slowpoke_gif | as ATP is this weekend!

[ if you're hanging around the Goldenrod City Game Corner this afternoon, you might find a certain loser in a red jersey hanging around playing voltorb flip. judging by the look on his face, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the entire experience is boring him, but every so often his eyes narrow almost imperceptibly as he flips card after card after card at a speed that would probably have most people drop-kicked back to level 1 by an ill-timed selfdestruct in about five seconds flat.

Shintaro is on level 8. and he seems to have racked up over 20,000 coins so far in this game alone. this is what his so-called genius IQ is being spent on, folks.

hey, he just wants a Porygon to keep his Rotom company, okay? ]

[If you're in Goldenrod, you may notice a strange young man, with headphones and a cape, messing with his gear. He's seen a similar device before, but he's pretty sure this isn't the kind of COMP he's used to.

He does have demons, that he knows, but they came from a weird red-and-white ball and he wasn't supposed to fight them - then again, he was the King of Bel now, every demon obeyed him, but still... these didn't even talk to him.

... and his "Vulpix" was strangely cute for a demon. And cuddly. She wanted to be pet all the time.

This sure was a strange place to be stuck in.]

[If you're on one of the routes, it's possible you've come across something very odd. The path you're walking on seems to be littered with half-eaten berries of all kinds. If you were to investigate this strange situation, you'd find a trail of berry scraps, clearly leading to something father up the path.

And that something would be Beezy. Judging from the loud snoring, he's asleep on his back in the grass, his Munchlax asleep beside him, both of them surrounded by piles of berries both uneaten and mostly-eaten. He's a big kid, half-naked save for the brown shorts he wore. Maybe his clothes got stolen? Although, his bag is in the grass not too far from him.

Weird, huh?]

[Celadon City was always a beautiful place for a trip, with bright colors wherever your eyes wander. Even with the unfamiliar hustle and bustle (the only times it ever got like this back home were when there was a festival of some kind in the village or when Amber sent the servants into a flurry) Sofia feels quite at home in the rainbow city. She can stop in front of a boutique and pick out outfits she's sure Amber would love or swing by the department store to watch others her age run about with toys that she'd bet one of her tiaras James wouldn't mind having.

And then there's the greenhouse -- smaller than her garden back home, of course, and much more public. But still nice and calming. Her Buneary hops through the flowers, earning a disapproving Gust from one of the butterfly pokemon up higher, while Sofia herself has a sketchbook propped up on her knees so she can try to paint an impatient Nidorina posing with a teacup.]

You look great, Nadine! Just a little bit more...

[Feel free to run into her all around the city!]

[ If you're unlucky enough to run into a certain teenage boy on one of the routes today and look him in the eyes, he will immediately approach you with a determined look™ in his eyes. ]

Wah hah hah! [ That is....a very obnoxious laugh. ]

Our eyes met, so we must battle! I was told to go out here and become the best trainer! That means that I, prosecutor Sebastian Debeste, will defeat you!

[ And before you get to say anything on the matter, he tosses up a Pokéball with a dramatic flourish and in a flash of light, out comes a...

...Luvdisc that immediately begins to flop around uselessly on the ground. ]

[She really missed her mom.

Sure, they'd had their fights and Hazel was far too active for Karina's tastes, but at least when she'd yelled, it was something Karina was used to. When her new boss yelled, it...wasn't nearly so endearing.]

Sorry...

[Her yawn earns another few sharp sentences, but Karina is eventually returned to her station, leaning up against the service desk like she'd fall without it. Which honestly, she might, having gotten a mere eight hours of sleep the night before.]

I wish I could have my pillow, at least... Oh. Morning. Can I help you?

[You might want to engage her before she dozes off again...]

[Well, here's an unusual sight on the outskirts of Celadon City: in a little flower garden at the very edge of town, about as far away from the city proper as one can get and still be within the limits, there's a pretty young woman of about seventeen sitting on the low stone wall that forms the boundary along one of the garden paths, looking up at the sun overhead like she's wishing she'd brought an umbrella to shade her from its rays.

There's a Beautifly bustling around amongst the flowers, but either she hasn't spotted it yet or she's trying very hard to ignore the giant-ass butterfly in her midst; for those accustomed to the wonderful world of Pokemon, however, that's likely not the strangest thing about this little tableau. No, that honor would probably go to the outfit the young woman is wearing (albeit of black fabric instead of white).

It looks as though Celadon City is really the right place for her — this is a city on the cutting edge of fashion, and she appears to be over a hundred years out of style.

Despite this, though, she seems a bit lost. Approach, Y/N?]

[Anyone in Goldenrod today might notice a new face hanging around, walking quietly down the street with a Shuppet hovering a few inches above his shoulder. For someone who has just woken up in a city that most certainly is not Shibuya, he seems surprisingly calm about the entire situation. In fact, his expression is rather intrigued as he stops near the Pokemon Center with his hin resting in one hand, 'hmmm'ing to himself.]

This does toss a wrench into things, doesn't it?

[He seems to be talking to the Shuppet, who nods eagerly at first...then shakes her head slowly, looking at the boy and tilting her head far to the side.]

It's certainly an issue. But it shouldn't be too difficult to figure out. You'll help me, I'm sure?

[More eager nodding! And that causes Joshua to smile, reaching up to pet the side of the Shuppet's face.]

You're not Noise, that much is certain. Yet I can control you just as easily as if you were. Perhaps there is a reason for that.

[...Kay, looks like we're just. Talking to ourselves.]

[So there's nice short little road that leads from Vermillion City up to Lavender Town. Very handy for bypassing Rock Tunnel if you can't be bothered to track down a Flash HM, right?]

[Only right now it's blocked. By a giant Snorlax, passed out right across the only passable part of the route.]

[The solution? Climb over it. Or try to, anyway.]

Would you move it already, lardass?!

[Turns out it's pretty hard to get a grip on a Snorlax's hide, especially when you're a tiny, angry Japanese child and getting angrier rapidly.]

I- said- MOVE IT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH?

[And now he's resorted to physically trying to push the thousand-pound Pokémon out of the way.]

[Teddie should not be left alone. Teddie should not be left alone. Teddie should not be left alone.

So why, pray tell, did someone leave him unsupervised in Goldenrod City? ...Oh, right, Pokemon journeys and whatnot. And to be fair, he isn't entirely alone. Riding on his shoulders is a Cubchoo who seems content sitting on him and pointing in random directions for his friend to run towards, regardless if there's people in the way or not. Anyone who may be in the line of fire might find themselves being blown over by a bear and his...bear.

He can't help it! This city is so HUGE and there's so much to see and do, and best of all? There's no one keeping an eye on him. Freedom is a strange feeling, a mix of possibilities and loneliness. Teddie's certain his friends are in this big wide world somewhere, it's the only reason why he's traveling in the first place. But until then, there's nothing wrong with a little sight seeing...]

Gang way, comin' through! I'm a bear on a mission!

[Right now that mission is running around looking for a good place to grab some snacks.]

[Primus, waking up like this was one thing. And now a small lizard was waddling right after him, with it's tail on fire. He stuffs his hands in his pockets as he walks through Vermilion City. The little charmander waddles right beside the former autobot, who continually tries to wave him off.]

Go on. Shoo.

[The little creature is insistent. Sure, this thing was suppose to follow him along but. This isn't what Ratchet needed right now. This isn't--

While Ratchet had his gaze averted to see where he was going, he felt something painful. Very. very painful. His eyes widened as he looks down at his hand and realizes that it had brushed over the tail of the creature. The fire.

A small, less than masculine, yelp could be heard from the old man as he stumbles back a few steps, holding his hand.]

Primus! Watch where you put that tail of yours!

[The charmander stares up at Ratchet, confused as he glances at his tail, its flame flickering idly. The medic presses the side of his hand against his mouth, trying to ease the warm skin there as he stomps his foot, to try and distract his mind from the pain.]

[If you happen to be wandering around Viridian Forest, you might just find yourself encountering a gentleman who is walking about casually with an electric mouse in his arms. He seems to be content and almost oblivious to his surroundings, but things are not always as they appear.

He will find out just what was really going on here. What other choice is there?]

[Someone closer to the road might get to see something small, dark, and fuzzy scrambling up a tree, stuffing a pack into a hollow, and then...being abruptly small, purple, and fuzzy, and the most utterly innocent and oblivious to everything "Rattata" ever seen. LOOK HE'S GOT A BERRY HE'S NOT INVOLVED IN ANYTHING NOPE NO PACK HERE.]

[Meanwhile, a little off the trail, someone is being a complete train wreck in the woods, attempting to give pursuit, and close enough to be heard swearing under his breath, tripping over undergrowth, and generally being someone who should never be allowed in deep woods alone. Or moderate woods. Or off the trail in woods. He also seems to be going parallel to the trail.]

Oh yes, very funny, just up and vanish with everything, bushy-tailed little...

[And then, in a much more chipper, cheerful, and oozing friendly tone...] Why, those are some of the most amazing fruit I've seen yet in this land! Too bad there's none here to share them with...

Edited 2014-09-04 06:58 (UTC)

[If Dipper hadn't been spending his summer in Gravity Falls, he might think all of this was weird. Like, really weird. But no, this is actually normal compared to most things he's experienced over the past few months. As normal as you can get when you find yourself smack dab in the middle of a videogame, apparently.

He's experienced a game character coming to the real world before with disastrous results, yes, but he's never actually been in one himself. ...So. This. This is a thing.

Of course Dipper's standing smack dab in the center of one of the routes, his nose buried in his Gear as he tabs through the different apps and-]

What? Hey!

[Dipper turns around when he feels something butt against him for the third time, frowning down at the little brown deer looking up at him, her eyes both curious and concerned as she watches him, bleating softly. The boy sighs heavily, but trying to turn away again only earns him another nudge.

Get out of the middle of the road, says one of the pushes. Another, more forceful one, punctuated by a longer cry- it's okay, please stop worrying! You're my partner and I'm going to help you.

He finally relents, but he doesn't move, instead cautiously reaching his hand out to pet the top of the Deerling's head.]

Look...I don't know how I got here, but I need to try to get back home. Okay? Or...find Mabel, at least...

[...This wasn't North Carolina. Heck, this wasn't Georgia. And it sure wasn't Wellington. It wasn't any of those things. It was Johto, a place where you wake up in bed with your covers over your head and your mom calling for you to get up and get going, and for just a second your heart stops because you think it's all real.

It's worse than a dream, because it is real. Only that's not her mom, and this isn't her home. Her treehouse isn't outside, but the world is devoid of one thing.

Walkers.

He was waiting for her when she walked outside. A creature that looked almost like a dog crossed with a wolverine, and the sight causes a phantom pain to lance through her arm as she remembers Sam. And it's not just Sam that causes her to feel a strange unease. This creature...the way he stares at her just feels dangerous. Like he knows more about her than she does.

But when the Pokemon steps her way and takes up position at her side, she doesn't feel quite as bad.

Clementine wanders from the house with the Absol walking slowly by her side, red eyes scanning for dangers she cannot see. If nothing else, she's learned not to take the stillness of any one area at face value. They could come at any time, and she's weaponless. Defenseless. ....not helpless, but in a bad position.

She makes it to the route just outside of New Bark, and that's where she stops, because something has finally sunk in. That town certainly wasn't deserted. It had people. Lots of people. Not a one of them seemed like the fearful, starving, gaunt survivors she had encountered in the past. None of them carried themselves in a way that hinted that they were suspicious of their next breath being their last. The Absol looks up at her quietly, but he doesn't press her to keep moving.]

Edited 2014-09-13 04:32 (UTC)

C'mon guys...where are you? ...and where am I?

[A voice softly mutters as a boy paces a little back and forth across one of the routes, his PokeGear in one hand while his other reaches back to grip the back of his head. He shakes his head slowly and lets out a low hum in the back of his throat, quickly ticking through the different apps and things on the Gear. He pauses for a length of time on the map of the area, moving to the edge of the road to take a seat in the grass.

Almost immediately, a Mareep jumps into his lap when he sits down cross-legged, crying out happily as she nestles herself into the spot between his knees.]

Okay okay little guy, you can stay! Doesn't look like I'm going to be going anywhere any time soon anyway..

[He sighs, reaching down to carefully pet the Mareep's fluffy wool before turning his attention back to his Gear.]

Hey! Cawdia, Embers, keep it together! I don't wanna lose you guys on day one of the job!

[There's a rather short young man in strange robes, shouting in the forested area of Route 34. Sure, the police want everyone to stay on the beaten path because it's easier to monitor them there (or something), but Henry says fuck that. He's sneaky. Super sneaky. --And so are his Pokémon, apparently, which is why they've decided to give him the slip. Normally Henry wouldn't mind, because he totally believes in animals running free like the wind, but an ugly feeling in his stomach is telling him that these guys may not want to return.]

[It was just a matter of time, honestly. Being raised by Henry is a fate worse than death... probably. Considering he talks about murder with far too much enthusiasm to be normal, and also woke up in the Radio Tower with a Rocket uniform hanging by his bed, he can't be that good at it.]

[A bespectacled man in a lab coat sits outside the radio tower in Goldenrod City. He's inspecting his hand. There's really no other word for it.]

Opposable thumbs, hm? [He wiggles said thumb and chuckles, a sound that can best be rendered as:] Hohoho. I always prefered running to flying. I think I shall adapt.

[This is true. Chukar pigeons do prefer running to flight.

But still. The way he's smirking at his hand and occasionally laughing 'hohoho' is probably going to disturb someone here.]

Edited 2014-09-14 09:40 (UTC)

shintaro kisaragi | kagerou project

MC/Kazuya Minegishi | Devil Survivor

Beezy Heinous | Jimmy Two-Shoes

Princess Sofia | Sofia the First

Sebastian Debeste (Yumihiko Ichiyanagi) | Ace Attorney Investigations 2

Karina | Rune Factory 3

Meridiana Everett | Count Cain

Joshua Kiryu | The World Ends With You

Impmon | Digimon Tamers

Teddie | Persona 4

Ratchet | Transformers Prime

Maes Hughes | Fullmetal Alchemist 2003