001 ▼ first level

[pristinestar]

[ A kid, wearing a red hat, is currently staring out at the large... empty-looking set of buildings above this street view.

That is, until a voice calls his attention. He leaves his little daydreaming session for now, in favor of turning his head to that certain voice. ]

Eh?

[ The figure walking up to the kid moves swiftly, briskly as if there's too

Comments

West Side

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat is wandering the west side with his items in hand. He is looking for a place to settle down and try to gather his thoughts, but he hasn't found one that's sufficient. He realizes how stupid he must look, wandering around with a handful of random personal possessions.]

[hailforward]

[Probably not as different from the Gym Leader wandering around a little aimlessly, hands in his pockets and an unhappy scowl on his face.

But the scowl in question lessens a bit once Green spies Karkat, relieved to have finally found someone else in this city.] Hey, you! With the black-hair, do you have a minute to spare?

[inflictedknight]

Not particularly, but I guess I can take a minute out of my very important life to help out an insignificant pink monkey. Think of me as your fucking fairy godmother.

[He's probably being sarcastic, but he stops anyway, rearranging the stuff in his arms as he stares at him expectantly. He seems pissed that he doesn't respond within two seconds.]

[hailforward]

[Maybe it's the horns and grey skin that don't make Green respond right away because they are rather unusual. At least to him. So he gives Karkat a small once-over, eyebrow quirking up. But who's Green to question however someone dressed up for a costume party? ...Or the pink monkey comment. That one did manage to make him roll his eyes.]

Well then Granny, any idea where this city is and what it's called and if there's a way back to the Kanto region?

[inflictedknight]

[If Karkat's in costume, then it's a very realistic one and not a detail has been spared. The horns look tough, heavy, and weathered by time, not made out of plastic or any other material that would be used for a costume. And when he opens his mouth to talk, he exposes two rows of sharp teeth that seem pretty well grounded. And the most damning evidence is probably the claws, which actually seem to be part of his fingers.

He doesn't seem to be perturbed though, he just listens impatiently. When there is a pause, he curls his nose.]

Kanto region? What the fuck is that? Listen. Some weird shit is going down. I don't think you're going to find your way back to whatever shitty little hive you wriggled your way out of.

[hailforward]

[Hello there sharp looking teeth and claws. This is either the most elaborate costume Green has ever discovered or it's not a costume at all. He's not sure of he likes the latter option. But who knows, he's prepared to encounter almost everything.

For all Green knows, this might just be a very realistic dream.]

Great. [The swearwords from Karkat manage to get a wry snort out of Green.] That sure was helpful. Does this city have a name? And do you know more about it than This city is going down the drain with the dirtiest water you can find, flip-hip hurray?

[inflictedknight]

[It doesn't take him long to parse the words, but the confusion washes up on his face momentarily. He doesn't have the answers by any means, nor has he talked to anyone.]

This is east. That is west. [He waves his hand vaguely in either direction.] And everyone here appeared here without any recollection of how. And it seems like a human city, not a real big fucking surprise that a human city is degrading past its usefulness.

[hailforward]

[At the 'east and west' part, Green rolls his eyes, grumbling under his breath. Maybe he doesn't know where this city is but he can tell into which direction he's going, at least.]

And your cities are true miracles, I assume? Filled with technology, random radars and you simply have to snap your fingers to know where you're going? ...not that I like this city much either, it seems like a waste of space, especially if it's empty save a handful of people. [A short, aggravated sigh escapes Green as he runs a hand through his hair.

This is not one of his better days.]

[inflictedknight]

[One of Karkat's eyes twitch a little when he hears the word 'miracle', and he focuses on that instead of the rambling. He starts paying attention towards the end of what he says.]

Miracles? You're not one of those stupid fucking clowns too, are you? Let me guess, you're hiding a bag full of god damn horns somewhere.

[hailforward]

[What.]

No. [His voice is utterly deadpan. He's been asked a lot of things but whether or not he's one of 'those clowns'? No. That one is new.

His lips do quirk into a small smirk after a while though.] Just a bag full of balls. I'm sure those don't qualify as horns.

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat seems relieved to hear that he isn't talking to yet another one of them. He can stand Gamzee; he's his friend, but if push came to shove, he'd try to avoid any more in the future.]

So long as they don't honk, they're not contraband in my book. I could do without hearing another one of those things for the rest of my life.

I'm kind of afraid to ask... but why a bag full of balls?

[hailforward]

If I should find a horn in this place, I'll let you have the honor of setting it on fire, if those things annoy you so much. [Green won't be sad to see horns go either, they're loud and annoying, especially if PokéMart employees decide to use them. Especially when Green is standing right next to them.]

I'm talking about Pokéballs. [Huh. He'd figured the other would catch on to his joke but maybe a demonstration will help jog his memory.

Surely, Karkat's seen a Pokéball before. Every child sees one up close as soon as they can grasp them.

So Green rummages through his waist bag, pulling out a Pokéball and showing it to Karkat.]

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat didn't catch onto the joke at all. It's a terminology barrier, mostly-- this is a species that calls the brain/head the think pan and the sexual organs bone bulges.]

What are they for? Do they hold food inside?

[To Karkat, they initially look like children's toys. But this guy doesn't seem to be young enough to be carrying around children's toys, so he immediately jumps to 'food'. He's seen weirder food packaging before, after all.]

[hailforward]

[Cultural differences. They are clearly going to make this more than a little difficult. Because the food comment gets a smug laugh out of Green before he shakes his head.] No. You really haven't seen a Pokéball before?

Here. You should feel honored, I usually don't let anyone handle my Pokémon. [Because they're his team. They rely on him and after what happened with Team Rocket, he's become a little more cautious. Regardless, he holds out the Pokéball for Karkat to take.] Press the button in the middle. Gently, Pokéballs don't take well to being smashed. And don't freak out.

[Luckily, the ball contains Eevee and not one of his bigger Pokémon.]

[inflictedknight]

[He rolls his eyes and takes it in his hands, examining it. He holds it up to his face and tries to figure out what exactly it is for.]

Freak out? So much shit has happened to me in the past week that I don't think I can even physically be shocked anymore.

[Without further examination, he pushes the button in the middle.]

[hailforward]

Careful--!

[Congratulations, Karkat. You have obtained an armful of Eevee, who proceeds to stare at Karkat, only starting to squirm after a couple of heartbeats, twisting around and trying to figure out why this strange person is holding her.

Green, in the meantime, gives a snort of amusement. That's what Karkat gets for holding the ball so close to his face.]