Intro post

[kenfrompokemon]

A. RADIO: Anywhere in Ohritori or Chura

[If you've tuned in to the radio before noon, you may have heard this handsome, soothing voice before, talking about local Pokemon, notifying listeners of Pokemon swarms. Today, too, if you happen to be listening to the favorite radio channel of Chura Islands, you can hear him.]

-You're listening to Chura Radio, and this is Ken, coming to you live with Ken's Pokemon Talk. How's everyone doing today? It's a pretty steamy day, so I bet you're all holed up inside with the AC turned on, or gone out to swim. Make sure you're all drinking water!

Today, we're not just talking about Pokemon, we're talking about your Pokemon. The theme is... [drumroll] ...a destined encounter with a Pokemon! A Pokemon that ended up being your best friend, a meeting that felt like destiny, or a meeting that you couldn't have known would end up that important! Call in now and tell us a story about your fateful Pokemon encounter, whether it's a Pokemon you caught or not!

-And we've got our next caller! Hi there, what's your name?

B. IN PERSON: Port Opportune

[In the afternoon, after the radio show's long over, you can see a young man in Ulternian-style clothes sitting at the pier, fanning himself with a paper fan, looking like he's about melting.]

It's too hoooot.... I want to eat shaved ice... But I don't wanna moooove...

[Then he notices somebody's looking at him, and straightens his back and gives a bright smile.]

Hi there! Hot day, huh?

((ooc: intro post, but IC he's drifted to Ultern and has been living in Chura Islands for a while! This is Ken, the protagonist's brother from the early demo version of Gold/Silver, who became a DJ in a romhack based on that demo! Long story short, he's a locally famous DJ in Ultern now! Call in to his radio show or meet him in person!))

Comments

[A; in which Ai talks about Mewtwo on public radio, no big]

[starinheaven]

[It's a young girl's voice who answers!] Um, hi! Well, it's my first time being on radio, so sorry if it isn't very good, but... I met a Pokemon that looked like a Pokemon... kind of like a cute cat, with very short hair and beautiful, shiny purple eyes... but he talked like a person!

Um, the scientists said we were communicating using telepathy, though...

Oh! Sorry, I forgot. I'm Fuji Ai, by the way. I'm eight years old! Kind of...

A

[radleyslittleevie]

A sweet little girl voice, like what an Eevee might sound like if she spoke human talk, is on the line.

"Hi," she says. "Have you ever had someone call in named Radley? Or maybe he'll call today! He would have a wonderful story to share. I'm Evie and I'm looking for him!"

[kenfrompokemon]

[Ken listens with a big smile, not that it's obvious to the listeners.]

Don't worry about it! Hi, Ai! It's wonderful to get a call from a sweet kid like you, and I'm sure all the listeners agree.

A Pokemon that looked like a cat, with purple eyes, short hair and talked with telepathy? Now that's interesting! He sounds beautiful.

Do you remember what that Pokemon was called, or should I use my [uses a funny "cool" voice] super Pokemon knowledge skills to guess what he was? Because I could make a few guesses based on that description!

[kenfrompokemon]

"Huh? Ah, no," Ken replies, a bit thrown off, but does his best to regain composure and work with this. "I'm sorry, Evie," he says gently. "If Radley has a wonderful story, then he'll have to call himself. But do you have a story of your own encounter with a Pokemon to tell?"

He has no idea he's talking to an Eevee, of course.

[starinheaven]

[She already knew his name, of course, but Ken had such a fun and engaging way of speaking, Ai wanted to hear his guesses first!]

Umm, okay! Tell me what you think.

[She had to hold back a giggle, because she felt like she was playing a trick on poor Ken!]

[radleyslittleevie]

"I hope he will!" she says innocently. "I hope he hears me and calls in. I'm his wonderful story! I'm his Eevee!"

She pauses, thinking. "I've met a lot of wonderful Pokemon.... I think the most special encounter was when I met Treeko and Sentret and Clefairy and Squirtle and we all went to play in the meadow where we met Radley!"

[kenfrompokemon]

Well, my first guess would be... an Espurr! A grey, cat-like Pokemon with big, round purple eyes and powerful psychic abilities! It wouldn't be too surprising if one of them could speak. The only flaw is that an Espurr has long hair... But hey, haircuts exist!

What do you think, Ai? Does that sound like the right Pokemon?

[kenfrompokemon]

"That does sound like a wonderful story! You met a lot of Poke- Wait." Ken does a double-take. "Just now, did you say... You're an Eevee?"

[starinheaven]

[She listens, but then giggles again.]

I don't know that Pokemon, but it sure sounds cute...

I'm sorry, I know what Pokemon he is, I just wanted to hear what you'd say.

... his name is Mewtwo!

[radleyslittleevie]

"Yeah! Coming here let me talk people talk!" Evie says cheerfully.

[kenfrompokemon]

Aw, and here I had another guess all ready to go... But it sounds like I would've been wrong anyway!

[Ken hides his slight disappointment at not being able to share Espeon facts, and keeps the show going.]

Mewtwo, huh... Mewtwo?

[The slow realization that the subject of this call is a very special Pokemon, one Ken's not entirely sure how to talk about. He's heard of Mewtwo, of course; all kinds of information from different worlds reaches Ultern, and Ken's the type to search out all the Pokemon information he can. But he doesn't exactly have any fun little facts about Mewtwo. The experimental Pokemon, created from horrible experiments, known to be a savage fighter who hates humans... But from Ai's description, maybe there's one Mewtwo out there with a better life. Ken smiles.]

Wow, a Mewtwo! It sounds like you really had a special encounter. Mewtwo is a rare Pokemon, one even I don't know much about! Could you tell me more about him?

[kenfrompokemon]

"Wow, that's amazing! Ultern sure is a magical place!" Ken says with a bit of a laugh, trying to play off his embarrassment over mistaking a Pokemon for a human.

"Sorry about that, Evie, I don't get a lot of Pokemon calling this show! I guess you could say me and my listeners all had a special encounter with a very special Eevee today, huh?"

[radleyslittleevie]

"Yeah! It's so beautiful! I hope Radley can see it too!" Evie says.

"Thank you! I'll keep listening!"

[kenfrompokemon]

Ken takes that as a sign Evie's about done with the phonecall.

"Thank you, Evie. Hope you've got another story for us the next time we take calls from listeners!"

[radleyslittleevie]

"I hope so too! Goodbye!" Evie hangs up.

B

[twinkletackle]

[Mina, situated on the other side of the pier, had been utterly engrossed in her sketching for the last half hour or so, but Ken’s clearly beleaguered cries manage to catch her attention just enough to get her to look up. She smiles.]

Sure is. But bein out here by the water on a hot day like today feels like home.

[questionable life decisions made by a lost 8 year old]

[starinheaven]

[Oh, Ken… for the brief moment in time Ai knew him, perhaps, but his birth into the world was not a happy affair… he found his place eventually, however, so it’s a good life, ultimately!]

My papa, Dr. Fuji, needing money to continue his own research, agreed to a deal with a man called Giovanni. He dressed and talked very nicely, but his smile… [Didn’t look kind, Ai kept herself from saying.]

Giovanni said he’d give him the money to help bring me to life if he’s also make him the world’s strongest Pokemon… he made a bunch of other Pokemon, too, like Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander too, but none of them survived…

I think Mewtwo must have been very special, maybe he was the Pokemon Giovanni wanted! Because you know, even when we faded, one by one, Mewtwo was still strong and healthy… I think he was meant to live! He might be somewhere out there…

[Ai, of course, had another reason for giving this many details… she clearly was ignorant of any danger regarding in describing Giovanni like this (Evie described other members of Team Rocket, but not him, and Ai only vaguely understood they did bad stuff sometimes… besides, her father was working for them, so not all aligned witb Rockets are bad, right?), but she wanted to know if she could track down her father this way or if he might hear it and come looking for her… or even of finding Mewtwo!

She was only thinking of a way to find her family and wasn’t thinking of any potential danger. Sorry about casually bringing up the head of a Pokemon mafia on your radio show, Ken.]

1/2

[kenfrompokemon]

[Oh, shit. Team Rocket business. Even if they're in another world now, Ken's previous radio station got taken over Team Rocket for less than this. He presses the emergency button, and the radio show quickly cuts this feed and starts playing music. However, the phone call between him and Ai still remains, and he listens to the rest of her story.]

2/2 [Fortunately, Ken's a professional!]

[kenfrompokemon]

[He can't dwell in the implications of what Ai's saying, not while he's on the job. He speaks gently, giving a white little lie so Ai won't feel guilty for saying too much.]

Ai, thank you very much for this call. Sorry, it looks like the call ran overtime, and the next song we had prepared started playing already... But I'm sure your friend Mewtwo's out there somewhere. Thanks for telling me about him, even if it turned out to be only me listening.

[kenfrompokemon]

Like home? Oh, are you a drifter? Where from?

[He relaxes somewhat, figuring she probably isn't a regular radio listener. No need to do the smile he gives fans!]

[good job, Ken! … I guess all folks got was “Giovanni—(musical intermission)”

[starinheaven]

Oh…

I hope the part about my papa was on the radio. I wanted him to hear it, if he’s here… so he can come find me. Or maybe someone who’s met him.

[She sounded very sad about it, but…]

Thank you for listening to my story, anyway. You’re very kind.

[kenfrompokemon]

Don't worry, that part came through for everyone. If somebody's heard of your papa, I'm sure they'll let us know.

[Hopefully people who've heard of Giovanni won't come calling in though...]

No, thank you for calling. It was nice to hear from you! I hope you'll keep on listening to my show!

[starinheaven]

That’s great! [Ai cheered up instantly, joy spilling over in her voice.]
Thank you, Ken-san!

I’ll keep listening for sure!

1/2

[kenfrompokemon]

Thank you! Bye-bye!

2/2

[kenfrompokemon]

[But after he's hung up, Ken exhales a deep, shaky breath, pressing his face into his hands. He has no time to dwell on the horrors of the story Ai told, but he takes until the song's over to collect himself before going back to his cheerful DJ persona.

Once his work's over for the day, though, that's when he'll start processing it. The words 'when we faded, one by one...' keep replaying in his head... He won't be able to sleep well tonight.]