☆ 001 | Goldenrod City | Action

[unkinder]

[A figure awakens with a start, the world blurry and unintelligible in the gloom as he- for a brief moment of panic- expects to feel the weight of thousands of pounds of rubble crushing him. A sharp gasp of air proves to him that he's not underwater either, at least, so where....

...

He blinks hard a few more times before he can fully make out the image of a Pikachu perched on his chest, nose just inches from his and twitching curiously as it sniffs him, red cheeks glowing and forming a very strange picture for Nagi to be looking at, even with the room being otherwise fairly illuminated.

And with that he's suddenly sitting up and now he's on his feet, effectively causing the Pikachu to tumble off of him and onto the bed with a dull squeak of surprise. He gives the room a quick once over, realizing after a moment that his breathing has grown erratic to the point where it's making his chest hurt, and he has to make a conscious effort to calm himself down to take stock of where he is. His gaze falls onto a Pokéball lying on a table nearby, sitting minimized next to a PokéGear. He doesn't make a move for either, instead just staring at them for a long moment before stiffening when he feels something brush up against his side.

Nagi abandons the objects and sudden Pikachu besides, turning quickly on his heel to make for the exit. If anyone happens to be around the base he ignores them in favor of getting out of this unfamiliar building, out to something that he might be able to pick out as fami-

...oh. That's music he's hearing, familiar but distant, and no less burned into his brain from who knows how many hours of mind-numbing game play. Eventually Nagi wanders from the building altogether, not exactly right out in the open, but not in the shadows between buildings either. He's lost and confused more than anything, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides in the attempt to keep himself focused and together enough to try to think. This has to be a dream, there's no way this could be possible, and yet there's that damn Pikachu chasing him for all it's worth, every bound punctuated with a soft Pi, Pi, Pi.

Nagi stops walking, turning his gaze up to the Pokémon Center he's somehow ended up near. Get yourself lost in a town, first thing you do is look for that red roof. Over his shoulder, a Game Corner, as well as the Pikachu that has planted itself at Nagi's feet, panting a little to catch a breath before unceremoniously grabbing Nagi's pant-leg and scaling him, up and up until he's perched on his shoulder. He ignores it in favor of....well, just staring up at that building, looking a whole heck of a lot like he's forgotten how to breathe for the moment.]

Comments

[freshprints]

[Given the forthcoming Happy Hagakure Water Park Birthday Bonanza trip that the current Goldenrod Dangans will be embarking on as of tomorrow, it's probably no surprise that Kirigiri is out and about in Goldenrod today. Some of it is just your average roaming, to be sure (it's always nice to be outside and really appreciate the ability to do so, and especially so now that it's not raining anymore), but a fair amount of it is targeted shopping; a trip suggests a need for some basic travel essentials, and a water park suggests...a bathing suit.

...

RIGHT SO ANYWAY.

At the moment, she's making her way out of the Department Store with a bag in her hand and Yoshiki the Shiny Espeon trotting along happily at her side, and admittedly, the thing that makes her stop and regard the guy in front of the Pokemon Center with a curious eye isn't really anything she can put a finger on — save for the fact that he looks as though he's about her age, for one thing, and he's looking up at the outside world with an expression of wonder that frankly she remembers all too well.

It's probably the same one she and her classmates were all wearing when they first saw the sky again after so long.

So that's...really curious, hmmm.]

Are you lost?

[BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE'S GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY RESEMBLING TACT WHEN SHE APPROACHES HIM, OH NO. THIS IS KIRIGIRI WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.]

[unkinder]

[With his gaze focused on the building looming in front of him, Nagi doesn't notice Kirigiri walk up until she's nearly right on top of him. The sudden voice causes him to stiffen and look over, taking a short step to the side on the same movement. For a long time he....doesn't say anything at all, as if he didn't hear her question. He just watches her in silence, his eyes darting over her form briefly, then down to the- ....that is a shiny Espeon, isn't it- before looking back up to her.

...Then back to the Pokémon Center. ...and back to Kirigiri. All the while, the Pikachu on his shoulder is watching his every move, ears twitching as he regards the girl curiously. Finally, instead of answering, he just sort of inclines his head sharply in a curt nod, though it's a bit unsure.

Can you really be lost in a place that's probably more familiar than you should feel proud to admit?]

[freshprints]

[Aha. Well, if that's the case...

...Really, there's a lot she could surmise here, but that would require standing next to him in perfect silence just kind of mutually staring off into space, and what kind of weirdos do that.

I mean really.]

This is Goldenrod City.

[That's simple enough.]

Where are you trying to go?

[unkinder]

[Goldenrod City....okay, not a town he's familiar with. Which strikes him as odd, considering the fact that he's literally standing in front of a real life Pokemon Center, currently.

Nagi thinks quickly, trying to recall...

okay.]

Where is Pallet Town?

[He's still angled facing the Center, but his gaze is back on Kirigiri. So he's either going to get a completely serious answer, or he's going to be told that he's lost his mind. He hasn't yet dismissed the latter himself, yet, SO LET'S SEE...]

[freshprints]

[She tips her head a bit, still just kind of regarding him; Yoshiki, on the other hand, is starting to get restless and is nosing around the surroundings, playing amid the legs of a park bench and rustling through the little displays of landscaping that dot the city streets.]

It's in Kanto, to the east. There's a ferry that goes there from New Bark Town, as well as a train that runs between Goldenrod and Saffron City.

[unkinder]

[...Wait.

Nagi leans back just slightly, his weight on his heels, before he opts to say anything else.]

This isn't Kanto?

[The amount of surprise in that statement would be palpable, if it weren't for the fact that his tone hasn't really changed at all.

Meanwhile, the Pikachu is having little success with getting Nagi's attention, and eventually he notices Yoshiki over there. Tilting his head, he scurries down from his trainer and over to where the Espeon is, standing up on his haunches while he watches her weave around the surroundings.]

[suncrushed]

[Since she was now settled down in Goldenrod City and would be soon working for the Breeding Centre, Juniper frequented the city. Back at her own world, she hardly ever went out to the city except for the occasions when she went to cheer her friends on in court, but now...she found herself willingly going outside and enjoying what Goldenrod had to offer. Though she was still timid, she found herself gradually opening up to people and not having to use her bravado when she was back at Themis.

So, she had happened to be out on a walk with her when she stumbles across the young man gazing bewilderedly up at the Pokémon Centre. At first, she doesn't say anything and only watches him, unsure of whether it would be best to call out to him, but...he seemed confused. Well, it was in her nature to be helpful, so she does at least extend her help, clearing her throat and offering the stranger a faint smile as she speaks.]

Um... Excuse me?

[unkinder]

[Nagi stiffens visibly when the voice hails him, and he turns on his heel, the Pikachu hunkering down a bit to keep from being slung off of his shoulder. His shoulders square a bit and he takes a deep breath, watching Juniper carefully. A girl...who looks to be around his age, if not slightly older.

Far too much time passes before he realizes he's been doing nothing but staring at her in silence. Eventually, he twitches and answers her, stiffly.]

...Yes?

[#nailedit]

[suncrushed]

[A+, 5 stars.

Juniper just continues to smile happily at the stranger, tilting her head slightly to the side. She had noticed that long period of him saying nothing but patiently waited there for him to say something in response, blissfully unaware of...well, the fact that he apparently does not know how to interact with females.]

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but...I've noticed you simply standing there in front of the Pokémon Centre. Are you new here?

[unkinder]

[....You say that like it's a bad thing.

And, yes, that's obvious. That's very obvious...still, Nagi swallows hard, glancing off to the side after a moment. Smile any harder and your face is going to get stuck that way, Juniper.]

...Yes.

[WE DON'T KNOW JUST ONE WORD I PROMISE.]

[suncrushed]

[Juniper's just going to take it as he's shy. It's okay, Nagi, she understands. Except she's considerably much better than you with the fact that she can give a full sentence. Perhaps cluttered with stutters and other verbal filters, but a full sentence nonetheless.]

Do you...um, have any questions?

[Give her something to work with here, Nagi. She doesn't know how to respond to a single word alone.]

[unkinder]

[WELL SHE'S NOT....WRONG....

But. Hold on, he can do this.]

...No.

[FOR GOD'S SAKE.]

...I was just trying to decide where to go next.

[Better, and still not wrong, but not...really much to go off of either, is it?]

[shest]

[Today is one of those very rare days where Ocelot hasn't intentionally made himself extremely busy. He's managed to go to the department store, though only to replenish his supplies.

He pauses when he sees the boy, blinking.

Really, it's none of his business. Goldenrod is a big city-- maybe he's waiting for someone. But he does seem lost.]

Hey. You okay?

[unkinder]

[Nagi really didn't plan on having to talk quite this much today, but he really is a bit lost, and it's either this or wandering aimlessly until he figures out what to do with himself.

Regardless, he looks over at Ocelot without moving, the Pikachu on his shoulder shifting a bit so it can look at him past Nagi's head.]

...I'm fine.

[shest]

[If he's new, he's probably a Rocket, and Ocelot isn't about to ask about that. Not in public.

But he also could just have arrived in town, though usually by the time people arrived in Goldenrod who weren't part of Team Rocket, they seemed fairly used to the region. Or at least, they seemed to have a grasp of things.]

Just arrived here, huh?

You can always pick the Pokecenter out of the sea of buildings in any town. Seems a smart design choice.

[unkinder]

[Ocelot missed Nagi's graceful exit just now, but he is correct about the Rocket thing. ..not that Nagi has actually been able to put two and two together, yet. One problem at a time.

He inclines his head a little as Ocelot talks, turning his attention back to the building. He doesn't say anything else, though, simply nodding a little. Meanwhile, the Pikachu has moved to the shoulder closest to Ocelot, reaching his head out a little with a little head-tilt.

If his trainer won't pay him any mind so help him he will get attention from somewhere.]

[shest]

[...Really?

Honestly, it's not like Ocelot is that social himself, but rude. You don't just walk away from someone as he's talking.

He folds his hands across his chest, brow raising at the Pikachu.

Still, Ocelot is a grouchy sort of young man, so he follows at a brisk pace.]

Have you been to the stadium yet?

[It's an odd question, but idle conversations sometimes hold important ways to judge people. Nagi has definitely gotten his attention now.]

[unkinder]

[Nagi does not have time for grouchy young men, do you not understand.

But that question does seem to grab his attention, causing him to glance back at Ocelot.]

Stadium?

[lullabytes]

[ That is indeed a Look. Most people in Goldenrod do not have that look, since most people in Goldenrod reach Goldenrod after a lot of travel...for the most part. Nanami hasn't met too many people who started out in the town, and so Nagi gets a curious glance. The NPCs - the natives - never really stand around like that, so he can't be an NPC...

...especially since he's ignoring his Pokémon. Absolutely no NPC in Pokéworld would do something like that.

She's on her way back from work, so she's wearing a Pokémart uniform as she stops nearby, her Musharna and Rotom and Porygon-Z all floating around her in a sort of strange circle. They like to do that. ]

...If you need help, they'll definitely help you. That's what Pokécenters do.

[unkinder]

[Clearly Nagi would suck if he were an NPC, but as it stands he's just a very perplexed player character who skipped right through the intro screens without really bothering to read anything. When you've played this a hundred times, you'd assume you wouldn't need to.

But no, now we have shinies and Espeons and Johto and Lord knows what else.

Nagi doesn't flinch back or anything this time after being approached by multiple people thus far, though he does find himself stopping to stare at Nanami when she walks up. At first, his attention is grabbed by the three Pokemon accompanying her, all of which he finds himself completely unfamiliar with.

He doesn't have much time to dwell on the new Pokemon, though. Not with...someone standing there and probably expecting an answer. He tips his head a bit, frowning.]

I know what they do.

[lullabytes]

...Is that so. You looked a little confused, though...

[ Nanami sounds more curious than anything else, not particularly upset in any way. She doesn't seem to mind the curt answer, although her Porygon-Z makes a few angry electronic beeps. ]

[unkinder]

[He goes to say "It's not the building I'm confused about", but he loses his train of thought briefly when the Porygon-Z begins to beep angrily at him. Some quick deduction tells him that that is probably some sort of evolution of Porygon, and he'd really like to know how on earth that happened, since Porygon is-

...but wait that's not important right now, is it?]

I'm unfamiliar with this town. That's all.

[Or the entire region for that matter.]

[lullabytes]

...Did you skip ahead from the starter town, or something...

[ Because you're being weird as hell, tbqh.

Nanami finally notices the Porygon-Z making angry noises, and gives a little yawn. ]

...Galaga. Be polite.

[divinitea]

[As the only Goldenrod Dangan who is not heading off for the Happy Hagakure Water Park Birthday Bonanza (because there is literally nothing in that sentence that doesn't make her want to vomit), Celes has been spending her time reacquainting herself with Goldenrod City. She's spent a fair few months wandering around in pursuit of a full badge case, so being back in civilization is...comforting.

At present, she's actually on her way to the Pokemon Centre, as her Honchkrow has the flu and her constant coughing is starting to grate. All in all, it's a rather boring errand, so the sight of the mildly traumatized-looking boy in front of the building is almost welcome.

He's clearly lost, so she should clearly help! Yes. Excellent.]

Have you never seen a Pokemon Centre before?

[Behind her, Celes' everpresent Ninetales slinks up and curls herself around her trainer's body, eying Nagi and his Pikachu with what is possibly the haughtiest gaze ever.

...

...it took a lot of practice to look this painfully arrogant, okay.]

[unkinder]

[Nagi turns his head slightly at the voice, finding himself mildly annoyed by the amount of people seeming to think that he has absolutely no idea what he's looking at. Later he will realize that it's not really their fault, given the way he's standing and staring, but oh well.

He doesn't turn to face her, instead keeping still as he watches Celes approach, his eyes wandering over to the Ninetails. Well, at least this is a Pokemon he actually recognizes and remembers training in game himself.

Honestly, it's a lot more impressive seeing one standing before him in person, haughty or not.]

I have never seen one in person.