this island is in SHAMBLES. i mean RUINS.

[tidaldrum]

[no. literal ruins. it is an island of ruins. mythology nuts, ruin lovers, fossil collecters............ all are welcome!

anyone is welcome, actually. why? because there's a chance of finding a fossil!!!

as well as an equal amount of chances to find things that look like a fossil but aren't. like an old amber with nothing in it. incredible.

and wouldn't you know it, but there's a fossil revival lab on this island too! it's pretty unmanned, but there's books with instructions on how to revive your very own DESTRUCTIVE DINOSAUR MONSTER.

so hey! come on! make a friend! throw your enemy into one of the ruin's dozen puzzle rooms! ffall to your doom! whatever you want!

TREASURE AND RARE POKEMON AWAIT]

Comments

let's get some multiple choice action up in here

[tidaldrum]

A.

[Ethan is... thankfully, not being dragged around by his bestie. Like, yeah, she dragged him onto the island in the first place, but she's perfectly content to leave him alone.

Which he is thankful for! Because fossils? Ruins? Stuff like that? Not really high on his list of things he finds super awesome coolio. Really? He's kind of put off by all the dark corners and nearly-falling-apart rooms. NOT SCARED TOTALLY NOT SCARED just. Kind of put off.

Anyway, he's just gonna hang around the entrance of one of the ruin's puzzle rooms, peeking in every so often and jumping whenever something drops inside. Daaangerous place, guys.]

B.

[BUT LATER ON, HE HAS MUCH MORE SUCCESS.

OR... OR NOT, REALLY, because none of the items he's somehow managed to collect are worthy anything; the fossils are duds; and best of all?

He may or may not have broken his wrist in the process. Him and his Happiny (HER INSISTENCE) are looking for anything to help him. Bandages, splint... Tissues. To stop the bleeding, of course. Not bad bleeding, but it sure would help if it wasn't. If Lyra was around, she'd say something like, "That's just the life an adventurer!" but she isn't, so she won't.

Happiny's on one of the lab's shelves, looking for the key items mentioned above, and every so often she'll -- knock off books. Ethan's response, naturally, is to try and catch them

and then cry, because he's using the hand with his broken wrist. His dominant. His left hand.] Haphap!

B

[savedover]

[Life on the Island--(Why is it the Island, with a capital I? It's hardly the only one of its kind.)--is monotonous. A long time ago, Silver might have even considered it boring. He spends his time training, exploring, and not sleeping. Why sleep, when he can keep a record of all the places he's been and Pokémon that he's seen?

So when the ruins spring up in an area that he thought he had thoroughly investigated... why not explore? As much as he'd rather not be here at all, it's not a training day. Even Silver has to admit that he has "nothing better to do". The lab is one of the first places he visits. He's idly interested in whatever machinery can be found within, although he doesn't expect to find anything useful.

Unfortunately, who he finds in the room immediately kills his curiosity.]

... come on. There's obviously nothing worth investigating in this room. [Standing, just behind him, is a pretty buff looking Croconaw. She peers around him, snorting. Look, they just got here. Who cares if that Ethan kid is hanging around, squeaking like a cornered Sentret?]

[tidaldrum]

[Ethan's Happiny is ten times more excited to hear Silver's voice than Ethan is; she hops off the shelf to greet him, while her trainer busies himself putting up items she'd knocked off trying to help.

Hello, Silver and Crocolady.]

Stay away from them. [But they're people she knows, Ethan. Her lip quiver doesn't earn her any points, and Ethan forces himself to remind to scoop her up with his right arm when he bends down. At least she doesn't wiggle or cry as much -- tiny blessings from a tiny baby. Not that it helps his mood, which has gone from "bad" to "why did i even bother waking up today" in ten seconds flat.] Your Totodile evolved, huh? That's great. Croconaw are great. Hope you've been treating it nicer than you treat everyone else you meet.

[haha broken wrist what broken wrist no such thing especially not around THIS JERK.]

[savedover]

[Silver doesn't verbally acknowledge HapHap's greeting, but he does nod at her. His Croconaw doesn't go as far as to put herself between Silver and Ethan, but there's a certain tension in the way she holds herself. She watches them both, a wary glint in her eyes.]

I'm not going to waste energy by kicking her, if that's what you're concerned about. [His tone is disdainful, bored. Kicking around a baby Pokémon? Not worth the time or the effort, in his book.] Yes, I noticed. Not that it's any of your business.

[tidaldrum]

Sure it is. [Not particularly.] I have a Feraligatr, remember? He's just a little shy and doesn't take well to dusty abandoned labs.

[Among other things. Like spiders, for instance. Ethan gives the Croconaw a once-over, then takes a step to the side. He's not going to risk going right past Silver and getting his arm snapped off by some wary allidile, so he's gonna try and scoot around both pretty unfriendly-looking faces.]

I'm not finding anything I need in here, [grumble grumble huff huff] so I'm leaving. There's plenty of dusty, stupid books in here about fossils and whatever, if you think that junk's interesting.

[savedover]

Yes. I know. The impossibly strong one with a stupid nickname. [Even if they've technically never battled, Silver knows a strong, well-trained Feraligatr when he sees one. Unfortunately for Ethan, neither of them are immediately moving from the door.]

I'm looking for useful information, not garbage. [He's there because he finds dusty, stupid books about fossils interesting............] You're so transparent. Like I said, I was just leaving. Just stay right where you are, and we can pretend that we never saw each other today.

no multiple choices for this one

[beatensoul]

[Rockets are out for profit! And... and honestly, anything that doesn't hurt Pokémon? Ethan is all up for.

Alas, he hasn't had much luck. The boy and his cheerful Quilava girl can be found digging at various places of the ruined island. She's a good digger, so he lets her take care of the work, but when she gets too tired... he takes over.

Or they can be found with a collection of goodies! From empty ambers, to rocks that look like Dome Fossils and the like, to Helix Fossil-shaped items. He's totally reading up how to bring them back to life, but it's all kind of going over his head. He might be the plan-maker of his Rocket duo, but he isn't really into this super sciencey-type things. He asks his Quilava every so often for help, but she just

stretches out and shrugs. Sorry, trainer.]

[strongsilent]

[Quick, hide Purrlion! It's Team Rocket--

Wait no Purrer what are you doing. Red is attempting a stakeout, don't just go over there and watch that guy.

What're you doing, nya? Can he help? He likes shiny things, too. Rub rub, were you trying to read something? Purrpurrpurr.]

[beatensoul]

[A cat?!

It's... it's so cute... Ethan lets him rub over his hands and the books he's reading, grinning.]

You're pretty cute! [Quilava begs to disagree. Ymmv though. She butts past the Purrloin and gets into her trainer's lap. Not good for his reading, but good for keeping the cat out.] Hey, Quilava... Sorry, kitty, she doesn't get along with cats well.

[strongsilent]

[Oh, wow, what a rude fire thing. Purrer hisses slightly at her, but backs off...

and jumps onto Ethan's shoulders, purring loudly. Red's still hidden, attempting to sign to the Pokémon that Team Rocket's dangerous, but his cat's on a mission and that is to steal whatever he can from his dumb kid.

What's in your pockets? Your bags? You hat?]

okay debut time

[poketrouver]

[Finding himself in a weird, new, and altogether kind of scary place - but nothing compared to Team Flare, of course - hasn't dampened Trevor's drive to complete the Pokédex. Any kind of Pokédex.

And, having gotten the upgraded model from the Professor shortly before he somehow arrived here... Well, it's just perfect timing.

Naturally, he's going to go up to other trainers as quietly request to see their Pokémon. He'll also participate in going into the ruins, even if it's a little scary to do so, in sure of things like Yamask, Cubone, Unown -- those types of things.

And he definitely does not no okay he's not a big tough guy, he does shriek the second an Ekans slithers in front of him in the dark. IT'S BECAUSE IT'S DARK, OKAY.]

told you i'd get to them

[goldenlyre]

[Puzzles~ Puzzles~!! If there's one thing Lyra loves loves loves more than anything else in the whole wide world, it's puzzles! She's in the middle of one of them when she hears the girliest shriek since her best friend back home woke up with a Hoothoot staring right at him.

... But puzzle.

Saving person, puzzle???

Sprouty doesn't see how this is even a question. Come on, Lyra, he's picking you up by the scruff of your shirt and trotting towards Trevor's scream. He'll be hearing some mysterious shouts himself.]

Noooo, I need to finish it! There's probably super cool treasure on the other side, Sprouty! Or a rare Pokémon! I mean, that part's not really important 'cause I'm not on the job anymore 'cause we're not in Johto, but I really really really need to finish it!

as a forward any french will have hover text translations /sobs

[destinedrival]

[Greninja, at least, is having fun.

He's hiding in the shadows, waiting -- waiting -- to pop right out in front of some poor, unsuspecting trainer. Serena is less amused, but... she'll let her frog have his fun. Even if she chastises him.]'

Delphine would think you're being childish. [But Serena, that's why he's doing it! To show that stupid fox how to have a little fun!]

en guarde-- you are not the serena he knows

[honoredfriend]

[There's a somewhat familiar trainer roaming around their area, from the clothes to his Delphox partner. The only difference is that this Pokémon is practicing his magic by splaying small fireballs across the ceiling.

Calem doesn't mind the light, naturally, but it must be rough on the Pokémon that've made their home here.]

You weren't like this when you were a Fennekin, were you? I think you might've picked up something from Serena. She's always been a pretty... straightforward girl. [Oh, but Calem! It's just so fun to watch them scatter! And it lights up their path anyway, so what's the harm? Look, there's something in the shadows there, watch this!

Poof! Fire right at you, Greninja!]

[heroineoftruth]

Ya-hooooooooooooo!

[What's that???

Oh, just a fiery trainer girl. No big deal. Just don't get in her way as she rides her Mandibuzz from the fossil-laden ruin caves towards the lab... and back again. Back and forth, back and forth. It's just fun.

And she's just dumping stones - evolution, regular rocks, all sorts - in front of the fossil lab.]

Out of the way! Velma Express, coming through!

[anterograded]

Relic, look. [Our luckiest member today is Hilbert. Journal open and already written in, he's settled in a puzzle room with a flash light and a a fossil. A real fossil. His Archeops complies, having been in the middle of studying the room's puzzle but -- if his trainer needs him, he'll definitely be there.] It's a Plume Fossil.

[...That's what his journal says it is, with a cruddy drawing next to it. It must've been when he first got it -- Relic Castle. His first month being out of Nuvema Town. Right, he'd named his Archeops - Archen, then - for the occasion when the gym leader of ... of Nacrene..? Lenora, that was it. Lenora helped him revive it. He studies the notes he'd written in the margins of the Plume Fossil page and nods.]

You used to be one too, [he laughs. The Archeops shrieks loudly - just his way of showing affection - then hops right back to looking at puzzles. For Hilbert, it's benign and fine.

...for others wandering the dark halls, it might sound a little more frightening...]

[enharmonicchord]

[It certainly would be more frightening - if it wasn't familiar. Had he had one before? Though it wasn't big enough to allow Reshiram to stand beside him, N rolls the Pokémon's ball between his hands and continues forward, a Charmander walking before him. He hadn't asked the little lizard to accompany him, but she'd been eager to explore.

So. That was that.

Perhaps they could find the source of the sound and N'd have a better idea of what it was. Or a bigger area to let out Reshiram and ask the dragon about it.]

Hello? [He hesitantly calls, and Charmander lets out her own curious cry.]

[anterograded]

[Relic perks up at the voice -- it's familiar to him, but to Hilbert it's totally new. The cry is strange too, but he almost feels like he's heard it before... from a movie, or something...?

Mom never raised him rude, so he calls back with just as much hesitance.] Hi?

[enharmonicchord]

[Oh, a voice. That was promising! And it wasn't his own echo for sure. Charmander scurries ahead and N's left to use the crumbling walls as his guide in an effort to keep up with her.]

I'm surprised to hear someone else in these ruins. I didn't think they were very popular, considering what the modern world seems to have to offer above ground.

[anterograded]

[Wow, what a fast talker. Hilbert tries to keep up, but just defaults to answering the first part. He heard that one clear enough.]

I like them. They're quiet and nice. I like doing the puzzles too. [Puzzles are one of the few things he can recall from his childhood. The only other things are his name, Cheren, and Bianca... And even those two were a little spotty at times. Especially since Bianca had moved in not too long before.] Do you like them too? -- Uh, I guess that's a dumb question if you're in here.

[enharmonicchord]

[It's good that the familiar voice is talking so much, since it's helping N know where to go. Charmander's going to be stumbling into Hilbert's leg by the time he's answered. No less slow either. It's a habit.]

I think I do. I'm afraid I don't remember much of myself, other than what Reshiram has told me and what I have been able to recall the past year... or so. You'll have to forgive my hesitance in estimating how long it's been, since I only remember that it was Summer when I found myself in the clouds.

[globetrotting]

[This is the day Richard Attenborough will become John Hammond.

Blue had a certain level of interest in fossils. They were a piece of history with the chance to become a piece of the present - and that was fun, and so were the company she'd received from the fossils she had found over time herself. History was not something she knew much about, but her encounters with it, if through ruins or people telling tales of old, had been interesting.

With her through the ruins that day was her bird xatu, keeping the way illuminated by a natural light that shone from around the pokémon's body. She didn't exactly glow, but it was more like light was coming her so naturally, and the area surrounding her was complying with her reality. These rooms were not dark - therefore, they were light. (Deep)

They heard the sound, a pokémon it seemed, but whether it was friend or foe couldn't be distinguished by how it cried. Blue went towards it anyway, careful with her xatu taking the lead in directing her towards it without much more of a command than a look to her that she wouldn't have even seen. Psychic future type birds, man.

The light might catch their attention before Blue speaking does, or the sounds of her steps stopping behind the way into the puzzle room (but not the xatu's steps, as it floated like a cheater). She sees the pokémon looking intrigued by the wall, and the boy with the flashlight and book. Well, things didn't seem to be going so badly in here!]

Hi. [Another look between the two, and a smile on her face.] Having fun?

[anterograded]

[(Deep. The only thing Hilbert has going for him his is Archeop's ability to have better eyesight in the dark and his own adaption to the dim lighting. The flashlight helps too, obviously.)

The footsteps don't catch his attention much - the idea that people would be wandering around in the ruins like him isn't too hard to handle! - but the growing light does. It's almost enough to make him panic - is it someone he's supposed to know? have they met? - so instead of immediately answering, he grabs his Island notebook from his bag and lays it beside him. He'll flip through it while he talks, skimming the pages.]

Uh -- yeah! Lots of it! Relic and I - that's him - it's been a while since we got to explore some old, musty place. Are-- are you?

[...no, it doesn't seem like he's met anyone here who's supposed to look like the girl in front of him, at least. Or have the same Pokémon as her. He's sure he would've drawn out such a strange looking one the first chance he got.

(And he will be doing that, on a fresh page of his Island notebook.)]

[globetrotting]

[She watches him with his book, intrigued by what could be inside- it could be anything, maybe some sort of research is what Blue's guessing. (Or does he have a book on pokémon?)]

Yep! It's been a while since we've done the same, too. [And, since she is curious about that book-] Are you collecting data on the rooms?

[And she'll take a step inside with her xatu too, since the boy doesn't seem to be exactly put off by her precious. But she won't step too close to either him or Relic, just in case.]

[anterograded]

[Technically?] Yeah. I'm uh... bad at remembering stuff.

[That's really an understatement, but Hilbert likes being treated like a normal person, so he'll keep mum about his condition. He waves his Island notebook, Xatu half-drawn.]

This one's for this island, actually. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of Pokémon is that? [Sketch sketch sketch.]