offtracks | for outbounds

for outbounds

[ In the end, Ingo's return to his home station doesn't come down to any action of his own at all.

Akari's the one who offers the trip. She doesn't make any promises, but after the work she has put in for the almighty Sinnoh, she insists that it owes her a favor. Ingo spends a few days contemplating it, sitting quietly in his favorite spots on the mountain. Can he really leave? Whatever else he may be missing, he has built a good life here in Hisui. He is happy, most of the time. He could stay, and know exactly what his future tracks look like, and there wouldn't be any problem with that.

But...even after all this time, he still can't quite ignore the gnawing ache in his chest. How much would he regret passing up this offer? Would it not just poison anything he might build here? He has to know. Maybe he'll regret leaving Hisui behind in the end, but at least he'll know.

So he spends some time making his goodbyes. He officially steps down as Warden, and accepts one of Lady Sneasler's elder kittens as a passenger. He bids farewell to the Clan. They let him keep his bracelet, and his tunic - keepsakes, for a one-way trip. The whole time, he cannot help but question himself - is this really right? He's abandoning people that he knows care for him, to return to a complete unknown. Is that selfish of him?

Maybe. Maybe it is. But he still cannot waste the chance. And, suppressing any lingering conflict in his heart, he does.

The flash of light separates him from Akari. He had expected that; though they've agreed to try and find one another again, they did not come from the same home station. Wherever he came from, it is dark and silent. Ingo recognizes the feeling of the cool air on his skin: he's underground. Some sort of tunnel? It's hard to say from here which way is out. So he just starts walking. He hadn't been dressed for travel back then, so how far away from civilization can he really be?

After a little while, something bright and roaring barrels through the tunnel. Ingo hears it coming; he backs away from the tracks and presses himself against the wall, watching the thing pass by with wide eyes. There are people inside. Some seem to be looking back at him.

He keeps closer to the shadows and moves more cautiously after that. Scary... ]

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[ Very exact! Unfortunately half of those words mean nothing to him! After a second of parsing through that, though... ]

.....we're in Unova?

[ Wow - that's practically halfway around the world! ]

We are in Unova, yep.

[ Which really raises a lot of questions about where Ingo was before, but one thing at a time. Also ... Let him just pull out a tablet and his Xtrans to pull up a couple of schedules and message Furze, who has probably vibrated himself halfway into distortion by now with how long Emmet's been radio silent, and Cameron and Jackie, who can probably handle the finer details of rearranging everyone's shifts for the rest of the day. He doesn't offer too many details; just a 'situation handled but I will be otherwise occupied for the rest of the day, please inform and apologize to any challengers affected for the inconvenience, let everyone else know' across a bunch of short, choppy texts ... which is met by a '!!!!!', thumbs up emoji, and then 'take a break boss u deserve it!!!' in that order from Furze, and from Jackie, a more direct link to certain posts on Flittler with a '?'. Emmet doesn't respond to that one.

Still, having the calendar app up on the tablet reminds Emmet of all the official busywork he's going to have to get done sooner rather than later if Ingo is still here when he wakes up tomorrow. He ends up staring at it blankly for a moment, an unmarked date a few days away from now catching and sticking unpleasantly— then shakes his head sharply as if to clear it. ]

How did you end up in the tunnels, if you didn't expect to be in Unova?

[ What is he doing...? Ingo doesn't shift, having never been given to much physical expression, but he's feeling a little interrogated. ]

Giratina offered me a return trip. I traveled through its realm for barely ten minutes!

[ A handful of paces, nothing more. Giratina evidently had its own ways, once Dialga and Palkia had consulted with it. It opened up another portal, Ingo stepped through, and that was that. ]

... it probably returned you to around where you'd originally— disappeared. Since it probably did not know where you lived.

[ Blankly. Giratina— that one, he was not expecting. Express shuttle via the distortion realm?

Emmet's shoulders hunch a little before he straightens out again, stowing away the electronics. ]

Speaking of. Haven't been here long, I know. Not trying to— rush you around, or anything. But do you want to go home right now?

Oh - it's still there?

[ This is a lot happening very quickly! Ingo had anticipated that any home or belongings he once had would no longer be available to him; it's been years, after all, far longer than anyone would hold an empty space. He's not entirely certain he wants to be alone just now. But it has been a lot. Maybe Emmet wants a break, and they can meet up again later after a little reset. ]

Then, yes, that does sound preferable.

[ It is a lot and Emmet is certain he is making a mess of it. His hands flex a few times, squeezing the back of the rest or simply just clenching and unclenching in empty air before he forces them to relax again. ]

Then we can depart whenever you want. ... Doesn't have to be immediately. There are berries in the fridge if your Pokemon want anything... or I can get you anything. If you need it.

[ Right now is going to have pretty heavy foot traffic, isn't it...? Those posts Jackie linked him... ]

Oh. Please do not be surprised if you get attention from people. You were pretty well known around here.

[ Ingo has no idea what the "fridge" is, but they only departed from Hisui a scant half-hour ago or so. They can keep traveling for quite a good deal longer! ]

Thank you, but we do not need anything. [ The others, though... ] I was? Are there...a great many people here?

[ Ingo's fond of people, and can often get on quite well in a crowd! Not sure he's feeling one right now though! ]

Now and for a good part of the day more. You showed up not that long before rush hour. All the trains in Unova route through here.

So. That is generally a lot of people coming and going, yep. And, well. Before you disappeared. You used to run it all with me.

[ Ssssso. You know. Known!

(It's probably a good thing that Emmet's office is elsewhere; no need for the pile of work building up on his desk to make a bad first? impression.) ]

Edited 2025-09-30 02:18 (UTC)

Oh!

[ He ran trains? He guesses that would make some sense...

Ingo's eyes dart around, taking in details of the office with little understanding of most of them. It's more obvious in his Pokemon, perhaps; Alakazam is teaching herself how to work the coffee machine, an action which will probably have no repercussions! On one hand, he's not sure he's eager to deal with crowds right now. On the other - trains? He's still never seen one in person. Anyway, they can't just stay here forever... ]

I suppose that is alright, then...?

[ Emmet blinks a little too, trying to follow whatever it is Ingo is looking at— oh. Hold on, let him get himself a cup. Efficiency, two Pidove with one Smack Down: he gets the cup of coffee he was after, Alakazam gets to see how it works. May the world quail before the promise of overly-caffeinated psychics.

Spinning around once he has his mug of (black, of course) coffee in hand, but letting it cool a bit before he starts in on it proper: ]

You sound unsure? ... if you want to avoid being recognized, might ... be able to do it if you take off the coat and hat. Maybe.

[ Though the clothing underneath might draw attention in its own way— might be able to pass as a hoodie or cozy fall wear at a glance? ]

If I change also, might be better. People are verrrry used to looking for the uniform.

Ah - no, no, I'm quite alright!

[ He doesn't want to be obviously unsure! Though, the coat and hat are a good idea. Of course they're uniforms - that's why Emmet has his own! In white? He might have asked about that, but there are a thousand things Ingo ought to be asking about; he can't line them all up.

Going without the coat and hat has never been an option. He doesn't mind removing them, though! Ingo slips the tattered coat off his shoulders, folding it over his arm, and takes off the hat as well. There's a moment where he glances between the battered, chipped old Gear Station pin on his hat, and the logo visible in several other places around the office...hm! That explains that. ]

Is this...good enough?

[ Okay, this time he's obviously just unsure about the outfit. He's dressed as well as he ever did, back in Hisui, but just from looking at Emmet he can tell that this is perhaps not the standard mode of dress here. ]

[ A long sip out of his mug with both hands as he thinks about the question for a moment. ]

Might still get some glances. But should be okay. Nimbasa gets travelers from abroad all the time.

Your coat and hat, though. I can get you a bag to put them away in. Just for now. Wait for me, okay? [ says Emmet, setting down the cup, shrugging out of his own coat, and looking a lot smaller outside of it as he heads back over to the doorway. There's a general storage area and some lockers not too far from here where he knows he can find spare coats, bags, other odd ends and sundry that might wind up being needed one day, and well, they sure are now, aren't they? ] I will be just a moment.

[ If he thinks on their condition and how attached Ingo is to them regardless for a little too long he will derail, just like with the memory thing, just like with the Giratina thing, so for now Emmet does not. There will be time for it later. Later when it is not an inconvenience to anyone but himself.

Though maybe— he should figure out a way to also keep this to himself, now that there is a powerful psychic type nearby as well. ]

[ There is, indeed, a moment where Ingo clutches the coat and hat slightly closer to himself, between Emmet mentioning putting them away and him processing the part about the bag. That's fine; he'll just carry the bag. ]

Very well.

[ Left to himself, he takes the liberty to walk around a little and look more closely at a few things. Alakazam has made herself a cup of the drink and is sniffing it. She shoots Ingo a Look, followed by a glance at the door; they know each other well enough that he can interpret the gist. ]

Is everything alright...?

[ A shrug and a nod. Must be well enough, then... ]

[ Haxorus has settled into a comfortable curl on the ground, and Chandelure drifts a little closer in curiosity (?) after the exchange between Ingo and Alakazam. There isn't exactly a lot of personal memorabilia around or anything, but there's enough to look at. The microwave oven lives somewhere over near where Emmet had been earlier, the side of the room with the coffee maker on the counter and minifridge set nearby. The decor is about what you'd expect for a neutral, shared space in a workplace; though kept fairly neat and clean, the lingering traces of various Pokemon sheddings here and there clearly mark the place as one well used.

The adjoining rooms have the furnishings one might expect of an office space: desks with varying amounts of paperwork and other miscellanea on them, desktop computer, shelves for books, binders, small little personal trinkets. The rooms aren't their office, though, so there wouldn't be any furnishings particularly meaningful to either of them, but there is some amount of Battle Subway memorabilia scattered here and there if someone's really looking. Old promotional images, that sort of thing.

True to his word, Emmet returns in fairly short order; a couple minutes later, more or less. He's apparently also lost his hat in the meantime, but the pack he holds up and out to Ingo is probably a good hint as to where it and his Master's greatcoat both went? In return he's picked up a more casual but smart peacoat well suited to a nippy, breezy autumn. ]

Should be plenty of room for yours too. [ He'll take a moment to take another sip at his coffee, noting Ingo's examination of the room. ] Can take your time if you want to look around a bit. You know. There is no hurry.

Edited (and there went an entire few sentences, apparently,) 2025-10-01 22:48 (UTC)

[ Ingo doesn't have time to do much more than glance over the confusing machines, decide he doesn't want to deal with that, and try to look at one of the bookshelves! Gliscor is still sitting on him, tail neatly curled around him, like they've done it plenty before. Machamp is........oh no, Alakazam is giving Machamp coffee too. ]

Ah! No, no, that is alright!

[ He takes the bag, carefully slipping his own clothes inside, and does not give it back! ]

We can go now!

[ This seems like an impersonal space for this...awkward thing they're both doing. Though - is he going to have to recall his Pokemon for travel? They don't usually like them being out in Jubilife buildings... ]

[ Caffeinated trade evos... It'll be fine, surely,

Well, while Emmet doesn't know what Ingo's thinking, on his part he really should recall Chandelure and Haxorus if they want to relocate. The members of their teams are well known, so Emmet just whistles softly to get their attention, before: ]

All right. Back in your balls, you two. You will get too much attention and you know it.

[ Sure, a lot of people are just focused on trying to get home in the evenings, but. You know. Ingo's, though...

Ingo's are new. Hm. ]

Yours ... can probably stay out. Three is a bit more than usual but it's not that unusual.

[ Is that actually alright? Ingo supposes it is a large building and all, but then, these three are all fairly large themselves. Relatively, anyway; Ingo always had some of the largest Pokemon of anyone in Hisui, simply because nearly everyone else was too intimidated to try befriending anything too imposing. He knows something about being scary-looking himself, though...

Oh. His face. Is that why this seems weird? Does Emmet think he's unhappy to be here? Should he explain that now, or later? ]

.....ah. Well - no, that is fine! I will just keep Gliscor with me!

[ The last thing he wants is to risk attention when he isn't ready for it. It's more polite too! He'll return Alakazam and Machamp as well. (They take their coffee into the balls ig that's a new held item now) ]

[ (Look, if Casteliacones and Galettes can be held items Coffee can be too. It's like a Chesto Berry clearly.) ]

Hah. Like a sun hat or parasol.

[ Personal protection against the sun: a giant vampire bat. Haxorus rolls her eyes but lets herself be recalled easily; Chandelure ... looks a little more disappointed, maybe, but also goes without too much fuss. He will be making up for lost time later, just wait!

But anyway, Emmet glances at the time on his Xtrans, mentally checking it against the the various schedules of all the different lines in his head. If they go now ... it should be a bit of a lull between one train departing and the next arriving on most of the platforms; the yellow line service to Undella should be pulling in soon, but maybe they can just blend in with the crowd, given how many tourists that line gets?

He raises a hand to extend it, reach out for one of Ingo's— but stops himself short, draws it back. The motion gets converted into a clap of his hands instead. ]

Okay. Everything's ready. Let us depart on the express line, destination: home. ... Like I said. Almost rush hour. It might be a lot... but please do not become decoupled from me.

[ Because if everything's good, he'll lead Ingo through a couple more hallways before it opens up into the wide open area of ~~Grand Central~~ Gear Station in all its glory. There's plenty of people and Pokemon milling about, waiting for their trains. A lady's Herdier waits patiently on her lap on one of the seats; a man's Chatot perches on his shoulder as he speaks into a phone, chiming in at regular interval as he moves with the part of the crowd bustling their way towards the escalators to leave; the brown line to Anville appears to be departing, at present, and an announcement from overhead informs of the imminent arrival of the yellow line, as Emmet predicted—

Their destination is the stairs and escalators as well; it's not too crowded at the moment, in any case. ]

...of course.

[ The pause is really just surprise at the familiar phrase. Do they really talk so similarly? Well, they're twins, and they worked together too. They must have been...close...?

Anyway. Ingo follows, managing to keep close to Emmet in spite of the fact that he's barely looking at him. His wide-eyed gaze is darting nearly everywhere else, tracking all the people just - casually hanging out with their Pokemon? How remarkable! And such variety! He doesn't quite recognize any of these species, but he has a nagging feeling that he could recall more if they battled -

- and that's about when he very visibly jumps the fuck out of his skin at the intercom announcement! Ingo looks around wildly, while Gliscor flattens his ears and hisses at the ceiling generally. ]

[ Sudden movement at his back startles Emmet into spinning around, continuing backwards for a pace or two before— ah.

(Just where did...?) ]

No, no, wait. It is okay. See? It is just a prerecorded station announcement, they play when the trains will be arriving soon. Nothing else is happening.

[ He plays it like he's trying just to hush and reassure Gliscor— after all, many Pokemon take some time to completely, properly adjust to an urban environment, especially if they were from particularly far out in the wild, it is hardly something that will turn too many heads— but the words are for Ingo too. ]

[ Gliscor's tail is wrapped around his torso. Ingo grips at it as Emmet speaks. He doesn't look especially comforted - he still doesn't really understand what on earth that way - but if Emmet says it's normal... ]

Yes...yes, of course. Please do not pull the brake for my sake!

[ He will also be stopping at the bottom of the escalator as if concerned it might eat him, but he WILL get on once he realizes he's holding up traffic. What is WITH Unova? Why is it like this? ]

[ I'm officially making the executive decision now that there's more entrances to Gear Station than just the one we see ingame, if we're going to be scaling Nimbasa up to proper city or even borough size. Anyway, there are stairs right there, Ingo, if you're worried about the escalator eating you. Either way!

He wouldn't have thought twice about it before, but for now, after that reaction, Emmet will just study the two of them for a moment... then reiterate, as seriously as he can: ]

Nimbasa is a busy city. Please be prepared, okay?

[ Because eventually, they'll emerge from the underground...

To a late afternoon in the city, the sun somewhat low in the yellowing sky that can be glimpsed through the buildings, the skyline, not quite sunset yet. It's active, the streets, the background din of a populous settlement ever present. In the distance a waterfront stretches out, in another direction the silhouette of the ferris wheel can be seen ...

Emmet hesitates again, then thrusts out a hand. If Ingo accepts it, he'll tug them along, navigating through the streets with the ease of familiarity. If not, he'll just do his best to lead them. ]

[ Yeah actually you know what, we're abandoning Emmet for the stairs! Living that stair life! ]

Oh. Ah...very well...

[ Ingo doesn't actually know how to prepare himself. After the bizarre world of the station, he's not sure what to expect Emmet's idea of "a busy city" to look like. To him, Jubilife is busy - a town, yes, and not a city, he knows that much. But while he knows the faces of very many people there, he doesn't know all of them personally. He can't keep track of all their names, their comings and goings. That's busy.

What he emerges into may as well be an alien world.

The waterfront is beautiful, nearly familiar. But the buildings tower above, blocking out everything, and it's noisy, and what is that fast thing that just zoomed past -

Normally he might have demurred, but he grips tightly onto Emmet's hand when it's offered. It has hardly been five minutes and he's already feeling very overwhelmed! He can't even quite tell, from his position as a head-rest, how Gliscor is taking it, except that he's snarling low in his throat every time a fast thing rushes past. It's valid; Ingo isn't sure how or why everyone else seems to just be ignoring them. He keeps his head down, eyes on the ground, halfway trying to blend in and halfway just trying not to panic. ]

[ Oh. That is ... a solid grip.

(He is going to be so disappointed if he wakes up tomorrow and he is alone again. This time of year is always bad... but he can't keep doing this.) ]

It will not be long. Bear with it, okay? Just focus on me.

[ It's not far. Not so much so that they'd have to hail a cab or something, not that Emmet would with the way Gliscor seems to be handling things, let alone Ingo, but ... it's still a bit of a walk. This part is unavoidable, though, whether or not any of them were prepared for it.

(Mentally, Emmet marks down another notch for '... deep in the wilderness, somewhere.'.)

It's much quieter once they're away from the busiest flows of traffic. Not quiet, there is always ambient noise, but much more tolerable. Should be. As they approach the apartment complex Emmet leads the group to, he'll wince a bit, given that the receptionist or doorman at the entry will probably be there ... but whatever. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all.

He'll guide them into the building, past the front desk, up a flight of stairs or few— no elevator for now, not with Gliscor like this— and come to a stop outside a door, where he'll finally start looking through his pockets with his free hand for the key. Finds it, fumbles for a moment with the lock since it's his off hand, then show the three of them in, and shut the door behind them. ]

... Welcome home.

[ If the receptionist or doorman takes notice, Ingo himself doesn't see it. He only relaxes marginally once they're in the stairwell, safely isolated away from basically everything else.

Inside, he looks around, still visibly rather shell-shocked by Everything. This place is pretty obviously inhabited - oh, he must have misunderstood. Emmet was taking him to his own home. That does make more sense! Who keeps hold of an empty home for years? The fact that he did return eventually doesn't negate the fact that he ought to have been presumed dead a long while ago. ]

...thank you.

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