victory_road

[A confused and alarmingly familiar but not quite the same face pops up on the network. That is indeed Jack (later to be known as Handsome) but looking like he's in his thirties or early forties and without the trademark face stapled to his face.]

So...this isn't a simulation, is it?

[There's a weak chuckle and Jack runs a hand through his hair, eyes darting to the side as though there's something just off camera he's not thrilled to be seeing.]

Cuz I was thinking it was at first, some kinda I dunno, immersive experience or virtual vacation or something...but that's not the deal, is it? I mean even for a really good simulation, top of the line, this is way too lifelike and real! Our...our simulation design people aren't that good! I don't think? Honestly I don't pay that much attention to them...

But! Here's the thing....whatever tear in space and time or hidden alien door I stumbled through, it's not working for me. Kind of in the middle of something really important, I mean we're talking whole lotta lives depending on it, not even exaggerating about that. So....anybody wanna adopt a sad alien bug and point me in the right direction to whatever series of difficult steps I gotta take to get outta here?

Seriously, the bug is sad. I think maybe it's made of sadness? Of course I probably would be too if I was called Wimpo or something, which I guess is what they're called. Been calling him Beefo instead, try to give him some self esteem, pump him up a little... I dunno if it's working...but hey, it leaks stinky poison, so its got that going for it!

So yeah! Long story short, gotta find somebody to take sad wimp bug and give me directions so I can get back to saving the moon and getting my job back!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The woman on screen is very buff, and is apparently in the middle of some push-ups. There's a Growlithe doing play-bows in imitation next to her, a Persian sitting on her back, and the camera-'mon is some kind of grass type, from the leaves. She grins and lifts one hand off the floor in the middle of a push-up to wave.]

Hi there, new guy! I am almost entirely sure it's not a simulation, so you can relax about that. And you should probably keep your new friend; the Pokemon are the best thing here!

Speaking of, can I see Beefo? Please? I bet he's adorable and I love meeting new friends!

[Yeah, okay, this is fine. Buff mercenary looking chick seems to be the friendliest person around here, as far as Jack can tell.]

At this point I think I'd feel better if this was a simulation.

But yeah, sure, you can see stinky poison bug.

[He sets the gear down and takes Beefo out of his pack, holding up the quivering Wimpod for the camera.]

If it was a simulation the Pokemon wouldn't be real, and that'd be terrible.

[She switches hands to balance out for one last pushup, tells the Persian 'hop off now, little Kyle' and then sits up. A very large black and pink bear-thing hands her a towel which she wipes her face with before cooing excitedly.]

Don't call him stinky; that's mean. Oh my gosh, you're so cute Beefo! I could just hug you. It's so great to meet you. I'm Scorpia!

[Then she focuses back on Jack for a minute waving at the Pokemon in turn.]
And these are some of my friends. Mr. Huggles, little Bow, little Kyle, that's little Perfuma behind the camera--say hi, little Perfuma!--

[Then a tiny Boltund is in her arms licking her face and waggling her tail a hundred miles a second. There are a couple sparks.]

oof! And this is Blackie!

But he is stinky! It's his thing. He leaks stinky poison. It...it really smells awful!

I'm Jack. That's...wow, you've got a bunch of these guys. Seems like they're a pretty big deal around here. I'm not exactly a pet person...

It still probably hurts his feelings though.

[Scorpia frowns for a moment, but there isn't really anything else she can do about that part.]

Yeah, they're wonderful! And they're not pets, they're friends! He can understand what you're saying, you know. And yeah, some of them need a little more help with some things, but that's like, because of pincers or claws and things! Like Emily here!

[That is sure a purple scorpion creature that Scorpia just pulled into her hug. Seems like every Pokemon in the room is getting into it.]

Only if he thinks his awesome natural defense is a bad thing.

Well that makes me feel less dumb about talking to him a bunch. I, uh, I don't know how much Beefo's interested in doing. He doesn't really do much. I been carrying him in my pack cuz it's cold and he's a little bug crab dude and it's probably not good for him to be cold. He just chills there, wiggling his little feelers around.

So...hey...you don't happen to be anywhere near where I am, do you?

That's a much better way of putting it!

[Scorpia beams.]

Yeah, Buttercup and Sunny are kinda sleepy and sluggish now that it's gotten pretty cold. I think type has something to do with it, and since Beefo looks like a bug type to me, that'd make sense.

[Then she rubs the back of her head.]

Uhh, sorry. I'm in Goldenrod, and I don't have my flying license yet. I was actually thinking about heading on over to Violet to see about getting it, and maybe making friends with one of those steel birds, because they can get big enough to carry people around!

I don't know anything about them, honestly.

Damn. It's just I'm kinda on my own here, in a strange place, it's freezing...and you're the friendliest person I've run into so far!

[Poor guy. Scorpia feels bad for him.]

I wish there was something I could do, but I totally didn't know about the warps until after I got to Goldenrod, so I'd have to walk or fly.

Or I could ride Spring, but she eats through the leaves on her back, and I'd feel bad about sitting on them, you know? And I think riding would probably still take a few days. Hmm. Maybe someone who's been here longer knows.

Warps?

Yeah that sounds like maybe don't ride that thing. It's fine, don't worry about it. I'm Jack! I survived a bloodthirsty invasion all by myself, I can make it to the next town.

Yeah. You can get to places really fast! But you've gotta stop in and activate them in each town before you can use them. So right now, I can go from Goldenrod to Ecruteak and back, because I remembered to activate those two, but I can't get to Violet, or Cherrygrove, which are the two places you'd run into first on the road.

[Scorpia grins and pumps her fist.]

That's the spirit! Yes you sure can! And you'll make so many friends on the way too. It'll be so fun you won't care about the cold.

Oh like Fast Travel, ya gotta scan in your signature before you can use'em. Yeah, we got that where I came from.

Well we'll see about that, but I'm gonna make it to the next town at least.

Yeah, like that! And it gets easier once you've started. Getting more friends is great too, because they can do lots of things to help out.

Yeah looks like everybody's got a bunch of'em! How do I get more? Do they have like Pokemon stores?

You got a nifty little backpack, right? There should be some of these in there.

[Scorpia makes a gesture and one of her Pokemon hands a red-and-white ball to her.]

Just about everything here but the humans are kinds of Pokemon, so if you spot one you like, you can throw these at 'em and get a new friend! It works better if you either convince your new friend to want to come with you, or if you have one of your Pokemon fight them first. If Beefo's got poison, poison works really well to make the balls work better.

[She bites her lip]

Pokemon really like to fight and be strong, you see, so they like you better if you prove your friends are strong first! Isn't always that way though! Mr. Huggles met Ms. Huggles when I was traveling, and since they fell in love, Ms. Huggles joined up with me!

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