intro post 8)

[0189d8cf]

[ A lone figure can be seen walking up the western beach of Ohritori, past Banyan Labs and towards Turnbloom, carrying a backpack and dressed warmly (beanie, turtleneck, cargo pants, gloves and boots) despite the tropical weather. They seem to be talking to themself, looking around with jerky, birdlike head movements, and poking at a classic Pokégear on their left arm. ]

"Now ain't this a pickle. Don't think I stumbled into weirdspace, don't think I'd be eligible to bubble up twice in a lifetime, but if this beach is in INDIGO I'll eat my hat. And that means... drat. The POKéGEAR's no use either. 'Area unknown'? Come on. It's not even doing anything interesting."

[ They over-enunciate the words "Indigo" and "Pokégear", as if each proper noun were its own sentence. ]

"Well! Nothing for it! Guess I'll hoof it 'til I meet someone to ask for directions."

[ With that, they start whistling a tune and continue on their way... ]

((OOC: Heh, been a long time since I wrote this character... or did LJRP at all, for that matter. But I saw advert posts about Faraway Place and decided I might as well dip my feet back in. Hi all! ))

Comments

[snakewithacape]

[Oh, huh, another human. Kebi looks around and there's no Ash in sight. Wonderful. The snake will just... try to keep is distance and hope he doesn't get noticed.

Which is kind of hard to do out in the middle of the beach with nothing to hide behind.]

[0189d8cf]

[ Even with him keeping his distance, Kebi has probably noticed by now that, despite Mandy's looks, they don't smell like a normal human. More like someone's mangled, third-hand description of a Wingull's scent. Mandy, for their part, notices Kebi, but after a quick assessment of the risks, opts not to approach. The Seviper is clearly avoiding contact, after all, and if Mandy accidentally provokes him, they don't have the protection that a trainer might. At least not exactly. ]

[ ...still, might as well be polite. Mandy continues in their current direction – to make it clear that if the Seviper doesn't want to engage, they'll part ways soon enough – but slows their pace to a languid stroll, smiles and waves at Kebi with their right hand, and starts digging through a pocket with their left. ]

[snakewithacape]

[Oh. Uh. Kebi recognizes the waving and now he just suddenly feels awkward. He'll... wave his tail back...? Is that good? ...Wait, is the human getting out a Pokedex thing? DOES THIS HUMAN WANT TO TRY AND CATCH HIM???

Kebi shifts into ultra-cautious mode, keeping a VERY keen and close eye on the human. If need be, he'll flee away from the city.]

[0189d8cf]

[ When Kebi tenses up, Mandy cringes a little, mentally facepalming at their unintended faux pas. Of course he'd assume that they were fishing for a Ball or something! Blessedly it only takes Mandy's clumsy fingers a little more time to fish out what he was looking for: a hard candy in a shiny blue wrapper. Mandy holds it up, so that the Seviper can see that it's just food, then unwraps it, holds it up again, puts it on the ground, and backs a way a little to give him space to take it if he wants. ]

"There you go. No need to worry; I'm no trainer. Just thought I'd share a little treat."

[snakewithacape]

[Oh... oh. Kebi looks to the human and then the candy and then the human. He has no idea what the human said, but... at least his ability to sense danger isn't going off. Maybe this is safe...? The seviper approaches the candy and slice it open with his tail, cautiously flitting his tongue over it and then cautiously picking up with the flat of his tailblade and putting it in his mouth if he finds out it isn't anything disgusting.]

[0189d8cf]

"See? Good stuff, right?"

[ Mandy hasn't realized that the Seviper can't actually understand human words. So, hoping that Kebi has been placated by the offering of a Rare Candy, they wait for him to finish the treat, and then try to ask... ]

"Don't suppose you know where the nearest human town is? Have to admit I'm a little lost here, haha."

[snakewithacape]

[Woah, did... did Kebi physically feel he just got stronger? Huh... that... sure is something... Can he trust this human after all...?

Uh... is this human explaining to him what that candy did? Uh... Kebi doesn't think humans can understand Pokemon, so, uh... he'll just smile and bow down. Is that a good way to show thanks?]

1/2

[0189d8cf]

[ Mandy breathes a sigh of relief, now that the Seviper seems to have calmed down somewhat. And... is bowing? Not that Mandy isn't appreciative of the thanks, but. Hm. If Kebi isn't reacting to human language, then it seems they'll have to take more drastic measures to actually communicate here. They look around cagily, making sure no humans or Pokémon other than Kebi are hanging around. ]

2/2

[0189d8cf]

[ When they're satisfied that the two of them are alone, Mandy repeats the question, in a lower voice and using a... different vocabulary. ]

"Simiming sisi nos sinomi? Miss miss nosno."

[snakewithacape]

[Kebi blinks, surprised.]

Er... apologies. I was unaware you could speak Pokemon. I do believe the nearest city nearby is in that direction.

[Kebi points using his tailblade in the direction of Turnbloom city. Kebi now has a million questions he wants to ask, but will refrain because it's impolite.]

[0189d8cf]

Ah, excellent. Much obliged to you; that'll make things a lot easier.

[ Mandy hesitates for a moment... then pipes up again. ]

Ah, if I could ask one more favor. I'd... appreciate if you not go spreading around that you met someone who looked like a human but talked like a POKéMON. I'm trying to keep a low profile, y'see. Word gets around, and I don't wanna give the humans here too many reasons to get worried or suspicious. In return, I'd be happy to help you with getting access to more human-made objects and trinkets - the kind you can't necessarily find in the wilderness.

[snakewithacape]

[Hmm... Ditto? Zoroark, perhaps? Those are the first two things that come to mind in this situation. Again, Kebi opts not to pry. He'll find out eventually. Kebi will curly nod.]

Your secret's safe with me. And I thank you for your assistance. Providing me with supplies will be useful. I go by the name of Kebi, by the way.

[He fished a small explorer badge out of his bag.]

I'm part of a guild of Pokémon that explore and help out. Sadly, I'm supposed to be in Hoenn at the moment. My guildmates and I were about to head to Unova, for a while.

[0189d8cf]

And I'm Mandy. Pleased t'meet you properly!

[ Mandy gives another wave, in lieu of actually trying to handshake Kebi. Tail-shake? Whatever. ]

Can't say I've heard of an organization like that back in KANTO. But then, I'm a little out of the loop these days on stuff that folks are doing out in the wilderness, where the ROUTEs don't go, y'know? Sounds to me like mighty important work, anyway, wherever you happen to be doing it.

[snakewithacape]

If it helps, everyone in the guild try and do their best to hide from humans. After all, none of us in the guild really wants to be caught by humans. Apologies, but we have our own agenda, if I may.

You've probably heard about what was going down in Hoenn. We put a stop to it.

[Kebi took on a somber mood at that last sentence.]

[0189d8cf]

Oh, I know exactly what you mean. Even if I've got stuff to do among humans, it'd be awful hard to get it done if I had to deal with all that trainer-team drama.

[ Mandy blinks in surprise at the mention of "what was going down in Hoenn". ]

That business with the TITANs? GROUDON and KYOGRE and all that? No kidding! The news reports gave all the credit to some local trainer kid and their team. Guess that's human media for ya.

[snakewithacape]

Indeed. I also enjoy being wild. I've heard of trainers frequently pitting their Pokemon into battled, which is another thing I wish to avoid.

[Huh? Groudon and Kyogre...?]

Er, I was referring to the nightmares Darkrai was sending out.

[0189d8cf]

[ Mandy scratches their head. ]

No, can't say I've heard of that crisis. Suppose I must've been working on some tricky project or other when it happened; I tend to lose track of time when I'm too focused on my work.

[ Mandy chuckles, and then takes a look over his shoulder in the direction of civilization. ]

Well, speaking of... I'd better be getting back on my way. If all goes well, I'll find someplace on the outskirts of town to set up - make it easier to keep in touch with wild folks. But we'll see.

Was a pleasure to meet you!