ohmyarceus | JANUARY - FEBRUARY TEST DRIVE MEME

[A. New Bark Town]

[The last thing Ashe remembered he was getting ready for another battle when he woke up in this strange new place with a friend and a kind woman telling him it was time for him to venture out and see the world. Ashe didn't have the heart to tell the woman that a war was currently going on. Instead he prepared lunch while the woman prepared his bookbag. Once he had everything she wished him good luck on his journey, hugged him, then gently ushered him out of the house.

He walked down to the nearest bench and looked over at his new friend.]

Well, it looks like I'm here, until I can get back home. [He slowly reached over and rubbed his new friend's head. He smiled when Eevee nuzzled into his hand with a happy mewl. Ashe rubbed Eevee for a little while longer before he reached in the bookbag and pulled out the guide for this new world he ended up in.]

So, this place is called New Bark Town. It's a very nice place, I wouldn't mind coming back here one day, but let's see it mentions here that there's something called a Pokemon Center nearby, so let's go there first. [Ashe placed the book back in his bag then got off the bench and gestured for Eevee to do the same.]

Maybe I can think of a nickname for you too. [While he had no idea where he ended up at least it was peaceful.]

[B. Network]

[Ashe played with the new device while Eevee ran around with some of the wild Pokemon in the field in front of him. Thankfully, there was a nice person in the Pokemon Center who showed him how to do it. Once he got it to work he slowly typed.]

Hi there, um, my name is Ashe Ubert I just got here to this world and I was wondering how does someone know the diffrence between being a pokemon trainer or a pokemon breeder. Both things look really interesting that I'm trying to decide which one to focus on. Oh, if anyone knows where they sell fresh ingreidents that would be great too. I love to cook, but I don't know where the markets are. Thank you!

[C. Wildcard]

[Pick something for Ashe to do! He's a great cook so he can cook something for you or ask questions about his Pokemon or even travel with you I'm up for it! Anything you want to try PM me!]

Outside of Cherrygrove
[A Rockruff looks rather happy to be bouncing around the snowy ground and at times throwing itself down. Getting itself covered in snow so thick was something Cloud looks anything but happy about.

He crosses his arms as he keeps watch, refusing to pet the soaked Pokemon every time it comes over for attention and the white stuff starts melting. He gives the small dog a few soft words and that seems to make the Rockruff happy before it goes back to playing in more snow. Cloud will glance at anyone going by and simply shrug.]

Just ignore her.

[As in don't enable this pup to come over. He's looking to get her to burn herself out. And get some sleep that night.]

Network
[There's a neat view on the screen. A Rockruff and an Espurr playing outside as if there isn't a care in the world. They both seem to be rather happy. A tired sounding voice comes from behind the video.]

They've been at this for two hours now. Without slowing down. [A sigh as the two Pokemon run off screen, coming back a few moments later.]

They're like kids. Do they ever run out of energy? They're not exactly letting me sleep at night.

[And he doesn't want to put them away in their Pokeballs.]

Wildcard
[Feel free to throw anything at me or pm if you want to play something specific.]

Edited 2021-01-02 01:55 (UTC)

A. New Bark Town

[Newcomers stumbling out of 'Mom's' house looking confused and lost is not strange. What might be is the bedroom window being opened and a young woman with white hair and a red poncho hauling herself onto the sill. There's a Spinark on her back, clinging for dear life. It spits out some silk to the neighbor's roof and the two shoot off into the sky, the girl yelling-]

Shaw-!

[As 'Mom' runs out, waving her left behind backpack. Oops]

B. Network

[The device is not so different from the Higher Being signboards throughout Hollownest, so it doesn't take long to figure out how they work. After reading other posts she decides this would be the safest way to find information]

Am I to believe that no higher bugs in this kingdom have even the most basic of shells?

[Someone is not happy about being made of squishy grub meat. At least her little weaverling makes sense, even if it's oddly colored...]

Pallet Town

A pale, gaunt man with unruly hair and a pale purple Oricorio at his side stands off to the edge of the orchard, swaying back and forth in time with the background music. His eyes are closed, and he looks to be deep in thought or meditation, hands resting on the cross-beam of the fence in front of him. As he picks up the melody, he starts to tap out the song's rhythm with his long nails on the wood, humming along just loud enough to be heard by passers-by. The Oricorio, seeming to pick up on the fact that they're not about to go anywhere any time soon, flutters up onto the fence and begins a slow, elegant dance.

It's slightly at odds in style with the upbeat start-of-adventure type music playing around them, but it's graceful and attention-getting nonetheless. If left uninterrupted, the two of them will continue their little impromptu preformance for quite some time, apparently happy to just enjoy the ambiance.

Outside Saffron City

Orpheus asks the nearest person to him, holding his Oricorio in his arms and squinting into the sunlight glinting off the tall skyscrapers of the city before them.

He gestures at the horizon again, frowning thoughtfully.

New Bark Town

[Look. The less said about the yelling and threatening that came from Mom's after Azul woke up in a place not his dorm at NRC and with a crying frog...thing nearby, the better. At least he was, in a way, prepared for this nonsense thanks to Yuu but still. It's never fun to wake up, magicaless and stuck as a human in a world that is very much not your own.

So let's just assume that none of that happened and a surprisingly sharply dressed young man just appeared in town with a still weeping Sobble clinging to his pants leg.]

At least these aren't dry-clean only.

[That is a terrible joke only he'd get.]

En Route

[Azul prides himself on keeping a cool head under most circumstances. He can take weird shit and just roll with it most of the time.

However. Even he has his limits.

Those limits are seeing an Espurr just staring at him with those soulless eyes. Time to find a way around this patch of grass!

Help?]

Network

A question, if anyone can answer it.

How the hell are you people keeping your fish alive outside of the water?

[Merman has concerns, okay.]

[OOC: a quick tldr of Azul is basically think Ursula from The Little Mermaid, but a pretty boy teenager drawn by Yana Toboso.]

[ A : NEW BARK TOWN - BACK TO LIFE ]

[ How do you respond to being dead for over a year and then breathing again? It's an impossible question with an even more impossible answer, and yet there he is, sitting on a bench while a very tiny grim reaper floating around his head- not unlike the rapidly changing thoughts in his head. And admittedly it's nice to feel something other than furious for once, but... ... Oh wait, shit, someone was talking to him. ]

I'm- I'm sorry. What did you say?

[ B : UNION CAVE - GHOST]

[ Lewis hates this. Lewis hates this, so goddamn much. He doesn't want to go in the dark cave, he doesn't want to be unable to see around him, he doesn't want to see the stalagmites or the stalactites, he doesn't want to trip over them or his own feet in the dark, he doesn't want to trip and f a l l-- He. Hates. This.]

Are you sure we have to go through there? There's got to be another way-

[Is he visibly wincing? Yes. Is he standing twenty feet away from the entrance of the cave? Also yes.]

[ C : ONE OF THE ROUTES - STRONGER ]

Easy there.

[ His voice is steady but admittedly it has a bit of an edge to it, and he doesn't look too pleased... but he still has prevented quite the tumble! With a gentleness that doesn't quite match his expression, he tugs the other traveler back up and places them on their feet. ... He.. sure is a big, buff guy, huh? ]

You okay?

[ D : CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ]

Got an idea? Shoot your shot!

Edited 2021-01-02 09:11 (UTC)

a. cherrygrove

[Geez, look at this giant fucking man! He's huge and he's got a whole lot of beard and hair, and he is sitting on the ground administering a potion to an extremely tiny Sunkern.]

Please, you must stop picking these fights. I know that you want to participate as well, but it has not been going very well. Can we not just walk to the next town without any battles?

[The Sunkern hops and cheeps at the nearest trainer or Pokemon. So - the answer is no, probably not.]

b. network

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had any advice about what is good for humans to eat. I have never been one before, and I do not recognize many of the foods available. The berries I have found do not seem good.

Thank you,
Asgore Dreemurr

[oh cool this dude has no idea how the internet works huh]

c. wildcard

(( lol idk w/e ))

[ It's been sort of a long time since Dionysus has wanted for anything. He certainly wouldn't remember it. Not clearly, at any rate. He was, however, nursing a wicked hangover with his shuckle. Its fermented berry juice absolutely did not come in the sort of quantity that could slake a thirst like Dionysus'.

But that didn't stop him from trying. Dionysus is holding his undersized shuckle in one hand like a glass of wine, sipping out of the docile creature with a straw.. But as he and the shuckle both know, this won't last long enough. Dionysus is loitering outside of a shop carrying beer and wine. He's definitely not dressed for the weather but he's doing his best not to shiver. ]

Heyyy man. I've got a little problem, you see. I seem to have left my coin purse in my other chiton.

[ He is wearing a tank top with a plunging neckline, little nylon work out shorts, and a liepard patterned fur coat with his gladiator sandals, plucked from the women's section. ]

I was really hoping to get a couple bottles for this shindig I'm heading to later. I'd hate to show up empty handed, you know?

»Text«
Word of warning.

Apparently the proper response to the monks at Sprout Tower talking about the giant Bellsprout is not "lemme fight it".

Seems a little hypocritical given how fighty the rest of this place is, if you ask me.

Like if you don't wanna have to ban people from your fancy tower maybe don't tell them you've got a giant monster as the centerpiece.

»Video«
Faulkner, more like Failkner, amirite?

[This is. A very windy broadcast.]

[It's a little hard to tell, between the fast-moving background, the awkward angle, and Shard's own wildly whipping hair, but this looks to be an in-flight video.]

Is this easy or am I just amazing? Trick question, it's both. Right, Streaks?

[Even over the wind, the screeching response of a Skarmory sounds dubious at best.]

Look, I bet I can go hands free-

[And as the camera shifts- and then turns into a spinning tumble- that "ee" extends well beyond what would be allowed by any kind of dignity.]

[Shard's gear takes a mercifully short trip down through heavy foliage before landing sharply at an odd angle, displaying what would normally be a very nice image of fallen Autumn leaves.]

[The effect is rather ruined by the loud series of thumps and snapping branches offscreen, terminated by a loud impact and pained wheezing.]

...I'm okay! Ow.

[After another few moments there's a sound of shuffling through dried leaves, and the feed clicks off.]

»Wildcard«
[Come at me.]

a. new bark town

[So this is...great...

Arthur's experienced some weird shit over the past year or so. But this kinda tops the list. Luckily, he's already settled a little bit by now; he's gotten the explanations and met his starter, and stopped freaking out quite so much. He's still freaking out a lot internally. He needs to be home! But...apparently he isn't getting there. And he doesn't really want to stay in this weird town with his fake mom, so he's gotta get somewhere else.

He's sitting under a tree just outside town, scanning through maps on his Pokegear in increasing despondency. Everything is so far away! They have to walk there?]

Don't they have cars here?

[oh god he's a MECHANIC he's gonna be so BROKE]

b. violet city (inn)

[Well, at least he's made it somewhere with a bed.

Arthur seems pretty exhausted, slumped over at a table in the public area of the inn he managed to drag himself into. But that's a pretty natural state of being for him. The dark circles under his eyes look like they've been there for ages! So he's not actually making to go to sleep or anything just yet - it actually looks like he's methodically disemboweling a Pokeball. There's little screws and stuff scattered all over the table. His Dedenne is guarding most of them, her long tail wrapped around to keep them from rolling onto the floor.]

Oh, wow. [He squints at a thing in the half of the ball he's holding.] I have no idea what any of this is.

c. wildcard

(( w/e w/e ))

ruins of alph

[ Anyone who happens to be at the Ruins of Alph will find Akira standing next to a tall patch of grass. He's looking down at his PokeGear, tinkering with it with a slightly bewildered expression on his face. After a moment, he holds it up to his ear, as if he's...listening to something?

If you get closer, you'll hear something distorted coming out from his PokeGear. He listens to it intently, letting it play out...until he lowers his PokeGear and blinks at it. ]

...Well, that was weird.

[ Then, he'll turn to the person hovering nearby (you!) and say: ] You heard that too, didn't you?

network

I have a question. Pokemon seem to be able to understand us, but we can't directly understand them.

[ Then, he follows this up with a picture of a Toxel. A grumpy-looking fellow with his tongue sticking out. The little purple guy doesn't seem thrilled about being photographed. ]

Help me figure out how to turn his frown upside down.

[ He doesn't have much experience with handling animals that he can't directly speak to (thanks, Morgana) so. ]

wildcard

[ Anything goes! As a note, I'll avoid P5R spoilers on the TDM unless they come up; if they absolutely have to, I'll check with you if it's okay first and then label appropriately. \o ]

[ A: NEW BARK TOWN ]

[ By all accounts, it doesn't make sense. Just that night, the Golden Deer had reunited at Garreg Moch after five years, and now she's... here. In a tiny little hamlet with a woman who claimed to be her mother and then shoved her out into the snow and what looks to be a splash of cream come to life cooing in her arms. At least it didn't seem to require her carrying it constantly, though how it floated was... confusing. Everything about this was confusing, actually. With a harsh sigh, Lysithea glanced down at her new companion. ]

Now what do we do...?

[ B: Network - Videp ]

[ The video clicks to life, and the viewer is greeted by a Milcery who's staring with awe and a desire to learn while it paps around on the Gear. Eventually it coos with delight, spinning around where it floats, and settles onto the table. It's happy to chirp some story- a retelling of how it's trainer and it met!- until Lysithea finally notices the pokemon doing... something, and approaches, scooping it up and picking the gear up. The sudden movement might be uncomfortable for the viewer, but you can now see the trainer clearly. ]

And just what are you up to? And what's this...?

[ C: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ]

If you have an idea, shoot your shot ! PM me if you want to plot something out. I'm good either way!

A. New Bark Town

[She beats a hasty retreat out of the house. Call her callous, but she knows who her mother is and it sure isn't whoever that was. The music's been pumping since she landed herself here, and it's somewhere between annoyingly catchy and annoyingly distracting. Annoying, either way. She walks off to sit in the grass and think, watching a cat out of the corner of her eye as she inspects her new gear. Hmm. Meowth. Alright, that's... something.

Question is, what kind of something.]

So, Captain, what can you do?

[Pounce in the grass, seems like.]

B. Video

[Leonie very deliberately clicks the device on, trying to keep her eyes trained on the screen.]

How's anyone supposed to make any coin around here? There's gotta be someone with a job opening, but that'd probably cut into time better spent traveling.

A Action, any route. i mean 10 traumatized medieval animus?

[Some of these Routes are very long, indeed. They can get especially miserable in rough terrain, bad weather, or any sort of obstacle that might expend more energy than a seven-day walk over decent ground. It's hungry business, and there's certainly no delivery out here.

That's why it may be rather surprising for the scent of sautéed spices, vegetables, and fish to be wafting around the wilderness. If anyone should follow their nose, though, they may find a man seated at a campfire, large and stony faced, but not so imposing from the ground. He looks up from offering a plate to the local resident Pokemon and makes eye contact, though it is no challenge.]

You look weary. You should rest and eat; come, I've made plenty.

-

B Video. the femblems are taking over!!

[It's evening by the time Dedue has read through his manual and worked out how to start the PokéGear. He may not have entirely bothered, but if there's any chance this "video" actually has the long-reaching broadcast it boasts, it may save far more time than simply searching under every rock in this new land.

His face is stern as usual when the camera starts up, almost unfriendly looking, though his tone is surprisingly... soft, if firm. The tiny Budew peeking its face around his shoulder isn't doing him any favors in appearing tough, though. Their juxtaposition is almost comical.]

I am looking for King Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd. We were separated. I will be indebted to anyone with information on his whereabouts.

[Straight to the point, at least!]

-

C. do, like, whatever you want tbh

Edited 2021-01-18 20:34 (UTC)

pallet town;
[At a glance, it doesn't seem like there's much of a reason to linger in Pallet Town. It's... Well. Comparing it to the Village of Harvest seems a bit kind, and Vil would rather move on to his next destination.

Still, he can't deny he's curious about the Berries cultivated in a place like this. They have strange properties, similar to some plants he's familiar with back home, and he can't deny he wants to see how many uses he can get from all of them. So the Berry farm gets him to stop, and he pays the fee with little protest.

He wanders the farm, picking the fruit that look and feel the best, while a Salandit slithers behind him. Every so often she tugs at his pants or gently nips at his ankle - not enough to break skin or tear his clothing! - and Absolutely Does Not Whine.]

No snacks this early in the day. You know this.

[It's clearly directed at the Salandit, who doesn't seem too pleased with that.]

network;

Is there any known way to harvest or collect the gas that a Salandit can produce? It seems rather useful, but I know improper techniques would impose a risk I am not equipped to take presently.

[...But having Salandit gas isn't risky, obviously. Obviously.]

wildcard;
[What it says on the tin! Feel free to assume he's just about anywhere, Salandit in tow.]

— cherrygrove city.

( well, this is nice. quaint, calm, and entirely unlike the majority of Tokyo. it almost does enough to wash away the surreal nature of waking up in a teenager's bed and being addressed as sweetheart by a woman who then proceeded to call herself mummy.

(not that he has anything against that, in certain contexts, but in this one it seemed rather literal.)

Sojiro's feet take him to the shore, a scrappy little Litten keeping pace with his leisurely steps. it's a small enough town that he isn't desperately missing his car, but... well. he misses his car. that trek from New Bark Town isn't so great for old bones like his. but the scent of salt air and the wash of waves — stopping several inches from his feet, because much like the cat-like thing beside him, he's not much for getting wet — do wonders for a frayed old soul.

this could, maybe, be some odd kind of escapist fantasy, if he wasn't so certain it was real. a world where he's living the kinds of adventures his boyhood self would have dreamed of, where the realisation that his latest stray teenager is actually the leader of the Phantom Thieves can be forgotten in favour of exploration and battles. where Futaba's heart has not only not been changed, but never needed to be.

or maybe he's overthinking this.

those thoughts get shoved to one side in favour of glancing down at the Litten, who stretches its little body out with a yawn, and scratching the back of his neck. )

Hey. You wanna grab something to eat?

( he's pretty hungry for once, and... hm. where to go. luckily, there's someone nearby! )

—Yo. ( hello, you are now being beckoned by a man with a cat circling his feet incessantly, ) You know where I can get some coffee?

— network.

( okay, so he's not one to get into big long conversations online. it seems pretty pointless unless there's a pretty woman on the other end of it, but he's been told that it's a good way of getting to know the other people dragged into this strange new place, so... )

Do the cats in this world eat fish? This guy has turned up his nose at everything but these weird looking berries.

( he was under the impression cats didn't like sweet things. )

— wildcard.

( you know how this works! hit me with anything you want. contact me at isanghae / isanghae#8071 if you wanna chat about things. )

we appreciate comfort !

[ if you're on a route, especially a main one, chances are you'll find some guy sprawled right in your path. the nerve of some people.

somehow, he manages to look comfortable. the sun is shining, making the ground nice and warm and perfectly suitable for a nap.

not even the occasional punch from his companion pokémon is enough to get him up and moving again. with each curious swing from clobbopus, zoro snores and rolls onto one side or another. and, well, if you can't beat 'em...

watch long enough are you're likely to see clobbopus curl up beside him and tuck away for a little snooze as well.

let's hope you weren't trying to walk here or anything. ]

video !

Communications... interfacing... connection... Damn it, can anyone hear me?

[ back home, people talked via telepathic snails. we're lucky that the man squinting one eye into the camera made it this far. on the ground beside him, a small, bouncy octopus bops into view. after looking at the display, the pokémon swipes a curious, boxing-glove-shaped tentacle at the camera. it falls over.

there's another grumble, the sound of what might be a bottle being spilled, and then the man comes back into frame as the camera is set right-side up. ]

Yeah, so I think I might've been kidnapped by some lady callin' herself my mom. [ one hand comes up to pick at his ear lackadaisically. inquisitively, clobbopus attempts to repeat the action by booping a tentacle where its ear would be. ] And this little squishy guy won't leave me alone. And what the hell is with this music?

A - Man About Town

[It's just a perfect average day in town. Which town? Any town, don't worry about it. Still, a perfect average day means the weather is actually pretty decent. All sorts of people are enjoying this opportunity.]

[That means it's highly unlikely that one is paying too much mind to the other pedestrians on the sidewalk... at least, until-]

Hey.

[Looking like just about any other youth taking advantage of the nice weather, Jazz's slightly pointed ears still give him away as an other worlder, even as he lightly jogs up with a relaxed smile.]

I think you dropped this.

[And he holds out... some small thing. Maybe some empty Pokeballs, maybe some occupied Pokeballs, a wallet...]

[...Depending on the item, especially if it's cash in a wallet, there might be less of it. Hopefully the owner doesn't notice it!]

B - Snek

[Jazz isn't stupid. He's a teenage demon. He knows how kids get made.]

[However, it didn't really occur to him that different Pokemon are, uh, kid-making-compatible.]

[And that is how Jazz ends up on the network, just... fucking... covered in tiny Ekans babies. Like. There's half a dozen of those tiny little things just all over him. Listen... It's winter. They're cold. Jazz is very warm.]

[This is making it a little difficult for him to get his Gear set up, as it's clear he has two of those suckers on his arms, but he's trying. Hoo. He's trying.]

Hey, uh, I'm not really sure if there's any better way to put this, but, as you can see...

I have way too many snakes.

I don't know where my Pokemon hid their eggs, but they hatched, so, uh, snakes free to a good home.

C - Prepare For Trouble

[Because Team Rocket is up to its bullshit again.]

[You know the usual drill: fun event where everyone is at, lots of money and Pokemon to steal, it's all going to hell.]

[Hell, coincidentally, where demons feel most comfy. Jazz has his nose and mouth covered with a plain black mask, and his hat tugged low over his eyes. He's not really looking to being flashy - frankly he kind of wants to not be in this uniform right now - and so he's trying to blend into the background.]

[That might not work so well, if one is an average Joe trying to once again stop Team Rocket. Caught with what is very clearly a Bag O' Loot over his shoulder, he pauses when confronted.]

Oh, hey. Guess this is where I get got, huh?

[...Except maybe not, because if one is a fellow Rocket, they might find themselves being pursued... only for a sudden spray of acid to come between them and their pursuers.]

[A whistle, and Jazz is over to the side, gesturing while his Arbok glowers over his shoulder.]

Over here - we'll keep 'em off ya.

D - Wildcard

[Jazz is a demon with a talent for pickpocketing (a master at it thanks to his old bloodline power of seeing the best route in pickpocketing) but is otherwise a pretty chill big brother type.... who can also dance alongside any dude on Broadway or who's in a Kpop band. Listen, things happen in Demon School.]

Edited 2021-01-23 23:06 (UTC)

A - Important Pollwork

[What were you doing? It's not important. What you are doing now is having this pretty blond chick trot up to you, waving one hand high cheerfully while her Spritzee stares at you with... Is it intent? Is it empty headedness? Who knows.]

[As a note, this may even be on the routes, but that's not stopping Eliza at all.]

Hello! [She giggles a little bit as she slows once she's near enough.] I'm so sorry to surprise you like this... but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking a poll? It's just a personal project~!

B - 'Cute' and 'Murder' are not antonyms

Hello~.

[Eliza smiles into the camera as she starts up her video to the network, flashing a little peace sign as she does so. There's that Spritzee again, just... staring dead eyed into the camera. Do not worry about it.]

I was hoping to get everyone's opinion on something... But do you think that cute Pokemon can be just as dangerous and menacing as any other kind of Pokemon?

I was talking to someone just the other day, and they said that those kind of Pokemon are bad for a tough image!

C - And Make It Double

[Elizabetta doesn't really consider herself a good thief. She excels much more at just... encouraging people to give things to her of their own free will! Isn't it nicer that way?]

[Apparently that's not the way Team Rocket does things, however, and so here she is at one of those infamous heists, dressed in the Rocket uniform with an additional veil hiding her face. She makes for quite the mysterious figure...]

[...Up until she just walks up to someone.]

Oh, excuse me. Could you take a couple of steps to the left for me?

[So. Uh. Are you just.... gonna listen to her?]

[Other Team Rocket members may want to take her to the side and maybe help her out a little...]

D - Wildcard

[Same player as Jazz and the following Balam, just testing out which of these three demons I want to play most. Elizabetta here is your average girly girl who loves shopping, running around with her new friends, and is also a succubus but listen don't worry about that part. I'm game for any other silly ideas tossed her way!]

A - Normal Human Stuff

[You're just doing your normal day to day shit. Maybe that's training on one of the routes. Maybe that's stopping in at the local Pokecenter. Grocery shopping? Walk in the park? Literally anything.]

[...So it's probably really fucking weird to see this giant motherfucker at around eight food, built like a brick wall, lurking behind a tree or corner or whatever and just...]

[Scribbling into a notebook.]

[Think it has nothing to do with you? Think again! Because to look back after a few minutes and having moved on reveals this dude is absolutely following you.]

[He just moved to a different location.]

[Yes, he is still scribbling in a notebook.]

[It's.... probably fine. He has a Vullaby on his shoulder, so he's a trainer, so it's... probably fine!]

B - Normal Human Questions

[At least on the network, Balam acts... a little less like a weirdo. There's still no denying how huge he looks even on video camera, or his pointed ears, or the metal mask attached to his face, but, well..]

[He's doing his best with what he has here, and what his best sounds like is very clearly hopeful and energetic and bursting with joy.]

Hello! My name is Shichiro Balam. I am currently engaging in a personal project of mine, and so I would like to ask a few questions, for those who are willing.

What race were you originally, and what things do you normally eat here?

C - Surrender Now Or Prepare To Fight

[Needless to say, during one of those extravagant Rocket heists, an enormously tall and bulky fellow like Balam could be quite the menace, especially depending on what kind of Pokemon he's managed to accumulate.]

[...Except, as everything goes down, one can spot an enormous figure in Rocket colors wearing - well, okay, it's one of those plastic Pikachu masks to hide the whole face, so that kind of takes down the intimidation factor a bit. Unless one finds that blank plastic gaze unnerving, which, valid.]

[Also taking the intimidation factor down a notch would be that Balam... isn't really fighting at all? Instead, he's very clearly just... filming everything with a video camera instead.]

[Fellow Rockets might want to ask him What The Heck.]

[But if no one stops him in time... Occasionally, he hands the camera off to this Vullaby to get an aerial shot, and then he just... walks up to the nearest trainer, stares down from that eight feet height through the dead plastic gaze of his Pikachu mask, and...]

Excuse me, I was hoping you could tell me a little about your choices during this raid?

D - Wildcard

[Same player as Jazz and Elizabetta, just figuring out choices. As one can see, Balam is a well meaning nerd of a demon who is a biology professor at a high school, along with having an interest in the demonic version of cryptozoology. You can find him taking notes on just about everything.... He's really excited to be here, you see.]

[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)

New Bark Town

[The first thing Tifa notices is how clear the air is. There's birds chirping and grass growing and large fluffy clouds. No dust, no smoke, no fumes. The home is nice enough, and she hopes that "Mom" isn't too lonely with all the people coming through, but the sky, that's something else entirely. So for awhile, she sits down on one of those ledges, the sort you can jump down from but not up, hands crossed over her knees and wind blowing through her hair. A soft fuzzy animal with flames running along its back sits curled up in her lap, and she wonders why it doesn't burn her.]

Network

I've read that you can battle with these pokemon, is that true? Do they like fighting? Or do they just fight because we make them?

Edited 2021-01-24 03:03 (UTC)

A

What are you doing?

[They've been at this for what feels like hours now. Diluc takes a handful of steps toward the path in the woods, and the little bird that's been behind him this entire time follows after. He's tried everything -- making himself as large as possible, speaking loudly, everything short of tossing something its way. But the bird keeps right on following.

Even now, its head tilts. It chirps once, then hops on after Diluc.]

That was not an invitation. [The creature hops onto his boot and nestles down.] ... Neither was that.

B

[Diluc has spent a number of hours reading everything that's come in his backpack. He's gone through the network, studying intros and getting a feel for how the "kamera" function seems to work on this device.

Now, he's managed to pull out his gear and turn it on. He fixes the screen with... One might call it a serious expression, but really this is just how his face is.]

I'm looking for information. Firstly, I would like to know where our items -- weapons and other belongings -- wind up. I would like to retrieve them at the soonest chance I get. [He then lifts up his hand, clutching in it a palm sized glass pendant.] Secondly, I would also like to know what particular Ley Line disorder plagues this place, so I can get to work on resolving that and restoring my abilities.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

C

[Wildcard! Hit me with ideas you have, or pp me at

ashstriferous]

a. action, any city. at your own risk.

[As much as he'd rather be laid up in one of this place's cushy hotels, ordering room service, there's no better way to familiarize himself with the world than to explore it.

Nonetheless, his and his Alolan Vulpix's stroll around town seems nothing more than casual. A couple of cool expressions almost gives the appearance of boredom, though in reality there's little Kaeya's discerning gaze doesn't catch -- for example, a person with a Pokemon he's unfamiliar with.

Adjusting his trajectory, he makes to stroll on by, but stops when he appears to do a double take at the creature. He looks it over with apparent fascination, then offers a friendly smile to its trainer.]

I've never seen this Pokemon before! It must be quite special to you.

b. action, olivine. you know you saw this coming.

[Just one little tavern in this port city puts all of Mondstadt to shame, and Kaeya has been to a new locale every night. It's a wider range of wines and liquors than he's ever seen before, combined. So, it's his own little Celestia, basically.

Tonight, he's a few drinks in already, seated alone at the bar, pleasantly buzzed but not out of sorts. Still, it's difficult to tell whether it's the alcohol or simply hubris that makes him give the next person who approaches the bar a wave and a wink. Or maybe it's a blink? Who knows, with that eyepatch.]

At the risk of being forward -- I've got an empty seat and a full coin-purse. All I'm missing now is good company.

c. network. time to become the shitpost king we always knew he could be.

so, the powers that be take away our weapons and abilities and expect us to make do.

i suppose that's fair in such a peaceful country, but what's to stop people from, say... taking up their honedge or beedrill and pointing it at someone else? if the pokemon is the one making contact, it's perfectly legal.

d. choose your own adventure or whatever

[ A : GOLDENROD, BABY! ]

[ Admittedly, it might be a bit embarrassing to be so excited to just. Be there? But forgive her, it's her first time in a real life, actual big city with like. PEOPLE! And things are outside and not floating and flooded! It's fuckin rad, okay. At least she's only stopping to stare at things occasionally and trying to stay out of the way? ]

Man, I wish the others were here- they'd get such a kick outta all this, Pumpkin, and they'd love you...

[ It's a sentiment she's voiced a few times over the weeks spent traveling, actually. The cold of winter was new, but if there's one thing she could do it was adapt and survive, and she did. The people she took part time jobs for were understanding and patient, and most adults were fairly sympathetic to the plight of being out at night in the snow.

This place was incredible. But something about it was just incredibly lonely, too. ]

[ B : NETWORK - VIDEO ]

[ There's an incredibly small Meowth in front of the screen, batting carefully at the screen. She tries to tackle it completely before being lifted up with a startled mrrp? And then her trainer appears. ]

Soooorry about that, anyone who caught that. She likes to play-hunt with my stuff- normally it's just socks though? An' not, yanno, expensive technology.

[ Roxy takes a moment to play-scold the Meowth. She doesn't look very guilty though. ]

[ C : CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ]

[ Roxy Lalonde is from Homestuck, an influential webcomic of internet culture. Specifically, I'm writing her as post-ascension but pre-Game Over at the moment! She's basically raised herself from infanthood in a floating house in a post-apocalyptic flooded earth but is used to advanced technology and neato creatures that would otherwise make no sense. She's friendly, lighthearted and a bit of a flirt sometimes and I love her! Throw anything her way. ]

Ashe Ubert | Fire Emblem Three Houses | OTA

Cloud Strife | Final Fantasy VII Remake

Hornet | Hollow Knight

Orpheus | Hades

Azul Ashengrotto | Twisted Wonderland | OTA