1st pokeball [open]

[ghostytrainer]

Characters: John Egbert and Rose Lalonde of the game transplant variety and YOU
Setting: Outside room 1-12, around the tower, and the cafeteria
Format: Action unless you have a burning need for prose, in which case we'll follow
Summary: Stop me if you've heard this one before, but these two Pokemon trainers get kidnapped walk into a tower...
Warnings: Probably just language

A: Just outside room 1-12 (John route)

[A young boy stands outside his bedroom that he shares with three other boys. At his feet is a small black and red fox, sniffing the around at the ground. Sitting on his left shoulder is a small, purple flamed candle with...a face. Yes, a face. Apparently this thing is alive. Apparently so is the seven foot tall cyclopean ghost floating next to him. It is equally as apparent that none of these things bothers the boy, as he's hardly paying them any attention. Instead, he's focusing on a small, red, cell-phone like device in his hand. Judging by the look on his face, the thing isn't acting the way he wants it to.]

Cannot connect to network? What do you mean cannot connect to network...come on you piece of shit. [He smacks it against the heel of his palm and then tries holding it up in the air for better reception. No dice.] I just need to text everybody and see what's going on.

[Eventually, the boy gives a frustrated sigh.]

What the hell...hey, Tron. [He pulls a small red-and-white ball from his belt and pops it open, releasing an violently orange-and-blue creature.] See if you can figure out what's up with this thing, will you please? [The creature makes a strange, almost digital-sounding screeching noise and disappears inside the screen in a pixelated flash. Should you approach this boy, the fox will be the first to notice and begin yapping loudly, trying to get his master's attention.]

Shhh, Michael J.! It's okay, calm down, boy! We can play as soon as Tron figures out what's up with this thing and we get a hold of everybody...

[This kid really needs to pay more attention to his surroundings...]

B: Around the tower (Rose route)

[[While there is a lot to worry about and a lot to take in, and a lot to think about – now was not the time to do so. Why?

Because she’s lost. She has no idea where she is. This isn’t Johto, that’s for damn sure, and yeah she was told what’s going on? She’s tempted not to believe it just yet. Because...well, weird shit has happened to her before. Soul being stolen, anyone? That dreamworld was a weird as shit place…

After changing into some more comfortable clothes, her first priority was figuring out which four Pokemon she was left with. To her extreme relief, Guile was one of them, and she doesn’t bother returning the Espeon to her Pokeball like she does her Larvesta, Ninetales and Dragonite. After she slips the balls into her purse and puts that on, she cautiously exits the room, purple fox-like creature in tow.]]

God this place is unsettling...

Esp esp.

I know, and I’m very glad you’re here with me. But...well I can’t put my finger on it, but I don't have a good feeling about this tower. Ugh.

[[Rose will spend most of her time exploring. One) To try and find other people to talk with and drill for information. Two) To see if any of her friends have also ended up here. Because weathering through changes like this is always easier with your friends.

She does, however, take pause to admire the Library specifically.]]

C: Cafeteria (oatmeal route John AND Rose route)

[Eventually, the two manage to find each other and, together, make their way down to the kitchen. You can find them sitting at a table next to each other, each staring at a bowl of oatmeal in front of them. Rose's Espeon sits on the floor next to her master, glancing around the room with a critical eye. John's Litwick is still sitting on his shoulder and his Dusknoir is hovering behind them like some kind of giant, watchful sentinel. Michael J. the Zorua seems to have been returned to his ball on account of less-than-stellar behavior.]

[After several minutes of staring, John finally speaks up.]

Well...down the hatch, I guess.

[And the first bite has been taken...wow this about as bland as bland gets isn't it? Mmmm! The delicious taste of nothing! Rose simply watches him, raising a brow.]

How does it taste?

It's...not bad?

[Not that it's particularly good either, but John has never been picky and it's edible. In fact, he's taking another bite. And another! He'll have it finished in no time at this rate. A few moments later, Rose takes after his lead and takes a bite herself, only to shudder mere seconds after closing her mouth.]

Ugh. There's no taste to this at all...

Well we don't really have much of a choice here. May as well just eat it and get it over with, I promise it's really not as bad as it could be. In fact, it goes down pretty quick if you don't stop to complain about it!

[Rose gives him a very flat look, but makes no comment. Instead, she just pokes and picks at her oatmeal, takes a small bite, makes a face, and goes back to poking at it. At this rate, it'll be a good hour before she even comes anywhere near finishing it. John, on the other hand, finishes his in a matter of minutes, takes one look at Rose, and rolls his eyes. Without a word, he picks up his spoon, grabs hold of her nose and puts an entire spoonful of oatmeal in her mouth.]

Don't make me bust out the airplane noises, Rose. You know I will!

[Rose says nothing, instead dipping a hand dipping into her oatmeal and meeting with John's face. There's an indignant cry of "Watch the glasses!" but it gets John to let go of her nose, at least.]

That may work with vegetables where I have the option of cheese sauce or salt and pepper, but if you think it will work with this, then think again, John Egbert. This oatmeal will go down at the pace I choose because it is not fit for eating.

And oh my god quit being such a baby and just eat your oatmeal!

[Approach or turn heel and run the other way? They'll probably be at this for a while.]

((ooc: should be self explanatory but option A will get you responses from John, B from Rose, and C from both.))

Comments

C OBVIOUSLY

[knightime]

[Going to the cafeteria has become routine. It was almost automatic that he usually didn't pay much attention to his surroundings. Especially with it being Jason's month in charge and the cafeteria food was bars and water. Not that water was a terrible thing and he's kind of gotten used to the gross, cardboard bars.

But Dave hears their voices, and while John was a familiar sound, Rose was not. The fact that both Roses had recently disappeared had made him sure that it must have been a trick. His mind was hallucinating Rose's voice or something because he missed her. Except...

They might have heard the sounds of Dave dropping all the crap in his hands as he just stares at the both of them, completely shell shocked. They looked so healthy compared to him, who's only gotten skinnier and weared down from being here so long.

He can't even speak because he's too busy being shocked. Both their presence were slightly surprising. There was no way this could be the same John that has been here for a little while. This John must be new. He looked older. And just...it was Rose. Not Rose Strider or Egbert or whatever Rose you want to slap a last name too. It was the Rose he was friends with for the last fourteen years.

Fourteen years. Fucking happy birthday indeed.]

It'll be Dave > Rose > John!

[tentacletrainer]

[[The first one to notice him isn't Rose. It doesn't really seem to be John either. At least not compared to the pink companion beside the Lalonde girl. No, it's the Espeon that notices him, and Guillemet wastes no time getting up to trot over there. First she sniffs at his stuff, and then she presses against his hand with a few happy chirps.

Omg her other daddy is here too! This is so much better than she thought it was going to end up being.

Meanwhile, it's a combination of the clattering things and Guile's chittering that catches Rose's attention, and she finally glances in his direction.]]

Dave?

[ghostytrainer]

[Indeed, John was too busy trying to get Rose to eat her oatmeal to notice the clattering noise that is Dave dropping all his stuff. His Litwick, however, notices Guile take off across the room and can't help but follow her. Hello, Dave. Don't mind a little candle running smack into your face with a happy Ooooouuuu!!" Her nubby little arms are giving the closest approximation of a hug that she can manage.]

[It's not until Rose speaks that John finally looks up and notices Dave. There's still some oatmeal on his face from Rose's earlier attack but he's all smiles as usual. For however long that will last, anyway.]

Oh man, this guy. God, of course we wouldn't be lucky enough to escape him.

[he's being facetious here, obviously. Really. He's happy to see his best bud here, even if everything so far points to this being Kind Of A Bad Place. It takes him a few moments to even notice that something about Dave is a little...off. But when he does, his smile kind of fades a little. Why does he look so worn down? They just saw him yesterday and he was perfectly fine!]

Dude, you okay? You look like shit. You know, moreso than usual.

[He really does love you, Dave. Promise.]

[knightime]

[Dave flinches at first at the sudden contact and holy-shit-what-is-attacking-his-face. He timidly pets Guillemet while kind of lightly prying off John's Litwick away from his face with his other hand. He would question why they have these if he still wasn't a little panicked that they were here.

Not that he isn't used to John being around.

No, fuck that. That means there's two John Egberts here, what the fuck. Why is this an actual thing that's happening and holy shit, how does he deal? Dave is the definitely of deer in headlights. Shades or not, it's obvious he's a little more than utterly shocked at the moment.]

I...

When did you two get here? [He has yet to move from where he's standing.] I'm okay. I've looked worst. [Dave absentmindedly smooths his hair a bit. Like that would actually do something about his current appearance.]

[tentacletrainer]

[[Sorry John, Rose is abandoning her oatmeal. Because yeah, he does look terrible. She gets up, glancing back at John with a slightly confused and worried face like 'what happened to him?' before moving to Dave himself.

Sorry, she's going to fuss with your hair and check how gaunt your cheeks are and you're so thin...]]

You look like shit.

[[CONCERN.]]

Today. Well, I awoke to this new place today in any case.

[ghostytrainer]

[John gets up from his seat and trots after Rose, signaling to the Dusknoir to just stay where he is for now. They'll be right back, no sense in overwhelming Dave with Pokemon at the moment.]

It's only been a couple of hours, if I had to guess. But seriously, dude, what happened to you?

[knightime]

[Dave lets go of John's Litwick to kind of swat at Rose to knock it off. Stop fussing with him!]

No one has told you anything then, have they.

[On one hand, Dave can give them the lowdown and he's kind of glad that he can. On the other hand, he'd have to tell them what happens here and he isn't particularly looking forward to that.] Well, nothing recently happened to me as of late. [He just got back a few days ago.] I've been here for awhile, that's all. This isn't Disneyland. [Awhile would be since February.]

[tentacletrainer]

...being here a while shouldn't have done something like this to you. What happened?

[[Fussing. Sorry, Dave, but she's worried.]]

And we have bits and pieces. Like the disgusting excuse for oatmeal and how we have to eat that before we can enjoy real food.

[ghostytrainer]

[John clicks his tongue a little and motions for the Litwick to come back over to him, which she is only to happy to do, taking her usual place on his shoulder. She's like a parrot. Only way cooler.]

[He really thinks Rose is blowing things out of proportion here as far as the oatmeal is concerned and he may or may not be entirely sure about how Dave could have been here for months when they just saw him the other day, but he opts to say nothing for now. He'll just let Rose fuss and listen to whatever explanation Dave has to offer.]

[knightime]

[He backs up a bit this time. Oh my god, stop. Nothing bad has even happened to him as of late.]

You're going to want to savor that oatmeal while you can. The caretaker of this month doesn't really like offering real food. [He bends down to pick up one of the nutrition bars.] This is the only available food source for this month, unless you want to consider losing internal organs for a single meal at the restaurant. Which is to say, don't do it because it's honestly not worth it.

[He feels kind of awful. Of course they come in clueless the month Jason is in charge.] You can't say that. You haven't been here for awhile.

OATMEAL ROUTE

[semipotence]

[As Jade is wandering the cafeteria and trying to find a place to sit, she hears a familiar voice. When she looks in the direction it came from, she sees...

Oh, no way. Is it really them? Both of them? What were those creatures they had with them? She makes her way over to their table to get a closer look- and to say...]

John? Rose?

tagging order will be jade > john > rose

[ghostytrainer]

[There's still some oatmeal on John's face when he looks up and sees...wait hold on. He remembers these ears.]

Hey, you got your ears back! Haha, how did you manage that?

[tentacletrainer]

[[Rose looks up after, giving Jade a friendly smile.]]

Of course. Who else would it be? Honestly, I'd hope your dorky brother would be obvious at least.

[[Meanwhile HI AUNT JADE. Have a purple fox trot over to you, rubbing against your leg.]]

[semipotence]

[Jade looks slightly puzzled by John's question.] Got them back? What do you mean? I've had them for over a year now.

[And then she turns to Rose.] Well, yeah... I just wasn't expecting to see another John! I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, though. It's certainly not the strangest thing that's happened in this place. [She bends down and gives the little fox an affectionate pet.]

[ghostytrainer]

You...what? Wait. [This is sounding familiar...] Shit, let me guess...you haven't ever been to Johto before either?

A

[keybearer]

[...Okay, so, Riku usually doesn't intrude on the privacy of other rooms if he can help it, but after hearing the fuss coming from 1-12, he can't resist it any longer and takes a look inside before--

...huh. Those are some interesting creatures you got there, dude. Also, as Riku's Ryu Dragon lacks any sort of subtlety, he's gonna be barging right into the room with a squeak. Hello, funny creatures!

Cue one facepalm from Riku.]

...Ugh. Sorry about that. This guy really needs to learn to mind his own business sometimes.

[ghostytrainer]

[John doesn't seem bothered by the intrusion, in fact, his face lights up as he looks up from his gear.]

Riku! Oh man, am I ever glad to see--

[John cuts off, face falling a little bit. Now that he's actually had enough time to process what he's seeing, he can't help but notice that something is...off. This is definitely Riku, of that much he's positive. But something about him is different, he's younger and John has never seen a Pokemon quite like that dragon before. Although...the mark on its head is kind of tickling his memory. He feels like he's seen that recently, but the question is: where?]

Uhhh...

[Well this is awkward.]

[keybearer]

[...Okay, this is awkward. Riku raises an eyebrow at his name. After all, he's pretty sure he hasn't met the guy, and-- darn it!

That dragon wiggles and inches closer to John and his team. That is, until Riku grabs him by the tail and pulls him back. Common courtesy, you silly lizard!]

...Do I know you from somewhere?

[Because, really, this is awkward, and he's pretty sure he'd remember a guy like this.]

[ghostytrainer]

[The Litwick gives something that almost sounds like a squeak and attempts to float towards the dragon. New friend? New fr-- aww no. John puts up a hand to gently push her back onto his shoulder. Now is not the time to be getting friendly with strange dragons. Maybe here in a minute once they sort all this shit out.]

Well...yes, technically. Or I guess maybe the opposite is more true. Because I definitely know you from somewhere. That somewhere being Johto...ringing any bells?

[More Johto memory tricks at work, perhaps...?]

[keybearer]

Johto?

[He blinks. No, that's... definitely not a world he remembers. And unless this guy's from the future, Riku doubts he would've gone to such a world in the first place.]

Afraid not. I've been in this tower for months, and before that, I never visited any worlds called Johto.

[ghostytrainer]

Oh. [Right. Of course he couldn't be that lucky.]

Well...

[He scratches at the back of his neck.]

Sorry about the confusion, but I didn't realize someone could be in different universes like this. This is... bizarre, to say the least.

[Bizarre and confusing and John understands exactly jack shit right now but hopefully it will start making sense soon.]

I'm John Egbert, by the way. [He offers a hand to shake with a small smile.] It's not exactly fair if I know your name and you don't know mine, now is it?

[keybearer]

[Riku shrugs.]

Wouldn't be the weirdest thing I've heard here. Besides, there's already one alternate version of me around.

[But that remark about names earns a snicker from him.]

And I guess that makes us even.

[ghostytrainer]

Wait, really? You mean you're both actually here at the same time? It's not like...a one of you was here then left and now you're here sort of deal?

[How is that possible?]

[keybearer]

Nah. We're from completely different universes, but it's not like this place doesn't have its share of doubles.

[Two Soras, two Xions at one point, two Kairis... Yeah, it's pretty standard.]

[ghostytrainer]

Oh, I...see. Huh.

[Different universes is a concept he has no trouble grasping. But different universes that contain the same people? That's a new one. Oh well, he's heard of weirder things.]

Just doubles though? Or even higher multipl-- [A buzzing from his Pokegear cuts him off as his Rotom bursts back out of it in a flash of blue electricity and excited whirrs and beeps. The brightly colored ghost immediately starts buzzing around John's head, occasionally flitting to look at one of John's other 'mons.]

[Ever seen a ghost with ADHD?]

[Now you have.]

Ack, Tron! Hold on a second would you? trying to have a conversation here.

[The Rotom stops, making a questioning beep before finally noticing Riku. Hey! HEYHEYHEYHEYEHEFDJSKKLGJ!!! Let "him" just buzz all around you there instead, new guy.]

Oh my god I'm sorry, Riku. [Back into the ball with you, ya dang digital ghost. He'll deal with what you found out about the network later.] I had him looking into why my 'gear suddenly doesn't work and I honestly didn't expect him to be done that quickly. Anyway...uh. What were we talking about again? Doubles, wasn't it?