierced by a "PiiiiiiIIIIII--" does he turn and examine the spikey things.]

[A little too late. Two of the four of them are glowing bright yellow, with light pouring off of them in gouts of energy. All Dell and Orrery can do is exchange a glance of surprise before they're launched clear out of the woods by the ensuing double-Self Destructs.]

Dad gummit-

[It's tough to say how Orrery'd handle being flung like this, but it's safe to say that Dell is much less graceful no matter what. He hits the ground like a sack of potatoes and rolls two or three times before coming to a stop face-down by the side of the road.]

[The noise rouses Sparky from its demi-conscious state. One eye flitters open, and as it takes in the scene, it frantically tugs at Loop's sleeve(? cowl? poncho?) with its lightning bolts. It doesn't have enough energy to zip out of their arms, but not for lack of trying.]

me plugging Beldum into a damage calculator: ...holy shit

[loopsiedaisy]

[Loop is far enough away still that they can't quite see what caused the explosions, just that explosions happened. They take off running toward Dell and Orrery almost immediately, and slow down only slightly when they nearly trip over their hurt leg. And that only because they realize that falling while holding an injured Sparky would be bad.]

[Orrery thunks into the ground, flipping end over end before skidding to a halt. She leaves a groove in the dirt behind her - probably more of a groove than Dell, even, considering her weight.]

[She is, astonishingly, still not knocked out, even after two Self-destructs to the face. Because Steel Pokemon are utterly ridiculous. But after that and the Spinarak, she's definitely extremely low on health; it takes her several long moments to lift herself back into the air, and her float is very wobbly.]

[Loop slows down even more next to her, concerned, but she's already drifting over to check on Dell. Albeit with a flight path that looks almost drunk. So Loop keeps going ahead - she's not moving fast - and drops to their knees next to Dell. They carefully let Sparky down, freeing their hands.]

[Is Dell conscious? Should they... flip him over, or would that make things worse?]

[Sure would be nice to have healing Craft right now! They try to use it, on the off chance it works even though their other skills didn't, but... no luck. Why are they so useless??]

me plugging Engineer TF2 into a damage calculator:

[practicalproblemsolver]

[Sparky drifts out of Loop's arms and bonks into its trainer's hard hat. Even as it winces in pain from the poison coursing through its body, it looks up at Loop with little pleading eyes, confusion and concern written all over its expression. The oppressive quiet after the chaos only serves to draw that much more attention to the immobile, facedown body on the side of the road.]

[Then a cough rings out like a gunshot as Dell's lungs start working again. With a big puff of dirt and dust, he rolls himself onto his back, taking a few deep breaths before... laughing?]

Hoooo-wee, it's just like bein' home.

[The broad grin on his face doesn't match the expression of someone who's just been hit with some of the most powerful attacks Pokémon are capable of. It takes him a little effort, but he hauls himself up on elbows, a sharp intake of breath the only acknowledgement of any injury.]

There's my little fella. Ol' one-eye here take good care of ya'?

[With a beep of joy, Sparky zips into the crook of Dell's arm, hugging him tight. Dell glances around until he spots Orrery, and he gives her a nod that only those that have been blown up understand. Then, back to Loop. His smile changes from one of adrenaline to a softer, more thoughtful one as he spots the uncertainty in their face.]

All's well that ends well, I reckon. Y'got the apple thingies, right? Sparky's been a real trooper. I think it's earned itself a treat.

[Dell eases Sparky into the palm of his hand, and with a slightly shaky movement, he holds up the poisoned Pokémon to Loop. It mutters a buzzy-sounding "Ro-to-to..." with a hopeful expression.]

Dell is at least a lvl 10 steel type, #confirmed

[loopsiedaisy]

[Loop lets out a big whoooooof of a breath in relief. And then another breath in and out.]

[Dell is, well... clearly not okay, but people aren't usually that lucid if they're about to die in the next couple minutes. They should know, they've had plenty of practice.]

[- oh, yeah, feeding Sparky the berries, the whole reason they did all of this in the first place. Which they probably could've done before picking Sparky up and carrying it to Dell, stupid.]

[They pick through the branch's leaves and end up with some berries of various ripeness, holding them out to Sparky. Hopefully the Rotom knows which one is good? Or it can just eat them all, that works too.]

[Their heart is still hammering, but they force a smile.] You get exploded often at home?

[Quieter, almost under their breath:] What were those explosions, anyway...? [They didn't actually get close enough to see. Some kind of trap?]

[Orrery, meanwhile, finally catches up. She sinks to the ground next to Loop. She is Tired.]

[Loop turns their worry onto her, gently brushing dust off her steel sheel. She doesn't appear to have any... cracks? Or anything? They have no idea how damage would look for a Beldum. But the only time she hasn't been floating is when she's asleep, so this is worrying.]

or he's been dead the WHOLE TIME *lightning crash*

[practicalproblemsolver]

[The moment it sees the Pecha branch, Sparky's initial languid movement gives way to a voracious frenzy, and it strips the branch bare like a tiny orange Carvanha in no time flat. At the peak of the last leaf, it spins around heroically, announcing a bold "RO-TO-TOOO~!" as it shows off its reinvigorated form.]

[...then it immediately faceplants into the dirt. It's cured of the poison, but no better off in the actual health department. Dell chuckles to himself as he scoops his little pal into his hip holster.]

Yer' alright, pardner. Let's keep you outta trouble for a bit 'n you'll be right as rain.

[Now that Sparky's down for a little nap, he addresses Loop with a bit of a tinge of sincerity to his voice. Even though he's covered in blast soot and dirt, and talking takes a not-insignificant amount of his remaining energy, it's still right to be polite.]

Ah'm sorry for all'a the trouble we got'chy'all into today. Need t'get me one'a them Pokémon leashes or somethin' for Sparky so it don't go tryin' to get any more snacks, heh. Still tryin' to get the hang of bein' a trainer an' all.

[He adjusts his hard hat, an absentminded fidget as he formulates his next words.]

So... thanks. For the help.

/horror sting plays

[loopsiedaisy]

[Loop ducks their face below the top edge of their cloak, eye not meeting Dell's. It doesn't seem like they were expecting to be thanked! As far as they're concerned, they weren't much help, even if their Pokemon was...]

[But they dip their head in a small nod anyway.] ...Orrery did the most.

[Orrery rolls over until she's lying upside-down, making a sound like a floppy disk drive. She rotates her eye to look at Dell and blinks at him, the light shutting off and back on.]

[As she rolls, she nudges against the side of Loop's bag, and something clinks. Loop abruptly remembers the bottles in there - surely one of them is for healing?]

[They pull out the Potions and Repels, holding them up in front of Orrery's eye.] Are any of these tonics?

[Orrery gives them a look of confusion. What's a tonic?]

[Oh, she does want that Potion though. Beep.]

[Loop squints at the lid - a spray bottle lid, not something they've ever seen - and starts unscrewing it.]

[practicalproblemsolver]

[Unfortunately, Dell didn't see the prudence of buying Potions on his first visit to the Pokémart, so he's fresh out of them. The trigger-style spray bottle, though? That's cutting-edge when he's from!]

Oh, that's one'a them newfangled spray things. Don't open it, y'might depressurize the contents. It works like a gun, ya just-- [He makes a motion like firing a pistol, though if Loop isn't familiar, he just kind of makes an L with his fingers and wiggles one.] It's easy.

[Dell's too polite to ask for some of the Potion, even with the state Sparky's in. He also feels more than a bit indebted to Orrery at this point as well. Instead, he wordlessly puts his non-gloved hand into his hip holster, patting the snoozing form of his Rotom, hoping a good nap will revitalize it.]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Honestly, Loop didn't think of it either - it's only good that the starter pack bag they got had a few...]

[They sure don't know what a gun is! In fact, their first thought is that Dell is demonstrating some Craft hand symbol they're not familiar with. But after watching what he's doing and then squinting at the spray bottle for a little bit, they figure it out.]

[They spritz their arm first, testing it out, then spray it onto Orrery more thoroughly. She lets out a grateful beep and heaves herself back into the air.]

[The thought of not sharing doesn't even occur to them. If nothing else, it's more practical to have a group of four that can all move under their own power than have a group that's half being carried along. So they roll the Potion over to Dell with it still more than half full.]

See if it works on you and Sparky?

[(The answer, for humans, is unfortunately "no"... but Loop has no way of knowing that.)]