1st Song | Video/Action

[honokairo]

Action:

[Honoka has made her way into various parts of the city, exploring it with her two pokémon. She's handing out the fruit off of Tropius's neck to anyone willing to take one. She also looks a little lost, and exhausted as she's just gotten into town not too long ago. She's been eating, but not what she wants to eat- and if you've got something tasty looking that isn't fruit, she's creepily staring at you, longing to have some herself. One little bite of that would be so great.

So much that she'll walk up to you and ask you where you got it after a time.]

Video:

[Now, after she's gotten a little bit to eat and sat down for a bit to rest from traveling, she turns the Warp Band on. The scene around her is of the sun starting to set, sitting on a park bench. Tropius is laying down next to the bench. Happiny sits in her lap, looking cheerful as ever, but tired.]

Hi! My name is Honoka, and I know none of you may know me yet but I have a favor to ask. I just got here from Caldera, and I don't have a place to stay yet... and I don't want to live out on the street! I would just need a few days, I promise I'll have something set up by then!

Thank you very much!

Comments

[honokairo]

[Her face brightens.]

That's good. I'm glad you have a lot of people you can spend time with. Especially if you are going out exploring- it's dangerous out there, and it would be awful if something happened.

All of you are Enlightened then?

[faithfulflame]

Well, with my Pokemon, it's less so.

And...yes, most of us. I am, and Ami-chan and Usagi-chan just awakened. Mako-chan and Minako-chan aren't, though.

[As far as she knows ]

[honokairo]

I bet that doesn't stop all of you from going out exploring, does it. [Some people liked to stay in the city, some didn't.]

I'm a little envious, it would be awesome to be an Enlightened.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei shrugs.]

We do go out a lot, and have for a while. But it has it's ups and downs. Nothing is perfect.

[honokairo]

Yeah, I guess so. [She looks up to see the shrine, and points.]

Oh, is that it? It looks so nice!

[faithfulflame]

It is, yes. [Her step quickens, and she starts up the massive set of stone stairs.]

You'll like it even more when we reach the top. The view of this part of the city is lovely.

[honokairo]

I want to see! [She starts running, up the stairs, to the top so she can get a good view. But unfortunately, in her rush, she forgot one important thing.

She's not in very good shape.

So by the time Rei joins her, she's huffing and puffing at the top.]

Why...are those....stairs so big....

[faithfulflame]

[Ah well, let her make her own mistakes. Rei takes her time, as does Deimos. Because the stairs, man. She has to remain graceful.]

Because of the location. The temple needs to be visible so that the gods can find it when we need them. And so people can see it too.

[honokairo]

[She takes a look over the city. Despite huffing and puffing, it was a beautiful sight- the lights shone across the horizon.]

Wow, it's even more pretty than Caldera. You can see everything!

Rei-san, do you really think it's important to honor pokemon the way that you do here in Union? We were never taught that in Caldera...but I feel like that's something we aren't doing right.

[faithfulflame]

[That is not a question she expected. And it completely overshadowed the commentary on the view. Rei nods once, her hair swaying in the breeze.]

I it's not just important, I think it's the most important thing we can do. Pokemon bring us closer, both to one another and to the natural world.

[honokairo]

Is that why you have this shrine here? [That's why she thought of the question, honestly.]

To honor the gods? [Since in this world, the pokémon are the gods.]

[faithfulflame]

It is, yes. That and to help guide people in need. [Rei smiles faintly, turning with the wind dramatically blowing in the background. (Though really it's her Froslass trying to be helpful)]

Hikawa Shrine is a place for people and Pokemon both, to find shelter and a means to become closer to the gods, and the other Pokemon of the world.

[honokairo]

I'd like to see it. I'd like to see people and pokemon together like that.

[That is nothing like how she was raised to think about them.]

[faithfulflame]

Well, you will. That's just how people in Union live, thanks to the Savior.

[honokairo]

I've heard, that's why I'm here.

Can I see the inside?

[faithfulflame]

Absolutely.

[Rei starts across the courtyard towards one of the small red buildings, hopping up onto a little raised platform and slipping out of her shoes as she opens a sliding panel door.

Inside is a small room with tatami mat flooring, and at the back is a raised bier, an altar. Around it are several candles, burning around a central flame with various fiery bits of iconography on the walls and artifacts.]

[honokairo]

[Slipping her shoes off too, she steps inside and takes it in. It was really nice in here. She heads over to the altar, taking a look at all the iconography and such.]

It's really pretty. Do a lot of people come here?

[faithfulflame]

[Rei practically glows at the comment.]

Yes, we get regular visitors for worship, for fortunes, and then there's travelers like you, and bums like my cousin.

[honokairo]

That's great! You shouldn't call your cousin a bum though!

[faithfulflame]

Haha, but he is. I love him still, but he's a complete bum.

[Seriously have you seen that seven foot tall hobo in the corner?]

[honokairo]

[So she looks around and sees him in the corner, fast asleep. Oh.]

Should...he be doing that?

[faithfulflame]

Eiji-kun? Oh...yes it's alright. He works hard, and just doing what he can. It's fine.

[honokairo]

[She's just going to stay away from him.]

Thanks for showing me. I think I'll wait until there's people here so I can see how it all works.

[faithfulflame]

Of course, Honoka-san.

Let me show you your room. And since you're our guest, what would you like to eat tonight?

[honokairo]

Oh, bread would be great! I really like rice too, if you have any.

[She'll trot up right next to Rei and follow her to wherever she'll lead her.]