3rd Castoff

[seasalthands]

[It's an actual video with his face this time. It's clearly snowing and Kira looks cold. His cheeks and nose are flushed red but other than that he's pretty pale. This boy isn't exactly dressed for the weather. (He's not really dressed for real life in general) His Butterfree is though! And occasionally the eager butterfly pushes his way into the camera, showing off it's white and blue scarf that matches Kira's outfit.]

Let's see... It's been four months or so. And I definitely don't hate it here. It's actually pretty great. But-- [He's too proud to say it.]

Anyway, I used to be a doctor back home. A marine surgeon actually. I'm from Japan and had a roommate and friend. The only friend I've ever had and he was pretty cool. I have one sister and my mom is sick currently. I was looking for a cure for her. But I'm sure my friend is looking after her for me.

I was just curious, I guess, about all your stories from home. I don't think anyone can complain too much about where we are but it's not home, you know?

I'm also freezing my ass off and I want to read some cozy stories about your lives. Some of you are more interesting than the creatures here.

Where're you from? What's your story?

Comments

[video]

[purramedic]

[For the first time in his entire existence, Anders is going to avoid an opportunity to recount his life story in explicit, gory detail. Because this guy doesn't look like he's doing so hot.]

What's a marine surgeon?

And... have you tried going indoors? [That wasn't supposed to be sarcastic. Still came out like it, though.]

Video;

[seasalthands]

A doctor that performs surgery on a boat or at sea. I did all sorts of doctor things aside from surgery since I was the only one that could. But that was just my official doctorly title.

[He sniffs a bit and gives a shake of the head.] Nah I'm okay. It's not that cold and I needed the fresh air. [Because somehow he doesn't get enough of that already... Butterfree gives a silent shake of the head in the background.]

[purramedic]

That makes sense. [He definitely was not picturing somebody performing surgery on... water. Literally, water undergoing surgery.] If it's any reassurance, I'm told that time doesn't pass for us back home while we're here. Your mother is probably no worse off now than when you left.

Do you own a coat? Should you need, I can send you one through Pidgey Post...

[seasalthands]

[Woah. Really? He didn't know that. It's a bit hard to wrap his head around because the whole concept doesn't make a great deal of sense but he'll happily believe that until told otherwise.]

That's... That's really good to know. I had no idea. No one is worrying that I'm missing or anything. That's good. That's really really good.

[Kira doesn't own a coat or a shirt that covers his midriff. But at least it has sleeves.] That's generous but I'm alright I think. I'll head back inside before I die. Freezing to death away from the sea is not how I want to go.

[purramedic]

[Anders is sort of in the same boat... so to speak. He has no way to prove that's true, but it's easier to believe than the alternative.]

You're looking forward to freezing to death at sea, then?

Personally, I've always been fond of the idea of drifting away peacefully in my sleep, wrapped up in the arms of my lover. And hopefully I'd have a few more years under my belt, but not too many.

video;

[notvaljean]

What's Japan like?

[Jean is not going to talk about his own world, because his own world sucks. He's more interested in hearing about this guy's.]

video;

[seasalthands]

Sort of depends on where you go. It's a small island with some big cities and really thrilling technology. Tokyo is neon lights and skyscrapers. And then there are some places that are really traditional. Old shrines and homes. I'm from a smaller city called Morioh. Not a lot of big buildings but it's still busy. Very lush and green and by the sea so on really windy days you can smell the ocean from the other side of town.

I don't get to hang out in Morioh too long cause I have to work and be out on the ship but it's always the same no matter how many months or years pass.

Are you a man of the sea as well?

video;

[notvaljean]

Your hometown sounds nice. Peaceful and quiet, you know?

[Certain recent events from back home have made Jean appreciate the allure of living somewhere ordinary and boring.]

We don't have seas in my world. Or if we do, they aren't anywhere I can get to them.

video;

[seasalthands]

I am for a quiet peaceful life at all times

[It's kind of his motto.]

I'm sorry. Did I hear that correctly...? You don't have the ocean where you come from? [Kira knows nothing else about Jean's world but he can firmly declare it sucks serious ass.]

video;

[notvaljean]

[It sucks serious ass for a lot of reasons. The ocean thing is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.]

No, we don't. At least none that I know about. There could be some beyond the walls, but we don't go outside the walls.

voice.

[torsion]

[ The weather's hit her a bit hard, too, but it can be pretty good for your lungs (provided you don't freeze to death in the process). Though she can't be seen from an audio option, she's watching the pokemon with curiosity. She knows there's so many different types, maybe too many, and hasn't seen one like this yet. ]

Four months, huh? Sounds like we might have a bit in common. At least where we're from. I'm American, formerly with the Army and Delta Force, currently with the BSAA, which is an antibioterrorism group. [ Maybe they're not the same and he's a surgeon, but it's still a small shred of something she's in common with someone here. But she's come to learn there might be very different versions of her own world. Same places, different stories. ] I'd just gotten off of a... really long mission. Was looking forward to spending time with a few friends then showed up here.

[ That's only part of the truth. She omits that she was going into rehabilitation therapy and they were going to probably run countless tests on blood and tissue samples, possibly for months. Maybe it was this place, but she was expecting backlash from the P30's removal from her body, too... ]

You freezing by choice or accident? Know this place is pretty big, but I can toss a scarf your way if you're near me.

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[seasalthands]

[American. Military. Antibitoterrorism. That all sounds right from what he knows about the West which, admittedly, isn't much.]

Funny enough, I was on a mission of sorts myself and ended up here. And while this place isn't anything to complain about it would have been nice to at least wrap things up, you know?

[Complete the mission. Savor the victory even for just a moment. Now he has no idea how it concluded.]

Freezing by choice. Despite always being on the road I felt that need for some fresh air. Thanks for the offer though... Everyone is really generous. I'm still trying to get used to all that.

[torsion]

[ On the bright side, however, Jill is nikkei and knows plenty about Japan, including the language. She might be a little easier to talk to than some, although military itself has it's own special, universal language. ]

Small world. [ Maybe he's from the same one as her? ] I understand that. I had a lot of things to take care of before I was even able to leave the hospital and go to my actual home.

[ Like finding out if being officially deceased she still had a home to go back to. Chris probably took care of that for her and if he couldn't he had a plan. At least she doesn't have to feel like an intrusion now. ]

Ha, really? Same exact reason I've been camping. I mean, it saves money, too, but it's kind of nice. Think it's easier to really get the lay of the land this way, too. [ She pauses, thinking on that last part. It's unusual in a pleasant way. ] I don't think I've ever been anywhere that people are so hospitable unless you're doing something for them -- not that I blame people in those situations. Both the people originally from here and the ones like ourselves... it's almost shocking, but it's... well, nice.

[seasalthands]

Hospital? Just getting a check up before heading back? You're dealing with biohazards yeah? I sure you deal with all kinds of weird stuff. [It sounds awesome actually.] There's probably some kind of quarantine procedure you have to go through so you're not bringing in super viruses and ugly stuff like that.

But yeah... Being outside is preferred. And you're right about the money. Even though I've been here for a few months I don't feel settled. I just keep traveling and trying to learn as much as possible about the creatures around me. So no job means no continuous income. So you gotta save it where you can.

[Sleeping under the stars is preferred anyway. It's another thing he really liked about his job, aside from being on the sea all the time. The vast ocean under the vast sky that stretches on for miles. This is a different sky but it's still holds a familiar comfort.]

It's definitely different. You'll come across a few genuinely nice people in your life. Doing things because they want to and not needing anything in return. But everyone is like that here. Sort of makes you want to me be that good of a person too. It's this domino effect but of good things.

[torsion]

Not so much quarantine, but... well, it's complicated. I'm not contagious or anything, I was just injured and ill. [ It's hard to discuss potential addictions, them wanting to use her blood for an antivirus, and the psychological issues she was dealing with. ] Though there is a quarantine procedure, of course.

[ He hasn't been here too much longer than she has, at least. It feels a little more relatable than the people who have been here for years, apparently. ]

Guess we're doing the same thing, then. I mean there seems to be temp jobs you can do, but I'm not really sure how long I could stand being a store clerk. Apparently there are some farms, so if I come across one I'll probably stick around and try to save.

[ Jill likes being in different places, too. It's nice to have a consistent home to come back to eventually, but the travel is wonderful. To protect people everywhere and experience so many different things is something incredible. She's fortunate, even if she doesn't get to do much tourism. ]

Think that even if you're like that, it's hard to be that way all the time. I'm trying to give where I can, especially when I see someone much younger than me. Kind of my responsibility as an adult, I guess? But I get what you're saying. It's hard not to compare yourself and what you've done when you see people doing things so freely.

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[veggie_vamp]

Oh My Ghoul, I've got, like, a million billion stories, it's hard to pick just one!

Video;

[seasalthands]

Well... What's your favorite? Or where are you from? A story from home would be a good theme to go with.

Video;

[veggie_vamp]

Well, for my normie life, I was born in Rome, but when I got transformed into a vampire, I lived most of that life in Transylvania!

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[seasalthands]

[Wait. What?]

You're a vampire?

[Should that be surprising? He... he doesn't know anymore.]

Video;

[veggie_vamp]

Well, technically this place turns EVERYONE into normies, but on the inside I'll always be a vampire!

Voice

[meowbel]

I'm from America! I live in California but I had to go to Gravity Falls during the summer with my brother and my Grunkles! And I don't know about you but I had quite the vacation if you ask me!

[Because it's not everyday she got to see a bunch of supernatural stuff in one place!]

Voice

[seasalthands]

I have ancestors that are from America but I've never been myself. And I don't speak English. Or... I didn't until I came here.

Gravity Falls? That's a neat name for something. It's really clever actually. And what is that? Some kind of camp? Or... a girl scouts thing? [He also doesn't know what a Grunkles is. He's going to assume it's some American word he just doesn't know.]

Well, I am asking you. What made it quite the vacation?

Voice Sorry about the late!

[meowbel]

Nah, not really! It's kind of a small place where my brother and I helped my Grunkle with his tourist trap!

[And again, all said so cheerfully too!]

But anyway! It's quite the vacation because I got to see all kind of weird and spooky stuff around here! It's not everyday you get to see gnomes, love gods, and a bunch of zombies lurking around!

No worries no worries!

[seasalthands]

Tourist trap... What a wholesome family thing to do.

Was any of that stuff real? Or like... you know made up and faked cause you're a kid? [Nice, Kira.]

\o!

[meowbel]

Of course it's all real! I mean, it's not everyday you get to meet some demonic evil triangle that has the power to destroy reality as we know it!

[And all said so dramatically too!]