ANOMALY DETECTED

[indigo_league]

Who: ANYONE AND EVERYONE
Where: ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE
When: NOV 25TH to 27TH
Summary: GET IN HERE AND MINGLE
Rating: BUT PLEASE MARK YOUR THREAD CONTENT ACCORDINGLY
Log:






Need a reminder of our Fourth Wall Rules or what is going on this weekend? Want to check what locations have been made available? Find all your answers here!

Comments

Shrike | Open!

[fayblood]

[I. Ecruteak City and environs]

As soon as he realized that magic was working again, Shrike knew what he had to do. Namely, gather up all the materials he's hoarded over the past several months for this purpose, and proceed to positively book it for the edge of town and a more appropriate space for using magecraft.

He might, however, be failing to fully look where he's going in his enthusiasm...

"Ah! S-sorry...!"


[II. Yanchet Mountains]

It's very possible, with all the strangeness going on, that you might suddenly find yourself deep in a mountain range that not that of Johto or Kanto. The forest-covered slopes rise steeply to snowy peaks, and extend as far as the eye can see. Rivers flow briskly down narrow valleys, while the occasional larger valley is usually home to as many farmsteads as can be crammed in.

But more importantly, there's a kid wearing a hooded cloak looking about himself not in fear or as though lost, but in recognition.

"How...?"


[III. Schwarzwald]

How did he end up in this mysterious forest? Shrike has no idea. But the more pressing question in his mind is why oh why has a crowd of Morelull and Shiinotic insisting on gathering around him. Because there are many and Shrike is very unsure what to do about it.

"Um, do you want something?"

Really, all the fairy 'shrooms are throwing him off far more than the creepy forest thing. Go figure!


[Extra. A special appearance...???]

Elsewhere, specifically, anywhere that Shrike is decidedly not at the moment, you might come across a new(?) face. Specifically, a black-haired man of perhaps thirty years old or so, dressed in what's frankly quite fancy and expensive-looking robes, to judge by the dyed colors and embroidered patterns. His hair and beard are also carefully groomed and styled, though his ears are shaped a little oddly. And there's an almost animal-like pattern of dark patches on what little is visible of his skin, though it can be tricky to see with the elaborate and clearly carefully-applied makeup he's wearing. For that matter, should you get a glimpse of his hands under those overly long sleeves, his fingernails are neatly manicured and painted, though a bit narrower and thicker than normal.

Which is to say, if you happen to know a certainly intensely shy kid who's fond of hoods well enough to have seen under the hood, this 'new' fellow might seem more than a little familiar.

"Your pardon, but I don't seem to be familiar with this place?"

He also clearly has no idea where he is or what's going on.


[Wildcard/Notes]

Adult!Shrike is visiting for 4th wall only! He has no memories of his younger self's time in-game. If you have questions about recognizing him or anything else please don't hesitate to hit me up! Otherwise if you have another idea for a thread feel free to just toss me a tag, or poke me in PM or on Discord (AC#7235) if you'd rather discuss things first!

Schwarzwald

[desirestruth]

"They are curious about you."

As always in her home forest, Naeva appears as a great beast instead of a woman, which. She still doesn't seem to have figured out an eleven-foot tall werejackal might freak some people out. Naeva's a genius.

[fayblood]

While someone suddenly speaking to him does startle Shrike, well. The fact that the monster in question is talking is a good sign. And frankly, meeting a weird talking beast in a weird magical forest? Shrike's first assumption is that it's some kind of fay.

Not that he's met a proper fay before, despite his heritage, but he knows the same stories as everyone else. So after his initial freezing up in surprise, he manages to respond mostly calmly, if still nervous and definitely very wary.

"Oh... They--they keep getting close and, um, I don't want to step on one..."

He's definitely rather nervous. Though Naeva might also notice that, while very definitely human, Shrike has an unusual degree of innate magic to him. That, and with magic actually working, the crude enchantment he put on his hood is active, casting his face into shadow.

... Well, more shadow, considering.

[desirestruth]

It is alright.

[She has stepped forward and carefully scooped up the Morelull in her paws, setting them on a nearby tree root.]

They are quite good at avoiding feet, little traveler.

[fayblood]

"Oh."

Shrike is... well, he's not sure what else to say to that. He's probably supposed to say something, but he's still not very good at the socialization thing. Doubly so when he's assuming he's talking to a fay of some kind and therefore needing to be extra careful.

"..... Is this your forest?"

That's probably safe, right?

[desirestruth]

Yes, little one.

[She is amused a bit, by his stiffness, but after the Morelull have been arranged properly, she takes a more human form, to turn to him.]

So you are safe here. Please relax.

[fayblood]

Well that's a little reassuring, at least. Fay that take human form are usually supposed to be more or less reasonable, and definitely less likely to just kill and eat a trespasser. Usually.

On the other hand, being promised safety is definitely a good sign. Shrike, well, it wouldn't be accurate to say he relaxes, exactly, but he is a little bit less tense, at least.

"Uh, thank you."

Yep, still nervous.

[desirestruth]

...You can relax, you know. The pokemon here don't seem to be particularly aggressive.

[No, Naeva, you are the concern here.]

[fayblood]

"Huh?"

He's not sure what she means by that. He has his own Pokémon to battle with if a wild one gets feisty, after all.

"I think usually they aren't? Not to people..."

The Pokémon are definitely not his concern, no. Especially seeing as that statement doesn't really reassure him.

pries self out of nano hell at long last

[nastyboy]

One of these days, Dimitri is going to learn. He's going to learn to always be prepared, and he's going to learn on what days that these terribly bizarre weird weekends happen. He really will.

As it is, however, he's left in his pajamas, shuffling about the city streets while Knight Shift the Perrserker is held in his arms with those... big, strung out eyes of his. And the grin. And a wallet in his little paws. Probably it's Dimitri's wallet.

Probably.

Either way, when he's approached, a very sleepy Dimitri blinks over at the man. Huh. He seems.... familiar somehow.

"Oh, yes - I do apologize. This place becomes like this, a few times a year."

[fayblood]

Shrike--for that's who this man is, even if he's considerably older--gives him a mildly curious look at that response. There's no trace of recognition, though, to him the blond is a complete stranger.

"So there is some sort of known phenomenon at play? I'm afraid, however, that I have no idea where 'this place' is."

His words are polite, but his body language is somewhat walled off and distant. Perhaps it's suddenly finding himself in a strange place, or perhaps he's always like this. For that matter, speaking of strange, even the very magic here feels... off, somehow. Not that he's likely to comment on that, as he's well aware most people are unable to sense such things.

[nastyboy]

"Right, of course - my apologies." Dimitri shakes his head; he's still a bit out of it himself. These weekends usually do that to him.

Still, that truly is no excuse, and he turns to the man more properly. "This land is called Johto, although one can venture into its neighboring kin of Kanto. It is a land where people bond with the beasts that are here, although they are so intelligent that it is a disservice to call them as such.

"It seems that twice a year, however, something mysterious happens, and people can find themselves all over the land even if they take merely a step forward... or no step at all. It only seems to happen to strangers to this land, however."

[fayblood]

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?

[nastyboy]

"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?"

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

[fayblood]

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.)

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

[nastyboy]

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."

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

[fayblood]

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."

Yanchet Mountains

[tearsofademon]

Huh, this is new.

Ryner isn't super fazed by the change in scenery - it's that time of year again, stuff happens - but Rose has decided that it's very pretty here, and is watching one of those rivers flow with a look of delight.

And hey, Shrike's here. And with that sort of body language...

"You know this place?" Ryner asks as he approaches, because what are proper greetings.

[fayblood]

At least he's not alone in the lack of social niceties, here.

"Yeah!" Shrike actually sounds a little excited, in a way? "This is where I used to live..."

Yes, in the mountains.

[tearsofademon]

The mountains are a perfectly good place to call home, in Ryner's opinion. They're quiet, and people won't bother you there as much. Or at least, that's his guess.

"It's nice," Ryner comments, taking a good look around to get a better lay of the land.

[fayblood]

The lack of many people around is definitely part of the appeal, yes. Though it comes with its own risks and hardships too, of course.

"It's spring, like when I left, so it's still a little cold..."

Not that that seems to bother Shrike. In fact, he's looking around, presumably at some landmarks, before finally heading off in one direction. Uphill, as it happens, and moving with a definite air of familiarity.

[tearsofademon]

Well, if Shrike is heading uphill, Ryner might as well follow. He's the one who knows the area, after all. And aside from the risk of getting lost in any other direction (including back the way he came from), it would be cool to see a bit more of where Shrike is from, right?

[fayblood]

It's somewhat rough going, this is pretty much the middle of nowhere in the mountains, but before long Ryner might notice that there's something resembling a vague path that Shrike's more or less following. Not any sort of properly made trail, just the sort of track one wears from following the same route time and again.

And while it's definitely a bit of a hike (and at times almost more of a climb) it's not too long before Shrike reaches his apparent destination. Which is to say, he's paused in front of what looks like a small cave, looking really not much more than a crack in the sheer stone.

[tearsofademon]

A small, hidden cave, huh. That's... somehow lonelier than Ryner expected, honestly. Even given what he's picked up about Shrike's life.

"Here?" It's more of an observation than an actual question. He doesn't make to enter, though. He's not about to go in without an invitation from Shrike, if this is his home. That would be rude.

[fayblood]

"Inside, yeah."

It's been, what, a year and a half? since Shrike's seen this place, so he's actually quite curious to go inside. He does pause immediately before doing so, however, as something occurs to him.

"Oh... I don't have any mage lights right now, so it'll be dark at first."

Which isn't a problem for him, mind, but Ryner's another story. Even if it didn't occur to Shrike to actually outright invite him to follow.

If Ryner does follow anyway, however, he'll find that the 'cave' is really a somewhat narrow but clearly fairly deep cleft in the rock. It quickly becomes narrow enough to require people to pass through it single-file, but not so much so that one would be likely to bump into the walls if walking in the center of the path. It's definitely not straight, either, instead jogging irregularly from one side to another and, as Shrike warned, quickly rather dark as limited light can penetrate inside.

That said, at least the floor is mostly fairly flat; this isn't the natural state of the cleft, and a close examination would reveal that it's been filled in with various-sized rocks, branches and pieces of wood, and the gaps smoothed with pebbles and dirt. Also fortunately, by the time the natural light from outside is cutoff, there's some faint cracks of it coming from ahead. A little further and Shrike pushes aside a kind of curtain--actually an old quilted blanket hung over a branch wedged high into the rock walls--and more light promptly spills through.

Beyond that it's just a short distance before the cleft abruptly widens a bit, forming a small room. It's perhaps three yards across at its widest point, and a third again as deep before the cleft narrows to being impassable. A rudimentary floor is formed again from rocks, branches, and boards, and above the rocky cleft opens high and narrow into darkness. A bed that's little more than a pile of straw and assorted blankets on top of scavenged boards sits along one side, and across from that is a simple stove. Natural ledges in the rocks have been added to in order to make shelves, containing things like assorted tools, a few books, and of course the mage lights providing light for the whole room. Above the stove an old spike harrow has been wedged into the wall, its tines facing outward and being used to hold strips of meat to dry and smoke them.

Cozy, isn't it?