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[Let's go to the zoo!!

It's perhaps all the better that Silvally is sort of worn out from several days of Adjustment; it won't let Gladion go anywhere without it (this is, literally, nominally, what a Pokeball is for), but it's content to not spend the day physically looming over his shoulder, meaning he and Ingo can head into town together the "normal" way.

Not that normal travel is a truly normal experience, as a monster - you get stared more than the average person - but, you know. And it's better, going as a group. Better in sort of the same way that being with Silvally has been (selfishly) better these past few days, giving him something, someone to focus on when otherwise he'd just be very conscious of being alone.

...But, hey! It's the zoo! Gladion's been here enough times to know where the maps are; he beelines for them to hand one off to Ingo.]

There are a few climate-controlled indoor facilities for small and tropical animals, and the larger ones live in the outdoor enclosures on this circuit.

[Ingo's experience with being among humans, as a monster, is a little different. Some people might see nymphs as a less dangerous species, but certainly no one thinks that about manticores - especially one who always seems to be frowning and glaring at them. The scrutiny stresses him, which only makes him look more dour; it's a vicious cycle.

But it's fine! Nothing unpleasant has happened during this particular walk or anything!

He takes the map, reading through it with interest. The concept of a zoo is a little strange, but less so than it would have been before he started going to the cat cafe. Animals are just...not Pokemon.]

Are there any lions or tigers? I spoke to another manticore who said that he is like a mixture between those two species! And also that they are not directly related to cats!

[Don't they seem like they should be in an evolutionary line together? Ah, well.]

Both. They're on the west side. [Pointing that out on the map. They can start walking.

Gladion ties his vines down somewhat when he's out and about. At home, they'd idly wind themselves around his body while he went about his business; here, he keeps a mostly-human silhouette, but the last foot or so of the tail-vine hanging in a loop at his hip still tries to grab and ungrab his pocket as he walks.]

They're more...related across a family tree, I think. Like Skitty to Glameow. But people will also call them "big cats", as if that's not vague. And it's only cats, too, as far as I know. There aren't "big dogs". Just wolves, and whatever's going on with all those breed-forms.

[christ.]

There are quite a number of those! I found a book about them! There are also cat breed forms, but it seems as though those are not considered quite so important, for whatever reason.

[He's certainly never heard a person refer to a cat's breed when discussing them. Just "cat"!

There's a number of birds flying and walking around the area, probably attracted by crowds of humans with food from the vendors near the zoo entrance. Despite them, Ingo's keeping his focus pretty much entirely on Gladion, only really glancing over if one happens to take flight very close by. Seems like hunting really does sate the instinct for a while.]

It's rather curious how few animals are considered appropriate companions. And not even any of the common local types!

[He sort of keeps expecting to see a kid with a squirrel or something, even knowing that isn't how it works.]

[It's odd to notice, because Gladion thinks Ingo definitely seems more relaxed today and then he has to think back and determine exactly when the last times he saw Ingo actually relaxed in public were. There's always some little qualification on it like except for the stress about looking monstrous.]

Supposedly pigeons are a domestic species that just went feral. Rats aren't, though. [He likes pigeons. They oscillate really quickly between seeming very stupid and doing things that are so clever it feels like having Pokemon hanging around.]

My education involved a lot of reading about interspecies dynamics in modern cities, and things like that. There's a lot that's similar. Like how the most common species are considered the least interesting, even without a barrier like this.

[Something kind of cosmically sad about the local rodents being overlooked AND just intrinsically less able to communicate.]

Is that so? It is not entirely the same in Hisui! Certainly, there are some who are more interested in befriending rarer types of Pokemon, but many people...well, they are still overcoming their fears. It is often easier for them to keep company with a Bidoof or Starly - Pokemon they have seen often in the wild already, whose behaviors they understand! But if the changes I hope for do come about, I suppose "frightening" may become the new "interesting"!

[Sounds dangerous. Sounds exciting! In a rare occasion, it's something about the future that Ingo finds himself eager to potentially witness! He's long since crossed that line himself, of course; his first partnership with Gligar was generally considered far too risky by others.

The pigeons, though...he frowns at those nearest the path. A domestic bird? They're a little bit like a Starly, or...oh. No. They're like Pidove. He's seen those before; they live in Unova. They're common there.]

That is rather sad! That they were partners with people once - or even pets! - and so very much not now!

"Interesting"...

[Definitely. And the world is definitely better for it. But at the same time - there sure are plenty of Pokemon that have suffered for being "interesting". And not just because of people like his mother.

Monsters swing back and forth between "frightening" and "interesting", too. And that's not philosophy, that's just an everyday observation. An every-week conversation. So...hm.]

Is it weird to imagine that there are Pokemon like that in the future? So...habituated to living with humans that they can actually be abandoned.

Are there?

[A question that's an answer in itself: yes, that's a very strange thought! Ingo tucks his map into a pocket - he's got their route down, and anyway there's signs - and folds his arms behind his back as he walks. His wings shift a little.]

My own companions...those of other trainers I know. We are like family! It would feel very much like an abandonment, if I were to... [Well. Do what he's done, in fact.] But...none of them were raised by humans. Perhaps within a generation or two such things will happen, but for now, the nearest anyone has come is the way Wardens help with their Nobles' young. Any Pokemon I know could survive perfectly well on their own again, if put to it. Indeed, I am the one who would truly have difficulty, if we were all to suddenly part!

[In Hisui. He's having difficulties here, but mostly of an entirely different sort.]

Is that...something that happens?

Yeah. [yeah... He puts his hands in his pockets.] I mean, it varies. But in more urbanized regions especially, there are a lot of Pokemon that were hatched and raised in human care. And there might not be a wild for them to just go "back" to, because their species came from some other region entirely. Sort of the upsides and downsides of how much more travel there is.

[Which is also not unlike the animals here, actually. He's had an exchange with Leo about that, even - how many of them are meant to be somewhere that hasn't existed in...however long it's been since the Fog did what she did.]

I see.

[Ingo's quiet for a moment, thoughtful. Emmet mentioned that the Aether Foundation takes donations to help Pokemon. He'd assumed they were sick or injured, but...he has a sudden certainty that at least some were just abandoned. Is that what comes of a future where people and Pokemon live more closely together?

Maybe he should have known. If it all gets bigger, as one day it will, it won't always be just two or three people helping new trainers find suitable partners, one-on-one, case by case. Anyone could come by a Pokemon, and not everyone ought to.

But it must still be worth it. Surely it's still better than the fear and enmity he's seen?]

Yes, there has been much more travel lately. Not out of Hisui, so much, but the Galaxy Team attracts new recruits from many other regions! We've all known for some time that we were reaching a breaking point - things were going to change very much, if they were permitted to stay. The Clans were on the verge of driving them out several times! I am glad it never came to that.

Would have changed the future a lot, I bet. [Like. Maybe things would have just changed later rather than sooner - swept up, like Alola, in the section of his history books that starts with the invention of the mass-produced Pokeball and ends with The Modern World. But also, it probably would have Beautifly-effected Moon out of existence, and then where would he be??] If I was paying attention in history lessons, something similar was happening in Alola right...around the same time. The islands unified, trade took off. People came mainly to work on new farms, I think.

[Suddenly wondering if there was something going on in Johto specifically that was driving a bunch of people off, or if that's just a coincidence.

Guess they'll probably never find out.]

My family doesn't have relatives there or anything. We're recent arrivals, with the Foundation.

[His tone isn't going anywhere in particular, but there is always a little...like...a little awkwardness inherent to the subject.]

I don't know where our family is from.

[He says it casually enough, with just a bit of a furrowed brow. Ingo's long since grown used to the voids in his own head - these days, the strangeness comes from realizing all the things he's gotten so used to not knowing that he hasn't even thought to ask Emmet.]

Perhaps I should not be speaking as a native-born Hisuian! But I do not know how to do anything else. [With the truth, he supposes he's from even farther off than most of the Galaxy Team. And of course, he doesn't resemble the rest of the clan much. But it's been years since that seemed to matter to anyone.] Ah, but that is strange! I wonder what caused it all to happen at once like that?

Uh. [Sound of the gears in a teenager's brain whirring as he tries to remember shit he just really really really did not care about memorizing when he was twelve.] Technology...probably. It was the...that was when factories started to be built, so all the trade for raw materials...and it started out of Galar. Coal power. Or steam?

The first successful journey of a steam-powered locomotive was in Galar around that time. On a circular track near an ironworks in Spikemuth City!

[Ingo pauses, frowning. He's not entirely sure where that came from!]

Or...so I...believe? That sounds right to me now that I have said it, but...as always, it is probably best to confirm with Emmet!

[...pfffheh.]

I'll believe it.

[Of course he spontaneously recovers train trivia. That makes sense. Gladion is grinning, for the moment.

(Now approaching the tiger!)]

[Ingo doesn't crack a smile, of course, but he chuckles lightly. Yes, yes, fair enough.

And, oh! There is the tiger! It seems to be a popular animal, but it's easy enough for two monsters to make their way through the crowds to a position where they can easily see into the exhibit. Ingo raises his eyebrows. Of all the animals he's seen, the tiger is the one which most looks as if it could be a Pokemon.]

Oh! It looks as though you mixed an Arcanine and a Luxray! I would have taken it for a fire-type, if I saw it anywhere else!

Reminds me of a Persian, in the body. [Sort of Incineroar in the face, but eh. Gladion goes into his pocket for Silvally's Pokeball and holds it by his chest so it can have a look too, if it wants.

The zoo has still not stopped being kind of novel, as a concept. Like, yeah, zoos and parks and gardens where rare Pokemon just live for viewing exist, Gladion's been to a few, but they're not usually this...general? This controlled? This casual? The vibe just isn't the same.]

Persian...yes, I have seen those! You're quite right!

[It often takes him a moment to place the names of Pokemon that aren't native to Hisui, but he can usually do it! As a professional trainer, he supposes it behooved him to be familiar with many different kinds of Pokemon!

Now that he's really looking at an animal in an exhibit, the entire concept of a zoo is really hitting him in earnest. The tiger is sleeping, apparently perfectly content, and the enclosure seems both large and natural enough to be comfortable for it. Ingo expected all of that, of course; Gladion wouldn't patronize an establishment that treated its animals cruelly! It's just that there's really nothing like this in Hisui at all. He can't imagine anyone there even coming up with the idea for one!]

Are there...zoos like this, in the future? We do not have any such thing, of course - though I suppose some of the townsfolk in Jubilife like to watch Pokemon in the pastures!

...Sort of. [Is there something to lean against? Gladion wants to lean on a lamppost or railing or something. There is now, and he does.] Most of the Pokemon viewing attractions I can think of are more like...nature preserves. Or gardens. Or aquariums, since there's the whole issue with [vague gesturing like a tank, or glass?] seeing underwater.

[Once again, there's a conversational door into Perilous Territory! Once again, Gladion turns it over in his hands and thinks, okay, maybe this isn't such a huge deal.]

The conservatory at Aether Paradise was open to the public. That was kind of like this, where you stayed up on walkways instead of walking right through the habitats. But most of the Pokemon there rotated through, since they were still actually wild, just being rehabilitated. Mostly, people see rare Pokemon in person if they're with a trainer, I think.

[Ingo hums thoughtfully, nodding. That all sounds about right. Pokemon aren't like animals - you wouldn't have to take such pains to prevent them from escaping or attacking visitors, he supposes. Not if they were living there of their own accord, and surely it would be illegal to keep them in such a place against their will!

There are likely such people anyway. But at least they wouldn't be able to openly set up shop as a tourist attraction.]

Rather like the pastures that way, then! Most of the Pokemon who live there were captured for study, for the Pokedex. The Survey Corps will train with them for a while, and I suppose they also take that opportunity to study us in their own way! So few Pokemon in the area have trained with people before, after all, so they have no way of knowing what it might be like! Some of them choose to stay with a person they've grown fond of, and others depart for the wilds again after a time!

[Ingo's trained a few of those, who were very interested in competition if not in a permanent residence. He doesn't begrudge their going; even a temporary partnership can bring about opportunities for many new and exciting battles! They're probably out there terrorizing their wild rivals though.]

I quite enjoyed the aquarium here in Bavan! I've taken a ride with Lord Basculegion once or twice, but it was a...rather alarming experience. I find I prefer dry land.

Water is...I think it's just a lot less of a hassle when it's not so cold. [But he might be a bit spoiled on that front. SHRUG.] I like the aquarium, too. Feeling kind of...surrounded? In a peaceful way. [again SHRUG.] Might just be that there wasn't exactly a lot of foot traffic that night.

[Whereas there are plenty of people here right now!]

That was certainly a factor for me! Though I have gotten far more accustomed to the crowds here!

[He certainly doesn't seem frazzled by the number of people here at the zoo, like he would have been in the early months! It's mostly a good thing! But also a tiny bit discouraging, because Ingo knows that part of it is the wide berth people tend to give him since his changes. Even now, despite how popular the tiger exhibit is, he could easily spread his wings without hitting anyone.

He doesn't, of course. That'd be very inconsiderate! Instead, he reads the little "tiger facts!" plaque in front of the railing.]

Ah...they are the largest in the cat family! Their territories are usually...elsewhere, I suppose.

[He doesn't recognize any of these place names, really! And, oh, they mark their territory by scratching and scent marking. Ingo flashes back to his urges to claw and rub on everything around their house!]

[How about he doesn't bring up the whole "I wonder if they know they're supposed to live somewhere they'll almost definitely never get to see" thing to Ingo...]

I don't think any of the big cats live wild in Ryslig.

[don't! worry about it!!!]

I have not heard of any who do! They say strange creatures live in the depths of the woods, where there is lingering fog, but I do not imagine those are natural animals. In any case, I have never seen anything out there larger than a deer!

[Not that he's been making a habit of venturing very deep inside. Ingo's not eager to run into those fog pockets himself. But he's gone up the trees nearer the house pretty often; the desire to be tall doesn't strike him as an instinct that needs to be suppressed because he's always rather liked heights.]

Yet.

[thinking about the katt and that groundhog. God knows what other kinds of Unauthorized Fucking Creatures are roaming around out there, conveniently undocumented and excluded from everyone's assurances that "oh no animals definitely don't breathe fire". He should probably expand his research to mythical animals, if things like that are going to keep happening.

The tiger, in the course of doing its tiger things, bats a big rubber ball into its pool and jumps in after it, splashing and rolling and gnawing at its toy...]

let's go to the zoo

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