001 - 1/27 midday - voice

[pathofstrength]

...kinda like a Pokegear.

[The communicator is being handled when it clicks on, muffled shuffs and fwups being broadcast as someone turns it over in their hands.]

So I guess ya'd just-

[It cuts off and is silent for a few seconds. When the audio resumes, it sounds a lot more intentional.]

I've never lived in a city before, an' I know I've not set foot in any town as big as this one. An'...well, it's big.

[also the sun and moon are fucking creepy just saying]

An' it all kinda...smells funny, so I ain't sure where ta go fer food. Where d'ya find somethin' like that?

Am I usin' this right? How d'ya know when it's turned on...

Comments

[unfinishedstory]

I suppose traveling on your own teaching you a bunch of useful skills like taking care of yourself but... isn't it dangerous?

[(What adult in Special is responsible at all!? ...Okay, maybe Oak is because he's secretly badass, but other than that...)]

[pathofstrength]

Sure, it's a little dangerous, but ain't a lot ta things in life like that? That's why ya go out in the first place, ta toughen up so ya can handle that! Besides, I was never "on my own" when I had my Pokemon with me.

[(I think Winona and Wallace are the closest we ever get to responsible parental figures, they should just adopt Hoenn holders already)]

[unfinishedstory]

I guess there's a lot of dangerous things out there, just where I'm from parents keep kids away from it.

Right, your Pokemon... how does that work exactly?

[(Pretty soon they should just let the First Gen heroes adopt the others... no wait, that's a bad plan.)]

[pathofstrength]

Eh...what d'ya mean by "how does it work"?

[unfinishedstory]

Well you said Pokemon live in your world, but you didn't explain about why you're traveling with them. Or how that's better than being alone.

[pathofstrength]

If ya're travelin', it's always best ta have Pokemon! Otherwise, what'd ya do if ya got attacked by wild Mightyena or somethin'? Ya could try an' fight, but even the toughest human couldn't stand up ta most attacks!

[unfinishedstory]

*Clare might know what a Pokemon is, but she's got no clue what a Mightyena is.*

So... Pokemon are dangerous unless they are tamed, then you can use them to protect yourself?

That world doesn't seem especially... nice. If everything is dangerous like that.

[pathofstrength]

[Dangerous? No, that's just normal yeah it's really dangerous]

I don' think it's all that dangerous...an' if ya're not a trainer, then ya can jus' avoid wild Pokemon territory. They won't bother humans unless a human bothers them!

[unfinishedstory]

*Clare's beginning to realize her definition of dangerous and that of everyone else is, different.*

Well, instead of Pokemon here we have partners to keep safe.

Which building do you live in, I'll meet you in the lobby and show you around.

[pathofstrength]

It's th' Casualty one! I'll be right down.

Voice, sent image, And... Action!

[unfinishedstory]

Right, I'll be the one that looks like... this. *Picture sent.*

---

*Clare casually waits in the lobby, all passively cute and entirely unintimidating.*

*She's got an empty backpack on her back, but otherwise she's pretty generic looking.

Action

[pathofstrength]

[Luckily for the first impression here, Sapphire does not come charging down to the lobby in full wild beast mode. She's walking down the stairs like a normal person for the most part, though she doesn't seem to be exercising any caution on them and might as well be running. When she hits the last step she takes a quick, sweeping glance around the lobby, catches sight of Clare, and-]

Heeey!

[-waves an arm at her in greeting.]

[unfinishedstory]

*Well, that makes it easier to spot Sapphire. Even without swapping pictures. Clare heads over with a hurried but controlled step.*

Sapphire! I figured after we were done I could get some groceries. Since this is part of the more useful tour in the city. ...I hope you don't mind.

*Clare figured it beat having to do this Friday, but it was about helping Sapphire.*

[pathofstrength]

Of 'cos! I'll be needin' ta get food too, after all...

[Doesn't that atrocious accent sound even odder coming from the young girl you can see? Sapphire nods emphatically, shifting from foot to foot a little.]

I've been out an' around jus' a little since gettin' here. Thanks again fer the help!

[unfinishedstory]

*Clare would focus on the accent if the idea of a girl so much younger than her being on her own didn't make her feel even more coddled than usual.*

Well, we should probably go grocery shopping last, as otherwise we'll have to carry the stuff with this whole outing. Let's hit the mall first, show you where to get most everything else you'll need or want.

*Clare started in a direction, heading for the mall. Fortunately for Sapphire Clare knew the area well enough to not need a map... because Clare was terrible navigating.*

[pathofstrength]

[Nod! Let's get moving.

With a hand shading her eyes, Sapphire looks all around herself while she walks, but is light on her feet and never stumbles on bumps or cracks.]

It's even bigger than I thought th' first time out. Ya could keep walkin' an' walkin' an' it'd take ages just ta get ta the city's other side...!

[unfinishedstory]

Home's about this big but... not in the same way. It isn't built on a mountain like this, and the streets are passable with better vehicles.

*Clare squinted, used to bright sunlight at home and here.*

I do wish I had my bike... maybe after I save some more I can buy one. Maybe then I can actually get to the other side of the city. *Clare smirked a little, as Sapphire was right, the place was really big.*

[pathofstrength]

That's a good idea...

[Sapphire looks up towards the towers of Shibusen, gawking a little.]

...there's somethin' funny about the sky, ain't there? Like lookin' through a Light Screen. I ain't jus' seein' things, right?

[unfinishedstory]

I- I never noticed. *Clare was guessing that a "Light screen" was something that screened light. It seemed straightforward enough.* I always was too distracted by the Sun or Moon laughing down at us.

*Clare looked up and realized that she should be telling Sapphire where things are, and not just talking about how creepy the sky was.* Um, over there is a building where any of us guests are free to open a store. And a bit further beyond it is Deathbucks where you can get coffee and other warm drinks.

*Clare then gestured in the opposite direction from where she was just directing* We're going this way though.

[pathofstrength]

They laugh?

[Sapphire...glances up at the sky, making a face. Alrighty then...]

Even th' names in this city are creepy. What's this way?

[unfinishedstory]

Yeah... they drool blood too. I- I try not to think about it. *Clare shudders at having to bring that up, it's very creepy.*

Everything has a name like that. You get used to it after a while. Moreso than the skyline. *Clare smiles weakly, Corpse Bros wasn't the worst.*

The Mall, it's this way. *Clare pointed out a rather large expansive building in their down the narrow street they were walking on.* Most of what you ever need will be here, since a lot of the stores cater to guests without a lot of funds.

[pathofstrength]

[....but where does the blood come from

RIGHT NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT RIGHT Sapphire hops ahead a few long paces to walk beside Clare instead of trailing along after her.]

That building is huge! An' it's all stores, in there?

[unfinishedstory]

Stores, a food court, lots of stuff. And every store has a creepy name.

*Clare headed for the near entrance, which wasn't near the food court but a few clothing stores were at that end of the mall.* Have you got enough clothes you like? Warm enough clothes? Cause that was one of the first things I went to get when I arrived.

[pathofstrength]

Jus' these. But now ya mention it, it does seem colder than it gets ta b-

[....Sapphire, who has never actually seen this many clothes in one place and...well, you know her situation with fashion and the like - she's staring at these. Things. Absolutely gobsmacked. Places like this actually exist? Oh god, Ruby isn't the only one of his kind, is he? Sweet merciful Arceus what is this and when can we get out of line-of-sight.]

-I'm good!

[unfinishedstory]

*Clare's just going to staaaaaaare. That was weird, even by the very generous standards she has to apply to 'weird' in Death City. She didn't like clothes? Or... new clothes? Or... Clare wasn't exactly sure what else could explain this, really.*

...Okay...

How about furniture, or utensils? Food works better when you have something to prepare them in, and eat them with.

*Clare can revisit the clothes thing later, away from the clothes.*