(no subject)

[infinitejustice]

[Why do things just keep getting more and more strange?

The first time, Athrun woke up on the front lawn of an unfamiliar house in an even more unfamiliar neighborhood. Then he'd been whisked home. This time, he found himself in the bed of another strange house. And the less said about "Mom," the better. Athrun's mother was dead. She had been dead for nearly four years, and she would remain dead until the end of time. Athrun had already made his peace with that.

Athrun had spent some time wandering through this town -- Pallet Town, according to the sign across the street from the house in which he had woken up ("Shades of your journey await!") -- looking for a building belonging to this "Professor Oak" fellow. Eventually he found the Oak Pokémon Research Lab. He entered and looked around, but couldn't locate its namesake anywhere. Figuring he must be out and about somewhere, Athrun decided to leave. He opened the door...]

...Uh.

[And found himself face-to-face with someone he knew.]

Comments

[infinitejustice]

[At that, Athrun smiles. It's nice to hear an affirmation of trust.]

Yeah. I know what you mean. Having a familiar face really helps put a person at ease. That applies to the two of us, too. Let's stick together at least until we get our bearings, all right?

[galacticbunny]

That's ---


[ She suddenly becomes suspiciously quiet ...


...


.... ]

I wonder ... do you think we're still married?

[infinitejustice]

...

Uh.

[Athrun's cheeks turned red at the mention of that.]

I...have no idea. What do you think?

1/2

[galacticbunny]

[ Sighs. ] I'm not sure ...

2/2

[galacticbunny]

But would you ... be terribly disappointed if we weren't?

[ For Sheryl, yes. This is still a good time for teasing. ]

[infinitejustice]

[That makes Athrun blush more, unsurprisingly.]

H-hey, wait a minute! We've got more pressing matters to attend to here!

[Let's see how well his attempt to deflect the question works.]

[galacticbunny]

We've discussed this before, dear. [ Still teasing. ]

Stop making it so easy and I just might consider it.

[infinitejustice]

[Yeah. Athrun is just going to facepalm at this point.]

Fine, fine, enough talk. Let's see if we can find Professor Oak and get some answers.

[galacticbunny]

First it is that 'Homeowner' person and now a guy named after a tree.

[ Nope. She doesn't remember that guy in Holly Heights at all. ]

Next time, they'll probably throw us in a world where everyone is named after ... fungus.

[infinitejustice]

...Fungus. How in the world did you come up with that one?

[Beat.]

On second thought, never mind. I don't want to know.

[galacticbunny]

[ She laughs and begins walking ahead of him before saying ... ]

... I guess if you're around even a world of fungus wouldn't be so bad.

[infinitejustice]

[That gets Athrun to turn red. He quickly shakes his head and catches up.]

Ah...thank you. Really. That means a lot to hear you say that.

[galacticbunny]

Well, don't get used to it. Sheryl Nome doesn't give that kind of service often.

[infinitejustice]

[That gets a chuckle out of him.]

No, I guess a diva wouldn't. But that goes to make it more valuable, so I won't complain.

You know, this isn't a big town. Maybe he's out doing field research or something? I certainly haven't seen him in town at all.

[galacticbunny]

Do you even know what this professor looks like though?

Its not like that introduction they gave us gave a good picture of his face.

[infinitejustice]

[He shakes his head.]

No, I don't. But if he's a professor, he must be at least middle-aged, if not older. That's further reinforced by the fact that he has his own laboratory. I have a feeling we're looking for a man who looks like he's in his sixties.

[galacticbunny]

I suppose ...

[ One old man. How hard could it be? ]

We should get this over with then.

[infinitejustice]

I agree. I want some answers.

[Athrun steers the two north, toward the exit from town. But the moment they step in the tall grass...]

Hey! Wait! Don't go out!

[Surprised, Athrun turns. And sees an older gentleman in a white lab coat running toward them.]

[galacticbunny]

[ As Sheryl was about to turn and leave, she sees the older gentleman. Seeing as that she didn't know who he was she turns to Athrun. ]

A friend of yours?

[infinitejustice]

Not unless he's a friend of yours.

[Obviously he wasn't -- which was the point of Athrun's remark. The man quickly came to a stop before the two of them.]

It's unsafe! Wild Pokémon live in tall grass. You need your own Pokémon for protection.

Uh...Pokémon?

[Athrun casts an aside glance to Sheryl. Maybe she's familiar with the term.]

[galacticbunny]

[ She just raises an eyebrow and looked quite impatient. No, Athrun. She has no idea what this old geezer is talking about. ]

[infinitejustice]

I know! Here, come with me!

[Immediately, he turns and walks back south, toward the lab.]

I wonder...do you think this might be Professor Oak? If it is, we might as well follow.

[With that, Athrun begins to follow the man.]

[galacticbunny]

{ Sheryl sighed and followed Athrun. She was a little hesitant to. For all they know he could be no different from their Landlord from the previous world they had been stuck in.

But she wasn't stupid enough to go off on her own. She knew it was safer if they stayed together and if Athrun thought it was alright to follow a strange man into this place then she was going to have to follow him. ]

Athrun? Do you really think it is alright to follow this guy?

[infinitejustice]

[Athrun lowers his voice, more out of habit than anything. As far as he could tell, this man wasn't actually responding to anything he said, anyway.]

I don't know. But if we're given something to do, I say we see what's involved. It beats milling around without a clue.

[galacticbunny]

As always, you have a point. Then again, even if something happens ... I'm sure Mr. Super Soldier, Athrun Zala will be ready to save the day.