Player 2 has been registered! The catching tutorial can begin!

Kallisto had spotted the new arrival as soon as he saw the pop up with the little gibberish noise. He turned to face the source of the voice, a young woman with interesting horns on her head. He wondered how similar or different she was to her real appearance, but he might've been thinking about it because he was starting to feel the weariness of walking around with this hulking outfit. While it was great to be tall and hot (he felt so, he didn't really think he was hot in real life), it was also so cumbersome and impractical. A part of him wished that this wasn't a virtual reality so that this part wouldn't feel so real.

But enough complaining about that, he should really finish the tutorial. He shook his head, ❝You arrive just in time, actually. I was also about to start the catching tutorial, but we have to do it by pairs.❞

The QUAXCEE nodded enthusiastically.

Welcome, Player Odile!

Now trainers, please watch and listen closely as I demonstrate how to catch a Pokemon...

❝Is this really necessary? Don't we just--❞ he cleared his throat, remembering that he had language to follow, ❝--Do we not simply have to weaken our opponent and throw a ball?❞ that was how he remembered it went in games, at least, but now in the virtual reality, they had the added problem of aiming. At least his penguin would finally get the fight he wanted.

The NPC simply ignored the man's comment and continued to happily talk about the best techniques to weaken a Pokemon and type advantages.

Kallisto let out a sharp exhale, ❝I am Kallisto, by the way. Thought it might be best to properly introduce myself.❞ he extended a hand as an invitation for a handshake. He had already washed the glove after the incident in Mom's house.

She was chipper, Kallisto thought. If he were acting like himself, he could let himself be hyped along with her, or maybe still play it cool. As the avatar he wore, though, he really needed to keep a level head, a low seriousness and a desire to get things over with so that he could move to bigger and better things, such as becoming stronger to feel more secure in this world. Rems decided, at that moment, that Kallisto was a bit of a party pooper.

Whether he can act on it was a good question, though.

He would listen to her ramble on a bit, which if he decided to listen to the QUAXCEE as well, their voices kind of blended together. Words upon words, he felt. ❝Only one way to find out.❞ maybe they should've been paying attention to the duck NPC after all, but it was hard to get a foothold on his blabbering, which now sounded more like English with an autotune. He supposed that the game didn't read out the notification pop ups, but it made sense that everyone was voiced.

He wasn't sure how to react to the compliment. Was it a compliment, being called fancy? Alexander was certainly fancy, and Remmiel was not. Anyway, back to the matter at hand, ❝You have not passed by Mom's house?❞ well, it was only then that he particularly took note of the no running shoes. ❝Well, it is of little consequence. I am sure she would be happy to see you.❞ the NPC needed a break after getting a face full of pie on her face.

Kallisto shook his head, ❝Not quite. I do not think the theaters would take me on, keeping up appearances is more difficult than I anticipated.❞ he clicked his tongue, ❝Would you believe me if I say this is how I truly look like?❞

But their banter was not to last for too long, since QUAXCEE decided that it had enough talking to a brick wall and turned its attention to the two trainers.

Now it's your turn! Walk into the tall grass and a Pokemon will jump out!

Use the techniques I talked about to catch it!

❝Well, you are not wrong there.❞ admittedly, Kallisto hadn't quite figured out what he wanted to do in this game other than try to figure out who he wanted to be as Alexander. It was...strange. Every time he entered this getup and moved in a skin that wasn't his own, he just felt detached and off. Even his voice was permanently set to how he normally spoke as his avatar so that there wouldn't be a sudden lapse by accident. That didn't stop the words he spoke though not fitting with the character. It was certainly a strange sensation not having to worry about deepening his voice but still achieving the same effect.

He was admittedly curious on what Odile would say, but the catching tutorial had impeccable timing, so it looked like they had to clear the event before anything else. Alright, he really should try to get another Pokemon besides the penguin, anyway.

The "tall" grass (which was not very tall, honestly) rustled loudly. After that, a creature sprang from it, teeth looking dangerous despite it looking blunt rather than sharp. ❝A rat.❞ he clicked his tongue. Oh well, Pokemon was meant to simulate an ecosystem of sorts, so he shouldn't be surprised. Now, what he should do next was...

He grabbed Aegis' Poke Ball and opened it, letting out the eager penguin. <Is it go time?! It's go time!> he didn't even need to command the Pokemon to do something before he shot out a flurry of bubbles at the rat.

He didn't really care what it was called, frankly. It looked weak, perfect for a beginning Pokemon for a catching tutorial, but that also meant that this thing was likely not very strong and not worth the time to invest in. He wondered if there was some kind of system wherein he could trade it for something better, but he would need to check up on what else was around after this was over. He would glance at Odile as she let out her Pokemon -- a frog? A frog. Seemed like a similar element to Aegis by the way it also used something water-y, soaking the rat thoroughly and just making it look plain miserable.

❝It looks rather miserable. Put it out of its misery, Aegis.❞

<You got it!> instead of shooting it with another stream of bubbles, the penguin went for a more head's on approach, as in, running toward the target and hitting it with a good ol' pounding, if Kallisto could really call slapping something with its flippers a "pounding"...well, according to the UI, it was an actual move, so he supposed he should remember it later on.

As he watched his Piplup land what was hopefully the final blow, he looked at the other trainer and her starter Pokemon. ❝For a moment, I thought you were the theater kid. One syllable away from 'Mercutio'...❞ he wouldn't have known if the name would fit, but at least it was blue, like the Montagues, but he should stop thinking about it -- that was not what the name was referencing, anyway.

Whack went the frog to the poor soaking rat, and it crumpled like a bag or whatever was the proper imagery for it.

Congratulations, you successfully weakened the PATRAT! Use the GOLDEN POKE BALL that's now in your inventory to catch it! Make sure to aim properly!

True enough, there was indeed a new item in his inventory that wasn't there before, listed under KEY ITEMS. He materialized the spherical thing in his hand, testing the weight in his palm, and chucked it at the wet rat. Since it wasn't that far from them, he thankfully aimed it right and it hit the creature squarely on its stomach. It then drew the creature in with a bright light before the sphere would close with a satisfying click. Actually, since there were two players present, even after Kallisto caught the rat, it seemed that there was an afterimage left for Odile to catch as well.

His Poke Ball had disappeared on the ground, but in the UI, it registered that congrats! He now owned a rat! How delightful.

You've completed the catching tutorial, congratulations!

Kallisto noted that the QUAXCEE was also nowhere in sight.

❝Hm.❞ he eyed her from head to toe. So she performed on stage, but it wasn't theater? Musicals wouldn't be too far off, but that was technically under theater, in a way. He crossed his arms, showing a bit of a smirk, ❝Well, you did not answer my question earlier, so I will not answer yours. Perhaps we will share it some other time. I have places to be.❞

Aegis had been very eager to shake the frog's hand with big big sparkles in his eyes. <Oh, a friend! My first friend!! This is delightful!! Absolutely wonderful!!>

❝Aegis, we're going.❞

The penguin turned to him with his beak wide open, <Whaaaat? No c'mon! We can find another wild Pokemon to beat!>

❝We may cross paths again, so no need to be whiny.❞ to stay true to his word, he did send a friend request after learning how to do it with his step-sibling last time. ❝Apologies, I forgot I have something to do back at home. Thank you for the brief partnership.❞ he bowed before glaring at his Pokemon briefly for it to follow. Aegis tearfully continued to hold the frog's hand before saying goodbye and following his trainer.