001; video

[grapecape]

-it's on? Thank you...

[The screen is at first obscured by something that moves away with a raspy chirp, leaving a bespectacled man to glance away from the screen for a moment before turning his attention to it. He seems worried but composed, letting his hand fall from where he'd been rubbing a knuckle absently against his forehead.]

Good...afternoon. [pause, then a sigh.] And a strange one. I don't know who is or how many are listening, but I hope my situation isn't common among you.

[More of that chirping, and Ondorus looks to his side as a green blob of feathers flutters its way up to his shoulder and shuffles around there for a moment, cooing. He smiles wordlessly for a moment and then looks back at the Pokégear.]

She offers her greetings, too. Anyhow - is there anyone listening to whom Sol Terrano means anything? Or, at least, Norad? Or...[His smile falls a little, and he breathes in as he thinks how to word this]...any for whom being a human comes as a bit of a shock?

-or knows of the Forest of Beginnings. [It comes out more rushed than the rest of what he's said, as though the thought came to him suddenly. The Natu on Ondorus' shoulder taps her foot firmly against him, and he nods a little.] Nobody here seemed to respond to any inquiry.

[He glances down (fiddles with something-) and back up.] I hope I'm using this correctly. [A tired smile.] Apparently there's a town of some size that I should get started on reaching. Thank you for your time - and I hope to make acquaintances with some of you.

[Ondorus bows his head politely, then the Pokegear tilts back so that it is receiving a shot of the sky. Offscreen, his voice can be heard - how do I shut this off, now? - along with some chirping from the Natu, and after a few seconds the entry ends.]

Comments

[fuwa_fuwa]

Nope, none of that stuff's here! You're on vacation.

[grapecape]

[!!

WELL WHAT ABOUT THAT you really can hear people through this thing! Ondorus' eyes widen a little, and the Natu bounces once on his shoulder as if to say "I told you so".]

The natives have an odd way of greeting vacationers, then.

[fuwa_fuwa]

[Oh, his pokémon is so cuuuuute and whoops, he's saying something...]

Yep, that's how it is. But it's pretty fun, right?

[grapecape]

[. . .]

I have always wanted to see the ocean...

[yeah he'll humor her. this is kind of relaxing amidst all the confusion anyways.]

[video]

[machinamonkey]

If you weren't human back home, you're human now. That happens, and I dunno if anyone knows why.

[video]

[grapecape]

So I see...

[He reaches up to feel at the shell of his ear. Yep, still round.]

Are there very many who are thus transformed?

[video]

[machinamonkey]

I know of two for sure.

[video]

[combat_butler]

... wow, those are a lot of unique terms that sound straight out of a world I've never heard of. Still, um... I take it you're in the group of people who weren't human before showing up here, huh? It kind of makes me want to guess at what you were, given what I've heard from others so far.

[video]

[grapecape]

[Now, is the use of the word "world" here poetic...or literal? If the latter, that is a big honkin' deal and Ondorus wants to know more.]

That I am.

[...Well, that's one reaction to finding out that a human isn't actually human--]

Hm. If you did, I wouldn't take offense. [Neither would he if Hayate asked.]

[video]

[combat_butler]

... eh? Really?

*He's a bit surprised he isn't offended, honestly. Hayate fully was expecting something like "While you're welcome to, I'm a *insert thing here" or "Foolish human! I'm a *thing goes here*"... Now he's not sure if he actually should.*

Mmmm... Are you sure? I might make a few weird or outrageous ones to start with...

voice;

[usedshooshpap]

Being human was a shock, at first. You just get used to it.

voice;

[grapecape]

Thank you.

[Olivia hops from Ondorus' shoulder to his wrist, leaning over to peer more closely at the video. That definitely looks like a human to her! She must investigate further!

Ondorus tilts the Pokegear a little so the Natu isn't taking up the camera entirely.]

It's not overly much of a problem for me, mentally or physiologically, but it's nothing if not startling. I appreciate the assurance.

voice;

[usedshooshpap]

That's not the case for everyone. It was a huge fucking change for some people here.

[voice]

[enjoymyatelier]

I couldn't give you exact statistics on how common it is for nonhumans to arrive here, though they're invariably placed in a human body.

[which is really interesting, how does it work]

Nevertheless, I would suggest you get used to it. Unless you're lucky, you'll probably be here for quite some time.

[voice]

[grapecape]

[Third time's the charm, huh. Looks like "it just happens" is the best answer he's getting.]

Well, there seems to be no other option...and no shortage of more easily managed things to worry about.

[Like me, Olivia seems to say as she nips cutely at the long ends of Ondorus' hair.]

[voice]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...oh, the natu line... they're pretty fun, yeah]

Unfortunately, no. The only currently known way to return to your home world is if you're randomly sent back. Until then... well, this world has its fair share of annoyances to keep you occupied.

[video]

[snapandscoot]

You seem to be doing a decent job of using the Gear so far! Better than most new arrivals, I'd say!

[[Hello Holo Ondorus! Have a perky, smiling woman appearing on the feed.]]

[video]

[grapecape]

[Aha yes let's talk about something positive.]

Thank you. Though I've never seen anything like this before - I think our success can be attributed to Olivia.

[chirp chirp shy preen]

[video]

[snapandscoot]

[[That actually makes Emmy's smile widen, if that's possible!]]

It's great to see you getting along so well with your Pokemon! Too many people arrive here trying to fight them, or get away from them; I saw one girl trying to fight hers with a stick! Although it didn't end too well for her, really...

[[Well, anyway!!]]

You seem like a natural!

[lightningbearer]

If you're looking for places from your world, you won't find them here.

And I've heard some suggest that everyone here is human to make things more "equal", but that doesn't make any sense.

[grapecape]

I was more curious as to whether anyone here might be from a place I recognize. So far, though, it seems not.

[hmmm...]

If we are meant to adapt to the culture of Johto, then it is to our advantage to be members of the native species.

[But if that's the case, then why only humans?...or are there arrivals who were turned into Pokemon, but are unable to communicate that?...]

[lightningbearer]

*shrug*

It still seems rather arbitrary.

*coming from a world where humans are far from the only sentient race means this humans-only nonsense is just plain weird, man*

[Video]

[tobeyourhero]

The Forest of Beginnings? Hey, could you tell me more about it? [It sounds like a place worthy of heading for a great adventure.]

[Video]

[grapecape]

[Ondorus nods, pleasantly surprised.]

It is the world to which all monsters can trace their origin. Since those that emerge from it through gates don't speak any language of earth, it's hard to pin down any details about it, but it's widely believed to be an unending wilderness, rife with untamed natural magics.

[Video]

[tobeyourhero]

Uwaaaah! That really does sound like fun! I don't know magic, but I certainly know how to survive in harsh places.