Across the arena, calling back his Klinklang, Colress grins as Nate compliments Samurott on a job well done. Although he's been on a real losing streak these past few months, it's hard to feel like he's lost, really lost, in any way but the superficial. Part of it is, undoubtedly, the benefit he gains from these rematches — his printer behind him, in the protected alcove at the back of the arena, begins beeping as if to prove his point — but another is the satisfaction of seeing the outcomes of battles like these, the trust between Trainer and Pokémon. While Nate isn't the only Trainer Colress has met who has strong bonds with his team, he's certainly one of the strongest — and one of the most kind-hearted. If the results are anything like they've been over the last few months, well...
The printer dings again, and Colress turns, hands in his pockets, to the array of machines and screens inhabiting the shielded corner of the arena. As Nate continues to praise Samurott, he tears the auto-generated report from the mouth of one of the feeds, flips past the first couple of pages to get to the data, and scans them. Aha — he lights up, seeing the numbers line up with the upward trend they've been taking every battle. It's this page he holds out as Nate approaches, never mind that he hadn't actually explained to the boy how to interpret the results.
"More than enough — you've achieved splendid results, as usual! It's quite remarkable." Colress points to one of many numbers on the sheet, the grin on his face growing ever wider. While he's usually calm, he's never been good at concealing his excitement, and the rise in pitch and volume of his voice is hard to mistake. "The results are as you'd expect, but there's something else I added to the analysis of our battle today. I want to ask before I explain... Nate. In your experience, do you think bonds have an effect after battles, too, not just during them?"
At first, it had simply been a matter of keeping an eye on him. Battles were an excuse to check on Colress and see how his experiments were developing, to make sure he wasn't veering into "harmful for pokemon and the world at large" territory again. But that didn't last. They talked, Nate participated in a few more studies, and somehow it evolved into this actual sort of... camaraderie? Colress' dedication to the betterment of pokemon and the study of their power through bonds is so genuine. When the two of them are on the same page about something, it's difficult not to get swept up in his excitement.
It's funny how it worked out, all things considered. They get along now. Nate visits his lab a few times a week. But that's the point of going on a journey, isn't it? To meet people you never expected to meet, forging new bonds. That's how Nate likes to think of it, anyway.
Colress holds out the paperwork for him to view and his eyes immediately glaze over trying to parse those numbers. Nate can't quite keep up even with context, most of the time. He's making an effort to understand, but the subject of Colress' study is something that comes naturally to Nate. Those sure are a bunch of numbers that quantify his love for his pokemon with data and statistics! Cool. Yep.
Luckily, Colress steers the conversation back to their usual sort of exchanges.
"I mean, wouldn't they have to? The way we trust each other; that's something that extends to every part of our lives, not just when we battle." He folds his arms across his chest, a thoughtful look on his face. He can't guess what Colress is getting at this time; it'd be faster just to ask what he's trying to measure. "What kind of effect are you looking for?"
It's taking all of Colress's restraint not to immediately dump his findings on Nate; he never seems more animated than when he has someone to explain his research to, doubly so when that person is a direct participant in his attempts to quantify potential. And Nate... well, Nate is more than "a participant" by now. Just as Nate has become used to visiting Colress, Colress has gotten used to Nate's presence, his Pokémon, his feedback. He's almost a contributor to these experiments, more than a recurring research subject. "That's certainly true," he says approvingly, when his companion gives an answer. "Between battles, trust is built between Pokémon and their Trainers that lays the foundations for when we face each other. But..."
Colress's smile turns sly. He's given Nate this look before, a look that suggests Nate's hypothesis is good, but not the one he's looking for.
"...that's between battles. This number" — and he taps the paper again — "was recorded just after our match concluded, while you were talking with Samurott. Do you see the asterisks?
"What this means is: When you praised Samurott after the battle, it actually increased the levels of energy present in your Pokémon by nearly 10 percent! In other words, if the bond between a Trainer and a Pokémon is sufficient, the Pokémon can regain some of its energy losses, and continue past the limits of physical exhaustion, using positive reinforcement. This suggests that strength is not set in stone, but relative to the context or situation. If true, we're one step closer to understanding the potential of Pokémon! Do you think that matches up with what you've seen?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Across the arena, calling back his Klinklang, Colress grins as Nate compliments Samurott on a job well done. Although he's been on a real losing streak these past few months, it's hard to feel like he's lost, really lost, in any way but the superficial. Part of it is, undoubtedly, the benefit he gains from these rematches — his printer behind him, in the protected alcove at the back of the arena, begins beeping as if to prove his point — but another is the satisfaction of seeing the outcomes of battles like these, the trust between Trainer and Pokémon. While Nate isn't the only Trainer Colress has met who has strong bonds with his team, he's certainly one of the strongest — and one of the most kind-hearted. If the results are anything like they've been over the last few months, well...
The printer dings again, and Colress turns, hands in his pockets, to the array of machines and screens inhabiting the shielded corner of the arena. As Nate continues to praise Samurott, he tears the auto-generated report from the mouth of one of the feeds, flips past the first couple of pages to get to the data, and scans them. Aha — he lights up, seeing the numbers line up with the upward trend they've been taking every battle. It's this page he holds out as Nate approaches, never mind that he hadn't actually explained to the boy how to interpret the results.
"More than enough — you've achieved splendid results, as usual! It's quite remarkable." Colress points to one of many numbers on the sheet, the grin on his face growing ever wider. While he's usually calm, he's never been good at concealing his excitement, and the rise in pitch and volume of his voice is hard to mistake. "The results are as you'd expect, but there's something else I added to the analysis of our battle today. I want to ask before I explain... Nate. In your experience, do you think bonds have an effect after battles, too, not just during them?"
no subject
It's funny how it worked out, all things considered. They get along now. Nate visits his lab a few times a week. But that's the point of going on a journey, isn't it? To meet people you never expected to meet, forging new bonds. That's how Nate likes to think of it, anyway.
Colress holds out the paperwork for him to view and his eyes immediately glaze over trying to parse those numbers. Nate can't quite keep up even with context, most of the time. He's making an effort to understand, but the subject of Colress' study is something that comes naturally to Nate. Those sure are a bunch of numbers that quantify his love for his pokemon with data and statistics! Cool. Yep.
Luckily, Colress steers the conversation back to their usual sort of exchanges.
"I mean, wouldn't they have to? The way we trust each other; that's something that extends to every part of our lives, not just when we battle." He folds his arms across his chest, a thoughtful look on his face. He can't guess what Colress is getting at this time; it'd be faster just to ask what he's trying to measure. "What kind of effect are you looking for?"
no subject
Colress's smile turns sly. He's given Nate this look before, a look that suggests Nate's hypothesis is good, but not the one he's looking for.
"...that's between battles. This number" — and he taps the paper again — "was recorded just after our match concluded, while you were talking with Samurott. Do you see the asterisks?
"What this means is: When you praised Samurott after the battle, it actually increased the levels of energy present in your Pokémon by nearly 10 percent! In other words, if the bond between a Trainer and a Pokémon is sufficient, the Pokémon can regain some of its energy losses, and continue past the limits of physical exhaustion, using positive reinforcement. This suggests that strength is not set in stone, but relative to the context or situation. If true, we're one step closer to understanding the potential of Pokémon! Do you think that matches up with what you've seen?"