Twelfth Dream: Mankeyshines and Snapshots [Action/Video]

[rainsrespite]

Video:

[A new year, and a whole mixed bag of revelations and resolutions are weighing on Yuuna. It's been a while since she made any formal broadcasts, and seated in Ranger HQ, she idly flips on the Warp Band and just starts talking.]

Hey everyone. Got a little bit new news, personal stuff. Figured I'd just announce it all at once. First of all, I got a promotion. I'm the 3rd Division leader now. My old one retired, and I got some recognition for past service. So, I'll probably be around Union a little bit more than usual. Heh. Paperwork.

Moreover, I've been named the Ranger Liason to the Seekers. Most of you can imagine why.

[She smiles wryly, knowing certain parties are going to like that.]

Second, given my new job, I'm supposed to officially announce that my division is officially recruiting. We pay alright, and you'd be working directly for me. If you're interested, or have further questions about the Rangers in general, feel free to stop by HQ. I'll be around late.

Ranger HQ:

[And true to her word? She is. If you have questions that won't work over the Warp Band, Yuuna will be there until dusk.]


Action, Apartment:

[And after hearing this particular announcement, a certain Pokemon of hers is up to no good. Turnip, the Monferno, is so excited by hearing about the promotion that he decides to bake a cake or something.

Something is right, because he's completely incapable of cooking, and it's not long before a billowing cloud of smoke pours out of Yuuna and Merrill's apartment and the Pokemon are forced out into the street. Alarms go off, and the Monferno bolts for it on principle. The fire is dealt with pretty quickly by Uzushio, but the smoke seems to linger somehow...creating quite the scene outside as a panicked Monferno runs back and forth in confusion, grabbing random passersby and gesticulating wildly, jabbering away. Help! Help! The boss is going to kill himmmmm!]

Comments

[wise_maiden]

Very well. I'll see you then.

[And true to her word, she'll be there in a little less than an hour, accompanied by a Pikachu, (who had also appeared in that broadcast about the Oddish, ironically), and it notably has its own smart looking winter wear.

Raine has a more traditional cape and hood set for her outerwear, as she takes a quick look around the HQ before getting the directions to Yuuna's office and knocking.]

[rainsrespite]

[The Ranger's HQ is a quiet lodge-like building that seems relatively open. Long rows of desks for each line the entire building, and Yuuna's office is at one of the corners. Privilege and all of a new command taking an old one. The door's open, and the woman herself is sorting through various boxes, but turns at the sound.

She's tall, easily 6'5", with lean muscle and the figure of a fighter. Her clothes are simple, a white martial arts tunic and matching pants, though a heavy brown Ranger jacket hangs from a peg. And to an Analyst, it's readily apparent that she's Enlightened. Fighting and Electric typed, and seasoned as well.

The Porygon from the video chimes from the desk, eyes clicking as they zoom in.]

Raine, Hey. [Her hand taps on the Porygon's head and it stops scanning...] Um. Ignore Ren, he's just paranoid. Not great with strangers.

[wise_maiden]

[The woman is a foot taller than her, which is surprising, as Raine shifts to give her formal curtsy greeting.]

It's all right. [She glances over at the unfamiliar Pokemon to give it a small nod anyway. After all, certain Pokemon of hers weren't great with strangers either. The Pikachu squeaks out a friendly greeting toward Yuuna, not seeming too daunted by height. Raine reaches into her bag to retrieve the notebook which has the photograph pinned to it.]

Ah - and congratulations on your promotion as well.

[rainsrespite]

Thanks.

[Her attention is more or less focused on the Pikachu while Raine goes digging, and she holds out a finger towards it, sending a tiny spark it's way as a method of greeting. Mingle energy, little guy?]

Was kind of a sudden thing, honestly. But you know, double edged swords.

[Her off hand sweeps over to encompass the paperwork and moving boxes. More work...]

[wise_maiden]

[Pika! The Pokemon seems pleased at meeting another electric-type, offering a little excited spark in return.]

I know what you mean.

[That was life back in Sanctuary, hectic, constantly working if only to try and stay ahead. Even for a young noble. Let alone the change that was moving here and essentially running away from all of that...

She finds the page with the photograph, (a distinct outcropping of stone in the Steppes, though there's nothing to indicate it as such to her) moving to present it after the pair had time to make their connection.]

Ah, here. This was the picture in question. Do you make anything of it?

[rainsrespite]

[The photograph snaps her attention away from the Pokemon, though the little rodent gets a warmly apologetic smile. Sorry little guy, job first.

Reaching out, she takes the paper and studies it with a frown. It does look like a place she'd seen. Going over to her desk, she takes a seat and scrutinizes it further...tapping a finger on it a few times and leaning over.

It takes a second, sifting through thoughts and memories but...]

Yeah. I've seen this place. It's on East, in the steppes. It's not...well mapped yet, but I've definitely seen this. Give me a sec, and I'll see if I can mark exactly where.

[wise_maiden]

Really? Oh, that's wonderful! I've heard that newer areas were being discovered lately. It's almost hard to keep up with them all. Please, take all the time you need.

[rainsrespite]

It's been a bit of a trip, yeah. The Warp Band signal went out pretty far, but more and more people are going out mapping.

[Which suits her just fine. She holds up a hand and gets up.]

Just a sec, I'll be right back. I want a surveyors map

[wise_maiden]

It must keep everyone here busy.

[But she falls quiet when Yuuna puts her hand up, and she nods, letting her gaze go back to the picture while she waits.]

[rainsrespite]

A bit.

[She's gone a few minutes, but returns with a large roll of parchment, paying it on the desk after sweeping a few things clear.]

Okay, have you been out that way at all?

[wise_maiden]

[She shakes her head.] I'm afraid the furthest out I've been is to Glacier and back, and I don't think that would help in this case.

[rainsrespite]

That's a damn sight further than most people, but a bit to the north. This is out on the Eastern Steppes.

[Spreading a large map containing an overview of the region with her hands, she points to the area.]

That's here. On the far side of the mountains. Did you hear the news about the expedition there yet?

[wise_maiden]

I see...

[She studies the map, but shakes her head once again at the question.] No, I haven't heard anything about that area.

[rainsrespite]

No? Well, alright. So it was rather recently explored in part by Lenna Tycoon, Haruka Tenoh, and a few others. I've only passed through the area a bit, but Ms. Tycoon might be able to give you firsthand details of the area. From what I understand, it's a lot of Pokemon you'd expect to find in the plains, along with rocks and boulders that feel like they came down from the mountains.

Your outcropping is somewhere towards the center, based on the surroundings. I haven't seen it specifically, but...

[She pulls out another map, this one a more detailed one of the area. It's spotty, with some missing fragments that are shaded out.]

The shaded areas are places we haven't directly mapped out yet for one reason or another. Rangers tend to avoid trying to get into confrontations with the local wildlife, and this big area here? [She points towards a decent sized patch of shading, a few miles wide but not huge...] is probably where your photo is of. Based on the rock formations I see around it. I can't give you an exact location but if you give me a week I'll be able to get that shaded area filled in. I'm due for a waystation patrol out that way, and it's just another hour or two east of the mountain waystation.

[wise_maiden]

[Those are names she recognizes at least; she files that away for later thought.]

It sounds like a journey that needs a lot of preparation. If you have plans to make a more thorough search of the area, I certainly can wait until you have more results. I'm hardly an adventurer, so the more knowledge going in the better.

[Besides, even with her burning curiosity, rushing headlong into traveling while still being inexperienced doesn't seem practical.]

[rainsrespite]

Yeah. I'm going to, within the week even.

[Because now she's curious.]

Where'd this photograph come from? I don't think I've seen it in any of our records. At all.

[wise_maiden]

It wasn't in any records at the library either. [Though the revelation of the location indicated why there wouldn't be.] It was a gift.

[rainsrespite]

...From the Savior, then? On Salvation Day?

[She can piece that much together, from the scraps of info she does have. This shouldn't exist. But it does. Just like Maka's photograph, or Ar'athalan.]

[wise_maiden]

... yes, I received it from a mysterious benefactor on Salvation.

[Some poking around had unearthed some of those rumors, but she wasn't entirely convinced.]

[rainsrespite]

Then you know this shouldn't exist, right?

[It really shouldn't.]

[wise_maiden]

[She shrugs a little.]

If people didn't choose to investigate the improbable, they wouldn't get very far. Most don't even get the opportunity.

[rainsrespite]

You don't have to tell me that. I'm interested. It's why I do what I do.

And that's not entirely true. Most people don't take the opportunity, but it's there.

[wise_maiden]

Barring circumstances, yes. [Obviously, the older woman hadn't grown up in an occupied city.] But why ask the question, then?

[rainsrespite]

To drive home the point.

[Yuuna'd grown up in Union, and was restricted in other ways, until she'd made a very big choice.]

This photograph is important. If you have no objections, I'd like to sketch a copy for our records.

[wise_maiden]

I knew that bringing it here would invite that possibility, so yes, you're welcome to do so.

[It's almost a laugh, how much that alone goes against Sanctuary upbringing.]