A Night Noctowl

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

In the wee hours of the morning, a bit after the matriarch's announcement, a video feed will come through. For the first minute or so, it appears to be a static image of someone's desk, before the soft clattering of little bird feet on parchment. Suddenly, the feed is turned sideways.

"Did you get it, Stravinsky? ...It's on? That's wonderful! You're a genius!"

Diving into the picture--still sideways--is a sandy-haired youth. There are circles under his eyes, as if he hasn't slept in quite some time, but he still appears to be in good spirits. The source of the scuttling earlier, a Torchic, hops upon his head and proceeds to start preening himself. He adjusts his glasses before he speaks.

"Hello, people of Union! And other places now, I should say. Ha ha! My name is Max Akers, and I am head of the Department of Research with the Seekers, Calderan chapter. I imagine some of you met my colleagues earlier. After hearing from them, I knew reaching out to you at a time like this would be our best bet.

"As we are a relatively small group of scholars here in Caldera, and all of us are positively abuzz with curiosity over this Matriarch Frea and her tribe of Citadel, not to mention the large Pokémon she made mention of!"

He certainly sounds excited, as he clasps his head together. Stravinsky, however, is disinterested and has taken to instead preening his human's hair instead.

"I propose we work together to investigate this problem they are having. Scholars don’t make the best warriors, unfortunately, but some intelligence we have in the general area lead us to believe it may be quite powerful, and quite possibly related to a few texts we've managed to restore of older times. It’s really quite exciting! Any information found will be shared, of course; it’s much like Miss Frea says, we help each other! What do you say?”

He smiles at the, still lopsided, camera, as Stravinsky dryly peeps at it. It’s crooked, birdbrain.

Comments

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

"Hey, boss."

Ceilto gives a small wave through the screen despite probably being a few doors down. You know, just in case anyone doesn't remember which incredibly esteemed colleague Max was referring to.

"You want us to scope things out or you good with aggressively reading books about this thing?"

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

You kids and your new-fangled technology. It's called walking down the hall and knocking, Ceilto. Honestly, Max doesn't like to move around much either, but he's right there!

Also it took him a good half hour to get this warp band thinger worked out, so there's that too. He's still sideways, at that.

"These things take a bit of both, Ceilto! Field work will never completely replace good, old-fashioned research." Plus it wouldn't hurt for you to crack open a book every once in a while. You do remember what those are, right?

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

Get with the times, man, get with the times. You still using a WarpBand4G the new 5s are so much better. Higher memory, man.

"That's why you're the boss and we're the grunts. Just think - with these things, you don't even have to come with us anymore. You can just give us orders while you're reading books under the covers."

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Sorry, but he likes face-to-face conversations more than impersonal things over weird old-made-new technology. I mean when was the last time you wrote a letter?

Max ruffles his hair a bit, much to the chagrin of the Torchic currently making it his nest; the bird squawks a bit before getting appeasement pets on the head.

"Being a researcher, even if I am the 'boss', also means being willing to help on the field. You can't have one without the other, no matter how high in the tower you sit." It's hard to say whether or not he sounds pleased about that. There's an eagerness to be sure, but he burns so easily, you see.

[bnw_wighty_npcs]

Letter...? What do you mean? Like the alphabet? What is this 'letter' you speak of?

"So does that mean you're volunteering to go confront this menace while Maeve and I sleep in?"

Video

[bleeding_heart]

It's nice to meet you, Max Akers. My name is Merrill. What sort of help is it that you need?

Video

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[Despite his feed being lopsided, that doesn't seem to stop this tired researcher.]

Aha, well met, Merrill! You are from Union, yes? I assume you are, since you're responding to this. By our calculations, you are the closest establishment to this "Citadel" that the Matriarch Frea spoke of. We will need a day or so to prepare, so having a group of individuals willing to go in ahead of us wouldn't be amiss.

Video

[bleeding_heart]

[Merrill slowly tilts her head around to match the skewed angle of the feed as she talks.]

Yes, that's right. Well... I'm from there now, I suppose. But not originally. But that probably isn't what you meant.

Video

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

I see, I see! We must talk over tea. Later, of course, much later, as this is far more pressing.

But more immediately.

[He tilts his head a bit too. Stravinsky squawks at him when he does, and he quickly shoots back straight as an arrow.]

Is there any particular reason you're doing that?

[Video]

[demon_of_sforzando]

[The Matriarch's underhanded tactics and general lack of diplomacy put Lute in a bad mood earlier, but ancient texts and research opportunities cheer him right back up.]

That does sound exciting! What do you need help with?

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[If you ask Max, he'll very confidently say that she's only misunderstood, and that she probably is a secret softy. He'd likely be entirely off-base, however.]

Isn't it? The Seekers headquarters is positively electric right now! We're already readying a group to head in, however, we will not be able to move for another day at least. We were hoping that, as you are closer, you might be willing to set up operations in Citadel first. Get a lay of the land, if you will.

[Video]

[demon_of_sforzando]

I'd love to! I was planning to head there to help them out anyway. I'm hoping we can find some sort of peaceful resolution.

[His first instinct in a case like this is to try to negotiate with the angry Pokemon. Surely it can be reasoned with. Probably.....]

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Wonderful, I'm glad to hear that! Truth be told, I was a bit skeptical that anyone would be willing to help.

[A beat.]

I didn't mean to say that out loud.

[rainsrespite]

"Sure, what is it you want us to look into once we get there?" Yuuna pipes up, rolling her shoulders in the process.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Ahh, someone a bit more upfront, more to the point. He likes this. Max has never been good with this, and a bit of bluntness is certainly appreciated! "Yes, yes, of course. Now you see, we're here in Caldera, and while it wouldn't take long to get to Union, and from their to Citadel, there's preparation work, assigning teams--it's really quite a mess."

Get to the point, please. Stravinsky cheeps dryly. It doesn't appear his human understands.

"We were hoping that you, being much closer, could lay some groundwork. Make first contact, so to speak. Although I suppose they were the ones to make first contact in this sense. In a few senses, in fact. Hmm."

[rainsrespite]

"You mean with those warrior women, or with the Pokemon attacking them?" Yuuna frowns, still not sure what exactly he's asking them to do beyond interact with those people or monsters they claim to be under attack by. Neither sounds appealing, given that they'd attacked Union residents, and Yuuna specifically, but she can see the importance of making contact.

Know your enemy, or your potential ally, yes? Yes.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

"Both, if it comes down to it. It would see that whatever kind of Pokémon it is, it is creating quite a fuss there." He sighs a bit, rapping his knuckles on his desk in thought. "Although whatever might be giving those women such problems..." Max looked away from the camera, a somewhat squeamish look on his face. He wasn't much for violence, and if they couldn't handle it...

"In any case, we hope to not only be able to help, but also conduct research. I believe you're familiar with my colleagues, Ceilto and Maeve?"

[Video]

[toxicrevenger]

Well, that would certainly be some exciting information to share with our students here.

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

Max positively lights up, getting a bit closer--while still at a perfect 90 degree angle--to the camera.

"Students? Are you a professor, miss?"

[Video]

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela smiles a bit at that.]

Not yet. I'm one of Union's researchers, though, and it wasn't that long ago that I was a student.

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

I see! Well met, then, from one academic to another!

[Video]

[niepokonany]

[Feliks stares at the feed as he puts a couple of things together.]

Wait--the Seekers know about this thing? Like, what are we saying here? What's the deal with it?

[Aren't you guys the gods-experts? Fuuuuuuuuu-]

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

We know of it, but not any details. Much of what we know is what you've heard from Matriarch Frea. As Citadel is a new civilization to us, it warrants investigation. We want to know everything we can about it! Although their predicament is less than ideal.

[niepokonany]

Less than ideal. Gods, don't like, overreact or anything!

So you basically just know it's big and fiery and steel type, pretty much?

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[Max gets closer to the camera.]

Really? Fire and steel? Do you know for certain? What else have you heard?