2 ✻ [action for Route 29 / video]

[sincereheart]

Ugh! [ Mimi glares at the sky in frustration. She's already been walking for a couple days, with a liberal definition of "walking" that includes frequent breaks to rest. The food she's found in her bag is okay, but nothing like her real mama's cooking (where's the natto?). And she is just so done with traveling on foot. ]

[ It's at around this point that she becomes distracted by a blob of pink floating past her. ] Oh my gosh, what is that? It's so cute! [ Her troubles momentarily forgotten, Mimi points her PokéGear at the blob, identifying it as a Hoppip. At the same time, the Hoppip turns and, with a look of determination scrunching up its adorable face, charges at Mimi's Maractus. ]

[ Mimi's been in her share of battles by this time, and she and Maractus have mostly gotten the hang of them. She's still not in love with the idea of fighting innocent Pokémon, but they do seem to enjoy engaging her. Maractus is relatively unscathed at this point - a few scuffs here and there, but still very able to fight. She charges the Hoppip, spikes at the ready. The Hoppip retaliates by bouncing up and down in place and not attacking at all. A few Pecks later, and it falls to the ground, deflated. ]

[ Mimi could at this point walk on, trusting that the wild Pokémon will pick itself up in time, as she's done following all previous battles. But something about this little guy causes her to pause. Maybe he looks especially pathetic lying there. Or maybe just especially adorable. Who are we kidding. It's the latter. ]

What was it Riku-san said about how to catch Pokémon? [ Mimi reaches into her bag, rummages around for a bit and pulls out one of those strange red-and-white balls. ] With these, right? Here goes...

[ She walks carefully toward the downed Pokémon, Pokéball at the ready. With great concentration, she reaches out the hand holding the ball and gently taps the Hoppip. He opens one eye a crack as the ball opens and a red light engulfs him. Suddenly, he's gone. ]

Where - ? Where did it go? [ Mimi shakes the Pokéball. ] Open, you stupid thing! [ Her fingers find the button. The ball opens again, and out pops the Hoppip, frisky as ever. ]

Wow! [ Mimi stares as the Hoppip frolics for a bit, then grabs her PokéGear and taps into the PokéConnect network. She's got to tell people about this! ]

-----

[ video ]

[ Mimi's face pops up on the screen, glowing with excitement. ] I caught a Pokémon! Riku-san! Cecil-san! Everyone! I caught one! [ She gestures to a Hoppip, who is frolicking in the background without an apparent care in the world. The Maractus beside her rattles, a bit put out. ] I mean, Maractus and I caught it together, of course. [ A "Marac" of approval. ]

But I have a question! How do they fit inside those little balls? I mean, Hoppip's got to be several times the size of this! [ She holds up a Pokéball to the camera for illustration. ] How can it just pull them inside like that? Is it... [ her voice drops to a hushed whisper ] magic?

Comments

[synchroswim]

Heyyyy, see? This kind of stuff isn't so hard once you figure it out!

_{[Granted he hasn't tried to catch one of his own yet, he's just been too busy trying to turn his Gyarados into a Giant-Cuddly-Badass-Awesome-Amazing-Sea monster.]}

Magic does sound like a pretty good reason though! And if you think that's crazy, I can show you something really freaky.

[video]

[sincereheart]

I guess it isn't! [ Mimi laughs delightedly. Then, because she really shouldn't forget her manners two network posts in a row: ] I don't think we've met! [ Not that she's met anyone in person yet besides that Togami-san jerk, but that notwithstanding. ] My name's Mimi Tachikawa! What's yours, mister?

Ooh, yes, please! I love magic tricks! [ Too bad he didn't say anything about his thing being a magic trick, but oh well. That's what she's expecting! ]

video;

[otakon_geek]

Well done! I'm guessing this is your first Pokémon to be caught, right? [He offered the girl a warm smile.] It is pretty amazing how Pokémon can fit into such tiny little balls. I guess it just shows how amazing the technology is here.

[video]

[sincereheart]

It's fantastic! [ Mimi stares at the ball in wonder. ] You don't know how it works either, huh, Otacon-san? [ For some reason he seemed like the sort of person who knows how things work. Oh well. ]

It's technology, not magic? Aww! I was hoping this world was a magic one. [ She did just come from a digital world, after all. Can't we give technology a rest? ]

[otakon_geek]

Well, I'm guessing that the technology used is some kind of compression device, which shrinks the Pokémon down to a small size so it can fit into the ball. I don't know how it works as such but I doubt it's magic. [Sorry, Mimi.]

[sincereheart]

[ She looks a bit disappointed, but: ] Oh, that's all right. I suppose technology can be exciting too! And shrinking sounds like an adventure, doesn't it? [ Dreamy sigh. ] But it probably doesn't work on humans...

[video]

[paladinlost]

Congratulations, Mimi! You and Mimi have done excellent work, and I've no doubt your new Hoppip will be happy to travel with you.

[Or just happy to travel, but that's hardly relevant after such a victory.]

Magic seems the most likely explanation, considering the size of some of the larger species such as Gyarados or Steelix. That, or technology far beyond what we can imagine.

Re: [video]

[sincereheart]

Thank you, Cecil-san! [ Mimi beams with happiness. ] Oh, I hope it likes traveling with us! Traveling should be easy for you, shouldn't it, Hoppip? [ She smiles at the floating Pokémon, then sighs. ] It must be nice for you. I can't wait till I can fly places myself!

Larger species? [ Um. ] How big do Pokémon get, exactly? [ She glances again at the Hoppip, as if expecting it to grow gargantuan any second. ]

[video]

[paladinlost]

Reaching the level necessary to win the badges will take some time, but the view is well worth it.

[As an airship captain he might be biased, however.]

...I could not tell you how large is the biggest Pokémon in the world, but I could show you my Steelix or one of my Gyarados, to give you an idea of the pokéballs' power.

[video]

[sincereheart]

I'll do it, Cecil-san! I can do it! [ Mimi clenches her fist, a determined fire burning in her eyes. She caught a Pokémon. She can do anything. ]

Oh, yes, I'd like to see that! If it won't cause a disturbance or anything... [ She can't imagine that letting loose a giant monster would be less than startling to anyone who might be nearby. ]

VIDEO

[codpieces]

[ even if it's like— the tenth time he's started thinking about this, he must share his amazement with this magic-appreciator. he must. ]

Right? Telling this noise at you— It's a motherfuckin' miracle, chica. This place be whipped with them. Straight up, down, and alls the other ways you can be seeing these sacramental fuckin' stubsongs.

[ it's like holy melodies for your eyes

that's what he means ]

[video]

[sincereheart]

[ Mimi blinks once. Veeery slowly. She has never seen anything quite like this boy before. Or heard, for that matter. ]

Um, yes, it's - whipped - mother miracles? [ It sounds like there's some kind of sense underneath what he's saying, but for the life of her she can't figure it out. It's okay, Mimi. Just keep it tactful. ]

What are you talking about?

[ Yes. Just like that. A+ tact there Mimi. ]

[video]

[codpieces]

[ responding as chill as ever: ]

I be talking about the miracles, homegirl.

video;

[shest]

[Normally, he would ignore this sort of thing since Ocelot is terrible with children, but he's gotten along with one child decently already, and the girl is asking a good question, so why not!]

In a normal situation, I'd say there's probably some kind of complicated science involved...

[That he wouldn't be able to answer because he doesn't know anything about science.]

...but given where we all are, magic might just be the most likely answer. Pokemon don't seem to mind being in the Pokeballs. If they did it might be more of a problem.

[...points for trying to be social, Ocelot. Good job.]

[video]

[sincereheart]

So you think it's magic, too? I'm so glad! Otacon-san said it was technology, but I've had just about enough of technology right now! I think magic sounds much more romantic, don't you?

Oh, I certainly hope they don't mind being in there! [ The thought that they might not hadn't occurred to her until just now. ] You don't mind it, do you, Hoppip? [ The Hoppip continues bobbing up and down, smiling inscrutably. ] Oh, good!

[ Manners time! ] What's your name, mister? [ A cheerful smile. ] I'm Mimi Tachikawa!

[video]

[shest]

Call me Ocelot.

[Really, who would call it technology? Trapping an animal into a tiny little ball would involve too much nonsense for him to actually consider in all seriousness.]

You could always ask. Pokemon understand human speech just fine.

[video]

[islandshore]

[Riku was just about to congratulate her, but as soon as she starts questioning the Pokéballs, he has to restrain a chuckle. Ah, the age old question of Pokéballs...

Riku shrugs his shoulders, jabbing his thumb behind him to where a Charizard is currently snacking on some pizza.]

If you think a Hoppip's huge, try fitting a seven-foot dragon inside one of those things. The way I see it, Pokéballs either have to be magic, or some really advanced technology. They might even shrink the Pokémon for all we know.

[A beat.]

Still, congrats on your first catch. Looks like you're already off to a good start.

[video]

[sincereheart]

[ Mimi's eyes follow Riku's pointing, then widen in amazement as she takes in the Pokémon he's indicating. ]

Wow, that Pokémon is huge! [ She tilts her head to the side, contemplating. ] It reminds me a bit of my friend's Digimon... Something that big can really fit in a Pokéball?

Shrinking the Pokémon? Now that sounds magical. [ Mimi sighs happily. ] It would be just like a fairy tale! Like Issun-boushi, or Thumbelina!

And thank you, Riku-san! [ She beams happily. ] I hope I can catch a lot more Pokémon, if they're all as adorable as this one!

[video]

[islandshore]

Digimon? You know, I think I heard people talk about those before...

[But it's always been fairly vague. Still, consider his interest piqued.

And when Mimi starts listing off fairy tales, Riku chuckles and smiles. Man, it's like she's pulled a 180 from the last time they spoke. All that energy's infectious. If the words cute or adorable were in his vocabulary, that's probably how he'd describe her right now.

But hmm, other Pokémon she'd like... Give him a second while he thinks it over while idly tossing a Pokéball up and down.]

Well, if you like birds, you could always shoot for a Pidgey. Sentret evolves into a huge, fluffy ferret, and once you reach Cherrygrove, you might be able to find these little lion cubs called Shinx.

[A beat.]

How do you feel about butterflies?

video;

[lullabytes]

Ah, congratulations...as to the Pokéballs...I think they open into a pocket dimension. It's technology...I think.

[ what a useful and not at all vague explanation! ]

[video]

[sincereheart]

A... pocket dimension? [ Mimi's brow furrows. She isn't understanding this any more than she did the miracles guy. ] Like another world that you can fit in your pocket? That sounds like magic to me! [ Nope. Nooot understanding it. ]

[ Wait, the lady just congratulated her. Remember your manners, Mimi. ] Thank you, though! [ A slight bow of the head. ] My name's Mimi Tachikawa, by the way. What's yours, miss?

[video]

[lullabytes]

Well, it might be magic...ah, and I'm Nanami Chiaki...in Eastern order. How do you do?

[ Nanami doesn't seem to mind the manners lapse... ]

video

[paishodown]

I've been wondering that myself, actually. And some Pokémon are huge, but they still fit just fine.

[video]

[sincereheart]

I know! Riku-san has a giant dragon Pokémon and he says it still fits in one of these Pokéballs! It must be magic, don't you think? [ YOU AGREE WITH HER RIGHT PRETTY LADY ]

[ Then, because Mimi is making a conscious effort to remember her manners today. ] My name is Mimi, by the way! Mimi Tachikawa. [ She offers up a bright smile. ] What's yours, miss?

[video]

[paishodown]

I... guess it could be magic. But I'm not so up to date with all the technology they have here, so it could just be something that I don't understand.

[What is talking to excited kids?]

Oh- I'm Asami Sato. But just Asami is fine.