❀ 1st Konpeito ❀ [Video]

[konpeitoqueen]

Someone better- better explain this to me! Before I-

[Someone's screaming into the receiver, mouth and face too close to identify them. However, the voice sounds young and feminine, and it's screeching.] I- I don't want to be here! I want to go HOME! WHERE AM I?!

[The video feed suddenly drops on the ground. For the next few minutes, you can hear sobbing in the background. And then the door opening. At one point she starts screaming and suddenly there's the cheery tune of a Christmas song starting, before the door slams roughly. After a while more and a bit of 'Mawile, mawile?', she finally comes back into view.]

...Ugh. If anyone makes fun of me, I'll rip your head off.

[There's a girl on the camera, wrapped up in so much towels, spare trainer sets and so on that she looks more like a ball of tossed clothes than anything else. Her Mawile tries to snuggle in with her, but she visibly pushes it away and pins its head against the floor. The Pokémon's back mouth snaps in shock, but she doesn't pay much mind.

Her eyes have rings of red around them- hell, her entire face is extraordinarily red. It seems that apart from the cold, she's also been crying.] I'm the Saionji Hiyoko. SHSL Classical Japanese Dancer. From the super-famous Saionji clan.

People keep telling me to leave this town and go beat some Gym Leaders or something, but who cares?! It's cold, this is stupid, and all I have for defense against all these monster-things is... another monster-thing. [Ayani the Mawile perks her head up.] It's not stinky or mean, but it's stupid and rock-hard like metal and just makes me colder! Plus, there's a weird red-nosed deer outside the door that wants me to 'ride it into Cherrygrove in the name of Christmas' or something. Isn't that all a Western tradition? Christmas is just a some event that gives you discounts in stores where I come from. Figures, scummy foreigners just love shoving their shit in everyone's face, even someplace like here... what even IS this place?

...Is there a chance... [She suddenly seems reluctant to say the next few words, but her face turns sour again- almost in realization- and in an instant just spurts it out.] Is this place yomi? It's cold and dead, that's all I can tell! All it's missing is the huge dirty river that separates us from the living realm. I want to give that stinky rotten Izanami a piece of my mind for allowing me to suffer like this! Where is she?! And- [Saionji grabs her Mawile, and both mouths start yapping-] What kind of Yomotsu is Ayani?! [If you're not familiar with Shinto lore, the girl on the video feed is currently spouting nonsense. And even if you are familiar with Shinto lore, her yelling and complaining is so jarring that you'd mistake it for nonsense anyway.]

Comments

video

[diamondo]

[Mondo keeps his reply set to video, nodding in sympathy at Saionji's words.]

I know. I know. It's a shitty fucking situation and there's not much we can do about it. Not yet.

But we're working on it. My brother and I are trying to find a way to bring everyone here. We'll bring our classmates and yours - then everyone'll be safe! I don't know what we can do about going home since... since some of us are dead back there, but at least we'll have this world.

[konpeitoqueen]

[There's a million ways Saionji could've imagined the conversation going once she noticed that weird hair of his, but this...? She just kind of- mulls on the Stantler, shivering in the cold and bringing the receiver close.]

...For real, Big Bro Oowada? [Her voice is more relaxed, perhaps from exhaustion of just from the relief of getting away from it all-] No one kills each other here? [Backstabbing, crimes, she's used to those; even murder. But amongst... friends? The only people she ever decided to trust?]

[diamondo]

[He's not sure what to do with "Big Bro" there, but hey, he'll take it as a compliment! After all, his big brother was really awesome!]

Yeah. I've been here since April and I haven't seen anyone die. [Well, except Ishimaru during that weird dream-sequence, but we don't talk about that.] No one kills here. None of that shit's gonna happen again.

chap 1 spoilers for sdr2 i went there

[konpeitoqueen]

[She's happy for that, at least.]

Okay, then! Thanks, Big Bro Oowada! Also, if you ever see a guy called Komaeda Nagito who talks about hope all he time and leaves knives taped under tables, can you punch him for me?

[Did she really just-] But- apparently I'm supposed to go on a Pokémon Journey, too? What do I need to do? [He's nice and all. But it really wouldn't be beneficial to become a leech. Being a leech isn't bad, but she need to back herself up too.]

[diamondo]

[Uh...]

Did he kill someone?

[Why else would he have taped a knife under a table? Well, that's not the point. Mondo relaxes a bit at the questions, nodding.]

Well, what you've gotta do is train the Pokémon you started with - that steel thing with two mouths - you let it battle other Pokémon you find outside of town and it'll get strong. Once it's strong enough, you fight Gym Leaders. They're powerful trainers and when you beat 'em, they give you a badge. Once you've gotten all the badges, you're supposed to be able to challenge the Elite Four, but no one's heard anything about 'em in awhile.

A lot of our classmates are in Goldenrod City; we've got a house here that we're all staying at. Oh, Nanami's here too; she's from your class, right? If you can get to one of the cities, maybe someone can come pick you up?

[konpeitoqueen]

Don't question me- I mean... long story. [Best not to be rude before you know the ropes.]

Train it... okay, then. But what's with these Pokéballs and how do they help collect more Pokémon?

Oh, Big Bro Ishimaru is sending something and someone to Cherrygrove for me, I think! Is he in your class? [She's gonna omit the part where she kicked down the door and jumped on the Stantler all on whim.] Brrr, it's cold, I better get there soon...!

[diamondo]

[...Okay, sore subject. He won't touch on that again.]

The Pokéballs are for catching more Pokémon. You just weaken the Pokémon you want, then chuck a ball at it! It's really easy, but I'm sure someone can teach you how to do it if you've still got questions!

Oh yeah, Ishimaru's in my class! He's also my brother! [HE SOUNDS SO PROUD] I'm glad you've already talked to him about that; he's kind of in charge of our whole class, so if he's sending someone out to get you, you can bet everything'll work out great!

[konpeitoqueen]

Ohhhh, so it's like, cockfighting?

Yeah, he told me. [Again, going to omit the part where she got pissed at him referring to her as '-kun', and trying to insult him. Ahahaha...] He said I don't need to send anything back in return! Is he suuuure?

[The howling winds die down a bit, and she lets out another shiver.] And I hope I can get a hot bath in Cherrygrove!

[diamondo]

Yeah, exactly! Though it doesn't really have a stigma in this world, so...

[Shrug! Oh well.]

Yeah, it's alright, don't worry about it! We wanna make sure all our classmates are in the same place for the holidays, y'know? 'Sides, traveling alone in the snow would suck.

[He grins again.] Don't worry about it, Cherrygrove's got a place you can stay for the night in case whoever's picking you up can't make it there right away! They should have plenty of hot water!

[konpeitoqueen]

Yay! I loved watching cockfighting! [Well then.] Especially when they got their eyes scratched out and flesh pecked in, feathers stuck in wounds and all! [Whoa Saionji, you're not getting that kinda thing here.]

Is there Japanese food? What I would give for some soy sauce... miso soup, rice, maybe some salmon and veggies!

[diamondo]

[Well that's... new...]

It doesn't really work like that here. It's... kinda difficult to explain, but if this were a movie, it'd be rated like, PG or something. You'll see what I mean when you start battling.

[As for the food in Cherrygrove, uh... Well, he has no idea. He's never been to Cherrygrove. Guess who started out in Goldenrod as a member of Team Rocket? Yeah.]

Hopefully they've got something you'll enjoy!

[konpeitoqueen]

Awwww, really? No blood or consequence or some grievous bodily injuries? How's anyone supposed to get their blood pumped while battling like that?!

[A sigh, and a shrug.] Eh, I guess some people are too pansy and all to deal with actual fighting. Community caves in for the lesser ones! Eh!

Yeah, they better! ...Or maybe I'll just eat one of these Pokémon. [The red-nosed Stantler's gonna be preeetty tired by the time it arrives in Cherrygrove, after all! And she's used to eating venison, with the deer overpopulation in Japan and all-

-NO SAIONJI.]

[diamondo]

Ah, you can't eat the Pokémon. No one can die here; that includes the animals. So I guess you could try to eat 'em while they're still alive, but that'll probably get you hurt.

[MONDO WHY WOULD YOU EVER SAY THAT]

[konpeitoqueen]

[Awww, darn.] Well, I guess I'm fine with veggies too!

But the most important thing...

...Are there sweets here?

[diamondo]

Yeah, 'course there are! In Goldenrod there's a huge department store that sells practically everything you could ever want. I'm pretty sure they've got a lot of choices when it comes to sweets!

[They certainly have cotton candy!]

[konpeitoqueen]

[Oooooh yeah. yeyeyeah]

Yay! I wonder if I can get this deer-thing to fly to Goldenrod inst-

[A very angry Christmas carol starts playing. Wow, most people didn't even know Jingle Bells could sound so threatening.] Okay, okay! Jeez, stupid deer...

[diamondo]

[Mondo laughs at that; that certainly is the first time he's ever heard Jingle Bells sound threatening.]

Hey, don't worry 'bout it! Ishimaru said he'd send someone to pick you up, right? So you might have to wait a day or so, but someone'll be there to bring you to Goldenrod with the rest of us!

[konpeitoqueen]

Ehhhh, okay. I might catch another Pokémon, or something, I guess? I don't kn-

[-the Stantler swerves past a tree just in time. Because of the audio response, Mondo would only hear a whoosh, but she clings onto its horns and screams.] WHAT WAS THAT?!

[Saionji's holding onto the damn thing too tight. This isn't going to end well.]

[diamondo]

Ah, shit, you okay!?

[If only he could actually get there in a timely manner but no, it'll take hours, if not a full day to get there.]

[konpeitoqueen]

The s-storm's getting worse! [In a fit of wonderful judgement, Saionji hugs the neck of the Stantler far too tight.

They slam straight into a tree, falling unceremoniously to the ground, with the horde of Stantlers and other Pokémon scattering in fear.]

...Ow... ow, ow, ow! [It was terribly wrong to assume one of Santa's Stantlers didn't need oxygen, or eyesight. As smart as she is, she practically never uses her brain when she's scared.

Suddenly, something yelps 'Exegg!' near her.]

[diamondo]

Shit, you okay? L-Look, just try to get to Cherrygrove; we'll have someone leave now to pick you up, alright? If you can just get there you'll be fine!

[...Yes, he's legitimately worried about a girl he just met.]

video response

[konpeitoqueen]

[She suddenly switches to video- and Ayani the Mawile is just screaming in tandem with Saionji, though it's mostly trying to scare an Exeggcute off (or attacking it with surprise...?)]

Fight it! Fight it! [Saionji races up and kicks the Exeggcute, trying to get it away. It seems everything goes to Hell, sooner or later...]

[diamondo]

[It takes all of Mondo's restraint not to facepalm. Then again, he's pretty sure he tried to fight the wild Pokémon when he first showed up too so uh...]

Saionji, Saionji, listen! Use your Pokémon to fight it! It probably knows Bite or something like that, right? Try ordering it to attack!

[Mondo turns from the camera to check something off-screen, then he moves to draw a Pokéball from his belt.]

Ishimaru and I are gonna head out to pick you up, okay?

[konpeitoqueen]

[When the video goes back up, the Exeggcute is fainted and there's just tears streaming down her face. Running out in the blizzard was not a good idea at all.]

It hurts! My ears hurt, and I'm cold! [The Stantler seems out of commission, so now would be a great time to capture it, if Saionji was thinking straight. No other flying Stantlers were conveniently overhead, basically stranding her in the middle of the route. Ayani actually doesn't look too roughed up, probably fighting the thing to submission without much orders needed.]

switch to audio

[diamondo]

[Okay, so at least the immediate threat is gone. It looks like her Pokémon can handle itself - either that or Saionji managed to faint it by kicking it. He wouldn't be surprised either way, to be honest.

That just leaves the problem of getting her to Cherrygrove in one piece. The Stantler doesn't look like it's going to be very helpful, so she'll have to proceed on foot.]

Saionji, it'll be okay! You're gonna have to keep walking toward the next town, alright? Once you get there you can rest! Ishimaru and I are coming to get you, we'll be there as soon as possible, okay?

[Mondo's no longer on video due to flying, but his voice still comes over loud and clear, with the occasional squawk from his Aerodactyl. Don't ask how that thing's carrying him.]