SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

[indigo_events]

➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | and | KANTO

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

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OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
NAVIGATION | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

Comments

[no_ufo_ending]

Henry glanced aside at Sword, suddenly feeling a little guilty for not granting the Pokemon with a more...creative...name. But he'd been in a hurry to get him registered in his Poke'Gear before dropping it.

"Some people name their Pokemon after people they know...or things that they like..." Henry offered helpfully. His Pokemon...did his friends have them? Were they at the ranch? He was starting to feel dizzy from all the questions and he swayed on the spot.

[lifebloomsanew]

Henry really didn't look well. Rose set her Minior gently aside and then she was on her feet, reaching out to Henry intending to gather him right up into her arms. Before he fell on his face, which it looked like he just might do.

Poor man. He really was exhausted, wasn't he?

"Names can wait."

[no_ufo_ending]

As if on cue, the Canon Update Fatigue finally got to him and he slumped forward like a rag doll with his arms dangling in an undignified manner. He'd been worried about all his human friends, sure, but WHAT ABOUT HIS POKEMON?

Sword finally stopped his dramatic flailing around and noticed that Trainer was...not looking so good. How could he be so neglectful on day one! He had to sharpen up and fast! Sword rushed over to Rose and hovered anxiously by her shoulder, reaching out to lift one of Henry's feet and release it, watching it dangle.

"I'm fine, I promise."

[lifebloomsanew]

Rose caught him, making soothing noises as she did, and held him in her substantial arms. He was in need. And...it kept her from wondering too much about those she left behind.

"It's alright if you're not. It's one of the wonderful things about feelings, there's so many of them! A life lived is a life full of all of them. Sometimes we have to feel not fine - if you weren't supposed to, you wouldn't be able to." She looked over Henry at Sword, and then to her own Pokemon. This would be fine. She knew what to do, they'd all be just fine.

"I think we should get you someplace comfortable. Resting is important for humans, you know."

[no_ufo_ending]

Henry had to admit that even though he woke up in a bed, he had no idea if he'd actually rested in that bed. It had been a long time since he'd had a good old fashioned anxiety attack and this felt like it was the start of one.

And also probably nicotine cravings.

He started to struggle out of her arms. "Let's get that ice cream you were talking about and I'll tell you what I can about this place."

[lifebloomsanew]

Rose released Henry and stepped back.

"I'd like that very much. I'm glad I met you, Henry. Hard things are always a little easier when we aren't alone."

Which she was now. It...was a very strange and new thing. It was one thing to take time to herself, off away from the other Crystal Gems, another to be cut off completely from everyone and everything familiar. With no preparation, no warning...

It was as frightening as it was exhilarating.

[no_ufo_ending]

Once Henry was back on his feet, he wobbled once before taking the lead.

The little Go Shop was small and clean and full of all kinds of great things for newbie trainers like a set of post cards depicting humorous situations in experienced trainers might try with their pokemon like someone petting a flaming Ponyta or sitting on a Rhyhorn without a special saddle.

The little deep freeze sat below the shop window and Henry dug one out for himself before moving aside and letting Rose have her pick.

"If nothing has changed since I've been gone, these should still be pretty good. They're affordable anyway."

TIME TO USE MONEY, ROSE.

[lifebloomsanew]

Gliding along behind Henry, it was hard for Rose not to get distracted by all the trinkets in the little store. But they were on a mission! Even if there were so many things that kept catching her eye and making her drift a bit off course...

Rose had a general sense of money. She knew what it was, and that it could be very important to humans, but most of the finer points eluded her. She'd never needed money. She'd never needed things.

But humans needed all sorts of things. Including money. Which...she didn't have any of, as far as she knew. Unless that was in her pack, too. Some quick rummaging revealed it was! Money! She had her very own money!

With that taken care of, she peered intently into the cooler. There were so may choices! Her hand hovered, moving back and forth, and the tip of her tongue poked out of her mouth as she tried to decide. Finally, after much 'hmming' and 'ooohing', Rose came up with her fist clasped triumphantly around the stick of a Swirlix Push Pop.

"I'll buy this one! How do I buy things?"

[no_ufo_ending]

The question caught Henry off guard. He was guessing she was some kind of alien space person but he really had no grasp on just how alien.

"Watch me."

Henry turned and approached a steel-nerved older woman who had seen everything in the long years Strangers have been showing up. He placed the push pop on the counter, the woman rang it up and announced a number. He glanced back at Rose to make sure she was watching before he counted out the correct coinage.

The register made a satisfying cha-ching noise as Henry's Poke' was traded for Goods and Services. He pinched the receipt between two fingers and waved it as though he had just done some kind of impressive trick.

[lifebloomsanew]

Rose watched.

She watched intently, lips pursed together as though this were sacred information being imparted to her. And clapped when it was done. Well, that didn't look too hard! She stepped up to the counter and enthusiastically placed her ice cream on it.

"I would like to buy this!"

Of course she hadn't exactly grasped the fine details of exact pricing, but it looked easy enough. And went just as Henry's transaction had gone...until it was time to pay. And Rose simply dumped a pile of what she guesstimated was the right amount onto the counter.

And stood smiling brightly while the clerk, with a single finger, pointedly pushed back the excess and scooped the rest into the register.

Well. It had almost gone perfectly! But now she had her very own ice cream, and Henry was going to tell her about this new world and maybe he'd continue to cheer up. He seemed so sad.

[no_ufo_ending]

"Not bad," he said. He made as though to lead her back out into the town so that he could shoot the clerk an apologetic glance. The woman behind the counter didn't even blink. With the shit she'd seen, this was a walk in the park.

"Don't eat it too fast or you'll get a brain freeze."


[OOC: WANNA CONSIDER OUR OTHER THREAD A CONTINUATION OF THIS ONE?]