1st Wrench: A Fateful Trip [Action/Video]

[sparkofgenius]

Action, the Verdant Forest:

[Okay, so she'd taken a wrong turn on one of the paths. She had to have, because she should totally be back in Union by now! All she'd intended to do was poke her head out into the forest to get some basic reconnaissance and some preliminary training of Gato done. But without a map it was a bit easy to get lost in that sea of green. Especially for someone who'd never really been outside of Caldera before. Smart and competent she might be, but Lucca most definitely new to the whole exploring on her own.

That said, she's not exactly panicking if anyone happens to come across her. She seems perfectly calm, perfectly rational. And that's probably because she has yet to actually notice that she's gotten lost! She's casually inspecting just about everything. Rocks, trees, streams, berries, basically just anything she comes across. On her back is a small pack that seems to be bulging, and the little Golett running along behind her is similarly weighed down by a backpack of his own. Periodically, she pulls out a notepad and scribbles something, too.

But in the midst of this scientific rampage, something Weedle this way comes. Lucca's search has attracted the attention of a local, an annoyed little creature who's just popped out from a rotted log she'd disturbed with a kick...and the instant she catches sight of it, Lucca lets out a piercing shriek.]

Ahhhhh!

[Apparently the intrepid scientist...has a fear of Bugs!]

((ooc: Tag before the Weedle if you like too!))

Video, Nightfall

[A video comes through the Warp Band, and it's a young woman, clearly. She's dressed...oddly. Almost haphazardly. A scarf around her neck, a tunic visible in the video, and a helmet. With an actual antenna sticking up from the right side. She adjusts her glasses before speaking, and opens with a long sigh.]

Right, so. My name's Lucca Ashtear. Recently of Caldera, and I've set up shop here in Union for the time being. Gotta say, these warp band things are pretty incredible An Aligning tool, communication device, and a homing beacon all at once? Ingenious. I couldn't have designed them better myself. At least...not and kept them this small.

[A pause as she removes her glasses and wipes away some fog.]

Couple of questions for you. First, because I'm new in town, where's a good place to pick up spare parts? Wires, copper, steel, that kinda stuff. Also are there any glassmakers around. Definitely going to need that. I have trouble making that myself.

Second, a more...heh...normal question. Is it just me or is it chilly around here? I don't know how you guys stand it in the lowlands. When does the weather usually shift? Or is this what passes for spring?

And one last thing. The Old City. I'm planning on going down there to nose around soon, but a guide or escort would be nice. More a safety precaution than anything. I'd pay, of course.

And...yeah, I guess that's about it.

[And off goes the feed.]

Comments

Action - Verdant Forest

[lunchleader]

[Oh, that Weedle? Apparently, that's not the only bug within sight. If you look just over your shoulder...]

Pie! Pie! [~Hi there!~ There grins a Caterpie on top of your backpack. Don't mind her peeking around your shoulder there; she just wants to know if you're gonna drop this thing full of goodies so that she can feast.]

Action - Verdant Forest

[sparkofgenius]

[Boy if you thought she was loud before, wait till you hear this one! Lucca shrieks, loud and shrill and this time a little bit angry. Stupid bugs! Go away! Stop bothering her! She whirls with agility born of panic and smacks the Caterpie off her bag.]

Gross! Get off me! Where did you even come from?!

[And in the meanwhile, Gato looks like he’s squaring off against the oncoming Weedle. Is it going to be a double battle?!]

Action - Verdant Forest

[lunchleader]

[The Caterpie sails through the air with her bug version of "weeeee~!" before using her String Shot to swing up onto a branch. From the way she moves and swings, this is something that she's quite used to. ~Hahaha! That was really funny! So, did you drop any--~] Cacaca! Caterpie! Cat--

NECO! [~You little lying creep~! And with that, a Pineco comes flying from behind to Tackle her fellow bug off the branch and onto the ground.

If Lucca's eyes are sharp enough, she'll see a Bellsprout standing in a "just thrown something" position.]

[sparkofgenius]

[The chittering and laughing is met with Lucca’s angry stare from behind her Golett. And she does the unthinkable. She draws her gun, pointing it primarily at the Weedle. Apparently she has a rescuer, but she’s not out of the woods yet.]

Stay back. I don’t want to zap either of you, but I will if you make me…

[Overreacting much?]

[lunchleader]

Ter! Terpie~... [~Yeowch! You didn't have to hit me so hard, stupid Bakudan!~ The Caterpie whines towards the pine-cone bug.]

Pine?! Pineco-neco-neco! [~Stupid?! Don't you dare call me stupid, you lying Creeper!~ Bakudan hops off of the branch in an attempt to dive-bomb another Tackle onto the green little bug.

Unfortunately, Creeper is quick to roll out of the way, leaving her fellow bug to slam into the ground with a pained grunt.]

Be! Bell?! [~Bakudan! Are you okay?!~ And here comes the Bellsprout, rushing as fast as his (surprisingly weak) legs could carry him towards his friend.]

[They all freeze, though, upon seeing the gun. Humans carrying gun are always bad news, if the flailing from Creeper's any indication. But just at that moment...]

Geoooot Geooot!? Pidgeot!! [Who dares to disturb the rest of Bloodwing, the most powerful and deadliest Pidgeot of the entire Great Forest!? My hunger has also awakened, and I crave the flesh of all foolish innocents!! The screeching and Growling comes from behind some very thick pine foliage near the group, witch said foliage shaking in a threatening manner. Look sharp, Weedle, lest you wish to be someone's lunch!]

[sparkofgenius]

[The Weedle, faced with Bloodwing, a human with a gun, and a bunch of strangers…totally freaks! With a cry of Weeeeeedle it turns and flees as fast as it can, scurrying off into the underbrush to escape the predator. Which…only prompts Lucca’s aim to shift.]

Okay, now the rest of you. Especially you, Caterpie…stay away if you know what’s good for you.

[Heavy breathing is go. She’s obviously upset, even with the Weedle gone. Reasons why she should not be handling a space-age looking gun…]

[lunchleader]

Whoa-whoa-whoah! Hold on a sec! [And here comes a young human guy rushing up, waving his hands as he steps between Lucca and the bugs.] They don't mean to harm you! Really! And Bakudan here was actually trying to help!

Pi-pi! [~That's right!~ And from where "Bloodwing" was...popped out a Pidove, who flitted down to rest upon the guy's shoulder.]

Co-co! Nene-- [~Damn straight, I'm helping! The lying little b--~ Bakudan's gearing up to launch herself at the Caterpie again...

...but only ends up being picked up and getting a calming hug from the Bellsprout. ~Easy there, buddy.~] Bells.

[sparkofgenius]

[Okay, so the human was behind all that. The gun lowers and she steps back a pace, holstering it and looking a little embarrassed.]

And...these are your Pokemon? [Her eyes take in the assembled crowd.] Including the Caterpie?

[lunchleader]

Yep! All four of them, plus the others back at our camp. The Bellsprout's Weedling, and he's holding his friend Bakudan. This here's Usopp - good job scaring that Weedle off, by the way. [Right pets the Pidove in question.

And said Pidove puffs up in proud satisfaction. Heh! All in a day's work of the great, brave, and heroic bird warrior!~] Dove! Pido-dooove!

And the little trouble-maker here's Creeper. Speaking of which... [Right bends down to pick up the Caterpie by the tail, ignoring her flails of protest.] You promised not to scare any more people that don't like bugs!

Pie~! Ca-pie-pie, caterpie! [~I'm sorry~! I just wanted to say hello and my timing was completely off and I really didn't know until know that she didn't like bugs! Creeper flails with Krookodile tears in her eyes.]

Necoco! [~You're such a liar! You've been casing this woman all mid-day!~ Bakudan growls from her hold within Weedling's arms.]

Ee! [The Caterpie freezes up, unable to immediately come up with a good excuse to counter with.]

[sparkofgenius]

[Lucca...doesn't understand any of that, at all. She really doesn't speak Pokemon. But she smiles and nods along easily enough.

She may also be convinced that Right is nuts.]

Well, this is Gato. [She runs a hand along the Golett's head.]

And I'm Lucca. Lucca Ashtear.

[lunchleader]

Nice to meet you both! I'm Right Suzuki. Ah...sorry about Creeper here; we just bonded the other day, and I didn't expect him to backslide so soon. For some reason, he thinks scaring people is fun. But he won't be doing that again. [Right gave the bug a hard glare.] Isn't that right, Creeper?

Ee! Ee! Terpie~! [~Of course! Of course! I'm sorry for back-sliding! Won't happy again!~ Creeper flails in his upside-down position.]

Good. Now...say sorry to the nice lady... [Right carefully lets the bug stand on the palm of his hand now.]

[The Caterpie sighs in relief - his poor, sore tail! - but does as Right says and bows apologetically towards Lucca.]

[sparkofgenius]

[Again, still clueless about what's being said, the engineer watches...and adjusts her glasses when she sees the little bug bow. The bug gets a nervous smile all the same, but a nod follows. Sorry, you're kinda creepy still.]

I take it you can speak to them?

[Because that's what she's getting out of all this.]

[lunchleader]

Yep! Always have, since I was little. To me, Pokemon and human are all just people - I can talk to both of them normally. [He carefully puts Creeper onto his other shoulder.] I never lacked for friends growing up. Still don't, actually.

[sparkofgenius]

I…can see that. [Bugs. Yick! Total yick! But she’ll try and be more polite than that and not grimace. Much.]

That’s a veritable horde of Pokemon you have there. And you’ve Aligned with all of them? Are they normally…agreeable to that? Or is it because you talked to them?

[lunchleader]

Aligned...? [Right has to think about that for a moment.] Do you mean bonded?

[sparkofgenius]

Ah...um...yes. That's right. I think that's the Union word for it.

[lunchleader]

[Right's eyes then lit up when it clicked...and then his whole face lit up with a big grin.] Yeah, we're all bonded together! Normally, people have to use the Warp Band to bond, but I don't have to. Normally I just have to talk to them, maybe offer a couple of treats, and we become friends.

Well, most of the time. [He side-glances at the Caterpie.] Creeper here's the first Pokemon we ever had to fight before becoming friends with. The jerk here just about gave Usopp a heart attack when she scared him the other day, and Softy had to beat her up for it.

Dooooove. [~And don't think I've forgiven you yet, you little prankster.~ Usopp leans around Right's head to give the bug an "I'm on to you" stare.]

[sparkofgenius]

Wait, you don't have to use a Warp Band? But...you need it to call them from the Habitat, right?

[She is intrigued! What is this not needing technology...]

[lunchleader]

Of course I still need it for that! It's also useful for when I have to get in contact with someone really quickly. But just to bond and chat with them?

Well, most people still use it for that, yeah. [Right simply shrugs.] Not me, though.

[sparkofgenius]

Oh okay. I wasn't sure. Just...it's kinda different from how we do stuff back home is all.

[lunchleader]

Really? Where are you from?

[sparkofgenius]

Caldera?

[lunchleader]

Ohhhh! That explains why you never heard of bonding the way we describe it before! Welcome to Union, then.

[sparkofgenius]

Thanks. I...uh...I've been around a couple of days, but yeah, thanks.

[She holds up her wrist to show the warp band.]

Nifty gizmo.

[lunchleader]

It is, isn't it? They just added the video option last year, too.