Spotted! Trainer

[collectyourfriends]

There's a familiar voice echoing through the gardens--almost. After all, Frisk's voice hasn't been loud in a long while.

 "Papyrus! Papyrus? Papyrus!" What were those others called again--? "Dogs? Dogs? Papyrus! Where--are you?" 

The first visible difference one might notice is a massive dog-thing walking alongside them, ears flicking. Anyone who can tear their eyes away from him will notice that this Frisk is wearing a bandanna on their head, a pair of goggles and a bland-looking necklace hanging around their throat, a bag hoisted over their shoulder, and a black ball clutched tightly in their hand.

It's a Dusk Ball, and Papyrus was supposed to be inside of it. But he's not. It's empty. They hadn't seen him get out. Where is he?

Where are they? The sight of the sky goes against everything he'd told them, that Toriel had told them. If just walking back towards the Ruins to Snowdin ("IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR 'TRAINING'!" Papyrus said) would somehow get them out--that doesn't make any sense. None of this does.

...Finding Papyrus is the most important thing right now. So they can ask him questions. Or to make sure he isn't in trouble with Sans, or that Captain he'd been going on about.

Their Manectric partner is the only reason they aren't completely panicking--and then he freezes and turns his head with a growl. They stop too, heart hammering, peering to see what he's looking at. "Sparks...?"

Or rather, who. Seems there's someone nearby. 

"Hello?"

Comments

[collectyourfriends]

Alright. That's really weird, and concerning, and it shows on their face, but there's worse that could be happening, they guess. It's the fact that where they are isn't making any sense that's the issue, here.

"...Frisk." Not that they look much like the one he's already met--the shirt is the same, but their skin is darker, they're taller, and not to mention-- "And this is Sparks." They sound a bit warmer introducing their Manectric, at least, who huffs and nods his own acknowledgement.

"You know how we got here? Even if we can't get out?" That's a little more important than introductions.

aaron: called manectric a dog

[exuviiated]

"...I'm sorry. Frisk. I don't know. Nobody does."

That's going to have to be enough. Aaron doesn't want to say they're never going to escape, or that they're 100% trapped-- but he doesn't want to lie, either.

"This place isn't too bad. I'm sure you and your dog will like it here, after you get over the whole... snatching situation."

well he is not entirely wrong despite what they say

[collectyourfriends]

They look completely dissatisfied with that answer, but they don't have time to go into it.

"...Manectric," they correct. "Sparks isn't a dog. He's not white."

He turns a quick circle, showing off for Aaron with a huff. Dogs? Dogs are monster things in Grillby's, and in the woods before Snowdin, that's all. He doen't look anything like them.

[exuviiated]

"Oh. Sorry." He watches Manectric twirl. Even though hes seen plenty of dogs that aren't white (but most of them are as large as Sparks, and more likely to snap at him than show off for him.)

"...do you like birds? I can show you the aviary, if you want."

[collectyourfriends]

"...Depends. What kind? And do they like other ones?"

Frisk's hand drops to their bag, feeling where Prince is waiting. He can take care of himself if there's trouble, but he's also...overly friendly with new flying types at first meetings.

[exuviiated]

"They're all very pretty, although some of them are a little bit aggressive to new people, and some of them talk." He shrugs. "As long as you guys stay quiet and let them come to you, they'll be fine."

The aviary is nice, really, but he wants to make sure they know that those birds can be kind of nasty when startled, although the majority of them are quite docile.

[collectyourfriends]

"...me and Sparks can do quiet." Yeah, definitely waiting a bit before letting Prince fly around.

Still. It'll definitely be good to get a look at the local wildlife. Maybe it'll help them figure out sort of where this floating castle is. They have some knowledge about other regions' species, hopefully it'll be enough.

They straighten up and nod resolutely, mirrored by their Manectric. "Show the way."

[exuviiated]

Oh, how confused poor Frisk is likely to be! Parrots may look like some of the Pokemon, but they definitely aren't-- and their mimicking of laughter, conversations, and their other harsh squawks can do nothing but corroborate it.

"Sometimes the castle moves around, kind of. But it's not too bad, and there isn't anywhere really bad. There's no maps, sadly. The castle moves too often for them to have any use."

He leads Frisk through the gardens and to the aviary. Sure enough, colorful birds are everywhere.

[collectyourfriends]

"Adventure," they say quietly, mostly to themselves and Sparks. That's all. Sorry, Aaron, they're very quiet.

The birds stop them in their tracks, though. These are all kinds of species, but--"What are they?" None of them are species they've ever seen.

[exuviiated]

Quiet's alright. He's quiet normally, too, when the situation doesn't require him playing tour guide (and even then, he's not talking nearly as much as he should be.)

"Well, we've got some parrots, those big colorful ones. And a peacock over there. He's the male because of his big tail. The females are browner and don't have fans." He points out the peacock, which regally ignores them. "I... don't see many others I can recognize. Sorry."

[collectyourfriends]

"...thanks. Still good to know."

They slip a hand into their Bag and pull out a journal, scribbling down a few notes.

"Know what types they are? Other than Flying?"

Sparks takes a few steps forward, snuffling a greeting, which is just as ignored as Aaron--the peacock just takes a few steps away. He tilts his head. Why don't they answer?

[exuviiated]

The peacock, it seems, is not interested at all in Sparks, Frisk, or Aaron. He's much more engrossed in his own reflection, shining out of a puddle on the ground-- if they keep looking at him, they'll see his fan extend out as he admires it.

"They're just birds. They don't have types. THey're just animals, I guess, like parrots or finches."

[collectyourfriends]

The fan makes them twitch back--looks like he's about to attack. But apparently not.

Then their head jerks around, jaw going comically slack. "Animals? What?"

[exuviiated]

Aaron fights back a smile. "It's just a display. See? He wants you too look at him. They're kind of vain."

He could say the same about a few of the other birds, but bar the parrots, none else are gaudy enough to catch attention.

(is 'culture clash' the right word for this misunderstanding)

[collectyourfriends]

"No--I mean--I mean--animals? But there aren't animals. They're almost extinct."

Long pause.

"...where I'm from, I guess."

And now they're quiet again, looking troubled.

[exuviiated]

"This world is... different." It's a lame explanation, but the best he can offer. "Sorry I can't say more than that. What's your world like, if animals are extinct? Are these--" things dies in his throat and he gestures at the Manectric. "Creatures the new animals?"

[collectyourfriends]

"...Pokémon. Yeah. They're...a lot stronger than animals. So those don't have a chance to live 'cept in human...things." Sanctuaries, they mean, but those are incredibly rare, and Frisk's never seen one.

[exuviiated]

"Well, Spark," he says (and hopes he got the name right) "seems very vibrant. What can he do?"

Apart from be large enough to vaguely unsettle Aaron, make him unduly concerned. "Your world used to have animals, though?"

[collectyourfriends]

The lack of second 's' is missed entirely for the questions Aaron asks. What can he do. "...well, he's an Electric type. So he can zap stuff." Frisk looks incredibly uncomfortable explaining that. It's the equivalent of telling someone cats meow--probably outright insulting to any but the youngest of kids.

Sparks tosses his head and mane, a trail of his namesake flickering through the air. A few of the nearest birds startle--and he makes a sound very much unlike a dog would. Dogs can't laugh.

"Yeah." They read about it when they were in Roxanne's school. "'Population boom' of Pokémon centuries ago." Not that anyone was sure why. Which is a little odd, but Pokémon are more interesting, they guess.

[exuviiated]

Great. A lightning dog. Aaron keeps himself from looking too horrified and staring, wide-eyed, at Sparks, and instead fixes his eyes on the rousted birds.

"Population boom. Makes sense, if they're hardier. Darwin and all that."

He doesn't mind the explanation, Frisk! He quite welcomes it, too.

[collectyourfriends]

And...more sort-of-laughter, more sparks, at least until Frisk waves their hand at him. He deigns to sit on the floor and watch the discussion.

"Yeah. Good for Pokémon, bad for...living stuff that's not plants." They point at the birds. "Never saw stuff like those. Ever."

[exuviiated]

"...yeah. I bet. Are they all like Sparks?" He then turns his gaze to the canopy, the birds flitting about happily up there out of reach of teeth or shocks.

"Ah, the birds are pretty lively. There are a lot of them. There's a few birdwatching books in the library, if you want to brush up on what you already know."

[collectyourfriends]

"All Manectric. Not...not all...Pokémon." They glance at the door. "Can show you more later. Have most of my team here." They pat their bag.

Frisk isn't thinking of leaving quite yet, too entranced by the birds.

"And...yes. Gonna want to do that." They wave their journal through the air absently.

[exuviiated]

"Oh. Are the rest of your team tiny?" He has to keep himself from trying to touch the bag, because he is definitely not that type of touchy-feely nosy person.

"Hey, look over there. There's a couple babies."

Not quite colorful yet, either!

[collectyourfriends]

"He's the biggest." So, maybe??? They are not being very helpful right now, sorry Aaron.

They do follow his direction, and they quietly start heading towards them for a closer look, waving absently at Sparks to stay back. They're careful enough none of the birds seem particularly upset, or maybe they're all used to visitors by now.