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!
Just having left the Cypress Laboratories, Nemona Taiski had no idea that there was a gala going on until now. Faint wisps of music had reached her ears, though, and when she tuned in to find the source, her ears and eyes had led her to the Breeder's Guild. Irritatingly curious, the girl had entered the large building. A Shinx rested on her shoulder, slanted eyes at the prospect of a fancy ballroom party.
Already wearing somewhat elegant apparel, the girl was swept in with the crowd. Gazing at the folds of red curtains with gilded patterns with half-lidded eyes, the girl let out a loose breath. Just then, a stranger jolted her into awakening by politely murmuring, "Your Shinx looks wonderful."
So he did. Balthazar puffed his chest out a little. Nema, caught by surprise, responded, "Oh! Um, thanks." Her voice cam out louder than intended, and heads turned, shooting her death glares. Shrinking a little under the scornful gazes, the girl moved away from the crowd. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea after all.
one, two, thee, four. one, two, three, four. the steady beat of the waltz soothed raph, and as he disengages from his current partner with a bow and a sigh his absol materializes to his side. with a fond smile in her direction the duo moves to the edge of the crowd.
the researcher arrives in time to see a girl and her shinx, out of place in this fancy gala, be pushed out of the general crowd. the vaccinated pokemon catches his attention, and raph slides in next to the girl with a friendly smile and a nod. elysia merely peers up at the two before detaching to find both of them a place to sit.
"hello there!" raph says with a smile. it's nice, light, and hopefully reassuring for the girl. "what are you doing here alone? although, hello to you, too." the words to the shinx are accompanied by a quick scan of his red pokedex.
never let it be said that raphael sparvi couldn't make use of opportunities when they arose.
Nemona was just turning to leave, thinking that this wasn't the best idea after all, but a nearby voice stopped her. Was he talking to her? Just in case, the girl turned around to see a man looking at her and offering a smile. Yep, he was definitely talking to her. Oh joy, socializing.
Balthazar, on the other hand (paw?), was pleased when the man addressed him as well. The Pokedex scanning was a little unnerving, but the Shinx assumed that he should be flattered that the man took an interest to him. He waggled his tail in the air to show his greeting, grinning in a way that only young, cute Shinxes can. "Oh! Well, uh, I just saw lights and heard music coming from inside, and I thought I would check it out?" The statement curled into a question at the end, and Nema inwardly winced. "I guess I'm pretty out of place, though."
raph laughs, and grins at the girl. "nah, it's fine. everyone's been invited to mercedes' gala, so you're good. you're not that out of place, either."
the researcher himself is only wearing dress pants and a button-up shirt, after all. nothing too terribly fancy. as he waits for elysia, he offers a hand to the girl, and a proper introduction. "i'm raph, and it's nice to meet you. you're with eos, i'm guessing?"
Laughter. Carefree, candid laughter that wasn't forced or polite. Nemona allowed a small smile for herself at this joyous sound that she so rarely had heard in her life. Maybe she'll listen to more of this sound as she continues with her journey? The smile he sends her is light and promising as well. Maybe she could stay just a little bit longer. After all, she has places to go and sights to see. Apparently Balthazar thought the same, since he was shuffling his paws on the girl's shoulder. Soon, she distantly thought while patting his head. She was surprised that she had stayed this long in the first place, but it was rude to abruptly cut off a conversation. Besides, she was getting a little cozy while talking to him.
Startled at the next statement, the girl looked around in an instinctive gesture that allowed her to avoid eye contact. Invitation? What invitation? She had just stumbled upon the doorstep of this elegant structure, drawn by the muted sound of music and muzzled chattering. Was she not allowed to be here? Then again, she hadn't seen any security guards at the doorway, ready to haul some unfortunate soul who had happened to find her way here completely on accident (namely, her). Nema allowed herself to relax and make eye contact with the man again, feeling a little foolish for her thoughts. He must have meant that this gala extended its reach to all Eos members... Right?
Blinking, the girl gazed at the extended hand before tentatively raising her own and onto Raph's, as she now knew his name. "Nemona," she briefly introduced herself before remembering that she goes by a nickname. "But call me Nema." It was what she said to everybody who asked her name, which wasn't a whole lot of people, and it wasn't going to change anytime soon. "Yeah, I'm with Eos. As a new trainer." Maybe she should of added the word "very" before "new". After all, she had flounced directly from the Cypress Laboratory to here, the Breeder's Guild.
"Are you?" she asked. Then she realized that he was obviously in the Eos program. Argh. "I-I mean, are you a trainer, breeder, or what?" Smooth, Nema, smooth. she inwardly chided herself. Way to go.
he files the name away in a distant corner of his mind, and gives her a solid handshake. that she chooses to go by a nickname isn't anything new here - a lot of people do that, these days, trying to feel more at home among comrades. raph doesn't mind.
that she's a trainer isn't anything surprising - a lot of those in eos are trainers these days. but that she's new is, and raph smiles; eos hasn't been getting that many recruits lately. it's always good to see new blood around here.
"ah, no," he says, blinking in surprise, when she asks about his own profession. "none of those, actually. i'm a researcher. i never did have the patience to be a breeder, and research and pokemon has always been my thing."
one, two, thee, four. one, two, three, four. the steady beat of the waltz soothed raph, and as he disengages from his current partner with a bow and a sigh his absol materializes to his side. with a fond smile in her direction the duo moves to the edge of the crowd.
