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Post by DataNinja on Feb 15, 2021 20:32:37 GMT
"I'm a constant voice, Parish," she says, winking. "As an Operator, it's not really a sharing-heart-to-heart job or anything. But... I mean, I'd like to think that I'm pretty simple, too. I like new horizons. Seeing things that surprise me, and shake up my sense of what things can be."
"It's why I like hanging out with you." She shrugs. "Because you do things that are beyond what I would consider ordinary. And I like that."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 15, 2021 21:07:01 GMT
"Well, the difference between being and not being somewhere is three senses, so if I let you know those it will go a long ways toward you being more than just a voice...". Pausing he cocked his head a little to one side. "I might be able to make some kind of feedback suit that passes along temperature and pressure. Anything to do with smell and taste would probably be really invasive."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 15, 2021 21:23:59 GMT
"It's okay," she says, laughing. "I appreciate the thought, but it's probably better that I not have that, to be able to have more of an... objective view, to try and work through stressful situations. That's part of my job."
"The other part is, well... I have to be with more than one person at a time. Have to try and not be distracted by sensations so I can flip between people easily."
"You're very sweet thinking of me, though."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 15, 2021 21:32:19 GMT
"It's not a bad idea regardless. They only send the probes so far, and having a real time recording of shifts in the environment might go a long ways towards helping us catalogue things. Also it's hard not to think about you! You're my favorite person in A-1! If anyone should be enjoying what they do, it is you.". Parish stated matter of factly.
"I like the Captain and the Commander too. But you're never far away, and that is the best."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 15, 2021 21:57:48 GMT
Rebecca blushes a little. "Oh, well... that's sure a compliment and a half. There're better people around, I'm sure, if you have a look, though," she says, trying to wave it off. "You should just try and meet more people. Ones who aren't so tied to your work!" She laughs. "Sometimes it's nice to get a little diversity in your life, to spice it up."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 15, 2021 22:08:15 GMT
"Oh this isn't work.". He corrects her. "This is fun for me. If I wanted work I could have stayed home rebuilding the tech we lost in the dark age off of schematics that the royal family keep in a vault in the space center. We call it the Palace there.". Parish resumed his strolling, folding his hands behind his back.
"That's what a Cogswork does. This job is more of a Swiftwing, scouts and messengers. I like tinkering, I am good at it. But making the same stuff day in and out for me, is a lot like revisiting old places for you.". He makes no comment on making other friends, but with how he breaks eye contact when she brings it up, it is clear it is something he may be sensitive about.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 15, 2021 22:47:32 GMT
"Well, huh. Your world definitely holds more and more unexpected stuff every time I hear about it," Rebecca says, laughing. "Lost vaults of technology are something a lot of people could only dream of discovering..." She shakes her head, with a wry grin. "And that'd just be a regular Tuesday job for you."
"But, it makes sense. This is doing what you love, and happening to get paid for it. It's certainly an experience like none other in the world. Quite literally!"
"I... I'm sorry if I touched a nerve there..."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 15, 2021 22:50:49 GMT
"No, you are right. Having lots of friends is important, in case the worst happens. It was easier back home, but I am trying here too. Talking with Faith and Shane a little more. I don't leave the compound much, so aside from you, Captain, and the other trainees, I haven't even met anyone. I just get nervous."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 15, 2021 23:02:41 GMT
"Psh, don't be so morose," Rebecca says. "Lots of friends is good for every time, not just the worst!"
"But, yeah... understandable to not really feel up to meeting people in a whole new world. So much about this place that you wouldn't really know. ...but, hey, at the very least, we'll be heading across the whole region here. That's sure off-campus."
"Unfortunately, don't think Meteor Falls is the best place to meet people."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 15, 2021 23:23:13 GMT
"It's not that morose. We still lose people to disease fairly regularly. I didn't know what a shot was until I came here. Those are awful by the way. Rustboro might have someone nice for me to make friends with though, I can try anyway!" He seemed in decent spirits about the idea.
"If it doesn't work out, they are way over there and I don't have to worry about it too much."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 15, 2021 23:41:53 GMT
"Ah... yeah, that..." Rebecca says. "Yeah, I can imagine that even with a greater than normal proportion of people with healing abilities and stuff, it's still really rough. It's one of those times that really makes you regret the non-interference regulations..."
"Aw man, you saved all the long faces just for me," Skylar jokes, as they and Faith walk up. "I'm so lucky."
"Sounds like your kind of luck all right..."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 15, 2021 23:48:17 GMT
"Falling Star has a really long face, but he doesn't like anybody. Have you met Hero? He likes colors, and lights. You'd probably get along really well.". As if on cue, the Pokemon burst from its ball, materializing atop Parish's pack, little fins awiggle.
"We're going swimming in a mountain today buddy."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 15, 2021 23:58:34 GMT
"...wait, swimming? Nobody mentioned swimming," Shane says, concerned, before smiling at Hero. "Aw, he's cute. Saw a loooooooooot of those guys back on that water realm. ...kept my distance, though."
"Because you got zapped by one."
"It wasn't my fault! ...it just looks squishy, and I wanted to see if it was."
"Was it worth it?"
"...well, I did find out they were squishy," Shane says, helplessly.
"Well... it was a valuable lesson, probably."
"...doubt it."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 0:18:54 GMT
"I didn't think to ask anyone last night about Mauville, but I have the gills so it may as well be a high altitude dip.". Parish reached over his shoulder and splayed his fingers across the angler's broad body. "We found out he likes being wrapped in blankets. It is one of his favorite things. I haven't tried it when he is dry yet, but he might like static. Don't think he would like being dry though. Anyway, if everyone has eaten enough for the day, I'm raring to go!"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 1:10:22 GMT
"Oh, okay, well, you knock yourself out with swimming!" Shane says, laughing. "Careful, it'll probably be cold!"
And with that, the group heads out into Mossdeep, to the local Portal Hub - a building that connected to a similar place in every major city in Hoenn. It's a gigantic building, built to accommodate so many people. Apparently Mauville also had a building to traverse entire regions. The world is connected now in such an enormous way.
And a scant few minutes after setting out... they're in Rustboro. Stepping out into the city, it's massive. Far bigger than the Rustboro of Parish's world, or even Mossdeep. Buildings scrape the sky, or sprawl across the land, or both. It's the culmination of the word "city", it feels.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 1:42:49 GMT
Parish is awestruck, the buildings in the unvetted world hadn't been this large and these were made by the same humans that made the space center and the portal hub. He paces in a slow circles staring skyward. "This... This is really Rustboro? There's so much... Everything... I don't even know where to start."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 2:00:50 GMT
"This is one small chunk of Rustboro," Rebecca corrects with a smile. "There's a lot more than what you can see. If I might make a suggestion of where to start... the port might give you a good scale of the industry in this city. And you'll see a lot of the city and people on the way."
"Really? You've never seen anything like this before?" Shane asks, eyes widening.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 2:16:23 GMT
"My Rustboro the buildings are one story, rarely two. There are maybe... Close to a hundred people living there? The biggest business is this Braixen woman, been there as long as anyone can remember. She makes jewelry and mends cookware. Makes some really fabulous stuff when the mood takes he but she never talks. She took over for the last smith... Twenty or so years ago?"
Parish takes Rebecca's hand in his and nods, Hero burbling his approval at the skyline. "Show me the port, please? I want to see!"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 16, 2021 2:36:01 GMT
"Whew," Shane whistles. "That is... really, really quaint. Also, geez. Twenty plus years, and never talking? I can't imagine."
"Yeah, we know." "...maybe you could try it sometime." The responses are almost simultaneous.
"Hey!"
With the girls laughing at that protest, the group heads off. It doesn't seem like it's really thrown Shane that badly.
Through the winding streets filled with people, bustling businesses, and just... everything, the group eventually makes it to the port. It's loud, and completely filled with ships and activity, loading and unloading things, and just... there so much.
"The portal network only really is fit for people," Rebecca explains. "There'd need to be way too many gates of an unsustainable size if they wanted to really ship cargo, and it'd just be a mess. So Rustboro is still an enormous shipping hub, taking products made here all over the world. And bringing the world here. Lilycove and Slateport also have places like these, but this one's the biggest."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 16, 2021 2:48:12 GMT
"It's very loud.". Parish called over the din of industry, using Hero's deelies to cover his ears and getting a jolt for his trouble, hair standing on end. "How are you supposed to meet anyone, when everyone is in a hurry to be somewhere or do something?". The pace they moved at was backbreaking, frenetic. Like hunters before an early winter or farmers when Pokemon got into the crops. But there was so much everything. Why the hurry? It was unsettling.
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