2024-01-06: Five Drifters Walk into the Pokemon Center

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==============================<* Pallet Town *>===============================

Pallet Town is the southernmost major city in the Emerald Cape region. It's a quaint, laid-back town with an enjoyable pastoral atmosphere suitable to the elderly Nedean population. Pallet Town embraced the individual house and suburbia more than other cities in Nede, and some of its detractors call it a forgettable stop on the way to Viridian City and the Indigo Plateau. However, the sleepy town has developed a culture of developing Champion-ranked trainers, many citing the famous Pokemon Lab headed by Professor Oak as an inspiration when they were youths. 

BGM: Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee & Pikachu! - Pallet Town - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTXevD9ephA

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida's still processing everything that happened yesterday. And who could blame her? She took the rail back to Pallet Town, and hung around the Pokemon Center for the rest of the day. She helped a Chansey and her Nedian partner make a fresh batch of Poke Puffs, and was given a few to take back to the Pokemon Center's hostel. Ida gave one to her Caterpie, spent the rest of the evening reading news, and fell asleep with her newest friend curled up at her feet.

        It's the day after, and Ida's had breakfast; she's gathered up her belongings, but she's also politely asked for a storage locker for the gear and clothing she bought on Nede. She's going to be coming back, after all, to deal with these Wise Men. The heiress sits in the hostel's lounge, clad in her grey Thames jumpsuit and hiking boots. Her hair is up in its bun. She's packing a suit of Metal Demon War-era combat armor into a duffel bag of Nedian make, and the rest of her molly rigging is packed up and ready to wear. (Her ARMs are out, but secured in their holster, and unloaded, with white peacebonds wrapped around them as a visual vow.

        A Caterpie sits on the table next to it, politely nibbling on an Oran Berry.

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Violet enters the Pokemon Center looking...uncomfortable. Mainly because she's dressed in blue jeans and white t-shirt, while proper ladies wear long dresses and corsets. Then again, it's easier to breathe in her new outfit! She still has her backpack and a wrapped bundle (containing her ARM. Best not to open carry here!). Three Pokemon frolic around her ...a pink creature, a dog-like one, and a humanoid 'mon.

Since being introduced to Energy Nede, she has marvelled at the technology...indoor plumbing, air conditioning, computers...all so much more advanced than Filgaia. She's even acquired a cellphone! She approaches the other Drifters in the Pokemon Center. "Ida! How've you been? And what kind of Pokemon is that? I have three!..." She rounds up her 'mons, but since she's barely begun training them, it's kind of like herding cats. "Mimsy, the Clefairy. The Hearthound Kozi (kay-oh-zee-eye). And Steve the Hitmonlee!" Steve is rather lumpish. Mimsy purrs, Kozi woofs, and Steve just stands there. "Kozi is a great cuddler, if you want to try him out! He's so WARM!!" 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius has been making the rounds after both Mayor Nall and Professor Oak showed the visitors to Nede of another wrinkle in everyone's shared struggle and predicament. When is he not? He's made the leap a long time ago in coming to grips with a society far more advanced than anything he ever could have imagined. (It technically happened again by coming to Energy Nede, but the blow has been dampened significantly.)
 
        Luckily, he's been furnished with some extra FOL as something of a stipend - though this time above and beyond societal graces to those less fortunate, and his trajectory over the last day is not dissimilar to Ida's.
 
        "Miss Ida," says Ethius, who looks the part of a well-worn backpacker and hiker. He's been spending almost all his time until now around the Kanto Plains Route trying to keep tabs on everyone. His only apparent armament is his quarterstaff, neatly disguised as a walking stick. He's trailed by three Pokemon. Well, technically, two. One, an upright orangeish lizard adorned in vines with growing berries and simple weapons and armor of wooden make. Another, a shambling land barnacle who has received a lot of cooing from the hostel workers. The other that's out but not quite tailing Ethius at a distance within bounds of 'completely housebroken' is a strange arachnid-like creature with an elongated head and mouthparts that seem to double as long arms, who is watching from a distance while crawling up a support somewhere.
 
        "Are you well?" He asks, genuine in intent though his tone of voice is about as flat as always. He's coming to grips with his own fatigue, rubbing at his head as Violet beams about her new friends and new access to convenience that maybe only the Zeboim era ever knew prior.
 
        He doesn't remember Violet's name but he knows he's seen her before. He doesn't interrupt over her introduction of the friends she's made, and that's swell as he just now noticed his Arcmene is in the middle of casual misbehavior. 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige Kiwako is.. prone to wandering as ever. Because she's a cat and cats are curious. That someone might be whispering in her ear's certainly a possibility though. She can't really put a finger on it though. All that said, she's doing the tourist-y thing just like she did on Lunar before that went pear shaped. The town's a bit more ideallic looking so hopefully. Her ears flatten at the memory as she heads towards the big building. Head tilted just a touch to listen to someone.
 
 She hasn't caught anything yet. Other than probably a few curious looks as her shadows look like they've got a mind of their own. Plural!
 
 There's a pause though, then a hand goes up. "Huh. He was right." she says with some amusement. Then steps out of the way of the door and smiles, "Hey guys! Sorry I missed uh.. everything." Again, plural. Oh well! 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        If Gwen had nothing to lose, she would have jumped right over then and there, just like Xantia. However, she knows Lahan is on the Aveh-Kislev border; would they be jumping right into a war if they don't time things right? A few people at a time'll be unnoticeable, so Gwen's not worried about Xantia (more like she'd be worried for anyone who gets in Xantia's way),

        Dressed in some plainer Nedian clothing to replace the stuff that was in tatters from that battle, Gwen wouldn't seem too out of place aside from her lack of pointed ears, wearing a jacket and thin synthetic leather gloves to cover up her right arm. There's no battered hat to cover her short curls for now; Voltie is now hiding elsewhere, peekingrom under the loose collar of her jacket.

        Seeing the gathering of familiar faces, Gwen does a two fingered salute. "Yoo! Been keepin' an eye on that portal. Definitely ain't gonna be a fun ride when we get there; I've been seein' traces of soldiers from what I can see. If any of us should go through, it shouldn't be in one big push. If Aveh gets wind of a portal here, it'll only be a matter of time before Solaris finds out too, n' I ain't fond of Kislev findin' out either. Spread th'word if you guys sees anyone else fixin' t'go, kay? Be ready t'look harmless if y'get caught. Should be long enough that our faces won't be in the forefront of their minds, if any one of us's been up t'no good years ago. Newer faces'll have an easier time, but it'll also mean you'll be dropped in a new continent, so take a buddy who knows the area." 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        People come and go from the common room all the time--that's why it's there. But Violet's entrance catches Ida's eye precisely because she's not like most of the other guests. She searches for a name; it's been a while. "Miss Salazar," Ida says, after the awkward pause. "It's good to see you." Ida's eye falls to the three Pokemon trailing her; she smiles, gently, as the older woman introduces them. "You've really taken to this place, haven't you?"

        Part of Ida's liminal state is due to her insistence on Official Channels--a habit still lingering from the status afforded to her as a member of one of Guild Galad's founding families. Here, she's nobody. She didn't bring her birth certificate, or any legal documentation of her existence beyond her municipal transit papers. The local government--and for Energy Nede, all government is local--is being accommodating. Ida is struggling against tens of thousands of years of bureaucratic inertia, and the bureaucrats are as frustrated with it as she is. (She doesn't blame them.)

        "I've been all right," Ida says to Violet. "This is Sal. She's a Caterpie. She stowed away in my backpack not long after we... landed."

        "Caterpie!" says Sal, wiggling her mouthparts. But she's not looking at Viola, she's looking at Ethius. No wait, past Ethius, at his Arcmene. Ida turns to follow her gaze towards Ethius, and the others.

        "Shige," Ida says. "Gwen." She takes in Gwen's data calmly, and with interest. "I will. As always, thank you for your insight."

        "Pie!" Sal says, cheerfully, before... something catches her eye. She skitters closer to Gwen, looking not at her, but... at the Joltik tucked beneath her collar.

        "Pipie?"

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Violet doesn't remember Ethius's name, either, though she IS cognizant of the rumors, somewhat officially confirmed, that he's a SPACE ALIEN. Or a human FROM SPACE. Or something. She surreptitiously glances over at him, looking for any evidence of ALIENNESS, but finds none. He seems fully human -- more human than she is, in fact. She doesn't recognize the types of his Pokemon, and is nonplussed by the staring spider. And a lizard and a barnacle.

She nods to Shige, always pleased to meet another Beastfolk. Are those multiple shadows?!?. Vi's seen stranger things!

Gwen approaches the group and warns them to be discreet about using the portal. She makes a lot of sense!

"I'm glad you've been well," she responds to Ida. So her friend is a "Caterpie." She turns to Shige. "Pleased to meet you, Shige." Beastfolk needed to stick together, says her Look to the catfolk. No need to say it. Sal's antics catch Vi's attention, and she notices the Pokemon partially concealed under Gwen's collar. Another bug, she figures. That makes two bugs, a barnacle, a lizard, and a spider. Vi much prefers the mammalian, cuddly types. But to each their own! 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige Kiwako won't lie, she's not worried about bugs, but when it's as big as your forearm, her first thought on seeing it causes all the fur on her ears and tails to frizzle out. She shakes herself just a touch to get it gone and gets a better look at the Caterpie. Because it's cute when you get past 'big'. Kinda. There's probably a joke there.
 
 She had missed the rumors about Ethius, but she's usually wrapped up in other things and rumors and.. well. She hears a lot of stories, it all blurs.
 
 An ear flicks, spotting Vi, offering her a cheery wave. She hadn't seen as many beastfolk kicking around yet! (Here. Anyway.)
 
 Ida's given a grin, "Yo!" She starts to say something else, then glances around at the mention of pie. Because she's got a sweet tooth. Don't worry about it. 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

As for the portal, she does admit somewhat, "I was sneaky about it. We had similar thoughts." We, plural. An ear flicks, "Uh.. well a few of us anyway. Had some help." She makes a dismissive gesture behind her. She seems in a good mood at least! 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        "...Miss Shige," Ethius looks back from over his shoulder as he tries to gesture his Arcmene closer. (It stares at Sal, and at their human friend, with quiet... studiousness? One hopes so.) He clicks his mouth. Eventually, the Arcmene relents and skitters quickly across the length of the Pokemon Center to go up another support pillar instead.
 
        "...He may be overstimulated by the number of Nedians and... Nedian-equivalents," Ethius surmises. He looks back to Shige, partially, keeping one eye to the studious spider creature. "There's plenty to go over, but we can fill you in once you're ready."
 
        Ethius nods to Gwen's read of the situation. "Luckily, we were able to convince Mayor Nall to set up a barricade on the Nedian side of the rift as to prevent conflict from spilling over on either side." That is the hope.
 
        The upright lizard edges behind Ethius as it eyes everything. "Li...?"
 
        Ethius sets a hand atop the head of the Axe Lizard Pokemon to keep her calm, as her tail drops to the ground around her.
 
        "Gerel~" The barnacle sounds with a sonorous, even melodious voice as the sunlight from outside hits it just right to accentuate its colors. It is, despite the whole of the picture, almost an art piece unto itself.
 
        "I'm aware things have been... chaotic, unexpected." Ethius struggles to figure out how to start, because once again this isn't a conversation he's trained to open on, or speak about...
 
        Only, that it is a situation he's personally been through.
 
        "Our hosts on Energy Nede have been uniformly understanding and accommodating, but," Ethius clears his throat as he clicks his tongue to get his Arcmene to come closer, "if any of this has brought you concern or distress, I," he takes a moment to pause, as this is a man who has almost always presented as something untrustworthy or mildly unsettling by local cultural standards, "would be willing to speak with you to help you through them." 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        If anyone had asked Gwen, she would have preferred something mammalian as well, if she was forced to choose. However, if it was up to Gwen, she wouldn't have opted into it at all. Now, she can't stand the thought of leaving Joltik behind. Maybe this is why the Nedians are as well-adjusted as they are, despite living on a crumb of their original home? "Hee, good t'see you two!" Gwen greets Shige and Violet. "Oh, so you've been back n' forth already, Shige?"

        The Joltik immediately ducks beneath the collar as Sal nears, which Gwen notices. "Hey, hey, it's okay. See?" She kneels down, extending her hand out to Sal. "Sal's okay with others touchin' them, right?" Gwen asks, looking up towards Ida. If and when Ida consents, Gwen reaches out to pat experimentally on Sal's head, trying to get a sense of whether or not Sal is amenable to Gwen's touch.

        "Joltik." Voltie, feeling a little braver now that his source of food is interacting with the caterpie, skitters hesitantly down Gwen's arm, ready to flee back up if Sal makes any sudden moves. "There we go. Good Voltie. Such a brave boy!"

        Nodding to Ethius, Gwen grins. "Good. Should be easy to guard it for now, but we might need t'see if there's any way to shift the coordinates of the tear before things get messy. Don't wanna close off things outright; even if... well, I'm sure there's some who'd wanna remain hidden." Azoth comes to mind; Gwen frowns. "We owe it to the people here; not only do we need to stop the Ten Wise Men, we gotta make sure they don't get ten more headaches t'deal with on top of it. They're real advanced here tech-wise, but they also ain't used to constant fightin' like a Solaris-type operation might be."

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Violet hears Ethius's offer to talk through any problems or concerns and mentally rejects it. He doesn't seem very empathetic, to put mildly. He has always struck Violet as an odd bird (even moreso if he's actually an ALIEN). That WOULD explain some of the eccentricities...! He allows two of his Pokemon to introduce themselves, Li the lizard and Gerel the barnacle. His spider has kept its distance on one of the support pillars -- but that's just fine with her. She's released all the creepy-crawly Pokemon she's caught.

No one has taken Violet up on her offer to try out Kozi as a heating pad with feet, so she hoists him onto her shoulders, savoring the warmth on them and her neck. "Stay! StaAAAAAY," she intones, while palming a treat for him. He'll get it in a few minutes if he remains still...

                        Pokemon catch on fast -- if they want to. They're even smarter than horses.

"You're right, Gwen. I don't know what Nedian military capacities would be -- or even if they have any! Technology, sure, but how much of it is devoted to weapons or defense? Even their 'mons fight as individuals or small teams, not armies." 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige Kiwako holds a hand up and admits, "Just one way so far. I wanted to see what had everyone so agitated." A glance sidelong and she adds, "Might be the wrong word, but it's close enough." Which gets a hint of a smile.
 
 She does slip further in, finding herself a seat so she can get a closer look at the pokemon. She doesn't seem scared, but the bigger bugs do also still make the hair at the back of her neck raise a bit. She can't help it. The small ones don't do this and it's kinda fascinating!
 
 "Thanks Ethius." She nods to the space alien! "I'll probably take you up on it later. Better than stumbling around a moon aimlessly and getting wrapped up in another mess right?" She's at least still smiling, even if a hint of an edge slipped in briefly.
 
 An ear flicks as she looks at the pokemon in particular. "Oh uh-" She offers a wave to Violet, "I'm Shige by the way since I don't think we've met." She swats at something again, 'Stop' is murmured, "Bartender." and shaman. She didn't forget, but she still sees herself there when it's quiet! 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        "Pie?" says Sal, meeting Shige's gaze with big, woobly Caterpie eyes. (There is no pie forthcoming, apparently. Sal has a limited vocabulary. She's doing her best!) If she's noticed Shige's unusual and spooky companions, she doesn't seem scared at all.

        "Welcome to Energy Nede," Ida says, to Shige. "The wildlife is very friendly. Isn't that right, Sal?" She reaches down to scritch Sal's head, and Sal trills in delight. "Though I... have to admit, I wasn't expecting you to take to it so well, Ethius." A pause. "I'm glad, though."

        Ida grins as Violet demonstrates her own 'mon-handling skills. "Does he mind being pet?" she says, glancing at Kozi, and then his Trainer. But there's someone else here who needs attention...

        Sal trills again as Gwen gives her more of the attention she so richly deserves. She even nuzzles against Gwen's hand like an affectionate cat--though when Voltie comes in to investigate, she stops, and goes perfectly still. She's sensed Voltie's skittishness. She doesn't want to disturb him.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Azoth is a matter unto himself. Ethius does mean to check in on him before long, putting aside the number of times the both of them fought to the near-death of the other. He nods to Gwen's idea about some who'd want to remain hidden, though it's a bit more complex than that.
 
        "I can only say that their Symbological mastery is beyond anything known by the Pangalactic Federation," he says to Violet. If they haven't had cause to weaponize it in thousands upon thousands of years, and if the knowledge is even still around.... (Ethius is far, far, far too familiar with any number of accidents and mishaps in the world of technology. Inflicting that sort of thing is his job!) "That is the only measure I can give at present."
 
        He hopes it will be enough to stop problems from crossing over any more than they already have.
 
        "Indeed, Miss Shige," he turns back to her as his Miliza friend is eyeing the shadows surrounding her. He puts his hand atop her head again to try and get her to stay calmer. "The situation remains evolving, but at least Mayor Nall has been patient and accommodating with our inquiries." And Professor Oak, too.
 
        Ida expresses surprise about how he's taken to it so well. His hand comes up from Miliza to his forehead.
 
        "I am taking to it, yes." He nods his head as he watches Gerel just slide-strut along like he is at ease. He might be the single most well-adjusted member of the trio, for being an ambulating venomous land barnacle of no traditional imagery of cuddliness nor approachability.
 
        "It has been a learning experience, but... I've never had much chance or opportunity to form this kind of bond, in my work." His Gerel slides closer to Ethius, where their tongue inches up from its eight-fanged maw to gingerly lick at his hand, and wrap around his wrist.
 
        "It's fine," he asserts. "...This Gerel does remind me strongly of another creature from the world I grew up on. There was a specific sort of... hm. A coconut, you could give them, and they'd throw it back."
 
        He gestures over to the Miliza, who has started to sit down as she looks to the Hearthound proving to be a cozy presence.
 
        "This Miliza has shown interest in being a steadfast guide and defender along the Kanto Plains Route," he says, "and seemed interested in traveling further, so I am obliging. She does bear strong resemblance to a mythological figure from the culture I was first raised."
 
        His Arcmene skitters along the ceiling, and then starts to invert and lean down further, further, and further, waving their little claw hands as they stare at the lot of them. Ethius raises his hand to touch the claw.
 
        The backstory behind this one? As its creepy, two-eyed stare bears down upon everyone there with studious, quiet interest.
 
        "...I just like their eyes."
 
        Of course he would. 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

"He LOVES it!" Vi answers to Ida's question of whether Kozi likes to be petted. "He really lives up to his name!"

She nods to Shige. "Violet. Violet Salazar. Some call me Mother Vi."

Ethius reassures Violet that the Nedians are grand masters of Symbology, so magic, at least, is on their side. She doesn't have any direct experience using Symbology herself, since she can't take the ink. She'll just have to take his word for it.

Kozi has been patient. She ruffles the top of his head and gives him the treat, which he promptly gobbles right up (yes, she DOES feed him!). "Good boy! Staaaaaay!" 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        "Yeah," Gwen agrees, with Violet. "However, one advantage is that the size of the portal'll bottleneck anyone's efforts t'get in all at once."

        Turning to Shige, Gwen nods. "Oooohhh. Yeah, I couldn't keep track of everyone who got teleported, so I just assumed! So word's gotten out that much already?" Gwen frowns. "Damn. Should've realized the cat'd be out of the bag by now."

        "Awww... what a sweetheart!" Gwen's pets adjust to a more normal petting speed as Sal nuzzles her hand. "There we go. Voltie's gettin' okay with me itching his head. He's pretty fuzzy! He still likes t'curl on my head when I sleep. Like havin' a tiny guard dog! Only, a spider. Well, spider pokemon."

        Voltie is cautious; it'd be a different story if a caterpie was a volt type, of course. "Voltik." His mandibles juggle themselves cautiously, but there's an element of curiosity in his four eyes as well. "Joltik." With a quick jump, he suddenly perches on Sal's head, and even does a little dance, as if proud of himself. 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige Kiwako pauses for a moment. One ear slowly flicking a few times. "No pie.." Sounding actually disappointed. Free food's the best food. Still, she slowly reaches out and tries to pet the caterpillpie.
 
 She sits up straight and says, "Seems that way doesn't it?" Not expecting an answer admittedly. She sideeyes Ethius, "You didn't?" Seeming surprised. Then again she's not super familiar with him. Maybe she just figured he rolled with it.
 
 She takes a seat, listening to Ethius, at that. He knows what's going on and is happy to fill her in, which again, is a refreshing change of pace in a way!
 
 "I don't think my friends count like these do." Which is met with a gust of wind blowing her hair just a touch. "Might be as playful though." She might be teasing her companions. Such as they are.
 
 Gwen's question is met with something of a shrug. "I don't.. know actually. I don't have my ears to the ground the same way." She taps her head and smiles, "I was following some echoes of a sort I guess?" She's taking some time to look at the other assembled pokemon chin on her hand thinking after petting the caterpie. "They are rather cute though." Her mind briefly wandering.
 
 "I usually get "Hey you, another beer" so mother's not too bad a nickname. "Though that's probably a more interesting story than bartending." Shige's ear flicks and she adds, "Oh. Uh, I don't think I have other nicknames, but I do other work too." 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Mimsy and Steve are jealous of the attention and treat Kozi is getting. They approach Violet, begging, and she relents and gives them each some pets and treats -- but only after they "Sit." "Good girl, good boy!" She has been concentrating on basic commands and has not, so far, tried to teach them to fight. There should be time for that later -- but even better if there's no occasion for it. After all, they might get hurt!

Violet smiles at Shige. "I'm a midwife. Semi-retired." 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige Kiwako perks up her ears and says, "Oh, I think I'm the opposite actually" 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

"The opposite? You kill babies instead of bringing them into the world?" Violet looks horrified. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        "And they can mass-produce it, no less," Ida says, reaching down to drum her fingers on the Pokeball on her belt. It's currently in its smaller 'storage' mode, and the Symbols engraved on the metal rim are too small to make out. But they're there. They're mysterious. They're capable of feats even the mighty Pangalactic Federation cannot replicate, all at once, in one tiny package.

        And the Nedians use them to provide their companion animals with a single, convenient source of shelter, food, and safety. Yet another example of the lengths they'll go to for what's left of their world.

        "I have to admit, I wasn't expecting your, ah, Gerel to behave like that. They're precious." As Gwen lavishes attention on Sal, Ida moves over to give the Gerel a gentle pat, if they seem amenable. (So does Mimsy, likewise. Steve is... a bit too people-shaped to get one. Sorry, Steve!)

        "She is a sweet little troublemaker," Ida says, with a big grin on her face. "I'm glad Voltie's warming up. I was going to see if you wanted to take him to a Pokemon behaviorist I've been working for--she might have insight into how to help him adjust."

        "Piiiiii~!" Sal trills, and she hops up and down, wiggling her antenna. Ida coos in delight.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius can't look at the tiny symbols on the rim of those spheres without a bout of PTSD over looking at Metatron's teeth. So he is living with knowledge of both Metatron's teeth and the Symbology that makes up these Pokeballs as best as he can.
 
        Violet's mention of 'living up to his name' is suddenly a bit of a self-reflection on his part. "...I didn't think to give them names," he admits, somewhat sheepishly by Ethius standards, which is to say he starts to make side-glances. "It's... difficult to shake the habit to not deviate from the names locals call things, or themselves."
 
        "Miliza~" The Miliza by his side indicates her name in full as she watches everyone get along and not live in fear of things like having parts of themselves eaten.
 
        "It is true that the Pokemon here," that seems to be Energy Nede's collective term for its wildlife, "are predisposed towards seeing others as friends and partners." He says this while his Arcmene decides to leap down just behind Ethius and peer at the tiny Joltik from relative safety.
 
        "Gerel~" The Gerel accepts Ida's patting. It is a people person! A people Pokemon. It contracts its mouth slowly so Ida doesn't have to be afraid of touching those fangs. Releasing their tongue from Ethius' wrist, there's a flourish that is not unlike an elegant hairflip with its tongue. (The Nurse on duty is snapping pictures of Gerel from here. He is a hit!)
 
        "I profess I have no baseline expectations of any of their behavior," Ethius says as he kneels down to get a hand atop his Arcmene to try and get them to stop jittering around, "owing to being a recent arrival." As is true of all of them.
 
        Looking to Ida's Caterpie refills him with memories of the larvae he had to watch over. He tries to stay grounded here in the present. Their overall circumstances are far better than anyone could have imagined, but he feels it remains on him to see to every one of the displaced visitors' well-being here in the capacity he can. 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige Kiwako raises an eyebrow and looks to Vi at the comment, "What no? I help the dead move on." She seems offended at the idea that she'd actually go out of her way to kill anyone. Usually. She might have to make some exceptions... maybe. (She's actually tried to avoid those thoughts.)
 
 "Just call them Steve. Steve One, Steve Two. It'll confuse everyone." She's mostly joking. Probably. She does keep meticulous notes of the dead and their last words and messages after all.
 
 Beyond that, she moves to settle on the ground, laying there to get a better look at the smaller critters scurrying about with her chin on her hands. 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

"You guide the dead?" At one time Violet would've said she didn't believe in ghosts, any more than she believed in beneficent gods. But she's seen so many horrors and wonders personally. Moon spirits. Elw teleporters. A monster so large it hosted an *entire city* on its back. "Can you -- can you call up specific dead people?"

Oh, Ethius doesn't have to worry about Violet's well being (for the time being, anyway). Nedian social services have left her better off than she was on Filgaia! So many of her patients were, and are, destitute.

She has to admit, Sal the Caterpie sure is cute when she trills like that! She glances over at Ida for permission, then reaches out to pet Sal. Her own companions chitter jealously, though Steve perks up as Shige says his name. 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida nods to Violet. "Go ahead," she says. Sal soaks up the attention, nuzzling against the midwife's hand.

        This is the same Caterpie that tackled a Dugtrio over twice her size, and fearlessly stared down a Raticate for the String Shot. She is a bold explorer, and also baby. Sal has layers.

        "Likely a direct product of their engineering," Ida says. "I've never seen a wild one that's been outright hostile to people. They're... probably out there," she admits, "but you saw that tiny dragon Blue had practically eating out of his hand. It gave Magilou a high-five." Magilou gave it a high-five, and it humored her poor decision.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        "The closest I've come to hostility were swooping birds," Ethius remarks by rubbing the back of his head. Even Energy Nede has gotten in on the 'Ethius' head is a viable target for physical comedy' racket, unfortunately. "I do recall. Their presence was striking," and in a vacuum would have been the least believable as being someone like the ones they've so far befriended.
 
        "...Until further notice, Miss Shige, they are Arcmene, Miliza, and Gerel." By habit, that further notice will probably not be coming. Arcmene peeks out to stare at the shadows surrounding Shige. Unblinking. Unnerving. Dark-types are dangerous to Ghost-types, so there may be a danger here. May. Miliza looks up to Ethius at the repeating of her species' name, but otherwise doesn't react much.
 
        Gerel, of course, is happy to continue to be patted as one desires, and has shown no indication to their human partner or anyone else otherwise.
 
        "I suppose it would make sense that those species that live in closer contact to where Nedians travel to and fro would be more predisposed," he muses aloud, "but... it does not change we've made some fast friends." Not 'appeared to have made.' 'Made.' 

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige Kiwako nodnods quickly at the mention of being a guide for the dead. "I am! I make sure they get along safely when they need help. I evict problem children too." There's a brief stretch, then she glances to Steve at the perk, "I.. had been joking, but that works." With another nod.
 
 As for the idea of a dragon high fiving anything, she glances sidelong for a moment, then suppresses a shudder. She's met one actual dragon, of a sort and probably one other and-
 
 Shige's a cat type. She's not actually a ghost. Just a wrangler! Probably no danger there. Besides does typing cross planets? "They're cute in their ways at least. You think they're all engineered or was this just.. an oddity? Especially if it's not that big like you were saying."
 
 Any of the pokemon that get close to her are at risk of being pet. As an aside. The horror! Though she does pause long enough to try and get a look at the ball, "So you stuff them in there? Isn't it a bit tight?" Though there is magic. And it's not the weirdest thing when you work for the embodiment of the grim reaper. 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

"Mine were pretty easy to catch," Violet chimes in, indicating a Pokeball she lifts from her belt. "These are almost the same size as my grenades, only lighter." Pokeballs were amazing; they provided their captive 'mons with food, water, shelter, and enrichment, and all in a space much smaller than a Blitzball. She then turns to Shige. "I...didn't mean to offend you," Violet admits to her sheepishly. Great, I've pissed off the one person who might be able to help me talk with Eddie again!! "Could we...talk more about your powers...after we get back to Filgaia?" The Widow of Garlyle had tried to contact her deceased husband every way she could, and been ripped off by charlatans at every turn. Maybe this medium would turn out to be genuine...

But she had other, more urgent matters to attend to now. Besides, what would a Filgaian spirit be doing lingering on Energy Nede? 

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        "That's completely normal," Ida says, regarding the Pidgey Incident. "It saw Sal, decided she was prey, and went for her. The only real surprise is that it did it despite the presence of so many people."

        Sal cranes her neck back towards Ida, and spits String Shot onto the floor with a little "Ptoo!". That's what she thinks of that Pidgey, and the thought that it would be having her for dinner.

        "But yes, that makes sense. Given how everything's so extensively engineered, they'd keep the more dangerous species well away from settlements, wouldn't they?" If it were any other civilization, Ida would suspect they'd simply been exterminated, but everything she's seen about Nede indicates otherwise.

        "We know they're all engineered," Ida continues. "As for the Pokeballs, ah... it's some form of internal spatial pocket, perhaps? The environment inside the Ball is much, much larger than it looks, and it changes to adapt to the Pokemon inside. The perfect habitat, food, water, whatever else it needs for stimulation. Except Sal likes to break out of hers, don't you, Sal?"

        Ida scritches Sal some more. Sal chirps. But she's sensed the opportunity for more scritches, and she skitters over to Shige, and looks up with big, woobly eyes.

        She's not as insistent as Chase's Pikachu, but that's a high bar to clear.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        "It is good you didn't go for your grenades," Ethius says to Violet in regards to potentials, and decides it is best to not further go down that path as his Miliza friend walks past the lot of them to peer out the door of the Center. That's the second time this conversation someone on his team strayed away.
 
        "If the Pokeballs work as described... it must mean Sal considers your presence irreplaceable." He's seen how Sal has taken to Ida, and Barry to Claude. Considering that everyone here is complete strangers to the entire biosphere of Energy Nede, and that the Pokemon hasn't rejected their presence beyond any baseline behavioral patterns for establishing territory or impeding against immediate need...
 
        He looks up to see Miliza has wandered off.
 
        "Miliza-- pardon. I should get going," he signals the other two ahead. He does have a day ahead of him in catching back up with Claude, Rena, and Dias. Barry's going to want more of the things he's cooked. (re-read this sentence, internalize it, it is truth) 

<Pose Tracker> Violet Salazar has posed.

Violet laughs. Mistaking a grenade for a Pokeball would be a *real* disaster!

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