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[ibalsamina]

[The Grumpearl projects an image: a long-furred Yungoos seated primly on a wooden Canopy platform. Her grin is restrained, showing only a sliver of her sharp fangs, and her surroundings are awash with color: the greens of lush foliage and the vibrant blossoms of various flowers, both growing naturally in the trees and collected for display around the edges of the platform.]

Hello, everyone. I hope you are all faring well, in spite of the extraordinary circumstances. I am still familiarizing myself with this "Grumpearl" device, so I also hope you can forgive me for any technical difficulties that may arise.

[Observing her in this moment, it's hard to imagine that there even could be any such technical difficulties. She is perfectly framed and her thoughts are silent—almost eerily so. Try as she might to make it all seem effortless, it seems she is trying very hard, in fact, to keep them focused and to herself. Not a single stray thought allowed.]

My name is Lusamine Mendel, and I was very recently recruited into the Cheri Guild. Although I am still new to this world, I intend to do everything I can to be of assistance to you all. If there is ever anything I might be able to help you with, please do not hesitate to ask.

[The dark green gem fastened around her neck gleams as she tilts her head.]

Now, I have a simple question for recent arrivals and longtime residents of Bottlecap Bay alike, if you wouldn't mind indulging me. What is the last thing you recall happening before you were transported into this world?

Comments

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[dunchies]

You made it! [ Of course Laios heard about her recruitment. He's been eager to run into her ever since, if the excitement in his voice doesn't make that obvious enough. ]

Are you settling in okay? I hope Ribombee was able to show you around a little bit... [ He trails off at the question, not having thought about it for a while. Huh. ] I think—I just ate breakfast before heading to a meeting. Heh. Not a very exciting answer.

[ibalsamina]

Why—Laios! Hello! It's so wonderful to see you again.

[She means it, a wave of warm affection blanketing him through their psychic connection.]

Oh, you sweet boy... It's been quite the whirlwind of activity since I returned, I admit, but I've settled in just fine now, thank you. There's so much beauty here... Like living in a garden.

[She could do with a more structurally sound dwelling... But she is trying to stay purely positive at the moment.

In any case, Laios' answer distracts her. Come to think of it, she never did learn what his profession was.]

Oh? What sort of meeting?

[dunchies]

[ He matches her warmth in kind, tail wagging behind him. ]

It's nice, isn't it? There's a really beautiful view in the morning, too. Sometimes you can even watch a few of the bird Pokémon take off for the day. [ He hesitates a bit, though his smile doesn't falter. ]

Oh, but the meeting... [ What did he call it? Laios can't seem to remember the exact term he used. Images of a young man talking to him without sound flicker in briefly, a feeling of being out of one's element taking hold just long enough. ] Just... for planning, I think. I'm sure they were fine without me.

[ibalsamina]

[Planning... For what exactly? Though memories of it flutter through her mind, it feels almost as if even Laios wasn't sure himself.]

I've nattered on to you so much about my work, Laios, but I don't believe I ever asked you... What was your profession, in your world?

(1/2) spoiler warning

[dunchies]

I don't... I don’t think it’s all that interesting compared to what you do.

[ Despite himself, he’s definitely not as constrained as her when it comes to his thoughts intercepting the feed. Meetings upon meetings, important people from all over talking with him—talking at him—a growing sense of responsibility, and yet— ]

(2/2)

[dunchies]

—oh, but not that long before I came here, I was an adventurer! [ His mood immediately shifts. ] Back in my world, there are these places called dungeons. They’re really concentrated with magic and monsters, so I led a group to explore one of the more popular ones.

[ibalsamina]

You sell yourself short, Laios! To explore such mysterious, magical places—and as a leader, no less... The life of an adventurer must be full of excitement! And it certainly suits you.

[But those memories make it all even more interesting to her. He must have had a change in profession at some point. What could he have been, to be meeting with so many important people?]

Come to think of it, it sounds quite similar to the sort of work we do now, as part of these guilds...