VIDEO + ACTION.

[nippy]

( VIDEO. )

[ the background is of the woods just outside Union and— oh, look, it's the boy who was causing the huge scene at the public discussion about Sanctuary. he seems completely different in demeanour now to the way he was then; his expression and body language are open and friendly.

there is also a Phantump in his lap, with Jack's arms wound loosely around it, and a Pidgey comfortably perched on his head. ]

Suddenly thought about something and I thought I'd open to the public for an answer, since that seems to be the done thing around here. Yes? Am I right?

Okay, so I know I'm a little bit out of the loop with what "the norm" is— uh, pretty much everywhere. [ this is still an understatement. ] But does everybody seriously name the Pokémon they're hanging out with? Why? Isn't it weird? How do you even come up with all those names?

( ACTION #1. )

[ somewhere just outside of Union, Jack is... attempting to practice. it sounds like he might be sticking around for a while, between the people he's been meeting and the Sanctuary troubles. he wants to help all the Homunculi stuck there; and just as much as that, he wants the information the Mages are hiding, because maybe he'll learn something about himself. maybe he'll find out how to get back his memories - and every time he thinks about that, there's ice crackling all over him like jolts of electricity.

but staying in Union means that he's going to be near lots of people, and for long periods of time. he can't go accidentally making blizzards and causing huge explosions of ice spikes - that's fine out in the middle of nowhere, but somebody might really get hurt here.

so he's gotta get himself under control. but by the gods, training is boring.

and also not very successful at the moment, judging by the way the ice that Jack was gathering in his hands just blew up in his face. the blast radius is enough to hit anyone that might have come near to investigate the noise, too - they get front-row seats to a blast of icy wind and a faceful of frost. Jack's hair is blown back and frozen in place, and there are ice crystals all over his face. ]

Oh, come on! I had it that time! [ a Duskull is doing giddy loops around his head. Jack snatches a wooden shepherd's staff up off the ground to jab playfully at the Pokémon. ] Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Just you wait - next time you're sleeping I'm gonna freeze you to the wall.

( ACTION #2. )

[ this is less of a singular event and more of an "any time a character happens to notice it" thing, because - did you know Jack's been sleeping on the streets?

well. Jack's been sleeping on the streets. on the nights when he stays in Union rather than the surrounding woods, he tucks himself into alleyways and corners, anywhere it seems likely he'll be able to sleep shielded from the morning sun. this doesn't always mean he ends up in the most unnoticeable spot he could find, and with his Pokémon lingering around him, he could certainly be caught at night or in the morning before he wakes. feel free to question the dirty homeless teenager.

he's tried to convince his new friends to go to the Pokémon Habitat, because even if it feels too awkward for him to sleep there, it's a place meant for them. they have refused. so the boy can also be found with a Phantump cradled against his chest, a Pidgey sleeping on a rooftop overhead, and a Duskull keeping vigil over him. ]

(no subject)

[platinumlucifer]

[ A rather serious-looking man with brown hair tipped with blond appears on the feed and salutes. ]

Kyosuke Nanbu. Steel Battalion ATX Team Leader, Callsign Assault 1. I am here on exchange from Caldera. I look forward to working with you all.

[ Drapped over his shoulders is a very busty blond? How busty, exactly? You tell her, she's certainly not making any moves to hide her figure. ]

Wow, Kyosuke I never thought you'd be the mysterious type. I think I like you even more now~

Hihi, I'm Excellen Browning, ATX's Assault 2, also here from Caldera. You can call me Big Sis Excel, if you want. Or anything else you can come up with, I don't mind~

We're looking for something fun to do around the city. I heard you Unionites have some interesting stuff to keep you busy. Maybe we can find something that even stiff-lipped Assault 1 here can enjoy.

[ She looks away from the feed and toward him. ]

What do you do for fun anyway, Kyosuke?

Fun?

[ Kyosuke seems to consider this for a moment, looking a bit puzzled. ]

I'm not sure.

[ She gives him a very tired look. It's like they've done this song and dance before, more than a few times. ]

You need to think about your appeal, Kyosuke. If ladies don't think you're any fun, then they won't be interested.

Why is that a problem?

It's a big problem!

I don't understand...

Kyosuke, listen here--

[ And she cuts the feed, likely to lecture him about the inner workings of sex appeal. Or something. ]

[[OOC: Blue text is EXCELLEN, red text is KYOSUKE]]


[ACTION; EXCELLEN ONLY]

[ A few miles outside of Union, within the Verdant Forest, the sound of gunfire can be heard. Avian pokemon scatter as the sound rings through the air, and while they aren't aimed at anything in particular, a few dying trees appear to be riddled with bullet holes.

To the casual observer, it's hard to pick up which direction shots will be fired from. A streak floats by, then, suddenly, a barrage of bullets hit. Yet, despite the wide array of wildlife in this area, nothing living seems to be affected. Whoever is practicing here has quite the sharp eye.

If one stays long enough, they might catch a glimpse of the mystery sniper. A woman. Relatively tall, her long, curly blond hair tied into a ponytail. She holds a rather interesting weapon with her, which she'll occasionally lean against a nearby tree to pick up any stray bullet shells. ]

Tenth Dream: In Review [Action/Video]

[rainsrespite]

Video:

[Today's broadcast blinks on to show Yuuna out at the gate, standing there in a different outfit than usual. No Ranger's jacket, but a beat up looking traveler's outfit of good, sturdy make. She's got an oddly reflective look about her.]

Anyone ever stopped to think about how life was before all the recent upheaval? I don't mean all the fighting and the strange things the gods have been throwing at us, though. I mean before Union really opened up to the outside. Back when we thought that we were the only humans left alive. So much has changed, and hell...it's like the world we grew up in changed overnight.

[Beside her, something shimmers, and a near exact copy of Yuuna seemingly flows into view. It's eyes are just a bit off though, lighter than hers, and it waggles a finger.]

I don't mean all the new Pokemon we've discovered, or the new people we've encountered. But that's definitely a big shift if this guy is any indication. I mean, it's been a whole year as of today since I left Union for the first time...and I was one of the later trainers to really go out on my own.

[She huffs a laugh at the Ditto-Yuuna and shakes her head.]

I never thought I'd fight a god, or in a war. I definitely never thought I'd spend a week in the body of a man, or that I'd find a whole new species of Pokemon that die if they stop bouncing. And heh...I'm not even going to start trying to describe meeting the Savior. But it's been a hell of a year.

[The Ditto makes a face, wiggling it's tongue.]

Anyway. I've been uselessly nostalgic long enough. But indulge me, folks. What are some things you thought you'd do that got turned on their heads this last year?


Action, Verdant Forest

[And just like she'd done a year ago, Yuuna takes a trip through the Verdant Forest, walking down those old familiar paths. This time, though, she's got a trio of very different Pokemon. A Magnezone, Politoed, and Hitmonchan. They'd evolved, all three of her oldest friends, and the wilds all around them didn't seem quite so mysterious anymore. She's got an arm hooked around the Hitmonchan's shoulders, walking casually, the two of them pointing to various things and sharing a quiet joke here and there.

If they happen to meet someone, they'll get a friendly wave.]

Heya, out for a walk too? Care for company?

Action, The Coastal Ruins (For Merrill)

[Yuuna'd decided to go down that way with Merrill later on, a little bit of an outing to give the place another once over, see if there was much of interest there. She had some of her stronger types on the warp band, but the only one she had out? Was the newbie. A little Zorua who'd yet to prove herself, simply named Shinko, trotted along ahead of the two explorers, snuffling the ground while they talk quietly.]