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001. Video

...destroyed it entirely, did it...

[The words are muttered quietly over a mostly-dark feed; from the sound of it, the person speaking doesn't even seem to have realized they've managed to turn the Gear on - he sounds distracted, clearly speaking to himself rather than to any audience, and there's a good amount of jittercam action before he seems to realize that it's broadcasting.

The speaker is male, dark-haired and deathly pale; he's smiling a bit, but the expression doesn't reach his eyes at all. The look there isn't cruel, however; just rather lost.]

Is this how this works?

[His speech is a bit odd; it's in the common language spoken by all in Johto, but there's something there - a strangeness in pronunciation that indicates that he would have a hell of an accent in whatever world he just came from, as though he didn't grow up speaking whatever it is he's trying to utilize now. The statement is still oddly blank, though, as though he's addressing himself more than an audience; at least he doesn't seem to be expecting an answer - he simply checks something on the Gear before moving on.]

I understand that there are more survivors out there; from the look of it, there are many of you. I come to you seeking information - I mean you no harm, nor do I expect anything of you. [His gaze darts offscreen, focusing downward for a moment before he continues speaking.] This isn't anything like what I was told the Motherland would be; some of the machinery involved in transporting us may have taken some severe damage.

["May have." He uses the term lightly. He definitely knows it took damage of some sort; he broke the thing. He just doesn't know how severely he broke it; given that he's currently...nowhere near where he's supposed to be, he's assuming he broke it pretty spectacularly. He's a bit uncomfortable with the half-truth, though.

...that said, Zulf has seriously just informed all of Johto that he does, in fact, come in peace. There are some things that you just don't blatantly say...

However, he isn't dwelling on it; his gaze is darting downward again. Clearly there's something fascinating down there; he pauses for a moment before tilting the camera downward - there is a Chinchou rubbing against the lower half of his clothes, which appears to be a...very ugly skirt, if we're going to be honest.

Whatever it is, the Pokémon seems determined to love all over it; Zulf's tone has actually lightened a bit when he speaks, seeming much more comfortable now that he's not being focused on.]

Although, Motherland or not...it's good to see these creatures being so trusting. We've done enough to the rest of them.

[...someone please inform the guy that he's not in Kansas anymore.]

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[[As the new video flashes up on the feed, Kariya turns towards it with mild interest. He finds a little bit of enjoyment in watching the people on the video; they seem so...carefree. Their lives are so uncomplicated. It's....nice. He hasn't felt this relaxed in...well, years.]]

...they are wonderful creatures indeed.

[[He's not sure what prompted him to reply to this video in particular, but the words are out of his mouth before he can stop them. It could be because his Sewaddle has just popped out of his jacket and is nuzzling against his face. Maybe.

He's still got his hood covering the damage to his eye and cheek, but he's smiling. It's such a strange feeling, smiling. He should do more of it.]]

[Zulf pauses for a moment upon receiving the response; his attention is given first to the person, secondly to the...creature creeping out of the man's clothing. It seems rather affectionate, at the very least; he can't really say anything about the strangeness level of the pets, given that from what he'd heard, Zia had gotten her hands on some...rather strange ones after he'd left the Bastion, but...

...okay, no, that's a giant bug crawling out of your shirt. Give him a moment to headtilt at that before he smiles a bit, all right. Everything is...fine. Absolutely fine.]

You seem rather familiar with them, yes.

[[.....oh Zulf, Sayuri is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Kariya; at the sound of conversation, he'll appear to sprout a pair of (beautiful, granted) butterfly wings.]]

You could say that.

[[....and now the wings...appear to be moving up his spine....]]

Are you new here?

[........

welp

that was

...yep]

Ah...yes. I just...

[...am eyeballing those wings, uh]

...recently arrived.

[[Those wings have made it to his shoulders, his head....oh! They actually belong to an enormous butterfly, which promptly decides to fall asleep again, her wings moving softly as she settles in.]]

I could tell.

[[You've actually made him laugh softly, Zulf! And for once it's not vindictive laughter! You know, the way you laugh after ordering your murderbeast to kill someone-

...moving on]]

You sounded a bit lost.

Did I? Waking up in this world just wasn't anything like what I expected, is all.

[His tone is soft, however; he doesn't seem displeased by it. He's already woken up to a completely altered world before; it's given him a wicked sense of deja vu on top of it, in a way that that sort of thing definitely shouldn't. So yes, this was nicer than last time. Weird as all get-out, don't get him wrong. But it's much nicer than last time.

As it stands, you seem...sort of friendly, at least, and you have a giant butterfly sleeping on your head. There's no way this can possibly go wrong at all, now, is there.]

Can I ask how you found yourself here?

...I don't know. I just woke up here one day.

[[He'll refrain from mentioning the fact that this was...after he'd gotten practically burned to death by the Worst Person Ever.]]

No one knows how we get here. We just do.

[[They say all good things come in threes, and Kariya's Pokemon are no exception; as he speaks, there comes the sound of wings, before his....giant scythebeast lands beside him, blinking at the camera.]]

But I think you'll enjoy it here.

[[He is, after all! So you will too! Defs!]]

...thank you.

[It's not completely unheard of for people who live in the Wilds to develop a kind of affinity for the creatures they surround themselves with; then there are some who just have a natural inclination toward taming and handling animals.

...Zulf is neither, and so he'll just be staring at that giant scythebeast like he's trying to ensure it's not going to eat you before he continues speaking.]

These creatures...I assume they're all yours?

[[Kariya immediately perks up when asked about his bbs, running a hand along his Scyther's leg.]]

Yes. They are like my family.

[[Ooh ooh do you want to know their names yes you do]]

This one is Mika...the one on my head is Aya, and this is Sayuri.

[[nuzzle nuzzle]]

...you have a Pokemon too, don't you?

...is that what they're called? I received one when I arrived, yes.

[He doesn't seem to want to dwell on it. The woman calling herself his mother, offering him money and supplies and a Pokeball before sending him out...the fact that the door was locked after the fact, the way that woman - so caring only moments before - had seemed completely unaware of his presence...

No, it isn't anything he wants to think about.

He sets the Gear on something unseen in front of him, the video feed still running; he bends and picks up that Chinchou from where it has not stopped being all up in his business since he released it from the ball. He hasn't exactly had the heart to call it back; the capsule is so small, he can't imagine how it must be in there.

The Chinchou seems rather pleased to be picked up, if the sudden rapid blinking from her antennae are any indication.]

This one. I've taken to calling her Squirt for now; she seems to like it.

[[And that actually makes Kariya's smile widen; the Pokemon isn't something he'd raise himself, but he can understand the sentiment. He hugs Sayuri closer.]]

My name is Kariya.

[[Again, speaking without thinking...but this time there is no nervousness or tension behind the words. Casually introducing himself to someone he just met, a happy conversation...truly, Johto is doing wonderful things for him.]]

[He doesn't see anything wrong with Kariya introducing himself so openly; then again, where he came from, this sort of thing had become common by the end. There was no need to hide something as simple as one's name; when you were one of four left, you wanted to get as close to the others as possible. To know who they were. Having lost everyone else, it seemed foolish to do otherwise.]

Mine's Zulf; it's good to meet you, Kariya.

[[Nodding silently in acknowledgement, Kariya turns his attention to his Sewaddle for a moment, gently feeding her a berry.]]

...did 'Mum' meet you too?

[Zulf is quiet for a moment, turning his gaze downward toward Squirt and petting her head lightly; those antennae are blinking like crazy - she is a bbthing and she is getting all the attention, so life is pretty good as far as she's concerned.]

...does that woman do that to everyone?

[He isn't going to refer to her as anything near a mother.]

..I believe so.

[[He plays with the hem of that hood for a moment, obviously deep in thought.]]

...I....was very sick before I came here, and she took care of me....I've tried to send her money, gifts in thanks...but it's like I never existed to her.

[[He sounds rather sad, but the melancholy tone in his voice disappears quickly. Sorry Zulf; it's just rare that he gets people who truly seem to care about him.]]

It's like she's some sort of....portal that we cross through to enter Johto.

That makes sense, doesn't it?

[He doesn't seem bothered by the conclusion; he genuinely doesn't find it odd.]

If not the portal itself, then some kind of gatekeeper. One who cares for you, but won't interfere with or take credit for your journey.

If that's the case, perhaps she doesn't want compensation; she just wants you to make what you can out of what she's given you.

[[Another berry disappears into Sayuri's mouth as Kariya ponders what Zulf has said. It isn't long before he smiles again, and it's a proper one; heartfelt.]]

...I like that conclusion.

[[And he does! Whatever sadness that was present on his face has disappeared, and he seems legitimately pleased. What a lovely thought. His Beautifly seems to agree, as she flits her wings prettily, chirping.]]

...I actually...feel a lot better about it now.

...that's good, Kariya.

[And judging by his tone, it actually is. However, there was something else in what Kariya said earlier; it's going to bother him if he doesn't ask.]

You mentioned that you were very sick before. Have you recovered since then?

[[Kariya frowns at that question, but it's not in a manner that says he is angry with Zulf; if anything, he's just thinking again.]]

I'm not completely healed, but I'm....far better than I was. Far, far better.

[[...considering how frail he looks now, you've....got to wonder.]]

Is it something you can completely heal from?

[The question is straightforward, completely lacking in tact; let's just say that illness isn't something that Zulf handles well, for several reasons.]

.....I'm not sure.

[[And he isn't; every morning he wakes up, wondering if that's the day the worms are going to return, along with the pain, the agony, the inability to eat, the broken vision-]]

You could say I'm a rather unique case. But at least I'm doing better now that I'm in Johto.

[Zulf nods a bit at that, though the gesture is hesitant.]

Hopefully you'll continue to improve, then.

I remain hopeful...

[[Let him look up at his Beautifly, smiling.]]

...because of my Pokemon.

[[And back to you, Zulf.]]

My home world is...a miserable place. I'm happier here than I've ever been back there.

Perhaps you'll feel the same, in time.

[Zulf pauses for a moment, briefly hesitant; he isn't going to offer too much information regarding The Calamity to perfect strangers. Yet...]

I understand the feeling already.

[...]

If you don't want to share anything with me, I won't push you - but in what way was it miserable?

[[Kariya grows silent, absently stroking Sayuri's head as he thinks. When he first arrived in Johto, he was reluctant to tell anyone his name, much less why he....well, is how he is. But there's something about this newcomer that makes him feel....comfortable.

It can't hurt to open up a little...perhaps it will make the burden easier.]]

...it would take me quite a time to explain the entirety of it...but I was born into a very cruel, power-hungry family, part of a cruel, power-hungry society. Some of the things I've seen...no person deserves to see such things, much less experience them.

I fled my family and was disowned, cast out...but I was happy. But then...circumstances required my return to my home town. Such circumstances also.....well. The reason I was so sick...

[[...he's clearly hesitating; he's said too much already.

....hasn't he?]]

...was because of the...magic my family specialises in. I don't expect you to believe me, but it is true.

[[Finished, Kariya closes his eyes. It sounds ludicrous enough to him; what on earth is Zulf going to think?]]

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