Jynx (Smoochum)
Overview
Even by the standards of true psychics jynx are strange creatures. They possess a limited ability to temporarily discard or entirely reform their body from moisture in the air. Rather than feeding on emotions jynx feed on general brain activity of creatures they are linked to. Strangest of all jynx readily change their behaviors and even their appearance to match the human society around them.
While jynx do not require high PSY scores to wield they are unable to provide translation. Trainers who want a psychic-type for that purpose should look into another species. Musically inclined trainers, aspiring researchers, and rain specialists can still find jynx a strange but friendly and relatively low maintenance pokémon.
Physiology
Jynx and smoochum are classified as dual psychic- and ice-type pokémon. Their nature as true psychics necessitates the first typing. While technically jynx exhibit a form of hydrokinesis rather than proper cryokinesis their very low body temperature and propensity for ice-type attacks suggests a secondary ice typing is suitable.
Jynx is notable for changing the appearance of all individuals worldwide within a generation. It is widely believed that jynx's skin was previously pitch black. This is inaccurate: jynx had no skin. A shadowy form held up a set of clothing and hair made of slightly impure ice crystals. When frightened jynx would fade into the shadows around them and abandon their physical trappings.
In the 1960s jynx began to grow skin. The trend started in North America where changing attitudes around proper conduct led to a backlash against blackface. Jynx shows were caught up in the backlash and often cancelled as a result. Within five years most of the jynx around Unova had developed a physical form with dark purple skin. This body is not properly organic but is instead made of ice crystals. Despite this there are layers of different densities and structures that seem to function as organs. Whether or not they serve a purpose or are merely ornamental is unknown. From Unova the trend of making physical bodies to inhabit spread worldwide until by 1985 every population of jynx in the world, even the remote wild populations, had adopted it.
Smoochum were first sighted in 1999. They, too, have spread across almost every jynx population. They are roughly humanoid with slightly exaggerated feminine proportions. Most populations have blonde hair and a mix of purple and light brown skin. As with jynx multiple hair colors have been detected. As jynx bodies are purely ornamental the pokémon can presumably have whatever hair color she wants.
Smoochum appear to be biological organisms in a way that jynx simply are not. To start with they regularly eat food, drink water, and excrete waste. Their lips also seem functional and highly sensitive as smoochum insist on pressing them against any new surface they encounter. Furthermore damage short of the total destruction of their physical body can result in death (see Illness).
The largest jynx can reach heights of 1.7 meters and weigh up to 46 kilograms. Increasing size is usually a sign of power and comfort as more mass requires more psychic energy to maintain. Like most true psychics jynx have an average lifespan equivalent to the nearby human population.
Behavior
Jynx appear to have a very complex language system that sounds nearly human. Across the world jynx language shifts to mirror the sounds of the local human tongues. These languages are entirely incomprehensible. Linguists have spent their entire lives trying to decipher jynx languages and failed. Even telepathic humans and pokémon have never been able to receive an understandable response from a jynx. Mind links can even be painful and result in a long bouts of vertigo and/or aphasia. Recent lab studies suggest that jynx communicate with each other through telepathic signals and that their language is purely for show.
Unlike most true psychics jynx do not feed on emotions. Instead they seem to absorb either kinetic or mental energy through their dances. When jynx begin to dance and sing it creates a signal sent out to all humanoid organisms in the area. Eventually their nervous systems are coopted and they begin to join in the movements. The process is harmless aside from potential damage from being made to perform maneuvers the body may not be fit enough to comfortably handle. In the worst case scenario people with some control over their legs but very low leg strength can involuntarily get up and collapse after a few seconds or minutes. Jynx do seem apologetic when this happens and immediately stop dancing.
Most jynx have voluntarily moved into captivity, especially after the invention of air conditioning. They perform in dance halls or, increasingly, yoga studios. Some have private trainers that feed them and, in turn, ask them to dance, battle, or sing. Jynx do have beautiful, surprisingly deep voices even if they cannot perform conventional lyrics. In return the jynx are showered with attention and allowed to regularly feed in a safe environment. While all of the attention can lead to jynx becoming spoiled narcissists this somehow only adds to the appeal of their dance halls. In recent years several jynx have begun social media accounts where they post pictures with nonsensical captions or vlogs of a jynx complaining or singing to a camera in their own language. These behaviors do not seem to be a form of feeding. In any case several jynx have millions of followers on Snap, Trozei, Play It!, Shuffle, and the Pokémon Channel.
Small wild populations exist. Their behaviors, including the methods they use to feed, are poorly understood.
Smoochum mostly stay close to their mothers and explore their environment. They have a lot of attitude for their apparent stage of human development and are known to be more demanding than even the most narcissistic of jynx. Near constant attention from one of her mothers or a human is required to satisfy their emotional needs and ward off tantrums and to make sure that the smoochum doesn't accidentally hurt herself or eat something she shouldn't. Preventing her from doing so is a surefire way to start a tantrum. Thankfully smoochum have short memories and quickly forget why they were angry in the first place.
Husbandry
A jynx requires cool environments and either moist air or frequent access to ice or cool water. Her environment should usually be kept below fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures as high as seventy-five Fahrenheit can be tolerated for periods of an hour or less. Glacier and Polar balls can work for transport through warmer climes. In general jynx do not make good companions for traveling trainers in Alola, although the presence of an aurorus, ninetales, vanilluxe, or other powerful cryokinetics can offset this. Humanoid pokémon also make good partners as they reduce the time jynx has to feed from any single source. Intelligent Pokémon, especially singers such as primarina, can properly shower jynx with attention. Oricorio can at least provide dancing partners.
Jynx feed through linked dancing with humanoids and humans in particular. Flexibility and cardiovascular exercises are recommended for jynx trainers to help them get through long feeding sessions. Even outside of dancing jynx are socially demanding and will need near-constant socialization or other enrichment. Thankfully jynx are willing to vent to mirrors from time to time.
A smoochum is generally best cared for by her mothers with occasional trainer assistance. Baby-sitting mostly consists of making sure that smoochum doesn't kiss anything sharp, toxic, or attached to a potentially aggressive pokémon. Unlike most pokémon smoochum are curious enough about literally everything in their environment that they have little need for proper toys.
Illness
Prior to forming bodies jynx suffered illness typical of true psychics and phantoms. For the most part rates of these diseases have greatly decreased among the now-physical jynx. The only real maladies adult jynx suffer from are the occasional bout of exhaustion, vertigo, or discoloration from inadequate feeding. In particularly severe cases the jynx will not be able to dance, dooming it to starvation unless another jynx steps in and shares energy.
Their gains from reduced emotion sicknesses jynx and offset by new physical weaknesses. Previously jynx could only truly die of old age, although they might go comatose from starvation or particularly severe illnesses. Now the total annihilation of their body in an environment that is not very cool and moist can result in death. Even in ideal environments annihilation combined with dark- and ghost-type attacks can prevent reformation and be fatal as a result.
Smoochum can suffer from more conventional illnesses such as food poisoning and respiratory infections. Ensuring that the smoochum eats only soft foods for the first three months of life and only things edible to humans from then on until evolution can reduce rates of food poisoning. Keeping a clean home and, paradoxically, reducing the use of harsh chemical sanitizers can also reduce illness rates. Respiratory infections are best prevented by keeping the smoochum in a consistently cool and moist environment.
Evolution
Once a smoochum is around eight years old her parents will take her to an extremely cool and moist area nearby. The smoochum will meditate for two to six days before attempting to form a new body. A flurry of ice, snow, and cool water will coalesce into a proper jynx body. Upon the body's completion the smoochum will keel over dead and begin her new life controlling the newly created jynx.
After evolution jynx continue to grow as long as they train and become more powerful.
Battle
Given enough ambient moisture, especially cool moisture, a jynx can reform her entire body in a matter of seconds. On rain and hail teams this can make jynx astonishingly durable. In addition to their durability jynx can also employ moves such as sweet and lovely kiss to disrupt enemy plans. Nasty plot and calm mind boosts can let jynx unleash powerful blizzards or psychic attacks.
Jynx's second biggest advantage lies in their ability to freeze or otherwise disrupt the movements of humanoid pokémon. A handful of non-weather quickstall teams have used jynx to force humanoid pokémon such as machamp to stand stock still as passive effects drain their health. Alternatively jynx can force other pokémon to punch themselves. The jynx herself will hardly be damaged given her weak arm strength but fighting-types can be seriously hurt.
The main downside to using jynx is that outside of rain or hail they are extremely frail creatures. In very harsh sunlight jynx passively degrade. Fire-type attacks only speed the process up. Even in ideal weather conditions a few powerful ghost or dark hits can keep jynx from reforming all of the way.
Given the climate of Alola jynx are only useful with a partner pokémon or two capable of setting up rain or hail. Ninetales, aurorus, castform, politoed, or pelipper are the ideal partners. Vanilluxe are powerful hail setters but are strongly discouraged for the amateur trainer. Vanillite and vanillish are unfortunately far less effective at weather control than their adult form.
Smoochum are decently powerful ice- and psychic-attackers that can also pull off the occasional lovely or sweet kiss. They are also modestly more durable and less sensitive to adverse climes than jynx are. In low level matches smoochum can disrupt or overpower a handful of common pokémon such as non-pikipek birds. Still, smoochum's long evolution time and reliance on her mothers makes her a subpar pick for new trainers.
Acquisition
Jynx are best acquired from breeders in Hau'oli and Malie. These organizations regularly import and breed jynx and are capable of providing specimens adjusted to close human contact and with a detailed record of likes, dislikes, and personality traits. Trainers seeking a wild jynx can find them near the entrances of Melemele caves, and the meadow entrances of Seaward Cave in particular. Wild jynx are often somewhat skittish around humans they are not actively controlling. Even if she bonds with a human a wild jynx will be initially confused and scared in cities and unused to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
Smoochum capture remains legal due to relaxed capture rules around non-native species. It is not recommended for practical reasons as smoochum are reliant upon maternal supervision and do not typically adjust well to human care.
Smoochum can be captured, adopted, or purchased with a Class IV license. Jynx can be obtained with a Class III.
Breeding
Like most true psychics jynx reproduce through asexual partnered courtship. All jynx are automatically classified as female as they have no reproductive organs and typically perform feminine gender roles of the nearby human cultures. It is impossible to simply ask a jynx about questions of gender identity and receive a coherent answer.
Two jynx will bond through a dancing and singing competition, the details of which vary regionally. If both are satisfied with the other they will stay close for several months. Eventually one or both will create an egg from ice crystals. Through a process that is not well understood the ice egg will gradually begun to house organic life. A smoochum will hatch after four to six months. Some jynx couples have another child or two while raising their first to evolution. In any event once all children have evolved the couple will go their separate ways. If confined to the same space they will proceed to ignore each other and their newly evolved offspring.
Captive breeding of jynx is relatively easy in theaters or studios that own multiple jynx. Trainers with a single jynx will have to take her to an organized gathering of jynx to evaluate potential mates. One trainer will then need to take care of both jynx for several years. Once the last smoochum has evolved new homes will need to be found for one parent and the child or both parents. If enough food and space is available multiple jynx can tolerate each other with only the occasional fight. Trainers who cannot bear the thought of losing one or both of their jynx should plan to open or join a jynx-related business well in advance.
Subspecies
The dances, language, and mannerisms of jynx vary by culture. Eye and hair color frequencies also vary regionally. Jynx are originally from the Korean peninsula, Amur basin, and Japanese isles. Traders had spread them to Scandanavia by 800 CE, Tibet by 1100 CE, and New Zealand by 1400 CE. The Europeans subsequently spread them to much of the globe, including Alola in 1811.