rekindleme | EVENT: Exploration

EVENT: Exploration

There's a nervous feeling to this morning. More than a few people milling around the giant gates of Districts Five and Three. Among them are officials, giving safety and advisory talks on what to expect outside, and hoping that people will listen: it's not safe outside the walls, there is an energy drain in place that can only be held off by keeping in contact with someone (and that only lasts so long) plus a reminder on where the signal was pinpointed. Somewhere off to the north east of the city...And to be careful out there, above all else.

True to the announcement, the city gates open in the morning hours with plenty of heavy rattling noises to mark the occasion. And with that, all that's left is to step through the gates to the world outside.

Out there it feels like there's a near permanent coating of rust and ash on every surface, determined to work its way onto your mouth and into your lungs. Looming out of the shattered remains of streets and sidewalks are crumbled buildings that look like gaunt old skeletons of the familiar Saeng Seong locals. There's a stillness to the air that can weigh heavy on one's shoulders…And can probably get all the more heavy if you're not keeping up contact. You DID bring a buddy along to help you explore, right?

The company is probably needed, given how empty and desolate the outside feels. Save for the occasional groan of a ruin falling a little more apart...And perhaps a skittering of something close by.

Welcome to the dead zone ringing the city. Best look alive out there.

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[As the gates are open and people begin to move, including the one he had been speaking with, Red brings out the chosen company with him to his side - a winged orange beast, who seemed to be more suited for what had been shared about the outside - a world left behind in ruins, and the dust and corrosion of what was forgotten. ~~How deep.~~

Despite the warnings, the atmosphere hits Red's senses as well,and he puts a careful hand onto Charizard's side. They'd change method of travelling as soon enough. Still seeing the person though not too far off, he calls out-]

Be careful out there.

[Words that felt necessary to give, with the talk of how stronger the effects of the draining on the body were supposed to be in the location.]

[The sudden appearance of the dragon-like creature catches her attention for certain. Had it just been summoned via magic? And even more surprising was that someone so young and not exactly rough around the edges could have tamed such a beast... it's impressive. She tries to change her step so that they're walking at the same pace. She nods at his remark as she begins to approach him again.]

And you as well. ...If I may ask, do you carry this creature around with you somehow?

[Red himself may not seem rough around the edges, but a close enough look at the Charizard by his side may speak otherwise. There exist scars on her body, though faint from where the skin has shed and healed. Despite a huff at the change of atmosphere the pokémon keeps her head up, defiant of seeming like anything else but capable around so many.

Red didn't stop beyond letting out his pokémon from her ball, the device placed back on his belt once she was out - but when the woman approaches them again, he slows his steps for her for her to meet him, and shows the pokéball once again in his free hand.]

A pokéball. They can keep pokémon inside them - they're creatures from my world. [He nods to his companion, putting the ball back again.] That's what Charizard is.

Pokémon... [Perhaps it was just a name for strong creatures, as those of her world had monsters. It seems like a specific way to refer to things that have so many differences.]

Then do you know of-- [Oh, wait. Mewtwo did say there were those he didn't trust, so it would be best to avoid his name for now... perhaps she could find another way to discern if they were truly from the same world. She could mention her friend's ward.] ... pokémon called Espurr?

No. [His answer doesn't need much thought, and the unknown pokémon make his eyebrows lift in curiosity. It's been a while since he's gotten to hear of any new ones.] What are they?

They are small, cat-like creatures of a grey color. [At least, the one she knows is grey. She'll just have to assume most of them share the same coloring, unlike other sorts of cat things.]

I believe they have... [What was the word?] psychic abilities. [But with the two she knows more closely in addition to the winged one before her now, she has to wonder.] How many kinds of these pokémon do you know of? I assume they are quite common.

[She's keeping their goal in mind, but it certainly won't hurt to indulge her curiosity for a few moments on the way.]

Psychic pokémon? They're not too uncommon. [He can think off a couple off the top of his head, though he's not sure if she wants a list of them.]

Espurrs could be from a region I don't know about. I've only been around two. [He wouldn't surprised if there were more types of pokémon in the different regions he's not visited, considering the differences found in Johto right beside Kanto.

...and, if they are going to walk and talk - Red holds out his free hand.] Do you want to keep contact?

I see. That would make sense.

[Not everyone is a world traveler, and she certainly doesn't know of all the monsters that roamed in her world, either. Perhaps this boy and Mewtwo are from the same world after all. She'll have to ask him about it later...

At the offered hand, she nods and takes it without much hesitation.]

It would be best to keep our strength up as much as we can. It may be a long journey. [And before she forgets--] My name is Freya.

Red. [He nods a head to the pokémon.] She's a charizard, but I call her Charizard too.

[And he's not one to mind hand contact - he offered it, and while her hand might not be exactly the same as a human hand, he's touched "hands" with pokémon before. No biggy for him.]

If there's something you want to know about pokémon, I can try to tell you. I know they're not common for everyone here. [He looks over the surroundings they're making their way through.] Now's maybe not the best time for too much, but you wanted to look for the shrines right? We can work together to find one.

[And she didn't seem to have a partner with her, unless they were tucked underneath how clothes - and out here, having somebody else sounded crucial for keeping on your feet for long.]

[She nods to each of them in turn.] It is good to meet the two of you.

[After how long she's been here, physical contact is second-nature for her. These days she only hesitates for the sake of the new arrivals' comfort.]

I may have some questions later, when there is more time to talk. [But he's right, they do have things to focus on.] I would appreciate the help, thank you.

It does make me wonder if these shrines have special properties they cannot replicate, given that they seek to obtain them again rather than make new ones...

[He wonders if to let Charizard rest while he has another with him, but the pokémon has no problem with walking, and having another look out could do them good. She likely wouldn't be distracted by conversation either.]

I don't know a lot about religious artefacts... but they sounded pretty important on the network. [Actually.] I remember a woman got mad, calling them priceless and hundreds of years old.

[Yeah, he was nosing around all the other chats. As they talk, his eyes can't help but look around at the sight that they've entered, ruined buildings of a city that's been forgotten. He's never seen anything like it.]

I recall hearing that, as well. [She understands that they're especially interested in retrieving them, but shouting over the network was a bit much. At least that priestess seems passionate about her faith...

Freya notices the look on the young man's face as he takes in the surroundings and focuses on them herself. These ruins aren't unlike ones she's seen, even compared to those of her own home. However, the destruction of Burmecia felt more raw to her, and this place felt more like decay...]

I wonder how long it has been since these buildings were used... It has clearly been some time, at least.

Mmm... [The sight still has him drawn in that he can only hum to respond at first, falling silent for a while longer. In the building standings could be things for them to take back, though maybe not the movable shrines Freya was interested in. And they were still rather early into the city.

He slows his steps, Charizard doing the same.]

Have you ever flown before? We could try getting a better view from the sky - or get further into the city at least.

[As she suspected, Charizard's wings weren't simply for show. Most dragons she knew could fly, after all...]

I have flown on airships, and I can jump higher than most, though I admit flying on the back of a beast is not something I've done. [It might be something she does in the future, but for right now... she wonders if Charizard would be fine with carrying the both of them.] Perhaps I could follow you on the rooftops for a while, if that would be better for you?

[He wonders why she thinks it would be better, then goes for what he suspects.]

It's fine. She's carried two people before - it's three where it gets tricky. [He smiles a bit, and looks to Charizard with a nod. At that she huffs, spreading her wings and lowering her body.]

You just have to sit directly behind me. But we can try doing it your way if you find you don't like it.

[At the indication that it would be fine for Charizard, she decides to agree to it. She can probably figure how to ride behind Red fairly quickly.]

Very well. I'll follow your lead.

[It'll be a new experience and useful for exploring, so she has no reason to argue any further.]

[It's no magic carpet ride, but it's overgrown lizard with wings and that's fine too. With Charizard making it easy for them both to get on, Red gets on rather quickly (though he does have the experience), putting his hands in place to keep grip of her. When Freya does get on, he'll speak up-]

You'll want to keep hold of me [and since she has a long pointy weapon-] and watch which way your weapon's pointing.

[If the pointy end is upwards, Red doesn't want Charizard's wing to catch it. ~~but I have no idea how Freya's spear looks so hopefully it's relevant~~]

[The knight moves to set herself on the dragon's back with some caution, one hand with a firm grip on her spear to keep it out of the way as the other arm goes around Red. She would probably be fine in the event that she did fall, but she would rather not test the theory out.]

I shall be careful that it doesn't hurt either of you.

[If she hadn't held onto it, Red would have suggested she do so. Nodding at what she says, he pats Charizard.] Alright, take us up.

[With her wings already ready Charizard bats them hard, picking them up off the ground, a little higher and higher each time her wings flap. And once she seems to reach the height she wants, she adjusts her body and adds a harder push against the air-- and with that, they fly.

At first through the street they had been walking but then beyond that, level with the rooftops. Red gives a warning and guidance to begin with-] Not too high up- about that speed for now- that's good-- [-but beyond that, he surveys what he can in front of them and allows her to fly as she wants. Her neck is lowered down, allowing for Red to see (and possibly Freya) in front of them. It's much faster than they had been walking, but not enough that they would miss everything around them.]

If you see anything or want to stop, let me know.

[It's certainly a new sensation, to be riding on the back of a flying beast, especially of what she's certain is a dragon. She briefly wonders if the dragon knights of old rode them before focusing again on the surroundings.

It's certainly a more convenient way of getting around, not only for the speed, but considering the need for contact. She has to commend the young man for having such good control over Charizard's flight.

As of yet she doesn't see anything that sticks out among the ruins, but she's keeping an eye out for any shrines that might match the style of things she's seen in the city itself. She's not entirely certain what to expect, however.]

I will. It should be better to travel longer distances like this, I think, particularly to avoid any monsters. [She's prepared to fight, but she'd rather spend their limited energy on exploring and finding things.]

[ And hopefully three bodies in contact is better than just two. As for the city, there's plenty of the same to be seen, also as well some of the mutated monsters of which some look up to see them, but can't do anything about a flying beat. Red himself is trying to search for what might fit the description of a portable shrine. He remembers, somewhat, those of them that he'd seen while travelling through Johto - unmoving shrines, that is. But would they look much different?

But something seems to catch Charizard's eye as they're going along and she slows down. She raises her head briefly, then seems to be motioning towards a direction, snorting. ] What is it?

[ Apparently the portable shrines had been left out in the streets of the city. Charizard knew they were looking for them from their talking, but she wasn't sure if what she was seeing was it, nor if she should get closer for them to investigate without Red first saying if she should.

... let's find out what Freya thinks she sees (if anything)! ]

[Making sure her spear does none of them any harm, keeping herself from slipping off, and looking for things down below is a bit complicated to balance, but Freya manages it after a bit. Her gaze is in the opposite direction of the dragon's indication, but Red's question catches her attention and she carefully peers in the direction the other two are.

She spots what looks like a waist-high stone statue next to a miniature building, and though it's difficult to tell from this distance, it appear to be decorated. It's likely this is what she was looking for.]

It looks like it may be one of the, or perhaps a relic. I would like to take a closer look, if you are interested.

[ Red pats Charizard in approval of the request, and with it the pokémon makes a turn down towards the object. The turn is somewhat rough if you're not used to it, but it's more like a small jolt than anything that would throw anyone off. She's mindful of her passengers when they near the ground, not just thumping down onto it as she would on her own but bringing them as gently down as she can, lowering afterwards the front of her body for easier access off her back.

Red slides down, but instead of walking off stands against Charizard with a hand upon her back. He's curious about the relic as well, but not so much to let go of contact-- and not only that, but some people might feel odd after a ride in the air, and so he's eyeing Freya. ] Are you okay?

[ A good question too if she might appear to be having any difficulty getting down. ]

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EVENT: Exploration

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goodness i'm sorry for the late reply

no apologies needed!

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