accidental video ;; route 29

[tokenelfcharacter]

-- it away. We have no need of it.

[So says the voice from off-camera. The video waves around, showing brief flashes of little feet. Sort of a waddling motion. Wherever they are, it's off the beaten path. Literally. They've wandered away from the route entirely -- and the trainer sounds completely unconcerned.]

[The camera tilts up, with a flash of Rowlet feathers. And shows, for a moment, a long, white ponytail starting to disappear into some trees. Rowlet yelps, squawking and dropping the 'gear as it hurries to keep up.]

[Thankfully, the trainer halts, turning back. A pointed ear. A dark streak across his face --]

You don't need to shout. I will wait.

[That's where it ends. With a brief shot of Rowlet waddling hurriedly after the stranger.]

Comments

SLAMS THE BUTTON

[lioness_rampant]

[ The white hair, the pointed ear, the facial markings--could it possibly be an Altean? Allura nearly drops her 'gear in her haste to contact this unknown person. ]

Hello! Hello?

[quizzak]

[ WATCHING THIS UNFOLD IN THE BACKGROUND.... ]

[tokenelfcharacter]

[For a very long time, there's nothing but a shot of grass. Then hooting. Rowlet's feet appear again, messing around with the 'gear.]

[Unfortunately for poor Allura, it's the Rowlet's face on screen. Hooting at her, pecking at the image. Hello?? Hello! Who are you!]

[lioness_rampant]

[ Of course, she recognizes the Rowlet, since Pidge has one just like it. She speaks gently to it, since it seems to be the one in charge of the 'gear for some reason. ]

Hello, little one. Where is your trainer?

[tokenelfcharacter]

[It trills. And then goes waddling toward the treeline happily. Occasionally, it hoots louder. Hopping along. Trying to get its trainer's attention. The long hair comes back into view... and then the trainer stops, half-turning around.]

[Pointed ears. Facial marking.]

What is it you have--?

[lioness_rampant]

[ Seeing the trainer coming into view again, Allura perks up. ]

Oh, there you are! Greetings! Are you newly arrived? I am Princess Allura, daughter of Alfor, and this is my dear friend Romelle. What might we call you?

[tokenelfcharacter]

[The stranger jumps. Like a startled cat. The poor Rowlet tries to track the movement, and fails. So for a while there, it's just spinning around looking at trees.]

[Then upward.]

[To where its trainer is crouched on a branch, staring down with wide, pale eyes.]

... How? [How is this thing talking to him?] Where are you?

[lioness_rampant]

[ ... Well. He certainly is agile. ]

Hello, friend! I'm traveling about in the Kanto region presently, though I live in Ecruteak City. They're celebrating the new year here. Where are you?

[tokenelfcharacter]

[Agile is one way to put it.]

I... how is it I hear you? What magic is this?

[Sorry, Allura, he's not telling you where he is. Paranoia, you know?]

Those names mean nothing to me.

[lioness_rampant]

[ Oh. Allura feels immediately disappointed--anyone from Altea or the colony would surely know a simple communicator works. She knows the technical explanation would be lost on him if he thinks magic is the cause. ]

It isn't magic, my friend, but a form of technology. It is advanced science developed by the people of this world.

[ He really must be a new arrival if he isn't familiar with any of the names she mentioned, meaning he's probably somewhere in the wilderness surrounding route 29. ]

This must all seem quite strange to you, but I've been in a similar situation--many of us have. I understand if you're wary, but my friends and I would all be willing to help you if you required assistance.

[tokenelfcharacter]

[SORRY ROMELLE ... ]

[tokenelfcharacter]

What you speak of sounds...

[Sounds like something he doesn't have words for. Technology is literally medieval. There's horses and carts and hay. So much hay. Hay is great.]

It sounds impossible. [He's also slowly climbing down the tree. Peering at the device Rowlet is holding. Once he makes it to the ground, his eyes go wide.]

You -- an elf?

[Okay, we're sorry, Allura. Usually Runaan is way more verbally coherent than this. But this is a lot to take in.]

[lioness_rampant]

[ Allura has heard the word 'elf' before, but it had only ever cropped up in the vocabulary of the humans she befriended. Still, it means she understands what Runaan means when he asks if she's an elf.

The question then becomes whether it's better to disillusion him now or to allow him to believe she *is* an elf. She does the kinder thing, shaking her head. ]

I'm afraid not. I'm Altean--from another world. Everyone there looked like this.

Video; sets self up for the inevitable 'eww a human' encounter

[schachmeister]

[Armin watches the video with a momentary confusion before it clicks. Whoever this is --he doesn't recognise them, and though he hardly thinks he knows everybody who lives in this world, that does make him assume this person is new-- must not realise their gear is recording. Or, perhaps, they don't even realise what it is. Armin certainly knows what that is like. It had been the same for him, after all.

Well, here goes nothing.]

Uhm. Excuse me, sir. Sir!

[He hopes it is a man. That's what the voice sounded like, at least.]

[tokenelfcharacter]

[It's not a familiar term. Not like anything he's heard yet. Altean. But by the time he's actually climbed down, sitting on his heels in front of the gear, regarding her image, some of the unease, the paranoia, has left his expression. He's schooled himself back to calm.]

[He's silent for a good few moments, studying her.]

I do not know of a people called "Altean". Yet you resemble my own.

im sorry Armin

[tokenelfcharacter]

[It's sort of a repeat of what happens to Allura. Armin calls out -- and Runaan acts like someone let off a firework under his ass. Namely, abruptly leaping out of frame.]

[Rowlet intercedes, again. Curling its head around to peek at the camera, and hooting softly. Hello?? Hello!]

he deserves better but oh well

[schachmeister]

Oh hello.

[Hey there, little guy. You are a good little round owl.]

Do you think you can bring this device to your trainer? He's going to need it on his journey.

armin deserves the world

[tokenelfcharacter]

[HOOT HOOT!]

[It hops and flaps. Happily so. Yes, it can do that! Poor Armin is now treated to a shot of the camera bobbling around as Rowlet tries to roll it into the trees. Its trainer is there!! Let it help!]

[Hope you don't get motion sick, Armin.]

[schachmeister]

[Armin tries not to peer too closely to the tumbling scenery on the screen. Instead, he decides to lend the Rowlet a hand. Or a voice, as it were.]

Hello? Can you hear me? If you can hear me, please pick up the device.

[tokenelfcharacter]

Who are you?

[It's not on screen. The voice calls out from somewhere above and to one side. In fact, Rowlet seems like it's having trouble actually locating its trainer.]

Where are you?

[schachmeister]

[Armin has to pay good attention to exactly hear what is being said. But, at least it does sound like whoever he is talking to is male. At least calling him 'sir' wasn't a mistake.]

My name is Armin. I'm one of the other people who was brought to this world. I'm talking to you from the little box. The one with the little bird.

[The guy won't know what a Rowlet is and he might not even know what an owl is. But 'bird' is probably a safe enough concept, right?]

[tokenelfcharacter]

[The video hops. While Rowlet hops. Hey! Hey! Down here, dummy! Finally, the poor little bird manages to get its trainer on screen. Runaan has climbed onto a tree branch, and has crouched there, staring accusingly downwards. How did he get up there so fast?]

[Honestly, if looks could kill--]

What magic are you using for this?

[schachmeister]

[Unfortunately, Runaan's death glare loses some of its power when Armin is a whole 'nother region away. Plus, honestly, Armin doesn't assume the look is directed at him, so much as the situation.]

It's not magic. It's a type of technology. It allows you to see and talk to other people even across long distances.

[But please don't ask him how it works exactly.]

[tokenelfcharacter]

[Good -- you shouldn't have to deal with it, Armin.]

How? How can you accomplish this without magic?

[We're so sorry Armin, but he's going to ask. He's going ask and accusingly. As if there's some big secret being kept from him.]

[video]

[paladinlost]

[In a world with active magic, perhaps Cecil would be able to recognize a fellow moon-related person! ...But as it is, he only recognizes a fellow 'my starter will be responsible for anything Pokégear-related for at least a week' person. Which is reason enough to intervene, as far as he's concerned.]

Excuse me, hello? Can you hear me? You may want to check your Pokégear. It appears your starter Pokémon has turned it on.