farawayplace | Suddenly in the midst of a Summer Festival--

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Suddenly in the midst of a Summer Festival--

There's a distinct sound of waves, and bustling of people nearby.

In the coastal city of Turnbloom the sun is bright and warm, and the scent of the sea wafts through with the cool gentle breeze that makes the glittering pinwheels spin, and the leaves on the palm tree dance.

Today the streets are extra decorated with these cute, colorful and floral shaped pinwheels. It seemed the people who were out in the streets were dressed in colorful summer attire--either casual, or the more traditional yukata. It seemed like with the booths were set out for both food and games for festival of some kind that was currently underway.

Just how did you get here, and why? A mystery, and it seemed the people in the streets didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary as they go about enjoying their time out on this bright sunny day.

(🌺Please don't forget to check out the OOC post for those who haven't yet!🌺)

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[Sometimes you're a shut-in for so long that Arceus or whoever takes it upon themselves to pluck you out of Gear Station and plunk you down in the middle of nowhere. At least that's how Jackie's chosen to rationalize his sudden new surroundings. Everyone seems quite friendly, but there's wayyy too much open sky here for his liking. Like 200% too much sky? Frankly he's taking his first real steps outside the subway system pretty well, all things considered.

Just as Jackie was contemplating his new existence as a permanent fixture of the café he powerpoint-transitioned into, though, a very familiar uniform (with a very familiar loud voice) strolls by. Oh, thank fuck.

As Ingo passes in search of someone knowledgeable he will hear a very obviously "panicked but trying to sound normal" voice calling after him from the doorway.]

B, Boss Ingo? [Boss. Boss help]

[ Emmet leans forward, peering around Ingo to see who's addressing him, the same bright smile on his face as always. ]

Hi Jackie. It has been awhile since I have seen you almost in broad daylight.

[ Has he ever? Who knows. Who even knows. ]

[Maybe through the windows near Anville Town...]

Boss Emmet. [It's not really a surprise to see him with Ingo, but it's certainly a relief. Jackie's arm jerks halfway to a salute out of habit, ending up holding onto his lapel.

Being overwhelmed has scrambled his brain a little. Jackie casts around for his next relevant sentence, and manages:]

I, I'm going to need sunscreen.

I think you are going to need more than sunscreen. An umbrella, perhaps?

[ Probably more than an umbrella at this point. ]

Um. Yeah. Probably. Probably, I...

[Trying to imagine walking out under an umbrella is the last straw, actually. Jackie slumps against the doorframe.]

I think I am just going to live in this building forever now... Let me know when you find a way home...

[JACKIE NO]

I— I believe we can find a better place for you here at least, Agent Jackie—!

[ jackie NO. ]

Thank you, Boss... [Sagging further... He's obviously reluctant.....]

You haven't happened to see a transit system yet, have you?

Not yet. However, if there is not one, Ingo and I will certainly look into getting one going. And then you are welcome to stay there!

Really? [This cheers him immensely, straightening up again.

But at the same time... they literally just got here, right... an entire subway system is such a reckless promise.............]

You sure are a workaholic, huh...

[ Emmet hums with delight, rocking on his heels. ]

When I am with Ingo, anything is possible. And if nothing else, Lady Sneasler can help us work to create one.

"Lady"? Is that someone from the trainer class you kn--

[Jackie finally catches sight of the non-human human woman standing with Ingo and his eyes get VERY ROUND.]

...Wow! [THAT has certainly never stepped its way into his subway car!!!! Yoooooo]

[ His grin widens a bit. ]

Impressive, isn't she?

Uh huh. [Living in a battle facility means Jackie is infected with Pokemon Brainrot to a terminal point, but even he's never seen this creature before in his life!]

Is she... a regional variant?

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—Agent Jackie?!

[Ingo had only recently returned to the present day, and had been so busy regaining his memories that he'd barely contacted Gear Station again. Hearing the voice of anyone from the station is a sudden surprise, but hearing Jackie specifically is... well, it's proof that this is a freak accident that no one consented to, probably.]

How long have you been here?!

[Ingo looks kind of... older? Than Jackie remembers?? But maybe getting sent to a tropical island fucked him up really bad. It's certainly not doing Jackie any favors.]

Um... A few hours. [It felt like 4340943 years, but seeing someone familiar is already relieving.] I'm glad it's not just me...

[Jackie looks exactly the same as Ingo remembers. Which, actually, is a little weird, seeing as he last remembers seeing him years ago. But that's not the most important thing right now, so he puts it out of his mind.]

You remember me...? Do you remember everything else from before you came here?

[He comes closer, entering the building.]

[Going further inside does wonders for Jackie, who starts looking better pretty much immediately. (It's no Gear Station, but any port in a storm!!!!!)]

Huh? Am I not supposed to? [Honey you got a big storm coming.] With all due respect you're a pretty unforgettable figure, Boss.

I am flattered, and relieved to hear it, but I mean to say that I lost my memories while traveling this way before. I would not be offended if you did not remember me, under those circumstances.

[HWUUUHHHHHH

Jackie gapes, kind of rudely, but in his defense he just got told some Wild Shit. He has a lot of questions... and concerns???????!!!!!!!!!! and questions?!?!?!?!?!?! But this is already such a distressing concept that's he's not sure what to even say. Dear Ask A Manager: how do i talk to my boss about wormhole trauma

After making several faces thinking it through, Jackie finally chokes out:]

A-all of that to explain you wouldn't be offended? You're so polite....

[Guess Ingo is the same Ingo, even after All That.]

[Ingo is flustered, taken aback by this level of surprise. Yeah it was a heavy thing to reference, but, surely everyone in Gear Station of all places knows about what happened, right?! It's not like he was dropping a bomb out of nowhere! He didn't come back to work yet, but he emailed them! He talked on the phone! He made a press statement or two!!]

You—well—I thought that perhaps... you would have heard about it already! D-Did Agent Cloud not convey the updates?! I was going to be coming back to work very shortly!

B-But I saw you yesterday! [That was supposed to be a statement, but it actually came out sounding like a question.]

Uh, but... I guess you do look... kinda different....

[Jackie has not really polished his tact. INGO VISITED THE BEACH THAT MAKES YOU OLD]

...

Agent Jackie, do you not remember me going missing?

[This is a weird ghost story all of a sudden. Or, more likely... a weird time travel story. Of course! Of course it is! If he traveled through space again, why not travel through time again too?! You can't have one without the other!!]

[FRANTICALLY SHAKING HIS HEAD "NO"?????????]

Oh. Well—perhaps that is—for the best? ...I wonder what year it is right now, where we are.

[Jackie has to think about this one. That means he's the one in the past, right? Hmm. Hmmm.... Maybe this is a good thing, actually? Like those time travel plotlines in movies?

Finally:]

I'll protect you in the future, Boss...