islandshore | 60 - video/text/action for travel group;;

[It's still raining. At least, it should be, but today we have a nice outdoor shot with little rays of sun shining down, while a Charizard lumbers around in the background, grumbling shaking off little droplets of water. There's a Toxicroak rubbing the top of its head and grumbling before a Vaporeon scoffs and squirts her with a stream of water...

And then the camera pans to Riku, looking slightly soaked, with his hair clinging to his skin.]

You know, at this rate, I bet the Department Stores are gonna run out of Sunny Day TMs. It's been, what? A week since this weather started? I'm surprised the routes haven't flooded yet...

[Groans, waving one of his hands.]

But anyway, I was thinking. We know these "Bloobers" are called Goomies now, and the Pokédex has some info, but has anyone ever thought about swapping notes on these guys? The Pokédex can only tell us so much, and if there's another region out there with tons of new Pokémon, then--

[Riku's cut off by an abrupt SPLAT, as a water balloon nails him in the cheek, splashing water all over his already damp hair and leaving bits of rubber stuck to his cheek. If that's not bad enough, the Sunny Day ends abruptly, and the downpour resumes with a vengeance, splattering him with big, wet droplets.

The culprit? That'd probably be the spiky-haired doofus laughing in the background. Once Riku pulls the busted balloon off his face, he whips around and charges...]

Oh, so you think you're funny, huh?

[And the feed cuts.

Later, a text message pops up on the network:]

Text/Filtered from Sora;;

So, Sora's turning eighteen on the twenty-third, and I'm wondering what you guys think is a good way to celebrate. It's kind of a big deal for him, and I really want to make it count. And if any of you guys are friends with him, I bet he'd love to see you around. Just gotta figure out the right location and hope we don't get nailed by more stupid rain.

Text/PGC filter;

Tenten's gone, which means we're down one of our group leaders. We've lost a few other members recently as well, and I think it's just about time to start recruiting again.

Tenten's loss means we're also down one team organizer, which means we're gonna need someone to step up. Preferably someone good at bookkeeping.

If you've got anything new to report, let me know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You know, that's a good point. I wonder if these guys even have bones.

[If they really are just goo, then it's a wonder they're able to hodl such stable forms. Or, well, mostly stable...]

What I don't get is how it's able to throw a punch that can beat a hundred boxers.

I wonder a lot about most Pokemon, because doesn't seem like most a them make a single lick a sense.

[But that's the thing with Johto, he's found. Either you got used to it, or you drove yourself right into the gutter wondering. He's not smart enough for it all anyway.]

Well, if it's so stretchy, just gotta stretch long enough, right?

So, what? It pulls its arms back and then lets them loose?

[Pffft. He's just imagining a Goodra slingshot now.]

Guess that'd work if it was elastic enough.

Why not! [Joker's laughing a little himself now.]

Think I know what I'm gonna try for my next gym battle then~.

[... ... ...

This is a very serious moment. Something that requires deep contemplation. Riku stares at the screen with a stiff expression.

...and then he starts laughing.]

You are gonna record it, right?

Well I am a showman, y'know! I'll be sure ta keep the 'Gear right on hand.

Good. And I'll be sure to grab some popcorn when it goes up. I'd kill to see more experimental battle styles.

Maybe it's somethin' ta bring up ta folks, then. We're a creative lot, I'm sure we can come up with somethin'.

You know what would be cool, though? If there was some kind of competition for creative battling techniques. It'd give people a reason to think outside the box.

That's an idea! I bet plenty a folks would have fun with that. Especially those who've been here for a while.

Hey, maybe some people already have crazy strategies that they just haven't had a chance to use. I'm gonna have to put some serious thought into this...

Let me know what ya come up with. Sounds like it could be fun~.

Know what would be fun? Building a whole team around some of the less popular Pokémon. The kind nobody expects, like Spinda or Stunfisk.

[Just... throwing caution to the wind and picking those oddballs who can't even evolve. It might be a refreshing change of pace for those who prefer more hard-hitting 'mons.]

Ya know I'll support that thing all the way, although I'm a bit stuck on adoptin' some of those still stuck in the foster home.

Maybe we should make a list of all the more unpopular ones, then.

That'd require polling everybody. Still, might be worth the effort. I'd love to find out what everyone else is using.

[Partly for curiosity's sake. His own preferences for hard-hitting behemoths is hardly the standard, after all.]

Well, ya know me. I always love chattin' it up. I'll see about makin' a post some time and we can move from there.

Hmm... Come to think of it, maybe we could use the circus to showcase some of those Pokémon. If I end up training them, I could always send them your way.

But that's your call-- the circus is already great the way it is.

I'd be happy ta help. The circus back home ended up takin' in a lot a folks who most didn't look twice at anyway- yours truly included. [He gives a wink as he taps his armless shoulder.]

Doin' the same here but with Pokemon is right up our alley.

Well, you sure haven't let that slow you down.

[It's actually really impressive. Losing a leg is one thing, but an arm? For a split-second, Riku looks down at one of his hands. It's tough to imagine adapting to something like that.]

Makes me wonder if there are Pokémon who get dumped on the street due to injuries. Most battles are pretty tame, but there's nothing stopping a Garchomp from biting off a Pidgeot's wing. And given how important battles are...

[He winces. Those super competitive types would probably seek out a replacement in a flash.]

I've been about Goldenrod plenty and haven't seen anythin' like that... But that doesn't mean they ain't there.

[Joker is starting to frown a bit, the reasoning probably obvious.]

I'll ask around. They seem like rather tough things when all's said and done, but they ain't invincible, we know that much.

Yeah... And it's tough to know their limits. I've got a few Pokémon who can't even tell when enough is enough.

[Terror. Quake. Both disastrous monsters in their own right for human and Pokémon alike.]

But hey, maybe it's not as bad as I thought. Maybe the people here really do care about all their Pokémon, and it's only outsiders like us who'd consider those darker possibilities.

Ya really think so?

I hope so. I mean, the locals are ridiculously pacifistic...

[But then, not everyone is. The fact that Team Rocket exists is testament to that.]

People surprise ya.

But I suppose that's just makin' the conversation gloomy, now, isn't it? Anyway, I'll ask around about Pokemon and the like when I get my next bit a free time. I'm sure you'll be able ta see the results yerself.

60 - video/text/action for travel group;;

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