“Oh, so you're one of those gals in the wailord armada?”

Valerio has heard it from the Rockets in the Lilycove warfront. The idea is totally appalling, at the same time ridiculous. But it did the work they are supposed to do which is also totally logical. Who would want to battle against the kings of the ocean? Although...

“Don't wailords float when they haven't eaten?”

He retorts with a fact that can refute her claim. Anyway, he thinks what she says is true: water-types will give Hoon a hard time, but at least she acknowledges it isn't impossible. This is most convincing when at the background, the charizard goes head-to-head with a loafing slaking who he targets with a BREAKING SWIPE. He follows up his pokemon's effort with a throw of another spare ball.

DUO WILD: CATCH SLAKING - 7

#skyler dross

The mention of the armada had Skyler breaking out in a bout of unrestrained, delighted laughter. She had to hold onto her stomach by the end of it, the memory of three Wailords BOUNCING through the air a lot more hilarious now than in the moment it'd happened - now that fear wasn't raking its sharp claws over her mind. "I didn't know we'd gotten an official title. But yeah, I suppose I am part of the Wailord armada. I'm still surprised my Nautilus survived; he's tougher than he looks. And believe me, you haven't lived until you've seen a Wailord fly. Or... well, as close to flying as it can get." There was a fierce, wild grin curling her lips. "Maybe one day I'll show you, uncle."

Confused blinking followed the man's question. "Float? I honestly don't know. I haven't ever had a problem with my Wailord staying above or below the water in any way. He mostly just does what he wants - and protects the ship, of course." He'd deserved a little bit of rest after the war. Of course, her Wailord wasn't the only water pokemon she had in her possession - just the most imposing due to its sheer size.

Skyler was so focused on the conversation that she didn't even notice Clarabelle assaulting a nearby bird. The enraged cawing went right over her head, soon followed by an unconscious bird pokemon. Silver eyes blinked, shifting to find a smug Clarabelle staring at her. Oh, well. One more bird couldn't hurt. With a flick of her wrist, the Mandibuzz disappeared into the pokeball.

CAPTURING MANDIBUZZ
Valerio Dachev

“I'm afraid when they do 'fly,' they didn't have a choice.”

Valerio shares the ecstatic display of amusement as they probe on their title, "Wailord Armada." The moniker isn't even official—it's just the name the locals fondly calls them when they remember the incident at the Lilycove shore. Many have been delighted at their performance that there has been an escalation of wailord catching in the waters of Hoenn: Valerio among one of them.

“So don't forget to feed 'em.”

Hoon hovers behind his trainer, listening as they conversation goes on even when the lizard has no idea what they are gushing about. If only the charizard does witness a wailord float, maybe it will understand in the most uncomforting way there is.

DUO WILD: PASS - 7

#skyler dross

"I'll keep that in mind, uncle." The lopsided grin on her face still spoke of her earlier amusement, bold and unafraid as she stepped closer to the older man and poked at his arm. Playfulness weaved itself into her words, a silver gaze peeking at him, still crinkled at the corners. "Maybe I should get a few more Wailords myself. They do protect the ship nicely."

And given that Skyler spent nearly all of her time at sea, it wasn't that big of a deal to get those behemoths fed: they did it all on their own, diving into the depths in search of tasty nutrients. Though she did sometimes give her Nautilus some treats. He was, after all, a war hero. "Do you often harass ship captains for pokemon battles? Was that how you got to be pokemon master?"

Maybe Skyler would be more partial to something like, for example, a water race. Despite her bravado, she was well aware of where her strengths lay - and it wasn't in the forested areas of Fortree. Still, the challenge warmed her blood and made her heart pump.

Clarabelle approaches Hoon carefully, long ears twitching with something akin to curiosity.

PASS
Valerio Dachev

“Get a few more and people will start to think you have some issues.”

He does not want to laugh to give skyler dross any idea that he's joking, but he huffs a little for even he finds the thought amusing. Perhaps, the seafaring captain is really a personality of her own, and the school of wailord is part of it.

Hoon watches the lopunny showcase a bit of her curiosity and the charizard returns the gesture with a heave of hot air from his chest. The lizard is also curious as to what the bunny can do, but its attention is long captured by the herdier in the field. It dashes towards the hound, blocking its path so it can knock it real good and allow his trainer to catch it.

“Part of it. People also find my four badges very compelling.”

DUO WILD: CATCH HERDIER - 8

#skyler dross

"Doesn't everyone?" A bright flash of teeth in the morning sunlight preluded an amused chuckle. The idea of having a whole armade of Wailord at her disposal, however, did bring a sparkle to her eyes that she couldn't quite hide. Perhaps in this morning, somewhere in a wooded area close to Fortree, a new idea had begun to take shape...

"And think of how boring it would be, to live a life in which no one thought you crazy, at least once or twice." The scoff that left her throat punctuated how strongly the sea captain felt about the subject. Better, she thought, to die atop the hill of all the stupid shit she did rather than slog aimlessly through life.

A wilderness peeked out from behind her silvery eyes when she peered up at Valerio, lopsided grin in place. "Wouldn't you agree, uncle?"

Movement by her side caught her attention, brows furrowing at the sight of Clarabelle kicking her leg up in the air in a blur of motion (quick attack), sending something crashing onto the ground.

Skyler barely managed to take a good look at the dark-furred pokemon. To be fair, it didn't take much to see that it was wounded. Clarabelle too, seemed somewhat scratched. A casual flick of her wrist sent a pokeball towards the fainted pokemon, capturing it.

Four badges did sound impressive, though. "Aiming for the champion position?"

CAPTURING ZORUA 
Valerio Dachev

“Once or twice is enough, unless you really want people calling a doctor for something you consider a hobby.”

Valerio, despite devastatingly failing, cannot control his giggle despite realizing that the woman perhaps is not joking. She really considers having a wailord armada without thinking about the other things that may affect the way her lifestyle, like, how do you even manage to find so much food for them without emptying a sea basin of fish for fishermen to collect?

But still, the idea is ridiculously funny, and he finds himself nodding with Skyler as she continues to push the suggestion.

Meanwhile, when the lopunny has already leaped for a nearby target, the charizard just lets out a huff from his nostrils, enough to scare away the approaching poochyena.

“Aiming and nailing it!” He declares with much enthusiasm.

DUO WILD: PASS - 8

#skyler dross

Skyler hummed, taking Jonathan's words into consideration. She honestly didn't look too bothered by the possible consequences, which spoke more of her own temperament than anything else. "I already have an armada of sorts, though not of Wailord." Her words were spoken fondly, proudly. "Lapras are somewhat of a rarity in Hoenn's more tropical waters, but I've managed to gather a few." So far she had eight of them. Whenever they practised their singing under the moonlit waters close to Lilycove, a shiver went up the captain's spine.

Of course, that might have to do with the fact that the Lapras were teaching each other Perish Song. But... details. It wasn't something Skyler thought too much about.

A sudden shift in the air had Skyler turning her head, just in time to spot a small brown pokemon being launched into the air by a frowning Lopunny. Confused, Skyler just had time to catch the unconscious Teddiursa. A minute later, she'd caught it.

"Growing restless, Clarabelle?" The Lopunny didn't even answer, hopping into the nearby woods supposedly in search of more opponents.

Jonathan's confidence had Skyler chuckling, eyes brightening with amusement. "I'll be honest: I don't care all that much about the whole gym challenge. Especially when it is tied to politics. Just... No. But hey, uncle, if it's your thing, I wish you all the luck. If anything, I think your Hoon there has some promise."

Now she was just poking fun at him.

CAPTURING TEDDIURSA
Valerio Dachev

“It's true. I haven't seen one since I arrived in this region. And I think it's pretty much rare everywhere else.”

He recalls seeing a lapras in his work during his tenure at the Kan-Joh region but he figures it has only appeared once or twice. The pokemon is a creature of beauty, but more than its appearance is the power it holds, considering how hard it is for his dragons to match against its ice-typing. Imagine a trainer having eight of them.

“I had a herd of dragonites.” He offers, wondering if the thought excites Skyler the way her lapras armada stokes him. “They were very cheerful... and deadly.”

Valerio watches her focus on the teddiursa before she comes back with an opinion about the league challenges, of which he nods in agreement and chuckles.

“I can also say the same. It's just that badges fulfill its supposed social functions: a token for passing society's expectation. And believe me, not everyone will take you seriously if you don't have a badge unless you come from those rich families like the Silphs or the Stones.”

DUO WILD: PASS - 8

#skyler dross