Suddenly in the midst of a Summer Festival--

[ulternnpc]

 

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!🌺)

Comments

Used Barrier

[serperiority]

[Getting very bored and very impatient with the human wall in front of him, and particularly disliking his persistence, which reminded him of a certain person’s bad habit of womanizing, Trip poked Volo in the back.]

Sir. Can’t you tell you’re bothering Nurse Joy? She’s a nurse, not a technician! Stop asking her how machines work and search for it online like the rest of us… and stop holding up the line!

That’s basic, isn’t it?

[mythvology]

Oh? [ He spins on his heel at the intrusive poking in his back. A young man, who's made his impatient known. Volo's eyes narrow as he forces a smile and pleasant tone as he looks down proverbially and literally. ] No need to be rude. I simply didn't see you there.

[ To his credit, he steps away and gestures for the space to be filled. Nurse Joy looks relieved. However, Volo waits precisely until either of them are about to open their mouth before interrupting. ]

—Search for it where, did you say?

[serperiority]

[His lip curled in disgust, both at the way he was being looked down upon and the insinuation he was so insignificantly tiny as to be missed.

But he can force a polite smile too. It isn’t very convincing, but let no one say he hasn’t any manners (at least when dealing with those older than him.)

He was about to speak, with a sorry expression, to poor Nurse Joy, when the jerk opened his mouth again.]

… the internet. Or do you not have internet here in Ultern?

[He made his mind up to ignore Volo’s further questioning until he was finished getting his Pokemon treated and stocking up on antidotes. He slipped off his single strap backpack and unzipped it to remove his pokeballs.]

[mythvology]

I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.

[ If it's here in Ultern he hasn't found it yet, if he knew what it was. What conjures to his imagination from the word and alone is some kind of network—a guild perhaps—of knowledge seekers and holders. Or some kind of sleuthing Pokemon? What did online mean?

For better or worse, Trip has Volo's curiosity. He'll wait by looming over the other blonde, watching everything he does, patient smile not fading. ]

[serperiority]

[Great, he has the jerk's attention, so at least it's off Nurse Joy now, so she can do her job in peace... that was his intention in answering.

But, Trip wasn't entirely altruistic, nor was he all that comfortable being subjected to Volo's gaze. He hated the feeling of someone watching or reading over his shoulder. He wouldn't accept it from Ash, he's certainly not going to accept it from Volo.

In a display of false confidence, he leans one arm on the counter-top (even if it's not the smartest choice in any sort of hospital, but oh, well), mostly so he can have a good excuse to stand side-ways and keep Volo in his peripheral vision, rather than behind him.]

Sorry, I'm busy right now. I'll tell you later.

[mythvology]

[ This kid is a little ball of fire. He's starting to think he'll be pretty fun to tease. ]

Is that so? [ Volo turns away to look at Nurse Joy who, in a bid to not invite conversation, smiles and then excuses herself quickly. She works hurriedly to take care of Trip's pokeballs by putting them on a tray and carrying them over to the machine.

Volo then regards Trip again, pointing at Joy she does her job. ]

It would seem to me she's doing all the work. Since you're so impatient, why don't you indulge me while you're waiting and then I'll be on my way. What's the internet?

[serperiority]

[He certainly is, but he certainly doesn't want to be teased!!]

A giant network of information. You access it using a device called a computer.

Back in the day, you had to use a phone line, it was slow and called dial-up. You couldn't make phone calls at the same time either.

Nowadays, there's high speed wireless networks. You could connect to it using your computer or smartphone, without an external modem or any kind of wire, you just have to go somewhere where there's a connection which you either know the password for or it doesn't have a password and anyone's free to connect to it.

Got all that? If you're confused, that's why I said it's better if I tell you later. I can show you, it'll make more sense.

1/2

[mythvology]

[ The smile finally starts to fade as he seriously tries to keep up with explanation, each new word reliant on knowledge of the previous one. He has no context for any of this...! And all of this sounds amazing! He understands network of information and the concept of using a device to access it like a key but the rest...

He opens his mouth to protest, clearly confused, then closes it as Trip suggests showing him instead. ]

2/2

[mythvology]

...I certainly did underestimate your answer. [ The potential of something like high speed information...? Like the Chosen One's curious device? Yes. Yes. He wants to see. He must see, he decides.

There's an earnest eagerness and enthusiasm the way Volo gesticulates at Trip now, palms open and very very interested. ] If what you say is true I don't think I can possibly refuse. Show me, please. [ He's not so impolite to not sweeten the pot, especially if it'll secure him more of Trip's attention. Does this Pokemon healing service cost anything? He asks Joy. She tells him no, it's free! Good to know. ]

Then allow me to cover something else that you might need as thanks. Name your price.

[ He's leaving himself pretty wide open on that and suspects the kid will take advantage, or at least he would if he was smart. But he thinks it'll be worth it. ]

1/2

[serperiority]

[Trip smiled very nastily, quite entertained that his explanation had the perfectly expected result of confusing his adversary and beating him into submission. Talking people into confusion with too many technical terms and details seemed to be something he had done before to shut down opposition or drive others away, but rather than quietly wait as he told him to, Volo... makes an offer.]

2/2

[serperiority]

[Was he trying to pay Nurse Joy for him? Volo clearly knew nothing of this world or his own home world—he didn't look it from his clothes, but Volo seemed displaced in time, rather than just place. His earlier theories of being spirited away or entering some sort of liminal space removed from time returned to mind, but the motivations behind that offer had him exceedingly suspicious.

The ordinarily suspicious and reserved boy simply blinks at the offer, then regards Volo coldly, with great suspicion. If he were anything like Ash, he'd warn him, harshly, not to make such open offers or he'd be easily taken advantage of, but Volo does not strike him as a naive innocent. He's shrewd and demanding, if Trip tried to frustrate others to make them do what he liked (namely, give up on him and leave him alone), Volo clearly had more than one method: persisting, selective listening, and now, some form of holding favours over him?]

... I don't need want or need any favours from you.

[Perhaps it's unwise, but he doesn't take the offer for leverage, because he doesn't want to be beholden to anyone. Truth be told, Trip genuinely finds Volo frightening at the moment.]

[mythvology]

Oh, not a favor at all. Merely a fair exchange of goods and services from your friendly neighborhood merchant.

[ He takes his hat off his head in lieu of a handshake, which he wasn't sure Trip would appreciate or reciprocate. ] Volo of the Gingko Guild, at your service. [ He puts his hat back on. ] Though I suppose there's much less need for a traveling merchant now that shops aren't so far and few between. [ He shrugs, gesturing very loosely to the Pokecenter around them which offers plenty of commodities. ]

...but if you insist. [ He trails off, more than willing to take a free bargain. ]

[serperiority]

[Given that Trip hesitates this much shaking Ash’s hand… Volo’s smart not to make the offer.

Trip watches him doff his hat, mistrust clear in his gaze, before turning away to focus on his Pokemon. Have they recovered?]

Mr. Volo, then…

My name’s Trip.

[There’s a slight response, so that’s good, even though it’s clipped very short and lacking in pleasantries, he isn’t making eye contact anymore, keeping him in his periphery again.]

Can you tell me about the Gingko Guild? Never heard of it.

[mythvology]

[ Is nurse Joy stalling to avoid conversation? Now it's inconvenient, terrible he's done this to himself. Not enough though, as Volo is always pleased to go on about subjects he's knowledgeable about. The Gingko Guild was more a means than anything, and maybe he wasn't the best merchant even when he did try, but... he was still fond of them. Enough that he chimes right into a well-practiced customer-service sort of tone.]

Certainly. We're the go-to choice for any mercantile needs in Hisui and work with Galaxy Team's Survey corp—that is to say, an expedition team. They brave the wilderness and we make sure they have whatever supplies they need while they're away from Jubilife Village.

[serperiority]

Sorry, Hisui? I've never...

[Heard of that name before. This actually did prompt him to turn to fully face Volo, looking confused and wondering if there were many more regions he had never heard of before, but then the other names sounded. Horribly familiar. Like where Dawn's from?]

Jubilife. Galaxy... any relation to Team Galactic?

Are you from Sinnoh? [An... older Sinnoh that doesn't have modern technology or something?]

[mythvology]

Perhaps? [ It seems a few of those names trigger some recognition and as Trip starts to puzzle it out Volo joins in too, folding his arms over his chest and tapping his chin. He's already gotten a sense he's displaced in location and in time too. Is it possible Hisui was renamed at some point? Renamed in the likeness of Arceus, isn't that just like it...

For some point of relation he tries to think of the biggest most obvious most impervious landmark he can think of, Hisui or Sinnoh. ]

Mount Coronet is there, easily visible from almost anywhere. Does that sound familiar too?

[serperiority]

[My God, that is Sinnoh! His eyes go very, very wide and it seems Volo chose the perfect location to confirm his suspicions.]

... y-yes, your region is known as Sinnoh in my time. My world. Then... I wasn't wrong to think we've been pulled into some kind of different world. There must be a reason this place is separated from the other regions...

[At least he's more talkative now, no longer as suspicious of Volo as sympathetic, even if the Galaxy name was concerning. Was Team Galactic that old an organization? But what he described didn't sound anything like it...]