bravenewworld | first ether ; beginnings

[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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

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

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

I see. I guess that makes sense.

I'm guessin you're a fellow out-of-towner, if you didn't grow up learning this stuff. How are you finding the big walled city?

It's interesting. Very different from anywhere I've seen.

You mentioned you were from out of town? Where are you from?

The islands south of here out in the ocean. Less people, but a lot more boats.

I see. What is it like?

Well, with a few notable exceptions, most of the people are a lot more laid-back than here. It's beautiful scenery, too - palm trees, the open sea, entire villages where no one wears a shirt, that sort of thing.

That sounds really nice.

[Not elaborating on whether she's referring to palm trees, the lack of shirts, or both.]

It's nice to look at, but there are a few problems. I'm stuck up here for a reason, after all.

Oh?

There's a few people with an unfair share of technology and Pokémon who don't like the whole "independent relaxed villages" thing, and they get a bit aggressive about it.

[Also and more specifically the whole "acquiring other peoples' stuff by force and cleverness" thing, but there's no need to mention that.]

I left to avoid that, and then of course I got here when Gigas and Caldera were having the same fight with fewer boats.

[That's an interesting expression on Elly's face as Isabela mentions the situation between Caldera and Gigas. It doesn't last long, however.]

I see.

Oh, were you involved in that mess? I stayed home that week. Politics bore me, even when they get to the shooting part.

You could say that.

Well, Union's well away from any kind of war right now, so I say don't worry about it unless people decide to volunteer en masse again.

[She doesn't wince, but certainly seems uncomfortable talking about it.]

That's good to hear, at least.

first ether ; beginnings

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