01--VIDEO

[shatterings]

[ There's a curious someone fiddling around with her PokéGear. She's a little surprised she managed to click it on, since she's never actually dealt with much technology. ]

Ah... um, hello. [ Her surprise is replaced by a reserved sort of smile. It's pretty brittle--she's not supposed to be here. So why is she, then? Carefully, she tucks a bit of hair behind her ear. A nervous habit, but it's not one she actually notices. ] I'm a little... confused. I'm not sure what's going on, and-- [ Wait. Is that... music in the background? It's faint, and she hadn't really noticed it until she was lost in thought. ] I think I might be hearing things, but... is there music playing somewhere?

[ She lets out a little sigh and gives the Minccino beside her a pat on the head. ] I think I just need a little bit of help, or... an explanation.

Comments

[dressofheaven]

How many people with Kairi's voice are there?

[Ilya only realizes she responded to the post with that statement after a moment of confused staring. Once she does, she hastily tries to cover.]

Ah, never mind that. If you just arrived, it makes sense that you're confused. Did you listen to what the woman who calls herself "mom" told you before she pushed you out the door?

[shatterings]

[ The comment doesn't go unheard, and the surprise--and more confusion--shows right on Naminé's face. That can't be right, though. Maybe she just misheard... ]

I... yes, that's exactly what happened. Is that... normal?

[dressofheaven]

For this world, yes. She probably mentioned something called a Pokemon journey, right? Well, that creature you have there is a Pokemon. Everything here revolves around them, so keep yours close.

[Now she remembers why she doesn't usually talk to the newbies. It's always so confusing figuring out what to tell them.

Wait a minute...]

I think Riku might have made a guide of some sort... I'll see if I can find it.

[Well, maybe she didn't mishear after all.]

[Video]

[crackpotcrocker]

YES! That's music. After all you're just as sane as I am!

[Which there's something about him that doesn't look sane]

BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT!

[As he continues on there's a creepy edge about his voice]

You're in a magical world that's filled with these creatures called - POKEMON!

[How even with his body?]

[shatterings]

I--

[ oh no now she's even more confused. She takes a deep breath before answering. The Minccino at her said is peeking up from the bottom of the screen. You've got its attention, at least. ]

I-I see. [ It's a relief that she's not hearing things, at least. She's still a little dazed. ] I'm... I'm not sure how I got here. Can you... I mean, do you have any idea how...?

[crackpotcrocker]

[Denzel peers rather closely at the screen at the Pokemon for a moment as he wonders what the Pokemon is. That is before he starts to fiddle with his glasses]

Originally I'd say - FAIRIES!

However, I've now come to believe it is a Pokemon move that we're not aware of yet.

[video]

[faintwaves]

N--

[Okay pause for a second, reconsider. Calm down, Xion, Namine doesn't know who you are regardless, reacting with shouting would just scare her. Kairi clones are a skittish bunch.]

...Y-yeah, the music is...um, always playing.

[Pause for another second. Oh no, what does she say now??]

Namine...uh...what's the last thing you remember?

[shatterings]

[ She feels like, maybe, she should know this girl. And she looks so much like Kairi that it catches her off-guard. Naminé is quiet for a little while before she finds the words she wants to say. ]

A-- [ Would it be appropriate to call him that? He's the closest thing she's got, other than Axel. ] --friend helped me out of a bad situation. And then... I ended up here.

[faintwaves]

...I probably know what friend you're talking about. He got me out of a bad situation, too.

[Riku just has that connection to Kairi clones.]

Listen, um...I know this sounds weird, but maybe not 'cause your thing is memories? A-anyway, we...used to know each other. It's a long story, but you helped me out with doing the right thing...and...we're safe here, the Organization isn't here. Maybe we can be friends this time?

[video]

[walkersystem]

Hi ... Did you just get here?

_{[There's a lot of sympathy in the way she asks that. She remembers how disoriented she was.]}

[shatterings]

I suppose it's not hard to tell... is it?

[ She's beginning to think this happens a lot. ]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[...At the sound of a familiar voice, Veronica turned her gaze towards the pokegear, suspecting Xion's face on it.

Startlingly, she was proven wrong.]

Y-yeah, like everyone else said. The music will never stop. But, you can learn to drown it out.

[Those first few nights are rough though.]

Uhh, hello there. You must be new.

[shatterings]

I'm not sure how, but... I'll try.

[ Naminé nods, holding her Minccino in her arms. She's a comfort, almost like a security blanket. ]

Yes... I'm Naminé.

[islandshore]

[Having received Ilya's text, Riku is quick to respond. It's been ages since he saw Naminé, so it takes a few moments for him to formulate a respond. His brow's furrowed, and he's tapping his chin, searching for the right words, when--

BLAH!

A 5'3'' mass of purple gas leaps in front of the screen. Haunters are big, and this one's particularly loud... and tugging on his face, by the looks of it.]

Ugh, Phantom. Not now!

[Groaning, Riku steps out of the way of his wily ghost and shakes his head.]

Sorry about that. I doubt you needed that kind of a wake up call...

[shatterings]

Riku!

[ So he looks pretty different from how she remembers. Naminé's relieved to see him, even if she does look a bit stunned by the Haunter's appearance. ]

It's... it's alright. A little surprising, but... I've had worse. [ She looks more relieved, now that she's calmed down. It's good to see a friendly face. ]

Video

[the_pilgrim]

I'm not the only one hearing it?

Uh! I mean, you just woke up here too, then?

[shatterings]

No... It's definitely there.

I... it's less "waking up" than finding myself in a different place... than I expected. [ She's not sure what she expected, actually, but it's not this. This doesn't feel like any of the worlds where she's from at all. ]

[goestoextremes]

[Awwwwww, she's cute.]

Hey, it's okay. We've all been new here [...at least once...] and know how confusing it can be at first.

I can also try to answer any questions that you have.

[shatterings]

This happens... a lot, then? [ Naminé's relaxing, at least a little bit, though she's still pretty nervous. The Minccino in her arms is a sort of comfort, and it pats Naminé's cheeks lightly. ] I-I'm okay, Mini. Really.

[ She turns back to the girl on the screen. ] I've read a helpful guide, but... do they really... I mean, is it really okay to... battle? Do they want to so badly?

video;

[heartdive]

Music kind of plays everywhere, yeah. It'll change all the time too. So you just kinda get used to it.

I don't even notice it anymore.

video;

[shatterings]

[ Well, if that isn't a familiar face. He looks different from the last time she saw him, and she looks a bit stunned and... well, unsure. The uncertainty is most obvious; how should she...? ]

Ilya... told me each place has its own music. I suppose if you've been here for a long time... you adapt.

[ Honestly, she's surprised she managed to find that many words. Seeing him is pretty overwhelming. ]

Aaaaaaaa how did I miss this BACKDATE

[paopuprincess]

[No way. No way. There's another one. Not just Xion. This one has her face too. And her voice. At... least the hair is different? Again? She... really doesn't know how to feel about this. Someone in the future must really like her.]

Uh... hello?

akihiko voice: i've been waiting for this

[shatterings]

[ She'd heard Kairi was here, heard it from Riku. But seeing her is definitely a shock. She's the same, more or less, maybe just a little older. A little. Naminé, honestly, isn't sure how to react. How do you, when you meet.... yourself? ]

... Hello.

[video] Bit of a late tag, hope you don't mind!

[codeforhope]

[It seems as if a whole lot of people have answered the inevitable question of what this place is and what to do once you get here, so Chihiro decides to focus on something else. That something else being the fact that it's apparently 14 degrees out and calling for sleet all day today.]

If you haven't already decided to travel, you might want to go stay in the lab for a little while to keep warm...it is very cold outside right now.

[Hopefully she has someone that can come pick her up. If not, she's going to have a bit of a hard trip to Cherrygrove ahead.]

not at all! chihiro is so cute

[shatterings]

Oh-- [ Naminé checks her gear and nods once. ] Yes... um, I'm with two others. We've already started traveling.

[ The amount of kindness she's receiving is still a shock, and she's not sure what to do with it, other than-- ] Thank you.