stonebones | no. 001 [video from new bark town.]

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no. 001 [video from new bark town.]

[A Sableye isn't exactly the first thing most people want to see when they check the network, with its gleaming eyes and wide, sharp smile. This one doesn't seem intent on being creepy or mischievous today, though. Even for those that don't speak pokémon, the raspy growls have the characteristic lilt of a genuine question.]

Hey! How do I get my trainer to trust me? I'm trying to show him around, but...

[He moves the video over to a young boy who's frowning and feeling his way along the outer wall of Mom's house. He's got what appears to be a makeshift blindfold on, if the frayed edges are any indication, and quite the unusual ensemble...

As the video bounces closer in, Emil's frown deepens and he waves as if to shoo the creature off.]

He keeps doing that!

[At least Emil seems satisfied with the distance the Sableye had retreated to again, exhaling out a sigh and going back to his slow mapping out of the area.]

I hope I find the others soon... Where is this, anyway?

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[Oof, that is...a lot of buttons there.]

Oh. Thank you. [It's sincere, but Emil's gone back to looking concerned.] Are you...still able to see me?

I can, yes. I think it's still set that way.

[He wonders for a very brief moment if he should switch back to video, too, until he remembers that it probably won't matter anyway.]

There are settings that can turn that off, though.

[He heaves a sigh of relief.]

I need you to tell me how to turn it off. A-and make it so it - stop that!

[Apparently the Sableye is getting grabby, with how he pulls the 'gear sharply.]

Is there a way to make it like... [Augh, his head. There was something he was thinking of, wasn't there? What was the word...] Um... Well, like how yours is, I guess? But stuck that way.

I don't think there's a way to make it stay on audio permanently, but...as long as you have it switched to that, it should stay that way unless it's switched back to video.

[He looks down at his own Gear as he talks, running his fingers along the face so he can feel the buttons. There are buttons for pretty much everything here, as well as a switch for shifting between video and audio.]

There should be a switch on the...right side of it. Yours is on video right now, so it's probably pushed down. If you push it up, it will turn off and go to Audio only instead.

[He knows there are probably internal settings that could potentially make more permanent changes like that, but honestly he's never really messed with them too much.]

[Emil gets a look of concentration on his face before -- blip! Off he goes.]

And you can really still hear me...?

[It's quieter, almost like he's addressing himself just in case there really is no one there anymore.]

Mhm, I can still hear you just fine, Emil-san.

Okay!

[And though there's no visual aid this time, it's pretty clear he's addressing the Sableye, especially with how the creature groans.]

No touching this switch. Do you understand? [Once he's sure that's settled...] Does this...happen a lot, in this world? People coming in from other places?

It does, yes. It happens pretty regularly, actually. Sometimes a lot of people come here all at once, and sometimes it's not very many.

[He's seen quite a few new people this week, though.]

We don't really...know why or how, though.

I see... I guess that's just how magic works everywhere, then.

I was with some friends before I woke up here, but I haven't heard them at all since.

[And Kainé would be pretty hard to miss, he's guessing...]

It's possible they could be here, too, but...it's more likely they probably aren't.

[He feels like it was coincidence, in his case. After all, Tsukiyama and Banjou were here before he ever arrived, and then Chie showed up a few months later.]

We do know that time stands still for some reason back home while you're here, though, so you won't have to worry about being missed.

Oh, so...those three are back home...

[After all, it seems odd that they would have arrived at a different time. They'd been together for what seemed like so long... Emil's silent a moment, but the tone that follows is surprisingly optimistic.]

Well, that's good. Who knows what kind of trouble they'd get into if I wasn't there to stop them! It works out better this way, I think.

[It's good to hear that he doesn't seem too worried. A lot of people can't say they've reacted the same.]

I know what you mean.

[He has a friend back home who is very much like that, after all.]

I saw that you were outside. The town you're in right now is called New Bark, but there isn't anywhere for trainers to stay there, not counting that woman's house. The next town is about three days away.

[He really wants to ask Emil if he thinks he's going to be okay on his own, but just...asking something like that feels rude. But he doesn't see anything wrong with letting him know.]

[He nods slowly before he remembers that it's the device he's "talking" to and he disabled the ability for it to see him. Whoops.]

So I'll be camping, then. [Pause.] If you're...sure about this Sha -- ...Sableye, then maybe it won't be so bad.

[There's a note of something like triumph from the pokémon before Emil speaks again.]

So trainers... Is that what they call people like me? From other worlds?

I am. I've never owned one, but I know some people who have...as well as someone who visited a place they live, recently. They actually seem pretty docile.

That's right. You could be a breeder, too, but everyone here is expected to own and care for creatures called Pokemon, as trainers. Your Sableye is one.

Mmn.

[He couldn't exactly argue, since the worst thing the creature had done so far was try to steal his things. No mauling at all.]

It's mine, then. [More confirming with himself than anything.] I...have a pet Shade.

[What the heck.]

Is that why I'm here?

Nobody really knows the exact reason why we're here, but...yes. People who come here usually get Pokemon and train them to battle one another, or sometimes they breed them instead.

[He pauses, realizing just how...strange this probably sounds.]

You don't have to, but that's usually what people end up doing.

[That definitely sounds strange, and considering how odd the Nier world is, that's saying something.]

...It's really different from anything I've done before. [But if that's what he was supposed to do... Maybe it would let him go home faster.] This Shade doesn't seem so bad, though. Maybe I'll be like everyone else here.

I doubt you'll have any problems with him.

[Somehow Kaneki feels like he can say this with full confidence, even though his first few Pokemon seemed to hate him. Then again, he's never had great luck with these things...]

You'll need him because sometimes wild Pokemon will attack on the routes, so it's dangerous to go without at least one Pokemon with you.

I'm used to that.

[Though admittedly his previous companions were people fighting against the Shades.]

This is a first though. Ah, Kaneki-san -- [He trails off slightly. It's been a while since he used honorifics after all, and the sheer force of how natural it felt was throwing him for a loop.] You must also have pokémon too, then? Have you been here for long?

I've been here for almost six months, now.

[It's really weird to think about. He's almost been here half of a year...it really doesn't feel like it's been that long.]

And I do. It was one of my Pokemon that spoke to yours so I could speak with you, actually. I've had him for a while now.

[Sixth months, huh... Well, could be better, could be worse. He doubts that finding a way out is just a matter of reading the right book, but there was sure to be plenty of other things he could research to pass the time. Plus all that traveling.]

So it does communicate... It seemed like it could understand me, but I wasn't really sure.

[Were they all Shades, or was he just lucky? Something to think about.]

At least I can be grateful to it for that. You're a really kind person, Kaneki-san.

[If finding the way out could have been found in a book, Kaneki would have found the solution ages ago.]

I'm pretty sure all Pokemon can understand humans; certain types can just communicate with us more easily than others.

[He pauses briefly.]

Ah...thank you. When I arrived it was in the middle of winter, and I didn't know what to do at first...so I know it can be confusing.

[The seasons hadn't really affected his home much, as weird as it was, but he could remember them. The frown is clear in his tone.]

That sounds terrible! I can't imagine spending three days camping in the cold, even if I had Kainé there. [...He also can't imagine Kainé camping in the cold with her way of dressing. Maybe she had a different style when the weather changed.] Did someone help you? Like you're helping me?

Oh yes, they did. Someone helped me get to a town just fine, so I didn't actually have to travel in the snow or anything.

[It's probably a good thing, too...it was so cold that it's debatable whether or not Kaneki would have made it in one piece.]

[Even people not familiar with his canon have heard tales of Kaneki's luck, it's true.]

Oh, good... [He sighs with relief. But it was also time to think about something else. Kaneki had been here six months, so...] I guess it's summer now, huh? It's not as hot here as the desert was, but I guess wherever this place is, it still has seasons. Did it snow a lot? I don't remember the last time I got to see snow.

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