[VIDEO]

[ironchef]

Hi. So. I'm Hunk. And I need help figuring out how to wake up. [Yup, he's going to be one of those people, utterly convinced that this is some flashback to school days dream except that it's an open woods adventure and he's not yet looked down to discover his pants missing. Which, believe him, he's been checking.]

[He's holding a little Nidoran under around her midsection and she's just kind of ragdolling in his arms rather than causing any sort of disruption, content to be carried.]

I left this one lady's house. And I mean, she seemed really nice. I think she's my new dream mom or something? And I traveled a while and just tried to enjoy it. Anyway, I need to wake up because this dream is a little too real and I really don't want it turning into a nightmare on me. It's fine so far, but, you know. Never know what that curry I had yesterday ['real world' yesterday] will do to me.

[He's obviously already made it to Cherrygrove, there is ocean backdrop happening, so he's been walking for a few days. He just wrote it all off as dream time. It's now starting to be a concern.]

Comments

Video; un BestSetter

[grandtrashking]

Some bad news for you, Hunk. It's not a dream, it's all very real. The lady calling herself mom does that to everyone I've talked to.

[Yeah, he'd thought it was a dream at first until getting scratched to hell by a pissed off bird last month.]

You might as well settle in, and hope some of your friends are here to help you out. The name's Oikawa, nice to meetcha. Cute little friend you've got there.

[There's a jealous cheeping from the Oricorio in Tooru's arms as she squirms her way into camera view.]

[ironchef]

I've seen some pretty weird things that turned out to be real. But the whole mom thing threw me for a loop.

[Now he just looks confused, though. He's been waiting for the dream to end, but apparently it's not ending.]

I called her Shay. She feels like my friend Shay when I hug her. You know, rock person. Rock... dog... rabbit? But same quality of 'well this isn't exactly cuddly, but they've got the spirit!'.

...Are you 100% sure this isn't a dream?

[grandtrashking]

I'm pretty sure it's no dream, otherwise the huge psychic bird that wanted to eat me for lunch wouldn't have hurt when it scratched me.

[Maybe NOT the best thing to tell a newbie about the Alpha Hisuian Braviary, but he's telling it like it is as far as he's concerned. Even so, he sighs, adjusting the yellow bird in his lap as she looks curiously into the camera with a few chirps, like she's saying hello to the nidoran.]

She's cute, and Shay's a cute name! This little nosy thing is Kanpai. You'll find a bunch of these guys and different ones all over. They're called Pokémon.

Video

[heartofalioness]

[He certainly handled it more calmly than Allura: the sudden arrival and the not-mother both freaked her out, and the three days on the road in October with no proper pillow was murder on her sleep schedule.

Speaking of which, Allura has to blink for a few seconds before she replies. Her brow is bare (she has a new circlet from a friend, but only wears it on special occasions) and seems to be wearing casual but pretty Earth clothes in cool pastels, but her grin is very bright. This is a face and voice she's missed dearly the past six months.]

Hunk! Oh it's so good to see you! Are you all right?

[ironchef]

[Oh.... Oh. Oh he's definitely dreaming, and now the dream is a little sad. Thanks, dream.]

Allura? I mean... Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. My feet are a little sore though. I didn't expect to do so much walking, and there wasn't so much as a roadside produce stand to stop at.

It's not the first time I had to wash dishes to pay a bill, but I sure wish my subconscious would give me more fun things than an empty stomach.

[heartofalioness]

Subco--

[Ah. Allura smiles a little and shakes her head, all the better to show the pink streak in her hair that the mun keeps forgetting to put in the descriptions.]

No, this isn't a dream, Hunk. This is more of... a nexus reality of sorts. One that pulls people from other realities at random timepoints and returns them randomly. The working theory is that Arceus- the primary deity Pokémon- affects this somehow, but so far there's been no direct evidence.

It really is good to see you. I take it you're in Cherrygrove City currently? I can come get you in a few minutes.

[Thank Arceus for warp pads.]

video;

[shiro2hero]

[We're sorry Hunk. You probably were not expecting a video of Shiro with his white hair dyed four different colors. Or with a... is that a tan? But at least he looks as excited as he sounds.]

Hunk! [Oh this is a sight for sore eyes.] Hey! It's great to see you!

[And he is about five seconds away from hopping on his Skarmory and coming to find his teammate.]

[ironchef]

[Wat.]

This is the skittles fault, isn't it? I knew I shouldn't have had candy that late!

Shiro, when did you start a band? What am I looking at?

[shiro2hero]

No, no, Hunk - it's not candy. Promise...

[That's a new reaction for sure. He's about to elaborate, but, again, thrown for a loop.]

... a band? What - [Wait. Oh!] - Oh! That... Lance's idea.

[video]

[insidegalra]

[There's a tall and kind of lanky man (well, very long legs, even if his shoulders are broad) smiling at the camera. His irises are a brilliant gold not found in humans normally.]

Paladin Hunk! It's an honor to meet you. The other paladins will be so happy that you've arrived in Johto.

[He pauses for a moment.]

Thace, of the Blade of Marmora. The power that brings everyone to this reality changes non-humans to more closely match humans.

[ironchef]

[Okay, Alteans turning to Galra? A thing he'd seen. A Galra looking like a human? Not something he's used to. Outside of Kieth, but Kieth doesn't count.]

Uhhhhh.... You... look really human.

I mean- I guess it's not out of the realm of possibility. But it's still weird. This is all really weird, right?

[ video | un: keith ]

[tempredmental]

[There's a small huff to start the response, but...]

Yeah... the 'mom' thing was weird. [Keith had issues, okay?]

But, hey... it's good to see you, man.

[ironchef]

[Yeah, that's a little bit of a tender spot. Just the worst thing for someone like Kieth to run into.]

I think if some people have been here for years and 'mom' had been doing that this whole time? She really needs a doctor.

Or she's some cosmic being playing a role. But I'm thinking a medical intervention might be best.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley shakes his head in sympathy.]

I gotta tell you, this isn't a dream. I know it's out there, but everything's real.

[At least there's pretty scenery and adorable Pokemon. Radley loves his so dearly.]

So ... just enjoy it as best as you can. You might be here a long time.

[Or not. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to how and when people go home.]

And ... be prepared for really weird stuff. We had some giant birds attacking recently and some naughty little foxes shapeshifting into people.

[ironchef]

Greaaat. I was hoping it was the normal dream variety of existential crisis I was about to have. Instead it's this.

More the whole displaced thing, though. Giant birds and shape-shifting foxes don't sound that strange.

[Even the displacement isn't that wierd.]

video;

[nightyorb]

Yeah, wouldn't we all.

Listen, I'll shoot straight with you, dude. We've all definitely been kidnapped.

[ironchef]

Really? So are we in some reality simulation meant to keep us placated and masking our true situation?

[Because that seems more likely than this just being a place where he randomly ended up. His mind just doesn't want to accept the simple solution.]

video; un: wanderer

[noamuth]

If you still have your correct coloration, you have come out ahead of some of us. [...says the young woman with white hair, deep brown skin, and bright red eyes.]

[ironchef]

That is sad. I mean, now that I know? I really wish I could have seen everyone as they were. What makes them different, what they'd want as recipes, that kind of thing.

It blows. Sorry that happened to you. I hope you're still feeling okay.

[Video]

[titanbabysitter]

This is one lousy dream if it were one.

[Video]

[ironchef]

I dunno. I think it probably beats the 'taking an important test in your underwear' anxiety dreams. Way worse as a reality, I think.

[He misses his family already. He'd just gotten them back! A few months isn't enough.]

Video

[neverbreaks]

[ Well, he's handling it better than she had when she first arrived. Even if he thought it's all just a dream. ]

I'm guessing others have already told you that this isn't a dream?

[ Because she really didn't want to be the one to break it to him. ]

[ironchef]

Yeah, they have. But considering all of the other possibilities are even more stressful to get out of, I really wish it was.

[He just got his family back within the past few months! He was looking forward to spending time with them. And his friends have already built whole lives here! It's a little overwhelming. Plus his feet hurt.]

I guess I'll have to wait a while before cooking with my mom again. I was enjoying getting back into that habit.

[video]

[funsnofun]

I wish it was that simple. [Boober scoffs and shakes his head.] Although I can't blame you for thinking this is some sort of dream. Or... Nightmare would be more accurate, at least a lot of the time.

But I'm guessing others have told you what's going on. How are you doing so far?

[ironchef]

I've had way worse dreams than this one, but it sounds like you guys have seen some stuff. I ended up chased by a few smaller pokemon but that was the worst that I came across.

[He hadn't really considered fighting them at the time, and while he wasn't in real danger no one wants tiny animals nipping at them.]

I'm alright though. Thanks.

[It is nice of him to ask. Honestly most of the people do seem more caring than not.]