ohmyarceus | JANUARY - FEBRUARY TEST DRIVE MEME

[A. Network]

[A view of shady trees overhead, and nothing else.]

Oh, do be careful! You just knocked over the...thingy! Whatever it is. Your bouncing is very cute and all, but out here, I'm afraid you might get hurt, or bounce away, or...oh don't bounce more! Uhm...if I sing for you, will it calm you down?

Ok, ok, let's see...

Soft and squishy, way too bouncy, little ball of pudge!
Breathing deeply, sitting calmly, not even gonna--wait, is that you? You can sing, too?

[Soft singing can be heard, as if from at a slight distance.]

It's beautiful! Wow! It..it...hm....

[Suddenly a blur of bright red hair obscures the overhead trees, before a glimpse of a cheek darkens it completely. The singing fades off, replaced by soft snoring. At least if you speak to her, her ear is nearby, if you want to wake her up!]

[B. New Bark Town]

[Annette rights a fallen trash can, and begins sweeping up the trash with a borrowed broom, just outside an outdoor café. She shakes her head in resignation at the tiny pink ball sitting on her backpack, but doesn't appear unhappy.]

No, no, I don't blame you for this one, I'm just glad you don't...seem to get hurt too much with all that bouncing. I'm sorry I knocked you off the table, I was just startled! I didn't expect you to talk! Was that talking? Egg, or igg, was it?

I don't recognize any of this from my books. I wish I had them with me now...but I'm sure I've never seen anything like you in any of them! Yes you, you sweet, strange little thing. First thing, I need to find a quiet place to sit down and read this book that nice lady gave me. After I finish cleaning this mess.

No, don't worry! I said I'm not mad! I know it sounds weird, but I'm actually more comfortable cleaning up than I have been with anything else since I woke up. I really wish that nice lady had let me clean up after you bounced all over her house...

[She'll likely get carried away with sweeping outside the café for quite some time, finding calm in the familiar chore. Does anyone pass by and spot her?]

Edited (formatting) 2021-01-24 00:09 (UTC)

[Claude would have recognized that voice easily enough all on its own, but then - Annette sings. And there's absolutely no doubt who it is. His delight is positively boundless.

And then she crashes gently into sleep. Whoops. Looks like whatever pokémon she's ended up with, it knows Sing...

Well, if he's close enough to hear her snoring through the Gear, then surely the Gear is close enough to Annette for her to hear his voice!]

Hey! Wakey-wakey, Annette!

Edited 2021-01-24 00:14 (UTC)

Wh--Claude! Leave me alo--oh. Huh, that was weird. I thought...

[She sits up, partially in view of the Gear, and shakes her head.]

No, you're still in this strange place. Not in Fodlan.

You're definitely still in this strange place! I just happen to be here, too. Just, y'know...not right there.

Pick up that weird device you've got! It's something they've got here that lets us talk to people over long distances! You can even see my handsome face~.

What on...oh! Wait, Claude, is that really you? Wait, is that really your face?

I'm choosing to let that comment slide as shock over being able to see my face while I'm not there, and not as someone like Lindhardt might say it...

But yes, it's really me. [He winks at Annette.] Basically, a lot of us have somehow or other ended up here. It's pretty inexplicable, but this world's really peaceful compared to ours. So you can think of it like a vacation, if you like.

This world's made a lot of technological advancements ours hasn't, which means they have stuff like these machines that can do things that seem like magic to us! That's how we're able to talk and even see each other right now, even though I'm miles away from you.

You doing okay? It seems like your little friend decided you needed a nap.

I suppose I should be more shocked by this "magic" device, but I really meant I was surprised to see how much you've changed since I've seen you last. It's been more than five years!

Who else is here, in this world? And...wait, are you saying this little thing put me to sleep?

[She glares at the creature.]

Do you know what it is? I was about to sit down to read this book I was given...

Ohhh, that's right. I probably should've asked that first...what's the last thing you remember happening, Annette? Like, with the war. One of the weird things about this place is that it doesn't necessarily pull us all here from the same moments in time. Don't ask me how that works. But, for instance, Sylvain is here, and he's from before you guys had your reunion at Garreg Mach...but Dimitri is also here, and he's from months after that happened. And Felix is from a month or two after that.

I'm actually from a point in time where we'd already met up again, so...I kind of forgot this is your first time seeing me since the academy! Because it's not my first time seeing you since then. I know it's confusing as heck, but I swear it's the truth.

Let's see...aside from Dimitri and Sylvain and Felix, Ashe is here. And Dedue and Lysithea just showed up, too! I talked to Leonie a little while ago, but I haven't heard from her since...that's all I know of for now. No Mercedes yet, I'm afraid. [He obviously hasn't forgotten how close Annette and Mercedes were, so he knows she'd probably look for her first.]

And yeah, these little guys come with some special abilities. One of them is called Sing, and it can put people and animals to sleep! So that's probably what happened. They can sing without putting you to sleep if they want, but maybe yours doesn't know how yet...or it just thought you needed a nap.

Anyway, I can't really tell you what it is without seeing it. I can only see what you point the device at! So, uh, aim my face you're seeing here in the direction of your creature, and I'll take a look.

These little guys are called pokémon, by the way. There's a whole bunch of different types. It seems like what we'd call animals, the people of this place call pokémon. But pokémon are usually way smarter than our animals back home. They can't really talk to us, but they understand the stuff we say just fine! They're maybe even as intelligent as we are. So they're closer to partners than pets.

[He knows he's talking a lot, and he's desperately trying not to overwhelm Annette with too much. But so many things seem important to establish quickly, just to give her some basic understandings going forward...for instance, he can't just keep calling them creatures. And the timeline stuff had to be explained soon, since she'll end up talking to the others. Maybe it's a lot to digest, but can he afford not to infodump a little? Anyway, Annette's always been smart. He's worried too much all at once might leave her reeling, but it's equally possible she'll hit the ground running.]

[Oh... oh dear. Trey frowns faintly into the camera before raising his voice just a bit.]

... Hey, miss? Miss?

[This is probably not an optimal place to sleep!]

What? Who?

[She grabs the Gear, flipping it curiously back and forth.]

Did you talk?

Oh, that's so cute!

[As a break from the calm monotony of New Bark, a voice suddenly squeals out, and there comes a young woman jogging over with her hands clutched over her heart, and a Vulpix at her heels.]

[Well. Presumably she's long. She has a young enough face. But she's, uh. 6'5, and just wearing sneakers. There's no added height here.]

[Coming to a stop near Annette, Elizabetta beams at her.]

She's so cute! Is it a she? I can't tell, yet, but that doesn't take away from the cuteness even a little bit!

[Annette smiles back hesitantly.]

I don't know! I don't even know what it is. Do you? I was just looking for a quiet place to study this book I was given, but I guess I got carried away...

[She looks sheepishly at the outdoor café that is significantly cleaner than it was before.]

I should probably give the broom and dustpan back...So um, is that beautiful thing with all the tails yours?

Hm?

[Elizabetta stops her cooing for a moment just to glance up. Oh, right. She, theoretically, knows about this kind of thing.]

Let's see, I was given some lessons... [She taps her chin a couple of times with one finger.] They're called 'Pokemon', and I think there's a way to look up which ones are which with a special computer?

[She gestures down to the little fire fox that's blinking up at them.]

That's how I learned this one is called a Vulpix!

Pokemon...hm. I guess that's the local word for 'animal'? Thanks! Your...Vulpix is very cute too!

[It doesn't look anything like the bouncy thing, though. My bouncy thing? Is it mine, somehow?]

What's a computer, and where can I find it? Or, I guess I should read this book first, huh. Will that tell me, do you think?

I suppose it must be!

[How much has Elizabetta thought about this? None. That sort of thing is for other people to ponder about, like Allocer, or Professor Balam.]

[She's more interested in other things, and she perks up at the question.]

Oh, you've never had one before? Here, you can look at mine! [She rifles through her purse quickly, and pulls out her Pokegear.] It's just like a deviphone, but soooo much more handier! Watch this~.

[Settling herself besides the other girl and leaning down so that the screen is visible, she points it at her Vulpix. A press of the screen aaaaaand a mechanical voice filters out while another picture pops up just for additional confirmation.]

Vulpix, the Fox Pokemon. Its beautiful fur and tails have made it very popular. As it grows, its tails split to form more tails. Its beautiful tails have made it very popular. However, if it's not brushed diligently, it will be a mass of tangles before you know it.

Edited 2021-01-26 06:58 (UTC)

Oh! That's...amazing! That's like no magic I've seen before! Is it...intelligent? To speak like that? Or is it more like an automaton?

Wait, I think I have one of those in my bag...

[She fumbles through her bag, and spills a few things about before recovering them.]

Aha! I do! Do they just...hand one of these marvelous things out to everyone? What a strange, wonderful world...

Let's see, going by what you just did, all I have to do is this, and...

Igglybuff, the Balloon Pokémon. Igglybuff's resilient body allows it to bounce endlessly once it's been put in motion.

Ooh! Igglybuff, that's what you are?

I don't think it's intelligent... Most magical devices I know of aren't, but I'm not very good at that kind of thing. I would have to ask Jazz!

[He was the one who joined that particular club, after all. It may have been for the money, but part of making money is knowing about your product.]

[While Annette goes through for her own Pokedex, Elizabetta wiggles her fingers at the little pink ball of joy until... There's the answer!]

Awww. Even the name sounds cute, don't you think?

[Felix is mid-typing a message to Sylvain when he hears...

...oh. Oh. He freezes, eyes wide, just listening. No, you idiot, don't just sit here, respond to her!]

Annette?

[...and then she passes out on top of her Gear. Felix is already up out of his seat before he remembers she's nowhere near here.]

Hey! Annette! Are you all right? ...Annette. Wake up.

...will you wake up already?

[The screen shifts abruptly, with a startled cry, and now seems to be showing some very-close up grass blades. Short grass, fortunately.]

W-what? I wasn't asleep! Leave me alone, Felix!

Wait...oh. I must've been dreaming.

[She sounds disappointed. After a brief pause, she sighs, then rustles about, until she picks up the Gear.]

Huh? Felix?? How is his face on this thing?

Stop shouting. I'm talking to you from somewhere else. And you were asleep. Your...bouncy thing, whatever it is, puts people to sleep when it sings. You can teach it not to.

[Annette drops the Gear.]

Felix! How did you find me? Where are you contacting me from? How are you contacting me? Are you still safe with the others? Do you know where I am? Do you...also, I'm not shouting. Oh, but it is good to see a friendly face.

[She blinks suddenly, making a connection. She continues in a quieter voice.]

Wait, you know what this bouncy thing is? And how to...teach it? How do you know these things?

It's...good to see you, too.

[Better than she knows. How long has it been since she's seen him?]

I'm fine. We're both in a place called Johto, just in different towns. It's...I know how this sounds, but it's another world. Everything is different here. The thing you're holding isn't magic, it's a device.

[It's almost surreal to be explaining things to Annette; she's the smart one. He's sure she'll pick all this up in no time.]

I do. It's a Pokemon. And I know because I've been here for over a month. Sylvain and Dimitri are here, and Claude and Ashe. They're all with me. We can fly there on Claude's huge bird to get you and bring you back here.

Another world...

[It's not like scholars never argued the possibility of other worlds, but it was always theoretical. And since it had little practical value to her studies or work, she'd never really bothered with it. She's really going to have to find answers, and soon. Good thing it sounds like Felix has some!]

Wait, did you say you've been here over a month? I saw you at supper just yesterday! Sylvain and Ashe were around too! How can that be? Are you saying time somehow works differently here? What kind of place is this? And...Claude's huge bird?

[Ok, she knows it's all very overwhelming but she can't help but feel like the last part is some sort of joke she's not getting.]

It's...it doesn't make a lot of sense. Nothing here does. But we've apparently all come from different points in time, and none of us arrived together. ...what's the last thing you remember?

As for what kind of place this is, I couldn't say. Not even Claude knows.

[Come on, Annette. You know Felix doesn't joke.]

Oh. Yes. The Pokemon start off small, but evolve to get bigger and more powerful as they train. So Claude had a small bird that grew into a large bird that he can ride as a mount. Not quite the size of a wyvern, but close.

Different points in time...that's a lot to take in. Let's see...the last thing I remember was going to bed in my room, back in the dorms. Before that...oh!

Dedue was cooking! Yeah, did you know he's alive? He just showed up at the Great Bridge last week, and he's already back in the kitchen schedule...between you and me, I'm really glad. I mean, of course I'm so happy he's alive, but also that he's back in the kitchens again. His cooking is so delicious, not to mention I get a few fewer nights a month that I'm setting water on f---ahem, sorry.

You wanted to know what, um, point in time? I came from. I think it was the first or second week of Great Tree Moon. I can't remember the exact date now, this is embarrassing. This is what I keep a calendar for!

Pokemon, huh? So birds are Pokemon, and this...cute bouncy thing is a Pokemon too? And it gets bigger if I train it?

Oh! I was going to sit down and read this book I was given, before I um...before you spoke to me. I think it might explain some of these things. I should probably read it now. But yes, please come get me, Felix. Thank you.

[Annette fumbles with the device for a moment before seeming to sit down with the book, the device apparently resting in between the pages.]

There, now I can read and talk.

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bestswordmaster - 2021-01-27 09:56 (UTC) - Expand

JANUARY - FEBRUARY TEST DRIVE MEME

Annette Fantine Dominic - Fire Emblem Three Houses (OTA)

A - I was so excited I forgot to put the prompt in the title

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A! here we gooooooooo

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