[Yes. He's okay, in that he's uninjured and right now his pokemon are good to fight. But it is... Not a good look, that all that's true and he's still hiding.

On the other hand, no. He isn't okay, he's scared in a way he rarely has to feel in this world. And he can't say he missed it! He doesn't want to get into that, though. Not here and now.

There is no good way for Louie to answer the question of if he's okay, so he doesn't. Instead, he leans out a bit more from his hiding spot to get a better view of the battle, himself.

If he knew anything about these weird robot-like pokemon, maybe he could get a feel if this match-up was going to go well or not. But as things stand, it's hard to judge.]

That goes for you, too. I don't think that thing can fit in here, though! You can call back your Pokemon, and we can wait things out in here.

[Wait out what, he's not sure. He doesn't know when, how, or if safety will come.]

H'boy... Of course.

[It's nothing new for Louie to be around people like this: Foolhardy heroic types who can't just leave a fight they don't need to win, for whatever reason. Louie of not long ago wouldn't have hesitated to duck back into his hiding spot and write this off as Gobo's problem, not his. But in recent years, the fact that he cares about people has become harder to quiet with the idea of self-preservation. The last few months have only added to it.

And, okay, being told not to worry; things are under control? Louie's used to that. And even coming form the most experienced of adventurers, its never fully convincing. So he's certainly not taking Gobo's assurance as fact... But maybe that's what has Louie scowl and reach for a pokeball. Louie knows people like Beakley and his mom know what they're doing, and he still doesn't think that guarantees their success in the face of danger.

And with Gobo? Louie has no reason to think he knows what he's doing here. If this was a time to talk things out? Yeah, he's seen that help, and heard that wasn't the first time. But in a fight? Gobo and his Pokemon stand a real chance of getting hurt, Louie figures. Letting him and the Dugtrio tackle this on their own? It feels really bad. That's not who he wants to be, now.]

I can't believe I'm doing this...

[he squeezes out of hiding with a sigh, and throws out the pokeball belonging to Artifact, his Claydol. He may not know about what they're fighting, but if a Dugtrio doing well, Artifact's ground type moves should, too... And more importantly, levitate will let Claydol handily play support. Louie looks over at Gobo.]

Artifact can't be hit by ground-type moves, so don't worry about what you're doing, okay? And we'll try and make sure things stay under control.

Artifact, go ahead and do a Guard Split with Dugtrio. Then hit that... Donphan-thing with Psybeam.

[Boosting Baritone's defenses by sharing Artifact's bulk is the main move here, but some damage and the chance of confusion from Psybeam... Louie figures that counts for something, too.]

[Louie scowls. That Psybeam didn't seem to do much damage, certainly not as much as he would've liked. But alright, the plan wasn't to go on the offensive to begin with.]

Start building up with Cosmic Power, Artifact, and keep up that and Guard Split. We're gonna make sure Dugtrio can take more hits.

[As usual, Artifact displays no sign of having heard anything, but then, the starlight-like glow it is soon lit by is sign enough. Louie turns to Gobo.]

That'll help Baritone get up close to deal some big hits. Work for you?

[As Gobo and his Dugtrio do their part in the battle, Louie has to smile-- despite the stressful situation, it's fun to get back into the strategy of this. He gets chances here and there, but he hasn't dedicated time to battling that wasn't deliberately simple in a while. It's just the best way to have pokemon grow and learn new moves for breeding, and if he wants to keep up with his JKBA work, that's the best way to do things.

In fact, he's enjoying watching the plan play out so much that a (small!) part of him is actually disappointed when the pokemon goes down, but there's relief, too. Louie gives Artifact a mini-salute before recalling it to its pokeball, then smiles over at Gobo.]

You're gonna keep it, after that? [He snickers.] Although I guess it is a pretty unique and cool pokemon, in its own way.

[An amiable shrug.]

Anyway, no problem. I'm glad I could help, and... It was actually kind of cool. I used to have a lot of fun coming up with strategies for gym battles, but I haven't done that in a long time.

[Louie doesn't get the sense that Gobo's troubled with that pause-- he's a sharpie, but a young one, still honing his observations! But the fact that Gobo doesn't answer the question at all, he does notice, but saying something about it seems too familiar. And though Gobo's friendliness, not to mention the way he cheerfully seems to just not understand so many things, make it pretty easy for Louie to relax while they interact... It's not like they're close.

Fortunately, Gobo gives him another nugget to focus on with that statement about choices in battle. Louie can't help an amused snort, but then, he doesn't really try to hide the playfully teasing tone, either.]

Maybe I shouldn't complain when you took care of that thing... But is that why you had your Dugtrio use Astonish?

[It is a weak move! And not even a ground type one!]

[Louie scoffs a little, but raises his hands in surrender, before reaching for another pokeball of his own. Come to think of it, a lookout is a good idea.]

Alright, fine, you've got a point there. That can stuff is useful. And most of the time, it's smart to go for things like that. Part of what strategy is. Maybe not when something so freaky and unfamiliar is moving so fast... [A pointed look, complete with a smirk.] But yeah, most of the time.

[Smirk still on his face, he sends his own Crobat out.]

Sneaky fighting like that is Franc's specialty, so he can help your Crobat keep on watch.

[Louie frowns as he thinks things over.]

I-- Yeah, you did. I'm not saying you're bad at battling, though. I was goofing around, what I said about Astonish.

[Plus, overall, keeping a good distance from a fast opponent is a smart way to go, especially if they're also hitting hard!]

Some battles here do get more dangerous. I meant what I said at the wedding, about it being impressive that you've talked down big dangers. But some dangers aren't open to being talked down. You know the prom that's happening before we leave Paldea? Will it be the first one you've been to here?

Yeah, it is.

[He sounds so tired saying it.]

I've been to two, and last year was fine, but that's not how it normally goes. I got here right before another one started, so I didn't bother, I didn't know anybody yet... But thieves were there, using masks to make people help them steal pokemon. People who went were freaked out after, so I didn't think I'd go to the next one.

But I did end up going. [He rolls his eyes with a sigh. It seems to end up that way every time, really.] And, yeah, it went badly. There were these three really powerful bird pokemon, legendary pokemon. Those are on a whole different level from anything trainers can catch.

Each of them wanted us to do something for them, like one wanted people to battle it. Not to beat it, just enough to keep it entertained, but I don't think any of us could have beat it anyway. I was one of the trainers who fought it, and for something it wanted to do for fun? It was really intense, like it wasn't going easy on us at all... Even though I think it was.

[He shudders. Maybe it shouldn't still scare him to remember that. Everyone was fine in the end, and during prom itself he remembers more feeling annoyed, resigned to the danger... It wasn't until after that it had really hit him, how now he'd experienced that this world wasn't always safe. It's safer here, but it's not the worry-free vacation he's wanted it to be.]

It's really cool that you're brave. [Louie cannot deny that courage can be very admirable, not anymore.] It'd just stink if you wound up getting hurt because of it, you know?

[Louie's pace slows more and more as Gobo speaks, starting the very moment he says it's a good point. He hadn't expected that at all, frankly. He knows his share of people who are too brave - stupidly brave - no matter the facts or the odds they're faced with. More than his share, if you ask him.

And yeah, a lot of them get hurt because of it. If they ever admit they need to be safer and more careful, it's not until after they get hurt. Them, or someone close to them. Sure, it sounds like maybe Gobo may have experienced that, but it's one thing to assume that from what he's saying. It's nothing Louie's heard about, and he's so stunned that by the time Gobo's done saying his piece, he's come to a stand-still.

He's stunned, certainly too caught off guard for all the details to click; things like radish blights or the fact that Gobo apparently considers him a friend despite how infrequently they've talked. It's a good kind of stunned, though- Or at least, mostly good. It's cool to have someone just see it like that! And it'll be good if Gobo does get more careful about these things.

But what does he say to that? It was nice, he just doesn't know where to go from here.]

I mean, you don't need to be sorry or anything, but- Yeah. That sounds...

[It sounds what, good? No, really, what does he even say here? He feels a little silly that's it so difficult, but having an emotionally open discussion after a harrowing run-in with danger isn't fair.]

Thanks, Gobo.

Yeah, it's pretty corny.

[His tone is even, bordering on uninterested, but he's smiling- He can't help it. Corny isn't his style, but he's not sure he'd call it corny if its sincere. And Gobo seems just as sincere here as he has every other time they've spoke. What he said is sappy, sure, and that's... Well, it's still not Louie's style, but it can be comforting in its own way.

And while he's quick to change the topic of conversation, it's not just for the sake of moving on from the sappiness at all.]

Hey, if you haven't picked a birthday for yourself yet... You should. And tell me when you do, okay? I'll get you a gift.

[He shrugs.]

I owe you, for getting me out of that cave.

Don't worry about it. Trust me, I wouldn't offer if I didn't really want to.

[Maybe Gobo would've battled anyway, but that's not why Louie wants to give him the gift- not exactly. Louie's team might have been fine to handle this, really, but he knew that already. He still hadn't planned on leaving that little cave, he'd been too scared.

There were a few people here he knew he cared about enough to put himself danger for, and frankly? He doesn't count Gobo among them. Well, maybe now he will, after talking. It's kind of cool that he'd wanted to go out and help anyway. Sometimes taking a risk like that is stupid and only stupid, but he's glad to see that when it's not, he's got it in him. Even for someone he doesn't consider a close friend. He wasn't sure until now.]

But you gotta let me know ahead of the day you pick, so I have time to figure something out.