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[hythlodaeus]

Good afternoon everyone, on this unforgivably hot day. I would like to invite those near and far to my ranch. You may have heard that I do ask my visitors for help with the myriad chores, but is that not natural? I help you, you help me...

A bit of hard work is good for you, I say. So lay down you preconceptions and come for a visit. I have a good handful of those shiny Eevees that you all adore so much. Or if that might not strike your fancy, there are a good deal more. Please refer to the Ledger.

As you can see, I also have a bit of a hole in my water type breeding stock. Those with a Marill that they would be willing to trade me should contact me. For my own purposes, I will also be trading for or purchasing Shiftry, Hoppip, Axew, and Victreebel. The sooner you're here, the sooner you might fulfill your dreams. So, what are you waiting for?

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[hythlodaeus]

Then we'll fly. Come with me.

[He steps outside of the Pokémon center, shielding his eyes from the sun as he does. He waits for her to follow before releasing his bigger than usual Tropius. It kneels as Hythlodaeus slides onto its back.]

Banania. Her, too. [He speaks softly to his dinosaur and pats his neck. The Tropius turns and takes a mouthful of the back of her shirt and begins to lift her. ]

[instrumentally]

[Rei Ayanami has no particular reaction on her face as she is lifted into the air by a gigantic banana-dinosaur. She is sure it will be careful, should it choose to carry her by the scruff of her shirt. She has ridden in more dangerous ways on more dangerous things.

But she does, somewhat foolishly, hope that she will be placed onto its back.]

[hythlodaeus]

[ Capturing her by the scruff is thankfully temporary as he moves her over his back like a big clumsy crane game claw, depositing her in front of Hythlodaeus, half in his lap, half onto its leaves. The tropius leaves a trail of saliva on her collar that he hopes she won't mind. ]

[Banania wiggles from side to side, situating them and looking like the fat bumblebee he is. He takes off with a few powerful flaps of his leaves, getting them above the average building height.]

It will be several hours like this. Inform me if you require a meal or rest.

Oh, silly me. What is your name?

[instrumentally]

[Rei sits on the dinosaur's back. It is strangely comfortable. Her Solosis hops up to sit in her lap, slightly sticky. She nods as the wind rushes around her, loud and echoing. She hopes her voice is not lost in it.]

I am Rei Ayanami.

[hythlodaeus]

[ He bends down to hear her. ]

I am Hythlodaeus.

[ He peers at the sticky pal hanging out on her, letting it alone for now. It is hard to hear in all the wind, but there is also so much to see. So much to enjoy about the sensation of flying. Is there really need for words?]

[He is curious and he is patient. Banania is strong and a good flier. He wonders when she will want to be let down.]

[instrumentally]

[Rei does not want to be let down at any point before they arrive. She is too enthralled by watching the ground below as they fly. Though, should Banania require some rest, she will not complain. They are the one flying them, after all.

The world is different from up here. Smaller, but more alive. Treetops and office buildings and people between them.]

[hythlodaeus]

[About five hours later, Hyhlodaeus places a massive hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently.]

Look, down there.

[He points to the ranch, a large lodge with a few stables and barns. Banania had begun his descent, the trees and farmlands growing closer. Dotting the fields were spots of blue fire among the orangey-red.]

[Banania slows, hanging midair for a moment before he lands among his favorite berry bush and goes absolutely goddamn ham on it.]

[Hythlodaeus slides off, taking Rei by the underarms like an unruly cat, setting her on her feet.]

It's just about time for supper, wouldn't you say?

[instrumentally]

[Rei is set down on her feet. She blinks a few times, getting her bearings. The air is clear here. It smells like berries and grass. There is some mud, caked and cracked, beneath her feet.]

Are we feeding the pokemon as well?

[hythlodaeus]

I have many helpers here, people and pokémon. The other pokémon will tend to them for now. We only need to worry about ourselves for now. Now, what might you like to eat?

[ He looks at her, considering. It will either make sense or it really won't. Seems worth the risk. ]

...I could thaw some ramen broth. I keep it around for my partner, but he doesn't visit as much as he should.

[instrumentally]

[She remembers a night, after everything had gone well. Lights strung up by the vendor. Unit 02's pilot standing atop a picnic table, bright like the sun. A bowl of ramen, steaming and pleasant.

In the present, she nods.]

Ramen would be good. Though, I would prefer if you did not put any meat in my portion.

[If there was something else she was meant to catch, it has gone over her head.]

[hythlodaeus]

Oh? Do you not care for meat?

[ He doesn't care either way. In fact, he doesn't eat meat himself. But he finds her curious. He places a hand on her back, slowly walking her into the lodge. Yamask bustle with carts and cleaning rags, wimpods scurry by to clean the floors, and cutieflies float through the air in two and threes to carry towels and other necessities to guests.

Eventually, down the hall, they come to a taller than normal door. Past this threshold, the bustle largely stops. There is also a marked change in the proportion of things. Doorways, counters, chairs... For such a small girl it surely feels a little bit like being Alice. At eight feet tall, he's modified nearly everything for his own height, having grown tired of the inconveniences of this small person's world.]

[instrumentally]

Not particularly.

[It disagrees with her.

She watches the pokemon as they work as she follows him down the hallway, and whether or not everything is too big for her makes little difference. Everything is kept high, but this is not her home, so it does not bother her to crane her neck up to see various things as they pass. She waits patiently at doorways and the crossroads of the hall, following behind with small, careful steps. Her Solosis follows behind her, bobbing up and down as it tries to keep up.]

[hythlodaeus]

Me neither.

[ He takes out ice cube trays, the kind that makes big whiskey ice cubes and pops them out revealing dark brown broth.]

[He considers her, so small in his enormous kitchen. He had built a stool, a high chair for adults with more dignity in mind. He drags it out from the corner of the room. It's the sort you might see at a high top at a bar, but it looks so incongruous next to the other furniture. ]

He turns back around to fiddle with dinner. It is simple enough. He pulls noodles from the refrigerator— which is distinctly possessed by a Rotom. It watches him as he moves, then watches Rei as it grows bored. He boils water in a pot and a pan, heating the cubes in another. He seems to consider his fourth burner. ]

Would you like an egg? Perhaps some greens?

[instrumentally]

[For a little while, Mitochondria bops around the kitchen, watching the ramen get made. It sends along little excited thoughts. But, when the refrigerator begins to move, and the air begins to smell of broth, she grows shy, and returns to Rei's lap. Slightly sticky.

Rei, for her part, sits upon the stool, watching the steam rise from above the stove. The air is growing hotter as he cooks. But it is a pleasant sort of heat, so she does not mind it. She finds herself looking around the kitchen and blinking back at the refrigerator, and then at Hythlodaeus as he speaks.]

I do not mind either.

[hythlodaeus]

I can't help but notice that you are a girl of few words. Unusual, here, for certain. Everyone is talking all the time.

[ He is not shy about making such a direct observation as he busies himself with the stove. ]

I don't mind it. You remind me a little of someone. It makes me think that you must have a very rich inner life or an incredibly dull one! Only you know which. Well, you and your friend, I suppose. Does it have a nickname?

[instrumentally]

Yes. It is called Mitochondria.

[As for his thoughts about her thoughts, or the lack there of, she cannot correct his assumptions, as she is not sure who she is being compared to. Speaking is difficult at times. There are so many words and thoughts inside her. Choosing the right ones... it is not always easy. Often she chooses nothing. Or perhaps the choice has already been made for her. A gap between herself and others that she does not know how to bridge.

But Mitochondria helps. Sends thoughts along, images and shapes and impressions. A connection to help her make other ones.]

struggles not to work in "powerhouse of the cell"

[hythlodaeus]

Mitochondria must be very useful, then, to have earned such a name.

[ With his gas stove, it all heats and comes together rather quickly. A little more fussing and he turns around to present her with a meal. He lifts the cork to what looks like a cookie jar but has poffins inside. He places them on the table next to her before seating himself with his own bowl. ]

So tell me, while the soup is still too hot, where are you from?

[instrumentally]

I agree.

[Mitochondria grins as she inspects the poffins. How does a Solosis eat, with all that goo in the way? Perhaps it is best not to ask.

Rei speaks, as she waits for her portion to cool.]

I am from Tokyo-3.

[hythlodaeus]

I knew of the first one, but not the other two. Not that I have ever been... Merely heard about it from my friend.

[However Mitochondria eats is between it and the poffin as far as Hythlodaeus is concerned. He picks up his chopsticks; they look absurdly small in his hand.]

[He regards the pair.]

Do you have any other friends here?

[instrumentally]

I have met a few people here. But, none were familiar to me before my arrival.

[In other words, she is on her own.

She picks up her chopsticks. These seem to be about the right size for her. She spins the sticks through the broth, picking up some of the noodles. It's good, when she takes a bite.]