SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER TEST DRIVE MEME

[indigo_events]

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

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

JOHTO | and | KANTO

✭ ✭ ✭


OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
NAVIGATION | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

Comments

[theotherholt]

Ooof! [Despite the fact that he's been literally headbutted by a massive muscle cat Matt's already laughing, even as the gesture sends him back onto his butt on the ground. Mimas the Eevee makes an indignant squeak, flicking his long fluffy ears and tail at the Incineroar.

Somewhere in between soothing his deeply offended tiny Pokemon and rubbing his forehead, Matt looks up and over and the world stops. There's light shining through the trees and there's a soft breeze blowing and everything is so still, and it makes sense that he finds him like this. It makes perfect sense.

Matt just smiles.]

Hey.

[shiro2hero]

[Hey.]

[It's one word. One short little word. And it makes it feel as if everything's frozen. Simultaneously locked in place and cracking around the edges. Because he knows that face. That voice. That... constantly shaggy hair. Sure, it's older, leaner.]

[But that...]

Matt...

[Behind him, his Aggron looks over at empty air in confusion. To which his Haunter materializes, pulling up what looks like a photo of Pidge. Pointing back and forth between the image and the guy getting headbutted by the Incineroar. Completely ignoring the current emotional turmoil their poor trainer is rolling through.]

Hey.

[theotherholt]

[Matt stands up slowly, Mimas the Eevee looking up at him, then over at the stranger. Aren't they going to battle him? Mimas sort of wants to battle him. Mimas is tiny and badass and can fight anyone.

But no, Matt is just slowly stepping forward, a little hesitant, like he can't believe Shiro's really there. Taller, broader, scarred. But there.]

I...I didn't think I'd... [ever see you again] What are you...doing here?

[shiro2hero]

[Don't worry Mimas. Haunter swoops in, probably explaining and introducing them all. Hi little guy, this is Kuro the team dad, Red the weightlifting cat, and it is Haunter! That's the Dorito they all look after.]

[Oblivious to this conversation is their trainer. Who literally only has eyes for the person he hasn't seen in... years. It feels like years. He steps forward, too. Out of pure reflex.]

Same... same thing as you.

You -- [You're alive.] Got taller.

[theotherholt]

[Mimas tilts his head to and fro for a moment, before letting out a pleased trill and standing on his tiny hind feet to reach up and pat at Haunter. Hello, very nice to meet you, he is Mimas the great and this is his hapless reedy man.

A hapless reedy man who is stepping forward too, reaching out, wanting to -- grab on, to make sure Shiro isn't just a dream. He'd thought this whole place was a dream when he first arrived. Maybe it is. Maybe this is what the whole dream was building towards.]

...I'm. I can't believe it's...it's really you. It's you. [HIs voice breaks, just a little, on the last word.]

[shiro2hero]

[Haunter does a flip and a bow, offering up a ghostly hand to shake Mimas' paw. Hello little friend! Please excuse their trainer.]

[It's that break that does it. That little break of the last word. Because it makes him step forward those last few feet and just. Hug him. Tightly. He's not wearing armor, the metal arm is no more powerful or painful than his real hand in this world.]

[So there's nothing holding him back.]

You're -- you're alive.

[theotherholt]

[Mimas trills again, pleased that at least somebody here has manners. Trainers are completely hapless in that area. Then the Eevee will pad over to hop up on Kuro for more greetings.

Matt is busy being scooped up in a long-awaited, long-dreamed-about embrace, letting out a watery laugh and clinging on just as tightly.]

Well, yeah. Duh.

[shiro2hero]

[The big Aggron snorts, but otherwise doesn't protest the Eevee on his head. He's fine with this, really. The others do it all the time.]

Duh? That's -- that's all you've got to say for yourself?

[But no, there's no real heat in the words. Nothing but a shaky sort of relief squeezing his chest so hard he feels like he's going to choke on it.]

[theotherholt]

[Mimas chirps happily, then curls up into a ball on Kuro's head, like an Eevee toupee. He likes it here.]

What am I supposed to s-say, you big...choking me, you...Shiro. [Matt's words are stumbling over each other and he's squeezing as tightly as he can, watery, teary laughter escaping him.]

[shiro2hero]

[Hey, Kuro's had worse. You should meet Blue the Kirlia, Mimas.]

Sorry! Sorry--!

[He almost lets him go. Almost steps away, worried it's too much. Worried he's done something wrong. But then Matt squeezes again. Laughs and cries in the same breath and it's all he can do not to spin him in a circle.]

I'm sorry -- I just -- I can't believe it.

[theotherholt]

Y-You're fine, it's fine, you -- we're in a forest, you have a cat bodybuilder, what is this?

[It's all so silly and perfect and wonderful and ridiculous that Matt just laughs, helplessly, again. Mimas makes a confused chirpy sound -- you dying over there, dad?]

[shiro2hero]

It's -- it's a lot to explain.

[Said Cat Bodybuilder looks indignant. What do you mean what is she??? She's glorious, that's what she is!!]

Another world. Planet. Let's -- can we leave it at that? What happened to your hair?

[theotherholt]

A planet full of cat bodybuilders. [Matt laughs, shaking his head incredulously -- then shaking it again, flicking his hair out of his face.]

It grew, Shiro. That's what hair does.

[shiro2hero]

[He... so help him, he laughs too.] Not just cats! There's... you're going to love it.

[Another laugh, shaky and uncertain.]

Yeah. Yeah, I know it does. But I still...

[theotherholt]

You're here, so of course I am.

[Matt's Eevee makes a squeaky, disgusted sound at that. Gross.]

...need to sit down? Take a breather?

[shiro2hero]

[Shiro's three give each other a series of bewildered looks at that. Then at the Eevee. What the heck little buddy? Are you saying...?]

[Where's the Gay Spheal meme when you need it.]

I'm fine. This is -- pretty much just a normal day for us.

You though... come on. We should get you back to the city.

[theotherholt]

Wow. Is this your whole, uh...party? [It's like D&D right? The buff cat is the Paladin, right?]

Oh, there's a city too? [Matt is...benignly curious. He's taking this very well.]

[shiro2hero]

Only half of them. [No, the paladin is the Aggron. Because Kuro is always lawful good.]

Matt -- you... [Exasperated. Achingly fond.] Of course there's a city.

... we can talk there.

[theotherholt]

Half? Where did you even find them all? ...Petco?

[He laughs, a little sheepishly, ducking automatically to pick up his Eevee.] Well, I didn't know. I've only seen the woods.

...are the woods full of ears? Are there spy Pokemon?

[shiro2hero]

No. Around. Here and there... You're going to love Europa.

[His fat Spheal. Whom he also loves.]

... no. But there's food in town.

[theotherholt]

Who's Europa? Is that the town?

[He's so confused. And hungry, very hungry, his stomach is growling audibly and Mimas is squeaking and making demanding wiggles.] I don't...have any money, though.

[shiro2hero]

... No. No, it's... she's part of my team.

[The soft, round, bouncy part. She is a good spheal.]

I do. I've got this, man. Promise.

[theotherholt]

You're gonna introduce me to everyone. Every single one. And then tell me everything about this place. Including how you got here.

[Matt is gonna take one look at soft bouncy and steal.]

Are you treating me? Is this a treat?

[shiro2hero]

There's not much to tell -- I got here the same way you did. But... if you want to know more about these guys, Armin is your guy.

[Because he's very, very proud of his blonde nerd child.]

... It sure is. And... you know. A way to talk.

[theotherholt]

Is there a library? I miss libraries.

[Matt arches an eyebrow, falling back into his old teasing ways so easily. It's like breathing, being goofy and silly around Shiro.]

You wanna talk? What about?