ohmyarceus | MAY - JUNE TEST DRIVE MEME

"Right," Akane says. "A lot of this stuff seems pretty futuristic to me and we had those things. It must be even more unbelievable to you."

Cassandra just nods. All of this is unbelievable to her.

"Anyway," Akane says awkwardly. "Do you have any questions about the Ruins?"

Cassandra's not even sure where to begin. "A lot?"

[Fortunately, none of the Rattata seem interested in starting a fight either. One of the more daring ones tries to clamber onto Dimitri's outstretched arm, even, which very admirably doesn't buckle at all from the extra weight, while the others just peer curious around or over some part of him to watch the proceedings.]

[Dimitri, for his part, just patiently waits for the Murkrow to take her time, and is... extraordinarily careful in just touching his fingers to her head, like he thinks he'll shatter her with one errant movement.]

[Because of that, it takes him a delayed second to respond to Willow's own words.]

It's strange... There are so many creatures that I am unfamiliar with, or would be labeled as demonic beasts... and then some that I have not seen at all, such as pegasi, or wyverns.

[Some dragon type pokemon come close... but nothing is quite the same.]

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.]

"So, uh, shoot?"

Cassandra is quiet for a long moment. Then she sighs. "I'm...not good at this sort of thing."

"I'm sorry," Akane says awkwardly.

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.

I am still learning about the different types these Pokemon have. Are Ground types really made out of dirt?

[Tonbokiri himself was made in a forge by a blacksmith, so he does feel this is a fair question to ask.]

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.

[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.

[Garak did indeed hear him coming, had been idly watching before when he came in and started speaking to the staff.

(Good practice, that, it's truly amazing what the help notices while being not noticed at all themselves.)

But, layering himself in obfuscation and diversion is well-ingrained, and Garak doesn't let on that he actually had heard him coming, glancing up in exquisitely, perfectly feigned surprise. The pleasure is fairly genuine, though, he was hoping he'd net someone to actually come speak to him. The fact that he's attractive is only all the better. Humans do tend to come in a fascinating variety.]

Ah! Yes, I am, in fact I was just reading a bit about all of the...well, terribly interesting things to find here.

[With the gregarious face firmly On, Garak stands up and offers a hand to shake. Not a standard Cardassian greeting, but he's keeping up appearances just in case he's being observed.]

My name is Garak. It's a pleasure to meet such a friendly face, and so soon!

[Steven takes that hand and shakes it easily. His handshake is firm, without being crushing. The kind of handshake that humans consider to be trustworthy.]

I'm pleased to meet you too, Garak. Has anyone really gone over how things work here on Team Rocket with you?

And-- would it be accurate to say that you're another one of us otherworlders who've been unexpectedly press-ganged?

[Because most information about the base and what you can find on it isn't necessarily located on the Pokegear--so if Garak is reading about 'things to find here' on it, that probably means he's not from around here either.

Good. Steven likes being the person who first talks to the otherworld new recruits. It's ever so handy for establishing himself as someone that's both trustworthy and a relative authority. Even the colossal fuck-up that was his lunch with Solus hasn't changed that.]

[Well, Garak is not a human and he considers no one trustworthy, so there's that.]

Not as such. I would certainly appreciate the perspective from someone so knowledgeable.

[The words might remind Steven of Solus, but Garak sounds utterly sincere. And he mostly is, first-hand information is the best source after all.]

Indeed I am. It's all rather shocking.

[Solus, luckily for Steven's peace of mind, would have been much more conspicuously archaic.]

It is, isn't it? Especially if your body undergoes... alterations in the process.

[He's just tossing that out to see if Garak will react to that. He doesn't need to specify if he's talking about Garak or himself unless Garak asks. But it seemed prudent to mention, given how many of them haven't been standard human.]

Ah, may I? [he asks, indicating the chair across from where Garak had been sitting.]

But yes, [he adds,] it can be somewhat overwhelming when you're first brought here. Have you read the letter and handbook they left for you?

Edited 2020-05-21 22:17 (UTC)

[Garak weighs for the briefest moment the consideration of playing the role he's been forced into--mild mannered human--but he's been looking at the network--he's seen other people complaining about their current state, and here this man is also making the insinuation.

Decision made, Garak's smile widens, sharpens a little.]

Now, was that a very good guess, or was I somehow transparent?

[Trick question, he knows it isn't the latter. He knows enough humans to pass. He waves a hand in welcome.]

Please, be my guest.

I have, but frankly, personal experience is so much better.

No, no, you do a very good human, [Steven reassures him as he takes his seat]. But half of us otherworld transplants on the Team aren't, so I thought I'd put out the idea and see how you reacted.

Ah, I just realized I haven't said. My name's Steven Durante. I'm... mm, I guess I'd say I'm a senior member of the particular crew you'll likely join after Mandatory Training Hell. You don't have to, of course, but we'd be happy to have you as part of it.

[He smiles in a friendly way at Garak. Such a welcoming attitude, this one.]

We otherworld transplants tend to stick together, you see. Especially on Team Rocket, where we're the only crew that regularly gets anything done. Well. Anything of note, anyway.

Cassandra blinks. "Why?"

How curious. I saw some allusions to such on this--[He waves the Gear in his hand for emphasis]--but I wasn't certain how widespread the phenomenon was.

[Garak sets it off to the side then, folding his hands on the table in front of him.]

Believe me, I would only think of aligning myself with a group that can 'get things done,' as you say. Granted, I haven't put my skills to use for petty crime before, but what is the Human saying? 'When in Rome'?

Do as the Romans do, yes.

[Steven folds his own hands in front of him.]

I don't know if it's half the transplant population at large, no. Honestly, I suspect it's not. And honestly, half the crew is still more or less normal human in origin. It's just lately we've been skewing otherwise, so I wanted to see if the trend persisted.

And-- it's not all petty crime. On occasion it's grand larceny.

Edited 2020-05-22 05:22 (UTC)

How apt.

[Garak just keeps smiling his best friendly smile.]

These transformations do seem to be quite comprehensive. It's not unheard of in certain circles on my own world, of course, but it's an extensive medical procedure. Certainly not performed quickly or on a whim.

Ah, I do mean 'world' as in 'planet', though I understand that's not the common parlance here.

[So does Steven. Too incredibly friendly and polite liars sitting across from the table from each other.]

No, it's not. We've generally meant it to be 'universe,' since most of us are from different ones, but a lot of us are from the same planet in those different universes.

[That would be Earth.]

But yes, they've extremely comprehensive. I've been told by people who've been here longer and quite a few different ones that it's this world-as-in-univere's god who brings us here and transforms us, for whatever his capricious whims might be.

Edited 2020-05-22 19:15 (UTC)

[The curious thing about this man greeting the network is that he's in Goldenrod, and not New Bark Town. This of course tells Solus that he's not just any ol' newcomer, he's part of Team Rocket. Unless he's gone this whole time not using the network once until he's gotten himself to Goldenrod, which is...unlikely.

When the feed clicks on, Garak is greeted by a very flamboyantly dressed man, a pleasant smile upon his features.]

Well met, my friend! I am Solus zos Galvus, an engineer likewise working within Goldenrod. 'Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance, particularly when I most assuredly have interest in your trade.

A talented tailor is a most wanting necessity, I find.

MAY - JUNE TEST DRIVE MEME

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Tonbokiri | Touken Ranbu

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Network

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Elim Garak | Star Trek: DS9

Rocket

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Network; video