This world is inhabited by creatures that we call pokemon. People and pokemon live together by supporting each other, but now the scourge threatens the safety of the entire region. Kohaku has become a dangerous place, where children stay at home and only brave souls go adventuring.
Welcome to KOHAKU. Come for the nightmares. Stay for the tea and crumpets.
The season is SUMMER. It is easy for survivors to forage for food from the land, as there are entire abandoned farms ready for harvest. On the downside, you can smell the corpses.
swarms
GRAND OPENING !
Welcome to KOHAKU REGION's grand opening! If you're interested in joining, come check out our grand opening giveaway!
harry eyed the crumpled paper, her gaze darting here and there as she scanned the available information. managing a thin scowl, her eyes settled upon the building settled before her. it matched the faded image on the sheet well enough. but she couldn't push aside that feeling of nervousness that gnawed steadily away at her. it caused her initial hesitation. but there was no turning away now. she'd managed to receive transportation here, and she wouldn't waste her time turning back now and rushing back into the arms of her protective guardians. it was do, or, likely, die, now. casually tossing aside the now useless item, she moved forward, stuffing her hands in her over-sized green hood, her expression relaxed, her posture slightly slouched. when she entered, she relished the present warmth while taking in the sight of the building's interior. it was pretty nice in here. she had to admit that much. everything gleamed nicely within the lights, the surrounding technology humming quietly as the power was evenly distributed.
professor cypress was in his laboratory, as always. he was a picture of not-calm and very-anxious all at once; it was the beginning of the month, and trainers were apt to appear at any and every possible moment to demand starter pokémon from him. one such trainer had just arrived, and mr krauss the alakazam was very kind to notify him beforehand. the man wiped a few beads of sweat off his forehead as he rose from his seat and stumbled out to meet the newcomer.
"h-hello," said the professor, "i'm professor cypress. w-wh -- how can i help you?"
even if was it was evident that she was here like one of many people before her, cypress thought it was nice to ask.
mr krauss hovered a close distance behind cypress, wondering if he ought to get the professor a cup of tea to steady his nerves. oh, and another cup for the girl as well.
harry didn't know what to think of the professor, though his trembling form and obvious discomfort was something that visibly caught her off guard. but she didn't judge, nor did she mention it in an offhanded fashion. she merely smiled, the look warm as she pulled her hands free from her pockets.
"let's just get this out of the way," she began, her voice not unkindly. "you're a busy man. and i'm ready to start. i'm here for a pokemon. plain and simple, professor. then i'll be out of your way."
after such words were spoken, her eyes settled upon the pokemon that accompanied the professor. fascinated, she boldly approached the creature, her eyes gleaming.
"you know... my parents never had any pokemon. and i never really got to be around them growing up. i've seen them around, of course. but... whoa. this one's so cool."
cypress was happy and ready to move on. he gestured for mr krauss to bring out the pokéballs for her to pick from, but then she had to bring up something else. (drat.) the professor smiled weakly, and rubbed the back of his head as he formed his reply.
"i-i'm not that busy, but if you're in a rush ..." he began, and mr krauss glanced at him expectantly. social skills and cypress were a rare combination. he was almost always flustered at the idea of getting compliments -- where a simple 'thank you' would have sufficed, cypress was apt to launch into a ramble about ... things.
"y-you think so? it's an alakazam, and his name is mr krauss. he's my assistant. i have another assistant -- ms sybill, but she isn't around at the moment. mr krauss is very friendly. would you like to say hi to him? say hi, mr krauss." cypress locked his fingers together, and glanced from the alakazam to the newcomer.
mr krauss gracefully stepped up, telepathically passing a word to the professor as he did so: 'nice one, professor. keep it up.' to the girl, he said: 'hello there. what's your name?'
in the background, cypress fumbled with the girl's starter choices.
harry beamed, pleased by the psychic's general response. the voice was masculine, she noted, and the creature appeared friendly enough.
"the name's harry," she said, gesturing to herself. "nice to meet you, mister."
she wondered if she'd receive a psychic type. or something similar, at least. in her mind, she mulled over potential choices; of what she'd be allowed to and of the items she'd be rewarded. as a researcher, the girl would be gifted a single pokemon. one whom would serve as her partner as she worked at achieving the status of a professor. after this little trip, harry acknowledge she'd be on her own in this world clogged with disease and death. it got her mind working up a storm. then again, what was the use of worrying? she'd be fine. and she definitely wasn't a wuss.
no backing out. she told herself.
her smile had dropped for the shortest while, but it swiftly returned, the look just as bright. she shifted her attention toward the professor.
"i'm just excited. that's all, prof," she admitted. "you don't have to hurry if you don't want to. i'm just real eager to get started. i want to be a professor, too, you know?"
cypress nearly dropped the tray of pokéballs he was holding. he managed to gather his wits about himself, but then decided to adjust his glasses -- and dropped the tray anyway. mr krauss's psychic intervention saved the tray from a clattering end. the pokéballs atop it rolled about on the surface as the tray floated gently to lay on top of the table.
"a professor in the future, eh? t-that's good. that's great, in fact," he said, a little too quickly. "most of these new ones, they just want to go out there and ... and study the scourge. th-that's good too! ... they can study it more and help save kohaku from the end but ... you're the first who wanted to be a professor -- after that. or sometime during."
cypress was fighting a losing battle. conversation didn't really agree with him. mr krauss chose to leave the pokéballs alone in favor of serving tea. the alakazam whipped up two cups of tea, and returned with them.
"come have a look at these pokémon, harry." the professor forged on with his duties, even if he wanted to talk more about advancing through the process of becoming a professor. "they're all very good."
:sturtwig::snatu:
harley (( you tag by typing @username btw, my username is vertigo ))
she muttered a 'thank you' as she accepted the cup, breathing in the welcoming fragrance of warm tea. yet her gaze remained transfixed on the available pokemon, her heart feeling as though it was swelling within her chest at the sight alone. her future partner was stored within one of these capsules, patiently awaiting her attention and call. she approached the tray, eying the individual orbs. with one cup settled within the firm grasp of her left hand, she reached out. her finger tips brushed against the majority before she settled upon one. she produced a wicked, the look toothy, her prominent buck teeth bared.
"this one, prof. this one'll be my partner."
she gingerly placed the tea cup on the table once the contents had been successfully emptied. grasping the selected pokemon's pokeball, she cupped her hands around the device.
"i want this tauros. i've seen them before. mighty brutes. big and strong. and just what i need."
"the tauros?" cypress almost yelped -- it wasn't one of his favorites, but if harry preferred one of those, he would give it to her. (one less worry to care for, ahaha ... ha.) "you may have it. it's strong, and it'll ... it'll serve you well." he met the bull's eyes and quickly tore his gaze away.
sensing his apparent distress, mr krauss decided to put himself to the rescue. the alakazam returned all the pokémon to their respective pokéballs, save the tauros. the bull's pokéball was telekinetically handed to the female, alongside the customary starter grab bag of items, comprising of three pokéballs, a virus ball, a potion and a revive.
"if you're aspiring to become a professor, here -- take this!" cypress squeaked, pressing a device into harry's hands. the professor's smile was a kindly one as he explained the device. "use it to scan new pokémon, and hadean ones too. the more we know about pokémon, the more we can help combat the scourge as researchers -- and professors!"
she smirked at the bull before it was returned to it's device. "me and you; we're going places, big fella."
once she grasped what now belonged to her, she tucked the pokeball away within a pocket and examined the numerous items rewarded. everything seemed to be in order. but her interest clung to the virus ball for a short while. she touched it gently before pulling her hand away and allowing her gaze to focus upon the sight of the pokedex. the teenager wholeheartedly accepted the item, an excited look causing her eyes to shine, her smile growing wider with each moment as he spoke of the valuable item. that, too, was tucked away within another pocket.
"thank you, prof," she said. "i'll make you proud. remember the name harry, 'cause i'm sure you'll hear it again sometime in the future."
with that boast, she turned sharply, her bag slung across her shoulder as she took her leave.
"i think i'll name you brute, big fella," she murmured softly.
:sturtwig:
:snatu:
