MAY - JUNE 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 | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

✭ ✭ ✭


OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
NAVIGATION | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

Comments

Jaskier | The Witcher (Netflix)

[rollstoseduce]

[A change of clothes based on any trainer class, you say? Well then, Jaskier will show up dressed as the viscount class, because that's a canon reference joke that must be made. Everyone is free to notice how peculiar it is that he doesn't mind going through nature in fancy clothes - in fact, he's used to that life. At least he ditched the hat!]

1. Network

The monks of Violet City truly know their drinks, do they not? This "sake" is quite lovely - astringent yet midly sweet. I'm considering purchasing a bottle to take on the road with me, but there's been a... bit of a setback.

[Attached comes a seconds-long video: an Igglybuff, sleeping on her back and- is that snoring?]

Does alcohol have any effects on Pokémon that I should worry about?

2. Olivine City - action

[It's the coast! Finally! Jaskier adores the beach and after traveling for so long, he's been dying to see it. Especially after he heard that Olivine City is known as 'the most romantic city in Johto'. Ah, a place after his own heart. First things first though, a rest at the Pokécenter for his dear team, and shopping for supplies.

The sun is setting when he's ready to carry on with his plan, and he can't complain: sunset is the perfect stage. Barefoot, he walks on the shore with three Pokémon: a Wigglytuff and a Brionne at his feet, plus a Swablu on top of his head. He's also carrying an ukelele in his arms.]

Ready, my dears?

[All three Pokémon agree and the show starts: Jaskier sings and plays his instrument with the expertise of someone who has been doing this for years, his voice carrying on with strength to reach everyone's ears, every word filled with emotion. And the Pokémon? They sing along in their cute little language. Swablu stays on Jaskier's head, shaking his fluffy wings as his trainer dances in little hops. Wigglytuf and Brionne, meanwhile, dance along on the wet sand in a very simple but energetic choreography.

Soon an audience forms around them and Jaskier beams, absorbing the attention he loves so much. He asks everyone to clap along, dedicates charming smiles and even the occasional wink to pretty faces. Some people even join in the dancing, especially couples. What about you, innocent bystander? Are you going to clap as well? Dance? Toss a coin berry perhaps?]

Olivine City (she does speak bird)

[runicfeathers]

[Willow's been at the beach for a while, relaxing with her Murkrow and Fletchinder as she gives them scratches and attention, listening to their happy calls. But what's this? Music is playing nearby, and although she doesn't usually care what others are doing, the music is cheerful and her own birds are bobbing their heads and dancing.

She gets up and goes to see the source of the music, arching an eyebrow at the sight of a man in a suit singing and the other pokemon dance. Willow's own birds go and even start joining the man's creatures, hopping around happily but not getting in their way, much to her own loud sigh. Those two have always enjoyed joining in crowds.]

Oh Lythie... Nova... do you both truly enjoy doing these things this much? Ah, 'tis no matter, it's charming music and the man has a bird who's elated and loved I see.

[She mutters to herself as she pulls from her bag a few berries and kneels down in the front of the crowd, rolling the berries towards the small group, watching and listening the pokemon as well as keeping an eye on her birds.]

Willow Amarina | Original Character (will match style)

[runicfeathers]

[disclaimer: Willow speaks bird. She's also wearing a pair of black cargo pants and a dark purple hoodie, with black sneakers. Hair is up in a single ponytail.]

1. Ecruteak City, Burned Tower
[Willow's gotten used to finding these strange creatures and has attracted quite a few of their birds that have happily joined her party, and found that like in her world she can understand them just fine. Sometimes a bother to her if she's trying to sleep, but she enjoys their chirping and conversation. Much more than any of these people around who've stared at her pointed ears, that's for sure. How uncouth to stare, manners should have been taught in their youth!

But what's really caught her attention here are the myths of a powerful and rare bird Pokemon known as Ho-Oh, and not only that, the burned tower has caught her attention as well as she just stares at the officer who looks the same as all the others and gives a shrug as she enters the building with a flashlight in hand as her Murkrow sits on her shoulder and Rookidee pokes out from her hood.]

They think me incapable of handling myself, how absurd. Humans... Weak creatures from the moment they're born until they die, and most can't even understand a creature's voice. [She mutters after she's entered the building, not particularly caring if anyone inside had heard her.]

2. Olivine City, beachfront
[A relaxing day for once, surprising her as she's laying on the beach as her Vulpix is curled on her chest, receiving the best of scritches! Her other Pokemon are nearby, but close enough to be in reach, bathing in the warm sunlight next to their trainer. Save for one pesky little Murkrow who has decided to hop onto her head and peer down at her face with a loud caw of demanding the same attention that Vulpix is getting. Of course she would, she's always demanded attention from her "human" ever since the bird dropped from a tree right into her lap. As always, Willow gives the black bird an ample amount of head scratches and beak rubs, even giving the bird some needed tlc for those tail feathers. It should be noted that it's unwise to touch a bird anywhere but their head, but Willow speaks bird and knows enough to assure her pokemon that she's not her mate and that Corvisquire is indeed this Murkrow's mate.

Murkrow relaxes enough to stop her cawing, instead switching to croak-like purrs.
However should someone come near her with a Murkrow (or even Honchkrow) of their own, her Murkrow will start cawing up a storm in either defensive "this is my trainer!" or excited "FRIEND" (or both) crows.]

Lythie, my feathered beast, calm your feathers. Are they truly worthy of such a loud noise, friendly or defensive, just because another of your kin has taken a liking to them?

[Should they have any other bird Pokemon around or on them, Murkrow will make a few chirps and go back to being scratched, keeping a wary eye on them. Willow however, will direct her gaze directly at the bird and examine its feathers and demeanor, immediately judging the person's care (or lack thereof) of the pokemon.]

[Should the bird appear healthy and happy:] That bird, it quite likes you, I see you know how to care for them.
[Should the bird appear unhappy:] The bird is displeased with you, are you taking care of it? Or... perhaps you just acquired the creature and don't yet know how to make it happy?

uno

[amaure]

[Seeing as he plans to find a better understanding of this strange and seemingly broken world (honestly, something must be wrong with that strange music always playing, let alone how malformed the creatures are), it only makes sense for him to visit the ruins. There he might get a better glimpse of the foundation of this place, some hidden truth that the natives aren't exactly...willing to impart. Granted, they do not seem willing to do much at all, which is a matter for another time.

It's honestly strange having to use something like a flashlight to see where he's going, primarily because as a being of darkness means that perceiving things in said darkness was never a problem. Even before his distinction as an Ascian it served him little problem with his Sight, yet here he was without both.

Here, he ironically needed the light to see much of anything. Another sore point against this world. None of that mattered, anyway, it was but merely the laws of nature, and he had simply lived outside of such for so long, this was all just annoying inconvenience. A distraction paired with his lesser ability to sense what's around him, that he does not see the girl when she enters.

He does, however, hear her, and my does she say such interesting things. Turning to her from an old tattered scroll he was trying to make sense of, he towers before her even with his slouching posture. He's dressed in usual attire, which looks a bit sorely out of place, but he doesn't mind that at all.]

Did I hear you correctly? [He inquires, looking at her with dubious interest.] Were you implying just now that you are not human?

1

[nastyboy]

[A rough and deep voice answers her from inside the shadows.]

Humans cannot even understand the voices of one another, whether living or dead. Why expect any better?

[A shine of the flashlight reveals the culprit sitting in a corner with his legs drawn up, a leather jacket over his shoulders, and... just, covered in Rattata apparently.]

[Listen, don't question his life choices.]

[Dimitri still doesn't feel... entirely comfortable when it comes to staying in inns, or honestly cities in general. Those are the kinds of places something like him doesn't belong in. Frankly, if he were on his own, Dimitri would probably never step inside a single city or town in all of this strange land. But he has a traveling companion, against all odds, and they apparently cared enough about such things, so he'd reluctantly agreed to stay in Ecruteak.]

[That doesn't mean he has to indulge in such unnecessary things himself. The tower had called to him, with its ruined state, and he couldn't help but feel faintly reminded of Garreg Mach. A similar kind of ruin, all because of man... That's all the reason he really wants to entertain, and, even then, not by much.]

[But people certainly seem interested in this kind of place... Enough so that Dimitri had made sure to settle down with his only good eye facing the entrance into the tower, just in case. One could argue there's no truly dangerous reason to be so on edge... but Dimitri still can't believe or understand that. He can still hardly believe or understand his entire situation, frankly.]

[At least he doesn't seem aggressive, and neither do the good half dozen Rattata that are lounging all over him.]

Erina Joestar | Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

[puddlesoverdios]

1. Cherrygrove City

She had managed to get to Cherrygrove City before Erina wondered if she was, in fact, dead. The vicar's sermons were more of often something both she and her father found themselves nodding their heads to, though less out of agreement and more out of slumber. She could not remember dying, and there was a quite a bit less of fire and brimstone than she expected, but nor were there pearly gates.

In fact, she'd only just been married what felt like just the day before yesterday. Peda flops down and heaves a very deep sigh, which Erina continues. Perhaps Jonathan would be fine; he had gone off and had an exciting, dangerous adventure with all the things that sort of mythical journey entailed.

But what if he wasn't? What if she had vanished and in his hurry to find answers he was hurt somewhere? She would never forgive herself. The little break on a bench was enough, she would simply have to go find a way back to England and if she needs to go breed animals to do so in the meantime, so be it. Erina pulled herself and lifted the pachirisu up from where it had been sleeping on her pack. She tucked it against her side like a pachi-football and picked up her parasol and pack. It was quite a lot to carry along, but if she could lift a man from bed to bed and not fall over, then this would be fine, she would just have to walk very slowly.

"Come along, Peda, we still have a bit to go and I, for one, would like to find some nice tea to mull this whole debacle over."

2. Network, Video

[A young, blonde woman in a green and white dress and a very impressive green sun hat sits next to a stump with a pachirisu who has a large, fat belly, and a cat-eating-the-cream expression on its face.]

Good afternoon, I thought I would pose this question because I do not know, and the Peda here is unfortunately not in the mood to provide details. I think they may have gotten into their food and I am not sure how to best procure some more in the middle of...

Where am I? Well, let us just say in the middle of nowhere for now, and go from there.

NETWORK

[insidescoop]

wow that's a big squirrel...

[uh] Uh!

[Right, right. Carly adjusts her glasses.] Well, I mean I can try to help? Do you know what city you were in last?

[Video]

[strings_theory]

[... Well, that's certainly a look and she can't help and raise an eyebrow to the whole thing. And that's... that's a fucking mood right there. At least she's in what seems to be a room of some sort and just in a tank top and shorts. While Demon, the sylveon, rests at her side with a ribbon wrapped loosely around her wrist.]

Welcome to Pokemon world. And if you just got here you're probably in... Cherrygrove City, it takes a bit to get to the next town over, but they got more than that place does. 'Sides, if your Pokemon is getting hungry, then there's berries out there to grab. Some people can eat, too, it's not that hard of a thing. Should have some information in your guide?

Cassandra the Dust-Eater | Claymore | will match format

[fearinahandfulof]

I. New Bark Town

To say that waking up in a place like this is a surprise to Cassandra is quite possibly an understatement. For one thing, she hadn't been expecting to wake up at all; she remembers her final death - what she'd thought was her final death - very, very clearly. She really shouldn't be waking up from that - or ever. Then again, she shouldn't have woken up after her first death either, and that certainly hadn't stopped the Organization from dragging her back.

Though this looks nothing like the Organization's headquarters. Nor does the woman who identifies herself as Cassandra's mother look anything like the Organization's men. (Cassandra is also fairly sure that she looks nothing like her actual mother, either, but as she can't precisely remember her mother, she's only fairly sure.) Very little of this looks anything close to familiar to Cassandra, and she's not sure what to make of it; certainly, she wouldn't have dreamed up any part of this room on her own.

She's not too terribly fussed about being rushed out of the room and out of the house - she's never been all that comfortable in human settlements - but it doesn't make any of this any less mysterious. She very nearly forgets to take the strange ball with her in her confusion; fortunately her "mother" stops her before she can leave it. And then she finds herself standing in a region named "Route 29," and she can almost breathe a sigh of relief. Travel through the wilderness is something she can do. She'd done it all the time before this.

It had been much quieter then, though. "Why is there music?"

II. Violet City/The Ruins of Alph

It takes longer than she expected to get here. Part of that is because she doesn't want to strain her... pokemon... (Cassandra wonders if she will ever get used to all these new terms and concepts she's being exposed to), but another part is her own physiology: she seems to be more or less human now.

It's a strange feeling. Cassandra doesn't really remember what it is to be human anymore. She's not used to tiring so easily or needing to eat and drink so much. Her ears are still pointed, and her general height (tall), build (slim), and hair color (almost none) haven't changed, but the increased speed, strength, and endurance she'd used to have are all gone. She can't even change her metabolism to compensate for the weather anymore, although at least it's relatively warm here. She's honestly not sure she likes it, although on balance it's probably for the best.

She spends some time exploring Violet City in general, but her real objective is the school, and that's where she's most easily found. There is far too much she doesn't understand about this world; hopefully, spending time at the school will help her with at least some of that (the machines, sadly, will likely remain a mystery for some time yet). The Ruins are also of interest to her, but she's not sure her pokemon is strong enough, and these days she really isn't, either. Perhaps if someone was willing to go with her...

III. Olivine City

Things that are new to Cassandra: boats. Though she's unlikely to actually find her way onto one right now; they look like they'd be expensive to travel on, and she's fairly sure she doesn't have the money. Still, she's a bit wistful as she watches one leave for the Sevii Islands. Maybe some other time.

She's picked up a few pokemon by now in addition to her starter: a Zubat and a Houndour, plus a Skitty that had been pressed upon her back in New Bark Town. She's still trying to figure out what to call them (aside from the Skitty, who, she'd been solemnly informed, answered to Sweetie, even though she acted anything but). She doesn't really have anywhere to go right now, so for now she's taking the time to get to know her pokemon better; she's probably most easily spotted by the harbor, watching the waves lap at the shore with them. It's all strangely peaceful, and she's not entirely sure she trusts that, but for the moment she's just going to try to take things as they come, and try not to think about how they could all go wrong.

She still wishes the music would go away, though.

New Bark Town

[sisterincrime]

"Really?"

The voice that comments doesn't sound scornful, as such, rather just... bemused. And the owner thereof approaching her, with a black and brown Rattata clinging to her shoulder and sniffing the air curiously, has a rather futuristic appearance to her clothes, and an amused look on her face.

"Out of all the... everything that's just happened"- and she waves both hands in wild, vague circles with the emphasis -"you seriously think that the constant background noise is the part that needs the most highlighting?"

Re: Cassandra the Dust-Eater | Claymore | will match format

[uncutetomboy]

Akane does care about becoming a better trainer (and also about getting better at fighting Pokemon in the wild) so occasionally she does warp back to Violet to visit the school and read up on things.

When she sees the woman already in the library is reading up on Alph, she can't help but comment with, "I went there once. I found some of my best Pokemon there."

New Bark Town

[plays_despacito]

How did they manage to stick multiple people in the same place around the same time without them running into each other before getting outside? Question for the ages. Not that he's... all that concerned about it, weirder things have happened, after all.

A small frown plays on Johann's lips as he watches this new person emerge from that house and the music thing gets a slow shrug. "Your guess is as good as mine. Don't mind the lack of silence, personally. But to each their own." It's better than the silence he'd slowly had to become accustomed to, after all.

Though he... probably looks a sight in his ridiculous bright and over-the-top bard clothing including feather plumed hat. Even if he seems to be the opposite in personality to his clothing.

"Some crazy woman claim to be your mother, too?"

Johann | The Adventure Zone: Balance

[plays_despacito]

Network

[So, that was one hell of a way to wake up. In an unfamiliar room with some woman going on about how you need to get up and start your journey. He'd pretty much tuned her out almost immediately before making his way outside, after all, she wasn't anyone he knew. This wasn't Faerun, this was absolutely not the astral plane, so where in the actual hell had he ended up this time?

Oh well.

It'd given him enough time to find his map and make his way towards... well, the next place over seemed to be called Cherrygrove and he certainly hoped someone had answers here. But for now he's taking a rest on the route between the towns, having... found some sort of temporary water area to let this strange new creature get some time. He's pretty sure it requires water anyway.

Quietly he's clicking the device on, luckily not unfamiliar with technology to a degree where this is a problem. And there's just a lapras in the background while Johann's leaning against a tree. Stupid bard clothing and all.]

Right, so.

Is this some kinda cruel joke the gods are trying to play on me or something? Because this sure as shit isn't Faerun and this sure as shit isn't the astral plane. I'm pretty sure I gotta breathe again which, lemme tell you, is some whack shit. Meaning I'm not dead. And I'm not sure how that ended up being a thing as I was pretty sure I was not among the living anymore. Kinda the thing you learn when you're literally looking at your own dead body. Just sayin'.

Also what the hell is that thing? [He's gesturing to the lapras who seems to be happily trilling in the back. It's fine, this is fine.] Look, just because they let me deal with a weird space sentient jellyfish thing does not mean I'm down for being in charge of another weird water creature thing. Can I just get a break for a second? Come on.

Action - Cherrygrove City

[So much for that whole... mess. He's stuck here now and he's got to find some way to figure this whole thing. He's ignored literally everything in his backpack in favor of the loud and bright bard clothing. And Johann might be slightly miffed about the lack of any sort of instrument. But he'll figure it out in due time.

For now he's found the... ocean, he thinks? On the outskirts of the town and is pointedly ignoring the townsfolk trying to chat him up while letting his lapras have her time outside of the ball. Because of course he is, he knows better than to let a huge honking water creature be confined in a small space. Been there, done that, got the death and mental scars to prove it.

But he is writing what... seems to be some sort of music in the sand of the beachy area. For those untrained it just looks like an absolute mess of strange pictographs, for those who know, it's... actually a rather complicated melody of sorts that seems to be in treble clef at the very least.]

What? Can't you see I wanna just be left alone? [At least he's not looking up when he says this to anyone that tries to look over his shoulder or approach him.]

Re: Johann | The Adventure Zone: Balance

[fingersandteeth]

[Faerun. Holy shit. He's from D&D. Like, he's definitely just some ordinary guy from a D&D world, not a Drizzt or anything, but still. Guy from a D&D world.

This is so cool.]

Uh, that thing is a Lapras. And if you really don't want him, I know a guy who'd be happy to take him.

Tonbokiri | Touken Ranbu

[greatspear]

Network
[Tonbokiri has never really gotten used to modern technology, even though he was summoned in the 23rd century. So it takes some time before he's able to figure out how his gear works and how to communicate on it.]

Pardon my asking. I was wondering if anyone has advice on how to look after the Pokemon known as a Mudbray. I have one, and he's very agreeable for the most part, but he has a habit of rolling in any mud he can find. I suppose that is where the name comes from.

[Attached is a somewhat blurry picture of a Mudbray, covered in mud and looking as happy as...well, a Mudbray in mud.]

Violet City
[One perk of being in a world where there isn't a pressing need to fix time anomalies is that Tonbokiri can indulge in his sweet tooth all he wants. One might spot a very tall and very jacked red-haired man leaving a sweets shop holding a cupcake, and then sitting down on a bench. He eyes it for a moment, takes a bite...and his eyes light up.]

I didn't think they made such good sweets here...!

Ecruteak City
[Tonbokiri definitely feels at home in Ecruteak. With this city being as steeped in tradition as it is, and Tonbokiri being traditionally Japanese as he is, he just might settle down here when he isn't traveling to gyms. Being here is a good reminder that he needs to keep on top of his own training even if he doesn't have to fight anyone himself. You might spot him with a bamboo practice spear, going through basic techniques.]

Hah! [Meanwhile, his Mudbray is cheering him on by braying excitedly.]

Network

[cometkin]

Yeah, Monkey Wash does that too! I think it's maybe because they might actually be made of dirt? I know they're ground types.

Elim Garak | Star Trek: DS9

[neverendingsacrifice]

Rocket HQ

[There are many and myriad things about this current situation which Garak does not like at all. Waking up as a human was the foremost pressing one on his mind for the longest time.

Now he truly understands why they had to keep the station's lights so damnably bright, he can't see anything in the shadows.

First order of business--familiarizing himself with his current situation. He's wandered as far as he's able through the Rocket base, creating a mental map, and now is in the cafeteria with a cup of tea reading through posts on the Gear. All this information, just freely accessible! A true security nightmare, but one that he's taking advantage of.]

Network

[The man appearing on-screen seems to be pretty familiar with this type of communication. He's middle-aged, fairly plain, with dark slicked-back black hair, an enigmatic smile under his wide nose, and brilliantly blue eyes half-hidden behind a pair of reading glasses.

(Honestly, humans, your eyesight is terrible. You should work on that.)]

Ah, greetings! My name is Garak, a tailor by trade. I'm afraid I'm slightly too old to be joining everyone in this fascinating journey of yours, so I will instead be offering my services here in Goldenrod.

Alterations, repair, even design--I promise you, if there's any request you have it's incredibly likely that I've had it before! And if not, well, I live for the challenge.

Rocket

[fingersandteeth]

[Steven doesn't always go down into the lower levels of the Rocket base. He can accept why it makes sense for them to keep everything important underground. But some days it's just-- a little much for him to be inside a secret underground facility again, even if it's much better lit than El Pecador's wrestling stable had ever been.

And some days, he goes down anyway, because there's paperwork he has to file or people he needs to talk to or he's just interested in a work-out and there's more varied exercise equipment at the Rocket gym than there is at his own home. And he's trying to keep more or less cordial relationship with the various permanent staff members, anyway, because even if they don't mean anything to him, it's just good sense and good practice for his social skills too. Which means that every so often, he pops into the cafeteria just to see who's there.

He has a brief conversation with a server about her mother's Skitty--getting older, it's truly amazing that it never evolved into Delcatty--before she mentions that older guy in the corner just showed up today.

("Well then," he says. "I ought to go welcome him then. Please give my regards to your mother.")

So it is that Garak's about halfway through his tea when he'll hear the sound of a man approaching his table. If he looks up, he'll see that the man is tall, dark, and what a human would consider to be handsome. He's broad as well, although he holds himself to downplay his size, lightly bearded, and there's a pair of wire-rim spectacles perched on his nose.]

Hello, [the man says.] I heard you're new. So was I, not too long ago.

Entrapta | She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

[firstonesexpert]

I. Olivine City

"Log, day... eight. Seven? No, eight. I have found myself in a city known as Olivine."

The young woman, wearing a welder's mask pushed back off her face, leans against the railing as she talks into her handheld recorder, rather than her Pokegear. Her purple twin ponytails are thick and long, dragging along the ground behind her as the Impidimp with her uses one to scramble up to her shoulder; she doesn't seem bothered by this action whatsoever, even giving the little Fairy a small smile.

"It bears superficial resemblance to the kingdom of Salineas, but otherwise the architecture is aesthetically unlike anything I've encountered on Etheria."

Nonetheless, her tone of voice is excited. She puts both feet on the railing, lifting herself into the air; she's just tall enough that standing on the lowest rung puts her hips higher than the top.

"The predominant species of local creatures, or Pokemon, appears to be Water and Electric types in this area, due to the presences of both the sea and-- oh, hello!"

Her face lights up as a Klink drifts up towards her and away again, and she leans over the railing to stare after it, reaching a hand out to try and pat it--

--and overbalancing over the edge of the Olivine City Lighthouse guard rail with a sharp cry of alarm.

Re: Entrapta | She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

[fingersandteeth]

"Shit!" a voice swears from behind her, strong arms grabbing onto her and pulling her back and up to the other side of the railing, setting her down from the ground.

Bane | Harley Quinn (YouTube)

[splosionreckoning]

For those of you lucky people who happen to be wandering around Olivine City today, pay no attention to the extremely large man near the Pokemon center. He's very busy at the moment, crouched down so he's face to face with a Machop, deep in a serious discussion with the Pokemon.

"So you are my goon, yes?"

(Please read that in exactly the voice you're probably thinking of, the Tom Hardy one, complete with the weird accent.)

"Where is the Legion?"

The Machop is confused, but trying to be helpful. Unfortunately, the big guy here doesn't seem to understand Pokemon language, or that the Pokemon is trying to answer him.

"As a goon, you have been subpar so far. I am very disappointed in you."

[forsaintcecilia]

Kazuki is watching from a distance, slurping noisily at a cup of boba tea. He's never seen a Rocket (total assumption) that big, just standing out in the open like nothing was the matter. Was he new, or just really confident? Kazuki wouldn't put it past him, he had shoulders wider than a refrigerator.

His Raboot and Yamper were with him-- Pele had his own cup of Berry Juice, and Wiggles had a Pokeball shaped squeaky toy in his mouth. He squeaked on it relentlessly, but Kazuki was so used to that he didn't even register it anymore. Pele glanced up at Kazuki as if to say, What in the world do they feed that guy?

[yay_heiress]

Rocket Headquarters

[London had not expected to wake up where she was. After her graduation from Seven Seas High, she had made good on her word to immediately jetset to Paris. But this was no Tipton Hotel Paris penthouse suite. Even her sleep mask had been missing when she'd awakened. She has every reason to believe that she's been kidnapped. Essentially, she has.

Since London was never one to be seen out and about in her pajamas, especially the hideous ones she found herself in, she doesn't have much of a choice than to put on the bland, boring black and red Rocket uniform and venture from her room to speak to the nearest concierge. No sooner than she leaves her room does she receive some rather loud orders to "get down to training," and it sounds like they mean business. Confused and lost, she follows the current of other Rocket grunts making their way to the training room.

If you should happen to be sitting next to London in the orientation classroom, you'll find that she finds it much more interesting to talk to you in a whispered hush than listen to the executive Rocket officer at the front of the room.]

Is plain black the only color these uniforms come in? I'm more of a sparkles kinda girl.

[She will pause for a response, but if you're trying to pay attention, she won't let that stop her.]

And what's with the big red R? Does everyone's name here start with an R? Do I have to change my name? I don't wanna be Rondon Ripton.

*gasp* Ooh! Do you think I could ask for a T on my shirt instead?

Network (Video)

[If you're getting London's broadcast, you'll see her leaning in close to the camera. She ordinarily prefers talking on the phone, but she had awakened with this weird PokéGear thing instead of her cell. And it doesn't have any of the contacts she had on her old phone. So perhaps a video recording would do the trick?]

Daddy? Moseby? If you're getting this, could you send a private jet? I've been kidnapped and put into another school. And this one has hideous uniforms! Ooh, but they did give me a gold star!

[She pans the camera down to focus on a pretty, shiny creature that's a little too big to be a broach or a hair pin. Some might recognize it as a Staryu. It has no face, but somehow seems to be standing proud and confident.

The camera quickly turns back to London.]

Send the jet. And my bathing suit! I think it's part water gun.

Goldenrod City

[Part of London's training had been to venture out and find unsuspecting victims to steal pokémon from. Sure, she'd done some some pretty awful things, like bribery, manipulation, teasing, bullying, jumpscare pranks, and buying the last of things from under people's noses, thievery was never really her thing. After all, she's too beautiful to not be seen! Where she might ordinarily have given someone a hefty monetary offer for their pokémon, London had come to realize that using her name recognition as a bargaining chip did absolutely nothing here. No one here has ever even heard of the Tipton Suites franchise.

Nevertheless, London is making an attempt at using what she has, which is little other than her charm. After all, who'd take her seriously in this hideous uniform?

She sidles up to someone she's noticed out for a stroll and smiles up at them.]

Hey. You have any pokémon you don't want? I could take 'em off your hands for you.

» Goldenrod City

[lordofthefries]

[Less that Sasha hasn't heard of the Tipton Suites franchise, she doesn't even know what a suite or franchise is! So telling her any of that information to get one up on her is a failed venture. And neither does this Team Rocket girl's smile fool her into falling for this trap.

Just the sight of the uniform alone raises Sasha's hackles up. Didn't she punch enough of these goons last week in Armin's honor? How many introductions to her fist to faces does she have to do?]

No, he's mine! Go away before I knock you out! [She reaches down for the Eevee at her feet, picking it up and holding it close to her chest.] Go on, git!

[Way to go, London. You've managed to piss Sasha off that her natural accent slips through simply by your uniform existing.]

Hythlodaeus | Final Fantasy XIV

[hythlodaeus]

Out in Goldenrod

[There's quite the stir on the riverbanks of Goldenrod. An absolutely enormously tall man and his even taller Tropius nap by the water in the shade. The man is dressed in a hooded black robe and a white beaked mask. The Tropius is dressed in its leaves.]

[Dare you get close? What is going on with these two? If you come too close, they wake, and the tall man stands to his full eight feet of height before bending down to be more at face level. He beams at you and tilts his head.]

Oh, good afternoon, fellow wanderer. Might you have a bit of food on you, perhaps some water?

[At least... He seems friendly?]

The Network

[The video feed begins and a mysterious masked man comes into view. Although he wears a hood, there seems to be some stray long, white hairs poking out.

Good morning, my fellow travellers! My name is Hythlodaeus and I've come into a bit of a conundrum. I have some research to do, and not nearly the materials to do it! I'm interested in the molecular makeup of the substances that the local flora and fauna produce. Unfortunately, I've nearly expended my research with my dear Tropius, but I haven't yet found what I'm looking for.

If you have a grass or poison type with a venom or a secretion, could you bring it to me? I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of a reward as of this moment, but shouldn't helping your fellow man be reward enough?

Re: Hythlodaeus | Final Fantasy XIV

[fingersandteeth]

[Oh wow. That's-- someone taller than Rose Universe. Steven's only met one person taller and she was a Gargantuan Ogre named Mako visiting the freehold from Los Angeles.]

Give me a minute.

[He actually does tend to keep granola bars and bottled water in his briefcase. He'd rather spend his breaks on the roof instead of getting a snack, so having something to nibble on while he's working instead is imperative.]

I'ziva Ganajai • Final Fantasy XIV

[purrrrfection]

▶ Action (Route 30); First week in game

[ You're greeted to a rather strange sight if you happen to be out along the route between Cherrygrove and Violet. There's a woman, somewhere in her mid or late twenties barreling out of the grass with a pair of pidgey's alternating between dive bombing her head and scratching at her shoulders. There are small twigs sticking out of her clothes, many with leaves still attached, and she looks both scratched up and bruised. Neither have anything to do with the flying types trying to maim her face. For her part she's cursing up a storm fit to make a PIRATE blush, shielding her face and head as best she can with one arm, the other holding a large, familiar green mottled egg. ]

Off- OFF!!! I need breakfast and I'm tired of poisonous berries! Go lay another and leave me be!

---

                                          ❖ Decide someone should probably warn her about trying to eat Pokemon eggs...
                                          ❖ Enjoy the show. Why not? This mess isn't YOUR problem.
                                          ❖ Throw some Pokeballs! ... What? You're HELPING!
                                          ❖ Try to steal the egg for yourself!
                                          ❖ Somehow get dragged into this madness.

---

[ She fusses, frustrated but not without understanding. Only natural that they'd want to defend their young, but seriously a woman's gotta eat! And what's more, she has a hungry nerd to feed! ]

▶ Network Post; 3 months in game

[ The top of a marked face appears at the bottom of the feed, vibrant sea green eyes and a mop of platinum blonde hair hanging in the shot, a shock of whiter hair coloring the tip of the bangs. Judging by the way the feed trembles in a rhythm it's apparent that the woman filming is walking. 

Walking shaky cam. Exciting, right? Well, don't worry, there's definitely a voiceover coming, and if the crinkle at the corner of those eyes is any indication then there's some mischief afoot. ]

Morning to the rest of you out there. For those of you who didn't know, we're here at the Ruins of Alph, hoping to uncover the mystery of the unown! 

[ That last part is said in a dramatic stage whisper sort of way, the camera turning to show Ziva approaching a very tall, well dressed man currently absorbed in a stack of papers held in hand. Even in those brief seconds that the camera has landed on him he can be seen occasionally glancing from the papers to the ruins just in front of him. If he's aware of Ziva's approach he doesn't show it. Ziva uses the opportunity to circle him a bit, still speaking. ]

However, the greater mystery is standing before us right now! For your consideration, a wild Urianger. Studious, focused, master of the arcane! Not to mention a font of... very, very complicated words that usually spell out some form of wisdom or other. I've been observing him for the last three days and have yet to see him move so much as an ilm from this spot. Perhaps it's some form of meditative stance!

[ Ziva leave the man alone please. ]

What a find! I had to document this for posterity.

3 months in, video

[stardiving]

[Estinien has his face in his hands as he's watching all of this unfold. Why. Why are you like this. In fact...]

...why are you like this?

[Might as well ask! Ziva why.]

Sento Kiryu | Kamen Rider Build

[carbonatedscientist]

[Lavender Town]
Sento is leafing through an old travel pamphlet looking remarkably unimpressed. "Ghosts. Really, it's all probably just mass hysteria brought on by the current mass hysteria of...whatever is currently up with that music." He's not talking to anyone in particular save for the increasingly-nervous looking Scorbunny trotting along by his side. Somehow, he's managed to avoid Ghost-type Pokemon up until now. Somehow. ("There's a reasonable explanation," he said, "just because they call them ghost-type Pokemon doesn't mean they're actually ghosts," he said...)

And that...is something materializing behind him. A Gastly, not that he'd know the proper nomenclature. He's still engrossed in the brochure. His Scorbunny, however, has noticed it, and it has started reacting appropriately--by jumping up and down and making a lot of panicked noises while waving its arms around in an attempt to attract the attention of its very focused Trainer. "Not you too, Tank," Sento says with a sigh. "It's clearly just a ploy to tourists worked up enough to spend a great deal of money--" He's cut off as his Scorbunny jumps up there in a panic and kicks him in the head, forcing him to turn in the direction of the Gastly--

--which has vanished with a laugh, because of course it has. "What was that for?!" He's getting chattered at by the poor Scorbunny, and as soon as he turns back around, of course the Gastly comes back. Tank the Scorbunny runs a paw down his face. This is going to be one of those days, isn't it?

[Network, also in Lavender Town because why not]
I appear to have found myself in a situation and require assistance.

[Because text, as everyone knows, is better for saving what little remains of one's dignity.]

I was running a bit of an experiment, you see, and I was unaware my Magnemite would react to that Berry in that manner, and I'm not sure I can survive a fall from this height.

[Details? Who needs details?]

I would imagine the authorities are likely going to find me sooner rather than later given the disruption to the radio tower, but if anyone could provide the necessary assistance now, I'm sure things won't blow up into such a big fuss.

[There is a very long pause.]

And if you find a Scorbunny that appears to be laughing its head off, that one's mine, if you could herd him this way, I would appreciate it. He hasn't been very helpful.

Lavender Town HEYOO

[firstonesexpert]

"Oh, no, the music here is shown to be far more likely to induce anxiety-like symptoms in humans rather than Pokemon."

The female voice isn't actually looking at him, instead focused intently on a Pokegear while the Impidimp on her head stares evenly at Sento.

"But ghosts are very real, they're considered their own unique type of Pokemon, in the same pseudo-elemental vein as Fairy and Psychic."

Double Trouble | She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

[preparefor]

A - Text
Why did none of you losers tell me about Ditto until now, I had to find it in the index thing by chance.

[While randomly browsing. Like a peasant.]

You all can make it up to me by telling me where I can catch one, stat. Chop-chop.

B - Video

[That- sure does look like Gym Leader Whitney, sobbing her eyes out. So, you know, Tuesday. Except that this is being broadcast to the network at large.]

WAAH, I lost AGAIN to one of those big meanie trainers!

[This is pretty par for the course for anyone that's actually challenged the Goldenrod gym, honestly.]

You'd think I might be USED to this by now, losing is literally built into my job! WAH, SOB!

[...Did she just actually say 'sob' out loud.]

[And at this point the facade breaks, 'Whitney' ducking their head down as they let out of few snorts of laughter before looking back up with a grin showing just a few too many teeth.]

Really though, she does this every time she loses?

[Double Trouble holds up a freshly acquired Plain Badge, rolling it across their fingers for the camera.]

Inject a little emotion into the scene, sure, but that display just oversells it, honestly. And people call ME overdramatic.

C - Wildcard
[Choose your own nonsense.]

Kou Seiya | BSSM

[fighterstar]

Video

Yo! So this isn't the first time I've ended up in a strange world, but I feel like it might be the weirdest.

[Please enjoy the ridiculous close-up of Seiya's face as she addresses the 'Gear. She's amused, for the most part, but also slightly irritated by finding herself in yet another odd situation.]

Oh, right. If anyone has seen an angry little squirt around, please let me know. She has white blonde hair. Answers to Yaten. Or Shrimp.

[What a way to talk about one's close friend. It's probably fortunate that the girl in question is not around to hear it. And with those delightful statements out of the way, Seiya grins, winks, and cuts the feed.]

Cherrygrove City (action)

Later that day, Seiya can be wandering through Cherrygrove. It's a bit smaller than what she was expecting, but ultimately not unlike where she'd grown up. The major difference is the existence of all these weird animals - pokemon - but even that's easy enough to get used to. She's still not sure how to feel about the little blue frog- the sobble that that woman had given her, but for now she's decided to take her explanation at face value.

Besides, it's kind of cute.

Either way, she's sticking to the beach for now. Sobble seems to prefer this, if the way she's waddling along behind her trainer is any indication. For her part, she's at least making an effort to walk slow enough that the little pokemon can keep up.

Eventually, she'll have to give it a name.

video;

[lioness_rampant]

Does your friend have any other defining features?

[ Because being short and having white hair aren't all that uncommon in the wonderful world of pokemon, you know. ]

Melissa Lyre | Hunter: The Vigil/Vampire: The Requiem

[stopinthenameofawe]

Rocket Training

This entire thing is bullshit.

Melissa would have thought this was some kind of insane fever dream, except a.) vampires don't get sick and b.) she has no context for what the fuck is even happening. She knew Pokemon was a thing, vaguely, in the most general of terms. Enough to know that the cards were banned in schools either because of fighting or 'gambling' or both. She didn't have enough knowledge or creativity to actually have a coherent dream about it. And yet here she is, in Team Rocket Orientation, possibly the worst orientation she's ever been through.

She's been left on her own for the moment, the Rocket training her off to fetch something or other, which means she's leaning against the wall watching people go back. Should you look like you're going to try and talk to her (and honestly, she's kind of hard not to notice), she can start off the conversation. "Hell of an introduction," she says dryly, reaching to fix her ponytail, "Possibly literally. Did I die and my eternal punishment is to be relegated to kid's show villain for the rest of eternity?"

(She doesn't actually know Team Rocket is the villain of Pokemon... just that 'stealing' is pretty clearly their core focus and, given that she was a security for eight years, doesn't really endear them to her.)

Pokégear

[This particular communication is not very long: just a picture of a Scraggy and the attached text:]

Do they all look this stupid?

Pokegear, text

[worthallthis]

[Well that's just mean. Don't talk about your pokemon like that, mystery person.]

that does not look stupid

they are all different and good in their own way

also they can understand human speech