SEPTEMBER INTRO LOG

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→ 09/01 The Arrival

「 Welcome to the world of POKEMON 」

"It will come to be. And in exchange..."
You wake up with a start. Thunder rolls across the sky, steamrolling the voices and the fog out of your head and replacing them with mottled grey on white— greyer in some spots than others, and if you're one of the unlucky ones, the greyest leaks cold water right down on your face. Drip... drip... drip... the intervals in between getting shorter and shorter until

SPLOOSH!!

The entire ceiling caves in and water and soggy drywall collapses onto your head, and those of several dozen others sharing this very open, very wet room. Rain pours down from overhead through the large hole in the middle of the ceiling, but the perimeter of the room is a little drier: about a dozen cots line the walls, not enough for the number of people here and so most must pick themselves off the ground. Other than a few curtained dividers now scattered across the flooding floor, the room is otherwise bare. White, grey, and very wet.

"Uh..." The only dry people in the room stand in the doorway: a girl who pulls her hood further over her head to keep the water off her face as she steps in to help the person nearest her up, and a boy who hangs back behind her, hesitant, staring at his feet a little guiltily until he looks up and catches somebody's eye, and he too steps forward to help people onto their feet. They introduce themselves as Chiaki Nanami and Minato Arisato, explain that they've arrived here a while ago in the exact same way as everybody here, and show off the purple and grey bands around their right and left ankles respectively, as if that is proof enough. Your unconscious bodies may or may not have been investigated while you were unconscious, but every person here will find some sort of band tattooed around a part of their body, some with a single pattern and some with two, some matching somebody else's and some unique to their own.

For those who want to hang back and ask questions, Nanami and Minato stick around and do their best to answer them, otherwise, you're free to go out in the rain and get soaked and wonder why this is your life.

→ 09/01 The Surroundings

"Ichi help me think of headings. I am so bad at writing headings" - Card

It's actually not that bad, all things considering. Sure, it's raining all day nonstop, but the rain varies between pouring and sprinkling and is weirdly lukewarm, like a shower that doesn't have enough water pressure and can't get hot enough. Strange creatures called Pokemon roam about the town of Toran, many hiding from the rain and liable to attack when people unexpectedly stumble upon them trying to find shelter themselves, especially the arm-hungry bears who just want to nap under trees, but others are friendly and eager to help people sweep water out of buildings and patch up roofs.

Whether you woke up with one or stumbled across them later, you have your own strange creature too. Be friends. If you don't know anything about Pokemon, there are plenty of elementary schoolers eager to laugh at your ignorance and teach you everything you need to know about catching and training Pokemon, little four-year-old escorts around Toran to show you where to find them in the lake at the center of the island, the surrounding ocean, the patches of grass throughout the town. The ground is perpetually marshy, thick mud and tall grass slowing foot traffic and the spiderwebs of pavement connecting the other structures around town are covered with half squashed, wiggling worms(egments) that are almost unavoidable to step on unless it's during a lighter drizzle when the bird Pokemon are free to swoop down to pick the roads clean. Want to get some experience in Pokemon battling? These literal children will gladly pulverize you to the point of blacking out and take your money or whatever fun little trinkets you have in your pockets.

The building everybody arrived in turns out to be a hospital, with an adjacent building being a hospital for Pokemon- a Pokemon Center- which offers free shelter for travellers but is currently overflowing with people who are stranded on this island, even with so many visitors forced to resort to long term lodging in the town's small inn. Both the hospital and Pokemon Center stand right along the lakeside, water overflowing and nearly lapping against the front steps, which is home to an abnormally large 30-foot long Gyarados. It thrashes about in the middle of the lake and has been scaring all the other wild water Pokemon to the outskirts of the lake, blasting the nearby buildings and berry trees with torrents of water, and lashing out at anybody who tries to approach. Several fishing boats that have gotten too close have been smashed, but a few are left tied to the docks around the lake for braver trainers to use.

Large canopies have been set up over the berry gardens dotting the rest of the lakeside to keep the rain (and the occasional Gyarados hydro pump) from washing off the berries. The trees are tended to by gardeners with their grass Pokemon, and at times Minato with his Yamask covering his face, one black arm wrapped around his neck and the other lazily waving an arm to part the cloud of several hundred Combee buzzing protectively around the boy, trying to keep unfamiliar people away from the beehives as Minato makes his rounds checking up on each of the hives and picking up the fruit that has fallen or has ripened enough on the branches, offering berries to any person or Pokemon who's hungry.

Most of the buildings around town are doing well enough, despite the unending gloomy weather and too many people. The Daycare Center is particularly packed with Pokemon whose trainers are stuck outside of the island and unable to pick them up, and volunteers to help feed and care for the Pokemon are needed more than ever, especially the younger Pokemon who are fussy and upset at being away from their trainers for so long. Even the older Pokemon are a bit worried, and some of the daycare workers whisper about rumors of a pack of wild Drifloon seen around town whenever the rain calms down to a drizzle and luring little kids into the thick fog and getting them lost. There are also whispers about the hospital, hushed words about how it's haunted by the spirits of the deceased and that when a group of Murkrows gather around a patient's window, it's to mark that person with misfortune and death. Several posters of missing children are hung up around the Daycare Center, with the promise of a reward for any information or return of the children, and flyers begging for help to calm the residents at the hospital of their worries about the Murkrows or ghostly sightings.

The Game Corner arcade never knows silence with the constant flashing and chiming of the slot machines and roulette wheels, but don't be fooled with the frequent payouts seen at the machines Nanami and her Mimikyu sit at, because the odds are actually pretty low and the tokens can only be traded in for berries, common items, and Pokemon accessories. There are no windows in the Game Corner, and it is very easy to lose track of time inside— one elderly gentleman in a tophat can be seen at the same slot machine in the corner at all hours of the day, never eating or sleeping or doing anything else but mechanically pulling the lever, unresponsive to the rest of the world around him. He's going to hit the jackpot, he knows it. Just one more pull. One more pull...

The newest building in Toran is the boba shop, freshly painted in bright yellows and blues just before the storm hit and the colors remain bold against the grey sky. The "Grand Opening" sign still hangs above the front door despite opening over a month before, inviting customers inside to try their specialty: milk tea with Combee honey boba balls. Boba is half off for first-time customers, and you also get your stamp card stamped with a lavender Bulbasaur face, unique to Toran's shop. There are eight stamps total to be collected- fill up your stamp card for a special prize! But strangely enough, scattered throughout the town, people of various different ages slump against walls and on the ground, barely responsive and with empty cups of boba around them. They're ignored by the townspeople and despite the unnerving sight of these semi-vegetative citizens, lines to the shop are just as long as ever.

The shop is also currently hiring, for those who would like to fill up their days while there's nowhere to go and make a little $$$. How about it? Join Team Boba today! (:

→ 09/02 The First Meeting

"Hahahahaha" - Ichi

After giving people some time to get settled, later in the evening of the second day, Nanami, Minato, and their Pokemon go around finding people with those mysterious bands marking them as isekai'd strangers to the island, and herd them towards the boba shop to Talk. About why they're all here, about that dream, about where to go from here...

As the group waits for the last of them to arrive, with a round of boba provided courtesy of Nanami and her small Game Corner fortune, chatter around the boba shop paints the same story: a storm has been raging for over a month now, with thunder and lightning, hurricane winds, and whirlpools making travel to and from the island too hazardous, trapping visitors on the island way past their expected length of stay. There are talks of strong Pokemon trainers having headed out into the storm to try and get help from other towns, most of them quickly forced to turn back, and others— whether they were lost at sea or managed to break through— never heard from since. Storms are never this bad here, the people say, they never last this long and they don't ever seem to be... sentient... getting a lot worse earlier yesterday when so many new people were found collapsed around the island and were brought to the hospital, intermittently throughout the past month whenever a trainer tries to leave the island, and the largest reaction from the storm over a month ago when a girl with pink hair and a boy with blue hair were found in the lake and dragged half-dead to the hospital.

The island has been isolated for well over a month now with nobody having any idea what's going on outside, but the arrival of so many people at once can't be a coincidence- it must signify the time for change. When something to this scale happens, people tend to look to the gods, the Legendary Pokemon, but if they're really the cause... it'll take effort from everybody in order to break through the storm to catch the attention of the Legendaries and reach the rest of the world.

→ MOD NOTES

⬥ Welcome to Pokespe! All characters wake up at the hospital by the lakeside and can explore the rest of the island. Players are free to play out Pokemon battles or wild Pokemon encounters, but please let a mod know when catching a new Pokemon so we can approve or decline the capture.
⬥ On the second day, Nanami and Minato will be available to answer questions about what they've found out in the month before everybody else arrived. They will each have an NPC toplevel for those who wish to speak with them, and characters present at the meeting are free to learn about the information shared without needing to thread with an NPC.
⬥To proceed to the next area for next month's log, characters must find a way to travel across the stormy ocean filled with whirlpools and choppy waves. Make sure to mention your efforts on the permanent AC page at the end of the month!
⬥ There are several other oddities and problems around town that characters may choose to help with or investigate, which may or may not help with escaping the island or have ties to the plot as a whole. To investigate one of these areas, please comment to the questions toplevel with a link to your thread so the mods can direct you appropriately.

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[ Cramorant's beak has definitely not been keep him upright, and he finally lets go when it feels like Dokja's going to fall back onto his butt. He returns to Sooyoung's side, with something like a majestic air--kinda like kittens when they sit on top of the toilet lid and claim it as theirs. ]

What? So I can't be here? Though I'll say it again--I'm really glad you're here, so you don't go off pulling off your stunts again... at least not as long as I'm around.

[ Despite her words, her expression seems to soften. She mutters under her breath: ]

Stupid Kim Dokja...

[ The Rookidee squeezes out of Dokja's coat now that the Cramorant is away, plucking and pulling at Dokja's hair. Get yourself together, boy. Dokja winces but only pats the small bird's head. Yes, yes. He's fine. ]

That's not what I mean. [ A small sigh while he pushes back on his feet, eying her Pokemon before focusing solely on the writer. ] ..It really is good to see you.

[ A hand raises to lightly ruffle her hair with a cheeky smile. Hey, he remembers what Yun had gotten her talons on. ] Shouldn't you be looking after your health more?

[ It's like that "it's that damned smile" meme, except the entire company rises up in anger. Sooyoung thinks to herself that there are several possibilities:

1) she cries and hugs Dokja about how much she missed him and deck him in the face after because she totally didn't cry
2) punch his face again without the hug and crying for that remark
3) scowl and say something witty

...

Sooyoung only frowns and sighs, gently brushing Dokja's hand aside and then looks up at him with a serious look. ]

Shouldn't you be looking after yourself more?

[ Mister Kim "I can't picture myself in happiness so I will sacrifice myself to make my loved ones happy despite how sad I'll make them" Dokja. ]

[ It's not a harsh smack, just a gently swat, so he lets her and drops his hands back to his side with a smile at her words. Her attitude is familiar- it seems fierce, but he knows how much she cares. Knows her well enough that there isn't any actual malice. ]

I am, technically. Am I not allowed to worry myself over you, Sooyoung-ie?

[ He's not wrong. Of course, Dokja is looking after his loved ones more so. The Rookidee gripping tightly to his coat hops up onto his shoulder, deciding to perch there as she eyes the two. ]

Have you ran into Yoo Joonghyuk yet?

[ Sooyoung crosses her arms, still frowning. Apparently, that answer isn't satisfying, but has it ever been? She feels like everyone just looked over it, despite it happening again and again. ]

... I did. Gave him a good beating too.

[ Well, her pokemon did. Ditto, the white umbrella, grins wider at the mention. It was mostly Cramorant's doing anyway. It's fine. ]

Though, I don't really want to hear that from you after what you did.

I'm sure he was happy about that.

[ Dokja says with clear amusement, corner of his eyes crinkling with mirth. A shame he missed out on it. Though, now he's wondering if he should bring something back for Joonghyuk? How badly was he actually beaten up?

The Rookidee flutters to hop onto Dokja's other shoulder, peeking at him as he falls into thought. At least Sooyoung's words bring his attention back. ]

You would have to be a bit more specific. There's a lot that I've done that wasn't approved of.

[ If Dokja really came from the same time period as Sooyoung, he'd never hear the end of it. However, with her encounter with Joonghyuk, she has a reason to doubt that. She grits her teeth, but relaxes, crossing her arms and staring right at him. ]

Maybe, it's the time when you ditched everyone to sacrifice yourself multiple times, or maybe when you made promises that you didn't intend on keeping, or maybe it was the time when people regressed as a group in order to get you back because you split yourself in two, resulting in sending Yoo Joonghyuk into space in a fleeting chance to make you come back. Yeah, I wonder which one.

[ The reader is well aware of the anger, the feeling of betrayal, the hurt that his companions of his company feel. Especially towards him. So, once Sooyoung begins, he lets her. For the most part, he keeps himself composed, though he does feel himself flinch at the mention of the promises, at the fact the group regressed and that Yoo Joonghyuk went as far as to do that.

He manages to steady himself despite it. He has to. Because no matter what he feels here, he can't let it sway his decision. ] I haven't split myself yet.

[ That's all he can say about that. He knows the decision he plans to make. He knows he won't apologize for it. Though, mentioning Joonghyuk, he wonders where exactly in time he is. Aware that he also knows Dokja's course of plan. ]

[ Perhaps it was already a lost cause, with how time has been working where they came from. Maybe it was just inevitable. When Dokja is set on something, he doesn't deter from it, and that's something Sooyoung knows personally. She stares him down for a little longer, before sighing and reaching over and pulling his cheek hard. ]

Stupid Kim Dokja...

[ Ow, that's his cheek!! Please, his complexion is suffeirng.

Yun seems to make loud pitched cries and tries to smack that hand away with a flap of her wings. ] I get it already so can you hold back a little now? Yun is getting a bit stressed out.

[ A sigh. ] I'm about to head back so let's talk on the go? [ Because yes, he's assuming she will be staying with them. ] I don't know if Yoo Joonghyuk has mentioned anything to you, but this isn't our first trip to a different world line.

Yeah? What kind of side stop did you make then--into the world of Dooly the dinosaur?

[ At least she lets go of Dokja's cheek and follows wherever he's going while walking next to him. ]

No. ..Do I wanna ask why that was your first idea?

[ Quirks a brow, but continues making his way back to where the two of them are holed up at currently. ] No, it was an island resort. Kinda. Except we had to build structures and homes for potential new villagers that wanted to actually stay.

Said villagers were talking animals walking around on their back legs.

So it was basically "build your own resort".

[ In a build-a-bear sort of way. Naruhodo. Sooyoung quirks an eyebrow at the last bit though. ]

Sounds like you two are going in worlds that seem game-like one after another. Yoo Joonghyuk must be thriving.

[ That gamer nerd. ]

Mmm.. yeah. I'd say that basically sums it up.

[ Dokja can't help the grin at that. Gamer nerd indeed. ]

How fortunate to be in one's element. ..We were suppose to head back home after the previous trip. Minato was actually there too on that island, but he doesn't seem to remember it.

[ And yet, Joonghyuk and Dokja both do? It's strange. ]

Probably another world line.

[ Sooyoung states it like a fact and right away too. ]

It wouldn't make sense otherwise, since I don't see how that kid would be special other than getting here earlier than any of us.

Well, he is the reason his own world didn't fall into Armageddon.

[ So he has to be special? ] Must come with some nice perks.

[ Do make yourself at home, Han Sooyoung. As to be expected. ]

[ All Sooyoung does is give Dokja a dead stare, which goes to show how much she believes that before treading onto the campsite. She doesn't see Joonghyuk around and looks over at the spot where he was lying down earlier because he got conked out by her bird. Good times. ]

Oh, right. Here.

[ She grabs Dokja's hand pulls it towards herself, puts something in his hand, makes him close it into a fist and then walks off deeper into the campsite. It's pokemon money aka eat more you scrawny man. ]

[ Seriously, as soon as Dokja finds out about that, he's gonna be sad to have missed it. For now, he just raises a hand as Rookidee perches on it and guides the bird Pokemon to perch elsewhere. Some nearby set up.

Siwoo comes crawling out from nearby and stares up at Sooyoung with a slow wag. Is friend? Dokja turns to his companion just in time for that hand to be tugged. He glances first at her, curiously, until he squints at his hand closed up. Huh?

Opening it, he stares at the money. Oh. ] What's this for?

[ Yeah, he'll question it. ] Have you been beating kids in Pokemon battles?

What do you think money is for?

[ Stupid Dokja!! Though that's just how Sooyoung rolls and lightly shrugs. ]

And I sure have. Anyone is a pushover if they let overconfidence get to their heads.

[ Which... isn't a lie, since she did beat kids in battles for their money, but. Yeah. ]

A lot of things. Should I get new clothes? Are you asking me to take you out to eat? If there's something you want, you can just buy it yourself.

[ Yeah, he's going to mess with her. All while smiling cheekily at her. ]

I'm pretty sure that's just bullying. [ Stop mean to kids. ]

You cocky bastard.

[ She walks over to Dokja and reaches out to pinch his other cheek and pull. ]

Yeah, take me out for dinner with the money I just gave you. God, you have no sense at all.

[ Tuuuuug. ]

You said it yourself, didn't you? Woes is me the idiot.

[ Dokja is just a smug bastard at this point. He laughs just a little despite the ache, ow ow ow-- Soon enough smacking her hand away so he can rub the offended cheek. ]

Besides, I'm not exactly poor. You don't need to lend me money. ..Normally it's the other way around. [ Dokja with all the coins. Only not a whole lot at the moment because he isn't constantly going out and fighting people!!! ]

[ I thought I tagged this wtf...

And you know what? Sooyoung is kinda glad that he's not going off and fighting with others. Even though she shouldn't be the one to tell Dokja about it, since she mugged several people already, but really... no more challenging random gods. Please. ]

SO you're saying you don't want it, huh? I can take it back if that's what you want.

[ She holds her hand out towards him. ]

[ Just you wait. Someday they'll meet with a Legendary and Kim Dokja is stupidly going to fight it.

Until then, Dokja will take his time battling here and there. At her words, however, he's already stuffing his hand into his pockets to deposit the money away. ]

And reject your kindness, Sooyoung-ie? I'll keep it.

That's what I thought.

[ Since Dokja brought her to the camp, she'll assume he won't make the same mistake as Joonghyuk did.

Ditto continues to be an umbrella and smiles normally at Dokja now. ]

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afterword - 2020-09-29 07:44 (UTC) - Expand

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authoriser - 2020-09-30 17:20 (UTC) - Expand

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