wing_attack | IC; Pokegear Contact Post

"Uh. It's Tobias. Leave a message."

You mean it? What kind of twenties? I can't say "just plain old normal Earth twenties" because as it turns out everyone has a different definition of normal here.

Nothing super weird about it?

I think pretty normal? He traveled with the circus and stuff... he's not interested in the one here. He freaked out about Halloween, though - apparently it's bad luck where he's from to perform then, something about a spirit or something. I can't tell if it's just superstition or something that actually happened, but yeah. Other than that, pretty normal as far as I can tell.

... Actually, maybe it was the fifties - history was never my best class. I just know it's way before when I was born. If you've ever seen Grease, he looks kind of like that.

If someone's scared of something that much, especially to do with Halloween or the supernatural, there's probably basis in it. That's the #1 rule I've learned. You don't have to answer anymore, I don't want to pry. I was just curious, and we have a time set for our meetup, after all!

I HAVE seen Grease, thank you, that helps. That's the 50's indeed.

Yeah, it's okay. ... For what it's worth, our Halloween performances went okay. Maybe it was just a thing with his circus.

I've only seen Grease like once? A sub put it on I think.

Wow, really? It's a classic! I mean, mixed messages about what it sends to young girls so I'm more into the songs, but I watched it a few times in high school.

A friend was a huge theater nut.

I'm of a half a mind to say you should watch it again, but you'd only be able to find the versions they have here, if any.

I guess I'm not really much of a theater person. I remember the songs a little, but I think I was reading during that class since we weren't doing work anyway.

I don't remember what I was reading. ... Honestly it'd been a while since I read a book on my own before I got here, though I used to read over shoulders in the park. I'm really glad I can read again.

Right. Since you weren't able to for some time.

[Being a bird and all.]

I'm glad you can too. We can talk about whatever you've read here on Saturday.

Yeah. And sure. I think I've got one or two I can lend to you that are somewhere around here... I really need to clean my room.

Anyway, I'll see you then?

See you then!

[...AND WE PRESUMABLY FAST-FORWARD TO SATURDAY MORNING OUTSIDE THE CENTER??]

[Insert Batman spinning scene transition here.]

[Anyway, Tobias swoops down on Regal's back, and ruffles the feathers on the back of his head when they land.]

Good job. Time for a nap for you, big guy.

[He slides off of Regal's back and lands, holding out his Pokeball and recalling him before looking around for Ashley.]

[She shouldn't be too hard to spot. Just leaning against the Pokémon Center, waiting. She's got an Eevee with her, keeping a watch out so it seems, and a Snorunt shivering in her arms. Regal landing does nothing to stop this shivering, of course.]

Oh...!

[And there goes the big bird, but she still stares a bit stunned.]

What a...big...bird... Tobias, hi!

[Aw. Poor thing.]

Hey there. ... Yeah, Regal's kind of huge. But it just makes it easier to ride him. How are you guys doing?

I can imagine... But, um, we're...good! [She glances down at the shivering friend in her arms.] Mostly. But she's...kind of always like this.

[Ashley can relate personally but]

Yeah? ... That's okay. I know some Pokemon are just kind of... strange like that.

[...]

She's shy. I'll help her get better at it. [With that done-] There's a café close-by. Come on, lunch, right? ...Or, brunch, I guess.

I can understand that.

[He'd been pretty shy, too. This place, though...]

Right.

[He nods and leads her on, doing his best to avoid bouncing a bit.]

I keep getting sore when I fly on Regal for a while. I really need to see if I can get a harness rigged up. It might help.

Sure seems like a good idea. Between the sitting and the... Oh, I'd be too worried about falling.

[She follows, with her Eevee at trailing at her feet.]

It's good, by the way, to meet you in person. Everyone I've talked to is so spread out that it almost feels weird, but...good.

It's not so bad, but I know how to adjust pretty well. I can help you learn a little before you head out, if you want.

[Right... they hadn't had a chance to meet up before this, had they?]

Yeah. I mean... I like that technology is good enough here that you don't have to meet up, but it's still kind of weird to not.

Try incredibly weird... Even with the advanced FaceTime and all that, it's weird not to be able to interact with most people. A few around town I know, but besides that just...

[The shivering Snorunt. The bounding Eevee. The other Pokémon, presumably in their Pokéballs.]

So, it's a nice, uh, change.

What's... uh. FaceTime?

[He's from the 90s, Ashley, take pity on him.]

[She quirks an eyebrow.]

Really? You...don't know? It's the video chat thing. For smart phones.

Smart ph... okay uh. It's 1999 when I'm from, I don't know what year it is for you.

[Stops walking.] What? Nineteen...ninety... Oh.

[Who's the older one here really?]

It was...um.... 2015...

Oh. ... I guess it's not a big deal here... there's people from all sorts of times.

Really? I... I mean, I knew Dave isn't from- but that's was kind of different, so I didn't really think...

[But she's going to be traveling with someone from a different world scheme altogether so is it really that surprising...?]

Huh. Wow, I hadn't even thought about it...not being the same time and year, but...that does make more sense than not.