✩ FIRST DISCOVERY | VIDEO | BACKDATED TO 2/9

[adai]

[The video feed opens on a boy sitting on a bench. It looks like the sun is setting already, so either someone got a late start today or this boy only just learned how to use the 'Gear. The boy isn't really all that remarkable, outside of a very serious expression. The background appears to be New Bark Town, so get ready for some of those New Trainer Questions.]

Hello. I was told I should talk to this device to get some answers about this place.

[He rests his hands on his knees and leans forward, still staring the device down.]

Why are there houses on the surface?

[...Well apparently we're just going to get straight to the point today.]

It should be dangerous for anyone to live up here.

[He's silent for a long time, still staring at the device like it's going to magically give him some answers. A beep comes from the 'Gear which seems to startle him a little.]

I also want to know about the creature that came out of this. [Rossiu holds up a Pokéball.] It was pink and blue and immediately went into this strange device. It won't come out.

[That doesn't seem to bother him all that much, actually. His very serious expression hasn't shifted at all. After another few seconds of silence, Rossiu glances upward at the snow still falling.]

Finally, what is this? I've never seen anything like this before. It's much colder than it is back home.

[At least he's dressed a bit better for the snow than most of his friends...]

Thank you for your time. I would appreciate any information you can offer.

[He figures that if the rest of Team Gurren are here they'll get in contact with him. With that, Rossiu gets up from the bench and leaves and the 'Gear turns off.]

Comments

[video]

[codeforhope]

[My that...is a very stern expression, isn't it? At first Chihiro isn't sure if he should answer, but for being someone new to Johto, this person is remarkably composed. He debates it for a little while before finally just going for it, deciding to start with...well, the most interesting question, to be sure.]

Why do you think that would be dangerous?

[If anything, it seems like living underground or in a cave would have more potential problems. But he's not sure he would like it all that much anyway...But he feels like it would be better to ask why instead of just outright saying 'no, you are wrong, and here is why you are wrong'.]

As for the creature, that would be a Pokemon. They are the creatures that live here. Everyone gets one of their own when they arrive.

[And...]

And...well, it's snowing.

[adai]

[When Rossiu answers he's sitting on the bench again in the exact same position. His expression hasn't changed any.]

I heard about Pokémon from the people here, but I don't understand why they're here. I've never seen anything like this before.

[He pauses for a moment, then decides that talking about the first point is better than dealing with "snowing", whatever that is. He'll get back to that later.]

Are there no beastmen or gunmen here? It's impossible to live on the surface because of them.

[codeforhope]

[...oh man that's. ...that's a little creepy.

Chihiro shakes his head, slowly.]

I don't know what those are...but no, there aren't. There is nothing like that here in Johto. It's a lot safer than that, here.

[adai]

Hmm.

[His expression shifts slightly. He doesn't look irritated, just thoughtful.]

How did I get here? How do I get home? There's a war going on and I'm afraid that something might happen to the others while I'm here.

[...Okay, he's not exactly essential, but he doesn't want to be goofing off somewhere while they're fighting.]

[video]

[preybeforemeals]

[...Okay, then. Either this child is from a race of sentient mole-people or this is so made of "what" that he doesn't know where to start, but you know what, it's snowing out and he's spending entirely too long in the house again, and this is the most interesting thing he's seen in quite some time and that's probably saying something.

Either way, his words are calm when he responds, and he seems more interested than anything.]

Maybe this is a little ignorant of me, but why should it be dangerous for us to be on the surface, amore?

[adai]

[Oh, hello! Once Rossiu gets this thing focused properly, it seems he's found his way back to the bench. He's still sitting far too straight and his expression is far too serious, but that might have something to do with the topic of discussion.]

Because of the beastmen.

[He says, like this should make perfect sense.]

[preybeforemeals]

I see...

[HE DOESN'T SEE, WE ARE TWO SENTENCES IN AND HE SERIOUSLY DOESN'T SEE.]

I assume those are quite the threat, where you're from?

[adai]

Yes, of course. They control the gunmen and keep humans from coming to the surface. There aren't any of them here?

[Surely you guys would have heard about them otherwise!

...Or more likely, you'd all be dead.]

[chickshades]

...you've never seen snow before?

[adai]

No. I haven't lived on the surface for very long.

[So that's probably why...]

[chickshades]

So what... you live underground??

[adai]

That's right. Most humans live underground. The people who live on the surface constantly have to fight, and unfortunately, a lot of them die.

[video]

[solas_ion]

Huh? What d'you mean dangerous?

[Lancer looked over his shoulder, like he was making sure there was no imminent disaster falling from the sky. Nope, just snow.]

...S'called snow, kid. You alright?

[adai]

Well, besides waking up in a place that's very different from where I last was, yes, I'm fine.

[Either he's being way too literal or he's being sarcastic, but it's very hard to tell.]

I was concerned about the beastmen. They don't allow humans to live on the surface, but it seems like they aren't here.

[solas_ion]

...The what now.

[One thing at a time.]

[adai]

Beastmen.

[...]

No one's known what they are, so I guess they aren't something that exist in other worlds.

[Text]

[esthetically]

[Nerd tl;dr in three... two...]

While normally I'd talk, it seems easier to respond to each question. You seem quite new to this world, and while I regret to inform you that you've found yourself a ways away, I do hope your stay in this world is at least somewhat pleasant.

- Homes normally belong on the surface. It'd be stranger if they were underground or in the sky. It is only relatively dangerous here; not many of the stray pokemon attack the homes in the city. You have a higher probability of danger in regards to camping.

- The device we're using also connects to a database of information regarding your specific creature. It still needs updating in my opinion, but it's a good starter for basic information. What did you start with - or can you describe what it looks like? I could do basic research for you.

- Third - what's falling would appear to be snow, or just crystallized frozen water. You must be from a land with a warmer climate. Don't worry about the snow; it's a little slick but it's harmless.

Do you need clarification on any of my questions?

[Video]

[adai]

[...oh dear. Rossiu stares at the text for a very long time, slowly trying to make his way through it. His reading skills aren't great, and it doesn't take long for him to stumble across words he doesn't recognize and can't make out. This is proving to be much harder than he first thought. He wasn't aware this device could send text.

So after a solid fifteen minutes of trying, Rossiu finally gives up and turns on the video. He's sitting on that bench again, so clearly he hasn't gone far.]

Thank you for messaging me, but I'm afraid I'm having trouble reading what you've sent me. I'm not very good at reading yet. What did you write?

[Leeron's been teaching him whenever they aren't training, and he's progressed quite well for someone who couldn't read at all when he joined the team.

That said, Rossiu doesn't seem embarrassed by his inability to read the text. He doesn't seem frustrated either. He's still wearing that incredibly serious expression.]

[Video]

[esthetically]

[He switches over, looking somewhat embarrassed as he smiles into the screen.]

I apologize, then! I don't mind explaining it at all to you. I probably should have asked first before sending such a wordy message.

[He's already wondering about where this kid lived before here, but...]

Well. To answer your first question, ah... [He checks the message.] Homes are on the surface normally, aren't they? I can only think of basements and underground cities for shopping.

[armoredsoul]

[Well, it's definitely an interesting set of first questions, to be sure. Al has to wonder just what this kid's world was like to be worried about living above ground. (Or maybe above the water? He's seen a couple books at the library along those lines...) But at least those last two will be easy to answer.]

Well, that cold white stuff is snow. It's frozen water that forms up in the clouds before falling like rain does, when the seasons change and the temperature drops. And the creature that you saw is a Pokemon, probably a Porygon specifically. I have one myself that I inherited from a friend.

Do you mind if I ask why being on the surface is dangerous where you're from?

[adai]

I see. I've never seen snow or these creatures.

[Rossiu's expression is still just as stoic as it was in the video, though at least he sounds interested. There isn't much of a shift in his expression when he switches topics, though he sounds more serious.]

Living on the surface is almost impossible for humans back home. Beastmen kill any humans they see during the day, so almost everyone lives underground. I never imagined there could be a place like this, where everyone is free to build upward.

[armoredsoul]

I hadn't seen Pokemon before, either, so you're not alone there. The one you have is meant to be your companion here.

[His eyebrows shoot up at that description, but he's not disbelieving at all.]

Oh, wow! Yeah, humans aren't persecuted here at all, the only thing you'll have to worry about is a wild Pokemon encounter when you're traveling on the routes between cities.

[video]

[ajustcaws]

...wait, so you live underground because of some kinda dangerous stuff happening on the surface...? That's a pretty good idea, actually, even if it's not particularly heroic! It seems like it'd get kinda dingy after a while, though.

[adai]

Well, it was something everyone has done for years. We didn't think anything about it.

[He's not sure why she's so concerned with it being heroic though...]

I'm pleased to see that this place isn't like that.

[...He doesn't really look all that pleased, but it's just his face.]

[ajustcaws]

Yeah, so am I! Things could get pretty dicey where I was from, but everything's really nice here. It's nice to not have to worry about fighting horrible things from the beyond all the time, and there's still plenty of room for adventure!