first ether ; beginnings

[worldmother]

[VIDEO]

[There are a few false starts, the video coming on for a second or two, focusing on a face, before going off again. After the third or fourth time that this happens, the camera pulls away, a young woman staring at the world with a bit of a perplexed look.]

Is this on? How can you tell? Is there a light or--

Oh!

[It looks like she's found it.]

There we go. My name is Elhaym, Elly for short. This is what people in Union use to communicate, right? It seems pretty convenient. What else is it used for? Does everyone in Union have one, or just the Enlightened? Are Enlightened really that common here?

[That's a lot of questions, Elly. She smiles a little at the camera.]

Sorry, I just got here a few days ago, and I have a lot of questions. I heard that people in Union "bond" with their Pokemon? How does that work? Oh, and speaking of work, how does one find work here?


[ACTION]

[Midday, one of the parks in Union. A redhead walks briskly like a woman on a mission, avoiding looking behind her as much as possible. Occasionally she'll glance back, make a bit of a face, and then continue to walk with her head down a bit. She looks like she is trying to get away from something, but what could it be?]

Reee?

[It's a Mareep, tailing her, doing the best that it can with its stubbly little legs to keep up with the woman. Hey, where are you going? Excuse me? Miss? Excuse me? You're going to get yourself lost! Excuuuuuuse me!

Stopping, the woman sighs hard, bending down as she puts a hand out, stopping the electric sheep in its tracks.]

Why are you following me? I don't know what you want, I can't understand a word you're saying?

Maree?

[The Mareep tilts its head to the side and Elly deflates a little. You're really cute, but what does she even do? A little help?]

Comments

[Action]

[underwearfortomorrow]

[Clearly what you need is a Pokemon Empath- or someone with Child of The Verdant Forest.]

[Alas, Eiji is probably the last carrier of that ability that Elly wants to see right now.]

[He picks up on the Mareep's distress before he recognizes Elly. He looks up from where he was sitting on the bench, eating a snack and sharing bits of the bread with Hina. He may have a place to sleep, but that didn't mean he stayed out of the park. He just liked parks, okay?]

[Eiji gets up and takes a few steps, waving towards her.]

That Mareep seems awfully concerned about you.

[Wait- she looks kind of familiar...]

[Action]

[worldmother]

Concerned? [She doesn't see him at first, as he came from behind, and, standing, the redhead turns. A look of recognition fills her face and Elly momentarily freezes. What was that Calderan doing here? Maybe he didn't recognize her? It was extremely unlikely, but she did her best to play it off. Although, after her initial response, it was hard to say how effective that might be.] How do you know?

Re: [Action]

[underwearfortomorrow]

[Ah. He's ...pretty sure that's exactly who he thinks that is. Well, despite whatever happened, he was at least glad to see that she seemed fine...]

[She did appear to recognize him, but didn't bolt or otherwise call it out- and he was fine with that really. He offers her a bright smile and casts his gaze down to the Mareep.]

I've got a way with Pokemon, you could say.

[He bends down.]

What's got you so worked up?

[Action]

[worldmother]

[He didn't seem to acknowledge it either, did he not recognize her? She hoped that that was the case. Even still, she doesn't relax too much.]

You can talk to it?

[Mareep looks back up at Eiji. She's a bit of a dainty lady, a little older, and is generally worried about the girl here. She seemed lost and refuses to let her help her.]

Action

[beyond_hope]

[Vanitas is walking in the opposite direction as Elly when he hears the questions she's asking the little sheep and stops in his tracks. He looks at the pair and tilts his head to the side, staring for a bit, and then walks up to her]

I think it likes you

Action

[worldmother]

"Likes" me? How can you tell?

[beyond_hope]

because it won't stop following you

[he shrugs]

one of the pokemon I bonded with just...followed me home

Action

[reincarnationception]

Looks like she likes you.

Action

[worldmother]

Really? How can you tell?

Reee~

Action

[reincarnationception]

I'd say she's adopted you. She doesn't seem keen on leaving you be.

[Action] I HAVE FINALLY TAGGED YOU I AM GLAD

[garbagedisposal]

[Goku's gotten to see part of this little interaction. And it was kinda funny, given the girl couldn't understand the Mareep. So! He walks over, waves a hand and places his arms akimbo as he gives a little chuckle.]

Why don't you try to figure out what it wants? I don't think it would be following you unless it had something important to say.

[Action] WHOO

[worldmother]

Find out what it wants? How?

[You Unionites are weird. Why does that even matter?]

[Action]

[garbagedisposal]

Well, give it a chance to show you at least. I don't think running away from it is going to solve the problem.

[action]

[antiseptic]

[That woman...It can't be. Jade stops dead in his tracks, incredulity flickering across his face as he whips around to get a better look at the woman who just brushed past him, the Mareep still hot on her heels.

Then he's striding after her with long, rapid steps. The voice, that has to be Elly, but why is she so puzzled by the Mareep? Something isn't right here.]

Excuse me.

[action]

[worldmother]

[Elly stops and turns toward him. Given the look on her face, she either doesn't recognize him, or doesn't know him.]

Yes? Can I help you?

[action]

[antiseptic]

[It's all too familiar. Lieutenant, he almost calls her, but refrains.

Never one to be open with his thoughts, especially when he still doesn't know the full story, Jade opts for the cautious approach. Maybe Elly had a twin. He could just be overthinking all this.]

My apologies for the odd question, but... Have we met before?

Video

[victimlessdetails]

It's a feature on the little doohickey you're using to talk. Lets you actually talk to the little guys so you can work out a mutually beneficial agreement.

That's how mine work anyway, I don't know, a lot of the locals seem to just like making friends willy-nilly.

Video

[worldmother]

Huh. A "mutually beneficial agreement," how so?

[Friends are nice, but friends are with people, not Pokemon.]

Video

[victimlessdetails]

I like to fight and sail, I generally team up with Pokémon who like to fight and swim. It's a win for everybody.

[ Voice ]

[makeitquick]

[ Elly...? ]

You're not from Union?

[ She's not her old superior...? ]

[ Voice ]

[worldmother]

That's right. I just arrived a few days ago.

[In a tone that said please don't ask where she came from and just accept she's a foreigner.]

[ Voice ]

[makeitquick]

You... sure. No amnesia or nothing?

[ That's too personal, and she knows it is. She promises to herself this'll be the only one ]

Video

[somnambulatory]

Elly...? Did you forget how to bond Pokemon?

Video

[worldmother]

[Somehow she feels like she's missing something. Should she play along, or?]

Yes, something like that.

[Now to see if she can get some answers for herself.]

Video

[somnambulatory]

[Jinxie raises an eyebrow. That's pretty weird.]

Um... I can explain it if you need me to.