[Open] Underground Meetings Literally Underground

[concealingeyes]

Date & Time: WAY BACKDATED to February 15th with Morning / Afternoon / Evening options
Location: The catacombs which look cool if you forgot (cool is important)
Characters: Kido, Kano and anyone who wants to stop by for a gang meeting! You're free to assume your character was spoken to if you want, too. Handwaving the recruiting is cool with us. Or your character can just happen across them?? Whatever works!
Summary: Kido and Kano have been recruiting for their gang, the Mekakushi Dan, and now is the meeting. Feel free to mingle! Become a gang family.
NOTE! They would also inform characters to stick around for the evening meeting if they want to hear something more serious.
Warnings: Uhmmm none that I can think of!



Morning Option:
[The morning is the most relaxed. Kido and Kano have a lot of work to do when it comes to cleaning up the catacombs! Of course, they had to pick a larger area not too far in, away from the sewer areas so it isn't as damp and gross. It's still cold, though. They put up arrows so no one would get lost even though it doesn't take much to find the area.

There aren't chairs or anything like that to sit in but bricks and old rocks are being cleaned up to make sitting space. Also, there's soda and various snacks sitting on a particularly large rock.

Come help if you want and possibly get some early information out of them!]

Afternoon Option:
[After running around, chatting with all the newcomers Kano's decided to speak up. Now's an excellent time to get down to business! He's hopped onto one of the rocks to elevate himself (being short is hard) and shouts:]

Hey, hey! [He waves his hand rapidly in the air.] Ah, first--thanks for coming, everyone! We wouldn't have known what to do with all these snacks if you guys didn't show up.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding! But really, we appreciate your interest. Let me explain what we plan to do!

When most of us arrived we were a little overwhelmed. I knew I was. Being dropped into another world is a pretty heavy experience, right? Some of us weren't sure where to go or who to turn to! It's a very disheartening way to begin a new life. [Kano snaps his fingers.] So! We, the Mekakushi Dan, will help those new transports!

Whether it's through food or clothes or even umbrellas, we'll lend them a helping hand and show them that we care. We'll be the welcoming committee that Exsilium doesn't have, the newbies' unofficial family! With your help, we'll help them settle in and ease into their lives here.

We're open to ideas, so if you have any... feel free to shout them out!

Evening Option:
[By the time things wind down and it's getting dark, Kido steps up. She's perfectly at ease with this part of things. When she speaks, it's in her usual gruff but serious tone.]

...I don't know how much you guys know about the Initiative but they aren't praiseworthy. It's a war, so no one is clean, but they haven't treated us the best. It isn't just this. I've been looking into the network and past posts. I'm not going to tell you what to think or how to act towards them, though.

[She shoves her hands into her hoodie pocket.] What I'm saying is that I'm putting us first. We need to keep an eye on anyone that might threaten us, that might use us or hurt us. So, if you want to help with that or you're interested in looking closer at these Initiative people and the ones they're fighting, we'd appreciate the help.

It's your call. If you only want to be part of the community help, that's fine. But you know at least what Kano and I are going to be doing. We'll keep you updated if you want, too. We're going to keep you guys safe as best as we can from anything.

Comments

[idealord]

[Well... That certainly frightened him. The kick itself made him jump half a foot, and the anger doesn't help. But he's not a Hero back home for nothing!

Still, there was a difference between a ten foot tall dragon and an angry little lady whose kicks and punches could probably take down the former.]

Funny you should say that, see, because the way he described you reminded me a lot of a friend back home, but you're kind of branched off of that, actually, and yeah besides your [really really] scary serious voice and volume right now I think you're actually a nice girl who should have a nice evening away from a guy like Kano if he makes fun of you the way you think he does!

[All in one breath, too, please don't hurt him any more he's actually wondering how violent she can get. Kind of scared. No wonder she's the leader of a gang!]

[concealingeyes]

[At least he calmed her down by completely stumping her. She really is a little confused by all this. Didn't she punch him and kick a wall and he still thinks she's...sweet?]

I, uh... [Kido blinks a few times. She's trying to think of what to say but leader mode can't handle this and she definitely can't.]

Okay?

[idealord]

[Was that.

It was.

Oh boy, she said okay! Look at this instant cheer. She can't go back on this.]

Awesome! Ah, but I've been a bit rude the past few minutes, Leader Kido! I asked you out, but I never gave you my name... I'm Hilbert, the one you challenged to find you guys at the festival. Kano was ridiculously easy to spot with those fliers of his. Don't hurt him too much, okay? I promise it'll be fun. [He holds out his hand to her for a good old handshake, radiating cheerfulness.]

[concealingeyes]

[Well she's stuck with it now, not that it's really sunk in yet. Kano can deal with it when it does. He's a lucky guy.

She accepts his handshake with the distant impression that this probably isn't how agreeing to a date usually goes.]

Yeah, I didn't know he was going to do that until I saw them. Kinda ruined the secrecy but I guess it's fine.

[Now she feels so awkward though.] So, uh. When do you want to... do dinner? Am I making it?

[idealord]

Oh no, I asked you so you don't have to make anything. [... But that does sound nice-- No.]

How does... next Friday sound? I'm pretty busy through the week with some things, but I'm completely free then. What kind of food do you like? Sweets for a sweet person, or maybe something fancy so you can dress up? I bet you're really cute without your hood and all.

[concealingeyes]

I don't really own anything like that here...

[Wait, uh-]

N-Not that I own anything like that back home either! [Just a few years younger and she'd be hiding so fast.] Anything is fine! I mean, I don't really know what you do on a date so...

[Hopefully he likes his 'dere' served awkward.]

[idealord]

[... This is cute. Kano was really missing out, putting what seemed to be her first date on the line and losing. Hilbert almost feels sorry for him. Almost. Sucker shouldn't have underestimated him.]

It's easy. We eat, we talk, I walk you home... Though since everyone lives in the same place, that last part is more of I'll take you up to your door. I won't take you anywhere too showy, so you won't have to do a ton for it. There's plenty of places that sell nice clothes here though!

[concealingeyes]

All right... I guess that's not so bad.

[She glances down at herself. So she can't just wear her hoodie, huh? She can go buy clothes but-

Then, rather abruptly, she remembers what she promised Kano and kicks the wall again.]

Kano, you little bastard!

[...Whoops. She didn't mean to do that again. Kido sighs and rubs the back of her head.]

...Kano's going to dress me I guess.

[idealord]

[He jumps again at the kick, but 'ohs' quietly when she explains.

And starts to laugh. Chuckle, anyway, because it seems Kano's bad fortune has turned really good.]

Then I can't wait to see what he's got in store. And you shouldn't kick walls, you'll hurt yourself! Does he always make you react like that? [He's chiding her because she's fast becoming a friend and he's actually kind of a mothering type when it comes to friends.]

[concealingeyes]

[She looks down at her foot. It doesn't really sting that much considering she was kicking a rock wall that hard.]

Ah... Yeah. He's always irritating me on purpose.

[idealord]

Really... [Hilbert looks down at her foot too, wondering if she's got a superhuman body or something. Maybe it was a gang of mutants.]

Huh. You two must be close, if you're still putting up with him.

[concealingeyes]

Huh? Yeah, he's my best friend. We're living together.

[She doesn't see why wanting to murder him constantly would give any other impression!]

[idealord]

[The other impression is an old married couple, but that'll come with more judgement.]

I guess you really can only pull that kind of stuff with best friends, huh? I bet it was pretty weird not having him around at first, since I know I didn't get to pick where I lived. [Hilbert's voice is light, but he's actually kind of sad. Wishing he had his own best friends here. He misses Cheren's confident snark and Bianca's kind determination a lot.]

[concealingeyes]

Yeah... We've always been together but I guess I just ended up staying with him.

[She shrugs, but then she gets curious. She doesn't actually know much about Hilbert, so...]

Are your friends here? Just Kano is here out of mine.

[idealord]

Not the two I want. [But that's pretty mean to say, so he quickly brushes it off and continues.] There's three people here who I could count on if I needed to, though only the first two I know from back home. The first's Hilda, a girl I've fought alongside before; the second's N, a friend of mine who I trust won't lie to me about anything; and the third's Mei, another girl whose thoughtfulness is only beaten out by her cheerfulness.

[Only two from back home and one met here from his region in the future, but the three of them have a commonality of having Pokémon partners. Not that he's willing to show Eeks off until he knows they're good people. Which he feels they are, but regardless.]

[concealingeyes]

[Even if it's mean to say it like that, she understands. There are people she knows and trusts better than the others just because she's been through more with them for longer. It just works that way.]

I've met Hilda. She's a pretty energetic girl. [She smiles, so she likes her.] I haven't met the other two I think...

[She thinks about it a second.] Kano is good to have here. Him and my other friend, Seto, we've been the only members of the Dan for years. I don't think anyone is as cheerful as him. Ah, then Seto got Mary to join. She's really shy... When I got taken, we'd just made some more friends, too: Momo, Shintaro and Ene. That's about it, though.

[idealord]

[Oh, that's good that they've met. He feels kind of sorry for her that she doesn't have anyone but Kano here, but one's better than nothing.]

Sounds like you got pretty big before you came here. Do you think a lot of people will join?

[concealingeyes]

I hope so. Even if they don't know, it only takes a few. Ah, we'll be recruiting when the next group gets in, too.

[She knows there will be another wave. It's just realistic from the way things look.]

You should help us recruit if you can. Friendly guys like you and Kano seem to do pretty well with it. It might be comforting for some of them.

[idealord]

[He grins and gives a small salute.]

I'll help in any way I can, Leader! There's big welcome gatherings for the newbies coming in and I'm always on the lookout for people I know there, so I'll be sure to spread the word of Mekakushi Dan to people I meet.

[Get them cracking while the pan's hot, he figures. They'll be more eager to join if they've just been brought. Putting them in an article will be good too.]

[concealingeyes]

[He is going to die

She grins. Well, at least he has the right spirit about it. She can't dislike that.]

Not bad enthusiasm, rookie. If any of your friends come, they're definitely welcome.

[idealord]

[But Leader, he's only spread the good name!]

Thank you very much. Oh, but if you've met Hilda, then did she mention anything about "Pokémon"?

[concealingeyes]

Pokemon? [She blinks. That sounds weird. Must be a thing from their home.] Something from home?

[idealord]

The most important thing from home. I was kind of unsure about telling you and Kano about them, but I thought Hilda might've said something about them since she's really into battling and seems to be more okay with non-natives of our world knowing about her partner. I'm pretty surprised it didn't come up! [He knows he saw Hilda here, and spotted some others he was familiar with as well, so... Hilbert takes out a ping-pong sized red and white ball from his jacket pocket and expands it to baseball size. But doesn't let his Rotom out yet.]

Anyway... They're creatures who help us to travel the world and make friends. Most battle with them, but some keep them as pets and others consider them family. They come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and most importantly types. It'd take a while to explain everything, but what you need to know is that they're really helpful and my friend in particular could probably do a good deal for you. As long as you don't mind ghosts.

[He'll explain more about his world on their date or something.]

[concealingeyes]

[Kido is a good stoic and doesn't react at ghosts. Well, they're only scary in horror movies, right...? So she'll be fine with real ghosts or... something like that! It makes sense! Besides...]

Well, it couldn't be a bad ghost anyway if it's your friend.

[Though thinking about it is kind of weird. She's pretty curious now, looking at the poke ball.]

You can tell me everything later, then. [She actually laughs a bit.] Man, there's some pretty cool stuff out there.

[idealord]

[He downsizes the ball and puts it back in its place, patting his pocket fondly.]

Right? I've met a lot of really cool people here and their worlds are like something out of story books. [He pauses and grins.] Your laugh's pretty cute, Leader.