ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Ever: There is a human person in here!

Neodymium: ~Rude.~

-she kicks Ever in the face-

Ever: tf

-and makes a run for it, bursting out into the hallway-

-at which point she finds that there are no other doors and the hallway extends infinitely in either direction-

Neodymium: ...

Ever: Okay. So I'm not sure what you're seeing, but I'm going to assume it's not what I am. So for the time being, let's turn around and—

-Neodymium punches Ever in the face and runs for it-

-Ever just sighs and sits down-

Ever: Are you seeing this shit, Daydre?

-it does not take long for Neodymium to return from the opposite side-

Ever: Can the pointless violence stop now?

Neodymium: ...Maybe. I know the rules, though. All I have to tell you is name, rank, and serial number.

Ever: Well, let's hear it.

Neodymium: ...Neodymium.

Ever: Huh. That is convenient, I'll grant you.

Mitchell, only slightly fazed by Hoops' language, says to them <That sounds like one of my dad's rage moments. I've got a tin ear for the sound of fairness, anyway.>

Christine, however, was a tad more upset at Hoops' words. <Don't you dare do that,> she warns them, <or else!>

<Whoa, whoa, easy Chris!>, Mitchell says to Christine. <I'm sure they're not being that way on purpose! Maybe it's their Magikarp side talking!>

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre climbs out of the vent and just. Watches all this unfold.

Daydre: -Watching Ever get kicked- "You need an ice pack for that or something?"

She folds her arms and tilts her head.

Daydre:"..."

Daydre: "I dunno, pointless violence is fun sometimes. But that's probably a conversation for elsewhere."

.... And then Neo states her designation.

Daydre: "Oh, you're one of those School kids. I think. Unless you're just an orphan with a really weird name, which I would also believe. You're a little bit big for one of those baby carrying picnic baskets, though."

Edited by Daydre on Mar 8th 2023 at 2:51:47 PM

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Ever: ...I could use an ice pack, probably.

-they frown at the pointless violence comment-

Come on, we're trying to set a good example for this weird creature.

Neodymium: I'm Neodymium.

Ever: You're one of Mo's kids, aren't you?

Neodymium: ...

Ever: Your...mom? Big sister?

Neodymium: Ew, what? We don't have moms. Or sisters.

Ever: ...Well, she's told me about you.

Neodymium: ...

Ever: So, uh, whatcha doing here, Neodymium?

Neodymium: ...I'm Neodymium.

Ever: So you've mentioned.

Neodymium: I'm Neodymium, and I don't need to tell you anything.

Ever: (to Daydre) She doesn't know, right? I'm getting the sense she doesn't know.

Neodymium: I do know!

Ever: She's not a very good liar.

Neodymium: I'm a great liar.

Ever: I thought you were Neodymium.

Neodymium: The two are not mutually exclusive!

Ever: You're really telling me everything here, kiddo.

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre: "Oh, cool, I have one right here."

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out an ice pack. Somehow it is still cold.

Daydre: "Here you go."

Daydre frowns at the mention of Mo, but for the life of her can't remember why that name doesn't make her really mad. Like? really really mad. No clue at all.

Daydre: "Nah, I don't think she knows."

She shrugs.

Daydre: "I dunno kid, you know if you don't tell us anything we won't be inclined to tell you anything either, yeah?"

Stormchaser

Ever: Oh! Thank you, that's very concerning.

-they place the ice pack on their face-

Neodymium: -staring at Daydre- ~I'm a telepath. I don't need you to tell me anything—~

~Out! Shoo!~

Neodymium: Hey!

Breeze: <Only I get to violate the sanctity of Ever's mind! And maybe Daydre's?>

Ever: No.

Breeze: <Maybe!>

Ever: Absolutely not.

Breeze: <In dire emergencies, I can—>

Ever: Nope.

Breeze: <In the most catastrophic of exigencies—>

Ever: Under no circumstances.

Neodymium: ...

-she glares at Daydre-

I don't want to know anything from you either.

Ever: I do not believe that even slightly.

You've got Pokemon, maybe they know what's going on? I find they tend to.

Neodymium: ...

Ever: Surely you want someone here on your side.

James kept a watch over the room, Gray right next to him. "Any luck Otacon?"

Otacon stuck his head out of the PC tower. "I got something! An old record, showing Senator Anderson talking with someone!"

He pulled it out and sent it to James, who looked over the video. It showed Anderson talking with a dark skinned man in a rather... elaborate looking uniform with a black and red cloak. He was flanked by two guards in bone white armor.

James crouched down and pressed at his radio. "Control, this is Viper, we got something, it's not enough but we have an unknown talking with the Senator."

"Roger that Viper, exfil and return to the extraction point."

He nodded and recalled Otacon, before turning to Gray and slowly making his way forward. Gray made a single step... only for his foot to hit a laser tripwire.

Alarms went off, James looked to Gray who let off a nervous chuckle... the two began to rush. Any moment now... something would be after them.

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

The very brief glimpse into Daydre's brain reveals this: https://youtu.be/poa_QBvtIBA , and definitely nothing else.

Daydre: "I'll have you know I'm a very interesting person, full of information! And pop culture references, and random trivia no one needs to know, and ____________."

She smiles, but it's not very comforting at all.

Daydre: "... But yeah, you're not even like, a little curious? At all?"

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

-Neodymium gives Daydre a very perplexed stare-

-this is possibly the least normalized interaction she has ever had in her short life-

Neodymium: ...Why would you pop culture?

Ever: -snrk-

Neodymium: What?

Ever: Send out your Pokemon, okay? They'll help you make sense of all this.

-Neodymium, with the instinct of any sixteen-year-old, even one who was fourteen when she was assembled, does not comply-

Neodymium: I, uh, don't want to.

Ever: What the fffffffudgesicles, that's just obviously a lie.

Neodymium: ...

-she sends out-

Didit: ~Oh. Look at that. We're alive.~

Neodymium: o_o

Ever: I mean, this could be the afterlife, but I don't think Daydre and I are going in the same direction.

Poké Park

<Oh no, I meant every word of what I said> Hoops clarifies. <If anything, being a Magikarp is having a kind of mellowing effect on me. Anyway I don't know why you'd be upset, you don't have to worry about this unless you eat me. And once you attempt to eat someone I feel like all bets are off for what you can do to them in return.>

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre: "Well, if your culture's building up gases you have to get rid of them somehow right?"

...

Daydre: "Are you not supposed to be alive right now? Then again a lot of Schoolkids probably aren't "supposed" to be alive right now so maybe that's a silly question."

<Shows how little I know about you,> Mitchell admits. <Sorry about that. Ah, Truth and Ideals, how can I stop myself fro->

He was silenced by a Poffin, stuffed into his mouth by Christine. <You're welcome,> she quips. Then, turning back to Hoops, she asks them <Shall I guide you, then, if no one else is offering?>

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Ever: Is this a common problem with cultures?

Neodymium: Of course I'm not supposed to be alive! I failed! ^B_M^e_o^r_l^y_y^l_b^l_dⁱ_e^u_n^m_um...

-she pauses-

Didit: ~Did you know that when two expert manipulators of memories collude, they can create a situation in which every single person in the world believes the same story?~

Neodymium: ...

Didit: ~The world is written in memories. The School has always used this to its advantage. If everyone remembers something one way...it was that way.~

Ever: What the flapjacks.

Breeze: <You can say fu—>

Ever: No.

Didit: ~Neodymium, naturally, remembers both stories.~

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Mar 8th 2023 at 4:06:54 AM

Stormchaser

Scarlette: So, like. You're undead, right? Like, Carmilla killed you, and you're back now.

Kai: Weirdly, no? She never finished the job. Nix smashed into her and made her drop me.

-A birb head pokes out of a flowerpot.-

Scarlette: But you're a vampire. That means undead.

Kai: You'd think! But nah, it just means I drink souls.

Nix: <Actually!!>

-Nix squirms out of the flowerpot, landing on Kai's shoulder.-

Nix: <Yeah, no, you've died a couple of times.>

Kai: ...I've definitely been fully alive this whole time.

Nix: <No, see, your scar! The one on your chest, the sword scar.>

Scarlette: Oh shit, can I see? 👀

Kai: That was in a Mindscape. I was the sword.

Nix: <Mindscape of one of the most powerful non-School Psychics in the world! Your mind might have been out of your body, but that body's still fubbernucked.>

-Scarlette chokes on her drink.-

Scarlette: fubbernucked—

Kai: Okay, so I had a brief stint as a Honedge. I was fine when I got out.

Nix: <Ap-ap-ap, that's not all. There's also that heart damage you've got going on, from back in Holon.>

Kai: No, I never died from that, either. Mom saved me.

Nix: <Hmm? And how did she do that?>

Kai: By bringing me to...

-They pause.-

Kai: ...oh shit. A Legendary.

Nix: -chirp- <Goddesses of revitalization know these things! You're certifiably undead. And that's why your Aura started going the wrong way!

Kai: Going the wrong way????

Nix: <In! Aura Drain! You succ because your body's tried to go into rigor mortis twice and supernatural interference stopped it both times.>

-Kai blinks.-

Scarlette: Okay but like, that means you've been undead this whole time. Right?

Kai: ...Iiiiii guesssssss? Why are you asking, anyway?

-Scarlette twiddles her thumbs.-

Scarlette: Well, there's this girl who's half reanimated skeleton...

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Mar 8th 2023 at 7:58:20 AM

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre: " Well. I'd believe that."

She shrugs.

Daydre: -to no one in particular- " ... Did you expect me to say anything else?"

Daydre: "So... If I have this correctly, you were supposed to die and then your friends dropped you here? Or something?"

Daydre: "Or! Or this is just a mass-hallucination. That's an option too."

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

-Ever gives Daydre a confused look-

Ever: It's concerning that I'm the most normal person in this room.

Neodymium: I...guess? Why, though?

Didit: ~Because we're mutinying.~

Neodymium: ...What?

Didit: ~You're a Truant now. Congrats.~

Neodymium: What? But...that's the worst thing you can be! That's like...

Ever: No, go on, I'm really curious what your barometers here are.

Neodymium: Not everything is like something else! It's like being a Truant, which is bad!

Didit: ~Yep.~

Ever: What's your deal, tiny creature?

Didit: ~My paws cannot hold a cigarette and I've been making it the world's problem since I realized.~

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre: "Oh, have you ever tried a bong?"

Daydre: "..."

Daydre: "I haven't, but you don't need hands for it."

She looks... offended? When Ever suggests she's not completely normal.

Daydre: "I'm normal! I pay taxes^* she doesn't and uh... have picnics^* not this either and say 'honey, I'm home!' when I enter my significant other's place of residence. ^* doesn't do this either, but it's fascinating she thinks that's normal."

Daydre: "And being a truant isn't a bad thing if your school- er, School sucks. Which it does."

Stormchaser, Ever's room

-Ever just casually starts taking notes on their hand-

Didit: ~Sadly, my job generally requires 24/7 awareness. Though I guess I technically just quit. Maybe I'll give it a shot.~

Neodymium: Hey! My school doesn't suck! We're going to create the perfect human and advance our species into a new age of prosperity!

(curiously) What are taxes and picnics, by the way?

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre: "Well it probably sucks a lot if they didn't even teach you what a picnic is. I don't even like picnics that much! It's when you go outside and eat food on a blanket with your friends and whatever."

Daydre: "Taxes are when you give a governing body money or some other resource so they can continue operations, and (ideally) use it for the common good in the form of things like providing healthcare and updating infrastructure. People could abuse this system by just taking the money and not using it for anything but to line their own pockets. But no one would ever do that, right?"

She looks directly at the camera.

Daydre: " If anyone takes tax money that's embezzlement, which is a form of corruption, and that means you can kill them. ^DISCLAIMER  That is not what that means please do not take this as serious advice for the love of god"

Somewhere

Ama sneezes.

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

... It should be noted Daydre is currently dressed like the sexier version of the suspicious watch salesman on the corner your mom (theoretical) told you not to talk to.

Daydre: "... Anyway, who's saying making the perfect human would lead us to an age of prosperity? Perfection's like, impossible."

Edited by Daydre on Mar 8th 2023 at 10:03:12 AM

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

-Ever listens politely to this-

Neodymium: Well, killing people for not doing their jobs I get. I got to go outside sometimes, though. Like when I fought that rogue Templar.

Ever: Rogue Templ—

-...-

-no, it will be funnier to let that play out-

Neodymium: (in the tone of any teenager who believes they know something someone else doesn't) No, see, the flaws in the world come from people striving. We'll replace all that with people who can do whatever they want, and then nobody will need stuff anymore. Like houses, Pokemon, friends, that kind of thing.

The Hamlet, The Farmhouse

The Banette slips through the wall fully to who knows where as Kamui heads back to the front door. An interesting note here is that firstly yeah there's a large and very cloudy jar on the central table but also the elevator to the basement? There is no elevator to the basement, it's just blank wall.

Thieves Hideout

Oh right, yeah I can add you to the group.

-The pink blob in Susan's arms raises an eyebrow (eyebloop?) but says nothing-

Celestic Town

-The Nightingale nods and backs off half a step after handing off the ID-

These feathers are dangerous, but I'm working on disrupting the source. Unfortunately they have proven frustratingly elusive...

Glimwood Cabin

Oh, sure you can. I mean just don't cause too much of a mess and be courteous of the fact that I've got a full team of Pokemon around and we'll be fine. How about you get yourself comfortable while I step out for a bit. Fresh air, better phone reception for searching, yaknow.

-Gale does a little tongue click and gets out her phone-

Autumn Mountain

Oh uh... Yeah. Kinda just wanted to make sure you're okay actually. I can't really say I know what it's like to have gone through what you're going through but... I just thought I'd check in and see if you wanted any help, yaknow?

-Gale does appraise the current situation of the waterless lake but doesn't really add anything verbally to the discussion-

-Oh sure she could give them the answer but it'd probably be best to devote her allowance of such things towards her actual goals here-

Pokepark

-The circling Murkrow finally comes to land and now that it is up close the weirdnesses are more obvious. Such as the edges of the bird being blurry and that glowing red ember of an eye being its only eye-

-Oh also it smells like printer toner-

Mystery Bird: Caaaaaaw?

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre: "You only went outside to fight people? Dunno, sounds kinda sad."

She considers Neo's words.

Daydre: "So.... You're going to make people with as much power as possible. And then hope they don't just develop conflicting wants. And hope that when they inevitably develop wants of their own, that they don't just destroy the world trying to achieve them. Sounds like a plan to me!"

... She seems to be taking debating this teenager more seriously than one would expect, probably for no reason.

Daydre: "And who wouldn't need a house! People are always gonna need houses!! Unless you develop some person that's just a loose collection of psychic impulses that doesn't need things a corporeal being would need, but you can't just genetically engineer your way into doing that."

Stormchaser

Neodymium: Houses are like, the easiest thing! A house provides food and shelter! You need to perfect thermoregulation and energy storage and amplification, a testing line to which I was integral, then multitasking (that's me again!) and construct generation, which we've got more or less down! Haven't you ever heard of Adelinde the Scythe?

Ever: No, obviously nobody has ever heard of— wait, yeah, no, actually I have met her a few times.

Neodymium: No way. She'd have killed you.

Ever: Nuh-uh.

Neodymium: (condescendingly) Eventually, we're going to fix everything. Then you'll get it.

...And it's not sad! I just had work to do!

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Daydre: "That doesn't remove the need for a house, that just fulfills the need for a house with psychic power! You'll still need something that functions as a house! And I've never heard of Adelinde the Scythe so she must not be that important!"

Distantly, thunder rumbles.

Daydre: "... And if you only went out to work, that's still pretty sad! You're not disproving my point, here."

Stormchaser, Ever's Room

Ever: -anime shiver-

Neodymium: She is important! And cool!

-she has never in her life met anyone except Bela who disagrees with her about...well, anything-

-she's not very good at it-

Neodymium: ...So bleah.

-she sticks out her tongue-

Ever: I'm not ready to be a mother.