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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I. good morning starshine
Waking up on a beach to the sound of lazily rolling waves probably should have been an immediate concern. Unfortunately for Blue's sense of self-preservation, which was generally good, she had gone to sleep on a beach the night before. The crisp shores of Azure Bay were far, far away from the here and now.

It sure was warm this morning, wasn't it? She stretched with a wide yawn, flopping her hand out to the side for her bag. There it was. Very good. There was a morning ritual to be had here, you see. Once she got up on her knees she was rifling through her bag for a water bottle and a little tube.

Don't mind the girl with bedhead brushing her teeth in the middle of a tropical beach. You could say hi if you wanted. She'd wave.

II. we're not in ~~kansas~~ kalos OR kanto anymore
At some point she realized it: She had no idea where she was. This would have been far more alarming if she hadn't had her pokeballs with her. It'd only taken a quick headcount to make sure everyone was accounted for. Once that was taken care of... Well! Huh! This sure was different!

And you know what? She just wasn't going to worry about it right now. There was a gosh darn festival going on, and the best way Blue could think of to get acclimated to the situation she was finding herself in was to just join the party. The whole team was gonna need their energy if they had a whole mystery town to explore, after all.

So here she was, squatting with her entourage of pokemon as they gazed upon every kind of skewered food Blue had been able to carry. So many meats. So many fruits. As soon as she noticed someone was glancing at this absolute party that was about to happen, she happily waved them over.

"Hello~! Or, um... Ulsai!" There was a quick glance at her Clefable as if to confirm that this was correct. There was an exchange of nods before Blue whipped her head back around. "Are you hungry? You should join us!"

[Hello hello! If you would rather do action tags, please feel free! If you'd rather wildcard it, Blue is bound to be pretty much wherever you would want her to be. ~Follow your dreams.~]

A Black Belt trainer was merely passing by when he spotted Blue and her Pokemon out in the open. To him, it's not everyday he sees someone like Blue around, and when he caught her attention the Black Belt greeted back with a firm nod.

"Ah, Ulsai. I did not expect that you would be here, Champion of Ultern. It is an honor to meet you face to face." He smiled. "Are you perhaps enjoying the festivities so far?"

Blue perked up even more when it seemed like she was actually going to have a visitor, her smile brightening. Yes! Success! A success short lived, because it seemed like this Black Belt trainer was talking to someone else? The Champion of the region, even!? What! How did she not notice them!! She quickly turned her head to catch sight of who the fellow was actually greeting.

No one was there. She blinked. No one... was there...? No one was there.

"Uh--!" She stammered as she realized she was now staring at nothing while this other trainer had attempted to talk to her (!?). "Me? Yes-- I am! Enjoying the festivities!! Please take a fruit skewer!"

"That is very kind of you, Champion. Nife debiru." The Black Belt accepts the fruit skewer that Blue offered. "So what is it that brings you here? Aside from the festival of course. I have heard you've been traveling around the region for a while."

Why couldn't this have just been a moment of locking eyes and desiring the blood-thumping excitement of a battle like any other Black Belt she had met on her journeys. Why was this one trying to perceive her. Ah... Oh no...

"I'm terribly sorry..." She was visibly deflating now. Ah, she'd handed him food instead of an explanation. Ah. "I'm not your Champion, I just woke up on the beach here this morning."

The Black Belt expressed his surprise when Blue admitted she wasn't the Champion. And after she explained herself, the Black Belt came to a realization and lowered his head.

"I see, you must be one of the drifted. My apologies, I thought you were the Champion of Ultern."

He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

"Ah... I've never been mistaken for someone important before... I guess that's pretty flattering! Don't worry, don't worry."

He'd raised a whole bunch of questions though, and Blue wasn't sure where to start. That this was the Ultern region was an easy enough concept to grasp, even if she wasn't familiar with it. Surely she must have read about it somewhere? Anyway.

"Do I look like them then? Your Champion? ... No, I guess I should ask what you mean by drifted?"

"I do not mind answering your questions. After all, once you're here, you are a friend to us." And the Black Belt nodded. "The drifted is what we call those who appear into our world from another without warning. There are many of you scattered about in Ultern, so it is a fairly common occurence."

"And yes, you bore a much striking resemblance to our Champion, Red." he added.

Perhaps it was for the best that this Black Belt hadn't run over to chuck his Sawk or Hitmonlee at her, she thought. He was very kind to offer explanations, and she softly thanked him for his willingness to provide.

She just didn't expect to get bamboozled with the concept of world hopping right off the bat. So home was maybe... not just across the sea? She was going to need a little bit to fully process that information and decide how she felt about it.

The Black Belt did not give her time. The Black Belt just kept coming with the punches.

"Huh," she piped up quietly. "Red....?"

"Is that why they never returned my calls...?"

Ohhh she was up now, bursting with pent up energy that didn't know where to go. Either she was gonna run laps around this beach, or she was going to wrestle the Charizard that was still nomming on meat sticks while her trainer was having a friend crisis. Something like that. Please don't worry about it, Black Belt.

"Was that stupid mountain just a portal! What the heck!! Do I have to kick their butt again! Ugh!"

The Black Belt did not actually expect Blue to get riled up upon hearing the name of the Champion.

"Ah, it sounds as if you knew each other, I presume?" He paused in thought for a moment. "I do not know of your history between each other, but if you wish to find Red, I'm afraid you'll have to look beyond just this city, or this island. That is as much as I know about the Champion's whereabouts."

Of course she was riled up! She hadn't seen him in ages, he never returned her calls...! To hear he was here being some bigshot again, ugh! She knew that probably wasn't actually the case, but she was still mad for the moment.

"Oh that's typical. Always running off without telling anyone...!" The fact that it might not have been her Red hadn't occurred to her. The detail that she bore a great resemblance to them had been overshadowed entirely by their name.

"Yeah, you said they were traveling the region, right?" Well, that just sealed the deal then huh? Blue suddenly smacked her own cheeks before she turned a big grin towards the Black Belt. "That's still a big help! Thank you!"

"I am glad to have helped you in some way." And the man nodded, then looked at his watch. "Ah, but it seems I must be on my way now. I do have other matters to attend to. I hope you continue to enjoy the festivities, friend."

Oh? What a curious entourage you have there. [ Volo closes the distance, his height deceptively taller up close than what would appear from a distance as he crouches down to join Blue's group. His backpack hits the sand with a heavy thud. ]

Who would I be to turn down such a generous offer. You have my thanks! [ He smiles pleasantly and takes off his hat. ] Volo of the Ginkgo Guild.

[ Volo was attracted to ~~main protagonists~~ the entourage for the smell of food, yes, but primarily the Pokemon. Four of which he'd hadn't seen the likes of in Hisui, but most curious to him was the form that was simultaneously familiar yet not. His gaze is pointedly on the flame dog. ]

That's an Arcanine... isn't it? I must admit it looks different than the kind I've seen before.

[Sir why the heckie were you So Tall. Not that Blue really minded, seeing as she was flanked by one firey dragon and a very large firey dog. Blue beamed at this mystery man even as the two fire-types eyeballed him.]

Good! It's nice to meet you, Volo. [Of the Ginkgo Guild. Where was that located?] I'm Blue of Pallet Town. And that's right, this is--

[One Arcanine, shoving his face into Volo's to INVESTIGATE this STRANGE MAN who was SITTING NEXT TO MOTHER.]

Jock, please. [Here came Blue's hand, pulling him back by the nose as he grumbled.] An Arcanine. You've seen a different kind?

[ Blue is safe on all firey flanks, no worries there.

He makes a muted laugh as Jock shoves his snout all over Volo, reciprocates soft touching as much as is tolerated until Blue pulls him away. Jock would very probably pick up a whiff of a lady Arcanine on Volo. ]

I suppose I could show you... what type is he? Just fire?

[It was partially that scent that let Blue pull the big pup's snoot away so easily. Huh? Huh? What a weird smell that was. Something wasn't right with that!

Meanwhile, Volo had Blue's full attention. There was no 'just fire' about her boy-- but she knew that wasn't what he meant. Could it be? A mythical regional variant??? She leaned forward eagerly.]

Yours isn't? Oh I would love to see.

[ He helps himself to a fruit skewer and makes a show of deliberating, his gaze sharply on Blue. She seems to have a good handle on her Pokemon... even if they didn't get along, well, a good battle was always thrilling, wasn't it? It'd be interesting to see.

Finally he relinquishes by slipping his hand in his pocket and pulling out a wooden Pokeball. ] Very well!

Since you asked so nicely. [ He throws it out onto the beach. Behold, Hisuian Arcaine! She shakes after being released and yowls at the blue sky, fur shedding what almost rocky dust particles that catch the sun. ]

Arcanine, this is a new friend. Be nice to Blue. [ His Arcanine barks and wags her big curly tag. She will accept pets. All the pets. ]

Edited 2022-08-21 05:43 (UTC)

[It was probably a silly thought, but there was something about the intensity of his gaze that struck her as familiar. Like a wild Pokemon that was sizing her up. Maybe, she thought, she ought to stay on her toes.

That pinprick of excitement (?) didn't keep her from the open curiosity that flickered across her face at the sight of his Pokeball. So... rustic! Was that just an apricorn? There was no time to question that though! It! Was Arcanine time!!] Oh!

...Ohh..!!

[Look at her! If she was what Volo was used to, it was no wonder that Jock had been so curious. Up on her feet Blue went, meat skewers in hand as offering for the chance to pet that glorious grey fluff. That very not-fluffy fluff. That was the most surprising part of all.]

Ah... You're... part rock?

[ She sniffs the meat skewers and readily takes them in one big pleased chomp, wagging her tail some more. The conical shaped rocks around her neck were certainly more hard and radiated gentle warmth, other parts of her gray fluff varied in texture to chalky and gritty to deceptively soft, like fine sand or ash, especially as they tapered off in those fine swirls. The red striped areas on her body felt more like traditional fur. ]

That's right. Igneous, otherwise known as volcanic rock—same as you'd find inside of Firespit Island. She's made from the same fires that come out of the earth. [ The combination felt natural and normal to him since they were only found around there, so to see an Arcanine missing that half makes him almost pity Jock. ]

I don't suppose you know where that is, do you? [ He doesn't ask to patronize. As he works on another skewer he's already getting a sense he's not only displaced in location but also in time. Maybe she'll shed a little light on that. ]

Edited (I KEEP DOING IT we will be kind to our eyes here) 2022-08-23 06:45 (UTC)

[Blue imagined the sensations under her palms must have been very similar to what a Rockruff might have felt like. She'd always wanted to try petting one! Seeing as they were on the wrong tropical island, this was more than made up for missing out. Far exceeded it, even. Where else couldshe have met a beauty such as this?]

Firespit Island...

[Huh. It... sounded like something she should have known. It even tugged at something in her memory, but it felt like something that had only been in passing. That was odd. Surely if she had been there, she would have remembered? Blue frowned thoughtfully, giving the rock-type another fond pat before she turned towards her group. Her bag was next to where her Charizard was presently sitting on Jock (who was in DESPAIR because mother was petting ANOTHER ARCANINE who LOOKED FUNNY), and she was going to rummage it through it to pull out some of her notebooks.]

I don't think anyone calls Cinnabar that. Mt. Chimney is on the main island...

[She was alreaady thumbing through some pages before she abruptly paused, turning a sheepish smile towards Volo once she remembered he was waiting for what should have been an easy answer.]

Ah, sorry! I feel like I've heard of that before, but I'm not sure I remember where.

Edited (too many mountain tabs open) 2022-08-23 23:38 (UTC)

Well, this girl certainly seems to know what she's doing. If she's comfortable enough to be brushing her teeth on the beach, she at least probably came here on purpose, even if she's not a local, right?

Ingo waits until she is done actively brushing, but then he approaches, giving a small wave.

"Greetings! I wonder if you could answer some questions for me..."

Did it really appear as though she knew what she was doing? Oh no. Oh dear.

There was a brief moment as Blue froze, not actively anticipating the teeth brushing greeting. She gave him an active wave though, quickly turning around to handle the last of this business. Hold on. One moment.

When she whipped back around it was with a wide smile. "Good morning! I can try my best..." Wait. Blue blinked again as she finally registered the fellow standing before her. She'd seen that uniform before! "... Oh! Oh! Subway man...! Hello, are you on vacation?"

"Ah! Are you a challenger, then?" He may not immediately recognize her, but he's seen far too many people pass by in his work to remember them all. And she definitely has the look of a challenger.

Opening up to a challenger about being lost in spacetime though... That's a little awkward. It feels like a breach of professionalism.

"I am afraid the circumstances are not so pleasant. Though I am doing well so far! And how are you?"

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Suddenly in the midst of a Summer Festival--

Blue

II

black belt pikachu is on the scene

here to pika-pikarate chop-

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[YOU'RE FINE i am the big text heathen here]

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