21 | Text + Action

[serpensrex]

There are so many products at the Department Store for Pokémon. Which ones do you use? And why? Which ones improve the ability to battle? Which Technical Machines would allow a Machop to strike a ghost Pokémon? If you can answer any of these, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

[Oh hi there! Ryner's out grocery shopping too, actually, though he's mostly looking to restock on food supplies and bandages and stuff. ...though, there are what could be a few TM cases among today's intended purchase. Hmm. He is, in fact, in the next aisle over, intently studying a shelf full of cans which claim to contain tuna fish.]

Mmm, you'd be surprised how helpful temporary ability increases can be, you know.

[Action]

[serpensrex]

You think so?

[Cobra Commander looked over towards the next aisle, not yet matching the voice with someone he knew.]

The temporary increases could be good in a desperate situation, but after the battle ends, they're useless according to this.

[He's still sort of thinking out loud.]

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

[And Ryner's still paying more attention to that which is nominally tuna than who he's talking to, really...]

Well, that's why you get more than one, I guess.

[Action]

[serpensrex]

I was planning on getting more than one.

[Something about that voice sounds familiar, but he can't put his finger on it.]

Or maybe I should just buy the vitamins for them. This is turning into a real pain!

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

Haa, no kidding... Well, I guess if you're worried about the money or anything, some kinds can learn moves that work kind of like that, I think.

[Have I mentioned that this tuna that may or may not actually be tuna is somehow particularly distracting? Because it is.]

[Action]

[serpensrex]

I know about those! Wait, you're...

[There it is. He thinks he knows who this is now.]

You're that lazy person!

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

Mmm?

[And now he actually turns to face who he's talking to.]

...Oh, you're that weird guy.

[Action]

[serpensrex]

I am not weird!

[He's yelling a bit quieter than normal. Getting kicked out of the store and arrested for disturbing the peace is not on Cobra Commander's to do list for today.]

I'm surprised you're even in here. I thought you spent most of your time napping!

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

[He decides not to argue about definitions of the word 'weird' - getting into that would just be a pain.]

I'm grocery shopping. [With his left hand, he holds up his shopping basket as proof.] Even if I'd rather be asleep, and things would be a lot less bothersome if Rose would let me just sleep all afternoon without beating me up... well, they all need to eat, you know?

[Action]

[serpensrex]

All? You mean your Pokemon? They beat you and you buy them food?

[He's at a loss to understand how that works.]

You shouldn't reward that kind of behavior! I know I wouldn't if mine tried that!

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

How is not letting them starve rewarding them for bad behavior?! Besides, it's only Rose who does it...

[Action]

[serpensrex]

Easy. You're rewarding this Rose with food for abusing its trainer! You should withhold food until it learns that you're in the one in charge!

[He says this as if starving Pokemon is a completely acceptable way to handle them.]

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

So... if it was you, you'd let her starve and die?

[Action]

[serpensrex]

Let my Pokemon die? Of course not! How ssstupid do you think I am?

[He seems taken aback by that.]

I'd just make sure that it knew who the boss was! And if withholding or limiting food is needed to teach that, then sssso be it!

[Action]

[alpha_stigma]

Ah, is that so. Well, that's better than just letting them die, then.

But honestly, torturing someone like that really sucks. Besides, she's really really stubborn and wouldn't stop even if I did do something bothersome like that. So I try to encourage her to not beat me up, instead, you know?

[Action]

[serpensrex]

No, no I do not know.

[The concept of encouraging Pokemon with things other than "If you continue to fail, you don't get food today" or "If you keep taking that much damage, you'll be training until you faint" is beyond him.]