Moth's First Instar [Starter]

[Moth Spilosoma]

The sky, wisped with clouds and shining with azure promise, was flush with midmorning brightness, and disturbed by only a tickle of wind. Every so often, a young individual walking along a path below would glance up at the sky with wide, longing crimson eyes, but perhaps not so often today as before. The young albino in question wasn't even precisely sure what the date might be, so excited and nervous were they. Perhaps, nervecited? No, too silly. When the door to the Embassy came into view, the slender soon-to-be Trainer broke into a run, covering as much ground as possible in as short a time as was managable. The building was imposing, tall and grey, but it also held the key to Moth's new start - the journey they'd been waiting half their life to begin would start inside those walls, and the suncream-smeared Spilosoma could barely wait.

Placing their hand against the smooth, solid surface of the door when they came to a stop, Moth took a moment to breathe and steel themself - this was it. Pushing gently, but firmly, Moth opened the door and made their entrance into a very sensible-looking brown and grey room, with benches and chairs available. The slight scent of smoke drew Moth's eyes to the desk, on either side of which rested a flickering lit candle. It gave the place a homey kind of atmosphere, despite the rather businesslike nature of the room. Approaching the person at the desk, Moth resisted the urge to fidget - they had to give a good impression. The Ambassador was a very important person, and it really wouldn't do to offend her or anyone working for her. Especially if they didn't want to be given only the worst tasks and choices available.

"E-excuse me... My name is Moth, Moth Spilosoma - Err, my name should be down for a meeting with the Ambassador at this time. Ah, would you happen to know whether she's ready for me? I hope it's not too much trouble." They uttered, nerves making an appearance. They'd been reared to be polite and respectful of others, even though that wasn't always practical in certain situations, it was just too bad they were so nervous... Still, this was a big day, so perhaps it wouldn't matter? Ah, well, they'd just have to wait and see. Oh, how they hoped that there would be a Starter that could fly! That would just be perfect... Even better if they could reasonably hope to fly on the Pokemon's back someday, or be carried by them otherwise - even if the Pokemon was really really ugly, or mean-tempered, flight would be worth it. Still, he'd gladly take a cute one if it was at all possible, especially if there was a fluffy or otherwise soft one... Well, there was no way to know until they saw the choices. Taking a discrete deep breath, Moth waited anxiously for the other person's response.

[EssGee]

The receptionist looked up from his work at the source of the small voice. "Ah, Moth." He wouldn't forget a name like that. "You're a few minutes early," he said. Then immediately, "Oh don't worry, she likes that. The Ambassador should be free, so you can head back as soon as you're ready." He gave brief directions, which led Moth to a mostly tidy office with one particularly disheveled corner, where the Ambassador stood apparently looking intently over something or other.

When she heard the door, however, she quickly turned around, straightened her jacket and her posture, and then settled into an air of calm.

"Hello there," she greeted. "You must be Moth Spilosoma. I have to say, your application gave me more trouble than most." It was almost as if she was terribly out of practice, but of course, that would be ridiculous. It wasn't as though the Ambassador ever took leave of her post for more than a few days. Instead, she decided the reason must be, "You have a lot of potential. I think you'll be happy with your selection, though."

Procuring five PokeBalls she'd already tucked securely in her coat pocket, she released all of the inhabitants.

    


"First up is this Absol, notably mutated," she said. Indeed, although unreflected in the sprite- not that "sprite" had any meaning to Anita in this context, this particular Absol had developed a bladed-ear appendage on the left side of its head, somewhere between a third and half the length of the normal one on its right. Its front claws were also noticeably larger than its back ones, although this was easier to overlook in passing. The Absol, seemingly very away of its status, tilted its head upward in a confident manner and offered a smirk to the trainers. "Sure of yourself, aren't you?" Anita mumbled to the Pokemon before turning her attention back to Moth; she did know the Pokemon was very reliable when it counted. Seemingly in response, the Absol brushed its chest fur with a paw-- or perhaps polished its claws with its fur? It was hard to tell. "At any rate, Absol are quite strong for an unevolved Pokemon and can offer you both protection and the speed and strength to help you protect others. If you can learn to recognize and listen to the cues, an Absol can also help you predict where help may be needed soon. Do be warned, however, that taking on such a job may be overwhelming, so be sure you're up for it if that appeals to you."

They moved on now to the tiny pink puff , which stood not a quarter of the Absol's size. "Cleffa here is an entirely different direction. You may struggle a little in the beginning, but doing so will provide you both with many opportunities to grow together. This one in particular is always eager to help, much like yourself, albeit perhaps a little.. chaotic at times in the process." Indeed, if it was truly possible to see mischief in one's eyes, this Cleffa radiated it. "Additionally, the Clef family is somewhat.. special. In our time on Mi-aro, we've only documented consistent habitats for a handful of species, but we've had rare sightings of many, many more, and everything points to life here evolving similar to that of PokeEarth. The Clefs, however, did not come from PokeEarth, but from its moon. Thus, while we can't say for certain, it remains a plausible theory that Cleffa do not naturally exist on Mi-aro. Since you're new to the world yourself, I thought you might suit each other well." She paused a moment, then added, "Admittedly, I also just felt compelled to give you at least one extra-cute choice," and gave Moth a subtle wink.

Next came the "Pancham," said Anita. Said Pancham shuffled a half-step back and seemed to shrink a bit once focus fell to it, its head tilting down but large eyes glimmering as they looked up. "Don't let the shyness fool you. This little one is quite demure, but willing to pour out all the heart you could ever need for the right cause. Pancham as a species are innately opposed to bullying, and even moreso after evolving, and this one is no exception. As a fighting-type, it can also provide  you with some extra muscle when needed." The Pancham shuffled its foot a bit more, then attempted to smile weakly up at Moth. She only managed to do so for about a second before averting her gaze and stepping behind the leg of the next Pokemon in line:

"Bouffalant-" A sound that came out as much wail as moo interrupted her, earning a sharp glance from Anita before she continued. "Bouffalant is a very large, bulky Pokemon. Where Pancham can help with the heavy lifting and Absol is a good precision attacker, Bouffalant would be especially useful for plowing through obstacles. In terms of pure stats, it would provide better protection than Absol, for both of you; but is of course much slower and-" Again she was interrupted, this time by the bison gently headbutting Moth and nuzzling with a wet nose. "Stop that," Anita said, casually shoving the Pokemon's head back into line. "Slower and lacks the disaster senses. She is quite gentle for her size and very affectionate, though, just in case you hadn't- stop-" she scolded as if sensing the Bouffalant thinking about trying again- "noticed. Bit dramatic, too, if you ask me. She might take her protecting thing a little too seriously for my taste, but of course my taste isn't yours." This was answered by another sad moo, although quieter than the first.

"And of course, here's our obligatory flying option. A Rufflet, slightly mutated." Again unreflected by the sprite, its chest was the same creamy white as its head, and spattered with black flecks. It was also basically made of feathers. It was a ball of poof. "...The roundness isn't the mutation. He's just riled up at the moment, apparently." Indeed, the little bird seemed to be glaring at the other options, feathers fidgiting and bristling as he fought the urge to hop around, succeeding at suppressing most but not all of the hops. "Hey. It's your turn," she verbally nudged. Every feather jumped fully to end as the bird startled, then immediately began settling down and preening and smiling up at Moth. "Don't mind the display; he's just very.. ambitious, even among Rufflet. Sometimes I'm convinced he thinks he's already a Braviary. But I digress. He was chosen due to your love of aviation, penchant for courage in the face of fear, and general desire to help others. This Rufflet would compliment you in all those areas- just so long as you're giving him appropriate attention for it, of course." The Rufflet, in response, made a hurt noise and made gestures as if to deny that claim. "He is a very hard worker, though."

Anita huffed a heavy sigh. "Oh dear. I fear I'm rambling more than usual today. Must be the stress." The subtlety of her tone and smile may not have properly conveyed that that was intended as a joke.

"But feel free to take your time if you aren't sure right away. And I take it you've read up on the more classic starter options? Let me know if you'd like to check out any of those before making your choice- although I'd prefer not to have too many Pokemon loose in my office at once, so if you want to see more than one or two please let me take a few away first, all right?"

[Moth Spilosoma]

“A-ah, I am?” Moth replied, mildly startled – perhaps it was because they'd run part of the way there? They were kind of worried that they'd made the wrong impression, when the fellow at the desk told them that this kind of promptness was actually a good thing. Sighing in relief, Moth listened intently to the directions and thanked the attendant, before moving to find the Ambassador. It wasn't too far to go, so it wasn't long before Moth arrived at their destination - they wondered what was the cause of the odd corner out's state of relative disarray, but supposed that it wasn't really any of their business. "Hullo ma'am." Moth responded, mildly curious about what she'd been looking at, but rather more concerned with not dissolving into a puddle of nerves - this was the Ambassador after all. They weren't afraid of her, but that didn't make them any more eager to make a bad impression. "I-it did? Ahh, I'm sorry..." They were startled, abruptly fretting over what they could have done that had made their application difficult to deal with. Running a slim hand through their tufty hair - a gesture that they often exhibited when anxious - Moth did their best to appear composed. They were somewhat relieved when the Ambassador mentioned something about potential - could that be the reason? Well, they weren't about to contradict her if they didn't have a better idea - that would be both rude and counter-productive. "Thank you~ That's kind of you to say."

When the widely respected first Survivor withdrew the Pokeballs, Moth's eyes were drawn to them like their namesake to the tail of a Charmander. The spherical objects were shiny and rich in hue, and seemed to gleam with promise - just the sight of them seemed to invoke echoes of all they had dreamed of, and all the stories they had grown up with. True, life was no picnic - even before the Spilosomas had abandoned their former home, Moth'd had an inkling of this - but there were moments when one could almost compare it to a fairytale. For Moth, this was one of them. Beams of light reflected in the prospective Trainer's sunrise red eyes as the Pokemon they were to choose between were released from containment, and those eyes widened further when they beheld just what those choices were. An Absol - fluffy, but regal in bearing, and so good at detecting danger - it was impressive to look upon, even without the mutated features, and Moth counted themself fortunate indeed to be presented with a mutant choice. A Cleffa - sooo cute! It looked oh-so-huggable and squishy too, though Moth wasn't quite sure what to think of the mischievous glint in those little eyes, they just wanted to sweep it up into their arms and snuggle it. Pancham looked really sweet as well, and Moth could empathise with the critter's shyness, having a relatively relatable demeanour themself. Plus, it and its evolution were strong without looking creepy like some Fighting types they could mention... They hadn't been expecting as large a candidate as the Bouffalant, but there was something about the creature that appealed to them - and it wasn't just the extremely fluffy nature of that head of hair, though that was definitely part of the appeal. Something in the quadruped's eyes just seemed to speak to them, on some level, and Moth didn't get the impression that the Bouffalant was likely to do anything to temperamental right then. Lastly, their eyes fell on the chick - who was also fluffy. To Moth's amusement, the Rufflet seemed to be a ball of fluff and TINY RAGE at the moment - it was very cute. As they surveyed the options, mouth hanging slightly open in wonder and surprise, the Ambassador had begun to speak again, giving explanation of each option in turn. They did their best to be attentive, and take it all into account, but it was a lot harder than they'd expected it to be.

Moth was quite impressed by the mutated features of the Absol, and its confident demeanour, and took careful note of the ability mentioned - in the old stories they loved to read, Absol were often depicted as bringing disasters, but it did make a lot more sense this way. After all, what Pokemon would want to be constantly surrounded by chaos and mayhem? Such an ability would be a great help to the aspirant, and it looked as though this fuzzy creature would also be well able to protect them. Moth did have to wonder how much the Absol would take charge, though, given the apparent difference in their confidence levels. They wanted a confident partner, but not one who would want to be in charge all the time. They doubted that such was necessarily the case with this Absol, who looked as though they would be very useful indeed, but they also knew better than to simply pick the first one they thought was awesome, however tempting. The others had to be carefully considered as well.

The littlest candidate, Moth could quite easily see themself snuggling and keeping around outside of a Pokeball, but they had to remind themself that adorability was not an appropriate deciding quality. They really liked cute Pokemon, but there were better reasons to pick a Pokemon, and they didn't want to feel guilty about picking somemon based solely on surface appeal. That just wouldn't be fair to the Pokemon. It was tempting to choose Cleffa for different reasons, though - the Ambassador had just said that they both liked to try to help out, and they were both relatively alien to Mi-aro at the moment, so they did have some things in common. Additionally, there was something... narratively compelling about the idea of growing together with a little cutie that could be underestimated, and they were quite curious about what could be implied by chaotic. Plus, who wouldn't consider a Pokemon from the moon? That was simply undiluted awesome.

Moth gave the little ursine Pokemon a tentative smile in return, while listening to what the Ambassador had to say about Pancham. This was another real cutie, and Moth instantly loved those big expressive eyes. Waving slightly to the timid cub, the starting Survivor wondered briefly whether they should have chosen to be a Mercenary, if only so that they could bring two along with them - but that was a terrible way to decide one's career, and they'd decided on exploration already. The idea of a strong Pokemon who was also averse to bullies was a greatly tempting one, and they could see the potential to forge a close connection with this little one. Would it be fair, though, to expect Pancham to carry the load of Starter when Moth knew they'd be going into the wilderness, where there could be anything out there. They didn't like being underestimated, so they didn't want to do the same to Pancham, but it was kind of a Trainer's duty to consider whether what they wanted to do would be fair to their charges. Maybe, if they couldn't decide, they could ask Pancham themself? After all, the cub was a Domestic, and would probably understand them well enough to nod or shake in response.

Moth laughed delightedly when Bouffalant leaned in to butt them with that surfeit of fuzziness it called a head, and gave the creature a brief cuddle. They didn't mind that the ungulate's nose was leaving slightly wet trails on their clothes, they were simply pleased by the affection. They weren't quite sure what to make of the sound the creature had made, but that was likely due to unfamiliarity. This one struck them as being quite motherly, and they could well imagine Bouffalant standing protectively in front of them in a wild encounter. They liked feeling protected - it always made them feel warm inside to know that they were cared for and guarded - and this would put it into a context where Moth could also act as a dependable individual. Even better, it was quite clear that Bouffalant would be willing to be cuddled, despite the impressive bulk of the Pokemon, and those prominent horns. It was quite easy to picture the critter stolidly shoving aside a boulder or somesuch, which was another point in its favour - or should that be her favour?

Another mutant - and this one was an avian, a Pokemon that had wings... Moth'd seen this one when the Ambassador had let them all out, but something inside them still seemed to lurch when they looked at it. Be rational, Moth - don't pick it just for the wings... They repeated inside the privacy of their mind. It was tricky, but Moth was unwilling to make a snap decision for something like a Starter - not when there were so many wonderful choices available. Still, Moth dreamt of the sky, and the Rufflet could help them on their way... It was the Rufflet itself that snapped them out of their contemplation, when it startled at the Ambassador's verbal reminder of their presence. Courage in the face of fear, helping others - it did seem as though this one also had things in common with them, and sort of symbolised what they wanted to become. Additionally, this was another Pokemon they'd be able to progress alongside, and a young one that might see them as someone to depend on. "Well, I don't think I could begrudge any of them attention - they all seem really well suited..." They responded, when the chick's penchant for being in the spotlight was mentioned. "I really appreciate these choices - it's really hard to choose between them, and I think they all suit me - just not all in the same ways. Ahhh, but I know I can't take them all..."

Moth didn't entirely pick up on the joke, though they could at least tell that Anita wasn't weighed down by too much in the way of stress. At least, if she was, it didn't come across. "Ahh, no need to worry - your rambling has been really helpful - I didn't know everything you were saying about the Pokemon before you told me." They responded, not wishing the Ambassador to feel down. "The standard Starters? Oh, yes, I've read lots about those - it would make things even more difficult if I tried to choose between those as well, though... I think I'll stick with these five, if that's alright?" Soooo tricky... They'd initially thought that there would be one among the choices that would stand out as the cutest, the strongest, the friendliest, or something else, and that it would be obvious from there. That was how it always seemed to go in the stories - there would be something that set one Pokemon apart from the rest, and it would be that Pokemon that was chosen. In this case, though, it seemed as though five Pokemon like that had been put into one group, and Moth was struck again by the reality that even frequently-idealised moments were rarely quite like they were depicted in stories. At least they knew better when it came to wild places, they reflected, or they probably wouldn't have made it to the Portal.

Fidgeting slightly as their eyes flickered between each choice, Moth weighed each up in their mind against the others, and in relation to what they knew about themself and their chosen path. They really didn't want to make a choice that they would regret for some reason... In the end, though, they had to choose, and there was a choice that touched on a lot that resonated with Moth. Plus, they found the individual endearing as well as the species appropriate. "May I please have the Rufflet?" They asked, glancing towards the Ambassador. Not the obvious choice they might have anticipated, but they had opted for the one with wings in the end. They were, however, quite proud to reflect that they hadn't chosen the chick solely for its flight potential. With a pang, Moth realised that they would be sorry to leave the Bouffalant behind - she had made more of an impression than even the impressively mutated Absol - but there was no way they could take her along as well, and it was quite possible that they'd see another. After all, Bouffalant were a herd species, right? Surely a sweet temperament couldn't be that rare? Putting the notion from their mind, Moth waited for the Ambassador's response - and, they supposed, the Rufflet's.

[EssGee]

Anita smirked. The Rufflet's eyes lit up, and its crest feather stood up straight as it let out a happy chirp.

The Absol looked both shocked and offended! The Bouffalant hung her head and let out mournful yet unsurprised sigh. The Pancham looked disappointed for just a moment before giving Moth another smile as if to say 'no hard feelings'. And the Cleffa-

Anita's smirk vanished. "Arceus help me, where on ea--Mi-aro." After a quick look around, she composed herself, took a deep breath, and momentarily put it from her mind. "Excellent choice," she belatedly told Moth, her pleasantness a touch more forced than before. Recalling the other three, she placed those PokeBalls back into her pocket and handed the Rufflet's to Moth. "I'm sure you'll come up with a great name and become fast friends."

From a nearby drawer, she procured a small device and 3 more PokeBalls, these empty. "These will get you started, and this is your X-Gear. It's been pre-loaded with a Holo Chip and my number, so feel free to call whenever you need advice." She handed it to them and motioned toward the side of the room. "On that shelf you'll find some basic tools for the wild. Feel free to take up to seven of them with you. There are some Tool Bags next to it, so take one of those as well. And over there you'll find some weapons; take one. I recommend a knife both for weight and utility reasons but you're free to take what you like.

"Take your time and show me your options when you're done selecting them. For the moment, if you'll excuse me..." She then turned away and began carefully checking all the cabinets under the counters and the drawers of her desk.

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(Name Rufflet if you so desire; you choose his ability.
Select 7 Tool/Survival items (under 35) from the Shop, and 1 Weapon.)

[Moth Spilosoma]

The reaction of the Absol startled them, and they were quick to try to make amends. "A-ahh, I'm sorry Absol - You look really impressive, but I'm not sure I'm strong enough yet to be able to keep up with you. Y-you deserve someone who would be able to use your power to its full potential..." It wasn't clear to Moth whether they'd managed to placate the snubbed creature, but they felt that they had to try - after all, what if someone else chose this Absol, and they encountered it again later? It wouldn't do to leave it with a grudge if they could help it. "I'm sorry, you guys... I really like all of you, but I can't take more than one..." They continued, meeting the gaze of first the doleful Bouffalant and then the Pancham. "I'll miss you... Ah, but I'm sure someone else will pick you! You're all great!" They were glad that the Pancham didn't seem offended or anything - they'd have hated to have made that little sweetie cry. As for the Bouffalant, well, at least it hadn't seemed to have come as a shock. "I-if it helps, it was really hard to choose between you..." Wait, where was the Cleffa? Oh, they hoped it hadn't just slunk of somewhere to cry - then again, it seemed more like a troublemaker than a sensitive tot, so maybe it was up to no good... When had it even vanished? It wasn't encouraging that Anita didn't seem to know either.

"Thank you~" Moth beamed, upon being handed Rufflet's Pokeball. The reaction of the tufty chick was quite endearing, and Moth couldn't help but lean down and scoop him up. "I guess that means you're pleased, huh? I think I'll call you Horemheb - Heb for short. I once read an old legend about a really powerful master of the sky - this name's based on that, it means Horus in jubilation. Sure, you're little now, but you'll grow." They explained to the chick, hoping to start forming the foundations of their bond by explaining things rather than just arbitrarily deciding stuff. "I'm sure we'll get along great. Ahh, I could help you look for the Cleffa, if you like? It might be easier if there are two of us looking." Moth continued, offering their assistance a moment after putting Heb back down and stowing everything into their pack. Approaching the shelf Anita had mentioned, they began looking over the contents, hoping that the Cleffa hadn't managed to hurt itself with one of the weapons. Well, it was possible that it had ventured over there...

Carefully, with a little assistance from Heb, they began extracting items and putting them into their pack - Heb's help mainly involving slipping things that spilled out back into the bag that Moth had set onto the floor for this purpose. First, a Tent, followed by such items as a Morningstar (their fascination for archaic legends extending to such historic weapons), a pair of Go Goggles, a Water Filter, a Neverending Spool of Thread (because who knew how many uses that could have, and they reckoned they might need to fix their clothes a lot), a Large Net, a Machete, and finally - a Compass. Anything else, they figured that they could buy for themself. "Ah, I've chosen my items now - here they are." Moth spoke up, carrying his bag closer to where Anita was, and moving the contents in order that everything was visible. "Is this alright?
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Rufflet was named Horemheb because Moth's a Myth Dork like me
Horemheb's Ability is Keen Eye
Moth selected the following:
Tent
Machete
Compass
Water Filter
Go Goggles
Morningstar
Neverending Spool of Thread
Large Net