victory_road | ANOMALY DETECTED

Shrike listens patiently to the explanation--getting worked up would serve no purpose, after all--and raises an eyebrow at the end.

"You speak of 'this land' in terms that suggest some sort of bounded domain, if not a manner of another world entirely."

Frankly, he sounds rather incredulous. A mage of his capabilities would know very well how difficult if not outright impossible such a feat would be, after all. On the other hand, at least he's quick on the uptake?

"Well... Yes."

There is really no better way to answer that question.

Dimitri reaches up, pushing some hair away from his face to look a little more serious - or at least presentable. "In truth, in times outside of these peculiar weekends people often find themselves waking up in a house that is not their own, with a confused woman who thinks them their children. She ensures they have a companion, and gives them supplies, and then sends them on their way to a land that is not their own, often with technology that is completely foreign to them."

At least, that had been the case for Dimitri. And even for others who are more familiar with things like television, or phones, there were other devices that seemed to perplex them.

Although speaking of familiar... Hm. Those splotches that he can barely see.... "Excuse me, would you happen to have any male family members...? Such as a nephew, or cousin?"

Quite frankly, that extended explanation does not clarify things at all. If Shrike sounded incredulous before, now he nearly looks it.

Yet somehow, despite his mounting pile of questions on the matter, that last question posed him manages to cut right through it all. It's both so absurd and so... suspicious, perhaps? that it's a rather effective distraction for a moment.

"No," he says flatly. Frankly, he nearly didn't answer at all, but then thought better of it and decided to simply cut off whatever speculation this might be. ~~(His ears' shape is pretty distinctive too, though.)~~

Ah. Well. That is certainly a definitive answer, isn't it?

Dimitri bows his head apologetically. "Then I spoke out of turn, for which I apologize. I simply asked because I know of a youth who looks a great deal like yourself, although far younger, and looking younger still due to a rough upbringing. I thought the similarities were so alike that blood seemed as though it could be a common thread... yet I suppose I am wrong."

After all, all sorts of weird things happen during these weekends. Why not a funny random happenstance?

Oblivious of the knowledge that will barrel down on him in the near future, Dimitri returns back to the original conversation. "Regardless... I understand that it is difficult to believe, and yet I am unsure of how I could prove it to you, besides you simply experiencing all of this for yourself. I can only speak the truth that I know."

That certainly is a lot of very specific detail for a coincidence. Rather alarmingly specific, to be frank, though if Shrike's lucky the look of mixed surprised confusion on his face might be mistaken for simple bewilderment. Though the blond stranger promptly continues on, which is also telling of a few things in its own way. Such as the fact that the man must not have any real idea who he is.

Which really just makes the first part more confusing, but one thing at a time, here.

"Let me see if I understand you. You claim first this is... what? Some other world entirely? You spoke of something that you claim happens at times other than the current circumstances, and then you claim there's nothing more but for me to take your word and my own experience? That is what you've told me so far, correct?"

He really has no idea what that apparent non-sequitur about waking up in others' houses had to do with anything, nor was his original question that prompted it ever truly answered to his satisfaction before being derailed.

"If you're unable to explain or answer, you might simply say so from the start and save both of us the trouble."

Well, he never was any good with magic. Dimitri supposes that was always going to be the case, although it doesn't stop him from sighing a bit.

"It is not that I am lacking the desire to do so... And yet, sir, how could I prove to you that this indeed another world that you have arrived in? I could show you the technologies, and culture, the strange creatures which inhabit this place... Yet none of that may convince you of its nature." He shakes his head.

"I can only explain to you things as I perceive them, and my own experiences."

That isn't exactly a surprising answer, but it's still a very exasperating one. And while Shrike can exercise a modicum of patience with someone who's clearly Not Getting It when he has to, well, his heritage isn't the only reason he's never become a popular figure amongst many of the nobles and officials he interacts with.

"So you mean to say, you are unable to give an answer you believe I would find satisfactory, however you are also apparently unwilling to admit as much except by implying it amid excuses." A beat. "That, or you weren't actually listening to what I said in the first place. I never said you were unwilling, merely unable; your own circumlocution is what suggests unwillingness."

On the other hand, his bluntness is exactly what those few who know and trust him well value.

"More importantly, I imagine that an explanation of what you can explain would be far more useful than lengthy descriptions of what you can't."

It's very possible that he's a little bit anxious to get back to where he was before. Well, okay, maybe more than just a little...

Edited (shrike being shrike distracted me and i forgot he had more to say) 2022-12-23 15:42 (UTC)

Fortunately, for all that he may be of royal blood, Dimitri honestly quite favors blunt honesty more than anything else. It leaves so much less nonsense for him to deal with. So as the older man tells him off, Dimitri actually straightens up a little bit in military habit, and nods along.

"Of course, I understand. Then, I apologize. I suppose that I drew up a fuss for no reason at all." But in terms of things he can explain... "May I ask, then, if you found a peculiar companion with you when you found yourself here?"

Well, that's definitely an improvement. Enough to somewhat ease a bit of Shrike's tension, though not all of it, seeing as most of his concern is finding himself in this strange place to begin with.

"A companion?" He looks a little puzzled by the question. "Not that I'm aware of."

That, or he did get a pokéball and never thought to open it. Or is assuming the man means a human companion.

"I see..." Fortunately, Dimitri seems to recall the pokeball part of this after a moment, because he rouses slightly. "Then, nothing such as this?"

It's a good thing that he always has a pokeball on him for one member of his team or another... Not only for weekends like this, but just in general.

Things, happen, after all.

Dimitri holds up his pokeball, not releasing its inhabitant for the time being. Just the object enough will hopefully demonstrate what he means. "Whether you found yourself here with one or not may help in your inquiries."

Shrike can't quite keep the puzzlement off his face as the man shows what is, to all appearances, some kind of colorful toy ball. What that has to do with anything he cannot even begin to guess.

"Not to my knowledge, no."

"Then... Perhaps you will only be a temporary visitor." Dimitri shakes his head. "But I suppose I am jumping ahead, to some degree, and I do not wish to prove difficult as before. This place - I believe it is Johto, or its sister, Kanto. Here, they have a partnership born from cooperation with a particular kind of creature, although they come in many breeds and types. This is one of my companions, who I have named Gremlin."

And with that, he presses down on one button, and a beam of light twists through the air until there's Gremlin, chittering on his shoulder.

Enjoy the large purple rat, Definitely A Stranger.

That most certainly is a very large purple... rodent. Honestly, even calling it a 'rat' feels a bit of a stretch, as the creature looks more like a child's attempt at drawing a rat than a real one.

But more to the point is what the blond man just so casually demonstrated. Summoning forth a creature from a ball a fraction of its size is no ordinary feat, yet it was clearly done without even any thought to the matter, as easily as opening a book. That more than anything Shrike finds telling; there's something deeply convincing about someone performing an action they find mundane and everyday yet ought to be utterly impossible, more than any possible explanation.

Not to mention, he sensed no magic at work at all, a further proof that he truly has somehow found himself in a strange, unknown land.

"... I see." He does, at least, look a bit more thoughtful now, though there's still an undercurrent of wariness born of concern. He does have someplace he'd very much like to get back to, after all. "And you come by such companions from some sort of madwoman...?"

But for the lack of magical power present, he'd be inclined to assume some manner of fay.

"She is merely ill," Dimitri corrects gently. "And grieving, I think. She does her best to send anyone off with some supplies, including a single companion."

Really, Dimitri can't help it. The woman in New Bark may not have any true relation to him, and yet.... He has a weakness for her. How couldn't he, when he understands how it feels to be confused and believing in things that aren't there, aren't true?

As he talks, he scratches behind Gremlin's ears absentmindedly, but Gremlin is somewhat distracted himself. Just barely maintaining his balance, he's leaning forward on his perch, snout in the air and rapidly twitching. He knows this scent, after all, although it is a tad bit different. Give the rat a second.

"But while she does give one companion, there are plenty more of these creatures in this world, and they challenge one another in order to grow stronger. If they find you worthy in this aspect, they agree to join you in little balls such as this." He holds up the pokeball. "I actually have an entire team-" More than a team, but that's getting too into it. "-but I was transported from my home before I could properly gather them together. Only Gremlin was with me, although he is full of talent."

Gremlin chitters proudly in agreement, even as he's still sniffing.

There are definitely some differences in the scent. For one thing, Shrike's clothing is entirely natural fibers, silks and linens and the like, rather than the polyester mixes one might find here. For another, doubtless the oils he uses to maintain his hair are pleasantly scented, and there is no question that he wears some kind of perfume. This is clearly a man who takes extensive care in his appearance.

But under all that... Yes, there's undoubtedly some similarity, at least as strong as the resemblance between an adult and their childhood photos, if not moreso. One's scent is not easily changed, after all, and Shrike hasn't been eating excessive amounts of garlic or anything of the sort, either.

In any case, while Shrike is indeed noting the full explanation, again it's what's said offhandedly that particularly catches his attention.

"Transported here? Is that what you were referring to before?"

About people suddenly finding themselves in various parts of the world.

"Indeed, I refer exactly to that." Dimitri adjusts Gremlin before he can fall straight off of his shoulder. "While I arrived here over two years ago in that woman's home, I traveled all across this land, before settling down with my lovers and a family in a home of my own. This morning, that is where I awoke... only to step foot out one doorway, and find myself in the midst of the many paths of the country."

But at least he's not completely unprepared this time, so, that's nice.

This is around the time that Gremlin finally stops his investigative sniffing, and rears up onto his hind legs, waving his little rat hands about energetically as he squeaks. Dimitri goes again to readjust him, smiling indulgently. "Oh, you think he looks similar too, don't you? But calm down, Gremlin."

"And some, apparently, find themselves here from other worlds entirely...?"

He's still a little mystified by that one, to be frank. Shrike is a very skilled mage, so he's quite familiar with what is and isn't actually possible to do with such power.

That said, he frowns a bit at that last remark.

"Similar to what?"

"Indeed. Many who are swept up in this peculiar teleportation weekend often tend to be those from other worlds."

That is an entire thing he could go onto next, Dimitri supposes, even with his hands full of rat. In a way, it's almost a relief to be sidetracked by a simpler question, considering Gremlin's squirming. "Oh, a youth that he and I came to know here in this land. Another who arrived from a world that is not this. It is why I inquired on any relations of yours, you see. He is so introverted, I thought it would be nice if he could see someone familiar."

There are a few different explanations Shrike can think of for this fellow's explanation. The most likely of which being the usual tending to more or less see all fayblood as similar. It's not an entirely uncommon attitude, even if it is a rather exasperating one.

"If you mean to say you know some fayblood child, you should know that that alone is far from suggesting any relation. And simply appearing different does not mean a resemblance."

This may be a bit of a sore point at times.

Oh - Dimitri startles, somewhat, at the blunt accusation. "Oh - you have my apologies, I did not mean to cause any offense." And he'd been trying so hard to avoid talking about the fay resemblance, remembering how skittish Shrike can be about it. "There was more to it than merely that, good sir, but I will speak of it no more."

Of course, while Dimitri may not speak of it, Gremlin has other ideas. Offended all his own, he rears up on his hind legs, and starts gesturing erratically. He has a lot to say, apparently, although it's... incomprehensible to humans.

Since he's a Rattata.

Softly, Dimitri starts to hush him. "It is all right, Gremlin. Shrike never mentioned kin either, so it was rude of me to make assumptions of a stranger. Calm yourself, there is no offense to be taken."

At some five decades older than the shy boy hiding in the mountains, Shrike has learned to be less touchy about his appearance. It doesn't mean it isn't a sore point, exactly, but that he is fayblood is an indisputable and very obvious fact, and there's little point in getting worked up when people point out the obvious. Being told what he thinks is yet another 'all you fayblood look alike' however, is a little more likely to earn his ire.

That said, he most definitely hears what the other man says to the oversized rat and, well, to say he's surprised is probably an understatement. Certainly whatever veneer of composure he'd been trying to maintain gives way to a downright startled look.

"You--what did you just say?"

Dimitri jolts in turn, not having expected that reaction. "I - I was speaking of my friend," he replies in turn. "Did I say something offensive once again-?"

There is no time for him to really continue this line of questioning. Deciding to take things into his own hands, Gremlin just lunges right for the older man's clothes. It's fine even if he's not caught; he's got hands. He can cling.

Shrike still looks a bit startled, if also now frowning a bit.

"And your friend just happens to go b--"

He's interrupted by the rat-thing launching itself at him. But rather than try to grab or swat at it, instead he attempts to step away and to the side. One arm is raised, but it's purely defensively; if anything he's taken care in his movements to avoid in any way striking the creature, at least for now as long as he has no reason to consider it a danger.

It may, just possibly, be similar to how a certain much younger fayblood boy avoids actions he thinks might hurt someone, on account of his unnatural strength.

Gremlin hits the ground with a very... distinct thud of impact, despite being such a tiny creature compared to the other two giants around him. This does not seem to bother him much, because he's whirling around again, chittering as loud as a tiny rodent possibly can. This continues even when Dimitri finally reacts, hurrying forward to scoop Gremlin up into his palms.

"Gremlin, no, you cannot act so rashly like that," he says, but he's still looking over at the man even as he says this. It's almost possible to literally see the gears in his head turning as he finally begins to put some pieces together.

It is outrageous, but... This is an outrageous time. "Sir, I... believe we did not do introductions. I am Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd."

On the one hand, Shrike would be perfectly justified in simply ending this conversation here and now, and he knows it. Aside from how strange this fellow is behaving, and the even stranger things he's saying, his... pet, or whatever it is, leaping at him would be sufficient grounds for him to leave. There are plenty of circumstances in which one might be obligated to continue to engage for all sorts of reasons, but at least one line has definitely been crossed, and it would reflect poorly on neither him nor his sovereign if Shrike refused to engage this nonsense further.

And yet, he hesitates to do so. The very strangeness of it all has piqued a certain curiosity. The sort that would doubtless continue to nag at him if he didn't at least try to find out what's going on. Not to mention, an introduction and name has been given; it wouldn't do not to at least return the courtesy. So instead he makes an effort to try to school his scowl into a more neutral expression to make a proper response.

"I am Shrike of the Yanchet, until recent Court Wizard to King Ferros of Saggrem, now Court Wizard and Consort to Queen Beredvyn of Nal."

Technically speaking, giving the titles was not strictly necessary. But Shrike's found doing so can be useful in discouraging certain... unwise behaviors some people might otherwise attempt. That, and he he wishes to see if this stranger at least recognizes something in them, for all that he seems to not yet still somewhat recognize Shrike himself.

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gotta love trying to load a page to reply and gettgin 503 errors all over the place...

lmao yeah that's why i didn't bother for a while

meanwhile I see Dimitri continues to obliviously make himself sound INCREDIBLY sus....

he does his best

adult!Shrike doesn't have much filter to begin with and Dimitri's destroying what little there is XD

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these two doofuses taking forever to get to the point because neither bothered with introductions...

WHOOPS

Gremlin is the most perceptive of the bunch here clearly

there's a reason he's in charge of the pokegear

well now Dimitri can appreciate how much Shrike has grown in VR vs his 'canon' self

it only took him multiple responses to get here lmao

the most socially sensible person in this group is a giant purple rat