Familiar Guests

[bravenewmods]

[Odd environmental effects aside, Union has obviously dealt with much worse in the past. There's probably not much to be concerned about. Around mid-afternoon, the Warp Band network flickers on to display the faces of some guests who will surely put Union's mind at ease. They may be vaguely familiar to those who have been in Union for a while: one, a fiery-haired man in a well-pressed suit, and the other a young scientist in a lab coat bearing an expression liable to curdle milk.]

Good afternoon, Union.

[Crystal tries to appear generally congenial, although it looks just a bit forced. It seems someone didn’t realize the feed started a few seconds before it did.]

It’s been a long time. I’m glad to see this city is just as charming as I remember it.

For those of you who don’t know us, I am Rory Donnachaidh, and the two of us represent Team Evolution. We were conducting experiments in this area around a year ago and stumbled across your fair city.

[Yes, thank you for not introducing her, Rory. She gives her colleague a cool smile before engaging the feed again.]

And I am Doctor Crystal Verdine. We are here to make sure there haven’t been any further repercussions after the accident so many months ago. The likelihood of that happening is very slim, of course, but it’s better safe than sorry.

Yes - just ensuring that our… activities did not result in further harm to the area around Union. We’ve received permission from your Council, of course.

Unfortunately, that means that we will be inconveniencing you for a little while.

We’ll be staying a few days. Of course, we understand your sentiments about our technology, so we’ll do our best to refrain from using it openly while we visit.

[Rory tries to look sympathetic, though it seems he’s smiling faintly.]

Rory and I enjoyed our brief stay the last time, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to find one of us. Unfortunately, we don’t have any plans for more flashy displays this time. [Said a bit pointedly to her colleague. Someone was a show off the last time they were there.] To that end, if you notice anything odd in or around the city, please let us know. Thank you so much for your hospitality.

[And the feed flickers off. Rory and Crystal can now be found around Union or addressed directly through the band.]

Comments

Rory

[naturaldissension]

[video]

[actsmagnificent]

Leavanny?

[ This Warp Band is registered to "Haruka Tenoh", but this...is probably not Haruka Tenoh on the other side. Unless Haruka Tenoh has antennae.

Natto blinks, interested. He's heard of you! But he didn't expect your suit would be that nice! Why are you in Union? ] Vanny van?

[naturaldissension]

[This is new. Rory stares blankly for a moment or two at this odd summons before he chuckles softly.]

I fear I'm not qualified to carry on this conversation. Perhaps you'd prefer to speak with one of my associates?

[actsmagnificent]

Leava... [ That sounds important, whatever it is. Natto's not sure he's qualified to talk to an "associate", but he'd decided to do some investigation on his own - Trainer could care less about these people - so he has to finish this now that he's started it.

He's good with talking to you, too, though! Natto waves. It's okay, really. You don't have to go to the trouble of bothering someone just for him. ] Leavanny vanny!

[ Somebuggy might not get it, Rory. ]

[video]

[bejustorbedead]

I certainly didn't expect to see you again.

[Ky kept himself composed and neutral, much as he disdains the Team's methods, and the problems they cause - he'll given the benefit of the doubt, a cautious benefit of the doubt]

[naturaldissension]

Why not?

[He smiles.]

Much has happened since the brokering of peace between Gigas and Caldera. ...Or what passes for peace. Now that you've made your debut upon the world's stage, you cannot retreat again so easily.

Especially as you appear to be the epicenter of all things strange and unusual. We've been following your activities with great interest.

[bejustorbedead]

Not many people would welcome you with open arms after what happened. Accident or no, the people are wary.

[Ky's shoulders dropped slightly, exhaling]

That... was not exactly our plan, but it's as you say, not something we can shy away from.

Action

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela has evolved since meeting Rory the first time around and negotiating with Gigas. She's not sporting her old glasses, her skin's taken on a paler tint, and her evolution also acted as a second puberty which prompted her to need a mostly new wardrobe.

The facial structure, the voice, and the red hair are the only physical traits that have stayed exactly the same, so when she spots him, she can't help but wonder if he'll recognize her at all. A Gastly hovers close by her.]

Rory Donnachaidh. It's been a while.

[naturaldissension]

Ah.

[The voice is indeed faintly reminiscent and Rory will turn to give her a polite nod. But despite his upbringing in Caldera, human evolution is not something he often expects...]

I do believe we were acquainted in Caldera, were we not? Miss...?

[toxicrevenger]

Isley. Pamela Isley. One of Union's researchers and a noble.

[Her priorities as far as which of the two are more significant hasn't changed, either.]

We worked together on the diplomatic negotiations with Gigas, although I've undergone some rather drastic changes since then.

Video.

[future_sight]

You're one of the ones that helped organize the talks between Gigas, Caldera and Union, right?

[naturaldissension]

That is correct.

[A charming smile for the young girl.]

We attempt to remain a neutral entity in these sorts of disagreements as our team is composed of individuals from many civilizations. Admittedly, I did have a slight bias.

[future_sight]

[ And she matches it with her own. ]

I wanted to thank you. My girlfriend is from Caldera, and her family's safer now because of what happened then.

[Video]

[niepokonany]

[He's come a long way since the last time he interacted with Rory, which is clear enough in the changes to his appearance brought about by his evolution. On the other hand, while the whole Caldera incident might have softened his attitude towards him slightly, his suspicion towards him is still more than obvious. He made totally unfunny jokes about eating Huzar, ok? Not to mention how bad he scared Jadwiga with the whole Mega Evolution thing!]

How come, what do you think you might have messed up this time?

[...And this is why Feliks wound up on the attack team instead of the diplomatic one back in Caldera. He's awful at keeping a civil tongue in his head when he doesn't trust someone.]

[naturaldissension]

Feliks.

[Even despite the evolutions, there is no mistaking that particular tone of sulky contempt. Rory pretends that he has just received a warm greeting.]

How very nice to see you again.

[niepokonany]

[He wrinkles his nose. Sulky contempt is precisely the phrase for it -- Feliks simply isn't the sort to give people much of a second chance when he's decided they aren't to be trusted, and Rory got a few big strikes as far as he's concerned almost immediately, what with the putting Union in danger, and the Pokeballs, and what have you.]

Yeah, you know how seeing you just totally makes my day.

[He's not sure how to bring up how that totally doesn't answer his question without just... yelling at him, which is at least beneath the tiny hint of dignity he's grown over the last year. Barely.]

...How's Caldera?

[He likes Caldera a lot more than he likes Team Evolution, so that's the closest attempt he can manage at being polite.]

Crystal

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[Video]

[celebrity_commentator]

You guys again? You really expect us to buy you're just here to check up on us?

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ Crystal raises her eyebrows slightly, intrigued. ]

What other reasons would we have to be here?

[Video]

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela didn't miss that expression at the start of the feed. Still, she's quite polite.]

As a researcher concerned about the environmental impacts your research had last time, I don't suppose you'd mind if I accompanied you during some of your investigations?

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ She considers this. ]

Could you tell me a bit about your experiences first? Some of the tests can be a bit complex, and we unfortunately don't have a lot of time to explain procedures.

[Video]

[stop_cannontime]

[The fact that Jayce didn't trust these two as far as he could throw them wouldn't keep him from acting polite. Plus of course he was going to talk to a pretty woman if given the opportunity to do so.]

If you wouldn't mind indulging my curiosity for one moment, what is your field of expertise? Consider it the professional curiosity of a fellow intellectual.

[Video]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ Finally, someone with some class in this backwater town. ]

Of course. I am a doctor of Pokémon Evolutionary Biology. Might I inquire as to what your field might be? And your name, for that matter?

[ Video ]

[makeitquick]

Can y'count a big Dream World opening up as a point, or does that one fall into solid "unrelates" there?

[ She's almost sheepish as she says this. It's a flimsy excuse to talk, admittedly, but it's the one she latches onto, at least to start ]

[ Video ]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ Crystal looks genuinely confused. ]

I'm not sure I know what you're referring to.