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

[cultfavorite]

(( Hey yo friends if you're curious about it, check out Saturn's CRAU info post, including a special note for some Sinnoh and Hisui castmates! Also happy to tag in prose if you prefer it! ))

A.

[The Team Galactic uniform is made with advanced technology—breathable synthetic fabric, anti-wrinkle, no need to iron! It's fantastic for the lazy!—but there is no scientific force in the world that can keep sand out of it, and so that's what Saturn is doing after his own sudden arrival on the beach: sitting on a bench overlooking the water and trying to shake sand out of the folds of his clothes. But that's easy enough to do mindlessly while his brain is busy . . . processing. He stares out blankly over the water, attempts more than once to check his phone (just in case something has changed this time?), reflexively touches his own forehead (just in case something has changed this time?!)—none of these give him any insight into the situation at all, and finally he removes a Pokeball from his belt instead and releases the Pokemon inside it, regarding it levelly.]

I don't suppose you know anything about this.

[It's not really a question.

Gooooong! replies the Bronzong, super helpfully, and Saturn reaches out to give it a pat.]

B.

[Despite his uniform sticking out like a sore thumb here, not to mention the sand still clinging to it here and there, Saturn isn't about to change it just yet. Once he's gotten his bearings at least somewhat, he wanders through the streets to take in the sights of wherever he's ended up this time, feeling deeply out of place. Because he is. He is literally out of place here! Removed from one place, plunked down into another! Is he the only one in this situation? Most of these people appear to be locals going about their exciting festival day, but he's keeping an eye out for anyone who looks as obviously imported as he is, whether by clothing or behavior . . .

He's still accompanied by Bronzong, which sticks close to him, floating silently at his side. Maybe it's Bronzong Saturn is speaking to when he suddenly mutters:]

—Everyone has Pokemon here.

[Of course they do. Is there anything strange about that?! But for some reason, his tone is slightly surprised anyway . . . and maybe a little disappointed?]

I see . . .

B

[ulternnpc]

Ulsai!

[A Parasol Lady spotting both Saturn and Bronzong gave a smile and waved in their direction. However instead of being dressed for the rain in a signature raincoat, and boots she has on a vibrant, sleeveless dress with floral patterns and sandals equally fit for the weather. In fact the white lacy umbrella she held in one hand was clearly a UV umbrella.]

You're not a familiar face around here. Are you new to the neighborhood?

[cultfavorite]

[She's just a friendly local. Saturn lifts a hand in a tentative wave, observing that: it feels uncanny because it's so ordinary. Anyone might greet him this way. So this is only . . . another region? But where?

Anyway. He can get his shit together for this. Saturn nods and crosses his arms loosely over his chest, back straightening. It's time to compose himself!]

I suppose I am. Do you see unfamiliar faces often here? I'll be honest with you. I don't know very much about where I am right now.

[ulternnpc]

Unfamiliar faces? I do, but...

[There is a momentary pause after listening to Saturn's response. Now realizing who she is speaking to, she smiles again.]

Oh I see, you must have just drifted here recently. Well then, mensore! Welcome to the Ultern Region!

[cultfavorite]

I—yes, I must have. Thank you.

[Politely, while his brain spins behind the scenes. Ultern? He's never heard of any Ultern Region before. So this is an unknown land, maybe one from a parallel world and not even his own, but—familiar despite that. It really does feel almost like he tripped and fell and ended up on the road to Sunyshore somehow. Except for—mensore, and such . . . definitely not anything he's ever heard before.

Saturn nods, at first just to do something while he thinks, and then as part of his actual response:]

Have you heard of Sinnoh? I come from that region. I have a feeling it's quite a long way from here.

[ulternnpc]

Ooh yes, I've heard so much about the Sinnoh region. I wish I could visit it at least once.

[She sighs softly as both her hands now clasp at her umbrella's handle.]

Ah, but you're right. Ultern's further away from where you're from. Much, much further.

[cultfavorite]

A world away, perhaps?

[He has his suspicions. But Saturn says this with some humor, too, dry as it is. Whatever's happening here may not be what he had hoped, but it's at least shaping up to be something interesting. There's just the lightest touch of a smile on his face.]

[ulternnpc]

...Actually yes, you're right about that.

[And she starts twirling her umbrella slowly as she continues.]

This... might come across as a shock, but you're in another world. A world so far apart from the rest, that it's hard to reach out to them.

[cultfavorite]

Ah . . . no, it's. Well, it's something of a shock, of course. But I do know of such things.

[If anything, the strangeness this time is to have ended up in another world this similar to his own. There are Pokemon here. Townspeople are enjoying a summer festival. The woman with a parasol reminds him of the trend among women in Sinnoh to carry them around, sometimes even when it's not raining. And yet it's still . . . different.]

But you aren't shocked at all. The people of this region are used to this?

A

[giratina]

[Giratina doesn't recognize this person, but he's seen that uniform enough times to regard it as irksome. That, and the sense of a particularly bullheaded Legendary with him has Giratina wrinkling his nose. Ugh.

He's supposed to be keeping up human appearances, but Tina steps forward despite himself, stopping at the side of the bench.]

Don't you think you're asking the wrong companion?

[Stare.]

[cultfavorite]

[That gets Saturn's attention even before he lifts his head to see—whomever this is. The wrong companion? What could that mean? . . . Well, what else? There's one other companion he has in a Pokeball in his holster that Saturn needs to ask about this situation. But his habit is to keep Azelf's presence quiet unless his hand is forced. Someone managed to sense it anyway . . . ?

All of that flashes through his head in the instant he's lifting it to get a look at the person addressing him, and when he sees him, it all evaporates immediately.

Who is this?]

—Who are you?

[That's much more sudden and to the point than he'd normally be in this situation. But it's all that comes to his mind, and it's out before he can overthink it. This man's presence is overwhelming in a way Saturn can't put his finger on. Instantly, and with an uncanny familiarity.]

[giratina]

[Giratina watches Saturn's reaction with dull eyes, making no attempt to weather the effect. Petty as it is, it's a little satisfying to see his pulse jump just above the collar of that blasted uniform.

He steps forward some more to face Saturn properly, staring hard into his face. His shadow stretches long and dark and unaligned in the sand.]

You're more perceptive than you look.

[Well, he'd have to be for Azelf to choose him after all that, Tina thinks. If he is completely honest Saturn has done very little to deserve attitude bordering on animosity, but wearing that outfit and carting around That Pokemon is enough reason for Giratina to intimidate the man a little. It's a lesson that Azelf will have to forgive him for teaching.

He frowns.]

Speak. In pursuit of what purpose do you wear that insignia?

[cultfavorite]

[Azelf is Saturn's Pokemon now, a member of his team, and not a presence in his head—so, when he mentally tugs at the little metaphorical string he'd gotten so used to tugging in prison when he needed to draw on Azelf's willpower, nothing directly happens. He can't do that anymore. Azelf could choose independently to bolster him if it wished, but it's tucked away safely right now unaware, and even if it were, it wouldn't do anything here.

But even the mental gesture steels Saturn to a degree. It's a willpower placebo effect at this point, and that's good enough for him. His expression slowly settles into something guarded, but intent and interested.]

. . . So you know of Team Galactic. I don't know what you know. If you're being demanding of me, I imagine it's nothing good. I can't blame you for that. And I don't expect to convince you easily even with the truth, but all the same—here it is. My name is Saturn. The head of Team Galactic. Our only purpose is the research of clean and sustainable energy sources to make Sinnoh a greener place.

[That is true. Any other purpose is Saturn's alone, and has nothing to do with the insignia he wears.]

[giratina]

The head...

[Saturn provided plenty of information (bless him)-- but this particular point sticks out the most. Giratina begins to look more curious than stern. His head tilts, looking Saturn over carefully.]

Then you do not intend to retrieve your previous commander?

[Giratina would actually like to keep that guy.]

[cultfavorite]

I— . . .

[Saturn almost just answers that like it's a normal question. Like it's an entirely pedestrian conversation for an imposing stranger with a mysterious aura to just walk up to you and imply that he knows what happened to your missing ex-boss. Retrieve. Not "seek out" or anything like that. Retrieve Cyrus. He cuts off, eyes going slowly wider.]

Who . . . and how . . . ?

[But the man is familiar, isn't he? Doesn't he remind Saturn of something he's seen glimpses of in books, and flashes of in a memory that wasn't his own?]

[giratina]

You can't tell? Well, I have been quite rude by not introducing myself.

[Ah... he's having fun with this. The creature-masquerading-as-human's eyes glitter. Can't you feel it? Volo would have said. The chill creeping through your veins-- the eldritch presence icing your heart?]

My name is Giratina.

[The shadow he casts is much, much too large for his stature. His smile is all sharp teeth.]

Cyrus was quite the foolish man, wasn't he?

[cultfavorite]

Giratina . . .

[The possibility hadn't quite presented itself to Saturn yet. He'd only been very, very certain that he knew who this was. And, for Saturn, a legendary god-dragon taking the form of a human is far from impossible—but he's never seen it with a Pokemon before. But of course they can. Of course this is what's happening. It's—

Maybe this is why he's here.

That thought strikes a spark in him, but it doesn't make it any easier to wrap his head around the immediate situation. Still. It's not exactly that Saturn is intimidated—a little, maybe, how could he not be, but he really has shored up his mental fortitude immensely since Cyrus vanished—but it's so much. He's fascinated, horrified, thrilled. How is he supposed to sort out all of these emotions at once? Or say everything he needs to say?

One thing at a time, as always.]

. . . Yes. He was. Was?

B

[derailer]

[Who knows how "obviously imported" Ingo is. But his uniform is distinctive, and Emmet nearby him is similarly distinctive, and Lady Sneasler, who is with them outside of any Pokeball, is also distinctive. This specific Saturn is one of the elite few who can recognize and correctly identify all three of these figures at once.

But Saturn's hairstyle is also distinctive. Who knows which one of them has caught sight of the other first here, passing one another on the street. But as soon as Ingo notices Saturn, he pulls back, doing a double-take.]

...?!

[But no. No matter how similar they might look, this is a different person. This is a regular person from the modern day, with a regular Bronzong! This isn't a bandit from Hisui!!]

O-Oh, sorry. My apologies. You only startled me somewhat.

[cultfavorite]

[Saturn, lost in thought, hadn't noticed Ingo first, but only because he was very lost in thought. When you know who the twins are, it's very hard to mistake the black and white clad figures, and Lady Sneasler beside them . . .

He rears back in shock, struggling already to contain it on his face. Ingo doesn't recognize him. He's here. He's here, but he doesn't recognize him, as Saturn had known would happen whenever this moment came, and had told himself he was emotionally prepared for. Of course he's not. How could he ever have been? And he wasn't expecting it to happen this soon, or so randomly, and all of these emotions are just showing on his damn face where he can feel them happening. He has to stop that! He has to act casual!]

I—no, you also . . . it's nothing. You only reminded me of someone I know. Could it be that you felt the same way when you saw me?

[He knows that's what it was. It had happened the first time they met, after all.]

[derailer]

Emmet?

[He glances over his shoulder to look where Emmet is. Ingo, at least, has a very mundane and immediate explanation for anyone who recognizes him, but doesn't recognize him.

That doesn't seem to be the right answer, though. He turns back to watch Saturn, curious about the dramatic reaction.]

Yes, you do look like a woman I once knew. But—such things do happen. Please pay it no mind. I am sorry to bother you!

[He can't explain further without getting way too weird for a casual encounter with a stranger. This is the polite version.

Sneasler shows some very faint recognition herself—of Coin, not Saturn—tilting her head and squinting as she compares and contrasts with her fuzzy memory.]

[cultfavorite]

No . . . not at all. I'm not bothered. I only reacted the way I did because—well. I won't bore you with details.

[Like he's going to go into something like that right here and now. What would he even say?

But Lady Sneasler—

Saturn catches that look, and that's when he realizes. Does she remember, even if Ingo and Emmet don't? Azelf had remembered. So had Saturn's team. Then, wouldn't it make sense—? He can't just ask her. But he makes eye contact with her, thinking fast, and then senses a little vibration from one of the Pokeballs in his belt that brings him an answer.

He says,]

Is that . . . a Sneasler? It's Poison and Fighting, isn't it?

[And removes that Pokeball to release Toxicroak, who springs out with a loud, jovial rattle. Heeeey, sister! We meet again!]

[derailer]

[Sneasler startles, jumping a little in place and giving a wary snarl. She shows no specific recognition, though at least she knows what a Toxicroak is. Who are you?! Wait. You know me? From Hisui??

Ingo doesn't understand this conversation going on, but he's also surprised.]

Oh...! Yes! You are familiar with Sneaslers? I had never heard of them myself, before meeting her, so I just—assumed they were unknown.

[Toxicroak doesn't make him less Coin-like. It's probably not a coincidence; Saturn really must be a descendant. The logo on his uniform, too... He must be from Sinnoh, which must have more remnants of Hisui than there are to be found in Unova.

Since they're having an actual conversation now, he needs to introduce himself properly.]

I am a Subway Boss, Ingo. Ah—by which I mean, I work for the Nimbasa City Battle Subway. The man beside me is also a Subway Boss, Emmet.

[cultfavorite]

[Gyahaha! Hisui my ass! From prison! Geez, you forgot too . . . Toxicroak, even as boisterous as she ever is, is a little disappointed. She gives Saturn a significant look up that tells him all he needs to know: no, Lady Sneasler doesn't remember. Hmm. Something to consider.

He pats Toxicroak's head and nods:]

I assume that's something like the Battle Tower we have. You must both be very skilled trainers to pull that off. My name is Saturn, the head of Team Galactic, in Sinnoh. . . . As for Sneasler, you're right that's it's a largely unknown Pokemon in the modern day. I only happen to have once had a friend who was very educated in the subject.

[derailer]

[Sneasler cries, choosing to interpret this as an insult. Who would dare put me in prison?! You're thinking of some other Sneasler!

She isn't anywhere close to attacking, but Ingo senses her irritation anyway, and acts preemptively to reach a hand up to rest on her arm, urging her to stay back.]

Is that so? I admit I am very curious to get in touch with such a person. Now is—not the best time. But if I could have contact information for later, I would appreciate it.

[cultfavorite]

[Saturn keeps his hand heavily on Toxicroak; he can't understand them, of course, but he remembers what happened last time they got into it. Toxicroak seems bummed, though, sulking rather than kicking up a fuss.]

Ah . . . I'm sorry. We've since lost touch. Though if you're partners with one, I doubt he would know anything you don't. You two seem to have a connection.