what do you mean it's too late in the month for a catch-all

[twistingkage]

Open like an open thing as always

Comments

[makajamaon]

[It's always nice to stop for the night, wherever they are. It took an hour of them wrestling with the tent to actually get the darn thing up, but now that it was up, Ryuuji's currently outside of it, lounging with a Vulpix curled up by his side. A map of the region's spread out in front of him, and he's tapping their current location with a finger.]

So where should we go next...?

[summitshore]

As looooong as it's away from the labs, I'm just fine.

[Kazumi's just lying on her stomach nearby with a Raichu on her back, watching curiously. She's still not sure how a lot of these things work (and is still wearing her freaking lab-rat outfit for crying out loud) but it's all really interesting. The stars, the map...hmm...yeah, about the map...]

What's that, anyway?

[She points at...the...nearest town on the map.]

[makajamaon]

That's Ecruteak City, it's the most historical place in Johto. There's a lotta legends connected to it. From there we could go to... [He traces the routes with his finger, humming thoughtfully.] ... Goldenrod, Violet, or Olivine. [He points to each city as it's named.]

[summitshore]

Hmmmm....

[She looks at the three destinations, head resting on one hand. Hmmmmm.] Violet, maybe?

[makajamaon]

Violet, then, after we've gotten through Ecruteak. If we keep heading east, we can eventually get to Kanto.

[The Vulpix yawns and Ryuuji reaches over to scratch behind one of the fire-type's ears.] Of course, we could always take a more roundabout way to try and throw anyone who might be trying to follow us off our trail.

[summitshore]

So that means... Staying off the roads, right?

[Raichu, meanwhile, is...basically making itself comfortable and going to sleep. Plooof.] Besides, they did say they were just testing it to...to do the same thing to Pokemon.

[There's a pause as she mulls it over.]

Uh, is there someone to go to about that, by the way?

[makajamaon]

Yeah, pretty much. We should be fine if we don't get ourselves lost or something.

[He frowns a bit.] I'd say the law enforcement, but honestly unless we miraculously manage to stumble upon Interpol, we really have no chance of anything being done about it. Unless we could go to the Elite Four or something. The Champion's a pretty active, stand-up guy but what're the chances of running into him?

[He doesn't even wait for an answer from her.] Very slim.

[summitshore]

Mm... Sorry I brought it up. It upset you.

[Though...] Though maybe those Elite Four you mentioned...? Where can they be found?

[makajamaon]

'S fine. It's pretty worrying anyway.

[He taps his chin thoughtfully.] Indigo Plateau, which is over in Kanto--though I think we'd need all eight of the gym badges here before we could even get close... They might make an exception for something like this, but I wouldn't count on it.

[summitshore]

Okay. ... Uh... What's a gym badge again?

[She's pretty aware that that's a dumb question, and tries to smile sheepishly as she asks. The scientists dropped the ball on a lot of things...not the least of which was making sure there was a y chromosome...]

[makajamaon]

You get 'em for challenging the leader at a Pokémon Gym and winning. [He grabs his bag and drags it over closer, rummaging through it. Eventually he pulls out his badge case and flicks it open. There's only a single badge in there, the Zephyr Badge from Violet City.]

Gym Leaders are strong trainers who usually specialize in a certain type. [At the very least, Ryuuji isn't opposed to explaining things as needed.]

[summitshore]

Oh, I see. Sorry, the scientists back at the lab didn't...really see fit to explain most things. Is there a book or something I can learn more of this from? Don't wanna be a bother.

[... says the gal who will be made of static electricity if Raichu keeps that up.]

[makajamaon]

Mmn, you're not and I don't really mind explaining. I don't have a book about this stuff on me now, but we could probably pick one up in Ecruteak... along with some clothes that're better for traveling.

[summitshore]

[She looks at the lab dress she's been...wearing everywhere...and the 'borrowed' shoes. Borrowed with no intention of returning.]

Because it stains and people don't like stained clothing, right? Okay then.

[kazumi no.]

[makajamaon]

Err, that's... not what I meant. [It doesn't make it any less true but, uh...]

It doesn't really look very warm, for starters... [... You know, Ryuuji could go on, but he won't.]

[summitshore]

[....

This look of blank. Okay, uhh, warm, warm is- Oh.]

... Not everywhere is like this?

[makajamaon]

Not really, no. Ice Road's... well, it's as cold and always frozen over as the name implies. Snowpoint City in Sinnoh's constantly cold too.

[summitshore]

[... Derp.]

Okay. I'll trust your judgment on this.

[Since, y'know, you're the one with actual years of experience alive and all.]