4 ∅ [Video]

[callbacks]

[The video starts on an unsure-looking Kirlia. He starts to edge away, but Dave--apparently behind the camera--speaks.]

Naw, go ahead, dude. C'mon. Don't be shy.

[The Kirlia sighs, extremely put upon, and then ballet-toes back into place. There's a Dawn Stone on the floor nearby; the Kirlia bends primly at the waist to pick it up, and:

Presto.

Wart the Gallade examines his arm-blades for a moment, then shoots Dave a look as if to say, "If we're quite done now." Dave chuckles quietly.]

Yeah, yeah, thanks for humoring me, bro. The moment has been secured for posterity. Duty discharged. [The relief on the Gallade's face is palpable before Dave turns the camera towards his own movie star mug. Hello, Johto.]

So, hey. I get that baby's first evolution is probably ancient headwear for most of you, but he's the first guy I got all the way to his final form. That's worth some kind of jokey home video.

[Yeah, because he's obviously being ironic about this. He's not Proud Dadding all over his starter, no sirree.]

Anyway, I've been hearing about a bunch of different evolutionary paths our Poképals can take, and, I dunno. I'm curious, I guess. If you ever made a choice like that, what made you pick one way or the other?

Comments

video;

[loveisanopendoor]

AH! Oh gosh, he looks so cool! Look, look, Odin, you've got a brother in arms now!

[ Looks like Anna's got her own Gallade out, pretty hyped to show him off! What's up, fellow knight? c: ]

Congratulations! He looks awesome, really! The knightly Pokemon is really cool, it suits you well, Dave!

video;

[callbacks]

Ahah. Yeah, you think so?

[Wart, sensing that attention is still on him despite being off-screen, decides he'd rather participate in the conversation if people are going to be talking about him and cranes his head back into frame to see who this Odin fellow is. Dave pats his head.]

Dude, say thanks to Anna. She said you look cool, you know that's the ideal.

[Wart glances back at Dave, but then puts a hand to his chest and bows. Such gallant. So chivalry. Wow.]

[loveisanopendoor]

[ Very noble!! Odin can't help but genuflect back out of respect for his peer! ]

Well, of course he's cool! He's gotta take after his trainer, right? ...It's okay if he's a bit of a dork, though. Mine's a bit of a lovestruck nerd...he has a real crush on Elsa's Gardevoir. He always has, really! But it's very cute to see!

As for making choices with evolutions, it's tough to say! Some of my Pokemon are still unevolved even though they're as strong as they can be. Like, Clefairy is supposed to evolve into Clefable...but I can't bring myself to evolve it, Noel is just so cute the way she is! And I can't exactly cuddle her as much if she gets too big for me to carry her in my arms, y'know? She's a little spoiled, so I don't think she'd like if I can't pick her up...

[ Anna's got her priorities in order. ]

[Video]

[grapeeater]

[It's not a person who answers, but a Pokemon, a very bored-looking Kadabra staring at the screen.]

My species only has a single evolutionary path, but some of us have specifically chosen not to evolve and... informed our trainer of that fact, despite his objections.

[Video]

[callbacks]

[Oh, okay, voice in his head. Wart hasn't ever spoken telepathically to Dave, for whatever reason, and Dave blinks before responding.]

Oh. How come? I mean, like, is the process uncomfy or is it like an aesthetic thing or what?

[video]

[defyingfrigidity]

[It's a little hard to clap while you're holding a recording device, so in Elsa's place, the Gardevoir standing behind her claps rather enthusiastically. The both of them seem pretty happy with that transformation!]

Congratulations, Dave! Seeing one of your friends fully evolved for the first time is certainly a good feeling of accomplishment on both sides.

And as for your question... I think the most important thing is to keep what your Pokemon want in mind.

[video]

[callbacks]

Well, Wart's been more gung-ho than me about this training and growing up and fighting narrative the whole time, so I knew this was the way for him. But can you always tell? I mean, how do you know if they're ready, or even want to?

[VIDEO]

[invigorating]

Oh gosh, what a pretty Pokémon! Tell him I think he's super cute, okay?

[Nowi leans back a bit in the chair she's sitting in while she considers Dave's question.]

You know, I've thought about getting an Eevee, but I'm always super worried about that! What if I make the wrong decision? What if he or she doesn't want to be the form I want them to be? I mean, I'd totally ask them first before just doing it, but like... it's so complicated!

I haven't had to worry about that yet though, luckily!

[VIDEO]

[callbacks]

[Dave looks off-screen to see if Wart caught that. The answer is apparently yes, because Dave offers Nowi a slim grin and a thumbs-up. Message received. Wart is probably blushing out of frame. Dave nods and returns to the conversation.]

Yeah, I've got one of those, which is part of why I'm asking. But he's a baby so I can't exactly put the question to him, or even convey the concept of what passes for evolution in this universe. He'd just blink at me and make baby animal noises, which, you know. Cute, but not totally helpful towards the subject at hand.

[armoredsoul]

Congratulations! I remember Eddie reaching his final stage, he was pretty excited about it!

[Speaking of, the Luxray noses his head up under Al's arm to look at the screen, and Al laughs and scratches him between the ears before continuing.]

If there's ever an option of what they can evolve into, I let my Pokemon decide what they want to do. It doesn't seem fair to do it any other way, you know?

[callbacks]

Yeah, but how do you put it to them? Have like a strategy pow-wow, discuss costs and benefits, make some kind of graphic representation? Or do they just, like...always know what they want to be?

Video

[bent_the_world]

That's awesome! And totally worth sharing with everybody.

[Korra's expression is one of excited awe. She's seen a couple of evolutions over the gears before, but it never fails to impress her.]

Congratulations! I haven't had any of mine evolve yet.

Video

[callbacks]

Not any of them? I thought you were here longer than me.

[Audio]

[unkinder]

When my own Ralts evolved, I chose to let her evolve naturally. Into Gardevoir, of course. Since then I've acquired a Gallade as well, but Gardevoir I am significantly more familiar with.

As far as different Pokemon go, though...I chose to evolve my Snorunt into Frosslass, for example. A bit of a specific evolution, since only females can evolve into Frosslass. But I still find it more...aesthetically pleasing than Glalie.

[...Glalie kindof freaks him out a little ngl.]

Is there a reason you chose Gallade in particular?

[Audio]

[callbacks]

[Dave nods. Another aesthetics guy. Good to see he's not the only one.]

I mean, he always sorta seemed the type. Noble and courageous about stuff.

[When he's not being camera-shy, anyway.]

...But I guess I also kind of felt narratively obligated.

video;

[irenicly]

I've never chosen something in particular for one of my Pokemon, but when I caught Kagayaki, she had already evolved into a Slyveon.

I think Eevees evolve into one when they're really happy.

video;

[callbacks]

That's sweet as hell. Cutest fucking thing I've ever heard. Sylveon's...some kind of forest-related evolution? No, wait, Leafeon's got the plant angle covered, so...

[eclectictype]

[Given that she's probably like right next to him and witnessed the whole thing, Jade just claps.]

Hail King Arthur! Long live the King!

[Yes Dave posed a question about evolution, but screw that, they can talk about evolution another time--there's Disney references to make.]

[callbacks]

[Wart just looks equal parts embarrassed and trying-not-to-look-embarrassed. He bows to her, surreptitiously tugging at his bandanna (his poor old janky scarf got shredded a while ago) to mask his expression a little better.

Dave smirks.]

Cute.

[Wart just tugs his bandanna up higher.]

Don't go around leading on too many squirrel girls, now.

[Wart's face disappears entirely behind the cloth. Fuck you, Strider. Fuck. You.]

[secondplacing]

That's Gallade?

[Carolina's got a bit of a... greedy looking grin.

Look. Freelancers like things. Evolutions count as things.]

What's he evolved from-- the first one, I mean.

[callbacks]

Ralts. This guy.

[wart012.jpg]

But it's gotta be a boy to go this route, apparently. Otherwise they evolve into something else at level thirty.

[islandshore]

Well, as far as Knight goes--

[Riku turns the camera toward a Gardevoir who is currently sipping tea and munching on a Croissant with an Alakazam and and Weavile sipping tea beside him.

He pans back to himself shortly after.]

He was already a Gardevoir when I got him. Asked him about it one time, and he said, and I quote...

[He clears his voice, putting on his best snobbish accent.]

"I prefer the elegance of my natural evolution." Sometimes I just let them choose so there's less bickering later. Still, if I had the choice, I probably would've gone for a Gallade, too. They're just too cool to pass up.

[Cue an indignant huff from offscreen.]

[callbacks]

Me and Wart were in pretty solid agreement from the get-go from what I could tell, so I didn't really have to negotiate any kind of disagreement.

[Which is in part why he's wondering how people do handle that.]

But, so yours talks to you? Your Gardevoir, I mean. Like, with words, not just meaningful looks and the occasional illustrative gesture.

[action]

[in4apounding]

[And another small round of golf-claps from the audience. Penny's got her Eevee snuggled in her arms, the cuteness of which may or may not be ruined by the Galvantula clinging to her back and peeking over her shoulder.]

He looks so regal! I can see why you wanted to capture the moment like that.

And... I don't know. I've been wondering the same thing about Precious.

[She gives the Eevee in question some scratches behind the ear.]

Almost any of his evolved forms would be VERY useful, but I don't want to try making him into something that would make him unhappy... I've tried asking about it, but I don't think he quite understands.

[action]

[callbacks]

[Dave turns away from the feed and leans back in his chair, stretching his legs out with a sigh.]

It's like asking kids what they want to be when they grow up, right? Like, they might give you an answer, but who the fuck knows if they really want to be a dinosaur veterinarian astronaut.